Most founders think they're not getting investment because their pitch deck isn't good enough. Sam Marchant says that's almost never the reason.

As a VC partner who's backed north of 100 companies, he's pretty clear on what actually kills a raise before it starts.

In this episode we cover:

• Why VC is purely growth capital and why judging your business by whether you can raise it is a mistake most founders make
• The bar Sam's fund 21 Ventures actually sets before writing a cheque. all four of their last investments came in at over £1 million ARR with exited founding teams
• Why 90% of founders reaching out for investment have a skill gap problem, not a funding problem, and why giving them money doesn't fix it
• How Sam decides whether to back a founder in the first 30 minutes of a call and why the rejection is almost always about the person, not the product
• The one thing that can never be outsourced, no matter how early or how big the business is

Sam Marchant is a partner at 21 Ventures, a venture capital fund.

He's also co-founder of Scaling MENA, a media company covering the startup ecosystem in the region.

He previously co-founded and exited a CPG business and has been investing at angel and fund level ever since.

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Will Pringle dropped out of university after 8 weeks, took a £1,000 pay cut to break into recruitment. Now he's a group MD with 20+ staff and the best reputation in his market.

In this episode we cover:

• Why Will turned down the recruitment firm that rejected him years earlier when they called him asking for business
• How four of his top consultants walked out in one go, taking over £1 million in fees with them, and how the replacement team is now performing 25% higher than they ever did
• The moment the imposter syndrome hits hardest. Spoiler: it's not when things are going badly
• Going from 84 kilos with abs to 116 kilos at his peak, and what that actually looked like in practice
• His advice on when to spend the money on the car, the holiday, the nice thing. and why buying the thing below what you really want costs you more in the long run

Will Pringle is the group managing director of Big Blue Search, a specialist recruitment agency in the commercial interiors and fit-out space. He's also co-host of the Getting Shit Done podcast. He's been in recruitment for 10 years, eight of them at Big Blue.

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Connect with Will: linkedin.com/in/will-pringle-74ab76112

She's helped countless professionals find lasting love — but what professional matchmaker and dating coach Siobhan Copland reveals in this conversation might surprise you.

The biggest barrier to meaningful relationships isn't your schedule, your standards, or your success.

It's your willingness to be seen.

In this raw and eye-opening episode, Siobhan breaks down why high-achieving women often lead with masculine energy and push love away, why men inherently want to feel useful (and what happens when they don't), and the real meaning behind intimacy that most people get completely wrong.

If you've ever wondered why you keep attracting the wrong person — or no one at all — this one's going to hit different.

Kevin Humphrys has spent years fighting for an industry that keeps millions of people alive — yet most of society still looks the other way.

In this episode, Kevin pulls back the curtain on what's really happening inside the UK's social care sector: chronic underfunding, a massive PR problem, and a workforce that deserves far more recognition than it gets.

Kevin shares how he fell into social care almost by accident, why he stayed and what needs to change before the system reaches breaking point.

We talk about the misconception that care work is low-skilled, why the media only covers the horror stories, and what a proper career path in social care could actually look like.

If you've got parents, grandparents, or anyone you love who might need care one day — this one matters. Kevin also leaves you with one simple thing you can do right now to help push for change.

Dr. Emil is a former medical doctor turned serial entrepreneur who's failed more businesses than most people start.

Now he runs a longevity and biohacking company helping men optimise their lives.

This was a high-energy conversation about doing what brings you joy, learning to dance along the lines of your limits, and why playing it safe is the riskiest thing you can do.

Strap in for this one.

You can follow Dr. Emil here: https://www.instagram.com/dremilofficial/

You can follow your host Mac here: https://www.instagram.com/themacademic/

What if the very drive that made you successful is the same thing slowly destroying your peace, your health, and your relationships?

In this raw and deeply confronting conversation, Gary Allman opens up about his collapse under corporate pressure, the anxiety that followed, and the moment he realised hustle culture was not the answer, it was the trap. After years of chasing productivity, validation, and external success, Gary discovered a dangerous cycle he now calls “The Proving Loop.”

A loop where men tie their worth to results.

Where rest feels like weakness.

Where success is never enough and fulfillment is always just out of reach.

Together, Mac and Gary unpack:

Why entrepreneurs feel an invisible pressure to constantly “prove” themselves

How stress, poor sleep, and over-optimisation quietly erode mental health

Why chasing metrics, money, and online validation leads to emptiness—not freedom

And the uncomfortable truth: you were never actually in control—and that’s the key to peace

Gary also reveals the thinking behind his upcoming book and shares practical steps men can take right now to step off the loop, reclaim balance, and build a life that feels meaningful—not just impressive.

If you’ve ever thought:

“Once I achieve X, I’ll finally feel okay”

“I can’t slow down—people are watching”

“Why am I successful but still exhausted?”

This episode will hit uncomfortably close to home.

Listen now. before the Proving Loop costs you more than your productivity.

Founders often lose themselves in the grind of building a business, forgetting that entrepreneurship is as much about self-actualisation as it is about revenue. In this episode, Owen Ashby shares his unconventional journey from acting to accidental entrepreneurship, offering a masterclass on how to scale without burning out.

The conversation explores the "productisation" of services—the essential shift required to move from a manual hustle to a scalable asset. Owen also breaks down the evolving landscape of AI, explaining why it represents both a significant challenge and a major opportunity for new businesses. Whether you are navigating product-market fit or maintaining the human element in an automated world, this episode provides a roadmap for sequential problem-solving and sustainable growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why narrowing your focus is the fastest way to achieve business success.
• How to leverage AI as a tool for opportunity rather than a threat.
• The "From-To" shift: Lessons learned from transitioning between vastly different industries.
• Why the human element in sales and customer understanding is more critical now than ever.
• The importance of finding a partner who complements your specific skill set.

You can connect with Owen here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owen-ashby-a12722/

You can connect with Mac here: https://www.instagram.com/themacademic/

What separates coaches who crumble from those who rise? Dan Forbes knows the answer—because he's lived both sides of that equation.

At 44, with over two decades in health and fitness, Dan has built his coaching career on a foundation most people would consider unstable: getting fired from professional sports, leaving home at 16, and navigating his son's rare neurological diagnosis. But here's the twist—those weren't setbacks. They were reps. And every single one made him stronger.

In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Dan reveals how he transformed uncertainty into unwavering confidence, why he rejected the "scale to hundreds" trap in favour of deep impact with a few, and how mobilising in the face of fear became his ultimate competitive advantage.

This isn't a polished success story. It's a masterclass in resilience from someone who's been tested—and came out the other side with a coaching philosophy that changes lives.

What you'll learn:

• How to mobilise when fear paralyses – Dan's framework for moving forward when everything falls apart
• Why obstacles are your advantage – Treating life's hardest moments as essential training for entrepreneurial success
• The power of unwavering self-belief – How Dan built unshakeable confidence through decades of uncertainty
• Impact over scale – Why working deeply with fewer clients creates more meaning and profit than chasing the masses
• Purpose through adversity – How personal crisis became the fuel for Dan's coaching mission

If you're an entrepreneur, coach, or anyone navigating uncertainty, this episode will shift how you see your struggles forever. Stop viewing setbacks as roadblocks. Start seeing them as reps.

Fear and shame quietly sabotage our goals, relationships, and businesses—but they don’t have to run the show. In this episode, Mac and Shawn dive deep into how these two emotions become the biggest barriers to our success, and what it really takes to move through them.

You’ll hear why you don’t need hacks, fancy tools, or new skills to change your life—just the courage to look honestly at what you’re afraid of and why. Mac and Shawn break down how small, consistent steps toward your fears can completely reshape your confidence, your work, and your sense of self.

They explore:

• How fear and shame show up in everyday decisions
• Why understanding your fears is the starting point for real growth
• The difference between avoiding pain and actually healing emotional wounds
• How resilience is built one uncomfortable moment at a time
• Why life genuinely feels easier as you become stronger on the inside

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or convinced you’re “not tough enough,” this conversation will remind you that emotional healing is possible—and that strength is something you build, not something you’re born with.

Follow Mac: https://www.instagram.com/themacademic

Follow Shawn: https://www.instagram.com/sheshn94

In this conversation, Andy Nathan shares his journey from corporate life to becoming a coach focused on men's emotional health.

He discusses the importance of self-awareness, the impact of male role models, and the need for supportive environments for men.

Andy emphasises the significance of understanding emotions in both personal and professional contexts, and he provides insights into building a successful coaching business.

The discussion also touches on the challenges men face in modern society and the transformative power of emotional intelligence.

Follow Andy: https://www.instagram.com/andyjnathan

Follow Mac: https://www.instagram.com/themacademic