Sign Tom's Petition to help lower VAT: https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/

In this episode, we sit down with Tom Kerridge, Michelin starred chef and hospitality entrepreneur, for one of the most brutally honest and strategically revealing conversations about why opening a restaurant today would be financial suicide, why even packed restaurants operating at full capacity are barely breaking even, and why the margins in hospitality have been completely obliterated by a perfect storm of food inflation, energy costs, national insurance hikes, and minimum wage increases that have made profitability almost impossible.

We break down the numbers behind the crisis: cooking oil and beef have gone up over 100% in the last five years, utility bills have skyrocketed, national insurance contributions have been driven incredibly high, and minimum wage increases mean a 22 year old working 45 hours a week now costs over £30,000 a year instead of £21,000. You'll hear why a hospitality business employing just 10 people at minimum wage has seen wage costs increase by 80 to 100 grand a year, wiping out any profit margin that existed before food inflation and energy costs even come into play.

Tom reveals why he wouldn't open a restaurant today without the right conditions, why taking your business to the gym and tightening everything up without losing your DNA is the only way to survive right now, and why the moment you start de-skilling and buying pre-bought product it becomes a race to the bottom that destroys the entire UK food scene we've built over 25 years. You'll hear why 21 businesses are shutting every week, why the country is being run by the accountant instead of the operators, and why nobody's successful business is run by the accountant because operators make decisions about growth while accountants just monitor spreadsheets.


More from Tom:
Website: https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheftomkerridge/?hl=en

Hear more from the Hosts:
Jack https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Zac https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/

Brought to you by our amazing sponsors:
Nooks The AI powered platform helping teams automate outbound sales and book more qualified meetings. To learn more visit : https://www.nooks.ai/wehaveameeting

Sign Tom's Petition to help lower VAT: https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/

In this episode, we sit down with Tom Kerridge, Michelin starred chef and hospitality entrepreneur, for one of the most tactical, politically charged, and strategically brilliant conversations about what it really takes to create change at government level, why this isn't Tom Kerridge versus Keir Starmer but a coordinated industry wide movement, and why being officially fucking loud matters more than following official petition processes if you actually want Treasury to listen.

You'll hear why Tom warned government beforehand that this campaign was coming, why he's been invited into meetings with the Business and Trade Secretary who understands that VAT reduction is the key lever to hospitality survival, and why front bench ministers already know this works because they're doing 5% VAT on kids meals this summer to encourage theme park visits. We reveal why this has become cross party with Nigel Farage, the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives, Andy Burnham, and Angela Rayner all backing hospitality VAT reduction, and why Tom is deliberately building regional ambassadors up and down the country so this doesn't become about one celebrity chef but about saving the pub just around the corner from you.

More from Tom:
Website: https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/

Hear more from the Hosts:
Jack https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Zac https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Voss, former FBI hostage negotiator and author of Never Split the Difference, for one of the most raw, tactical, and psychologically charged conversations about what it really takes to negotiate like your life depends on it, why sales is helping and not manipulation, and why most people fail in negotiation because they're too afraid to call out the negatives before the other side even thinks them.

We break down the psychology of mirroring and why repeating one to three words keeps people talking without draining their mental energy the way what and how questions do, why what questions uncover problems and how questions uncover solutions, and why why questions trigger defensiveness and make people say what the fuck is it to you inside their head. You'll hear why fair is an emotional word you have to be careful with, why giving time back in someone's day is something nobody else does for them, and why the last impression is the lasting impression!

More from Chris:
Website: https://www.blackswanltd.com

Hear more from the Hosts:
Jack https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Zac https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/

Brought to you by our amazing sponsors:
Nooks The AI powered platform helping teams automate outbound sales and book more qualified meetings. To learn more visit : https://www.nooks.ai/wehaveameeting

In this episode, we sit down with Brad Pickett, former WEC and UFC fighter, for one of the most raw, honest, and emotionally charged conversations about what it really takes to survive in the cage, why most fighters retire because they either lose their job or their body gives out, and why building a brand outside the octagon is just as important as learning how to throw a punch if you want to actually make money in this sport.

We dive into the reality that Brad didn't find fighting until he was 25, started boxing just to get fit, and somehow ended up competing against the best fighters in the world including Demetrius Johnson, one of the greatest of all time, and beat him using wrestling even though he'd never wrestled a day in his life before MMA. You'll hear why backstage before a fight felt like waiting for a death sentence, why he hated sparring at first but loved it once he got cracked in the nose, and why the mental side of fighting is harder than any physical challenge you'll ever face.

You'll hear why the UK MMA scene was so far behind America that Brad had to fly to American Top Team for every fight camp, why selling 200 tickets made him more valuable to promoters than being the best fighter on the card, and why wearing a trilby hat and braces to honor his granddad who did bare knuckle boxing at night to support his family became the brand that made him unforgettable. Brad leaves us with one powerful question: have you maximized the amount of hours you had in your day to your full potential, because everyone has the same 24 hours, and what you do with them is the only currency that actually matters.

More from Brad:
Instagram: @oneone_punch
Gym: Greybury and Top Team (GBTT_HQ on Instagram)

Hear more from the Hosts:
Jack https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Zac https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/

Brought to you by our amazing sponsors:
Nooks The AI powered platform helping teams automate outbound sales and book more qualified meetings. To learn more visit : https://www.nooks.ai/wehaveameeting

We break down the cold call opener that's absolutely flying right now for one of their marketing clients: calling up and saying you've been looking at their content online, you've had a thought, and asking if you can fly through why you chose to call. You'll hear why this works, how to back it up with actual research so you don't get caught out, and why having the website and LinkedIn page open before you dial is non negotiable if you want to avoid looking like an idiot.

We reveal why adding friction to your callbacks instead of rushing to book the meeting actually increases conversions, whether that's saying you're not 100% sure if it's relevant yet or asking which team they think they should be put in front of. You'll hear why making the prospect earn the next step works the same way Rolex and Ferrari do, and why assumptive callbacks with a bit of hesitation create more engaging conversations than desperate ones.

Hear more from the Hosts:
Jack https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Zac https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/

Brought to you by our amazing sponsors:
Nooks The AI powered platform helping teams automate outbound sales and book more qualified meetings. To learn more visit : https://www.nooks.ai/wehaveameeting

In this episode, we sit down with Simon Rogerson, co-founder and CEO of Octopus Group, for a raw and unfiltered conversation about why META is actively destroying human connection, why most businesses fail because entrepreneurs lack the resilience to survive the brutal early years, and why giving founders too much capital is often the worst thing you can do if you want them to actually succeed.

We dive into the reality that most businesses are selfish, short-termist, and borderline sociopathic because they only care about the bottom line and shareholders, ignoring every other stakeholder that actually matters. Simon challenges the idea that AI will replace human connection, arguing instead that technology should free us up for deeper relationships, not isolate us further behind screens and virtual friends like Mark Zuckerberg wants us to believe.

You'll hear why the best entrepreneurs are given too little capital, not too much, forcing them to make smarter decisions and avoid pissing money up against the wall on bad hires and rushed moves. Simon reveals how Octopus didn't start with a grand mission but with frustration and survival, hitting tiny milestones one at a time until they could finally ask themselves what they were actually building and why it mattered.

We explore the uncomfortable truth that META has done more for social isolation than any other company in history, why human beings desperately need to belong to something real, and why the next five to ten years will be a sick continuation of what's already happening to our kids who can't put their phones down. Simon leaves us with one powerful question: if the company you work for was a person, would you want to be friends with it? If the answer is no, you probably need to get another job.

More from Simon:
Website: https://www.octopusgroup.com

Hear more from the Hosts:
Jack https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Zac https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/

In this episode, we sit down with Simon Rogerson, co-founder and CEO of Octopus Group, an enterprise spanning energy, investments, real estate, and special needs schools, for one of the most honest, grounded, and philosophically charged conversations about what it really takes to build a business that isn't just profitable but actually worth being proud of when you look back on your life.

More from Simon:
Website: https://www.octopusgroup.com

Hear more from the Hosts:
Jack https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Zac https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/

Brought to you by our amazing sponsors:
Nooks The AI powered platform helping teams automate outbound sales and book more qualified meetings. To learn more visit : https://www.nooks.ai/wehaveameeting

In this episode, we take you inside a brutally honest live cold calling session where Jack, Zac, and special guest Jeb Blunt Jr. dial prospects in real time, proving that even the best salespeople face rejection after rejection and that success in cold calling isn't about magic scripts but about consistency, resilience, and the willingness to keep dialing when everyone else has given up.

We break down the psychology of cold calling frameworks, from Jeb's five step approach that grabs attention and builds curiosity in seconds to Jack and Zac's authentic British style that uses contradiction callouts and sounds like statements to disarm prospects. You'll hear the difference between asking for a meeting straight away versus building curiosity first, why calling out contradictions can either open doors or start arguments if you're not careful, and how to handle brush off objections like send me an email without letting polite prospects off the hook.

We expose the reality of AI assistants screening calls, the emotional strain of dialing through gatekeepers and voicemails, and why tools like Nooks matter when you're trying to maximize conversations instead of wasting time manually dialing. You'll witness live conversations with prospects who are too polite to hang up, business owners who are genuinely at capacity, and one retired gentleman who definitely does not want a meeting.

More from Jeb:
LinkedIn: JBJ (Jeb Blunt Jr.)
Book: 90 Days to Level Up Your Sales Skills
Website: https://www.salesgravy.com

Hear more from the Hosts:
Jack https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Zac https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/

Brought to you by our amazing sponsors:
Nooks The AI powered platform helping teams automate outbound sales and book more qualified meetings. To learn more visit : https://www.nooks.ai/wehaveameeting

In this episode, we sit down with Ella McCrystal, psychotherapist, TEDx speaker, author, and director of the Northampton Clinic, for one of the most raw, honest, and scientifically grounded conversations about trauma, anxiety, ADHD, and what it really takes to heal when your body remembers everything your mind tries to forget.

If you've ever wondered whether your anxiety is just who you are, whether your body is trying to tell you something your mind refuses to hear, or whether healing is even possible when the damage feels too deep, this episode will give you the permission to stop waiting for someone else to fix you and start understanding that your nervous system, your cells, and your brain are all capable of change if you're willing to do the work.

More from Ella:
Instagram: @ellamccrystal

Hear more from the Hosts:
Jack https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Zac https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/

Brought to you by our amazing sponsors:
Nooks The AI powered platform helping teams automate outbound sales and book more qualified meetings. To learn more visit : https://www.nooks.ai/wehaveameeting

In this episode, we dive into one of the most uncomfortable conversations of our time: how social media, broken family structures, and a failing education system are fundamentally rewiring the brains of an entire generation, and why the solution isn't more diagnoses but a complete rethinking of how we raise, educate, and protect young people in a world that profits from their attention.

Hear more from the Hosts:
Jack https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Zac https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/

Brought to you by our amazing sponsors:
Nooks The AI powered platform helping teams automate outbound sales and book more qualified meetings. To learn more visit : https://www.nooks.ai/wehaveameeting