Property-Porn Stars

Property-Porn Stars

Welcome to Property-Porn Stars, the premium property podcast for property professionals who are either working in, or aspiring to work in, the premium home market, brought to you by your hosts David Lindley and Matt Giggs.  The 'Property-Porn Stars' are the guests joining us in the studio, each of them excellent in their own field when it comes to the premium property markets, while the hosts interview them about their approach, what they've learned, and what they would advise for others working in the premium market to add significant value to their businesses.  If the premium property market is a subject you want to learn more about, or even if it is to take some of the insights you will learn here into another market, you are sure to gain lots of value from listening.  On behalf of the show's hosts, David and Matt, we are incredibly grateful for everyone who gives up their time to listen, and we are always eager for feedback on subjects, guests and questions. Don't forget to the the subscribe button, and thank you for listening!

  1. NOV 24

    Stop Doing Property Videos! And other controversial opinions... #44 Sam Ashdown, of AshdownJones.

    In this episode, David Lindley sits down with Sam Ashdown - Co-Founder of AshdownJones, a premium estate agency in the Lake District, who have enjoyed huge success since launch; doing things differently to conventional agency!  In this conversation we get in to some of those different strategies, including:   • From Kitchen Table to Premium Brand: Ashdown Jones launched with no premises, no investor funding and no big backing. It began at Sam’s kitchen table, proof that premium agency is built on strategy and mindset rather than budget.     • Selling the Unsellable: The first listing was a property that had been with multiple agents, with many failed attempts to sell. They succeeded without reducing the asking price, simply by transforming presentation and narrative.    • Brand Before Property: Sam believes the agent brand and feeling of trust come first. Clients need to believe in the brand story before they believe in the listing. It is not just about the home, it is about who is representing it.    • Marketing That Feels Premium: They focus on poetic property descriptions, lifestyle storytelling, magazine-level photography and bespoke brochures. Presentation is the differentiator in premium agency.    • Video Should Serve the Agency, Not the Listing: Sam does not believe property videos with agents presenting outside a house are effective. Instead, she uses video to build her agency brand and connect emotionally with the audience.     • Direct Mail Is Their Biggest Growth Lever: Their most successful lead generation channel is direct mail, sent with consistency, relevance and personality. It remains the most predictable and scalable method they use.    • Premium Clients Choose People, Not Portals: Vendors want to feel their home is valued, cherished and understood by the agent. They are not looking for a portal listing. They are looking for a steward of their asset.    • The Office Is Not a Shop Window: Ashdown Jones intentionally chose not to be on a traditional high street. Their rural location fits their brand, creates exclusivity and reflects a premium lifestyle experience.    • Not a Lifestyle Business: Sam speaks openly about the difference between a personal brand business and one that has true asset value. She believes in building something saleable, scalable and not dependent on a single individual.    • And lastly....47 Home Moves: Sam has moved house an unbelievable 47 times, which gives her deep empathy for sellers and buyers and a personal understanding of the emotional journey involved in moving.

    1h 7m
  2. OCT 31

    'I went from losing 30 years of memory...to coaching F1 World Champions' #43 Andrew 'Diesel' Bennett.

    In this extraordinary episode of Property-Porn Stars, David Lindley sits down with Andrew “Diesel” Bennett, a former police officer whose life was turned upside down when he suddenly lost his entire memory at the age of 30. Andrew shares the unimaginable story of rebuilding his identity from scratch, relearning who he was, rediscovering his family, and rebuilding his life through sheer determination. From there, he found purpose in the world of performance psychology, going on to work with Olympians, Paralympians, business leaders, and Formula 1 champions, including Fernando Alonso. Together, David and Andrew explore what “high performance” really means, the psychology of resilience, and how understanding yourself and your human wiring can transform both life and business. They also dive into practical strategies for estate agents and entrepreneurs: how to recover quickly from setbacks, build resilience, and understand clients on a deeper human level. It is one of the most powerful and moving conversations yet, raw, inspiring and packed with lessons for anyone who wants to perform at their best. In this conversation, we cover:   • Extraordinary Life Story: Andrew recounts his time in the police, exposure to trauma, and the sudden onset of dissociative amnesia that wiped his entire memory at age 30.  • Rebuilding from Zero: How he relearned everyday life, from making coffee to re-meeting his wife and family, while living with a 24-hour memory span for two years.  • Finding Purpose: Transition from police work to Porsche driver, to VIP chauffeur at Heathrow, to stroke survivor, and ultimately to high-performance coach.  • Turning Trauma into Strength: How personal tragedy, including his brother’s suicide, became the catalyst for understanding mental health and resilience.  • Defining High Performance: “Anyone who wants to be better than they were yesterday is a high performer.”  • Practical Mindset Tools:  • There is no failure, only feedback. Learn, adapt, and move forward.  • Resilience is “how quickly you return to standard performance after a setback.”  • Language, Attitude, Behaviour: the core framework for personal and team success.  • Understanding People: How to read communication cues — visual, auditory, and kinesthetic — to better connect with others (perfect for agents understanding clients).  • Spotting a Liar: Insights from his police training on reading body language and eye-movement cues.  • Performance in Sport & Business: Lessons from coaching Formula 1 drivers and Olympians, and why mindset and data awareness separate good from great.  • Human Connection: Why success begins with self-understanding and empathy. “Know your human being.”

    1h 1m
  3. OCT 17

    High Standards, Big Sacrifices, Slaying Dragons...The Imp&Maker Story #42 Sarah-Louise Fairburn

    In this episode of Property-Porn Stars, David Lindley and Matt Giggs sit down with Sarah-Louise Fairburn, Founder and MD of Imp & Maker, the luxury hamper and gifting company shaking up the food & drink market. Sarah-Louise shares her journey from running one of the UK’s biggest farming businesses to starting again with a disruptive new brand. We discuss the challenges of building a luxury business, the sacrifices behind the glossy exterior, and the importance of resilience, vision, and surrounding yourself with the right people. She opens up about balancing entrepreneurship with being a single mother of four, lessons from her mentors, and why disruption and high standards are at the heart of her success. Sarah-Louise also appeared on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, pitching her vision for Imp & Maker to the panel of investors. She shares candidly what the experience was really like behind the scenes — from the preparation and intensity of the pitch, to how the Dragons reacted, and the lessons she took away from being in that high-pressure spotlight. It’s a fascinating look at what most viewers never get to see on the show. If you’re an entrepreneur, business leader, or simply curious about what it takes to build a modern luxury brand, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration and honesty.  In this episode, we discuss:   • Vision & Disruption: Imp & Maker was born to modernise gifting — every item should be used, loved, and create memories (not just wicker baskets and re-gifted tea).  • High Standards: Sarah-Louise refuses to settle; inspired by mentors like Judith Batchelar (ex-Sainsbury’s), she obsesses over every detail of brand experience.  • Entrepreneurial Drive: Built one of the UK’s largest egg brands, then started again from scratch after a separation — now determined to prove herself again.  • Resilience & Sacrifice: Talks openly about scars from setbacks, grueling challenges, long hours, and the emotional toll of building a business.  • Surroundings Matter: Emphasises the importance of the right people, both in personal life and in business networks.  • Scaling Challenges: From supply chain problems to expensive lessons in Google ads and tech systems — learned agility and adaptability are key.  • Brand Positioning: Differentiates through modern, artisan, relevant products and an exceptional unboxing experience.  • Women in Business: Candid reflections on being a female entrepreneur, navigating biases, and inspiring her daughters to believe they can achieve anything.  • Health & Balance: Stresses discipline in eating, exercise, and family meal times as ways to cope with burnout.  • Long-Term Ambition: Aims to build one of the UK’s biggest gifting brands and, longer term, help other entrepreneurs from a place of real experience.

    1h 20m

About

Welcome to Property-Porn Stars, the premium property podcast for property professionals who are either working in, or aspiring to work in, the premium home market, brought to you by your hosts David Lindley and Matt Giggs.  The 'Property-Porn Stars' are the guests joining us in the studio, each of them excellent in their own field when it comes to the premium property markets, while the hosts interview them about their approach, what they've learned, and what they would advise for others working in the premium market to add significant value to their businesses.  If the premium property market is a subject you want to learn more about, or even if it is to take some of the insights you will learn here into another market, you are sure to gain lots of value from listening.  On behalf of the show's hosts, David and Matt, we are incredibly grateful for everyone who gives up their time to listen, and we are always eager for feedback on subjects, guests and questions. Don't forget to the the subscribe button, and thank you for listening!

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