Best Matchroom Pool Podcasts (2025)

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How Did Deliveroo Become Worth £2.9Bn? 34:22

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8h ago34:22

34:22

What starts as a side idea quickly becomes a full-scale obsession. For Will Shu, that obsession turned into Deliveroo, and it began with him delivering meals himself, learning the business from the pavement up. In this episode, Will takes us inside the early days of building a food delivery company from scratch, including the mistakes no one sees, …

1
How Five Guys Franchised The UK & Europe 47:51

7d ago47:51

47:51

What happens when a career built on spreadsheets collides with a gut-level belief in great food? John Eckbert’s path to becoming CEO of Five Guys is anything but conventional, and it nearly didn’t happen at all. In this conversation, John unpacks the improbable steps that took him from banking into the heart of one of the world’s most recognisable …

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The Family Elf That Became a $100M Christmas Empire 52:00

13d ago52:00

52:00

Before it became a worldwide holiday staple, The Elf on the Shelf was simply a Pitts family tradition, one that Christa Pitts helped turn into a cultural phenomenon through grit, creativity, and unshakeable belief. In this episode, Christa looks back on the early days of being rejected by every publisher, the decision to self-publish with her famil…

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How The Grand Tour & Clarkson's Farm Were Born | Andy Wilman 33:23

21d ago33:23

33:23

From Top Gear to The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s Farm, Andy Wilman has spent decades redefining what car television can be, and learning a few hard lessons along the way. In this episode, Andy opens up about the high-stakes Amazon deal that launched The Grand Tour, the legal and creative gymnastics of building something “like Top Gear, but not Top Ge…

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How The AJ Vs. Jake Paul Fight Was Made | Frank Smith 58:02

26d ago58:02

58:02

From delivering coffees at 14 to becoming CEO of Matchroom Boxing, Frank Smith has lived every side of the fight game. In this episode, Frank reflects on the defining moments that shaped his career, from his first “final warning” as a teenager to leading global events watched by millions. He shares the unexpected twists behind major fights like Ant…

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The Importance of Purpose & Finding Your Why 20:11

1M ago20:11

20:11

In this week's notebook I discuss the importance of not just finding your why, but acting on it. I share the unexpected panic I felt travelling back from my interview with Robert Lewandowski because of the thought I might miss my flight home. That rising fear revealed something important: when your purpose shifts, your reactions shift too. For me, …

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The Inside Story of Europe's First Budget Airline | easyJet Founder 49:11

1M ago49:11

49:11

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou joins us from Monaco to revisit the moment easyJet was created, beginning with the 1994 launch, where he persuaded his father to back his idea for a new kind of airline. He reflects on the early years of bold marketing stunts, legal battles with British Airways, and a fierce rivalry with Ryanair that pushed him to keep cost…

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Anything Above Zero Compounds 14:18

1M ago14:18

14:18

In this week's notebook, I talk about the fear I felt going into an interview with footballing superstar Robert Lewandowski, why we should enjoy our struggles, celebrate ourselves, and actively seek fear, not run from it. If you're currently feeling paralysed by fear or dissatisfied with everyday life, this episode's here to remind you that life's …

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Which Country Will Win The AI race? | Microsoft UK CEO 39:38

1M ago39:38

39:38

How does someone go from tinkering with computers in a small Manchester bedroom to leading Microsoft UK’s AI revolution? For Darren Hardman, it began with curiosity, hard work, and a lesson that changed his outlook forever: success isn’t about working more hours, it’s about working with purpose. In this episode, Darren shares the defining moments t…

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Jake's Notebook | Are You Wasting Time? The Hidden Forces Shaping Your Discipline and Relationships 29:51

1M ago29:51

29:51

In this week's notebook, I talk about the invisible force that quietly decides the quality of every relationship, the surprising link between doing the hard things you’d rather avoid and living a longer, calmer life, and the truth about time — how we use it, and how it completely changed my view on discipline and what’s truly important. If any part…

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How Entrepreneurs Win in the Age of TikTok | Thea Green 52:12

2M ago52:12

52:12

As founder of Nails Inc., Thea Green built one of the UK’s most successful beauty brands by combining creativity with integrity, and knowing when to pivot. In this episode, Thea shares the defining moment she decided to close the last nail bar and shift fully to retail, the lessons learned from turning down early acquisition offers, and the challen…

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Jake’s Notebook | How High Performance Began & Why Depth Is the New Currency 22:20

2M ago22:20

22:20

This week, I open my notebook to share how walking away from TV changed my life — and why ego nearly cost me purpose. I break down what’s really driving the future of podcasting, and the one thing that matters more than audience size: trust. Plus, a reminder that who you choose to walk with will define how far you go. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com…

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How WHOOP’s 22 Year Old Founder Outsmarted Nike | Will Ahmed 40:47

2M ago40:47

40:47

As founder and CEO of WHOOP, Will Ahmed turned a college dorm room idea into one of the most influential performance technology companies in the world. In this episode, Will shares the leap of faith that started it all, the early rejections that tested his resolve, and the pivotal decision to pivot WHOOP from a hardware company to a subscription mo…

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Jake’s Notebook | Remember When You Used to Be Good at Waiting? 19:55

2M ago19:55

19:55

This week in my notebook, I’ve been thinking about time — how quickly it moves, and how much of life we spend rushing to catch up with it. In this episode, I talk about rediscovering patience, the difference between recreation and re-creation, and the reminder that anything above zero compounds. If you’ve ever felt like life is moving too fast, lik…

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The Man Behind McDonald’s $1B Tech Gamble | Atif Rafiq 49:09

2M ago49:09

49:09

As a digital pioneer across companies like Amazon, McDonald’s, and Volvo, Atif Raffiq has built a career turning legacy brands into innovation powerhouses. In this episode, Atif shares how his first month at McDonald’s led to a billion-dollar digital transformation, the culture shock of bringing a Silicon Valley mindset into a 60-year-old global ic…

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Jake's Notebook | Learning to Live Well, Not Just Do Well 16:44

2M ago16:44

16:44

This week in my notebook, I’ve been thinking about what it really means to live well — not just to achieve, but to feel okay while doing it. Somewhere along the way, it’s easy to confuse progress with pressure, and ambition with never feeling enough. In this episode, I unpack a few lessons that stopped me in my tracks this week — about how we measu…

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The Rapper Who Turned Down Millions to Build A Baby Skincare Brand | Krept 53:53

2M ago53:53

53:53

Rapper, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Nala’s Baby, Krept has built his success on more than music, it’s been about discipline, ownership, and learning from failure. In this episode, Krept opens up about the make-or-break decision to turn down a major private equity deal and focus on building his brand at home before going global, the setbacks tha…

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Jake's Notebook | Everything You’re Good At, You Were Once Bad At & Meeting Stelios In Monaco 20:25

3M ago20:25

20:25

This week I open my notebook on three lessons that hit hard; Why the people you surround yourself with are the invisible architects of your life How every success story begins with being bad at something Why holding steady in the messy middle is where most people give up but the real growth begins. I share what I learned from sitting down with the …

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The Woman Behind Matchroom's Empire - The Business of Boxing, Darts & Pool | Emily Frazer 53:36

3M ago53:36

53:36

Emily Frazer’s path to becoming a leading force in live sports events was anything but traditional. Without a university degree and after jobs ranging from gymnastics coach to estate agent, she found herself at Matchroom, where a sudden promotion into event direction pushed her to grow fast and take on big responsibilities. In this episode, Emily s…

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Jake's Notebook | Héctor Bellerín's Life Advice, Leaving BT Sport and Reframing Envy 17:43

3M ago17:43

17:43

This week I share the lessons that have stayed with me — from Mudita, the joy of celebrating others’ success, to what I learned from Eddie Jordan about being the spark of light in the room. I open up about walking away from BT Sport and the identity shift that came with it, and reflect on Hector Bellerín’s idea of living like a candle — staying ste…

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Branding Secrets That Took 'The Ordinary' to #1 & Tragic Loss of Their Co-Founder | Nicola Kilner 58:06

3M ago58:06

58:06

As co-founder and former CEO of Deciem, Nicola Kilner helped build one of the most disruptive beauty companies of the last decade, but the journey was far from straightforward. In this episode, Nicola shares the career-defining advice she received from Estée Lauder’s Leonard Lauder, the bold decision to boycott Black Friday in favor of values over …

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Jake's Notebook | Write A To DON'T List, Being Willing To Fail & A Listener Question 25:50

3M ago25:50

25:50

This week Jake explores how failure is an instrument for success, how to reframe those who doubted you as a collaborator and why writing a "To Don't" list is just as important as a "To Do" list. He also answers a question from a listener, struggling with a new promotion at work and offers a candid exploration of times that Jake has struggled to sho…

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Why The Future of AI ISN'T As Scary As We Think & How To Prep for What's To Come 44:17

3M ago44:17

44:17

What will the future really look like—and how can we prepare for it? In this episode, Nick Foster, ex-Head of Design at Google X, takes us behind the scenes of moonshot projects and shares how to think rigorously about the future, from everyday life to big industries. He explains why AI is just one piece of the puzzle, and why understanding the tre…

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Jake's Notebook | Why I Turned Down Top Gear & How the Final 5% Sets You Apart 22:40

3M ago22:40

22:40

This week, Jake opens his notebook to reflect on missed opportunities, ego, and the stories we tell ourselves about "what might have been." From turning down Top Gear to starting Whisper with no plan, he shares raw lessons on regret, success, and why the final 5% matters most. Plus: a powerful tribute during Suicide Awareness Month, and a reminder …

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The Outsider CEO Disrupting F1's Dominance: Why Fast Feedback Wins 49:16

3M ago49:16

49:16

What does it take to guide companies through billion-dollar transformations, and then walk away in search of something new? Jeff Dodds has done just that. From leading Virgin Media through a $44 billion merger in the middle of lockdown, to stepping into the fast-paced world of motorsport, Jeff’s career is defined by bold pivots, unexpected opportun…

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Jake's Notebook | Steven Bartlett & A Letter From Deciem's Co-Founder 21:17

3M ago21:17

21:17

Since he was a teenager, Jake has kept notebooks and diaries, now for the first time he opens them up to discuss his thoughts on business and life in real-time. He reads candid notes he's made from recent interviews, events from his life and interactions with friends, colleagues and business leaders to help unpack the moments of inspiration and tho…

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Brutal Business Lessons From Child Star JoJo Siwa | Celebrity Endorsements & Creating a Personal Brand 41:38

4M ago41:38

41:38

What happens when a teenager takes control of her own brand? For JoJo Siwa, it meant signing a deal that wasn’t perfect, betting on herself anyway, and later realizing the power of knowing her worth. In this episode, JoJo shares how a simple bow became a global phenomenon, the challenges of rebranding from child star to seasoned entertainer, and th…

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OpenAI Insider’s Dark Warning on AI & The Hypocrisy of CEO Sam Altman 45:50

4M ago45:50

45:50

Journalist Karen Hao has spent years exposing the realities of the world’s most powerful AI labs. Her 2019 embed at OpenAI was a turning point, what she saw behind closed doors didn’t always match the public mission, and the lack of clear answers from leadership sparked a deeper skepticism that would shape her reporting. In this episode, Karen unpa…

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How To Spot If Your Boss Is Toxic & Surviving The Modern Workplace | Ben Askins 44:34

4M ago44:34

44:34

Ben Askins didn’t expect his next big chapter to come from LinkedIn posts, but it did. After selling his first business in 2021 and being locked out of new ventures during his earnout, he turned his focus to storytelling online. One post about a bad recruitment experience went viral, sparking a flood of stories from employees around the world and r…

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How I Sold My Startup To Adobe For $110M | Alex Packham 47:42

4M ago47:42

47:42

Alex Packham knows what it’s like to have everything change in a single day, and nothing changes at all. From selling ContentCal to Adobe from his spare bedroom in the middle of lockdown to waking up the next morning wondering who he was without the business, Alex’s journey blends adrenaline highs with the quieter, harder work of rebuilding identit…

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Monzo CEO: The Major Problem With Traditional Banking & How To Fix Financial Anxiety 44:14

4M ago44:14

44:14

TS Anil’s journey through the world of banking has been anything but conventional. From boardrooms in Tokyo to the fast-moving culture of Silicon Valley, each step taught him that real change doesn't come from preserving the past, it comes from building something new. In this episode, TS reflects on his decision to leave the safety of big banks, th…

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Gary Stevenson | The Structural Flaw In Society Billionaires Don’t Want You To Know 42:04

5M ago42:04

42:04

Gary Stevenson didn’t follow a traditional path, he challenged it at every turn. Expelled from school at 16 and later pushed out of Citibank for speaking up, Gary’s journey has been shaped by resilience, rebellion, and a refusal to stay silent. In this episode, Gary opens up about the high-stakes world of trading, the psychological toll of chasing …

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From DIY T-Shirts To £100m Global Label: Represent’s Branding Blue Print 43:37

5M ago43:37

43:37

George Heaton’s journey with Represent wasn’t a straight line, it was a series of hard pivots, gut checks, and quiet rebuilds. What started as a passion project in streetwear hit a breaking point, forcing George to confront what wasn’t working and make the kind of decisions most founders avoid. In this episode, George takes us through the moment ev…

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Will Music Survive AI & Turning $400 Into A Global Music Platform: Resident Advisor Founder Paul Clement 40:50

5M ago40:50

40:50

Paul Clement never set out to build a flashy startup, he set out to build something that mattered. Born from genuine passion and a deep connection to the community he served, his business grew not by chasing trends, but by staying grounded in purpose. In this episode, Paul talks about the power of building slowly and sustainably, why loving the pro…

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"You Can’t Monetize Burnout": The Rise, Fall & Rise Again Of Britain's Biggest YouTuber 34:57

5M ago34:57

34:57

Jim Chapman was part of a digital wave no one saw coming, and found himself at the center of it. What started as casual videos turned into global influence, brand deals, and a move to London that changed everything almost overnight. In this episode, Jim reflects on the chaos and charm of building a career in the early days of YouTube, the pressure …

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Inside the Enhanced Games - The Controversial Startup Redefining Sport | Aron D'Souza 44:40

6M ago44:40

44:40

Aron D’Souza didn’t just question the rules, he set out to rewrite them. Frustrated by the limitations of legacy institutions, he launched the Enhanced Games: a bold, controversial vision aimed at redefining the future of human performance. In this episode, Aron shares the moment he walked away from venture capital to pursue something far riskier, …

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I Built an Ice Bath In My Garage, Now Ronaldo Uses it 38:11

6M ago38:11

38:11

Dan Bosomworth wasn’t chasing fame, he was chasing a feeling. One moment in his garage, fed up with complacency and craving change, sparked the creation of a product that would go on to redefine recovery for athletes, celebrities, and wellness seekers around the world. In this episode, Dan unpacks the early missteps, how challenge creates change, a…

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He Risked His Life Savings to Build a $87 Million Business 40:36

6M ago40:36

40:36

Nick Grey didn’t follow the traditional path, and that’s exactly what made all the difference. Long before GTECH became a household name, Nick was a designer quietly solving problems, battling self-doubt, and planning a bold leap into entrepreneurship on his own terms. In this episode, Nick reflects on the early rejection that shaped his drive, the…

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I Left an $800M+ Dating App to Build Tinder for Mums 57:15

6M ago57:15

57:15

What sparks the leap from corporate boardrooms to building a movement? For Michelle Kennedy, it was a single conversation in a meeting room that changed everything. In this episode, Michelle shares the turning point that sparked her leap from legal counsel to founder, how early work with Bumble ignited a passion for building from scratch, and the b…

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The Bold Strategy That Saved GQ & Made It Matter Again 1:09:34

7M ago1:09:34

1:09:34

How do you take a brand from dated to defining? For Dylan Jones, it started with a clear vision, a few audacious hires, and the nerve to challenge tradition from the inside out. In this episode, Dylan reveals the calculated risks behind GQ’s reinvention, the behind-the-scenes battles that shaped its new voice, and how one outrageous idea proved he …

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How IKEA's CEO Transformed an 82-Year-Old Company in 5 Years 52:43

7M ago52:43

52:43

What happens when a supply chain expert is handed the keys to one of the world’s most iconic brands? For Jesper Brodin, it meant hitting the road, literally, to understand the heartbeat of IKEA from the ground up. In this episode, Jesper shares the behind-the-scenes decisions that helped steer IKEA through a digital revolution, a global pandemic, a…

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Richard Branson on Selling Virgin Records for $1B, Donald Trump & Going to Space 43:37

7M ago43:37

43:37

Before Virgin became a name known around the world, one bold decision set Richard Branson on a path that defied every expectation. In this episode, he recounts the pivotal moments, from turning a missed flight into the birth of an airline, to risking it all on artists no one else would sign. Branson shares the battles behind boardroom doors, the do…

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I Quit My Job At 51... Now I Own A Global Beauty Brand 48:34

7M ago48:34

48:34

What happens when a beauty industry powerhouse walks away from the boardroom to build something entirely her own? For Michelle Feeney, it meant defying expectations, embracing uncertainty, and launching a purpose-led brand grounded in decades of experience. In this episode, Michelle shares the pivotal moment that sparked her leap into entrepreneurs…

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The Day Rory Sutherland Became a Marketing Genius 41:02

8M ago41:02

41:02

What if the biggest breakthroughs in business don’t come from logic, but from noticing what others overlook? In this episode, Rory Sutherland unpacks the moment a late-night scroll through economics blogs led him to Nudge, sparking a fascination with behavioral science that would quietly transform global brands. From saving a snack brand with a sin…

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The Genius Who Saved Nike - and Made Michael Jordan Iconic 37:39

8M ago37:39

37:39

Before Michael Jordan became a global icon, one unlikely figure made the call that changed everything. In this episode, Sonny Vaccaro shares how a gut instinct, a relentless belief in potential, and a risky pitch inside a boardroom at Nike rewrote the rules of sports marketing. From nearly walking away after Jordan leaned toward Adidas, to the quie…

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They Only Had $36 Left… Now This Protein Bar is a $1B+ Brand 39:40

8M ago39:40

39:40

What does it take to turn a niche idea into a global phenomenon? For Alan Barratt, it meant trusting his instincts, betting on a product his own board doubted, and risking it all on a pivot that made no logical sense, until it did. In this episode, Alan reveals the behind-the-scenes battles that shaped Grenade’s bold transition from sports suppleme…

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The Risky $5M Gamble That Made Five Guys Global 52:34

8M ago52:34

52:34

How does a former banker end up leading one of the fastest-growing food brands in Europe? For John Eckbert, it started with a magazine cover, a cold email, and a vision that would eventually reshape the fast-casual dining landscape in the UK and beyond. In this episode, John takes us through the unexpected journey that led him to Five Guys, from a …

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How Liberty Media Took Over Formula 1: Inside the Deal With the Man Who Bought F1 44:48

8M ago44:48

44:48

What does it take to steer one of the world’s most iconic sports properties through a high-stakes transformation? For Greg Maffei, it meant navigating tense negotiations, decoding power dynamics, and learning to read the room, sometimes quite literally. In this episode, Greg unpacks the behind-the-scenes moments that almost derailed the Formula One…

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He Used To Deliver Pizza. Now He Runs a $2B+ Company. 40:45

9M ago40:45

40:45

What happens when a hungry banker decides to transform food delivery? For Will Shu, it meant hitting the streets as Deliveroo’s first rider, facing unexpected challenges, including getting a scooter helmet stuck on his head and navigating a high-stakes antitrust investigation. In this episode, Will shares the key moments that shaped Deliveroo’s jou…

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How do you make a deal with Gordon Ramsay? HexClad CEO explains 50:28

9M ago50:28

50:28

What does it take to disrupt an entire industry? For Danny Winer, it meant ignoring conventional wisdom, challenging the biggest names in retail, and taking a multimillion-dollar gamble on a single Super Bowl ad. In this episode, Danny shares the unexpected turns that led him from entertainment to entrepreneurship, the moment Gordon Ramsay’s team c…