No Bollocks with Matt Haycox

Matt Haycox

Welcome to No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, the business podcast for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and anyone who wants to build big without the b******t. I’m Matt Haycox: investor, founder, and straight-talking business mentor. I’ve funded nearly £1 billion in UK business loans, bounced back from bankruptcy, and now own and advise multiple 7- and 8-figure companies across sectors, from property and e-commerce to finance and hospitality. This podcast cuts through the noise. No bollocks. No gurus. Just raw conversations, real strategies, and the lessons you actually need to succeed in business. Each episode features unfiltered insights from me and guests who’ve built it, lost it, and built it back bigger. So buckle up. It’s time to learn how to do business, properly.

  1. Red Bull Racing & Coutts Bank Coach: Business Stress vs Combat Stress | Simon Jeffries

    3D AGO

    Red Bull Racing & Coutts Bank Coach: Business Stress vs Combat Stress | Simon Jeffries

    Most high performers look capable on paper. But under real pressure? They become reactive, inconsistent, and start slipping into boom, bust cycles. Simon Jeffries has spent 10 years solving exactly why that happens, and how to fix it. Simon is a former Royal Marines Commando who passed Special Forces selection and completed three combat tours. He now coaches founders, CEOs and high-performing professionals through The Natural Edge, with clients including Red Bull Racing, Coutts Bank and The Ned. WHAT YOU’LL GET FROM THIS EPISODE: Why business can feel more stressful than combat (and the psychology behind it).The difference between pressure and stress, and why training your stress response changes everything.Why productivity hacks and morning routines stop working under pressure (and what you need instead).A live coaching session: Matt opens up about a 20-year relationship pattern and what’s driving it.Why elite performers always have coaches, but most business owners stay amateur in a pro arena.The “5/95 rule”: why your life is built in the small daily choices, not the big milestones.Why Simon offers a 100% money-back guarantee (and why he can afford to).This is two people who’ve operated under serious pressure talking straight about what it actually takes to hold yourself together when it counts. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Introduction  0:46 – “All the gear and no idea”: why the operator beats the equipment  3:06 – Combat stress explained (and the boxing analogy)  7:39 – Why business can feel MORE stressful than war 12:42 – Live coaching: Matt opens up about relationships 18:58 – Mentorship, learning, and staying sharp past 21  29:46 – What real results look like: control, consistency, standards  35:13 – Final thoughts: money doesn’t fix it  FOLLOW SIMON: Website: https://thenaturaledge.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonjeffries/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.natural.edge/ ======================== Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur. I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win. On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business. Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make. 📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe ▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ ▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube ▶ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedi...

    37 min
  2. From Bedroom Science to Business Disruption - Saba Yussouf

    6D AGO

    From Bedroom Science to Business Disruption - Saba Yussouf

    Most disruptors don't fail because their idea is wrong, they fail because the world isn't ready for it. Saba Yussouf explains what entrepreneurs must understand about backing themselves so no bad deal, bad partner, or bad timing can stop them again. In this episode, Matt Haycox sits down with Saba Yussouf, entrepreneur, investor and disruptor, to break down what actually drives business disruption: understanding your market, your instincts, and your numbers, not chasing valuations, not ignoring red flags, and not waiting for the world to catch up to your idea. They cover the reality of disruptive science and why timing is everything, the difference between a great business idea and a great founder, how Saba built an entire business for under £50k using AI, and what happens when you ignore your gut, including the business partner who faked his death and left her with the bill. Timestamps 0:00 - Coming Up 0:10 - Intro 0:34 - Born in London, Raised in Dubai 1:48 - The Rule That Shaped Saba's Career 4:02 - The Moment Everything Clicked 4:46 - Joined the Family Business and Hated It 6:42 - From Bedroom Science to Harvey Nichols 8:20 - Disruptive Science - The Invisible Coating Nobody Wanted 11:51 - Why Saba Stopped Going It Alone 13:45 - Thinking in Numbers, Not Words 14:40 - He Faked His Death?! 16:24 - Her Most Rewarding Deal Yet 18:30 - What Rooms Full of Men Taught Her 19:47 - Building a Business with AI for Under £50k 21:47 - Reading History to Predict the Future 23:04 - Authenticity Beats Strategy on Social Media 24:02 - Saba's Definition of Success 24:38 - Final Thoughts Follow Saba: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saba-yussouf-713286149/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realsabayussouf  ======================== Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur. I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win. On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business. Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make. 📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe ▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ ▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube ▶ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedi...

    25 min
  3. MAR 11

    Stop Losing Sales in Your DMs: Build an Appointment-Setting Team

    A short No Bollocks business lesson on turning DMs into booked calls, without sounding desperate.  If people are messaging you, watching your content, or enquiring about your offer, but you’re not converting them into calls, you don’t have a marketing problem. You have a conversation-to-sale problem. In this No Bollocks business lesson, Matt breaks down how to build an appointment-setting team, the people who handle your inbound messages, qualify leads, build trust, and book your calendar with the right calls. Online sales people call them “setters” (because they set appointments), but this is simply about building a team that turns interest into booked calls and revenue, without sounding robotic or desperate. What you’ll learn: What “appointment setting” actually is (and why it matters).Why cheap DM staff kill trust, and how to spot it fast.The traits of a great appointment setter: judgment, tone, empathy, speed.How to hire: tests that reveal whether someone can handle real conversations.How to pay them so they don’t sound needy (and don’t damage your brand).The only metrics that matter: call quality, show-up rate, and revenue.This lesson only works if you implement it. If you want Matt to help you build your appointment-setting system, book a Power Call. Book here for only £99: https://calendly.com/matthaycox/99-consult-call ======================== Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur. I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win. On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business. Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make. 📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe ▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ ▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube ▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

    18 min
  4. Funnels vs Websites: The Lead Gen Truth Most Founders Miss | Alisha Conlin-Hurd

    MAR 7

    Funnels vs Websites: The Lead Gen Truth Most Founders Miss | Alisha Conlin-Hurd

    Most founders don’t have a marketing problem, they have a clarity + economics problem. In this episode, Matt Haycox sits down with Alisha Conlin Hurd, co-founder of Persuasion Experience, a lead-gen and funnel agency working with 7–8 figure service businesses (finance, property, and investment niches). She breaks down what actually works in 2026, and why most business owners get stuck because they abdicate marketing instead of understanding the basics.  You’ll learn the simple difference between a website (your digital “front desk”) and a funnel (your digital salesperson), why you should diversify acquisition channels (inbound + outbound), and the key numbers every founder must know so agencies can’t waffle you with dashboards that don’t convert.  Then it gets future-facing: Alisha explains AI agents / “Claude bots”, how they’ll reshape execution roles, and the hiring process she uses (paid test projects + real-world simulations) to avoid hiring people who interview well but can’t perform.  Timestamps: 0:00 – Coming Up  0:36 – Alisha + Persuasion Experience 2:07 – The future of cold calling vs inbound marketing 4:03 – Funnels vs websites (the simple difference) 6:48 – Competing messages for high-net-worth clients 7:56 – What business owners MUST know about marketing (so agencies can’t BS you) 10:36 – Rising paid ad costs: fix margin + economics 14:16 – AI agents + “Claude bots” 17:51 – Hiring process: paid test projects (why interviews lie) 19:20 – Hiring AI-first: “show me your workflow” 20:24 – Essential AI marketing tools (Whisper Flow + Atria) 22:35 – Final thoughts Follow Alisha: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alishaconlinhurd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alishaconlinhurd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisha_conlin_hurd/ ======================== Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur. I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win. On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business. Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make. 📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe ▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ ▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube ▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

    24 min
  5. MAR 4

    In 8 Minutes: Turn Your Audience Into Cash (The Cash-On-Demand Playbook)

    You’ve got people watching. Liking. Agreeing. Trusting you. But your bank account isn’t seeing any of it yet. In this bite-sized No Bollocks business lesson, Matt breaks down the Cash-On-Demand Strategy, a simple “Offer Campaign” that turns your warm audience into paying customers without sounding spammy. This isn’t a 6-month launch or a cringe hard sell. It’s a focused outreach push that can generate 4-figures from one message, using email, LinkedIn DMs, and text, because your best buyers aren’t all in one place. If you’re a founder, coach, consultant, agency owner, freelancer, or service business sitting on leads but not converting, this is the fastest way to turn attention into revenue with zero ad spend. What you’ll learn: What an Offer Campaign is (a mini-launch to people who already know you).Why it only works if you’ve built trust first (warm > cold).The 3-line message that gets replies: hello → clear offer → soft CTA.The one follow-up rule that boosts conversions without pressure.How to turn “I’m interested” into action (call / one-pager / direct link).Why rotating offers monthly prevents audience fatigue.The rule: you can’t withdraw from an account you never deposited into.Need an answer — not another podcast? Book a £99 / 15-minute Power Sprint Call with Matt and get the fastest route to your next move. Book here: https://calendly.com/matthaycox/99-consult-call? One problem. One answer. One action Timestamps: 0:00 – The “Cash-On-Demand” problem: trust ≠ cash (yet)   0:45 – What an Offer Campaign is (mini-launch to warm leads)  2:00 – Multi-channel outreach: email vs LinkedIn vs SMS  3:10 – The trust rule: warm audience only (otherwise you’re spamming)  4:05 – The 3-part message that gets “Yes, interested” replies  5:25 – The one follow-up that increases replies (without pressure)  6:15 – How to close: 10-min call vs one-pager vs link  7:15 – Rotate offers to keep results high (no audience fatigue)  7:45 – Final rule: trust first, ask second  ======================== Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur. I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win. On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business. Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make. 📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe ▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ ▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube ▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

    9 min
  6. FEB 25

    In 7 Minutes: How to Negotiate Better Deals (Build Options)

    Most people think walking away means you failed. Matt’s take: walking away has made him millions, because the strongest position in any negotiation is being ready to walk. Not bluffing. Not games. Being genuinely fine if it doesn’t happen today.  In this No Bollocks business lesson, Matt explains why leverage doesn’t come from what you say, it comes from what you don’t need. If you need the money, need the supplier, need the deal to save you, you’ve already handed the other side the power.  He breaks down exactly how to build negotiating leverage before you ever step into the room: create alternatives, know your walk-away point, ask strategic questions that shift the dynamic, and do due diligence on the person, because the wrong partner will cost more than any “great deal” on paper.  What you’ll learn: Why the walk-away mindset is the strongest negotiating position you can have.How to build leverage with options (other investors, suppliers, and deal paths).How to win when the other side has more money/power: shift the game to what they value.Why strategic questions give you control without looking aggressive.The “deal looks perfect but the person is a snake” lesson (and how to avoid it).Why negotiation is like dating: the person who wants it least has the power.Raising money or negotiating investor terms? Join Capital Catalyst — Matt’s system for investor readiness, leverage, and raising capital without getting stitched up: https://oxa3iqyfbbf.typeform.com/Capital ======================== Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur. I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win. On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business. Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make. 📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe ▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ ▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube ▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

    8 min
  7. Bankrupt to “Cowboy Closer”: The Truth About Making Money Online

    FEB 20

    Bankrupt to “Cowboy Closer”: The Truth About Making Money Online

    Most people don’t fail because they’re “lazy”. They fail because they keep waiting to feel ready. In this episode, Matt Haycox sits down with Connor Western, better known online as The Cowboy Closer, to talk about the messy middle: financial mistakes, bankruptcy, rebuilding from zero, and what it really takes to make money online when motivation disappears. Connor breaks down how he tried to escape the rat race by starting five businesses at once, what that taught him about option paralysis, and why he now believes the real game isn’t a “side hustle”, it’s mindset, psychology, and environment design.  What you’ll learn in this episode Why Connor says he had to learn financial literacy the hard way. The bankruptcy story, and the risky “0% balance transfer” spiral that helped trigger it. “Option paralysis”: why starting five businesses was his way of forcing momentum. The truth about remote sales (and why “getting the job” isn’t the hard part). How “Cowboy Closers” became a brand, and why Connor’s marketing is built to polarise. Why Connor sees content as the long game: “film everything” and let the business catch up. What he’d do differently now (spoiler: one thing, not five). Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro: Meet “The Cowboy Closer” 0:45 — Bali, Dubai, UK: designing your environment  10:13 — Environment vs discipline vs motivation (what actually works)  17:02 — Mental health: depression, suicide, and the cost of “pushing through”  24:57 — Online coaching + remote sales: why Connor’s model wins  28:41 — Ambition, ego, and what success really means  33:37 — Mentors, influence, and the personal development industry  40:57 — Connor’s business model: mindset-first sales training  44:59 — The moustache, final truths & where to find Connor Follow Connor Western: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connorwestern_/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1aRUmUvyPfWGidVeFpaIlg ======================== Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur. I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win. On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business. Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make. 📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe ▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ ▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube ▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

    59 min
  8. From 11 Employees to $600M: The Customer Experience Growth Playbook

    FEB 13

    From 11 Employees to $600M: The Customer Experience Growth Playbook

    Most businesses don’t have a marketing problem. They’ve got a customer experience problem, and they’re bleeding repeat sales without even realising it. In this episode, Matt Haycox sits down with Dan Daly, who spent 20 years in automotive retail and helped scale a dealership group from a start-up operation into 500+ employees and ~$600–700M in annual revenue. Dan breaks down the real reason it worked: not better cars, not better locations, better customer experience, measured, incentivised, and enforced like a system. You’ll hear Matt and Dan talk about: How Dan climbed from sales to running dealerships by constantly “raising his hand” for discomfort and responsibility.How they scaled from a yellow pad and a pen to 500 employees and $600M+ revenue.Why customer experience is the ultimate growth lever (and why most founders ignore it).The customer satisfaction playbook: incentives, accountability, and the “call everyone under 80” rule.The simple process fix that solved the majority of their complaints (and lifted scores fast).Why Dan believes “lifestyle investing” beats boring investing, and how vision drives strategy.Timestamps: 00:00 – From Car Sales to $600M: Dan Daly’s Rise 10:50 – Customer Experience = Growth: The Dealership Playbook 19:45 – The Pivot: Why Dan Moved Into Real Estate Investing 29:31 – Portugal Golden Visa Fund: How the Strategy Works Follow Dan Daly: Website: https://globalipllc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-daly1  ======================== Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur. I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win. On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business. Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make. 📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe ▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ ▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube ▶ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedi...

    34 min

About

Welcome to No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, the business podcast for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and anyone who wants to build big without the b******t. I’m Matt Haycox: investor, founder, and straight-talking business mentor. I’ve funded nearly £1 billion in UK business loans, bounced back from bankruptcy, and now own and advise multiple 7- and 8-figure companies across sectors, from property and e-commerce to finance and hospitality. This podcast cuts through the noise. No bollocks. No gurus. Just raw conversations, real strategies, and the lessons you actually need to succeed in business. Each episode features unfiltered insights from me and guests who’ve built it, lost it, and built it back bigger. So buckle up. It’s time to learn how to do business, properly.

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