We Have A Meeting

In this episode, we sit down with Sean McPheat, founder and CEO of MTD Training, for one of the most brutally honest, emotionally raw, and strategically revealing conversations about what it really takes to survive 25 years in business, why a Tony Robbins weekend walking across hot coals convinced him to quit his £100k corporate job at age 29, and why most people fail in entrepreneurship because they go into it half pregnant instead of fully committing to the fight.

We reveal why just because you're good at something doesn't mean you'll be good at leading a business doing that thing, why decorators and painters are brilliant at their craft but terrible at answering emails and sending invoices, and why the acid test question for entrepreneurship is whether you want to be old looking back with regret about all the things you didn't do. Sean leaves us with one powerful piece of advice: don't go into business ownership half arsed or half pregnant because you've really got to go all in, build up a treasure chest of savings to give yourself a couple of months runway, and question the shit out of your decision before you burn the bridges.

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 Samuel Leeds, property entrepreneur and course creator, for one of the most divisive, brutally honest, and strategically revealing conversations about whether he's a legitimate property investor helping people build wealth or a course selling shyster using rage bait and fear mongering to drive clicks and sales.

We break down his viral content teaching kids how to buy houses with the bank's money, why flying his children in economy while he sits in first class sparked outrage across the internet, and whether that's actually good parenting or just another algorithmic stunt designed to boost impressions when engagement drops. You'll hear why his appearance on the Gary Economics documentary raised questions about his sales tactics, why telling people to take out loans they can't afford to buy property courses is dangerous advice that Gary Economics was right to call out, and why those that can do and those that can't teach.

We reveal why AI scaremongering has become the new FOMO marketing tactic creating urgency around property investment, why claiming your investment properties will hold value when AI takes everyone's jobs ignores the reality that nobody will have money to buy houses if the economy collapses, and why people need to stop being sold on fear and start engaging the rational part of their brain before taking out loans that put strain on their families. You'll hear why Samuel's social media strategy feels all over the place, why his networking content of a nervous 17 year old trying to find investors at a party is bizarre, and why ethical sales means giving people the bad news upfront instead of getting them excited in the moment only for remorse to hit them later.

We leave you with one challenge: post a picture of Samuel Leeds and ask Samuel, are you from Leeds, tag us in the comments, and the first person to do it wins 500 pounds while the second person gets the mystery prize.

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 Kent Bray, former Citibank trader and therapeutic counselor, for one of the most brutally honest, emotionally raw, and strategically revealing conversations about what it really takes to survive in the trading world, why cocaine addiction nearly destroyed everything he built, and why the man who sat beside Gary Stevenson every day says parts of that viral city backstory aren't true.

We break down the reality of trading at one of the world's biggest banks, why losing $5 million in a day taught Kent more about resilience than any win ever could, and why the best traders have an innate ability to disseminate information with perfect timing and conviction that separates them from everyone else. You'll hear why Kent made $34 million one year after being down to zero at six months because he was doing three grams of cocaine every morning, why he made $4 million over a weekend by accident while doing coke in his apartment overlooking the Thames, and why colleagues started asking if he had cancer or AIDS because he'd lost so much weight.

Kent reveals why Gary Stevenson's claim of being the most profitable trader globally at Citibank isn't truthful according to WhatsApp messages he still has, why Gary sat on a million dollar seat doing nothing after falling out with the bank over unvested stock, and why being genuine and authentic matters more than any cause when you're building credibility. You'll hear why Kent went from 90 kilograms to 63 kilograms as a raging drug addict doing 20 to 30 grams a week, why he's now nine years eight months clean and sober helping professional men who feel like there's no one to talk to, and why his greatest achievement isn't what he achieved but what he overcame.

We reveal why a wealth tax would absolutely devastate the UK through intellectual property and wealth migration, why millionaires don't like free handouts because they worked their guts out for everything they have, and why penalising success instead of rewarding it sends a horrible message to entrepreneurs. Kent leaves us with two powerful questions: what's your dream and why aren't you going for it, and where does truth sit in amongst your cause?

More from Kent:
Website: Kent Bray Counselling and Mentoring

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 to react to Gary Economics, the viral internet economist from Ilford, for one of the most brutally honest, divisive, and strategically revealing conversations about whether his message is genuinely helping poor people or just creating rage bait that oversimplifies incredibly complex economic problems into bite sized chunks that lose all their nuance.

We reveal why 81% of entrepreneurs have had some sort of crappy sales job like door to door or cold calling before they became successful, why growing up poor and facing adversity should leave you inspired by people who've been there and done it rather than scared by someone telling you the system is rigged, and why the antidote to Gary's message would be sitting him down with someone who can walk him through how quickly you can start making money if you actually try instead of just arguing big picture points that always have holes in them.

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 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/