Unpolished Players In Business

Beyond success, into the chaos, meet the paradox
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Everyone loves the winners, but we’re here for the players, the ones rewriting rules, breaking and surviving the chaos. Doubts, pivots, and the messy undercurrents. Welcome to the Unpolished Players in Business podcast.

Episodes

  1. 10/06/2025

    The Hidden Food Struggles No Health App Was Solving | Ep.11 with Nabeel Sharif

    What if every health app got it wrong? They told us to count calories. But they never told us what our brain and hormones actually need. For millions living with ADHD and PCOS, food isn’t fuel — it’s confusion, frustration, and noise. And nobody built for them.Until an economist decided to try — Nabeel, the founder of Healthiplate. We talk about: 🍽️ Why ADHD and PCOS users are failed by mainstream health tools 🧠 How AI can read your plate and finally tell you what’s right for your body 💡 The risk and reward of bootstrapping a startup with zero investors ❤️ And why real innovation starts with empathy, not funding. This isn’t just a story about food — it’s a story about who gets cared for, and who doesn’t. -------------------------- 🔗 Let's Connect! LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/unpolished-players-in-business/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unpolished_players_inbusiness/✨Learn more about Healthiplate https://www.healthiplate.com

    43 min

  2. 09/11/2025

    The Loneliness of Leading a Company | Ep.10 with Michael Horsley

    Founders build companies. Senior execs lead them. Both face daily decisions that affect people, money, and momentum. But the smartest leaders know when to pause, ask better questions, and get an outside perspective. In this episode, we explore what changes when you stop trying to carry everything alone — and start making space for clarity, challenge, and support. We dive into: • How to tell if you’re solving the wrong problem — even when results look “fine” • What founders and execs get wrong about hiring (and why it’s so emotional) • The real cost of decision fatigue • What “external clarity” actually looks like — and how to get it • Why you should ask for help before you think you need it

    51 min

  3. 08/19/2025

    The Silent Risk That Will Outdate Your Business Overnight | Ep.09 with Michael Guy

    Everyone loves to say “people just resist change.” But what if that’s not the real problem at all? In this episode, Michael Guy — digital transformation veteran with 20+ years’ scars and wins — reveals why businesses are often losing without even realising it. What we cover: • Why 80% of digital transformation projects fail (and how to avoid joining them) • The small, boring fixes that secretly move the needle more than “big bang” programmes • Why some leaders accidentally kill change, while others unlock it • The lockdown story: how a food wholesaler went from near-death to reinvention in weeks Forget the buzzwords. Forget the excuses. This is the unpolished truth about transformation. 🔗 Let's Connect! LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/unpolished-players-in-business/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unpolished_players_inbusiness/ ✨Learn more about the guest Michael Guy https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelguy?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

    1h 6m

  4. 07/16/2025

    The Real Risk of AI in Music Isn’t What You Think | Ep.08 with Hazel Savage & Zhiwei

    An AI-made song just hit No.1 on Spotify UK. But no one knows the artist. No label, no interviews—just a name: The Velvet Sundown.Confused? You’re not alone.Because AI isn’t just changing how music is made.It’s changing who gets heard, who gets paid, and what gets built. In our first-ever two-guest episode, we dive deep into the hidden machine behind the music industry:Hazel Savage – CEO at SYNTHO, founder of Museo (acquired by SoundCloud), investor, and one of the most honest voices in global MusicTechZhiwei – Chinese ex-producer turned machine learning researcher, working where music meets code What we uncover: 🎯 Why Spotify might never survive in China 🎯 The real business behind TikTok’s AI-powered music discovery 🎯 Is generative music solving a real problem, or just spending real money? 🎯 How Chinese platforms monetize creativity better than the West 🎯 The difference between AI helping artists and AI helping platforms control the market This isn’t hype. It’s a look inside the architecture of modern music power.

    1h 1m

  5. 06/04/2025

    How to Make Your Products So Addicted | Ep.07 Masterclass of Bespoke Business with Joey

    Joey came from a dentistry background — but stumbled into the jewelry world by accident, through a trade show in Asia.With no formal business training at first, she later used her MBA, multilingual skills, a reliable supply chain, and a deep belief in jewelry as a vessel for love and memory to build a brand that runs almost entirely on word-of-mouth without a single pay ad.In this episode, you will learn: • How a single engagement ring opened the door to a three-generation family of clients • How she chose the right artisans and partners in the earliest stage • Why understanding a client’s story matters more than telling your own • What it means to earn trust in a male-dominated industry • Her take on happiness — and building a business around her own rhythmA light but insightful conversation, perfect for anyone rethinking their path — or ready to follow the quiet call of something new.Subscribe, tune in, and hear a story you won’t find on the usual business podcasts.--------------------------🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/4l0C4xYp6LxcwGH1oZIr3d?si=zt1sgV__RfS95Dc9F9JpYA&nd=1&dlsi=b8e3482f36d94ad2🎙️ Apple Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unpolished-players-in-business/id1798695787🔗 Let's Connect!LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/unpolished-players-in-business/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unpolished_players_inbusiness/

    1 hr

  6. 05/07/2025

    How Farming Taught Him Business: A Real Talk on Grit & Growth| Ep.06 Tanweer Hassan

    This week's guest is Tanweer Hassan: a first-generation college student who grew up on a farm in India, taught himself English by watching TED Talks, went on to organize TEDx events and launch his own startups in the UK, and now leads the MBA program at the University of Southampton. In this conversation, Tanweer breaks down how farming shaped his mindset: patience, resilience, no shortcuts. In this conversation, we dive into: Why business isn’t just about unicorns and headlinesThe quiet power of growing slow but steadyWhat farming and entrepreneurship have in commonHow we revalue MBA nowadays Subscribe, tune in, and hear a story you won’t find on the usual business podcasts.

    1h 25m

  7. 04/23/2025

    How a Side Hustle Became a Thriving Business | Ep.05 Saskia Roskam Co-Founder of The Biskery

    We all know biscuit industry is very competitive. So how does this brand stand out in such a crowded market? The Biskery is a handmade cookie brand from Leeds that grew from a market stall into a media-featured, award-winning business—serving clients like Penguin Publisher, Google, NHS, and so much more big brand. No funding. No factory. Just two women, a great recipe, and a belief that biscuits can speak. Saskia, a former documentary filmmaker, shares how storytelling became her branding superpower—turning snacks into a deeply personal product, and a crowded market into real opportunity. If you care about brand building, creative business, or food with feeling—this one’s for you. Timestamps: [00:00] - Who is Saskia Roskam? The Biskery and how it all started [01:22] - What would be the opening sense of her entropenur journey? [07:46] - Becoming a mother: The first major turning point [09:09] - The digital marketing experience [12:12] - How COVID-19 made their business pivot [13:50] - How the BBC and Leeds List catapulted their brand visibility [26:01] - The first corporate order from Penguin Publisher [30:34] - Sales teaches you more than R&D ever [35:09] - What she has changed during this way? [39:42] - Suggestion for business women and being a mother [41:14] - When did she decide to go all in to The Biskery [47:40] - Common marketing mistakes early founders make (and how to fix them) [50:17] - How to build trust through the your website? [54:21] - They said no to VC funding? [57:51] - The co-founders dynamic [1:03:25] - The biggest lessons her learned through this journey [1:07:07] -The funny story of how Yuning & Sas met [1:15:32] - How Phil Collins & Liam Gallagher found the Biskery [1:18:17] -The advertisement spent? [1:21:24] - What is the future adventure for Sas? Another business empire? [1:26:19] - What would be the final scene of this imaginary documentary? [1:29:13] - What should the documentary be called?

    1h 32m

  8. 04/09/2025

    What Strip Club Taught Me About Business | Ep.04 Sales & Marketing Expert Rhiannon-Amber Leavett

    From strip club manager to founder of five businesses. She once had £17,000 in debt, lived on credit cards, and couldn’t afford breakfast for her kids. But she said: “I had to start a business — because there was no way back.” “I want to earn so much money that my kids never have to struggle the way I did.” “And even then — I want to live a life that’s anything but ordinary.” How did it all begin? For Rhiannon, the earliest lessons came from dancers, debt, and disasters. In this episode, she opens up about: 🟡 Why strip clubs are the best sales training ground in the world 🟡 How she shifted from selling services to selling products — and the painful lessons that came with it 🟡 How SME founders can build trust and grow a personal brand 🟡 The marketing crisis in the equestrian world — stuck in the 1970s 🟡 Why she keeps coming up with business ideas that actually hit real market needs This is not a success story. This is a SURVIVAL story — and maybe the most honest one you’ll ever hear. -------------------------- Timestamps: [00:00] – Intro [02:10] – From Strip Club Manager to CEO [04:34] – No Food, No Credit, No One to Call [07:31] – Why Business Is the Only Option [09:09] – How to Start with 0 Experience [12:22] – Why Every Small Business Struggles with Marketing [14:23] – Cold Accountability: Fix the Real Problem [17:14] – Becoming an Expert Before You Feel Like One [24:25] – Her First Ever Client [31:02] – Equitrain Industry Still Lives in the 1970s [36:48] – Business Idea: Teaching Tech to People Who Hate Tech [38:20] – Inventing the Zip-On Horse Coat [41:56] – When Every Prototype Fails [47:38] – Sell It Before You Make It [49:32] – 3 Brutal Lessons from Product Development [54:02] – Strippers Are the Best Salespeople on Earth [57:49] – Networking Lessons from the Club [01:04:18] – Rejection Training: The Best Sales School [01:06:36] – I'd Build a Sales Team Out of Strippers [01:07:36] – Childhood Business Instincts: The Pickle Relish Story [01:19:26] – What is Her Biggest Change during this Journey

    1h 26m

  9. 04/03/2025

    How a Dishwasher Built China’s Top Dumpling Chain

    We’re telling China’s business stories—in English, for the world.Not through big headlines or geopolitics, but through companies, strategy, culture, and the people building from the ground up.Because let’s face it—everyone’s curious about China.But curiosity deserves better answers than clichés.So we’re starting with something universal: dumplings.In this first episode, we explore how one humble dumpling brand became China’s No.1—without franchising, without outside capital, and without trying to be everything to everyone.Whether you’re into F&B, grassroots entrepreneurship, leadership models, or simply want a fresh case study from outside Silicon Valley—this one’s for you.We’ve broken down the strategy, the decisions, and the takeaways—so you don’t have to.Let’s dig in.Host by Yuning https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuning-zhao-857a26306?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_appEdited by Wan Su https://www.linkedin.com/in/wan-su-a683b8229/ --------------------------🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/4l0C4xYp6LxcwGH1oZIr3d?si=zt1sgV__RfS95Dc9F9JpYA&nd=1&dlsi=b8e3482f36d94ad2🎙️ Apple Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unpolished-players-in-business/id1798695787Let's Connect!LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/unpolished-players-in-business/](https://www.linkedin.com/company/unpolished-player-in-business/)Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unpolished_players_inbusiness/

    9 min

  10. 03/26/2025

    The Secret to Navigating Your Career in an Unpredictable Economy | Ep.03 Dr.Stuart Mills

    This is not the economist you imagine. Dr. Stuart Mills researches AI, behavioral economics, dark patterns, and the digital economy. He questions what others accept. He believes the pursuit of happiness might be headed in the wrong direction. And he thinks we’re asking too little of technology—and too much of ourselves. In this episode, Dr. Mills talks about: • Why joy is a social experience, not a solo goal • Why AI might be accelerating emptiness, not innovation • How digital platforms are engineered to influence your mood • Why uncertainty is part of being alive—and not a flaw to fix • Why it’s still possible to be an idealist in a messy world Not a self-help episode. But maybe the kind of help you actually need. ------------------------------------------- [00:00] Intro: The Adulting Paradox: Is It a Global Crisis? [01:14] Meet Dr. Stuart Mills: Behavioral Economist & AI Researcher [03:04] Why He Left Finance for Academia[06:25] Is Studying Abroad Still Worth It in a Tough Economy? [09:01] What Sets Chinese Students Apart Internationally? [12:15] China's Rise: Entering the "Long Chinese Century"? [15:29] The 20s/30s Crisis: Why Are Young People Lost Today? [19:26] Happiness Literature - What Actually Makes Us Happy? [24:07] 6 Industries That Boom in Economic Downturns [28:27] Magical Thinking & The Rise of Retail Investors [30:30] Weak Signals That the Economy Is in Trouble [33:28] What AI Is Really Doing (And Why It’s Not That Smart) [37:13] The Hype vs. Reality of ChatGPT[41:30] Why We're Desperate to Believe in Revolutionary Tech [43:47] What Truly Counts as Innovation? [49:02] Want to Break Into AI? Here’s Where to Start [51:57] Cross-Border E-commerce: Real Opportunity or Just Hype? [57:14] Is China Becoming the Next Japan? [1:03:32] One Principle for Surviving Economic Turbulence [1:07:36] How to Build Your Economic Thinking (Without Textbooks) [1:11:06] The Value of Conversations in Learning [1:14:31] A Self-Destructive Sense of Fairness [1:22:17] Do You Also Struggle With That Dark Corner in Your Mind? [1:26:38] Has Dr.Stuart Mills Worry About Money? [1:30:43] Final Reflections: Class, Money, and British History

    1h 41m

  11. 03/12/2025

    The TRUTH About Learning English: Why You’re Doing It Wrong | Ep.02 Emma Founder of English Therapy

    “Language exists to connect—not to divide. It’s meant for communication, not classification.”That’s why Emma built her business. Not just to teach English, but to change the way we see it.Because let’s be real:🔥 Fluency isn’t about sounding perfect. It’s about being heard.🔥 Entrepreneurship isn’t about being big—it’s about solving real problems.🔥 The best founders don’t start with a business plan. They start with a mission.🎙️ In this episode, we dive into:💡 The moment Emma realized language is power.💡 Why even fluent speakers still feel like outsiders.💡 What people get wrong about building a business that actually helps.This episode isn’t just about English. It’s about confidence, growth, and owning your voice—on your terms.🎧 Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/c2ZEr5ecZRg 🎙️ Apple Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Let's Connect!Linkedin   / unpolished-player-in-business  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unpolished_... Get your 10% off to start your English Learning Journey HERE: https://englishtherapy.co.uk/upib/ —————— 00:00 - Intro: Meet Emma & English Learning Therapy 05:10 - Emma’s Journey: From Teacher to Entrepreneur 12:45 - The Power of English: A Tool, Not Just a Language 18:30 - Passion for Teaching & Early Experiences 25:15 - Debunking the 'Native Speaker' Myth 32:00 - Bringing Identity & Stories to a New Language 38:40 - Embracing Mistakes & Overcoming Fear 45:55 - How English Learning Therapy Works 52:30 - English as a Global Tool for Communication 58:50 - Breaking Unrealistic Expectations in Language Learning 1:05:20 - Interactive Learning: Roleplay & Drama 1:12:10 - The Impact of Drama on Language Learning 1:19:35 - Future Vision for English Learning Therapy 1:30:00 - Business Challenges & Financial Side 1:38:10 - Will AI Replace Language Teachers?

    1h 44m

  12. 02/26/2025

    The Darkness That Built What the Idea Never Could with Ali Toosi | Ep.01

    Ali’s journey seems like the perfect startup story: He moved to the UK for his MBA, faced job anxiety, and had to adapt to an all-English environment. But instead of just surviving, he turned these struggles into his entrepreneurial philosophy. 🔸 He is the founder of Experiential Academy: Bridging real-world practice and academic theory. 🔸 Co-founder of English Therapy: Helping others overcome the language barriers he once faced.Sounds like a classic success story, until Ali brushes it off:“Ideas are worthless.”“We tend to glorify this entrepreneurship, but it's not.”“One week or one month of my MBA, I was expecting somebody from university emails me we were wrong to give you a scholarship. ”This isn’t about a lightbulb moment—it’s about chaos, self-doubt, and turning survival into something real.So, how do you build something lasting while still figuring yourself out? Answers in the video. ----------------- (0:00) – Intro (1:53) – Who is Ali Toosi? (3:04) – The Gap Between School and Real Business (5:05) – The Hidden Loneliness of Founders (7:27) – Selling Yourself in 30 Seconds (9:33) – The Power of Listening in Sales (12:14) – What Acting Taught Me About Business (16:03) – No Second Takes: Theatre & Startups (18:29) – Performing Without Pretending (22:11) – Why Great Ideas Still Fail (26:17) – Walking Away from a “Dream” Career (30:12) – The Invisible Systems Behind Business (33:36) – How Culture Shapes Ambition (38:27) – Knowing When to Quit (42:05) – The Reality of Impostor Syndrome (47:21) – Moving Abroad: It’s More Than Language (53:08) – When Success Feels Hollow (57:49) – Why High Achievers Struggle With Fulfillment (1:02:13) – Ideas Are Cheap. Execution Wins. (1:06:46) – Adapt or Fail: The Constant of Change (1:11:17) – AI: Threat or Opportunity? (1:16:03) – The Moment Everything Shifted (1:20:06) – The Quiet Cost of Starting Over Abroad (1:24:11) – Breaking Into Closed Worlds

    1h 32m
  • 12 Episodes

About

Everyone loves the winners, but we’re here for the players, the ones rewriting rules, breaking and surviving the chaos. Doubts, pivots, and the messy undercurrents. Welcome to the Unpolished Players in Business podcast.

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    Beyond success, into the chaos, meet the paradox
  • Years Active
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  • Episodes
    12
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  • Copyright
    © Beyond success, into the chaos, meet the paradox
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    Unpolished Players In Business