Business Without BS

Oury Clark

Your weekly dose of real-world business intelligence. No gurus, no fluff - just practical lessons from people who’ve built, scaled, failed, adapted, celebrated, and done it all again. We don’t admire success from afar - we dissect it, decode it, and deliver the lessons straight to you. Subscribe for weekly insights and free resources that strip away the jargon and deliver the real-world lessons you wish you'd got at business school.

  1. 5d ago

    Why AI-first firms will outrun many UK SMEs with Ben Thompson, Employment Hero founder

    EP 430 — Investors are betting AI-native businesses will outrun traditional operators by stripping out human overhead. Ben Thompson argues that the real divide in business is now AI-native versus everyone else. Legacy companies are still structured with humans at the centre, while fast moving AI-native firms start with agents and add people only where judgement is required. This episode breaks down how AI-first businesses are built, why investors are pricing SaaS firms like they will not keep up, and what SMEs should actually do as AI shifts employment, recruitment and productivity. It also digs into UK and Australian policy choices that shape hiring. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Build an AI stack that puts agents at the centre of operations • Rethink recruitment workflows using AI screening and interviewing • Spot where employment regulation increases risk for SMEs • Prepare for labour market disruption without panicking about automation • Understand how tax policy influences where founders build companies This episode is for founders and operators who want a grounded, practical view of how AI is reshaping work and where SMEs can still win. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 AI native businesses 02:00 Early work, first jobs 05:00 Building Employment Hero 10:00 Employment complexity and trust 15:00 Unions, awards and compliance 22:00 AI replacing labour 27:00 Building an AI stack 33:00 Recruitment, screening and agents 40:00 Remote work and scaling globally 48:00 Tax, capital gains and policy 55:00 Culture, work and incentives 1:02:00 Business or BS Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - contact@withoutbs.com

  2. Jul 17

    Why most UK marketing fails without data, with Simon Leadbetter, former Knight Frank CMO

    EP 428 — Simon Leadbetter argues that most UK businesses are running on guesswork instead of evidence. Marketing, he says, only works when you start by admitting the customer doesn’t care about you. In this fast, sharp conversation, Simon breaks down why instinct-led decisions misfire and why most firms operate without even basic knowledge of their audience. Andy and Simon cover data, attribution, surveys, brand dilution, influencers, and why most online stats are bots talking to bots. It’s a full tour of how to actually understand a market before spending money on it. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Use research instead of hunches to choose channels • Avoid cognitive bias when deciding who your customer is • Apply the five‑stage ISTAR marketing process • Test ideas cheaply with real UK sampling • Improve your Net Promoter Score and act on detractors Perfect for UK business owners who want marketing that works because it’s grounded in evidence, not noise. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Customers don’t care about you 02:00 Data vs instinct 05:00 What marketing actually is 09:00 Surveys, sampling and bias 13:00 Property, portals and real behaviour 17:00 The five‑stage ISTAR model 22:00 Channels, talent and capability 27:00 Bots, ad fraud and bad data 32:00 PR, email, social and direct mail 37:00 Brand complexity and consolidation 43:00 Mental availability and sales activation 49:00 Creativity, crazies and guerrilla ideas 55:00 Influencers, niches and trust 1:02:00 The one thing to do this week Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - contact@withoutbs.com

  3. Jul 15

    The real cost of scaling a food & drink business with Kit Newell, Great Taste award winner

    EP 429 — Two brothers turn British honey into a fast‑growing drinks brand while fighting cheap imports and scaling on a shoestring. Hive Mind Mead Co went from brewing in a garage to landing listings with Selfridges, Co‑op and top restaurants — all while protecting UK beekeeping and battling a drinks industry full of shortcuts. Kit explains the real cost pressures, the rebrand fight, and the constant juggle of production, stock and authenticity. They dig into the practical decisions behind scaling a physical product: pricing under duty pressure, navigating retailers, managing 180 hives, and avoiding the traps that sink early‑stage drinks businesses. No fluff — just the reality of turning a hobby into a viable UK brand. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Price a craft product when duty dwarfs ingredients • Decide when to rebrand and how to manage the pain • Spot BS in food and drink manufacturing • Use small batches as a smart marketing tool • Scale a physical product without wrecking margins Perfect for UK founders building a physical product or anyone curious about growing an authentic drinks brand without losing your soul. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Starting with too many products 02:30 From geologist and designer to mead makers 06:30 What mead actually is 11:00 Turning a hobby into a business 14:00 The rebrand fight: Y Valley Meadery to Hive Mind 18:00 Retailers, awards and credibility 23:00 Honey sourcing, supply and UK provenance 27:00 Bee health, climate and the rural economy 32:00 Alcohol duty and margins 34:30 Launching honey‑based soft drinks 38:00 Industry shortcuts and authenticity 43:00 Courses, community and brand building 46:00 Business or BS 55:00 Scaling a physical product 57:30 Where to find Hive Mind Mead Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - contact@withoutbs.com

  4. Jun 29

    The hidden cost of going US GAAP with Katrina Nacci, cross‑border accounting specialist

    EP 427 — Preparing UK founders for the shock of needing US GAAP fast when American investors arrive. Most founders only discover the real cost of US GAAP when an investor demands it. Katrina Nacci explains why the pain isn’t the accounting rules, but the sudden need for better systems, documentation and proper consolidation. This episode breaks down the operational gaps that derail UK and European scale‑ups: revenue treatment, data hygiene, legacy systems, multi-entity chaos and how to avoid a six‑month panic. Practical decisions, not theory. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Map when US GAAP is actually triggered • Fix weak processes before an investor audit • Build documentation US auditors expect • Handle multi‑entity, multi‑standard consolidation • Decide when IFRS vs US GAAP matters commercially For founders eyeing US money or expansion, this episode helps you avoid an avoidable mess. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 The hidden problem behind “we need US GAAP” 1:00 When US GAAP is actually triggered 4:00 Why statutory audits don’t prepare you 8:00 Revenue recognition and documentation gaps 12:00 What US auditors expect 16:00 How conversions really work inside a group 20:00 Systems, ERPs and multi‑GAAP reality 24:00 Cost, timelines and team size 28:00 IFRS vs US GAAP in practice 33:00 Cultural realities of US expansion 38:00 Preparing early and avoiding traps 45:00 War stories and common pitfalls Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - contact@withoutbs.com

  5. Jun 24

    Why Teams Fall Apart and How to Fix Them with Kevin Gaskell, Turnaround CEO

    EP [number] — Kevin Gaskell argues that clarity, accountability and attitude drive real organisational performance — not slogans or bureaucracy. Kevin Gaskell explains why most struggling companies aren’t failing on product or market, but on leadership clarity. He argues that teams follow certainty, not noise — and that avoiding the ‘difficult bits’ is what actually sinks performance. He breaks down how small teams outperform bigger rivals, why culture beats clever strategy decks, and the practical routines leaders can use to remove noise, raise standards and get their team moving in the same direction. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Build leadership clarity that teams actually follow • Diagnose dissonance in a senior team • Create accountability without fear • Remove noise from daily operations • Make difficult decisions faster This episode is for UK founders and leaders who want to run a sharper, calmer, better‑aligned organisation. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Opening: why leaders fail 1:06 Extreme rowing and mental endurance 8:29 Resetting the mind through extreme challenges 10:02 Entrepreneurial intensity and burnout avoidance 10:42 Why companies really fail 14:32 Brand experience and operational clarity 15:40 Leadership dissonance and team alignment 18:02 Fixing culture through shared experience 20:22 Building visible plans and priorities 22:03 Respect, accountability and people management 26:20 Creating inspiration, not motivation theatre 30:59 Turning around a failing manufacturing business 38:34 Hard work, standards and UK working culture 44:19 What leaders should do this week 55:54 Business or B******t game Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - contact@withoutbs.com

  6. Jun 17

    Why Most Accountants Stay Stuck Until They Ditch Clients with Richard Francis, Spotlight Reporting Founder

    EP 427 — Richard Francis argues that accountants who embrace advisory and human connection will outlast any AI wave. Richard Francis lays out why advisory-led accounting beats compliance-heavy firms and why AI won't replace human judgement. He explains how accountants can create more value by asking better questions, choosing the right clients, and focusing on the future rather than the past. He breaks down advisory models, client selection, forecasting, global scaling, and how to build tools that support better decisions without drowning in spreadsheets. The discussion includes AI’s real role in accounting and why trust and context remain the moat. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Build an advisory-led accounting model that clients stay for • Decide which clients to drop to free capacity • Use forecasting to steer SMEs toward better decisions • Blend AI tools with human judgement safely • Structure a global business without losing your sanity For UK business owners and accountants who want practical thinking on advisory, client strategy and staying competitive in an AI-heavy world. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 AI vs human advisors 3:40 Richard’s early accounting career 9:40 Moving from compliance to advisory 15:20 Asking better questions 20:10 Building Spotlight Reporting 28:00 Advisory, tools and AI 35:00 The future of accountants 43:40 Client selection and the Dirty Dozen 50:20 Succession, exits and scale 57:00 Global teams and travel reality 1:04:00 Why advisory will survive AI 1:11:00 Quickfire: Business or BS? Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.me

  7. Jun 10

    Why Most Networking Fails with Daniel Levan-Harris, Mango Logistics Founder

    EP — Daniel shows how to turn networking from a chore into a strategic advantage. Daniel Levan-Harris argues that most UK founders fail at networking because they treat people as targets not humans. His approach is simpler: genuine curiosity, zero selling, and building relationships that compound for decades. This episode covers practical ways to navigate a room, how to follow up properly, why CEOs must nurture broad networks, how neurodiversity shapes entrepreneurial thinking, and how Daniel built two very different businesses by spotting overlooked opportunities. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Build a network without chasing contacts • Approach groups confidently and avoid awkward openings • Follow up in ways that create long-term relationships • Use neurodiverse thinking to spot commercial openings • Apply delegation properly as a dyslexic founder This episode is for UK founders who want a practical, human way to expand their network without the usual nonsense. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Opening: Daniel’s networking philosophy 03:30 Early career and confidence 07:40 Networking without the pressure 12:20 Following up and building trust 15:50 Neurodiversity and memory 21:10 Dyslexia as a business strength 26:20 Seeing opportunities differently 32:00 Why crickets? Entering edible protein 38:20 Farming, sustainability and food culture 45:40 Scaling Edible and environmental logic 50:00 Logistics, acquisitions and reality of tech 56:30 Electric fleets, greenwash and trade-offs 1:02:00 Quickfire: Business or BS? Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.me

  8. Jun 3

    How UK Founders Get US Expansion Wrong with Sonia Kanjee, US Tax Expert

    EP [number] — Expanding to the US without tripping state taxes or visa traps. US expansion sounds exciting until you realise how easily it can go wrong. Sonia Kanjee breaks down why most founders misjudge when they're actually ready for America and how small missteps around people, sales tax and structure can snowball fast. She walks through the three tiers of US entry, how state rules really work, when you must form a Delaware Inc, and the hidden compliance triggers founders routinely miss. This is a practical map for approaching the US market without burning money or credibility. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Decide when you're genuinely ready to open in the US • Avoid economic nexus sales‑tax traps state by state • Understand when one US hire obliges you to set up an entity • Structure a clean UK–US group without future investor problems • Track where your US revenue lands so you don't trigger avoidable filings This episode is for UK founders eyeing the US market who want a grounded, practical view of what expansion actually demands. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Expanding to the US without blowing up your tax position 02:00 Sonia’s route into US tax and cross‑border work 05:10 When you’re genuinely ready to enter the US 08:20 Remote sales vs creating a taxable presence 12:10 Sales tax, economic nexus and SaaS treatment 16:20 Hiring across multiple states and compliance load 19:20 Contractors, dependent agents and testing the market 24:00 Visa realities when travelling repeatedly for business 29:40 The three tiers of US expansion strategy 33:20 Delaware Inc, lawyers and why setup matters 37:50 Trademarks, contracts and insurance for the US 43:10 LLCs vs C Corps and why UK companies should avoid LLCs 49:00 State tax allocation and how to track revenue properly 56:00 Treaty mechanics, withholding and W‑8BEN‑E 1:05:00 Interest on intercompany loans 1:12:00 Dormant entities and cleanup filings 1:17:00 Should founders relocate or hire locally? Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.me

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About

Your weekly dose of real-world business intelligence. No gurus, no fluff - just practical lessons from people who’ve built, scaled, failed, adapted, celebrated, and done it all again. We don’t admire success from afar - we dissect it, decode it, and deliver the lessons straight to you. Subscribe for weekly insights and free resources that strip away the jargon and deliver the real-world lessons you wish you'd got at business school.

Information

  • Creator
    Oury Clark
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    400
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Oury Clark
  • Show Website
    Business Without BS

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