The M Word Podcast

What if one of the world's most popular fitness movements was actually born on the Isle of Man? In this fascinating conversation, Martin and Matt sits down with Stephan Baum, entrepreneur, AI film awards founder, and one of the driving forces behind the Isle of Man's ambitious attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest Pilates class ever held. Stephan shares his remarkable journey...

Callum Gawne has just won the Isle of Man Parish Walk — but this conversation goes far beyond the finish line. In this episode, Callum opens up about the journey behind the result: starting as someone who was shy, not naturally part of sports clubs, and entering the Parish Walk as a personal challenge after a difficult period in his family life. What followed was a rapid rise in racewalking, a sub...

The Isle of Man has produced incredible sporting talent, but few people have lived as many different lives as Darryl Hill. From becoming one of the world's best young snooker players and competing on the professional circuit, to taking on some of the biggest responsibilities in motorcycle racing as a TT Deputy Sector Marshal and Clerk of the Course, Darryl's story is one of resilience, reinvention...

When Graeme Banfield was 13 years old, he travelled to Hillsborough to watch Liverpool play Nottingham Forest in the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. What should have been one of the greatest days of his young life became a day that would shape everything. In this powerful and emotional conversation, Graeme shares his story of surviving the Hillsborough disaster, the unknown man who may have saved his life...

In this episode, Martin speaks with Tim Kennaugh, former rider, cycling performance coach and founder of Tim Kennaugh Coaching, about the reality behind modern cycling performance. Tim shares his journey from growing up on the Isle of Man, entering the British Cycling pathway, dealing with illness and stepping away from racing, before finding his route into performance through Rapha Condor, EF and...

This week, we sit down with Ed Prow, founder of Potting Shed and TEKEX, and Chris Sheldrick, co-founder of what3words, to explore what it really takes to turn an idea into a globally recognised business. Chris shares the remarkable story behind what3words, from a career-ending injury as a classical pianist to building a platform now used by emergency services, global brands, logistics companies an...

In this episode, we sit down with Jorge Wylde, founder of JW Coaching, to talk about fitness, fat loss, bodybuilding, mindset, business and the reality behind lasting transformation. Jorge opens up about his own journey from golf and football, to gaining weight, trying extreme diets, losing six stone, putting it back on, and eventually discovering the structure, discipline and knowledge that chang...

In this episode, we sit down with Nikki Arthur and Orran Smith. Nikki is one of the Isle of Man’s leading ultra and fell runners, to explore how a former boxer and Muay Thai fighter found her way into some of the toughest endurance events in the UK and Europe. Nikki’s story is not just about running long distances it’s about identity, resilience, pressure, community, and discovering what you are c...

Most businesses think they have a performance problem. Andy Jones believes they actually have a leadership and culture problem. In this episode, Andy founder of PeopleBrand breaks down why so many organisations hit an invisible ceiling as they grow, and why communication, trust, and leadership standards quietly become the biggest barriers to performance. Drawing from his journey through sport, bus...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Albert Johnson an endurance athlete who pushed his limits to an extraordinary level, completing 33 marathons in 33 days. But this isn’t just about physical performance. Albert opens up about the deeply personal reason behind the challenge running in memory of his friend Graham, who tragically lost his life. What follows is a raw and honest conversation ab...

In this episode of M Word, we dive deep into the real meaning of brand beyond logos, colours, and surface-level design. Joined by the team at OPX Studio, we explore how brand identity is built from the inside out shaping not just how a business looks, but how it behaves, communicates, and ultimately performs. From working with global institutions to early-stage startups, they break down why most b...

From inner-city Coventry to the pinnacle of European rugby, Leon Lloyd’s journey is far from conventional. In this episode, Leon opens up about being forced into rugby, finding identity in a world where he never quite felt he belonged, and how that mindset fuelled a career at one of the most dominant teams in rugby history. But this conversation goes deeper. Leon shares: The truth about elite perf...

Two former detectives, one from the Metropolitan Police at New Scotland Yard, the other from the Isle of Man’s Serious Crime Unit sit down to break down how financial crime really works. In this episode, Rob Kinrade and Bill Durrant share decades of experience investigating fraud, money laundering, and organised crime revealing how criminals actually move money, how they exploit systems, and why s...

This episode is a powerful and eye-opening conversation on endometriosis, a condition affecting 1 in 10 women, yet still widely misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and often dismissed. Joined by Karen and Sharon from the Manx Endometriosis Support Group, we unpack the reality behind the condition, far beyond “just bad periods.” From crippling pain, fertility struggles, and years of misdiagnosis, to the e...

Most people think getting in shape is about motivation. It’s not. In this episode, Danny Hands breaks down what actually drives real transformation and why most people fail before they even start. From working in corporate roles to building his own business, to stepping on stage and earning his Pro Card, Danny shares the reality behind discipline, pressure, and showing up when you don’t feel like...

In this episode, Martin sits down with entrepreneur Joshua Sinclair to explore the mindset behind building things from nothing. Josh shares his journey from experimenting with technology at a young age to launching software ventures and navigating the unpredictable world of startups. The conversation dives into curiosity, resilience and the willingness to try even when you don’t have everything fi...

Matthew Richardson is the fastest human on the planet on a bike having broken the 9 second barrier over 200m in 2025. The first person (and at time of recording only) human to have achieved. Olympic medallist and world-record sprint cyclist Matt Richardson joins The M Word for a raw conversation on performance, pressure and identity. From starting gymnastics at age two to squatting 240kg and break...

In this episode, we sit down with Jenson Artus, founder of Manx Growth Solutions, to explore what it really means to build credibility in the modern digital world. From launching MGS to developing the concept of Digital Credibility, Jenson shares how marketing is no longer just about visibility, it’s about trust, authority, and commercial impact. We dive into: The journey of building a business fr...

For more than half a century, John Watterson didn’t just report on Isle of Man sport, he preserved its history. From taking over as Sports Editor in the mid-1980s to witnessing the explosion of junior and women’s sport, John has seen Manx sport evolve from a small, male-dominated scene into a thriving, community-driven sporting culture. He covered iconic moments at the TT, followed Manx athletes t...

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Lawless to explore his career Chris shares his journey into competitive cycling unpacking how structure, patience, and consistency matter far more than motivation or chasing trends. He speaks candidly about overtraining culture, the obsession with doing more, and why most people sabotage progress by copying what elite athletes do without understanding the co...

What if the thing holding you back isn’t your fitness, your talent, or your circumstances, but a belief you didn’t even realise you were running? In this episode, we sit down with Carly Craig, Isle of Man athlete, Island Games triathlete, corporate professional, and certified Belief Coding® facilitator. We start with sport,Carly’s journey from cross-country running to elite triathlon, what it real...

From balancing elite training schedules to building sustainable habits in everyday life, Clara Isaac’s journey into triathlon is anything but conventional. In this episode, we sit down with Clara Isaac to explore how she transitioned into triathlon, rapidly progressed to competitive racing, and learned the technical and mental skills of a sport that demands mastery across swimming, cycling, and ru...

In this episode, Martin sits down with Emma to unpack a life shaped by one simple habit: saying yes. From growing up in a tough environment in Burnley to joining the RAF cadets, Emma explains how early exposure to structure, challenge and opportunity set her on a path very few could imagine. What begins with adventure — flying, kayaking, bobsleigh — steadily escalates into high-stakes military dep...

What’s the Skeet Podcast host Percy & M W Podcast host Martin go on tour and chat with brothers Danny and Joe Kane in their Community gym, The Meadow In this episode, Percy and Martin sit down with brothers Danny and Joe, the founders of The Meadow Gym, to explore the journey behind one of the Isle of Man’s most distinctive fitness communities. From their early days as two young lads passionate ab...

In this episode, Martin is joined by Dr Beth Godwin, a clinical psychologist and certified intuitive eating counsellor, for a wide-ranging and deeply human conversation about psychology, food, body image, and the environments we live in. Beth shares her personal and professional journey into psychology, shaped early by her mother’s work as a psychiatric nurse and later refined through years of cli...