The Burning Desire

Charles Burns
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Bimonthly

The Burning Desire is a weekly podcast where we get inspirational guests on to interview them about whatever it is that they are passionate about. This platform is crucial to share the message that there is so much to gain from learning from people all around us. We focus on a wide range of topics, nothing is off limits or out of our scope - so long as there is a story to inspire others. Be it business success, academic achievements, sporting triumphs, weight loss, the mastery of a new skill or overcoming life's many hurdles (to name but a few). Hosted by Charles Burns

  1. 3d ago

    Paul Askew - The Chef (TBD #72)

    Paul Askew is one of the UK’s most pioneering figures in hospitality. Chef Patron and owner of The Art School for over a decade, since September 2014 Paul and his team have brought innovative fine-dining to Liverpool. Since opening, The Art School has proudly been Michelin Recommended and held two Rosettes in the AA Guide.Paul is focused on maintaining the highest standard of gastronomy in Liverpool and to showcase how good the city can be, as he strives to achieve the region ever more recognition.In honour of his career and commitment within the hospitality industry, last year Paul was proudly elected as President of Disciples of Escoffier UK. Paul became a Disciple of Escoffier in March 2023 and he now has the immense honour being the President of Disciples of Escoffier UK. His new role includes to modernise the organisation with diversity, help bring the next generation of chefs to the fore in the hospitality sector and mentor and support the young chefs of the future.Paul has even served the Queen and many other dignitaries. He is highly regarded as one of the UK's top chefs and has been involved with many projects, including MasterChef & The Great British Menu.

  2. Aug 29

    The Watch Dealer - Charles Burns (TBD #71)

    Having interviewed Kevin Turton a few weeks back, he was eager to do a reverse podcast to interview me, so here goes! 🕰️ 130 Year Old 3rd Generation Family Jewellers 🐝 Manchester's Home of Luxury Watches ⭐ Nobody Gives Service Like We Do For all your luxury watch enquiries, WhatsApp me directly on: +44 7539 430 168

  3. Aug 8

    The Art Dealer - Kevin Turton (TBD #70)

    In this episode, Kevin talks about his upbringing, how he got his start in high-end luxury sales with Gieves & Hawkes—the famous Savile Row tailor—and what he learned from the best salesman he ever met. He shares how those lessons parlayed into a 25-year career as an art dealer working with high-net-worth clients against all odds. Kevin exemplifies the traditional gentleman, bringing back the techniques, ethics, and morals in salesmanship that are too often lacking today.

  4. Aug 1

    The Avant-Garde Luxury Watch Designer - Yvan Arpa (TBD #69)

    From Haute Horology to Samsung Wearables and Back Again.Yvan is truly an industry legend, having been pivotal in the introduction of the Big Bang with Hublot, then as the CEO of Romain Jerome introducing the Titanic watch and the Moon Dust watch (take a look at those, they're quite remarkable), to then joining Samsung to head up the design of their Samsung Gear S3.ArtyA is a brand that truly embodies Yvan. Just take a look at their website with watches that are simply unique, from sapphire cases that are iridescent to using butterfly wings and real tobacco leafs on dials. I wouldn't really refer to it as a brand in the traditional sense that is confined by parameters. It's more a place for Yvan, like a sandbox to let his imagination run wild. There is simply nobody in the industry comparable. Enjoy!https://www.artya.com/https://www.instagram.com/artyawatch/https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvan-arpa-a0303536/https://www.linkedin.com/company/luxury-artpieces-artya-sa/

  5. Jul 25

    The Viral Violinist - Evangeline Victoria - (TBD #68)

    In this episode, Evangeline (who goes by Evie) shares a core childhood memory: long Australian road trips with her musician father, listening to a cassette about a fictitious violinist whose whole life unfolds through music. Discover how this early experience set the foundation for her journey to becoming a viral violinist with millions and millions of views across social media, completely changing the course of her life in the process.I always open my podcast with the Steve Jobs quote, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward," and this interview is a true example of that.Evie opens up about mastering her craft, taking a leap of faith after COVID, and the power of saying "yes". Her story is a masterclass in how luck is simply preparation meeting opportunity.There's so much to learn from this episode. Enjoy, and here are some links for Evie's socials. www.evangelinevictoriamusic.com.au https://www.youtube.com/@UC9jhCGEMFb11F0HORIjN55w https://www.instagram.com/evangelinevictoriamusic/https://www.tiktok.com/@evangelinevictoriamusic

  6. Jul 11

    Bringing Métiers d'Art to the Masses - Lilian Thibault, Awake Watches (TBD #67)

    In this video, Lilian talks about his early days in marketing and how it left him unfulfilled until he started the watch brand Awake, which now brings Métiers d'art (rare handcrafts in the haute horology space) to a far more accessible audience than, say, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, where these crafts are more often associated with a much higher price tag.Lilian also recounts a very interesting tale of how the French president at one of the global summits used his watches to showcase French business at its finest.

  7. Jun 20

    From Big Pharma to Niche Watchmaker: The Stollenwurm Story (Ed Tourtellotte) (TBD #66)

    What happens when you walk away from a successful career in pharmaceuticals to chase a lifelong passion?In this episode, we sit down with Ed Tourtellotte, the founder of Stollenwurm watches. Ed shares his incredible journey from building and scaling a pharmaceutical company to diving headfirst into the world of luxury horology. We talk about the massive risks of pivoting into a completely different industry, the reality of building a watch microbrand from scratch, and what it really takes to turn a passion into a business.Whether you’re a watch enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone thinking about making a massive career pivot, Ed’s story is packed with invaluable lessons on risk, resilience, and design.If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell so you never miss an interview!

  8. Jun 13

    The Go-To Watch Brand for Billionaires - Michel Nydegger, CEO of Greubel Forsey - (TBD #65)

    Why did Mark Zuckerberg wear a handmade, mechanical watch while announcing the future of Meta's augmented reality glasses?Welcome to the world of Greubel Forsey—a watchmaker that completely flies in the face of our fast-paced, throwaway culture. In this episode, I sit down with Michel Nydegger, who took the helm as CEO after years of shaping the brand's identity.Greubel Forsey doesn't build for mass scale; they build for eternity. With only around 200 timepieces hand-crafted a year, they are famous for spending up to a decade on research and development for single movements—even if those projects never see the light of day. Michel opens up about the brand's uncompromising ethos, why they willingly scrap hundreds of thousands of dollars in parts monthly to achieve perfection, and how he is guiding this legendary "adventure" into its next chapter.If you've ever wondered what true, obsessive luxury looks like in a digital world, this conversation is for you.

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About

The Burning Desire is a weekly podcast where we get inspirational guests on to interview them about whatever it is that they are passionate about. This platform is crucial to share the message that there is so much to gain from learning from people all around us. We focus on a wide range of topics, nothing is off limits or out of our scope - so long as there is a story to inspire others. Be it business success, academic achievements, sporting triumphs, weight loss, the mastery of a new skill or overcoming life's many hurdles (to name but a few). Hosted by Charles Burns

Information

  • Creator
    Charles Burns
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Charles Burns
  • Show Website
    The Burning Desire