The Better Business Show

What if businesses could help reduce reoffending rates while boosting productivity and unlocking untapped potential?

In this episode, once he gets over the doom and gloom currently ungulfing the planet, Tom chats with Sid Madge, founder of Meee and creator of the Counting on Confidence programme, helping to seriously transform lives through prison rehabilitation.

Sid shares powerful stories from his work in prisons, why mindset shifts are key to breaking cycles, and how businesses can play a vital role in giving ex-offenders a second chance. Plus, he reveals practical tips for companies ready to make a difference.

Tune in to discover:

This episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and actionable steps. Ready to rethink what better business means? Hit play now!

🎧 Listen and subscribe for more conversations that challenge the norm.

#BetterBusinessShow #Rehabilitation #SecondChances #BusinessForGood

This week, we’re diving into the bittersweet world of cocoa and chocolate with Julia Ocampo, Head of Sustainability and Cocoa Sourcing at Luker Chocolate.

The global cocoa industry faces enormous challenges: poverty among smallholder farmers, deforestation, climate change, and the mounting pressure on food and drink companies to source responsibly.

In this candid and insightful conversation, Julia shares how Luker Chocolate is transforming cocoa supply chains – putting farmers, ecosystems, and communities at the heart of their sustainability strategy.

We explore:

✅ The stark realities of cocoa farming and why ethical sourcing is more urgent than ever.

✅ How Luker’s Chocolate Dream initiative is building resilient, thriving rural communities.

✅ Why agroforestry is a game-changer for biodiversity and farmer livelihoods.

✅ The role of collaboration in tackling systemic issues across the industry.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to make chocolate sustainable – or how businesses can turn challenges into opportunities – this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights.

🎧 Tune in now to discover how Luker Chocolate is proving that better chocolate really does mean a better world.

In this episode, we’re joined by the trailblazing Nour Tayara, founder of AORA Mexico, a plastic-free makeup brand that’s shaking up the beauty industry. Nour’s on a mission to prove that beauty doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense –  or be boring while doing it.

We dig into the big issues:

💄 The beauty industry’s massive waste problem – billions of plastic tubes and palettes that end up in landfills or our oceans

🌍 Why sustainability in beauty often means bland, beige packaging – and how Nour is flipping the script with bold, maximalist designs inspired by vibrant Mexican culture.

✨ Nour’s journey from working at L’Oréal to building a brand that makes you feel good inside and out, while challenging the status quo.

If you’re into beauty, sustainability, or just love hearing stories about people breaking the mould, this episode is a must-listen. Get ready to rethink what beauty can be.

And remember: You can find all episodes at www.narrativematters.co.uk/podcast

This week, Tom is in conversation with Victoria Edwards, the dynamic CEO and co-founder of FIDO Tech, to talk about a problem that affects us all: water scarcity.

Victoria’s on a mission to create a world without water waste, and her story is nothing short of fascinating. From her early days as a self-proclaimed “failed musician” to leading a company that uses AI to detect and prevent water leaks, she’s rewriting the rules on how technology can solve one of humanity’s biggest challenges.

We dive into how FIDO Tech is saving billions of gallons of water, partnering with global giants like Microsoft, and building an innovative ‘Water United’ initiative to tackle water stress around the world. 

And yes, we even chat about the surprising sounds leaks make—like an F-sharp! 🎵

This episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and a whole lot of passion for creating real, lasting impact. Whether you’re curious about tech, sustainability, or just love hearing about people making a difference, this is one you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Tune in now and get inspired to think differently about water, technology, and what it takes to drive meaningful change.

Plastic-free and purpose-driven: The story of Dip with Kate Assaraf

In this episode, we sit down with Kate Assaraf, CEO and co-founder of Dip, a premium haircare brand with a mission to eliminate plastic waste from beauty routines. 

Kate shares her journey from working in the beauty industry to launching a purpose-driven business that rejects the norms of hyper-consumerism. From refusing to sell on Amazon to championing small, local zero-waste stores, Kate’s vision is reshaping how we think about sustainability, luxury, and conscious consumption. 

Tune in to hear how Dip’s innovative products, like their conditioner bars that replace 12 plastic bottles, are making waves in the beauty world – and why supporting community businesses matters now more than ever.

“Innovation in sustainability means thinking long-term, and for us, it’s about leading a movement, not just selling a product.”

In this episode, I’m joined by Frank Heidinger, CEO and founder of Halevai, a company set on revolutionising the recreational boating industry with his electric powered boats.

Frank shares his journey from growing up in New York City with limited access to clean water to founding Halevai, driven by a deep love for nature and ocean conservation.

He explains the environmental issues with traditional boating – like the fact that two-stroke outboard motors can discharge up to 30% of their fuel unburned into the water. We discuss Halevai’s mission to change that by offering high-performance, electric-powered boats that cut emissions and keep our waters cleaner. 

Tune in to learn about the challenges of transforming an industry that’s historically relied on fossil fuels, and how Frank is helping consumers enjoy the water sustainably.

Whether you’re interested in green tech, love the ocean, or just curious about the future of boating, this episode is packed with insights on innovation for a cleaner planet.

Enjoy.

This time we dive into one of the most influential movements in sustainable business: the B Corporation – or B Corp – movement. 

Since its inception in 2006, the B Corp movement has been reshaping the way we think about business, creating a global community of companies that prioritise purpose as much as profit.

From Patagonia to Ben & Jerry’s, B Corps are known for their commitment to social and environmental responsibility, transparency, and accountability. 

But becoming a B Corp isn’t easy. It requires rigorous certification and ongoing commitment, something that brings both opportunities and challenges for the companies that decide to get involved.

In this episode, we explore the pros and cons of running a B Corp, and discuss some significant changes to the certification process coming in 2025, aimed at raising the bar even higher for sustainability and impact. 

We’ll also look ahead to the future of the B Corp movement: Can it continue to grow? And how might it evolve to meet the changing needs of society and the environment? How will it remain fit for purpose?

But we will also meet Paul Hargreaves, the CEO of the fine food and drinks wholesale business, Cotswold Fayre, a B Corp since 2015.

Enjoy.

Gartner, the research and consulting giant, just released its latest Hype Cycle.

The Gartner Hype Cycle is a graphical presentation developed to represent the maturity, adoption, and social application of specific tech. 

Each hype cycle drills down into the five key phases of a technology's life cycle. These include:

1. Technology trigger – a potential technology breakthrough to kicks things off. 

2. Peak of inflated expectations – whereby early publicity produces a number of success stories.

3. Trough of disillusionment – where interest wanes as experiments and implementations fail to deliver. 

4. Slope of enlightenment – where more instances of the technology's benefits start to crystallize and become more widely understood.

5. Plateau of productivity – where mainstream adoption starts to take off.

The latest Hype Cycle is focused on sustainability trends.

Gartner’s assessment of environmental sustainability technologies revealed that many – such as net-zero data centers and circular supply chains – are still in early stages of maturity. Notably, no technology has yet reached the final stage – ‘Plateau of productivity’ – meaning they are still several years away from widespread, profitable adoption.

In a nutshell, achieving tangible, widespread change across sectors remains a decade or more away.

Anyway, we thought it would be a good idea to talk to the guys at Gartner about the Hype Cycle and what it means for brands, for buyers, for the sustainability movement, for the planet.

It was awesome to grab some time with Sarah Watt, who is a sustainability strategist and change leader - and also a VP with Gartner – to delve into the analysis and find out what it means for you.

The Gartners of this world are absolutely necessary, and people like Sarah are just brilliant at keeping their finger on the pulse of what’s happening out there (so we don’t have to). 

If you want to take your own look at the Hype Cycle, just head to gartner.com - and search for ‘Hype Cycle for Environmental Sustainability 2024’.

Enjoy the episode.

Concrete is one of the most important substances in the world. As the linchpin of the built environment, demand has almost tripled during the past 20 years. In 2021, global construction projects consumed 30 billion tonnes of the stuff. That’s 3 million times the weight of the Eiffel Tower.

But concrete has an emissions problem.

Today, its production is responsible for 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. With every tonne of cement made, almost a tonne of CO2 is emitted.

This time, I get the chance to sit with Grant Quasha, a man with a plan to solve this problem. He is the CEO of Eco Material Technologies, a company taking the built environment by storm by decarbonising concrete wit its concrete substitutes. And he’s selling millions of tonnes of the stuff across North America.

Plenty has been said and written about the who, why, what and how of this year’s Climate Week in New York.

With close to 600 events and 100,000 people taking part, there was a lot to digest.

So, we’ve done it for you. 

Here’s our quick, 11-minute round up of the key stories, happenings and developments from across the week.