A Quick Brew

David Bancroft and James Sharples
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  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

'A Quick Brew' is your virtual weekly sit-down with two mates, Dave and James. Just 20 minutes. No rambling. No filler. Just real chat that gets you thinking, smiling, and maybe even seeing the world a little differently. Each episode, we'll dive into everyday observations and cover topics relating to business, well-being, careers, and how the world seems to be shifting around us. Thoughtful yet relaxed, it’s the perfect blend of insight and banter to enjoy on your break, commute, or wind-down. Big ideas, small moments, endless conversation...Enjoy!

  1. 2d ago

    Turning Old Tech into Opportunities ft. Mike Tarbard

    How do you turn broken tech into life-changing opportunities? Mike Tarbard, co-founder and CEO of Every Child Online and Everyone Digital, has spent five years answering that question... and the results are impressive! Dave and James welcome Mike to discuss digital inclusion, online safety, and how refurbished IT equipment is creating pathways for young people who would otherwise have no access. From collecting surplus tech from businesses to wiping data securely, from training centres to creative upcycling, this is a charity that's doing things differently. What they discuss: 💻 How 50,000+ devices have been refurbished and distributed to schools and charities, and they're just getting started 🎓 Digital inclusion isn't just about education, it's about belonging and self-esteem 🔒 The online safety crisis: bullying, sextortion, and predators ♻️ Creating jewellery and gifts from old circuit boards 🤝 How ESG credentials help businesses win tenders whilst supporting their community 🏢 Expanding to new premises and outreach centres across the region 📚 The importance of practical work experience alongside qualifications As always, enjoy, with your 'Quick Brew' ⏱️☕🎙️ 🤝 Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-tarbard/ 🙏 Learn more about Every Child Online: https://everychildonline.co.uk/ 📖 Read Mike's book recommendation: The Magic Faraway Tree Collection by Enid Blyton: https://amzn.eu/d/0c8y6FXz ❤️ Thank you to our sponsors, Loomyna. Your AI conversation coach - helping managers, leaders, and HR professionals rehearse, refine, and communicate with clarity, confidence, and care. 🔗 https://wellityglobal.com/meet-loomyna/ 🤑 Don't forget to use the discount code: BREW10 #digitalinclusion #everychildonline #onlinesafety #charity #tech #cybersecurity #corporatesocialresponsibility #businesspodcast #aquickbrew #podcast

    45 min

  2. Jun 17

    Paying It Forward: Why Kindness Still Matters

    Sometimes the best episodes are about the simplest things: paying it forward and remembering that kindness still matters. Dave and James kick off their 40th episode discussing James's decision to refocus on an AI project inspired by recent health scares, and David's work as a charity ambassador for Every Child Online and Everyone Digital. What follows is a celebration of random acts of kindness. What they discuss: 🤝 Why paying it forward matters when the world feels cynical 💻 Refurbishing tech and making cufflinks from circuit boards 👴 The elderly couple and a £3 bottle of water 🤝 InfoSec at the Excel and the Cyber House Party igloo 📱 Why people engage with one-minute shorts instead of full episodes 🎬 Film actors that never have anything in their cups... A genuinely positive episode about community, connection, and the fact that small acts of kindness cost nothing but make everything better. As always, enjoy, with your 'Quick Brew' ⏱️☕🎙️ ❤️ Thank you to our sponsors, Loomyna. Your AI conversation coach - helping managers, leaders, and HR professionals rehearse, refine, and communicate with clarity, confidence, and care. 🔗 https://wellityglobal.com/meet-loomyna/ 🤑 Don't forget to use the discount code: BREW10#podcast #kindness #community #charity #volunteers #everychild #cybersecurity #mentalhealth #payitforward #businesspodcast #aquickbrew 00:00 The Perfect Introduction 01:03 Focus on Personal Projects and Side Hustles 03:02 Charity Initiatives and Community Support 05:33 Acts of Kindness and Paying It Forward 10:21 Challenges of Modern Transactions - Just Take My Money! 12:00 The Importance of Paying It Forward 12:47 Community Engagement in Cybersecurity 14:17 Positive Initiatives and Charitable Causes 17:23 Recognition and AQB Host Identities 19:20 Humor and Family Dynamics 21:20 Come On Guys, Watch The Pod! 22:16 James' Stunt Mug 23:48 Acts of Kindness in Daily Life 25:47 Wrapping Up 26:35 AQB_intro_short.mp4

    27 min
  3. Nobody Should Have To Hide To Belong ft. Phil McQuillen

    Jun 10

    Nobody Should Have To Hide To Belong ft. Phil McQuillen

    One conversation that needed to happen during Pride Month: why football remains one of the least inclusive sports, and what genuine change actually looks like. Dave and James welcome Phil McQuillan, Inclusion and Wellbeing Lead at Birmingham City Football Club, for a raw discussion about safety, authenticity, and a statistic that may just stagger you... What they discuss: 🏳️‍🌈 Why Pride Month is about making people feel safe, not just changing your logo ⚽ The segregation of fans in football versus other sports 💪 How keyboard warrior culture has normalised public abuse 🎭 Creating false personas as a survival mechanism 📚 Building inclusive environments where people can be authentic 🌍 The different landscape for women's football versus men's Phil shares a powerful 'golden nugget' and James gets personal about his own journey with identity, childhood trauma, and creating "Stage James" to survive. This is a conversation about the everyday actions that create genuine psychological safety, not performative gestures. As always, enjoy, with your 'Quick Brew' ⏱️☕🎙️ ----- 🤝 Connect with Phil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-mcquillen/ -----📖 Read Phil's book recommendation(s): 📕 The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs🔗 https://amzn.eu/d/0dIx8e3W 📘 Effortless by Greg McKeown 🔗 https://amzn.eu/d/03YyxrFB-----❤️ Thank you to our sponsors, Loomyna. Your AI conversation coach - helping managers, leaders, and HR professionals rehearse, refine, and communicate with clarity, confidence, and care.🔗 https://wellityglobal.com/meet-loomyna/🤑 Don't forget to use the discount code: BREW10 ----- #pride #inclusion #football #lgbtqia #mentalhealth #safespace #wellbeing #authenticity #diversity #aquickbrew #podcast

    42 min
  4. Come On England! World Cup 2026

    Jun 3

    Come On England! World Cup 2026

    With the World Cup just weeks away, Dave and James dive deep into England's prospects. What they discuss: ⚽ Arsenal's heartbreak in the Champions League penalty shootout against PSG 💪 Why confidence matters more than trickery when taking penalties 🤞 World Cup favourites and some dark horse predictions 🎯 Squad selection debates 🏆 Premier League Manager of the Year choice... From why stuttering run-ups show a lack of confidence to debating whether Sunderland's Europa League qualification was more impressive than Arsenal's league title. The conversation turns personal when James opens up about caring for his father and the difficulty of watching someone mentally check out. As always, enjoy, with your 'Quick Brew' ⏱️☕🎙️ -----❤️ Thank you to our sponsors, Loomyna. Your AI conversation coach - helping managers, leaders, and HR professionals rehearse, refine, and communicate with clarity, confidence, and care. 🔗 https://wellityglobal.com/meet-loomyna/ 🤑 Don't forget to use the discount code: BREW10 -----#podcast #worldcup #england #football #soccer #penalties #premierleague #sports #mentalhealthmatters

    22 min
  5. Why Being Authentic Is Your Superpower ft. Lauren Cross

    May 27

    Why Being Authentic Is Your Superpower ft. Lauren Cross

    What happens when vulnerability becomes your superpower? Dave and James 'Hehe' Sharples welcome Lauren Cross, award-winning "vulnerability warrior" and blogger, for a conversation that spans mental health, authenticity, and why not everyone will like you, even if you're a peach... From her win at the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards to sharing her journey through anxiety, solo parenting, and food addiction, Lauren proves that being open about struggles creates the psychological safety others need. What they discuss: 🏆 The best celebration ever witnessed at the awards 💪 Why vulnerability isn't weakness 📝 Blogging through dark times and finding community 🎭 How authenticity beats perfection every time ✨ Lauren's word of the year conceptFrom Michael Jackson appreciation to the Tom List (yes, it's a thing), this episode weaves between deep vulnerability and joyful tangents. As always, enjoy, with your 'Quick Brew' ⏱️☕🎙️ ----- 📖 Read Lauren's book recommendation: Always Winning by Ashley Walters 🔗 https://amzn.eu/d/0439Hzf9 -----❤️ Thank you to our sponsors, Loomyna. Your AI conversation coach - helping managers, leaders, and HR professionals rehearse, refine, and communicate with clarity, confidence, and care. 🔗 https://wellityglobal.com/meet-loomyna/ 🤑 Don't forget to use the discount code: BREW10 ----- #podcast #mentalhealth #vulnerability #authenticity #wellbeing #anxiety #personaldevelopment #blogging #psychologicalsafety #businesspodcast

    50 min
  6. Control the Controllables: Lessons in Resilience

    May 20

    Control the Controllables: Lessons in Resilience

    What do you do when your car literally catches fire on the motorway? Dave and James 'Resilience' Sharples explore the power of perspective and resilience after James experiences every driver's nightmare - a head gasket blowout that turned his car into a bonfire on the A1! This episode is a masterclass in choosing your response when life throws curveballs. What they discuss: 🔥 How to stay positive when your car catches fire 🎯 The 10/90 rule: What happens vs how you respond ⚽ Playoff heartbreak and sporting disappointments 🧠 Why 80% of our thoughts are automatically negative ✅ The two-circle exercise for controlling the controllables From Bob Marley to the difference between ANTs and PETs, this conversation tackles stress, resilience, and why our response ability is the only thing we truly control. As always, enjoy, with your 'Quick Brew' ⏱️☕🎙️ ----- ❤️ Thank you to our sponsors, Loomyna. Your AI conversation coach - helping managers, leaders, and HR professionals rehearse, refine, and communicate with clarity, confidence, and care. 🔗 https://wellityglobal.com/meet-loomyna/ 🤑 Don't forget to use the discount code: BREW10 ----- #podcast #resilience #mindset #stressmanagement #mentalhealth #positivity #wellbeing #personaldevelopment #responseability #businesspodcast

    20 min
  7. Building Genuine Business Connections ft. Lesley Mcdowell

    May 13

    Building Genuine Business Connections ft. Lesley Mcdowell

    Are you collecting business cards or building genuine relationships? Dave and James welcome Lesley McDowell from Baumann Partners to explore the art of networking done right. From the pitfalls of "panic networking" to the power of meaningful follow-ups, Lesley shares why quality always beats quantity when it comes to building your professional network. What they discuss: 🎯 Why three quality connections beat 50 business cards 🧠 The two brain systems that drive snap judgments 🍩 Creative follow-up tactics that actually work 💡 The Gymshark focus: knowing your audience and sticking to it 🤝 Why female-led businesses are changing the landscape From the rise of crypto in FX brokerage to Lily Allen's billion-dollar Bitcoin mistake, this conversation proves that preparation, focus, and genuine human connection still trump everything in business. As always, enjoy, with your 'Quick Brew' ⏱️☕🎙️ -----❤️ Thank you to our sponsors, Loomyna. Your AI conversation coach - helping managers, leaders, and HR professionals rehearse, refine, and communicate with clarity, confidence, and care. 🔗 https://wellityglobal.com/meet-loomyna/ 🤑 Don't forget to use the discount code: BREW10 -----#podcast #networking #businessdevelopment #sales #relationships #womeninbusiness #FX #bitcoin #personalbrand #businesspodcast

    39 min
  8. Why Authenticity Beats Automation In Sales

    May 6

    Why Authenticity Beats Automation In Sales

    Do you use voice notes on LinkedIn, or do they make you cringe? Dave and James 'DM' Sharples dive into the world of LinkedIn DMs, exploring why voice messages add authenticity and personality to cold outreach, and why some communication methods fall flat (we're looking at you, unsolicited GIFs). What they discuss: 🎤 Why voice notes beat text for building trust 🤖 The AI tool that failed at personalisation (badly) 🥊 Jake Paul, AJ, and why boxing needs to stay in its lane 🍔 The art of hosting a proper barbecue (leather apron essential) 👎 When automation ruins the personal touch Sometimes it's the little things that matter most in business communication. As always, enjoy, with your 'Quick Brew' ⏱️☕🎙️ -----❤️ Thank you to our sponsors, Loomyna. Your AI conversation coach - helping managers, leaders, and HR professionals rehearse, refine, and communicate with clarity, confidence, and care. 🔗 https://wellityglobal.com/meet-loomyna/ 🤑 Don't forget to use the discount code: BREW10 ----- #podcast #LinkedIn #sales #communication #voicenotes #authenticity #networking #personalbrand #digitalmarketing #businesspodcast

    26 min
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About

'A Quick Brew' is your virtual weekly sit-down with two mates, Dave and James. Just 20 minutes. No rambling. No filler. Just real chat that gets you thinking, smiling, and maybe even seeing the world a little differently. Each episode, we'll dive into everyday observations and cover topics relating to business, well-being, careers, and how the world seems to be shifting around us. Thoughtful yet relaxed, it’s the perfect blend of insight and banter to enjoy on your break, commute, or wind-down. Big ideas, small moments, endless conversation...Enjoy!

Information

  • Creator
    David Bancroft and James Sharples
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 David Bancroft and James Sharples
  • Show Website
    A Quick Brew