Ideas Club

Please note this is our season 1 finale episode, we will be back with an updated format for season 2 soon. In the mean time, why not watch some of our other episodes from season one? They are all available now on our page. 🔎 Episode Summary In this episode, David and Jamie sits down with Maya Karan, Good Space’s Content Marketing Lead (and newest employee), for a wide-ranging conversation on work...

🔎 Episode Summary In this episode, Jamie and David sit down with Thomas Keown, founder of Many Hopes, a survivor-led nonprofit working across Africa and Latin America to rescue children from abuse and exploitation. The organisation supports them into adulthood as leaders and change-makers. Thomas shares an extraordinary personal journey. He discusses how he grew up during the Troubles in Northern...

🔎 Episode Summary In this episode, Jamie and David sit down with James Rutter — the creative and strategic mind who helped scale COOK from a £30m family-run food brand to a £130m certified B Corp, all while deepening culture, protecting quality, and refusing to “sell the soul” of the business. James shares how his early career in journalism shaped his obsession with stories, why people-first comp...

In this episode, David and Jamie sit down with Alistair Hargreaves , former Saracens rugby player and co-founder of Wolfpack, to explore his unlikely leap from professional sport into building one of London’s most beloved independent pub brands. Hargreaves reflects on the “cliff edge” faced by every athlete, the pressure of figuring out life after sport, and how desperation, resilience and camarad...

In this episode, David and Jamie sit down with Oliver Proudlock, sharing his journey from an unexpected start in reality television to becoming a successful multi-business owner. Proudlock opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped his worldview, including his parents' bankruptcy and his mother's unconventional creative spirit, and how these experiences fuel his commitment to authenticity and...

💡 Episode Summary In this inspiring and heartfelt episode, Jamie and David sit down with Tom Herbert , fifth-generation baker, author, and social entrepreneur behind The Long Table — a pioneering community restaurant built around the question: “What if everyone in our community had access to great food and people to eat it with?” Tom shares his personal and professional journey — from growing up...

🎙️ Ideas Club Podcast #11 – Josh Spector: How to Get Clients From Your Content Hosts: Jamie Dundas & David Brown Guest: Josh Spector – Writer, strategist, and creator of For The Interested newsletter 🔎 Episode Summary In this episode, Jamie and David sit down with Josh Spector — a digital strategist who spent nearly a decade running social media and marketing for The Oscars before building hi...

Episode Summary In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Don’t Tell Dad , Queen’s Park’s much-loved bakery-restaurant that’s become both a local hub and a brand built on story, mischief, and heart. From the playful name to the deep personal history behind it, our guest shares how the restaurant was inspired by his sister Leslie, a tragic loss that sparked a new way of living and creating....

🎙️ Ideas Club Podcast – Episode with Parul Bavishi (London Writers' Salon) In this episode, David and Jamie speak with Parul Bavishi about the journey of creating the London Writers' Salon, a global writing community that helps writers find their voice, stay accountable, and connect with others. Parul shares insights into how Writers’ Hour was born during the pandemic, why creative communities mat...

Summary In this conversation, Sophie Cross, the publisher and editor of Freelancer Magazine, shares her journey of building a community-focused publication that supports freelancers. She discusses the importance of authenticity on platforms like LinkedIn, offers insights into copywriting, and emphasizes the value of starting projects before feeling fully prepared. The conversation also touches on...

This week on Ideas Club, we’re joined by Sophie O’Brien , founder of Pollen , a recruitment platform that flips the hiring process on its head—putting people, purpose, and potential at the heart of every application. After experiencing the frustration of applying to hundreds of jobs without meaningful feedback, Sophie set out to fix what she saw as a broken system. Pollen now connects young talent...

Jamie & David chat with Ed Vickers, the brains and brawn behind Sums ( sumsclub.co.uk ) and the original "Sock Man" from Jolly's! In this episode, Ed shares his eclectic career journey, from his early days building the socially conscious sock brand Jolly's to working with a brand agency and a real estate fund, and ultimately, his return to the world of entrepreneurship with Sums. Episode Highl...

Jamie and David explore the paradigm shift from traditional management to a coaching-oriented leadership style with expert Will James. Learn why fostering autonomy, mastery, and purpose (as highlighted by Daniel Pink) is crucial for employee motivation and how a coaching approach can amplify these drivers. Will introduces his coaching model, emphasizing the clarity of a "high-definition picture of...

In this episode, David and Jamie explore the often-dreaded world of meetings, asking the critical question: "Could this meeting have been an email?" Provoked by Elon Musk's perspective on meeting efficiency, your hosts delve into why so many meetings are unproductive and how to transform them into valuable, energizing sessions. Discover our meeting rhythms and cadences, designed for our own indie...

David and Jamie reflect on their experiences with closing two venues, discussing the lessons learned from failure, the importance of strategy, community dynamics, and the challenges of product market fit. They emphasise the need for genuine connections within teams and the significance of aligning business strategies with operational realities. The discussion serves as a therapeutic exploration of...

Summary In this conversation, David Brown and Jamie discuss the significance of values in business, emphasizing that the core of any organization should be its values rather than just its products or services. They explore how shared values among team members can energize the workplace, guide decision-making, and shape the company's identity. The discussion also covers the importance of hiring ind...

Overcoming Creative Fear and Embracing Imperfection In this episode of the podcast, David and Jamie discuss the challenges of creative work, including the fears of exposure, self-promotion, and criticism. They share personal experiences and practical strategies for overcoming these obstacles, such as developing consistent creative habits and embracing imperfections. The conversation also highlight...