The Entrepreneur Experiment

Gary Fox
  • 5.0 (7)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Discover how world-class entrepreneurs, elite thinkers, and peak performers master success in business, body, and brain. Every week, I sit down with extraordinary people to explore how they build thriving businesses, maintain peak physical health, and cultivate sharp, resilient minds. Together, we’ll discover the habits, systems, and experiments they use to create their unique formulas for success. Join me as you learn how to build like a founder, train like an athlete, and think like an artist—so we can all find our formula for success. This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a blueprint for a new kind of founder—one who balances ambition with wellness, hard work with mental fitness, and success with purpose.

  1. EE489 - Mentor Moment: Alan Andrews - Pricing as an Experience, Not a Number

    2D AGO

    EE489 - Mentor Moment: Alan Andrews - Pricing as an Experience, Not a Number

    A premium-brand lesson you can steal in any industry: pricing that isn’t just maths. Alan shares how pricing can be communication, positioning, and part of the customer journey. He shows how the “moment of pause” or consideration can actually work in your favour when the product delivers and the experience educates. Listen back to the full episode, Episode 441 now for the full conversation with Alan, and subscribe or follow now, for more episodes like this. *Our Sponsors * Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26  Follow The Entrepreneur Experiment: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurexperiment/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entrepreneurexperiment

    5 min
  2. EE488 - Ken Rideout: Why Most People Never Find Out What They’re Capable Of

    6D AGO

    EE488 - Ken Rideout: Why Most People Never Find Out What They’re Capable Of

    In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Ken Rideout for a conversation that goes far beyond endurance sport. Yes, they talk about marathons, HYROX, discipline, and what it really feels like to stand on a start line ready to compete — but this episode is really about identity, effort, masculinity, parenting, business ambition, and the mindset required to keep going when life gets hard. Ken opens up about what success actually means to him, why he believes failure is simply not trying, and how he’s learned to reframe adversity — from losing jobs to helping his wife through cancer treatment. He shares his brutally honest view that most people underestimate what they’re capable of, explains why he’s driven more by discipline than motivation, and reveals the internal pressure, imposter syndrome, and dark mental places that often sit beneath elite performance. This is not a polished “morning routine” conversation. It’s a raw, funny, provocative and deeply human episode about competing hard, living truthfully, protecting your energy, and building a life where you do more of what matters - and less of what doesn’t. Show Notes In this episode, we cover: 🔥 Why Ken believes success is rooted in family, friendship, and community — not status 💥 His definition of failure: not trying 🏃 The mindset he brings to marathons, HYROX, and elite competition 🧠 Why discipline matters more than motivation 😬 The imposter syndrome and insecurity behind high performance 📚 How Ken’s story went from “toiling in darkness” to bestselling author and major podcast guest 👊 Why he thinks 99% of people underestimate their own potential 🏠 Parenting, social media boundaries, and raising strong kids in a soft world 💼 His business philosophy: make enough money so you never have to do things you don’t want to do ⌚ The tools he actually uses: Whoop, sauna, cold plunge, and his beloved 8 Sleep setup 😅 Why he hates LinkedIn, protects his relationships, and refuses to be performative online * Our Sponsors * Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26 About Ken Rideout: Ken’s Book: Everything You Want Is On The Other Side of Hard: https://www.theothersideofhard.com/ Follow Ken on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ken_rideout/?hl=en Follow Ken on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ken_rideout Ken Rideout on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ken_rideout Follow The Entrepreneur Experiment On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurexperiment/ On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entrepreneurexperiment

    53 min
  3. EE487 - Mentor Moment - Gerry Hussey - A 5-Minute Visualisation Exercise for Founders

    MAR 14

    EE487 - Mentor Moment - Gerry Hussey - A 5-Minute Visualisation Exercise for Founders

    In this Mentor Moment, Gerry Hussey shares a simple but powerful way to visualise success that founders can actually put into practice. Instead of vague “future goals,” Gerry breaks it down into outcomes, daily process enablers, and identity — becoming the person who already lives the life you’re working towards. You’ll hear his step-by-step exercise to map what you want, identify the habits that get you there, and close the gap between who you are today and who you need to become. For the full conversation with Gerry Hussey, listen to Episode 413 of The Entrepreneur Experiment. *Our Sponsors * Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26 Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26 Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk

    6 min
  4. EE486 - From Bakery to Cult Favourite: Eoin Cluskey on Scaling Bread 41

    MAR 12

    EE486 - From Bakery to Cult Favourite: Eoin Cluskey on Scaling Bread 41

    In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Eoin Cluskey, founder and head baker of Bread 41, the Dublin bakery business built on craft, care, and real food. From leaving school early and training as a carpenter to finding his calling in kitchens abroad, Eoin shares the winding road that led him back to Ireland to build one of the country’s most loved bakery brands. Bread 41 launched in 2018 and has since expanded across multiple locations while staying fiercely committed to quality and values. This is a conversation about much more than bread. Eoin opens up about losing money in a failed early venture, writing the original Bread 41 vision in a copybook, building a 24/7 bakery model, scaling without taking on growth for growth’s sake, and why he’d rather walk away than compromise the product. If you’re trying to build a business that grows without losing its soul, this episode is packed with practical wisdom. Show notes In this episode, we cover: 🔥 Why “simplicity scales, complexity fails” applies to almost every business 🥖 How Eoin went from carpenter to baker after a chance opportunity in Australia 🌍 Why travel, loneliness, and coming home to Ireland changed his life 📓 The copybook vision that became Bread 41 💸 The failed first business that cost him €25,000 — and what it taught him 📍 Why opening on Pearse Street worked because of community, not just footfall ⏰ How Bread 41 built a 24/7 operating model around bread, pastry, and wholesale 📈 The real challenge of going from one bakery to two without breaking the culture 🧠 Why founders can’t scale if they need to be in the business 24/7 🌾 The long-term vision to move into Irish milling and support local growers 👥 Why care is the company’s number one value 🏡 The family wake-up call that changed how Eoin thinks about success “The day I add an additive or preservative to the bread is the day I walk away.” Links and resources Bread 41 official site:https://bread41.ie/ Bread 41 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bread41bakery/?hl=en Bread 41 locations: including Pearse Street, Stillorgan, Cabinteely, and Greystones. *Our Sponsors * Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26 Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26 Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk

    1h 22m
  5. EE485 - Mentor Moment: Lorraine Heskin - Building Gourmet Food Parlour in the Celtic Tiger

    MAR 8

    EE485 - Mentor Moment: Lorraine Heskin - Building Gourmet Food Parlour in the Celtic Tiger

    In this Mentor Moment, Lorraine Heskin — founder of Gourmet Food Parlour — takes us back to 2006, right in the heart of the Celtic Tiger, when she made the leap from a stable job into the unknown to build her own café brand. Lorraine shares how she approached brand-building from day one, why finding a location was the hardest part (and why she refused to pay key money), and the magic of opening the doors to a queue down the street — proving the idea wasn’t just in her head, the community wanted it. For the full conversation with Lorraine and the full Gourmet Food Parlour origin story, listen to Episode 423 of The Entrepreneur Experiment. Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26 Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26 Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk

    8 min
  6. EE484 - The Cash Flow Playbook with Andrea Reynolds: Grants, Debt, VC & Profitability

    MAR 5

    EE484 - The Cash Flow Playbook with Andrea Reynolds: Grants, Debt, VC & Profitability

    Andrea Reynolds, Founder & CEO of Swoop, joins Gary to break down what founders actually need to know about funding, cash flow and building a business that lasts. Andrea started Swoop after becoming deeply frustrated by how hard it was for business owners to access grants, loans and funding quickly. What began as anger at a broken system became a fintech platform helping businesses access cash faster, automate funding applications and identify savings across essential services. In this conversation, Andrea shares the real-world funding lessons most founders only learn the hard way: why you should raise debt before you need it, why revenue solves more problems than almost anything else, how to think about investors properly, and why profitability matters more than hype. She also opens up about building under pressure, raising millions across multiple rounds, expanding internationally, surviving market shocks, and why empathy is still her most important business principle. If you’re a founder, operator or business owner trying to grow without losing control, this one is packed with practical insight. Show notes Andrea Reynolds is the Founder & CEO of Swoop, a fintech platform helping businesses access funding faster through data, automation and smarter financial decision-making. In this episode, Gary and Andrea discuss: Why businesses fail when cash flow gets tight The original frustration that sparked Swoop How Andrea manually tested demand before building the product Winning early funding through timing, momentum and experimentation The open banking opportunity that accelerated Swoop’s growth What founders get wrong about fundraising Why you should raise before you actually need the money The difference between debt, grants and equity Why some investors can become a liability How to think about boards, board observers and investor fit Why diversification matters in a volatile market The shift from “growth at all costs” to profitability Expanding from Ireland and the UK into the US and beyond Building a forever business instead of chasing hype Andrea’s personal approach to time, energy and staying grounded The books, habits and mindset shifts that have shaped her This episode is full of practical advice for founders navigating growth, fundraising and uncertainty. Links and resources mentioned Swoop: https://swoopfunding.com/ie/ Enterprise Ireland: https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/ Books: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz High Output Management by Andrew Grove The Art of War by Sun Tzu *Our Sponsors * Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26 Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26 Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk

    1h 23m
  7. EE483 - Mentor Moment: Anthony Gallagher — Building Petstop Through People & Innovation

    MAR 1

    EE483 - Mentor Moment: Anthony Gallagher — Building Petstop Through People & Innovation

    In this Mentor Moment, Anthony Gallagher, founder of Petstop, Ireland’s leading Independent Pet Retailer, shares what he’s proudest of after decades in business: the people who stayed. From team members who have been with him for nearly 30 years to multi-generational families now working across the business, Anthony reflects on why great companies are built by investing in people, staying close to customers, and never losing touch with what’s happening on the ground. He also shares why he still visits stores every week, how innovation helped Petstop scale through major change, and why the basics — listening, learning, and paying attention to detail — matter more than ever. For the full conversation with Anthony, listen to Episode 425 of The Entrepreneur Experiment. Our Sponsors: Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26  Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26 Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk

    10 min
  8. EE482 - €0 Funding, €7.5m Profit, 2000 Events a Year: The Bingo Loco Blueprint with Will Meara

    FEB 26

    EE482 - €0 Funding, €7.5m Profit, 2000 Events a Year: The Bingo Loco Blueprint with Will Meara

    Will Meara is the founder behind Bingo Loco — the 3-hour bingo rave that sells chaos as an experience and somehow turns strangers into mates in the space of one night. In this episode, Will breaks down how Bingo Loco went from a scrappy experiment in Dublin to a global live-experience machine — running roughly 2,000 events a year, active in around 270+ cities, with a team of ~276 people and ~200+ performers (MCs, DJs and talent) powering the shows. We get into the real mechanics most people miss: why Bingo Loco works as “competitive socialising” (a focal point that removes the awkwardness of meeting up) the win-win commercial model that makes venues want you back how they localise every show so it feels native (Texas ≠ New York ≠ Melbourne) how you keep quality when you’re doing 40–60 shows at the same time on peak weekends the experimentation framework Will uses to launch new concepts: design → test variables → stress-test scalability → rollout We also flip the mic: Gary shares why the new studio is built around hospitality — making every step of the guest experience feel effortless — and Will shares the belief most founders won’t like: sometimes you need to smash your own structures before bureaucracy kills growth. If you’re building in events, community, hospitality, or any experience-led business — this is a masterclass in distribution, localisation, and disciplined creativity. In this episode Why Bingo Loco works as competitive socialising (a focal point that removes the awkwardness of meeting up) The “win-win” model: how to structure deals so venues genuinely want you back How to scale globally without losing the magic: localise everything (music, humour, pacing, crowd expectations) Why “you can’t multiply chaos without discipline” (and what discipline looks like backstage) How they recruit and train talent for a 3-hour live show (and why it’s so hard to do well) The feedback loops that protect quality: customer feedback + venue feedback + mystery shopping The framework Will uses to launch new concepts: design → test variables → stress-test scalability → rollout Why distribution is the real prize: once you have venues + trust, you can roll out new IP layers fast Founder lesson: too much structure kills growth, too little structure kills scale — and sometimes you must break your own rules Links & resources Guest / company Bingo Loco (official): https://www.bingoloco.com/ Locomotive HQ (Bingo Loco + concepts): https://locomotivehq.com/ Locomotive Live — Bingo Loco page: https://www.locomotivelive.com/bingoloco Will Meara on LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/williammeara Book mentioned Shantaram (Gregory David Roberts) Tool mentioned Brick (phone focus device/app): https://getbrick.app/ Sponsors Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26 Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26 Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk

    1h 43m
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Discover how world-class entrepreneurs, elite thinkers, and peak performers master success in business, body, and brain. Every week, I sit down with extraordinary people to explore how they build thriving businesses, maintain peak physical health, and cultivate sharp, resilient minds. Together, we’ll discover the habits, systems, and experiments they use to create their unique formulas for success. Join me as you learn how to build like a founder, train like an athlete, and think like an artist—so we can all find our formula for success. This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a blueprint for a new kind of founder—one who balances ambition with wellness, hard work with mental fitness, and success with purpose.

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