The Story Club

Jonny Rose

Everybody has a story. Sharing them and listening to others is how we learn, grow, and get out of our own experiences. In these episodes you’ll find a range of people from various backgrounds - entrepreneurs, thought leaders and those just striving to do more. I’ve always loved human stories, and I hope after some of these - you do too.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Stop Drifting: How to Escape a Career You Hate

    Harry Phokou, founder of Hivemind, shares his insights onthe importance of in-person networking events in any industry.   He discusses how these gatherings foster genuine connectionsand valuable conversations that can't be replicated online.   With a focus on building personal brands and creatingeconomic opportunities, Harry emphasises the need for professionals to upskilland adapt in a rapidly changing job market.   He believes that by helping others and sharing knowledge,individuals can unlock their potential and achieve their goals.   If you feel like you’re capable of more but don’t know yournext move, this conversation will help you think clearly about what comesfirst.   This conversation is about taking ownership of your own destiny. Connect with Jonny LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnysrose/   Connect with Harry: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/ YouTube:   https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction and Background (00:18) - The Importance of In-Person Networking (01:14) - The Philosophy Behind Valuable Conversations (01:50) - The Power of Real Life Interactions (03:06) - Understanding the Business Model of Conferences (05:15) - How to Start a Business in Marketing and Sales (09:51) - Transitioning from Hospitality to a New Career (10:46) - The Importance of Prioritizing Mission OverCurrent Situation (11:01) - The Danger of Drifting in Life (13:24) - The Importance of Upskilling and Avoiding Drift (15:47) - The Importance of Upskilling and ContinuousLearning (16:56) - Investing in Learning and Personal Development (17:35) - The Impact of Learning on Personal and BusinessGrowth (22:51) - The Power of Community in Learning and Growth (23:11) - Overcoming the Learning Phase and Taking Action (23:32) - Building Confidence and Proving Your Value (27:28) - The Evolution of Personal and Business Mission (31:16) - The Launch of Hive Mind Academy

    34 min
  2. 23/10/2025

    Building Generational Wealth for the Underdog | Ep. 37

    From a council estate in East London to the boardrooms ofventure capital, this is the story of Vishal Bhatia, founder of Forward Fund& Forward Studios.   In this episode, Vishal shares how his family’s history ofloss and resilience shaped his mission of building generational wealth, notjust for himself, but for underprivileged founders, creators, and communitiesoften left behind by the system.   We explore:   - How his father lost everything and rebuilt from nothing - Why legacy matters more than money - The future of building generational wealth in the creatoreconomy   This is about more than money. It’s about legacy,opportunity, and the power of purpose in business.   Go follow him at:   ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishal-bhatia-ff ➡️ https://forwardfund.group   -----   Chapters:   (00:00) - Introduction and Background of Vishal Bhatia (00:58) - Family History and Upbringing (02:29) - Father's Business Journey and Challenges (03:37) - Impact of Father's Experiences on Vishal (08:03) - Moving to the UK and Childhood Experiences (12:03) - Reflections on Purpose and Legacy (13:07) - Importance of Legacy and Father's Influence (15:50) - Inspiration and Direction for Future Leaders (17:02) - Defining Good and Making a Lasting Impact (18:07) - Journey into Angel Investing (20:24 - Establishing London Fields Venture Capital (21:18) - Shift from Underrepresented to Underprivileged (24:39) - Transition into Content Creation (25:38) - Building Trust and Value in Venture Capital (27:33) - The Broken Model of Content Marketing (27:58) - Creating Commercial Value for Content Creators (29:34) - Tying it All Together: Helping UnderprivilegedPeople (31:13) - Turning Social Value into Corporate Value (32:04) - Democratization of Social Media (33:25) - Supporting Underprivileged and New Creators (35:05) - Expanding Opportunities for New Talent (37:16) - Maintaining Focus on Purpose and Accountability (39:55) - Envisioning a Content, Business, and MediaEcosystem (40:15) - Expanding into Different Areas of Engagement (40:48) - Advice for Content Creators (41:15) - Importance of Trust and Right Advisors (43:43) - Contact Information   #buildinggenerationalwealth ----- The Story Club Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thestoryclubpodcast⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@iamjonnyrose⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnysrose

    44 min
  3. 09/10/2025

    Build a Marketing Strategy That ACTUALLY Drives Growth | Ep.36

    In this episode, we break down how to build a marketingstrategy that actually drives business growth. The marketing strategy you’lllearn here focuses on clarity, focus, and scaling what works: not chasing shinytrends.   Andrew Davies, CMO of Paddle, shares the principles behindtheir success, revealing how narrowing your focus can unlock explosive results. You’ll learn how to align your team around one clear goal,define your ideal customer, and create a marketing strategy that compounds overtime.   We also explore how Paddle used segmentation, long-termbrand building, and product-led messaging to reshape their marketing strategyand outperform competitors.   Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or creative, thisepisode gives you a framework to build a marketing strategy that scales withoutburnout.   -----   The Story Club   Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thestoryclubpodcast⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@iamjonnyrose⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnysrose⁠   Andrew Davies   Website: https://www.paddle.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andjdavies   Chapters:   (00:00) - Introduction (00:07) - Andrew's Role at Paddle (00:44) - Paddle's Business Model and Growth (02:15) - Challenges and Changes at Paddle (03:18) - Marketing Challenges and Changes (05:47) - Reflections on Past Marketing Strategies (07:09) - Advice on Navigating Marketing Challenges (07:29) - Examples of Being Early, Late, or Wrong (11:31) - Improving Marketing Strategies (11:55) - Importance of Market Segmentation (14:18) - Expanding Market Segments (15:45) - Understanding the Market and Customer Segmentation (16:56) - The Strategic Purpose of Marketing at Paddle (19:21) - The Importance of Face-to-Face Interactions (19:44) - The Role of Marketing in Building Relationships (22:38) - The Value of Networking and Peer Learning (23:33) - The Current State of B2B Marketing (25:03) - Bold Marketing Campaigns at Paddle (25:48) - The Value of Brand Building (28:26) - The Impact of Entrepreneurial Mindset on Marketing (29:36) - Advice for Marketers Seeking to Understand TheirTarget Market (30:30) - Gaining Insights from Customer Conversations (31:16) - The Launch of Paddle Building (31:50) - Current Marketing Trends and Opportunities (32:25) - The Impact of AI on Marketing (32:45) - Advice to Younger Self (33:49) - How to Follow Andrew's Journey

    34 min
  4. 19/02/2025

    Uncovering The Secrets of Online Coaching Success! | Ep. 35

    I can confidently say that the fitness coaching industry is evolving rapidly, and understanding the nuances of online coaching is crucial for success. In this podcast episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with David Hatt, the owner of MTN Coaching, who has been a coach for over a decade and has built a thriving online fitness and lifestyle coaching company. David shares his journey from being a personal trainer to becoming a comprehensive coach who focuses on mindset, training, and nutrition—the three pillars of his coaching philosophy. Throughout the episode, David candidly shares his experiences, including the challenges he faced while building his business and the lessons learned from his mistakes. He highlights the significance of having a solid support system and the value of continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-changing fitness landscape. One of the key takeaways from our conversation is the importance of communication and genuine care for clients. David believes that successful coaching goes beyond just providing workout plans; it involves building relationships and offering unwavering support to help clients achieve their goals. This approach has led to remarkable transformations for many of his clients, proving that fitness coaching can be a life-changing experience. ----- The Story Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryclubpodcast Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamjonnyrose LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnysrose David Hatt Website: https://widgit.bio/mtncoaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhatt_mtn Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Background (00:28) - The Difference Between a Personal Trainer and a Coach (01:22) - Importance of Mindset, Training, and Nutrition (03:45) - Career Progression in the Fitness Industry (08:46) - Starting Online Coaching (10:00) - Building the MTN Brand (10:53) - Misunderstanding of MTN Brand Name (12:26) - Learning from Mistakes in Business (13:57) - Biggest Business Mistakes (15:03) - Challenges of Working with Friends (15:41) - Importance of Good Accountancy in Business (16:51) - Current State of the Fitness Industry (18:10) - Common Mistakes in Fitness Coaching (19:39) - Impact Beyond Fitness (20:13) - Evolution of MTN's Online Coaching Programs (23:47) - Scaling the Business and Team (26:51) - Maintaining Community in a Growing Business (28:43) - Dealing with Imitations and Copycats (30:30) - Dealing with Imitations and Copycats Continued (31:26) - Maintaining Quality and Customer Satisfaction (32:24) - Importance of Customer Feedback (34:21) - Dealing with Business Failures and Setbacks (36:00) - Coping with Personal Setbacks (37:36) - Strategies for Recovery and Building Confidence (39:08) - Advice for Aspiring Coaches and Entrepreneurs (40:30) - How to Connect with MTN

    42 min
  5. 24/12/2024

    You Can Transform Your Life Through Freelancing | Ep. 34

    Jane Kisnica, a self-taught graphic designer, shares her inspiring journey from a corporate job to freelancing. After realising her passion for design during her time in a marketing role, she decided to take the leap into freelancing, especially during the pandemic. With a strong personal brand and a focus on storytelling, Jane has built a successful career, primarily through LinkedIn. Her story is a testament to the power of following your passion and the freedom that comes with it.   -----   The Story Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryclubpodcast Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamjonnyrose LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnysrose Jane Kisnica Website: https://www.janekisnica.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-kisnica-graphic-designer Chapters: (00:00) - Jane's Background and Career Shift (01:38) - Self-Taught Journey and Career Shift (02:42) - Decision to Freelance (05:09) - Challenges and Mental Blocks (06:32) - LinkedIn Success (08:27) - Content Strategy and Community Building (11:14) - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (12:30) - Freedom of Freelancing (14:30) - Traveling and Working Abroad (15:27) - Traveling and Freelancing (16:00) - Balancing Work and Freedom (16:44) - Dealing with Difficult Clients (17:16) - Enjoyment in Work (17:50) - Importance of Branding (19:52) - Personal Branding and Client Attraction (21:40) - Exciting Branding Projects (25:30) - Power of Perception in Branding (29:30) - Impact of AI on Branding (30:44) - Utilizing AI in Brand Design (32:35) - Future Plans and Growth (34:02) - Personal Struggles and Mental Health (37:52) - Closing Thoughts and Farewell

    38 min
  6. 03/09/2024

    WineFi CEO Explains Why Fine Wine is a GREAT Investment Strategy | Ep.32

    Meet Callum Woodcock, CEO of WineFi. In this episode, Callum discusses his early desire in starting an investment company, dealing with success and failure, and advice for aspiring founders. Thanks for joining me on the Story Club Callum! And if you're tempted by the idea of making fine wine part of your investment strategy, you can learn more here: https://www.winefi.co/ WineFi CEO Explains Why Fine Wine is a GREAT Investment Strategy The Story Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryclubpodcast Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamjonnyrose LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnysrose Callum Woodcock Website: https://www.winefi.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callumwoodcock Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:24 - Discussion on TED Talk 0:45 - Generational Differences 5:39 - Callum's Early Career 6:43 - Desire to Start a Company 9:06 - Joining a Scale-Up 10:33 - Experience at JP Morgan 13:50 - Starting Wineify 14:24 - Advice for Aspiring Founders 16:18 - Transparency in Business 18:07 - Trust and Transparency in Wineify 21:16 - Transparency and Building Trust 22:54 - Reasons to Invest in Wineify 24:49 - Building Wineify and Personal Reflections 26:43 - Resilience, Progress and Future Goals 27:02 - Celebrating Milestones and Future Aspirations 28:23 - Reflections on Personal Growth and Mindset 30:30 - Daily Habits and Mindset 31:25 - Dealing with Success and Failure 32:33 - Learning from Others 33:52 - Closing Remarks Fine wine is an alternative and illiquid asset class and should only form a small part of a well-diversified portfolio. The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested.

    36 min
4.9
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Everybody has a story. Sharing them and listening to others is how we learn, grow, and get out of our own experiences. In these episodes you’ll find a range of people from various backgrounds - entrepreneurs, thought leaders and those just striving to do more. I’ve always loved human stories, and I hope after some of these - you do too.