A Quick Brew

England just beat Mexico in the World Cup, and James Pitron from Digital Data Governance is here to explain why cybersecurity requires the same tactical flexibility as football! Dave and James 'ICH' Sharples welcome Shiny (our guest James), a cyber essentials assessor just back from expanding operations across Southeast Asia. They dive into Cyber Essentials frameworks, why basic cybersecurity hygi...

EP42. The summer holiday season is coming, and your mindset about it will determine your results! This week Dave and James explore the sales fundamental that separates winners from everyone else: showing up when everyone else assumes it's quiet. They discuss why your effort directly equals your opportunities, why quality conversations matter more than call scripts, and why after working hard, you...

How do you turn broken tech into life-changing opportunities? Mike Tarbard, co-founder and CEO of Every Child Online and Everyone Digital, has spent five years answering that question... and the results are impressive! Dave and James welcome Mike to discuss digital inclusion, online safety, and how refurbished IT equipment is creating pathways for young people who would otherwise have no access. F...

Sometimes the best episodes are about the simplest things: paying it forward and remembering that kindness still matters. Dave and James kick off their 40th episode discussing James's decision to refocus on an AI project inspired by recent health scares, and David's work as a charity ambassador for Every Child Online and Everyone Digital. What follows is a celebration of random acts of kindness. W...

One conversation that needed to happen during Pride Month: why football remains one of the least inclusive sports, and what genuine change actually looks like. Dave and James welcome Phil McQuillan , Inclusion and Wellbeing Lead at Birmingham City Football Club, for a raw discussion about safety, authenticity, and a statistic that may just stagger you... What they discuss: 🏳️‍🌈 Why Pride Month is...

With the World Cup just weeks away, Dave and James dive deep into England's prospects. What they discuss: ⚽ Arsenal's heartbreak in the Champions League penalty shootout against PSG 💪 Why confidence matters more than trickery when taking penalties 🤞 World Cup favourites and some dark horse predictions 🎯 Squad selection debates 🏆 Premier League Manager of the Year choice... From why stuttering...

What happens when vulnerability becomes your superpower? Dave and James 'Hehe' Sharples welcome Lauren Cross, award-winning "vulnerability warrior" and blogger, for a conversation that spans mental health, authenticity, and why not everyone will like you, even if you're a peach... From her win at the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards to sharing her journey through anxiety, solo parenting, a...

What do you do when your car literally catches fire on the motorway? Dave and James 'Resilience' Sharples explore the power of perspective and resilience after James experiences every driver's nightmare - a head gasket blowout that turned his car into a bonfire on the A1! This episode is a masterclass in choosing your response when life throws curveballs. What they discuss: 🔥 How to stay positive...

Are you collecting business cards or building genuine relationships? Dave and James welcome Lesley McDowell from Baumann Partners to explore the art of networking done right. From the pitfalls of "panic networking" to the power of meaningful follow-ups, Lesley shares why quality always beats quantity when it comes to building your professional network. What they discuss: 🎯 Why three quality conne...

Do you use voice notes on LinkedIn, or do they make you cringe? Dave and James 'DM' Sharples dive into the world of LinkedIn DMs, exploring why voice messages add authenticity and personality to cold outreach, and why some communication methods fall flat (we're looking at you, unsolicited GIFs). What they discuss: 🎤 Why voice notes beat text for building trust 🤖 The AI tool that failed at person...

Dave and James 'Gasket' Sharples take a moment to re-rewind and reflect on the journey of A Quick Brew, celebrating the guests who've made the podcast what it is today. From Craig Kelly's milestone first appearance to Joe Emery's record-breaking appearance, they revisit the episodes that resonated most. What they discuss: 🎙️ Why guest episodes get the highest viewership 📚 The power of varied pers...

What happens when progress feels like it's moving backwards? Dave and James 'Fresh Wheels' S harples tackle some frustrations in this raw conversation. From the backlash against DEI initiatives to the troubling rise of the manosphere, they explore why anger and division seem to be bubbling to the surface. What they discuss:🌍 Why DEI isn't "nonsense"📺 Louis Theroux's Manosphere documentary and to...

When was the last time you waited six months to get paid for work you'd already delivered? Dave and James 'Finance' Sharples welcome Kat Edwards from 1Finance to discuss the cash flow crisis facing small and medium businesses, the reality of payment terms that can cripple growth, and why personal branding matters more than ever. What they explore:💰 Why cash is still king⏰ The shocking truth abou...

Are you getting your workplace wellbeing advice from credible experts or TikTok trends? Dave and James 'Change Maker' Sharples tackle the growing problem of misinformation in the wellbeing space, exploring why cheapest isn't always best when it comes to training, and how AI is making it easier than ever to sound like an expert without the credentials to back it up. What they discuss:🎯 Why 83% of...

What's the difference between learning martial arts and learning to survive real violence? Dave and James ' MMA ' Sharples welcome Reece Reeve from SOS Combatives CIC for a raw conversation about reality-based self-defence. From the physiological effects of adrenaline to why the people who need training most are least likely to seek it, Reece breaks down the 'reality gap' between sport fighting an...

EP28. What does it take to create meaningful change in workplace wellbeing? Dave and James 'Awards' Sharples reflect on the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards, an evening that celebrates the people and organisations genuinely transforming work cultures. From post-traumatic growth to the power of recognition, this conversation explores why celebrating changemakers matters more than ever. What...

When is grunting acceptable at the gym? (Spoiler: It's not 😂) Dave and James ' Grunt-Power ' Sharples welcome personal trainer and employee wellbeing coach Martyn Pace for a conversation that moves from gym etiquette pet peeves to the connection between physical and mental health. What they explore: 💪 Why grunting actually makes you weaker (the science might surprise you) 🧠 The mental health cr...

Is your email strategy building relationships or burning bridges? Dave and James 'Workflow' Sharples pull back the curtain on automated workflows, revealing why they think many businesses are getting it so wrong. If you've ever wondered whether you're staying top of mind or becoming that annoying contact people actively avoid, this episode is your wake-up call. What they tackle: 📧 The reason your...

To mark our 'Silver Anniversary' episode, we're joined by copywriter and LinkedIn voice Joe Emery , a man who knows better than most just how brutal the current job market really is. Joe brings raw honesty and perspective to the conversation, and shares details of how one of his early LinkedIn posts received 11 MILLION impressions! Highlights include:💼 Navigating a market that feels stacked again...

David and James 'On Tour' Sharples are back, and they've got some big news. Wellity Global is hitting the road across Essex this April for Stress Awareness Month, and they want to train 3,300 people... completely FREE of charge! Highlights from the episode this week:🗺️ The Be The Change Essex Tour: what it is, who it's for, and how to get involved (no catches, no credit cards, no freemium nonsense...

You asked, and we've delivered! Are you ready to crack the code on LinkedIn? In this episode, hosts David Bancroft and James 'Algorithm' Sharples sit down with LinkedIn adviser Alina Kovalchuk to demystify the platform's ever-changing landscape and reveal what really works in 2026 🚀What you'll discover:📊 Why your follower count matters less than you think👀 How "lurkers" might be your most valua...

EP22. In this AQB episode, hosts Dave and James "DAARTARR" Sharples tackle subscription fatigue, email management, and (most importantly) James's rant about the modern pronunciation of "data" as "daartarr."Subscription Overload 💸We dive into the reality of subscription creep. Inspired by a viral video where people couldn't accurately list their own subscriptions, James shares his journey of disco...

In this episode of A Quick Brew, hosts James 'Time2Talk' Sharples and Dave welcome Sadie Restorick , a prominent figure in workplace wellbeing. They discuss the critical role of managers in supporting their employees, the importance of mental health initiatives, and the ever-changing post-pandemic landscape of workplace wellbeing. Sadie shares insights on global trends, the concept of wellbeing wa...

In this episode of A Quick Brew, hosts David Bancroft and James 'Andre' Sharples discuss topics ranging from James' new hobby (can you guess what it is from his name and episode image), to the importance of in-person meetings in a digital age. They touch on the challenges of workplace communication, including ghosting and the role of technology in meetings. 🚨BIG NEWS🚨 The episode also features a...

In this episode of A Quick Brew, hosts James 'T-1000' Sharples and David Bancroft engage in a thought-provoking discussion with cyber security expert Sasha Roshan about the darker side of artificial intelligence (AI). The conversation begins with an introduction to Sasha's role at Huntress, a managed security platform. As the discussion unfolds, Sasha highlights the alarming ways in which AI can b...