Built Not Born In Business Podcast

Chris and Helen Butler
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Bimonthly

What if the difference between your business thriving and barely surviving isn't more capital, better timing, or a lucky break. Instead it’s the lessons you haven't learned yet from people who've already been exactly where you are? Every episode, we sit down with founders, investors and business leaders who've actually built something. The ones who've risked their own money, made tough calls, navigated failures and created businesses that endure and turnover millions. We talk about the decisions that kept them up at night. The pivots that worked. The mistakes that didn't. The moments when quitting looked easier than continuing. And the strategies, mindset shifts and lessons that made the difference between barely surviving and actually succeeding. If you're building a business, you'll hear stories that validate what you're going through and give you insight you can apply immediately. If you're thinking about starting, you'll get an honest view of what's actually involved and whether it's the right path for you. If you've been doing this a while, you'll find others who understand the pressure you carry and the vision that keeps you going. This is for the people building something meaningful. The ones willing to do what's difficult today for what matters tomorrow. The ones who understand that success comes from consistent execution, smart choices and pushing through when it gets uncomfortable. Built Not Born In Business Podcast. Every episode could save you years of trial and error. Subscribe now.

  1. Sep 25

    The Real Cost of AI Nobody Is Talking About

    The AI bubble might be bigger than we think. We are looking at how current tech disruption could change your career trajectory.Everyone is riding the wave of the latest tech, but is it just another cycle? My father has watched industries shift for decades, and his take on this current trend is sobering. We discuss why people often assume they are immune to change, only to find their systems and roles completely overhauled.The reality of job displacement is rarely discussed until it is too late. We are not just talking about minor inconveniences, but the widespread restructuring of entire sectors. Understanding how the AI industry is actually impacting the workforce is essential for anyone trying to future-proof their business.Subscribe for our weekly business reality checks, and tell us in the comments - do you think your role is safe from automation?

  2. Sep 11

    Why Amelia Sordell Shut Down Her £4M Agency She Built a Prison, Not a Business

    Amelia Sordell built a £4M personal branding agency, then deliberately shut it down. She calls it building a prison, not a business.In this Built Not Born in Business episode, Ameli, personal branding consultant, bestselling author and keynote speaker with 250K+ LinkedIn followers shares the full story: from selling jeans on eBay at 13, to losing £120K of stock in her fashion brand, to launching Clout with £1,400 during COVID and scaling to £50K months, to walking away to build something aligned.She breaks down how to build a personal brand that actually makes money, why you must separate your personality from your content, her £79 course to £5.5K/day consulting funnel, and why her next mission is Mother, a media company for women, by women.Featuring: Amelia Sordell on failure, burnout, unscaling, female founders using their voice, AI for content, and why video-first wins in 2026.

  3. Aug 28

    YouTube is Giving Away Free Fame and No One is Claiming It

    Are you using youtube business strategies to scale? Learn why businesses on youtube are currently seeing massive potential for growth.Many entrepreneurs are ignoring the platform, but this video breaks down why failing to adapt means missing out on significant opportunities. We examine the current landscape for companies and explain the clear advantages of establishing a presence now. If you are looking for actionable business advice on digital expansion, this overview highlights why the barrier to entry is lower than you think.Achieving sustainable youtube growth requires understanding how to leverage video content effectively. This guide is designed for business owners who need to clarify their digital direction and stop leaving visibility on the table. We cover the core benefits of platform adoption and how to align your goals with current audience behaviours.Subscribe for weekly business advice breakdowns, and let me know in the comments: what is the biggest challenge your company faces when creating video content?

  4. Aug 14

    Why Dom McGregor Started Social Chain at 19 (And How He Scaled It)

    Learn how Dominic McGregor built a social media agency from scratch. Discover the reality of business scaling and growth at age 19.In this episode of Built Not Born, Chris and Helen sit down with Dominic McGregor to discuss his journey as the Social Chain founder. Dominic breaks down the practical steps he took to grow a startup into a company with 750 employees across the UK. This conversation is for anyone looking to understand the mechanics behind rapid business scaling and the challenges of managing a large workforce at a young age.We explore the specific business growth strategy that allowed his agency to dominate the social media landscape. You will gain insight into the entrepreneurship advice that helped him navigate early-stage hurdles while maintaining company culture. By focusing on sustainable systems, Dominic explains how to avoid common pitfalls when starting a business and scaling operations effectively.Subscribe for weekly entrepreneurship advice breakdowns, and let us know in the comments what aspect of business growth you want us to cover next.

  5. Jul 31

    At 43, I Stopped Believing The Dream

    Listen to the latest Built Not Born In Business podcast to see how Helen and Chris navigate their busy weekly schedule.In this episode, hosts Helen and Chris share a candid look at their work week, discussing why the days feel exceptionally long despite being only Tuesday. They keep the conversation grounded in business reality, touching on iconic brands like 7up and Coca-Cola to illustrate their points about corporate longevity and market presence.Whether you are an entrepreneur or just trying to manage a hectic workload, this podcast provides a relatable perspective on balancing productivity with the pressures of running a business. Join us as we break down the challenges of maintaining momentum in a fast-paced environment and discuss how to keep your focus sharp when the week feels like it is dragging on.Subscribe for weekly business insights and podcast breakdowns. Tell us in the comments: how do you keep your productivity high when your work week feels never-ending?

  6. Jul 17

    Mark Sweeny Sold His Company. Then It Got Dark.

    Join Mark Sweeny for essential serial entrepreneur tips on the Built Not Born in Business podcast. Learn how to scale your ventures effectively.#FounderDepression In this episode, Chris and Helen sit down with guest Mark Sweeny to discuss his journey as a serial entrepreneur. This conversation is designed for business owners looking for practical entrepreneurship advice that they can apply to their own companies today. We cover the specific approaches Mark has used to build his businesses and the lessons he has learned along the way.Throughout the discussion, Mark shares his perspective on the realities of running a business. By listening to this Mark Sweeny interview, you will gain a clearer understanding of the mindset required to navigate common obstacles. Whether you are just starting or managing a growing enterprise, these business growth strategies offer a helpful look at what it takes to succeed in a competitive market.Subscribe for weekly business podcast insights, and let us know in the comments what specific entrepreneurship advice you want to hear more about.

  7. Jul 3

    The Secret to Endless Motivation as an Entrepreneur

    Listen to this business podcast episode with Chris and Helen to learn how to navigate common obstacles and find success. Get practical insights on managing the daily realities of running a company.In this episode of Built Not Born in Business, hosts Chris and Helen sit down to discuss the real-world aspects of entrepreneurship. They break down the specific business challenges they have encountered and the strategies used to overcome them. This conversation is designed for founders and leaders who want an honest look at what it takes to sustain a company in a competitive market.Whether you are looking for fresh entrepreneurship tips or simply want to understand the path to long-term business success, this discussion provides a clear perspective on the journey. By examining both the wins and the hurdles, you will gain a better understanding of how to manage your own business growth effectively.Subscribe for weekly business podcast episodes that break down real-world strategies, and comment below with the biggest hurdle you are currently facing in your venture.

  8. Jun 19

    The Most Successful Founders Are All Faking It

    Every successful founder you look up to is faking it more than they'll admit and the woman who said it has built something most people can't explain.Frankie James is the co-founder of Ideas Fest: part business festival, part awards programme, part the kind of room where founders actually drop the act. In this episode she breaks down how it started, why it nearly didn't survive and what running it has taught her about the people who build real businesses.She came out of the pandemic doing what every event company did, webinars and white papers and hated every minute of it. So she walked away from the safe version and put on a live festival instead, with no guarantee anyone would turn up. They did. She talks through the moment she sat on a hill watching one car become ten become hundreds, in the pouring rain, not knowing whether the whole thing was about to collapse.There's a harder story underneath it. After the world went back to normal, almost her entire team left and the business nearly folded. Instead of hiding it, she picked up the phone to ten people more successful than her, then told the people who'd already bought tickets the honest truth about where things stood. What happened next is the part most founders get wrong.The thread running through all of it is people. How she landed serious speakers when nobody knew who she was. Why she thinks networking is the most underrated skill in business and costs you nothing. Why trust has no shortcut, no matter how many people try to sell you one. And why the most successful founders she meets are almost always the ones still fumbling their way through and admitting they don't have it figured out.If you're building something and quietly wondering whether everyone else knows something you don't, this one's for you. They don't. They're working it out as they go, same as you. The difference is whether you'll put yourself in the rooms where that becomes obvious.

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What if the difference between your business thriving and barely surviving isn't more capital, better timing, or a lucky break. Instead it’s the lessons you haven't learned yet from people who've already been exactly where you are? Every episode, we sit down with founders, investors and business leaders who've actually built something. The ones who've risked their own money, made tough calls, navigated failures and created businesses that endure and turnover millions. We talk about the decisions that kept them up at night. The pivots that worked. The mistakes that didn't. The moments when quitting looked easier than continuing. And the strategies, mindset shifts and lessons that made the difference between barely surviving and actually succeeding. If you're building a business, you'll hear stories that validate what you're going through and give you insight you can apply immediately. If you're thinking about starting, you'll get an honest view of what's actually involved and whether it's the right path for you. If you've been doing this a while, you'll find others who understand the pressure you carry and the vision that keeps you going. This is for the people building something meaningful. The ones willing to do what's difficult today for what matters tomorrow. The ones who understand that success comes from consistent execution, smart choices and pushing through when it gets uncomfortable. Built Not Born In Business Podcast. Every episode could save you years of trial and error. Subscribe now.

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