The Rookie CEO

Karl Cowell returns to the Rookie CEO Podcast with hosts Fuzz and Hev to talk business partnerships. From starting a company with a friend to building a professional partnership, they explore sharing decisions, handling disagreements and keeping the relationship strong while running a business together. Thank you to our sponsors: IT Manager Services - www.it-ms.co.uk Fuzzy Logic - www.fuzzylogic.s...

Stress doesn’t just affect your business, it takes a toll on your body and mind, too. In this episode of The Rookie CEO Podcast, we’re joined by coach Kathy Hayman, owner of Better Minds Better Business, for an honest conversation about the real cost of stress. We share our own experiences and reflect on how the pressure of running a business affected our health, wellbeing and the way we showed up...

Are we relying too much on AI, and do we really understand what it can do? In this episode of Rookie CEO, we’re joined by Martin Kingman from PLC Group to talk all things artificial intelligence. We explore what AI is capable of today, where it could go next, and what businesses should watch out for as it becomes part of everyday working life. From the opportunities to the pitfalls, we discuss whe...

It’s easy to put yourself last when you’re busy building a business, chasing goals and keeping up with everyday life. But what happens when you forget about YOU?In this episode of Rookie CEO, we’re joined by fitness and mindset coach Alex King to explore the relatable challenges of losing weight, building healthy habits and making time for yourself. We dive into the mindset behind lasting change,...

What does money mean to you....freedom, security, success, or something else entirely? In this episode of The Rookie CEO, we’re joined by money coach Claire Hill to explore how our beliefs about money shape the way we earn, spend, and live. Claire shares her personal story, experiences, and practical tips to help you rethink your relationship with money and create opportunities to earn more. We al...

Can a round of golf really help you grow your business, or is the “19th hole” just an excuse for a drink? In this episode of The Rookie CEO Podcast, Fuzz and Hev are joined by Dean Johnson from Signs and Imaging, who took up golf last year to make new connections and grow his business. We explore his experience of swapping traditional networking for the fairway, what really happens during a round...

Pivot or Persist? That’s the question every founder faces, and Karl Cowell has answered it more than once. In this episode of The Rookie CEO Podcast, Fuzz and Hev sit down with Karl, co-founder of The Wix Guys, to explore a career shaped by bold pivots, hard-won lessons and the determination to keep moving forward. Karl shares how changing direction at the right moments ultimately led him to build...

In this episode, Fuzz and Heather explore why constantly being busy could be holding your business back. They discuss the difference between being busy and being productive, how an overloaded schedule can prevent clear thinking and business growth, and why doing everything yourself isn’t always a sign of success. They also share practical advice on prioritising the work that creates genuine progre...

In this episode, we’re joined once again by Rachael from Your Video Team to discuss the realities of juggling family life while running a business. We explore the challenges of balancing competing priorities, managing the inevitable feelings of guilt, setting boundaries and finding a routine that works, both professionally and personally. Rachael also shares honest insights from her own experience...

In this episode of The Rookie CEO Podcast, Hev and Fuzz are joined by Samantha Spillett for an honest conversation about the highs, lows and occasional headaches of growing a team. They explore hiring the right people, learning to let go and creating a culture where everyone can thrive, because building a great team is about much more than simply adding names to the group chat. Thank you to our sp...

In this episode of The Rookie CEO Podcast, Hev and Fuzz are joined by Zoe Bowles for an honest and entertaining conversation about life as a female entrepreneur. They explore the challenges, expectations and realities women face in business... while Fuzz bravely navigates being the only man in the room! Together, they share personal experiences, compare perspectives and discuss where their entrepr...

Before diving into the episode, make sure you subscribe so you never miss future conversations with experts and business owners. In this episode of The Rookie CEO Podcast, we're joined once again by Thom Cakebread to explore one of the biggest questions in business: networking or marketing? Are they competing strategies, or do the best businesses use both? We discuss how networking builds trus...

How do you confidently start a conversation with someone you've never met? In this episode of The Rookie CEO, we're joined by Rachael Bryant, Co-Founder of Your Video Team, who interviews hundreds of strangers every year. Rachael shares her practical tips, confidence-building techniques and real-life experiences to help you overcome awkwardness, build genuine connections and discover why s...

This week, it's just Fuzz and Hev behind the microphones, diving into a topic that's transforming businesses of every size: automation. From marketing and operations to customer service and admin, they explore how the systems already available today can save time, reduce repetitive tasks, and help you work smarter, not harder. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or someone who's never touched automat...

In this episode of The Rookie CEO Podcast, we’re joined by Samantha Spillet, owner of multiple successful businesses employing more than 20 people. Samantha shares the lessons she’s learned throughout her entrepreneurial journey, from the challenges and setbacks to the decisions that helped her grow stronger. Expect honest conversations, practical advice, and relatable stories that every business...

This week, we’re joined by Zoe Bowles from Agar Bowles Ltd to uncover some of the most common compliance mistakes businesses make. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Am I actually compliant?” or worrying about what you might have missed, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Join us as Zoe shares practical advice, clears up common misconceptions, and explains how to stay on the right s...

Welcome back, Rookies! We’re kicking off Season 2 by diving headfirst into the world of TikTok. Love it or hate it, it’s one of the most talked-about platforms for business growth. Joined by Thom Cakebread, founder of Cakeshop Media, we explore the pros, the cons, the myths, and how businesses can actually use TikTok to build a brand that gets noticed. Thank you to our sponsors:IT Manager Services...

What better way to round off the season than with the questions your favourite guests never knew they were asking each other? 🎙️✨For this end-of-season special, we thought we’d finish with something a little different, bringing together the anonymous questions our guests have been leaving behind throughout the season and finally revealing the answers. It’s packed with unexpected insights, honest...

The 60-second intro… the networking moment that somehow feels like a TED Talk and a job interview rolled into one. 🎤😅In this episode, we’re joined again by the brilliant Beth Turner to tackle those inevitable 60 seconds that come with almost every networking event. You know the moment, all eyes on you, brain suddenly empty, and somehow your own business becomes impossible to explain. That’s exac...

Imposter syndrome… the uninvited business partner none of us asked for. 🎭✨We’ve all felt it at some point, that little voice questioning whether we’re good enough, experienced enough, or even meant to be in the room. In this episode, we’re joined again by Helen Banyard from The Good Stuff to unpack the reality of imposter syndrome and, more importantly, how to tackle it. Helen shares her honest...

What if your business was built around your life, not the other way around? 🎥✨In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Bryant from Your Video Team, sharing his journey from simply picking up a camera to building a thriving podcast business. We dive into how adapting his business around the lifestyle he wanted gave him the freedom to grow something that truly works for him, proving that success doesn...

Cashflow: the bit no one gets excited about… until it keeps them awake at 2am. 💸😅In this episode, we’re joined by Keeley Walker, Director at Brisan Accountancy, to talk about one of the most overlooked parts of building a business: cashflow. It’s something many new business owners underestimate, and if we’re honest, plenty of experienced ones still get wrong today. Keeley shares her biggest tips...

Let’s talk about failure… because in business, it’s rarely the failure itself that defines us, it’s what we do next. Some of the best opportunities, biggest lessons and most unexpected breakthroughs are born from the moments that didn’t go to plan. In this episode, we’re joined by Caroline Hallett, who shares her honest experiences of failure, the lessons she’s taken from them and how she’s person...

Awkward conversations… the ones we all avoid until we absolutely can’t.  😅 Today, the one and only Beth Turner is back with us to unpack how to handle those uncomfortable but unavoidable chats that come with running a business, leading a team, and managing people. From chasing late invoices to navigating performance meetings, we’re talking about the conversations that make your stomach do backfli...

Fuzz & Hev are joined again by Sue Lee, a professional hypnotherapist sharing are greatest tips on how to use hypnotherapy to support your day-to-day anxieties and stress. Thank you for listening and we hope you found this episode helpful. If you want further support with your business and self development visit www.therookieceo.co.uk Thank you to our Podcast Sponsor, IT Manager Services: http...