Startup Podcast Series 2: Get Better, Go Further

December 14, 2020

Learn business lessons from the experts

Welcome to Series 2 of this Startup Podcast series. This second series hosted by Peter Harrington, explores key issues fitting within the theme of ‘Get Better, Go Further’. Learn business lessons from experts, receive top tips and discover invaluable information sources.

Like Series 1 and Series 3 all practical and theoretical information within this startup podcast is provided to help businesses survive and preferably thrive.

The theme ‘Get Better, Go Further’ has been chosen since successful start-ups can’t rely on being good at one thing. Ambitious entrepreneurs have to master many skills. This series focuses on key disciplines and provides critical advice, tips and ideas that will help people to learn business skills that will move them forwards.

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Startup Podcast generates generous support

Once more, thanks to the vision of LJ Silverman, this podcast is supported by LSE Generate, the Enterprise arm of the London School of Economics. And the SimVenture Team is backing the project too.

And I’m delighted to confirm ‘Seajam Moths’ has very kindly agreed to sponsor this Series with their brilliant music.

And then there are the 12,000+ people who tuned into Series 1. Thank you for being there, thank you for sharing and thank you for all startup podcast feedback.

Get Better, Go Further – Startup Podcast Episode Content

Fifteen episodes are included in Series 2 and all details are below. Episodes are available to download and stream from this site as well as BuzzSprout, Spotify and iTunes etc (see below). The first 2 Start-up podcasts in the series were first shared here on January 28th 2021.

Introducing Series 2

Know your entrepreneurial self – Published
Think creatively and generate ideas – Published
How research turns ideas into great products and services – Published
Stitching life together through C19: An Entrepreneur’s Case Story – Published
How to create, develop and manage a high performing website – Published
Finding and working with investors – Published
How to start and scale a social enterprise – Published
Why environmental sustainability is the future – Published
Networking to influence – Published
Startup marketing: What works and what wastes money and time? – Published
Why what you sell is not what people buy – Published
Local to Global: Expand your entrepreneurial horizons – Published
Negotiate negotiation – Published
Perfect Presenting – Published
Thinking through your entrepreneurial future – Published

Listen to Series 2

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Episode detail including special guest information, reference material and transcripts is published below.

You can also find, download and stream all podcast episodes on your favourite channel be it Amazon, Apple, Google, Spotify or Stitcher.

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Episode 1 – Know your Entrepreneurial Self

Welcome to the opening episode in Series 2 of the Startup Survival Podcast, with your host Peter Harrington and special guest, Professor Andy Penaluna.

All start-ups are equipped with the planet’s most extraordinary biological machine.

The brain.

But how many of us know how to make best use of this phenomenal piece of kit? Tune into this episode and listen to Professor Emeritus Andy Penaluna reveal some of the fundamental ways in which the brain works and how we can best work with it. Learn how start-ups can make thought-through decisions, generate better ideas and and how we all develop skills and talent.

Learn business lessons and more about Andy at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 2 – How to think Creatively and Generate Ideas

Get ready to be inspired by one of the most imaginative and creative of minds…

Forever curious and possessing an insatiable appetite for exploring ‘better’ horizons, Professor Alistair Fee shares his thoughts on being creative and generating ideas.

In this episode, discover how and why Alistair brings James Bond into the classroom and why he believes tall buildings offer so much learning opportunity. Packed with wonderful imagination, deep thinking and practical examples, enjoy this voyage into the world of how best to develop and progress any entrepreneurial idea you may have.

Learn business lessons and more about Alistair at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 3 – How Research turns Ideas into Great Products and Services

Listen to the brilliant Diana Kander, Serial Entrepreneur and New York Times Bestselling Author, reveal how research can work for you.

Famed for her ground-breaking book ‘All in Startup’, Kansas-based Diana Kander gifted the entrepreneurial community a precious resource. And her work and deep insight is the focus of this podcast.

In this episode, hear Diana explain how to conduct research so you uncover the precious truths that will help turn your start-up into a sustainable and potentially thriving venture. Diana shares the challenges of research and the fact most people will lie to you and behave irrationally when you ask them questions. Discover in this episode how to trick people into telling you the truth and how to use feedback to maximum advantage.

Learn business fundamentals and more about Diana at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 4 – Stitching Life together through C19 – An Entrepreneur’s Case Story

To get a sense of what life has been like for UK entrepreneurs seeking to save their business during C19, tune into this ‘case story’ interview with international business-woman, Lisa Comfort. Be prepared, this is not a typical interview about entrepreneurial success.

Frank, honest and often emotional, listen to Lisa share her struggles. Learn why facing up to previous challenges gave her the strength and ability to save her craft-based company from being a victim of the pandemic.

As part of the case story you will learn about Lisa’s background, her motives and her passion for sewing, clothes and crafts. As importantly, you’ll learn about her retail roots and how her digital transformation leadership proved so vital during the darkest months of 2020.

Learn business fundamentals and more about Lisa at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 5 – How to Create, Develop and Manage a High Performing Website

Any start-up business owner who knows how to consistently attract hundreds of thousands of loyal website visitors is worth a listen.

In this episode, tune into Chris Titley, Editorial Director at YorkMix Media. Hear him explain the fundamental principles underpinning the design and management of a high performing website. Learn about audience focus, building partnerships, SEO, website structure, common start-up website mistakes, supporting social media and much more.

Originally trained as a journalist, Chris started his entrepreneurial career nine years ago when he switched from print to digital media. And when he started his own company his website started from scratch too.

By tuning into episode 5 you will hear everything you need to know to create, manage and sustain a highly successful website.

Learn business fundamentals and more about Chris at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 6 – Finding and Working with Investors

Whether you plan to run and scale a for-profit venture or social enterprise, tune into this pivotal episode and learn all about finding and securing investment finance.

This episode’s special guest, Olga Miler, is a rare individual. Not only has she spent many years working in the banking industry supporting start-ups, but she is also a serial entrepreneur. As a consequence she is able to view this subject from dual perspectives.

In this podcast listen to Olga’s advice about the different types of finance and how you go about finding investors. And discover what she says about preparation and lead times so you give yourself the best chance when you make your pitch. You’ll also hear Olga provide tips on pitching too.

Learn business fundamentals and more about Olga at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

Providing sex education within schools in Colombia drives social entrepreneur Sebastian Jaramillo to make a positive difference.

Listen to this podcast to find out how and why Seb started TxC, an organisation committed to reducing unwanted teenage pregnancies so young people can lead more fulfilling lives. Hear Seb offer specific and practical advice that can be applied to the launch and growth of any social enterprise.

By listening to this episode you’ll also learn about critical books and reference sources that Seb recommends. You’ll also develop a deeper appreciation of the startup growth stages, the marketing actions you need to take and the importance of building trusted partnerships with sponsors, customers and other stakeholders.

You may need to listen to this podcast more than once to fully appreciate the depth of the content. But as soon as you hear Seb’s voice you’ll know this is someone who is committed to a cause and passionate about his purpose in life.

Learn business fundamentals and more about Seb at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 8 – Why Environmental Sustainability is the Future

Tune in and listen to entrepreneur, engineer and academic, Dr Peter Melville Shreeve, explain why all start-ups must prioritise environmental sustainability.

Early in this episode you’ll learn about basic environmentally sound practices that all businesses should adopt. But as the podcast progresses you’ll also hear about opportunities to seize and why the global environmental sector is going to boom in the next few years.

Talking through all the salient issues, Dr Melville Shreeve provides tips and advice throughout that will help all start-ups to grow their green credentials. He also shares specific thoughts as to how any organisation of any size can shape and market their services so they have the best chance of winning new business.

Including references to key information sources, listen to this most important and timely of podcasts and help your venture secure triple bottom-line credentials.

Learn business fundamentals and more about Peter at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 9 – Networking to Influence

All start-ups must get out of the building and out of their comfort zone. Inevitably, this means meeting others and starting conversations with people we don’t know. For the lucky ones, ‘professional socialising’ is enjoyable and rewarding. But many find the task terrifying. And then there are those whose excessive self-belief means their perceived ability is at odds with reality.

Tune into this episode with my expert guest Amanda Dickens. With decades of networking experience in the professional services and start-up space, Amanda shares an array of insightful thoughts and ideas, all rooted in common sense and seasoned practice.

Listen to Amanda and learn how best to plan and prepare for meetings, read behavioural signals, break the ice with strangers and ultimately build sustainable professional relationships that will help you to grow your venture.

Learn business background details and more about Amanda at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download transcript of this episode.

Episode 10 – Startup Marketing: What Works and What Wastes your Money and Time?

For all startups on a budget, spending money on marketing is possibly one of the most frustrating of all activities. Just when you thought a social media or google ads campaign would lead to customers lining up for your latest gizmo, all you get is silence and the inevitable bill.

Like a casino, marketing is supposed to be the enjoyable, fun side of business. But like a casino, marketing can drain your business of precious money and time.

If you’ve been affected and want to turn the marketing odds in your favour, listen to this show’s expert guest and marketing specialist, Victoria Bradley. A serial entrepreneur and seasoned startup advisor, Vics shares how you can build a business on a shoestring marketing budget.

Tune into this episode and learn how to apply common-sense tactics and strategies that will give your venture the best chance of survival and growth. Full of practical top tips and advice, this is a must-listen episode for any startup student or entrepreneur seeking to succeed.

Learn business background details and more about Victoria at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 11 – Why what you Sell is not what People Buy

So many start-ups fail to prioritise selling as a key business issue. Entrepreneurs new to the journey often sell badly, think marketing is sales or believe their product/service is so good, no selling is required.

Don’t be fooled!

Instead, tune into sales trainer and selling guru Martin Hutchins. Hear him explain why so many people get sales wrong and how effective salespeople work. By listening you’ll learn what people really buy when they make a purchase. You’ll also discover how this knowledge will help you to redefine sales processes that work for your business.

This comprehensive episode covers many key business lessons from mindset, resilience and relationships through to empathy, body language, communication and much more.

Learn business background details and more about Martin at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 12 – Local to Global: Expand your Entrepreneurial Horizons

What mindset and skills are required to start a business and grow it globally?

In this fascinating episode, tune into Vikrant Shaurya and learn how this young, gentle but highly focused publishing entrepreneur transformed his own life and started a business that has become a global success story.

Vikrant shares the struggles of not being truthful with his family and how his early business failure led friends to laugh at his misfortune. He also talks about how he worked hard, discovered his entrepreneurial talent and used customer feedback and deep competitor analysis to exploit market opportunities.

Ultimately, you’ll discover that as long as key building blocks are in place, technology now provides all entrepreneurs with the ability to start and grow a sustainable business that works across borders.

Learn business background details and more about Vikrant at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 13 – Negotiating Negotiation

How much money and time will you let slip in the months and years ahead because you assume you’ll always negotiate the best deal and get the very best outcome for your venture?

Whether it’s hiring fresh recruits, working with suppliers, winning new clients or renewing contracts, the issue of negotiation is at the heart of so many start-up activities.

Being a skilled negotiator really pays. With the help of Devon Smiley, a seriously smart and highly engaging negotiation expert with vast experience and an array of start-up tips and stories to share, you’ll learn how and why in under 60 minutes.

By tuning into this episode, you’ll discover how to adjust your behaviour, develop practical strategies, appreciate subtle tactics and ultimately build great business relationships with people who want to work with you.

Learn business background details and more about Devon at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode. Why not also use the fully prepared FREE negotiation lesson resource (suitable for all levels) available within this Blog.

Episode 14 – Perfect Presenting

Like it, love it or loath it, presenting is one of those key skills all entrepreneurs should learn to master. Being able to speak effectively to an audience gives you the power to communicate, influence and persuade.

In this episode, tune into presenter extraordinaire, Alex Simmons. Learn about his journey from Young Enterprise national finals and ‘DJing’ at teenage club events to talking to tens of thousands of people at Wembley and the 2020 Black Lives Matter event in London’s Hyde Park.

Alex shares how to plan and prepare presentations, how to structure thinking, how to use your voice and critically how to speak so people buy into what you say. Humble and still learning himself, Alex is one of the standout guests in this series.

Learn business background details and more about Alex at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

Episode 15 – Thinking through your Entrepreneurial future

May be you know how your entrepreneurial adventure will end. And may be you know how you will get there. But given the uncertainty of life (pandemic or no pandemic) the chances are you don’t.

So how the heck do you plan, prepare and think through your entrepreneurial future with any degree of confidence? One way is to tune into this final episode and hear from a seasoned entrepreneur who has not only passed the start and finishing lines with several businesses but has also viewed the journey from multiple perspectives.

By listening to Jane Murray you’ll discover how to take greater control of your entrepreneurial future, how to prepare for a successful exit and how to give yourself the best chance of making start-up life work for you. Jane shares how you can think, learn and work so you avoid painful traps and instead spend as much time as possible enjoying the journey.

As promised in the podcast, use this link to find out more about the band ‘Twelve Angry Men’ and also listen to two of their songs.

Learn business background details and more about Jane at the foot of this post. For the benefit of all, a transcript for this episode will be made available.

Listen to this Startup Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google and more…

This second startup podcast series is available for streaming and download on Apple, Spotify, Google and other platforms. Simply access your platform and search for ‘Startup Survival Podcast’.

Alternatively, use the link below to access the podcast on all platforms via Buzzsprout.

Stream & Download the Startup Podcast Series from other Platforms

Startup Podcast References

As with Series 1, links to all references from each startup podcast episode will be published below so you can access business lesson source information quickly and easily.

Episode 1: David Eagleman – The Brain, Antonio Damasio, Sir Ken Robinson – TED, Daniel Coyle – The Talent Code, Myelin, Daniel Kahneman – Thinking Fast and Slow, The Design Council, and John Kounios.

Episode 2: Life of Brian, John Cleese – Creativity, T-Shaped People, Stanford University Design School, Tom Kelly – The 10 Faces of Innovation, Robert Frost – The Road Not Taken, See Sense Bike Lights and Anita Roddick, Body and Soul.

Episode 3: All in Startup by Diana Kander and Alchemy by Rory Sutherland

Episode 4: Sew Over It, London School of Economics Report, Nimblefins, Bruce Oldfield, StitchSchool, London College of Fashion, Phillipa Lepley, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Businesses and How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer.

Episode 5: How to Fail (Podcast by Elizabeth Day), Google Analytics, Building a Storybrand by Donald Miller, Helsinki Bus Station Theory, Dishoom – From Bombay with Love and York Mix.

Episode 6: SmartPurse, Seedrs Crowdfunding, Crowdbazaar Crowdfunding, Information is Beautiful, Crunchbase

Episode 7: Build, Measure Learn and the Lean Startup Principles, Getting Beyond Better: How Social Entrepreneurship Works by Roger Martin and Sally Osberg, Altruistic Capital by Prof, Nava Ashraf and The Goldilocks Challenge by Mary Kay Gugerty and Dean Karlan.

Episode 8: The Carbon Trust, The Energy Savings Trust, President Biden Speech April 2021 , Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, Morning Star Direct, BP Launchpad, Google Climate Change Accelerator, The Gaia Hypothesis by James Lovelock.

Episode 9: Discover networking opportunities using Meetups, connect with your Chamber of Commerce, use Linkedin, be part of a TED Talk and read ‘The Introvert’s Edge’ by Matthew Pollard.

Episode 10: Access the website Fiverr, use Instagram, listen to How I Built This by Guy Raz, listen to The Future by Chris Do and listen to How to Fail by Elizabeth Day. The book recommendation for this episode is Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath.

Episode 11: This episode contains the single reference Start with Why by Simon Sinek.

Episode 12: Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, Systemology by David Jenyns, The One Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib, design graphics with Canva, Bring on the Learning Revolution by Sir Ken Robinson and find out how to develop an affiliate program with JVZoo.

Episode 13: Donncha Hughes, Never Split the Difference by Christopher Voss, Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson and The Culture Map by Erin Meyer.

Episode 14: Young Enterprise is a national charity equipping people with work skills and knowledge. The Yellow Pages is a business directory.

Episode 15: References will appear here