Tech a Break

In this episode of Tech a Break, Andy joins us virtually from London, and it sparks an interesting conversation about travel. What happens when you're away from the office? Could your business continue to run smoothly without you being physically there?

Growing a business sounds simple… get more customers, make more money, right? Well… not quite. In this episode of Tech a Break, Adam and Andy unpack the real challenges that business owners face as they grow.

In this episode of Tech a Break, we're delighted to welcome back Louise Dargue, who first joined us all the way back in Episode 31. This episode is all about Louise's bookkeeping business... although judging by some of the stories, you could be thinking it was actually about her holidays! We catch up with Louise to hear what’s changed since her first appearance and how her business has evo...

In this episode of Tech a Break , Adam and Andy discuss the do’s and don’ts of business networking . Networking isn’t about selling to everyone in the room it’s about making connections, learning from others, and becoming part of a community. A huge thank you to our sponsor, Darlington Business Club , for supporting this episode and helping businesses connect and grow.

Want to get an hour of your week back? This episode of Tech a Break is packed with simple shortcuts that can save you time every single day. Adam and Andy share their favourite keyboard shortcuts, Outlook tricks, Excel tips, and workflow hacks that help them work faster and smarter.

This is a very special episode of Tech a Break 🎉 This month, Hubspoke Media celebrates an incredible10 years in business, so Andy decided it was finally time to turn the microphone around and interview Adam about the journey so far.

In Episode 126 of Tech a Break, we’re joined by Jonathan Blench, owner of Blench Photography and Blench Digital. Jonathan takes us behind the lens to talk all things photography. We also chat about smart cameras, behind-the-scenes content, social media, and even the privacy concerns around wearable tech like smart glasses. Find out more about Jonathan’s work: https://www.blenchphotography.co.uk/ h...

In Episode 125 of Tech a Break , Adam and Andy ask a slightlyterrifying question… What if organic social media was turned off tomorrow? And yes… the legendary fictional rare book shop from our early episodes makes a comeback to help us explore the problem once again.

In this episode of Tech a Break, we’re joined by a very special guest, James, Andy’s son, coming to us live via Teams all the way from Austria. James is a kindergarten teacher, teaching English to children from all over the world, and he gives us a fascinating insight into what it’s like working in such a diverse, international environment. We chat about the importance of learning languages, how t...

Adam and Andy talk in depth about pricing jobs, implementing new workflows and ultimately breaking the bottleneck that comes with running a business!

In Episode 122 of Tech a Break, we’re joined by Martin for a conversation that’s both eye-opening and genuinely inspiring. Joining us via video call, Martin shares his experience of using technology as a blind person, navigating a world that wasn’t originally designed with accessibility in mind. From everyday tools to workplace systems, he gives us a real insight into the challenges, workarounds,...

In Episode 121 of Tech a Break, Adam and Andy tackle an important topic for every household, internet safety. We break down ways to keep your family, (especially children) safe online, without needing to be a tech expert. From setting clear rules and screen time boundaries to understanding your home Wi-Fi setup. We also explore tools like ad blockers, guest Wi-Fi networks, and parental controls, e...

In Episode 120 of Tech a Break, we’re joined Ian Lamming. Ian shares his journey into journalism, how he built his career, and the passion that’s kept him going through years of storytelling. It’s one of those conversations that could have gone on for hours.

In Episode 119 of Tech a Break, we’re joined by Jen Jarvie and Howard Little, the minds behind Detective Rooms, an immersive experience that puts you in the role of the detective. Forget just escaping a room… this is about solving a crime. Step into realistic crime scenes, analyse evidence, review witness statements, and work with your team to crack the case before time runs out. It’s a fully inte...

In Episode 118 of Tech a Break, we welcome back a familiar face, Dan, Centre Manager of Darlington Workspace. Dan first joined us way back in Episode 20, and now he’s back to share what’s changed, how things have grown, and what it’s like running a hub that’s home to so many brilliant local businesses. We chat about the development of Darlington Workspace and what goes on behind the scenes to keep...

In Episode 117 of Tech a Break, Adam and Andy take a step back into the early history of computing and one of the most important moments in technology. We explore the work of Alan Turing at Bletchley Park during World War II. Turing and his team were tasked with breaking the German Enigma machine, which was used to send encrypted military messages. To tackle the challenge, Turing helped develop th...

On this weeks episode of Tech a Break, Adam and Andy rattle through the underdogs of efficiency and productivity software to speed up workload and management (basically how to be really quick on your computer!)

In this episode of Tech a Break, we’re joined by Martynfrom Cheney Payroll Consulting and Bureau Services, a company that helps businesses take the stress out of payroll, implementing brand new systems, improving existing processes, or even handling the entire payroll function fromstart to finish. Martyn shares his journey into the world of payrollconsulting, how he built his business, and what it...

In this episode of Tech a Break, we welcome backsomeone very special. Our very first ever guest , Hannah Worsley returns to the mic! And this time, she’s here to talk about something we don’t always think about… the dangers of technology. Want to learn more about Hannah and her work?👉 https://hannahworsley.com/

In Episode 113 of Tech a Break, Adam and Andy talk about biohacking, where technology meets the human body… We talk wearable tech like Apple Watches, Fitbits, diabetes trackers, and how they’re already changing lives through health monitoring, insulin tracking, and early warnings when something isn’t right. But then things get a little more futuristic. People playing chess with their minds using N...

He’s back! After mysteriously disappearing since December, Adam finally returns to Tech a Break. In this episode, we catch up and jump straight into some big topics affecting businesses right now. We talk about the real challenges companies are facing, how platforms like Substack are changing the content and communication game, and the growing role of AI Agents in Copilot, what they are and what t...

In Episode 111 of Tech a Break, we’re joined by Adam Gray. Car reviewer, journalist, and the mind behind The Car Buying Coach. Adam’s journey is anything but ordinary. From living in Saudi Arabia to returning to the UK and building a successful career in automotive journalism, he shares how cars shaped his path. We also dive into Adam’s work as The Car Buying Coach, helping people actually enjoy t...

In Episode 110 of Tech a Break, we welcome our second guest of 2026, Mark, administrator of Northern Athletics, the organisation behind track & field, road running, and cross-country competitions across the north of England. We talk about the technology that makes modernathletics possible, including athlete rosters for tracking progress over time and chip timing systems that ensure every secon...

In this week's episode of the Tech a Break podcast, Andy is joined by Natalie Warren-Green, the founding director of Mirabilis. Natalie (known by many as Tilly) is an experienced senior director with a proven track record of international success in organisational change leadership, marketing, strategy, business development, publishing, programme, portfolio, and PMO management, and product dev...

It’s the most techy time of the year! For Episode 108, Adam and Andy take a festive stroll down memory lane, revisiting highlights from all 108 episodes of Tech a Break. We also reflect on some brilliant guests who’ve joined us along the way and the unexpected things we’ve learned from them. We wish you a very Merry Christmas, a relaxing break, and a tech-filled New Year.