Wake Up with Chris Donnelly

How do you build a $100 million creator business from scratch?

This week, Chris sat down with Jordan Schwarzenberger, the man behind the Sidemen’s explosive business empire.

From YouTube videos to burger chains, clothing brands, and viral drinks, Jordan has helped turn a group of creators into a $100M+ powerhouse.

In this episode, he breaks down:

- How the Sidemen scaled from content to commerce
- The blueprint for building creator-led IP
- The biggest mistakes creators make when launching products
- Why community is everything,  and how to lose it in seconds
- What makes a product actually go viral
- The highs, lows, and lessons from building with one of the biggest creator groups in the world

If you’re a creator, founder, or entrepreneur who wants to turn attention into assets,  this is the playbook.

0:00 Introduction
2:15 Jordan Early Years
7:05 Why You Shouldn't Go To Uni
10:15 What is a Monoculture?
13:55 Moving from Vice to LadBible
19:15 Jordan Starting His Own Agency
22:45 The Success of Chicken Shop Date
25:15 How to Command a Room When You're Younger
31:15 Jordan Starting with the Sidemen
35:15 Creating VIRAL Sidemen Brand
39:15 The Worst Business to Start
44:15 What Does Success Look Like for the Sidemen
45:15 Is There Competition with Prime?
47:15 How to Monetise Your Audience
49:15 How to Create Your Own IP
53:15 How to Build the Right Brand After Going Viral
58:15 Build Out Your Brand
1:04:15 Entertainment Vs Education 
1:06:15 Creator Enterprise, Going Into SaaS
1:09:15 What Should Creators Stop Doing

Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/
Follow Jordan: https://www.instagram.com/jordanschwarz/

Ever wondered why your perfectly logical idea still flops?

Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy, thinks logic is the real enemy of innovation.

In this episode, Rory dismantles everything you thought you knew about business, branding, and consumer behaviour. From pricing psychology to irrational decision-making, he shows why people don’t buy what's logical, they buy what feels right. And if you’re a founder, marketer, or builder of any kind, this episode is your blueprint for thinking differently.

Here’s what we cover:
•  Why logic kills creativity in business
• The psychological levers that actually drive sales
• Why branding is about perception, not performance
• What most startups get wrong about value

But this isn’t just theory. Rory also talks about:
• The danger of over - optimisation
• Why data can’t explain human behaviour
• How real innovation happens outside the spreadsheet

If you want to build a brand that people fall in love with, not just tolerate, this is the episode to watch.

Sign up to Revolut Business at https://www.revolut.com/rb/wakeup and add money to your account before September 14th, 2025, to receive a £200 / $200 welcome bonus. Subscription fees and T&Cs apply. Available for new Business customers in the UK and US.

US Customers: Revolut is not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. The Revolut USA Prepaid Visa and Prepaid Mastercard are issued by Lead Bank pursuant to licensing by Visa(c) U.S.A. Inc. and Mastercard International for Mastercard cards. Your funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Lead Bank, Member FDIC. See https://www.revolut.com/en-US/ for more details. 

00:00 Introduction
03:04 Fat-Tailed Marketing
05:40 Blockbuster Not Buying Netflix
11:35 Reverse Benchmarking
20:40 Business Idea: Car Rental Company
26:30 How to Think Non-Rationally
36:30 Reframing the Value of Something Psychologically
39:00 Perception vs Value
43:00 Success of Family-Run Business 
49:00 Jaguar Marketing
53:20 Why People HATE Innovation and New Inventions
1:03:40 Why Is Marketing Doomed?
1:10:30 Heathrow Pod
1:23:45 Best Marketing Ever
1:25:50 How Marketing Is Changing with AI
1:32:00 Think Like a Cop
1:38:00 How Increasing Your Price Can Make You More Money
1:45:00 How to Find the Best House
1:54:05 How Are Older People Going to Deal with AI?
1:56:50 Why Millionaires Are Leaving the UK
2:01:30 Why the Tax System Is F*cked for Young People

Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/ 
Follow Rory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorysutherland/?originalSubdomain=uk

Ever wondered what it takes to go from $0 to $100 million?

Davie Fogarty did that with 1 product in 1 year. After 7 failed startups, Davie finally cracked the code, and built The Oodie, one of the fastest-growing eCommerce brands in the world.

In this episode, he shares his exact formula:

• How to find the right product
• His Facebook ad strategy that generated $1M in a day
• Marketing, sales, and operations at scale
• What most founders get wrong when building a business

But this isn’t just the highlight reel. Davie also opens up about the darker side:

• Panic attacks, burnout, and stress-induced rashes
• The pressure of success, and nearly walking away from it all
• Why the biggest wins can also be the loneliest

And now? He’s using everything he learned to help millions and investing in them on SharkTank. This is his most honest, unfiltered conversation yet,  and if you're serious about building a business, you need to hear it.

Sign up to Revolut Business at https://www.revolut.com/rb/wakeup and add money to your account before August 31st, 2025, to receive a £200 / $200 welcome bonus. Subscription fees and T&Cs apply. Available for new Business customers in the UK and US.

US Customers: Revolut is not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. The Revolut USA Prepaid Visa and Prepaid Mastercard are issued by Lead Bank pursuant to licensing by Visa(c) U.S.A. Inc. and Mastercard International for Mastercard cards. Your funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Lead Bank, Member FDIC. See https://www.revolut.com/en-US/ for more details. 

Chapters: 
0:00 Introduction 
2:20 Davie early years 
6:00 from 0 to 10M in first year 
7:00 Skill to build a 10M business
8:00 how to jump on trends 
10:30 Why are scared of Ai 
11:30 Davie's E-commerce success 
13:30 Launching 10 businesses at the same time 
18:00 Fear of failing 
19:00 Davie's Health Challenges 
25:00 Competitiveness 
26:00 Understanding Anxiety 
30:00 Flexing  
34:10 How Oddie exploded (finding the right market)   
33:00 Riches in the niches 
33:30 How to find the perfect product 
37:00 The importance of building a brand not just selling a product 
40:00 Best tools find trending E commerce business 
42:00 Why Davie stepped down as CEO
45:50 Shark Tank 
53:00 E Commerce Exits 
1:00:00 Losing money on crypto 
1:01:00 Davies fear of Public speaking 
1:02:40 Life now after Business 
1:07:00 The people who were with you when you had nothing 
1:08:50 Biggest Secret about Billionaires 
1:10:00 How to stop caring what people think of you 
1:13:20 Stop following your passion

Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/ 
Follow Davie: https://www.instagram.com/daviefogarty/ 

What does it really take to turn your audience into a multi-million dollar company?

Nathan Barry went from broke blogger to the founder Kit, a bootstrapped SaaS powerhouse generating $45 million a year in subscription revenue.

This episode is more than just a story.
It’s a masterclass in how creators can build real, scalable businesses, without investors, hype, or burnout.

We cover:
• How Nathan grew from $2K/month to $100K… then $500K… then $3M/month in revenue
• The Ladder of Wealth Creation and how to climb it step-by-step
• How to go from selling a $250 product to a $2,500+ product
• Why email is still the most powerful tool in the creator economy
• His framework for moving from low-ticket to high-ticket offers
• How the Flywheel Effect transformed his business and how you can build one too
• Why he turned down Spotify
• How creators can spot underpriced, overvalued opportunities

Whether you're just starting out or already have an audience, this conversation will challenge how you think about money, audience growth, and long-term success.

Sign up to Revolut Business at https://www.revolut.com/rb/wakeup and add money to your account before August 31st, 2025, to receive a £200 / $200 welcome bonus. Subscription fees and T&Cs apply. Available for new Business customers in the UK and US.

US Customers: Revolut is not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. The Revolut USA Prepaid Visa and Prepaid Mastercard are issued by Lead Bank pursuant to licensing by Visa(c) U.S.A. Inc. and Mastercard International for Mastercard cards. Your funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Lead Bank, Member FDIC. See https://www.revolut.com/en-US/ for more details.

0:00 Introduction
2:10 Nathan’s Backstory
5:00 Celebrities on Kit 
6:00 How to Make Great Content
8:42 Nathan's Childhood
12:23 Discovering Web Design
14:40 Writing Books
18:00 How to make a lot of money selling to a small audience** 
20:00 Email Drives Everything
24:00 Writing 1,000 Words a Day for 600 Days
29:00 Life Transformation: $60K to $250K
30:55 Ladder of Wealth Curation
34:00 From $2K/Month to $100K/Month
35:42 Almost Gave Up
38:30 Getting ill
45:30 Doubling Down on Kit
53:00 Power of Word of Mouth
1:00:00 Jumping from $500K to $3M/Month
1:02:00 Why He Rejected Spotify
1:04:00 Building the Flywheel
1:13:30 Low-Ticket to High-Ticket Products
1:14:30 How Ryan Reynolds Became a Billionaire
1:17:00 Teaching Skills to People With Money
1:20:00 Chris’ Digital Product
1:25:00 Nathan’s Non-Flexing Philosophy
1:28:40 What’s the Difference Between a Strip Mall?
1:34:00 How Reese Witherspoon Became a Billionaire
1:37:55 Final Take: What Can People Wake Up To Today?

Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en 
Follow Nathan: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry/?hl=en

No one teaches you how to embrace failure, but what if that’s the only way to truly succeed?

Today, I’m sitting down with Elizabeth Day, bestselling author, journalist, and host of the How To Fail Podcast, the hit podcast that’s changed how millions of people think about setbacks.

Elizabeth opens up about the moments that shaped her: growing up in Northern Ireland, feeling like an outsider at school, the pursuit of confidence, and how repeated rejection eventually became her greatest superpower.

She also shares the deeply personal stories behind her success, from boarding school struggles to navigating miscarriage, online hate, and public life, and why your ability to fail well might be the most important skill you’ll ever learn.

If you’ve ever felt like you're behind, broken, or not enough, this one’s for you.

Sign up to Revolut Business at https://www.revolut.com/rb/wakeup and add money to your account before August 31st, 2025, to receive a £200 / $200 welcome bonus. Subscription fees and T&Cs apply. Available for new Business customers in the UK and US.

US Customers: Revolut is not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. The Revolut USA Prepaid Visa and Prepaid Mastercard are issued by Lead Bank pursuant to licensing by Visa(c) U.S.A. Inc. and Mastercard International for Mastercard cards. Your funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Lead Bank, Member FDIC. See https://www.revolut.com/en-US/ for more details.

0:00 Introduction
1:40 Elizabeth & Chris’ experiences with IVF struggles
7:00 Self doubt in your 20s 
9:55 Elizabeth’s early years
15:40 “Confidence in a muscle you can flex”
16:55 Elizabeth’s first job at 12 
20:30 Gossip columnist
23:20 “Just do the hard thing over and over again”
24:50 Introverted Vs Extrovert
31:00 Understanding failure
35:20 If you're feeling lost watch this  
39:15 Thoughts on Ozempic 
41:15 How to balance it all
49:30 Elizabeth's IVF story
59:40 Sally Phillips opens up about failure
1:03:30 Kate Winslet opens up about failures
1:05:30 Psychic readings 
1:13:30 Failing in your 20s 
1:16:00 5 year plans
1:21:00 The importance of friendship
1:23:00 Work addiction
1:26:50 Conflict avoidant
1:29:20 Stop being a people pleaser
1:32:00 How to set boundaries
1:35:00 How to deal with negative opinions
1:40:20 Justin Baldoni & Blake Lively court case 
1:44:50 Elizabeth being a CEO & Founder

Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/ 
Follow Elizabeth: https://www.instagram.com/elizabday/
Pre sale link: https://lnk.to/OneOfUsElizabethDay

You don’t need more motivation. You need mastery.

In this episode, I sat down with ‪Master Shi Heng Yi  one of the world’s most respected voices on self-discipline, inner strength, and mental clarity. He’s not here to give you life hacks. He’s here to teach you how to face the uncomfortable truth: that most of us are running from ourselves.

We unpack what it really means to live with presence, power, and purpose and how to stop letting your emotions, distractions, and past pain run the show.

From overcoming addiction to comfort to understanding why we are the cause of our suffering, this conversation is a blueprint for those ready to step out of autopilot and take their mind back.

If you’ve ever felt anxious, undisciplined, or like something’s missing, this is your wake-up call.

Chapters: 
0:00 Introduction
1:10 Early Years
3:20 Rebelling
6:40 How to Deal with Comparison & Competitiveness
10:00 How to Figure Out the Purpose of Life
12:12 Epidemic of Addiction & Greed
17:00 What to Do When Times Get Hard
20:00 Pain & Failure Can Sometimes Be Good
25:05 Demon Hand, Buddha Heart
28:00 Is This the Life You Want to Live?
30:00 How Can People Motivate Themselves?
33:00 Why Discipline Is Needed
34:00 How to Confront Your Demons
35:30 Have You Got a Dead Corpse in the Basement?
40:30 Your Thoughts Become Who You Are
42:50 5 Hindrances to Sensory Growth
45:50 R.A.I.N. Method
48:00 How to Stop Getting Triggered
50:00 You Can’t Grow When Comfortable
54:20 How to Grow Your Heart
56:10 Consistency Is More Powerful Than Intensity
1:00:08 Failure vs. Success
1:02:15 How to Focus on Goals
1:05:00 How to Let Things Go
1:06:00 How to Bring the Shaolin Spirit into Your Life

Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en 
Follow Master Shi Heng Yi: https://www.instagram.com/shihengyi.online/?hl=en 
Master Shi Heng Yi's Book: https://linktr.ee/shihengyi.online

You don’t need to shout to be heard. You don’t need to win every argument to be respected. And you don’t need to fear difficult conversations, if you know how to lead them.

In this episode, trial lawyer and #1 speaking coach Jefferson Fisher shares the communication frameworks that have made him one of the most trusted voices online for navigating conflict, setting boundaries, and speaking with confidence.

We explore why less is more when you speak, how to stay calm under pressure, and the one mindset shift that instantly makes you more magnetic in any room.

From boardrooms to relationships, Jefferson’s practical tools will help you argue less, say more, and lead without raising your voice.

If you’ve ever struggled with people pleasing, being heard, or standing your ground, this one’s for you.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro: Why Words Matter More Than Ever 
1:30 Jefferson’s Backstory 
4:50 Jefferson Powerful Online Voice 
7:10 “What You Say Is Who You Are” 
9:50 How to Spot a Liar 
12:55 Nervous Before a Hard Conversation? Try This 
15:20 Declutter Your Sentences, STOP Saying Um 
17:45 Power of Speed & Tone in Speech 
21:00 Why You Might Sound Like You're Lying 
24:00 "Don’t Be a Waterfall, Be a Well" 
27:00 How to Argue Less and Say More 
30:00 How to Spot “Knots” in a Conversation 
33:25 How to Lean Into Conflict 
36:40 Feel an Argument Coming? Do This First 
41:30 People Mirror Your Frequency, Use It Wisely 
43:30 How to STOP Reacting to Insults 
46:30 The Power of Letting Go 
50:00 Stop Forcing Your Opinion, Try This Instead 
56:00 The 3-Step Framework for Difficult Conversations 
1:01:30 How to Argue Like a Lawyer 
1:04:40 How to Say “NO” With Confidence 
1:07:00 How to Clearly Set Boundaries 
1:11:00 How to STOP People Pleasing 
1:14:35 How to Stay Calm When Insulted 
1:21:00 How to Apologise Properly 
1:22:45 What to Say After a Bad Apology 
1:25:30 How to Deal With a Narcissist 
1:29:00 How to STOP Getting Defensive 
1:30:30 Handling Insults at Work 
1:33:00 How to Have Tough Conversations at Work 
1:34:00 How Jefferson Leads His Business

Link to Book: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/book

Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en
Follow Jefferson: https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher/?hl=en

This episode might change the way you think about mindset forever.

At just 17, Maya Raichoora was diagnosed with a chronic illness that left her unable to walk, eat, or even attend school. Doctors told her she’d never recover fully.
But what changed everything wasn’t just treatment — it was visualisation.

Maya shares the exact moment her healing journey began, how she used mental imagery to rewire her brain, and the powerful mindset tools she now teaches in her new book “Visualise.”

If you’ve ever felt stuck, burnt out, or like you’re living in survival mode
This conversation is a blueprint for getting back to yourself.

Chapter:

00:00 – Introduction
02:31 – Introducing Maya
03:24 – Maya’s Early Life as a High Performer
04:09 – Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis
05:19 – The Mental and Physical Struggle
06:39 – Isolation and Shame
08:39 – Searching for a Cure Worldwide
09:39 – The Question That Changed Everything
10:39 – Visualising a New Future
12:09 – The Obsession with the Mind-Body Connection
13:09 – Turning Pain into Purpose
14:09 – How to Start Visualising
15:09 – Building Your Future Self Through Reps
16:39 – The Power of Slowing Down
19:09 – Mind Like a Lake: A Visualisation for Calm
20:39 – The Energy Diet No One Talks About
22:39 – Recognising Your Seasons
26:09 – Hibernation Mode for High Performers
28:09 – Spring, Summer, and Harvest Cycles
30:39 – Following Your Own Race
33:39 – Building a Character-Driven Identity
36:09 – Taking Radical Responsibility
39:39 – The Real Role of Social Media
42:09 – Internal vs External Validation
45:39 – When You're Overwhelmed by Feedback
48:39 – Building Mental Fitness Habits
51:39 – Celebrating the Present Moment
54:39 – Letting Go of the Hustle Guilt
57:39 – Learning to Delete, Not Just Add
01:00:39 – Visualising Nike-Level Mindset
01:03:39 – Book Writing, Reading, and Rewriting Beliefs
01:06:39 – Building Accessible Tools for Young People
01:09:39 – Future Plans for Mental Fitness Education
01:12:39 – Why We Avoid Hard Conversations
01:15:39 – 6 Vulnerable Questions That Build Deep Connection
01:18:39 – Managing Stress Through Language and Awareness

Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en 
Follow Maya: https://www.instagram.com/maya.mental.fitness/?hl=en 

Link to book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/465180/visualise-by-raichoora-maya/9781846048524

No one teaches you how to walk into Soviet negotiations on a tourist visa and walk out with one of the biggest gaming deals in history.
Today, I’m sitting down with Henk Rogers, the entrepreneur who brought Tetris to the world and outplayed billion-dollar corporations to secure the rights. His journey is a masterclass in risk-taking, negotiation, and reinvention.

We dive into:
- How Henk convinced Nintendo to bet on Tetris
- The truth behind the movie vs. reality: what really happened in Moscow
- The Game Boy deal that changed gaming forever
- How a near-death experience turned him into a climate change activist
- His new book, The Perfect Game: Tetris: From Russia with Love, where he reveals the untold story behind the Tetris battle and what Hollywood didn’t show

Now, he’s on a mission to make the world 100 percent renewable by 2045, and he’s already led Hawaii to become the first state to commit.
This is about big risks, big wins, and using success to change the world. Let’s get into it.

Chapters: 
0:00 The Origin Story Begins
1:23 Henk's Humble Beginnings
3:19 Following Love All the Way to Japan
6:00 Bringing Western Games to the East
10:00 Betting the Farm Literally
11:00 The Moment Henk Found Tetris
20:00 Tetris Meets Game Boy
23:00 Entering the Soviet Union… on a Tourist Visa
24:00 The KGB Is Now Involved
31:00 Negotiating Behind the Iron Curtain
39:00 When It All Nearly Fell Apart
40:00 Why the Tetris Launch Initially Flopped
48:00 Henk & Alexey Pajitnov Friendship
53:00 Fact vs Fiction Does the Movie Get It Right
57:00 How Writing His Book Came to Be
59:00 Henk's Near Death Experience
1:01:00 Henk’s Mission to Ditch Carbon Fuels for Good
1:02:00 How Much Henk Sold His Company For
1:03:00 How to Actually Make Renewables Profitable
1:09:00 Henk's New App to Help Climate Change
1:11:00 Advice for the Next Generation of Dreamers
1:12:00 The Real Story Behind Henk’s Book

Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en 
Follow Henk: https://www.instagram.com/henkrogers/?hl=en 
Link to Henk's Book: https://www.diangelopublications.com/shop/p/the-perfect-game

Social media is hijacking your brain. Dopamine overload is killing your focus. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are wrecking your body. The modern world is designed to keep you addicted, distracted, and exhausted. So how do you take back control?

In this episode, neuroscientist TJ Power explains the science behind dopamine, addiction, and productivity. The author of DOSE: The Brain Chemistry That Drives Happiness & How to Optimize It, TJ has trained over 80,000 people in brain chemistry optimisation, helping them rewire their habits, overcome distractions, and regain control of their minds.

We also dive into dopamine fasting, the ideal morning routine for peak productivity, and why your phone might be the biggest obstacle to deep focus.

If you’re feeling stuck, unmotivated, or overwhelmed, this conversation will give you strategies for resetting your brain and reclaiming your focus.

Chapters: 
0:00 Introduction
2:00 TJ’s Upbringing
5:00 Family Friendship with Jay Shetty
6:00 Growing Up with OCD
8:40 TJ’s Party Phase
11:00 Hitting Rock Bottom
14:00 TJ’s Teachings Begin
15:30 The DOSE Framework Explained
23:00 The Power of Slowing Down in Nature
24:30 Chris Sells His Company
29:00 A Smarter Way to Set Goals
32:00 Why Entrepreneurs Often Struggle with Addiction
39:00 What Alcohol Really Does to Your Dopamine
43:00 TJ’s Dad Quits Drinking
48:00 Understanding Serotonin
51:00 Why Mental Health Issues Are on the Rise
53:00 Boosting Motivation by 48% (Yes, Really)
58:00 The Surprising Benefits of Watching More TV
1:03:30 Is Cold Water Therapy Actually Effective?
1:06:00 How to Enter a Flow State
1:12:30 How Your Diet Impacts Brain Function
1:18:00 How to Boost Melatonin and Sleep Better
1:22:30 Does WHOOP Accurately Track Sleep & Fitness?
1:24:00 What Is Oxytocin (and Why It Matters)
1:27:00 Single vs. Relationship Oxytocin – What’s the Difference?
1:31:00 How Oxytocin Relates to Sex and Intimacy
1:35:00 The Science of Stopping Overthinking

Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en
Follow TJ Power: https://www.instagram.com/tjpower/?hl=en
Link to Book: https://thedoseeffect.co.uk/