6時間前

Episode #593: ScaleUp Short - From Overwhelm to Focus: How to Scale Without Breaking

What's really stopping your business from scaling; poor decisions or poor execution? In this ScaleUp Radio Shorts episode, Kevin and Louise distil expert insights from two leading advisors working at the heart of scaleup challenges. Drawing on conversations with Lis Hubert and Diane Mentzer, this episode brings together practical frameworks to help founders cut through overwhelm, make better decisions, and build the operational capability required to execute effectively. This episode is produced with the aid of AI to help surface the most valuable insights and make them easier to apply. 💡 Practical Insights for ScaleUp Leaders 1. Busyness Is a Decision Problem Feeling constantly busy is often a symptom of unclear priorities. Lis Hubert highlights that overwhelm comes from failing to decide: What matters most What gets deprioritised Framework: "Now, Next, Later" Evaluate initiatives based on: Business impact Customer impact Available resources This creates clarity and removes emotional bias from decision-making. 2. Stop Doing Everything; Start Making Trade-Offs Scaling requires saying no. A key discipline for founders is moving ideas into the "Later" category with confidence; without guilt or second-guessing. Practical tip: Set milestones early to avoid the sunk cost trap. If something isn't working, stop. 3. Execution Breaks When Operations Lag Behind Growth Diane Mentzer's race car analogy is clear: A powerful engine with weak tyres will crash. In business terms: Sales and marketing = engine Operations = tyres If your delivery can't keep up with growth, scaling will fail. 4. You Don't Need More Ideas; You Need Better Alignment Many founders operate as "idea generators", constantly introducing new initiatives. The challenge isn't creativity; it's execution. Solution: Build operational leadership (COO / integrator role) Create structure and follow-through Align vision with delivery 5. The CEO–COO Relationship Is a Scaling Multiplier Misalignment between leadership roles creates friction, confusion, and cost. Key principles: CEOs focus on vision and direction COOs focus on execution and delivery Practical communication framework: Start with the outcome Summarise key points Provide detail only when needed 6. Miscommunication Is Costing You More Than You Think Leadership misalignment isn't just frustrating; it's expensive. Poor communication can result in: Lost productivity Rework Delayed decisions In some cases, this equates to weeks of lost payroll each year. 7. Delegation Requires Letting Go Properly Delegation fails when responsibility is handed over without authority. A powerful framework discussed: Write down your fears. Then share them with your leadership team. This creates: Clear expectations Defined boundaries True ownership 🎯 Standout Message Scaling isn't about doing more; it's about deciding better and executing through others. 🎯 The One Key Thing If you don't choose what to stop, your business will choose for you; through overwhelm. ⚡ Smart90 If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk NOTE: This episode is AI generated

12分

2日前

Episode #592 - Intentional Decision-Making for Smarter Growth - with Lis Hubert

Welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode I'm joined by Lis Hubert, founder of CX by Design, who helps leaders make smarter, more intentional decisions using customer evidence. Now, if you've ever felt like you and your team are incredibly busy but not actually moving forward, this episode is going to hit home. Lis shares how that busyness is often a symptom of decisions not being made, and how introducing customer insight into the process can completely change the outcome. We break the conversation into three parts. First, we explore Lis's business, her model, and where she is on her scaleup journey. Second, we dive into the real challenges of scaling and her perspective on decision-making, including her thoughts on the ScaleUp Challenges Report. And third, we wrap up with some quickfire questions. One standout message from this episode is this: busyness is often just a sign that we haven't made the hard decisions yet. If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts - and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Lis. Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: kevin@biz-smart.co.uk Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/ Lis can be found here: lis@cxby.design https://www.linkedin.com/in/lishubert/ Resources: Now-Next-Later Framework - https://cxby.design/category/blog/now-next-later-framework-prioritize-goals/ Will It Make The Boat Go Faster? by Ben Hunt-Davis - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/will-it-make-the-boat-go-faster-olympic-winning-strategies-for-everyday-success-second-edition-ben-hunt-davis/8decd943d78e6f35?ean=9781838592967&next=t The Prediction Machine by A. Agrawal - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/prediction-machines-the-simple-economics-of-artificial-intelligence-a-agrawal/3557233?ean=9781633695672&next=t The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-48-laws-of-power-robert-greene/7310383?ean=9781861972781&next=t Claude - https://claude.ai/ Google Gemini - https://gemini.google.com/app ChatGPT - https://chatgpt.com/ Fathom Notetaker - https://www.fathom.ai/

57分

4日前

Episode #591: Mastering the CEO–COO Dynamic - with Diane Mentzer

Welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode I'm joined by Diane Mentzer, an expert in the CEO–COO dynamic and how leadership teams can unlock the next stage of growth. If you've ever felt like your business has hit a ceiling; where growth slows, complexity increases, and everything still seems to depend on you; then this episode is for you. Diane shares practical insights on when to bring in a COO, how to make that relationship work, and why letting go of execution is often the key to unlocking scale. One of the standout ideas from this conversation is simple but powerful: hiring a COO without truly empowering them isn't delegation; it's just expensive frustration. Diane has provided a toolkit for managing the COO-CEO relationship – you can download it using the link in the shownotes If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts - and why not give us a follow. You can also nominate a guest for ScaleUp Radio if you know someone with an interesting ScaleUp story – you can find how in the shownotes. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Diane. Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: kevin@biz-smart.co.uk Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/ Diane can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-integrates/ diane@dianeintegrates.com Toolkit - www.dianeintegrates.com/toolkit Resources: Just Listen by Mark Goulston - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/just-listen-discover-the-secret-to-getting-through-to-absolutely-anyone-m-d-goulston-mark/5800738?ean=9780814436479&next=t Own The Room by Jake Stahl - https://www.waterstones.com/book/own-the-room/jake-stahl/9781968318253 90.IO - https://app.ninety.io/login?redirectUrl=%2F Rocket Fuel app - https://rocketfuel.inc/ Mem.ai - https://get.mem.ai/

54分

4月1日

Episode #590 - ScaleUp Radio Short - Quarter 1 2026 Review Special

What can we learn from our latest 90 days of ScaleUp journeys? In this special ScaleUp Radio Shorts episode, Kevin Brent and Louise Blunt step back and reflect on the standout lessons from an incredible line-up of founders, CEOs, and investors interviewed in Q1 2026. From simplifying strategy to navigating resilience, embracing AI disruption, and building high-performing teams, this episode distils three months of conversations into a powerful, practical masterclass for scaling businesses. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure what to prioritise next, this episode will help you refocus on what actually drives growth. 🔑 Key Themes & Insights 1. Simplicity Scales. Complexity Kills Progress. A recurring theme across multiple guests was the danger of overcomplicating business. Doing more does not equal progress Clarity beats activity 90-day planning creates focus and momentum As highlighted in the discussion, many founders confuse busyness with effectiveness. The real shift comes from simplifying strategy and focusing on what truly moves the needle. 2. The Execution Gap: Why Most Plans Stall Even with the right strategy, execution often fails. Key blockers: Procrastination Information overload Lack of clarity on outcomes A simple but powerful approach emerged: Define what success looks like (personally and in business) Take one meaningful action immediately 3. Resilience is Non-Negotiable The reality of scaling is far tougher than most expect. Standout lessons: Persistence in B2B sales can take months or even years Setbacks are inevitable The ability to keep going is a competitive advantage From extreme operational challenges to relentless sales cycles, resilience repeatedly showed up as a defining trait of successful founders. 4. People Drive Performance (But Are Often Ignored) Despite being critical to growth, people metrics are rarely tracked. Insights: Culture and engagement directly impact profitability Scaling requires intentional team design Hiring vs outsourcing is a key strategic decision Businesses that align people, purpose, and profit outperform those that don't. 5. Technology is Reshaping Entire Industries Several guests highlighted how digital transformation and AI are disrupting traditional models. Key takeaways: Markets with friction create opportunity AI is changing how customers find and choose businesses "Information gain" is now critical for visibility If your business isn't evolving with technology, it risks becoming invisible. 6. Know Your Edge or Get Lost in the Noise A strong, defensible position in the market is essential. A weak or unclear USP is a major growth blocker Deep customer understanding beats broad targeting Predictability and cash flow matter to investors 💡 Standout Message "If you aren't saying something genuinely new, you're invisible." 🎯 The One Key Thing The one key thing is this: scaling successfully isn't about doing more; it's about focusing on fewer things that truly matter and executing them consistently. 🔄 Why This Episode Matters This Q1 review is more than a recap. It's a blueprint. It brings together: Strategy clarity Execution discipline Founder mindset Real-world scaling lessons If you recognise any of these challenges in your own business, this is your signal to pause, simplify, and refocus. 📣 Explore More If any of these stories resonate, go back and listen to the full interviews on ScaleUp Radio. ⚙️ Smart90 If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. 👉 Try it free at Smart90.co.uk 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Make sure you don't miss future episodes of ScaleUp Radio by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts.

16分

3月25日

Episode #589 - Eat What You Love, Do What You Love, And Make It Sustainable - with Hannah Lanel

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode I'm joined by Hannah Lanel, founder of The Fore; a business on a mission to disrupt the diet and fitness industry by focusing on long-term, sustainable wellbeing rather than quick fixes. In this conversation, we explore three key areas. First, Hannah shares how The Fore works as a holistic wellness platform and how the business model is evolving as it scales. Second, we dig into the real challenges of scaling up; from surviving co-founder exits to navigating controversial decisions during lockdown. And third, we finish with some quickfire questions to uncover Hannah's personal insights on leadership and growth. One standout message from this episode is simple but powerful: "Eat what you love, do what you love; and make it sustainable." If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts; and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Hannah. Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: kevin@biz-smart.co.uk Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/ Hannah can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlanel/ https://www.instagram.com/thefore_london/ https://www.the-fore.co.uk/ Resources: Simon Sinek - https://simonsinek.com/ Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/building-a-storybrand-clarify-your-message-so-customers-will-listen-donald-miller/4099240?ean=9781400201839&next=t The One Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-1-page-marketing-plan-get-new-customers-make-more-money-and-stand-out-from-the-crowd-allan-dib/4613623?ean=9781989025017&next=t How I Built This podcast - https://wondery.com/shows/how-i-built-this/ IdeasFest - https://ideas-fest.com/ Quickbooks - https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ Canva - https://www.canva.com/

50分

3月23日

Episode #588 - ScaleUp Club - Focus, AI Multipliers and The Checklist Advantage with Victor Carpio

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode we are doing something slightly different. This episode was recorded live during one of our ScaleUp Club sessions, where we bring together founders and leadership teams to explore the real challenges of scaling a business. The session included our regular AI Pulse update, a live Q&A discussion, and a returning guest to the podcast, Victor Carpio, founder of Inventor SmartCare and creator of the Dental Wand. Victor shared how a sudden 10x surge in demand after appearing on Dragon's Den forced the business to rethink its operational foundations, and how they are now expanding across Europe with a far more focused strategy. One standout message from the conversation was this: Focus is the ultimate scaling tool. Victor talked about filtering every opportunity and partnership against clear strategic priorities so the business avoids distraction while scaling. You will also hear how AI is acting as a human multiplier for small teams, including a system producing content for eleven channels in just two hours per week. And our ScaleUp Club theme this month is The Checklist Advantage; how simple checklists can free up leadership bandwidth for higher value work. If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk. Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Victor. Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: kevin@biz-smart.co.uk Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/ Victor can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-carpio-404914125/ meow@inventorcat.co.uk

45分

3月20日

Episode #587 - ScaleUp Shorts - Scaling isn't about choosing between numbers or people

In this episode of ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin Brent and Louise Blunt dive into two seemingly contrasting, but ultimately aligned, scaling philosophies from recent guests Jeremy Middleton and John Hibbs. On the surface, one is a data-driven investor focused on predictable growth and cash flow. The other is a people-first founder measuring culture, wellbeing, and connection. But the real insight? 👉 You cannot scale what you do not measure. This episode unpacks why both financial discipline and people metrics are essential if you want to build a resilient, scalable business. What You'll Learn 📈 Predictability Drives Scalable Growth Proven business models beat risky innovation when scaling Repeatability is the foundation of sustainable expansion You don't need to win everyone, just your target market 💰 Cash Flow is King (and Needs Managing Properly) Many founders underestimate the importance of a Finance Director Revenue alone is meaningless without clear financial visibility Poor data leads to poor decisions, and often hidden losses 👥 People Metrics Are the Missing KPI Only 4% of businesses track people-related metrics in their top KPIs Culture, engagement, and psychological safety are leading indicators Disengaged teams cost far more than most realise 🔁 Alignment is the Real Growth Lever Successful businesses align founders, teams, and investors Motivation, retention, and shared purpose drive long-term success Both guests highlight that people, not product, are the differentiator Standout Moment "You cannot scale what you do not measure." The One Key Thing… 👉 The one key thing is this: scaling successfully requires balancing financial discipline with people insight, ignore either, and growth will eventually stall. Why This Matters for ScaleUps Too many businesses lean too far in one direction: All numbers, no culture → burnout and churn All culture, no numbers → no profit and no sustainability The real opportunity lies in integrating both. Referenced Guests & Episodes Jeremy Middleton – Investor and Co-founder of HomeServe John Hibbs – CEO & Co-founder of Coefficient (Be sure to listen to their full episodes for deeper insights.) About Smart90 If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. 👉 Try it free at Smart90.co.uk

10分

3月18日

Episode #586 - From University Dismissal To A Realisation That You Need To Measure What Matters For Success

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode I'm joined by John Hibbs, founder of Coefficient, a platform designed to help leaders measure the human side of their business — things like culture, psychological safety and engagement. In this conversation John explains why so many businesses track revenue and profit but struggle to measure the people factors that actually drive those results. Through anonymous staff surveys and intelligent analysis, Coefficient helps leaders surface the data behind culture so they can act on it. Our discussion follows the usual ScaleUp Radio structure. First we explore John's business, his model and where Coefficient is on its scaleup journey. Second we dive into the challenges of scaling businesses and John's perspective on the ScaleUp Challenges Report. And third we finish with a few quickfire questions. One standout message from this episode is simple but powerful: ""If you believe people are the biggest challenge in business, then measuring people should be a leadership priority." John also shares his philosophy of "The Monergy Flow" — where profit is reinvested into people, creating a positive cycle of happier staff, families and communities. If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with John. Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: kevin@biz-smart.co.uk Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/ John can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hibbs-coefficient/ Resources: Article on Monergy Flow - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/john-hibbs-coefficient_in-almost-every-organization-ive-worked-activity-7366126031436480512-dFE4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA8oKXoBUnKwlYzREAmibfWMBm02qwtKAtg American Icon by Bryce Mulally - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/american-icon-alan-mulally-and-the-fight-to-save-ford-motor-company-bryce-g-hoffman/2062710?ean=9780307886064&next=t Start With Why by Simon Sinek - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/start-with-why-15th-anniversary-edition-how-great-leaders-inspire-everyone-to-take-action-simon-sinek/7820616?ean=9781405977593&next=t Briskine (Chrome plugin) - https://www.briskine.com/ Thunderbird - https://www.thunderbird.net/en-GB/

50分

ScaleUp Radio

Episode #593: ScaleUp Short - From Overwhelm to Focus: How to Scale Without Breaking

Episode #592 - Intentional Decision-Making for Smarter Growth - with Lis Hubert

Episode #591: Mastering the CEO–COO Dynamic - with Diane Mentzer

Episode #590 - ScaleUp Radio Short - Quarter 1 2026 Review Special

Episode #589 - Eat What You Love, Do What You Love, And Make It Sustainable - with Hannah Lanel

Episode #588 - ScaleUp Club - Focus, AI Multipliers and The Checklist Advantage with Victor Carpio

Episode #587 - ScaleUp Shorts - Scaling isn't about choosing between numbers or people

Episode #586 - From University Dismissal To A Realisation That You Need To Measure What Matters For Success

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MonkeyPants Productionsの他の作品

ScaleUp Radio

エピソード

Episode #593: ScaleUp Short - From Overwhelm to Focus: How to Scale Without Breaking

Episode #592 - Intentional Decision-Making for Smarter Growth - with Lis Hubert

Episode #591: Mastering the CEO–COO Dynamic - with Diane Mentzer

Episode #590 - ScaleUp Radio Short - Quarter 1 2026 Review Special

Episode #589 - Eat What You Love, Do What You Love, And Make It Sustainable - with Hannah Lanel

Episode #588 - ScaleUp Club - Focus, AI Multipliers and The Checklist Advantage with Victor Carpio

Episode #587 - ScaleUp Shorts - Scaling isn't about choosing between numbers or people

Episode #586 - From University Dismissal To A Realisation That You Need To Measure What Matters For Success

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情報

MonkeyPants Productionsの他の作品