Swim Against The Tide
Business & Finance
About
The idea behind Swim Against The Tide podcast is to meet founders and leaders of businesses who have launched and operate in competitive markets, taking the bigger, more established players head on. It is about exploring what drove them, how their brand stood out, what they had to do to win and what lessons they have learned that they can share with the listeners to hopefully inspire them to take their own journey. The show is presented by Steve Henry, Co-Founder of the specialist marketing group Audience Collective. Steve has enjoyed a 30-year career in advertising helping 100s of brands win and grow. He is passionate about telling these stories and sharing their journeys, both good and bad, to help the next generation learn and encourage them to one day start their own challenger brand. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, please email satt@thisisaudience.com and we will be in touch.
Episodes
- Ep088 – Gillian Ridley Whittle, Founder, Peachaus | Building Peaches: Creating a movement for good | SATT
Gillian Ridley Whittle, founder of Peachaus, shares her journey from corporate retail to creating a women's underwear and leisurewear brand focused on comfort and confidence. The episode explores her mission to empower women through bra fi…
- Ep087 – Jay Worthy, Group CEO, MyZone | Creating momentum & motivation in the fitness market | SATT
Jay Worthy, CEO of MyZone, discusses his journey from facing hardship to leading a successful fitness business, experiencing burnout, and rebuilding his leadership approach with a 'SustainableOS'. The episode covers themes of identity, rec…
- Ep086 – Sahil Verma, CEO, Cookaway | The Accidental Foodpreneurs getting you to cook together | SATT
Sahil Verma, CEO of Cookaway, shares his story of becoming an entrepreneur and co-founding the food experience platform. The episode covers building a brand on culinary authenticity and cultural storytelling, alongside challenges in scalin…
- Ep085 - Antonia Johnstone, CEO, Sign of the Times | Re-founding a brilliant brand for the next generation | SATT
Antonia Johnstone, CEO and Re-Founder of Sign of the Times, shares her experience transitioning from an economics student to leading a UK luxury resale marketplace. She details her journey from building an initial team to acquiring and gro…
- Ep084 – Julian Warowioff, MD UK, Lemonaid | Happy growth; Why doing good and tasting great works | SATT
Julian Warowioff, UK MD of Lemonaid Beverages, shares his journey in social entrepreneurship, focusing on brand building, market entry, and leadership. The episode covers insights into creating a successful global brand with authenticity a…
- Ep083 – Barnaby Edwards, Director, The Garlic Farm | Why knowing nothing changed everything
Barnaby Edwards shares his unexpected journey into leading The Garlic Farm after a career in product design. He details the transition to organic farming, achieving B Corp certification, and how his initial lack of knowledge became an asse…
- Ep082 – Colette Laxton, Co-Founder, The Inkey List | Democratising knowledge to build a global beauty brand | SATT
Colette Laxton, Co-Founder of The Inkey List, shares her journey of growing a global beauty brand by focusing on customer needs and education. The episode discusses entrepreneurship, brand building, social media strategy, and maintaining a…
- Ep081 – Derry Green, Founder, Secret Garden Glamping | From lockdown fun, to building a true legacy
Derry Green, founder of Secret Garden Glamping, details his business's growth from a lockdown activity to a 18-month booked venture, including a BBC Dragons' Den appearance. He emphasizes social media strategy, business growth, and innovat…
- Ep080 – Thomas Robson-Kanu, CEO, The Turmeric Co | From Football to Functional Health | SATT
Thomas Robson-Kanu shares his transition from professional football to entrepreneurship, detailing how a natural remedy for injuries led to the founding of The Turmeric Co., a functional beverage brand focused on wellness and inflammation.
- Ep079 – Lisa Donohue, MD, Kerb+ | Transforming lives through hospitality | SATT
Lisa Donohue discusses Kerb Foods' social enterprise, which empowers individuals through food and hospitality via coaching programs and a unique business model. The conversation covers community, diversity, and expansion plans, including a…
- Ep078 – Mike Turner, Founder & MD, Bird & Blend Tea | Brewing up a tea revolution | SATT
Mike Turner, Founder and MD of Bird & Blend Tea Company, shares his entrepreneurial journey on the Swim Against The Tide podcast. He details the importance of customer experience, resilience, navigating pandemic challenges, growth through…
- Ep077 – Jamie Grant, Co-Founder & CEO, Carv | Carv: Digitally coaching ski perfection | SATT
Jamie Grant, Co-Founder & CEO of Carv, shares the journey of developing a digital ski coach offering real-time feedback. The discussion covers entrepreneurship, team dynamics, marketing, and future growth for the sports coaching device.
- Ep076 – Mark Murphy, CEO, Burgerism | Mixing data with creativity to build a winning hospitality brand | SATT
Mark Murphy, co-founder and CEO of Burgerism, shares his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of team culture, brand evolution from delivery-only to physical presence, and building a community of fans.
- Ep075 – Dan Binks, MD, Liberation Foods | Sustainably liberating the global food market | SATT
Dan Binks, Managing Director of Liberation Foods, discusses his career in the food industry, the company's mission as a Fairtrade nut and Community Interest Company owned by smallholder farmers, and the importance of understanding the glob…
- Ep074 – Ben Fennell, CEO, The Growth House | Leading from a lifetime of lessons | SATT
Ben Fennell, CEO of The Growth House, discusses his leadership journey, drawing lessons from his experiences in global advertising, sports, and building high-performance teams.
- Ep073 – Chris Miller, CEO, White Rabbit Projects | White Rabbit Thinking: How To Build Hospitality Brands | SATT
Chris Miller, CEO of White Rabbit Projects, shares his journey in the hospitality industry, focusing on building brands, supporting entrepreneurs, and innovating in wellness. He discusses the challenges and pressures of the restaurant busi…
- Ep072 – Kostas Sfaltos, MD, The Berkeley & Emory Hotel | Serving up luxury - From Beach bars to Belgravia | SATT
Kostas Sfaltos discusses his path from Greece to managing luxury hotels in London, highlighting lessons from military service, the importance of listening, and his team's achievements, including The Emory Hotel's recognition.
- Ep071 – Carol Kane, Grp Exec Dir, Debenhams.com | Boohoo and beyond: Creating fashion legends | SATT
Carol Kane, Co-Founder of Boohoo and Group Executive Director at Debenhams.com, shares insights on the evolution of fast fashion, e-commerce marketing strategies, and IPO challenges. The discussion covers branding, market trends, acquisiti…
- Ep070 – Will Lankston, MD, Timpson Direct | The key to Timpson’s success | SATT
Will Lankston, MD of Timpson Direct, shares the company's success strategy, emphasizing a people-first philosophy, prioritizing personality in hiring, and fostering employee happiness for business growth. The episode also touches on embrac…
- Ep069 – Rodrigo Maza, CEO, Naked Wines | Naked ambition: Bringing themagic back to wine | SATT
Rodrigo Maza, CEO of Naked Wines, shares how he is making wine fun and accessible by building a community-first business that directly connects customers with independent winemakers. He discusses customer retention, leadership, and innovat…
- Ep068 – Kate Prince, Founder, Ancient + Brave | Being brave: Turning rituals into a winning wellness brand | SATT
Kate Prince, founder of wellness brand Ancient + Brave, shares her journey from city lawyer to entrepreneur. She discusses brand philosophy, transparency, and offers advice on decision-making for aspiring business owners.
- Ep067 – Goran Vasiljevic, Co-Founder, truefuels | Fuelling the growth of a true nutrition brand | SATT
Goran Vasiljevic, co-founder of truefuels, shares his entrepreneurial journey from professional tennis aspirations to building a sports nutrition brand focused on clean products. He highlights the role of decision-making, execution, and lu…
- Ep066 – Anthony Moss, Founder, Hunter Moss | Driving passion: The story of Hunter Moss | SATT
Anthony Moss discusses founding Hunter Moss, a luxury driving tour company, born from his childhood passion for cars. He shares insights on business evolution, unique guest experiences, sustainability in travel, and advice for his younger…
- Ep065 – Emma Thornton, CEO, Thermocheck | Emma Thornton on living brave | SATT
Emma Thornton discusses her career in brand and marketing with companies like Nike, Chanel, and Microsoft. She also shares her personal experience of battling and overcoming cancer, which inspired her book "Live Brave" and influences her c…
- Ep064 - Steve Phillips, Founder, Zappi - Building the Consumer Insight Revolution | SATT
Steve Phillips, founder of Zappi, shares his journey of automating market research, emphasizing the importance of AI and human connection in business. He offers advice for entrepreneurs navigating the modern work landscape.
- Ep063 – Daniel Temm, CEO, Puresport | For the long run – building the Puresport brand | SATT
Dan Temm, CEO of Puresport, shares his journey from New Zealand to leading a UK sports nutrition brand. He emphasizes community, hard work, and lessons learned from rugby for entrepreneurs.
- Ep062 – Lina & Daniel, Founders, Pop Specs | Pop Specs: Making glasses Affordable, Fun & Fast | SATT
Lina Tejoprayitno and Daniel Barnes, founders of Pop Specs, discuss their mission to make eyewear affordable, fun, and fast. They share insights on their business journey, including their experience on Dragon's Den and strategies for growt…
- Ep061 – Jason Stevens, CEO, Wayfairer Travel | From supply chains to landing a dream career | SATT
Jay Stevens, CEO of Wayfarer Travel, shares his journey from supply chains to leading a growing travel company. He highlights the importance of company culture, technology in customer service, and sustainable, transformative travel experie…
- Ep060 – Mark Scott, Co-Founder, Bella & Duke | Raw Ambition: How to disrupt a category | SATT
Mark Scott, co-founder of Bella & Duke, shares his journey from academic struggles to successful entrepreneurship, focusing on pet food disruption, resilience, and community. He also discusses his new venture, Torus Tree, which utilizes br…
- Ep059 – Mark Hackwell, MD, 7th Heaven | From Psychology to Skincare - Follow your opportunities | SATT
Mark Hackwell, MD of 7th Heaven, details his career transition from psychology to the skincare industry, emphasizing the value of sales experience and strategic growth. He covers 7th Heaven's approach to market trends, consumer engagement,…
- Ep058 – Chris Rennoldson, Co-Founder, Pasta Evangelists | From Finance to Fresh Pasta: Following your passion | SATT
Chris Rennoldson, co-founder of Pasta Evangelists, shares his journey from finance to entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of passion, authentic ingredients, and customer feedback in building a successful fresh pasta business.
- Ep057 – Christian Jakobsson, Co-Founder, Medino | From Magician to DM: Building Medino | SATT
Christian Jakobsson, co-founder of Medino, shares his entrepreneurial journey from magician to leading an online pharmacy. He details the challenges, regulatory navigation, technology use, and the impact of COVID-19 on Medino's growth, off…
- Ep056 – Thom Elliot, Co-Founder, Pizza Pilgrims | Better before bigger! From market stall to bricks & mortar| SATT
Thom Elliot, co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims, shares his story of building a successful pizza business with his brother, emphasizing resilience, creativity, and their B-Corp status. The episode offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
- Ep055 – Greg Anderson, MD, RM Sotheby’s | Selling Super Car Dreams | SATT
Greg Anderson, Managing Director of RM Sotheby's, details the growth of the premier car auction house, from its Canadian origins to its global reach. He shares insights on leadership, the evolving market, memorable auctions, and offers adv…
- Ep054 – Fran Pittaway, CEO, Biscuiteers | From the BBC to Biscuiteers – Fran’s inspiring journey | SATT
Fran Pittaway, CEO of Biscuiteers, shares her career path from the BBC to premium gifting. She discusses leadership, empowering women, and her vision for Biscuiteers' growth and international expansion.
- Ep053 – Jon Simon, Co-Founder, Pieminister | From games shows to gourmet pies | SATT
Jon Simon, co-founder of Pieminister, shares his entrepreneurial story, detailing the challenges and successes of creating a gourmet pie business. He highlights the importance of quality, sustainability, team dynamics, and following passio…
- Ep052 – James Rigg, CEO, Trojan | From Chemistry Labs to CEO - making smart choices | SATT
James Rigg, CEO of Trojan, shares his career journey from chemistry labs to leadership in the IT sector. He highlights the importance of adaptability, diverse experiences, sustainability, and understanding consumer needs in business growth…
- Ep051 – Pete Russell, Founder, Ooooby | The future of food – tech enabled decentralisation | SATT
Pete Russell, founder of Ooooby, joins Steve Henry to discuss his platform designed to decentralize the food supply chain through technology. The conversation covers reducing food waste, empowering farmers with direct sales, sustainability…
- Ep050 – Adam Miller, Founder, Rolled | Rolling out an Aussie Sushi revolution | SATT
Adam Miller, founder of Rolled, shares his experience building an Aussie sushi brand in the UK, detailing market challenges, innovative concepts, team building, and future growth strategies.
- Ep049 – Will Hill, MD, Novel Wines | Changing long held perceptions in the wine world | SATT
Will Hill, MD of Novel Wines, shares his journey in the wine industry, focusing on promoting lesser-known Eastern European wines. The episode covers challenges in changing perceptions, the impact of history, the importance of education, an…
- Ep048 – Jon Dutton OBE, CEO, British Cycling | A life spent taking on a sporting challenge (and winning) | SATT
Jon Dutton OBE, CEO of British Cycling, shares insights on sports management, leadership during the Rugby League World Cup, and the future of British Cycling, including the 2027 Tour de France Grand Depart. He emphasizes trust, continuous…
- Ep047 – Brendan Fox, MD, Destination Sport Experience | Building a global sports travel brand | SATT
Brendan Fox, MD of Destination Sport Experience, shares insights on his career, the evolution of sports travel, and the growth of his company. He highlights the rise of HYROX, the importance of customer experience, and the need for adaptab…
- Ep046 – Stephen Loftus, CEO, Wattbike | Taking opportunities: From booze & bikes to elite sports | SATT
Stephen Loftus, CEO of Wattbike, shares his career journey from the booze and bike industries to leading Wattbike. He discusses post-COVID challenges, the importance of team culture, Wattbike's product innovation across different markets,…
- Ep045 – Yanto Barker, CEO, Le Col | Spinning many wheels – building the Le Col brand | SATT
Yanto Barker, CEO of Le Col, shares his entrepreneurial journey from professional cycling, discussing brand building, business challenges, and Le Col's values of inclusivity and adaptability.
- Ep044 – Nick Payne, MD, SA Brain & Co | Rebuilding a Welsh national treasure | SATT
Nick Payne shares his career path from banking to leading SA Brain & Co, detailing efforts to revitalize the brewery by focusing on consumer engagement, brand heritage, and market adaptation. He highlights the importance of passion, self-a…
- Ep043 – Rob Keeping, MD, Bread Holdings | From Golf to Baking - always follow your passion | SATT
Rob Keeping, MD of Bread Holdings, shares his career path from sports and the army to hospitality and leading Gail's Artisan Bakeries. He reflects on leadership, continuous learning, and adaptability, offering advice on attitude and openne…
- Ep042 – Nick Gillett, MD, Mangrove Global | Spirited selling: from the West End to Martinique | SATT
Nick Gillett shares his entrepreneurial path in alcohol distribution, detailing how experiences in hospitality and team sports shaped his leadership. He covers consumer behavior, pandemic challenges, global expansion, and the importance of…
- Ep041 – Teddy Lee, Founder, Maki & Ramen | Building a national restaurant chain | SATT
Teddy Lee, founder of Maki & Ramen, details his path from waiter to restaurant chain owner, covering brand growth, industry adaptation, quality focus, and future expansion strategies.
- Ep040 – Stu Macdonald, Founder, ManiLife Peanut Butter | Building a brand like no other | SATT
Stu Macdonald, founder of ManiLife Peanut Butter, shares his journey from overcoming illness to building a successful brand. He details the brand's innovation, unique market positioning focused on quality, growth strategies, and lessons le…
- Ep039 – Darren Burn, Group CEO, OutOfOffice.com | From ITN reporter to creating his dream business
Darren Burn details his career transition from ITN journalist to CEO of OutOfOffice.com, a luxury travel company for the LGBTQ+ community. He covers entrepreneurship challenges, diversity in travel, sustainability, and the importance of au…