Sofa Stories

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Nick and Gary are joined by Oska Dean, expert and researcher in peptides and biohacking, for an insightful conversation exploring one of the most talked-about areas in health and performance. Together, they unpack what peptides are, how they work, and why they’re generating so much interest across medicine, fitness, longevity and recovery. Oska explains the differ...

Send us Fan Mail Politics, technology, family life and a healthy dose of humour: it’s another wide-ranging conversation This week, Nick and Gary get together to discuss Andy Burnham’s convincing by-election victory and why many now see him as having a genuine path to becoming the UK’s next Prime Minister.  The pair also dive into the “Netflix Effect”—how technology and algorithms are increasingly...

Send us Fan Mail Kicking off with a walk-and-talk through the countryside, this episode of Sofa Stories covers a wide range of topics, from television and politics to global affairs and personal wellbeing. We begin by reflecting on the impressive performances of Oli the Choc and his father, Papa Choc, on Channel 4’s Bake Off. We discuss how well they came across on screen, their natural charisma,...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Sofa Stories , we tried something a little different: taking the podcast outdoors for a relaxed walk-and-talk through the countryside. The change of setting brought a calm, natural feel to the conversation and allowed everything to flow really organically. We covered a wide mix of stories and experiences, including Gary’s cycling trip, where he shared some of th...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 80 of Sofa Stories marks a brilliant milestone as NB & Gary celebrate hitting the big 8-0 in episodes, and they do it in classic laid-back Sofa Stories style. The episode kicks off with the pair enjoying some excellent 0% alcohol-free beer from Belgium, chatting about the growing quality of alcohol-free options and how good these modern beers have become. They then div...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Sofa Stories ‘5K debrief’ , we cover a bit of everything: from the madness of the two runners chasing a sub-two-hour London Marathon, to whether we’d ever even attempt it ourselves. Gary shares stories from his three-day gravel bike adventure, and his wild water swimming adventure at the stunning Dorothea Quarry in Wales🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 . We also chat about changing times ove...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, Nick and Gary sit down with Gail Wolstenholme and Martyn Horleston, two members of the “Old Enough To Row Better” crew; an extraordinary team of endurance rowers preparing to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Training off the coast of North Wales, this mixed crew (with an average age of over 50) is taking on the ultimate challenge: rowing from La Gomera in the C...

Send us Fan Mail In This 5k , NB and Gary delve in to their favourite box sets and Podcasts and Gary explains to NB the new hype behind TRT and why it is all the rage right now.. Gary then does a ‘trust pilot’ review of his favourite saunas/ ice baths  he has visited across the UK 🧊🔥 We talk about our wonderful colleague Oli the choc’s move into merchandising and brand building at the ideal Home...

Send us Fan Mail Easter Holiday Special: 5K Live from The Farm Club in Cheshire Join Nick, Gary, and friends for this special Easter holiday episode of 5K, recorded live from The Farm Club in Cheshire, fresh after a swim in Pickmere lake. 🎙️  In this episode, they chat about health and wellness, what they have done over Easter holidays , Gary back on the fine wine 🍷, the situation in Iran, future...

Send us Fan Mail Hi All!  NB and Gary back on the sofa 🛋️ with a 5 k debrief discussing multiple topics; Louis Theroux's Netflix Manosphere, the ongoing conflict in Iran, being kind to yourself, Gary's 75 hard coming to an end and how he feels anticipating his first alcoholic drink! 🍷.. Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought...

Send us Fan Mail Delighted to be back!! We’re kicking off the year with a slightly different line-up, as our very own Oli “The Choc” is currently knee-deep in chocolate and incredibly busy with media appearances and chocolate-related commitments. With his schedule packed, we’re delighted to welcome a very special guest presenter for this episode, a great friend of the show, Gary Pemberton. Gary jo...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to take on external investment, and how do you know if it is the right move for your business? In episode three of this three-part Sofa Stories x Clearwater special, we focus on funding the next chapter and explore what raising external investment actually looks like in practice. Joined by Mark Taylor, CEO of Clearwater, and Christopher Jones, Managing Par...

Send us Fan Mail In episode two of this three-part Sofa Stories x Clearwater special, we focus on valuation and unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of selling a business. Joined by Michael Loudon and Joe Dyke, both Partners at Clearwater, we explore how valuation really works in practice and why it is rarely just a number on a spreadsheet. From EBITDA multiples and market benchmarks to scar...

Send us Fan Mail What is it really like to sell your business, beyond the headlines and valuation multiples? In this first episode of a three-part Sofa Stories x Clearwater special, we go behind the deal to demystify the realities of selling a business. Joined by Rich Goldsack, Partner and Head of Clearwater’s Leeds office, and Gareth Iley, Group COO and founding member of Clearwater, we unpack wh...

Send us Fan Mail Do what you love, then put every cell of your body into it, put every ounce of your energy into it, embrace your inner madness, go with the flow, don’t ignore inspiration, double down, don’t compromise your creativity, go nuts, practice, fail, make yourself vulnerable, refine it, reinvent it, move the goalposts, question it, reframe it, fine tune it, get comfortable with it then c...

Send us Fan Mail Join “NB and Choc” LIVE STYLE at Brook Lane Coffee Co. Alderley Edge. With our fabulous Training, Development and Coaching Expert and Mentor to teams of professionals in the corporate world as well as children - Jess Lomas. Jess has an infectious energy and passion for helping others build confidence and a wealth of skills and knowledge to thrive in their environment, be it in sch...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a  Cheeky little  catch up on the sofa at the boardroom at Arighi Bianchi. Perhaps on your morning run. Will kick things off with electrolytes and some padel , but we will take you to places that you won’t expect.   Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engag...

Send us Fan Mail Ladies, Gents and fellow Pod Lovers. Please permit me to grant you access to “The Ben Wain Experience”.  A passionate Leader with 20 Years of Retail Sales and Operations Excellence. With two decades of diverse experience in retail sales, performance management, and high-level operations, dedicated to driving success through a people-centric approach. His coaching style emphasises...

Send us Fan Mail We had the pleasure of welcoming Joe Sealey on the Pod, we talked to Joe who is an ex pro footballer (West Ham) about his fantastic business Mr Whippy (confectionery), Real Housewives of Cheshire and his lovely wife Nicole Sealey, we talked the menopause, padel of course, the untimely death of his late father and Manchester United Goalkeeper Les Sealey, we covered addiction, his b...

Send us Fan Mail DEAR STAN…. ✍️  I’m delighted to have recorded a bonus episode of The Sofa Stories Podcast with a true gentlemen and fellow Stan from New Jersey, NY- @chejames1985 (IG) James is an official “Stan” as featured in the Eminem documentary “Stans”, this 30 minute bonus episode will release tomorrow, that’s 26th August, to coincide with the release of Stans streaming on Paramount Plus…...

Send us Fan Mail Good morning to our wonderful listener and friend! We are delighted to bring you this episode, which is true to form a very cheeky 5K. Which includes a little bit of the following and more…. NB exclusive on Chester Zoo. Choc - the Bobby Davro experience at Palé Hall. A social media masterclass, thanks to el burrito monster. And a seasoning of some other delicious stuff, come on no...

Send us Fan Mail Ryan Harris, a business man who is passionate about development and mindset runs - School Of who as well as running “wrap around childcare” at schools, they also have holiday camps spanning across 8 locations in Greater Manchester. Ryan said “COVID was the reset I needed”.  A time in which he focused on his mindset and personal development, since then his business has been flying....

Send us Fan Mail It feels good to be back… LET’S GET INTO IT… Choc and NB record a 5K debrief from Choc Studios and wax lyrical about a whole host of topics including the new bi-weekly podcast format, padel (obvs), Sport and NB’s Jerry Maguire moment, Macclesfield FC and Robbie Savage’s departure, future business plans and inspiration from all angles. Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram....

Send us Fan Mail In celebration of World Chocolate Day, we are proud to invite Simon Dunn Chocolatier on to the Pod, a father and son episode delving into Papa Choc’s journey into confectionery and chocolate production, an insight into life as a Chocolatier and what it was like making the national headlines when closing the Wilmslow shop, the end of an era but the beginning of a new one. Constantl...

Send us Fan Mail Having Tommy in the studio just made us smile, not only because he's a Rugby Union legend who played for Sale Sharks, Wasps RFC and England in The Six Nations. He's getting married this Saturday so it was a real privilege to get him in Choc Studios on such a big week. So interesting hearing about Tommy's journey, his enthusiasm not just for the sport but for people,...