Progress in Practice Podcast

Charlie Reading
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The Progress in Practice Podcast brings together successful service-based business owners for honest, high-impact conversations about growth, purpose, and the lessons learned along the way. Each episode is just 20 minutes of real wisdom from people who've built something worth talking about, brought to you by The Trusted Team. Listen in, and take something useful away every time.

Episodes

  1. 2D AGO

    Season 1: From Human Robot to AI Pioneer: Cutting Through the Noise on Vertical AI with Chetan Joshi

    In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie sits down with Chetan Joshi, founder of coglateral.ai, a specialist firm helping business owners, entrepreneurs and financial services firms move from AI experimentation to real-world execution. Chetan unpacks the difference between generative AI and vertical AI, explains why most organisations are paralysed by choice rather than by a lack of technology, and shares the seven-step vertical AI A.U.T.O.B.O.T. framework he built to help businesses go from zero to hero on their AI journey. He talks candidly about spending years as a "human robot" in banking, why the smartest thing you can do is build systems that make you redundant, and why the next generation needs to build skills that compound rather than just chase status and money. Key Talking Points Who Chetan serves: financial services firms and entrepreneurs moving from AI experimentation to executionThe difference between generative AI (horizontal) and vertical AI (narrow) — explained simplyWhy vertical AI gives businesses far greater accuracy, control, and data security than general AI toolsHow Chetan spent his early career as a "human robot" in banking — and why that drove his missionThe power of building systems that work without you: making yourself redundant as a route to a scaleable businessA real-world example: how an AI agent reduced a team's inbox from 200 daily emails to zero in 15 minutesWhy the biggest obstacle to AI adoption isn't the technology — it's organisational hesitation and paralysis by choiceThe build vs buy vs partner debate: why partnering is often the smartest moveChetan's autobot framework: seven steps from identifying automation opportunities to operating AI agents at scalePractical advice for one-person businesses and small firms on where to start with AIWhy the next generation must build skills that compound, not just chase money or statusThe ACI framework: Automation, Control, and IntelligenceBook recommendation: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert KiyosakiThe Intellimation.ai framework and how it shaped Chetan's thinkingAbout the Guest Chetan Joshi is the founder of Coglateral AI, working with financial services organisations and entrepreneurs to solve complex business problems using vertical AI. With a career spanning banking operations, technology, and trading, Chetan brings deep practical experience to AI implementation, helping businesses move beyond experimentation to build AI agents that are trained on their own data, integrated into their workflows, and delivering real results. He is also the creator of the Autobot framework, a seven-step methodology for building vertical AI solutions from scratch. To learn more about Chetan and coglateral.ai, visit: www.coglateral.ai To connect with Chetan visit: www.linkedin.com/in/chetannjoshi/ Cogateral AI: www.coglateral.ai Intellimation.ai — ACI framework Rich Dad Poor Dad — Robert Kiyosaki Charlie's AI Masterclass: https://thetrusted.team/the-ai-advance-masterclass/  Ningi CRM — AI-powered financial services CRM: https://ningi.co.uk/    About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team — helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team Enjoying the Show? If this episode resonated, make sure you follow the podcast and leave a rating and review. It helps more founders discover these conversations and allows us to bring you even better&

    26 min

  2. APR 29

    Season 1: Stop Settling, Start Leading: Championing the People Who Run Businesses from the Inside with Michelle Hoskin

    In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading is joined by Michelle Hoskin, founder of Standards International and the Business and Operations Management Network, known as BOMS Michelle shares how nearly three decades of working with business owners led her to a bold pivot: walking away from coaching business owners to champion the operations managers, practice managers, and business managers who are the unsung backbone of professional service firms. This is an energetic, honest, and often hilarious conversation about following your gut, finding your people, building a community from scratch, and why the ops manager is simultaneously the most valuable and most neglected person in most businesses. If you run a business with a team, or you are the person holding that business together from behind the scenes, this episode will resonate deeply. Key Talking Points Who Michelle serves: operations managers, practice managers, and business managers in professional service firmsWhy she pivoted away from coaching business owners and why it took her 20 years longer than it should haveHow the Business and Operations Management Network (BOMS) went from idea to 700 members in under a yearWhy ops managers are the biggest flight risk in most businesses and what owners can do about itThe personal advice Michelle would give her younger self: find a partner who has your back, and stop dimming your lightWhy confidence and refusing to settle are the two greatest gifts she'd pass on to her daughterThe biggest obstacle facing Michelle right now: getting business owners to invest in their ops peopleWhy writing a 20-page business case for a £175 conference ticket is the reality for many ops managersHow Charlie's Learning Library concept connects to Michelle's community modelThe power of growing together: why BOMS is built on shared learning, not exclusivityBook recommendations: Necessary Endings, Essentialism, and Passion to Profit by Andy HarringtonWhy it's easier to find 100 ideas that make 1% difference than one idea that makes 100% differenceAbout the Guest Michelle Hoskin is the founder of Standards International and creator of the Business and Operations Management Network (BOMS)- a fast-growing community dedicated to the people who run professional service businesses from the inside. With nearly 30 years of experience working with business owners, Michelle made a bold pivot to champion operations managers, practice managers, and general managers who are too often overlooked, undervalued, and unsupported. Her community has grown to over 700 members and runs events, retreats, a membership platform, and an annual conference. Find Out More Website: https://leadersinbusinessoperations.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/standardsexpertResources & Links Mentioned Necessary Endings — Henry CloudEssentialism — Greg McKeownPassion to Profit — Andy HarringtonThe Business and Operations Management Network on LinkedIn: Business and Operations Management NetworkCharlie's Learning Library concept: https://thetrusted.team/learning-library/ About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team- helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team

    29 min

  3. APR 22

    Season 1: Turning Complex Cases into Yeses: Building a Specialist Mortgage Business with Ross Jones

    In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading is joined by Ross Jones, founder of Home Financial and Evolve Commercial Finance. Ross shares how his business was born out of adversity, why he is passionate about helping clients whose income does not fit the standard box, and how specialising in more complex mortgage scenarios has allowed his firm to create real value. This is a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, mistakes, patience, bravery, and the reality that in most businesses, the biggest bottleneck is often the founder themselves. If you are building a business, navigating growth, or trying to create more freedom on your own terms, this episode is packed with practical lessons and honest reflections.   Key Talking Points Who Ross helps: clients with non-standard or non-permanent income Supporting limited company directors, contractors, sports professionals, and others with more complex borrowing needs Why Ross focuses on turning difficult cases into yeses How niche expertise can create strong referral momentum and organic growth The adversity that led Ross to start his own business Moving from the military into mortgage advice and then into entrepreneurship How a family health crisis reshaped Ross’s priorities and desire for autonomy The reality that starting a business does not instantly create freedom: first you have to build it The advice Ross would give his younger self: be patient, be brave, and make mistakes faster Why failure is not the opposite of success, but part of the path to it The legacy lesson Ross would pass on: don’t leave crumbs Why integrity matters when making difficult decisions Ross’s biggest business obstacle: recognising that he is the bottleneck The importance of empowering others, delegating better, and getting out of your own way Two standout book recommendations: Legacy and 24 Assets Why values and assets, not just leads, should shape the way you build a business   About the Guest Ross Jones is the founder of Home Financial and Evolve Commercial Finance, helping clients secure lending where income or circumstances do not fit standard mortgage criteria. Ross specialises in supporting people with more complex income structures, including limited company directors, contractors, and sports professionals. His businesses are built around creating solutions where others may struggle, helping clients navigate specialist lending with greater confidence and clarity.   Find Out More Website: http://www.homefinancialnw.co.uk Linked In: linkedin.com/in/ross-jones-3688584b   🚀 Resources & Links Mentioned Legacy by James Kerr 24 Assets by Daniel Priestley Charlie Reading’s workshop on building a saleable and scalable business:  https://youtu.be/pFigtSmHqTY About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team- helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team  Enjoying the Show? If this episode resonated, make sure you follow the podcast and leave a rating and review. It helps more founders discover these conversations and allows us to bring you even better guests.

    20 min

  4. APR 15

    Season 1: Beyond Compliance- Using Your Numbers to Build a Better Business with Steve Price

    In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading is joined by Steve Price from Inspire, an accountancy firm with a very different approach. Rather than simply helping business owners stay compliant, Steve and his team focus on helping owner-managed businesses understand, use, and improve their numbers so they can build a business that serves their life, instead of becoming a slave to it. This conversation explores the deeper role accountants can play, the power of mentoring and accountability, and why self-belief, structure, and lifelong learning are such vital ingredients in building a better business. If you want your business to give you more freedom, more clarity, and more control, this episode is full of practical wisdom.  Key Talking Points ·        Why Inspire is focused on a mindset of business owner, not a specific sector ·        The difference between compliance-led accounting and using numbers to improve a business ·        Why Steve believes accountants should help improve lives, not just fill in forms ·        The meaning behind Inspire’s mission: crunching numbers, inspiring business, improving lives ·        How Steve discovered that business numbers are really about a person’s life, family, and freedom ·        Building a business to create more flexibility and control ·        The advice Steve would give his younger self: think who not how ·        Why mentors, coaches, and outside perspectives can dramatically accelerate progress ·        The one piece of wisdom Steve would pass on to the next generation: self-belief ·        Why Steve believes most obstacles come down to time, money, or the stories we tell ourselves ·        The challenge of maintaining focus and staying accountable to meaningful goals ·        How accountability is embedded inside Inspire’s culture ·        Why Steve uses the EOS / Traction system to create structure and momentum ·        The importance of lifelong learning — not just solving immediate problems, but learning for learning’s sake About the Guest Steve Price is part of Inspire, an accountancy business that helps owner-managed businesses use their numbers to make better decisions, create more freedom, and build businesses that truly serve their owners. Inspire combines strong financial expertise with a coaching-led mindset, helping clients move beyond compliance and into more intentional, strategic business growth. Through its courses and services, Inspire supports business owners who want more clarity, more control, and more from their business. Find Out More Website: https://www.bwp-inspire.co.uk/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevepricemanchester Resources & Links Mentioned Traction by Gino Wickman which includes The EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework Inspire’s Money Freedom Course- visit https://www.bwp-inspire.co.uk Inspire’s Exit Planning Course visit https://www.bwp-inspire.co.uk About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team- helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team  Enjoying the Show? If this episode resonated, make sure you follow the podcast and leave a rating and review.

    23 min

  5. APR 10

    Season 1: Health, Performance & Longevity: Building a High-Performance Life with Claire Fudge

    In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading is joined by Claire Fudge, founder of Fourth Discipline, clinical dietitian, performance nutritionist, and elite athlete. Claire shares how she helps business professionals, founders, and executives who are also athletes optimise their health, nutrition, and performance - not just to feel better, but to compete and thrive for decades to come. This is a conversation about far more than food. Claire opens up about growing up in a family bakery, the work ethic that shaped her, the life-changing accident that forced her to rethink her direction, and how that ultimately led her to build a business helping high performers accelerate both health and results. It is a powerful episode on resilience, asking for help, building a fulfilling life, and staying deeply human in an AI-driven world.  Key Talking Points ·        Who Claire helps: business owners, executives, and professionals who are also serious athletes ·        Why Claire’s blend of clinical dietetics and sports performance nutrition makes her approach different ·        The role of food-first nutrition, with supplements used strategically rather than blindly ·        Growing up in a three-generation family bakery and how that shaped Claire’s work ethic and love of quality food ·        The moment a serious accident became the catalyst for a new direction ·        How nutrition became central to Claire’s own recovery and triathlon journey ·        Combining clinical and sports nutrition to help people unlock performance in both life and sport ·        Claire’s journey to racing 20 Ironman events and qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Kona ·        The advice she would give her younger self: ask for help more often ·        Her legacy lesson: seek adventure, fun, and the right people ·        The challenge of demonstrating value in an AI-powered world ·        Why the answer is not to resist AI, but to use it well while staying deeply human ·        The power of frameworks in building a clearer, stronger business ·        Why “Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?” remains such a useful lens for decision-making  About the Guest Claire Fudge is the founder of Fourth Discipline, where she helps ambitious professionals and athletes optimise their health, nutrition, and performance. With a unique background as both a clinical dietitian and high-performance sports nutritionist, Claire combines medical expertise with elite-level performance insight. She has worked with Olympic and elite athletes, as well as high-performing business professionals competing in disciplines such as Ironman and ultra-running. Claire’s work is focused on helping people perform at their best now while building the health and capability to keep doing what they love for decades.  Find Out More Website: https://www.4thdiscipline.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-fudge-dietitian Resources & Links Mentioned Claire’s free presentation, available via her website and LinkedIn Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? The Trusted Team’s AI Advance course: https://trusted-team.mykajabi.com/offers/FTCFcWzK

    19 min

  6. APR 9

    Season 1: Integrity Under Pressure: Navigating Complex Deals & Building Resilient Businesses with Bhavik Shah

    In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading is joined by Bhavik Shah, founder of Providus Capital - a specialist in complex, time-sensitive property finance. Bhavik shares how his business supports developers facing challenging situations where traditional funding falls short, and why thinking like a principal (not a lender) creates a powerful competitive edge. This conversation goes deeper than deals. From experiencing insolvency to rebuilding with stronger foundations, Bhavik offers a candid perspective on integrity, resilience, and the importance of staying focused as you scale. If you’re building a business in a complex environment, or simply want to make better decisions under pressure, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom. Key Talking Points What “special situations” finance really means and who it’s for Why conventional lending fails in complex property deals The importance of thinking like a principal, not a lender A founder’s origin story: solving problems others avoid Lessons from rapid early success and weak foundations Why strong core values and relationships create real leverage The “who not how” mindset for scaling a business A powerful legacy lesson: integrity under pressure What insolvency teaches you that no textbook ever can How reputation compounds just like money The biggest challenge in scaling: staying focused on your ideal client Avoiding distraction as opportunities increase Moving from reactive decision-making to intentional leadership How structured thinking and frameworks transform business performance About the Guest Bhavik Shah is the founder of Providus Capital, a specialist finance firm working with property developers, operators, and investors facing complex or time-sensitive situations. Providus Capital provides flexible funding solutions, including bridging, mezzanine, equity, and structured finance for deals that fall outside conventional lending criteria. Known for their clarity, speed, and partnership-led approach, Bhavik and his team focus on unlocking opportunities where others see obstacles. Find Out More  Website: https://www.providuscapital.co.uk/  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bhavikjayendrakumarshah Resources & Links Mentioned The Niche to Network Workshop: https://youtu.be/36gXZ-aW1Zk Upcoming collaborative workshops in 2026:  https://thetrusted.team/upcoming-workshops/ About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team- helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team/podcasts  Enjoying the Show? If this episode resonated, make sure you follow the podcast and leave a rating and review. It helps more founders discover these conversations and allows us to bring you even better guests. Until next time keep making progress in practice.

    16 min

  7. APR 8

    Season 1: Stop Being the Bottleneck: Matt Baird on Outsourcing, Optimising, and Getting Your Life Back

    In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading sits down with Matt Bird from Accelerate Advisor Solutions to explore what it really takes to grow a professional services business without sacrificing your time, team, or sanity. Matt shares how financial advisers across the UK are reclaiming hours each week by outsourcing and optimising their operations and why the real transformation isn’t just increased profitability, but getting their life back. From navigating self-doubt as a young founder to building a business fuelled by continuous improvement, this episode is packed with practical insights, honest reflections, and lessons you can apply immediately.    Key Talking Points Why most financial advisers are drowning in admin and how to fix it The difference between outsourcing tasks vs. embedding a true operational partner A real client transformation: from overwhelmed and inefficient to structured, scalable, and profitable The two metrics that matter most to business owners: more money, less time Matt’s advice to his younger self: overcoming doubt and trusting the process Why “taking no risks is the biggest risk” in business and life The leadership mantra: “Don’t sweat the small stuff… and everything is small stuff” The biggest challenge in scaling right now: balancing growth with capacity How AI is helping and where caution is still required The power of The Slight Edge: small, consistent improvements that compound over time Building a culture of continuous improvement across your team   About the Guest Matt Baird is the founder at Accelerate Advisor Solutions, a UK-based business supporting financial advisers by handling their operational and technical workload. Accelerate acts as an extension of advisory firms, helping them streamline processes, improve efficiency, and ultimately free up time to focus on clients and growth. Their tailored approach, rather than a one-size-fits-all model, has led to rapid growth, industry recognition, and a strong reputation built largely through referrals.   Find Out More Website: https://www.accelerateteam.co.uk LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matt-baird-dippfs-a86108b1  Resources Mentioned The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson Charlie’s AI Masterclass: https://trusted-team.mykajabi.com/offers/FTCFcWzK     About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team- helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team/podcasts   Enjoying the Show? If this episode resonated, make sure you follow the podcast and leave a rating and review. It helps more founders discover these conversations and allows us to bring you even better guests.   Until next time keep making progress in practice.

    15 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

The Progress in Practice Podcast brings together successful service-based business owners for honest, high-impact conversations about growth, purpose, and the lessons learned along the way. Each episode is just 20 minutes of real wisdom from people who've built something worth talking about, brought to you by The Trusted Team. Listen in, and take something useful away every time.

Information

  • Creator
    Charlie Reading
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Progress in Practice Podcast
  • Show Website
    Progress in Practice Podcast