Alchemy Podcast

Jonathan Mills
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Biweekly

Hosting conversations with people who’ve pushed themselves in different arenas - business, sport, leadership, and life.The Alchemy podcast explores the stories behind high performance, speaking with entrepreneurs, leaders, and world-class performers about the moments, decisions, and lessons that shape the path they’ve taken.These aren’t polished success stories or sales pitches. Just honest conversations about the grit, the setbacks, and the often unspoken realities behind building something meaningful.If you’re curious about what drives people to keep moving forward, you’re in the right place.

Episodes

  1. Oct 30

    Carla Raads - Postnatal Depression, Painting & Finding a New Purpose

    Carla Raads did not set out to build a career as an artist. In many ways, art found her when she needed it most. In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with Carla to talk about creativity, motherhood, identity and how one of the most difficult periods of her life became the beginning of something completely new.  Carla grew up in South Africa before moving to the UK at 15. She studied art and interior design, spent time apprenticing with artist Phil Aird and later built a 12 year career in modelling.  After a three year IVF journey, Carla became a mum. A few months later, she began experiencing severe postnatal depression and anxiety. Sleep disappeared, fear took over and everyday life became increasingly difficult.  Unable to switch her mind off, Carla started going into the garage at night.  With no proper canvases, no brushes and little equipment, she built frames from wood and fabric, used household emulsion and started painting with her hands. For the first time in months, her mind became quiet.  That instinctive escape gradually became a new career.  Carla’s work has since been exhibited in luxury hotels, collected internationally and featured in collaborations with brands including Porsche. A collection displayed at a Jumeirah resort sold out, opening the door to an increasingly international audience.  It’s a powerful conversation about creativity, mental health, motherhood and why some of the most important changes in our lives can begin before we fully understand where they are taking us.  Key moments:  Growing up on the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa Moving to the UK at 15 and starting again Studying art and working with artist Phil Aird Building a 12 year modelling career Going through three years of IVF Experiencing postnatal depression and severe anxiety Painting alone in the garage through the night Why she began painting with her hands Turning an emotional outlet into a professional art career Selling out a collection at a Jumeirah resort Working on creative projects with Porsche Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Content note: This episode includes discussion of IVF, postnatal depression and anxiety.  Connect & Follow  Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/ Carla Raads:  📸 Instagram: @Carla_Raads  🌐 Website: https://artbyraads.com/

  2. Oct 30

    Conor Meyler - When High Performance Becomes Obsession

    For years, Conor Meyler believed that becoming the best footballer he could be meant giving everything else a lower priority.  In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with the 2021 All Ireland winner and All Star to talk about elite performance, identity, control and what happens when ambition starts to consume too much of your life.  Conor reached the highest level of Gaelic football with Tyrone, performing in front of more than 80,000 people and helping his county win the All Ireland Championship in 2021.  That success demanded enormous commitment. At times, however, football became so important that relationships, family and even parts of his own personality began to move into the background.  Conor reflects on the belief that high performance required total obsession and how his approach changed as he learned to let go of the need to control every outcome.  Preparation still mattered. Standards still mattered. The difference was learning to trust the work he had already done rather than becoming trapped in overthinking and fear.  As his inter county career began moving towards its end, another question became more important: who was Conor without football?  That transition has taken him into entrepreneurship and the creation of VEYO, where he is applying lessons from elite sport to breathing, recovery and performance.  It’s a thoughtful conversation about ambition, identity and learning that performing at your best does not always mean doing more.  Key moments:  Growing up in a culture where football could shape your identity Becoming a 2021 All Ireland winner and All Star with Tyrone Performing in front of more than 80,000 people When dedication to football became unhealthy obsession Neglecting relationships in pursuit of performance Why preparation can become a problem when it turns into control Learning to trust yourself and perform with more freedom Why “letting go” became an important part of Conor’s approach Separating identity from sport and achievement Finding purpose beyond inter county football Taking lessons from elite sport into entrepreneurship Building VEYO around breathing, recovery and performance Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Connect & Follow  Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/ Conor Meyler / VEYO: 📸 Instagram: @conormeyler  🌐 Website: https://www.veyobreathing.com/

  3. Oct 30

    Dean Howell - Losing Football, Finding Purpose & Starting Again

    Dean Howell’s career has been defined by reinvention. In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with the former professional footballer turned entrepreneur to talk about injury, identity, resilience and building a second career in health and nutrition.  Dean made more than 300 professional appearances and experienced some of the biggest highs the game can offer, including promotions and an FA Cup tie at Old Trafford against Manchester United.  The lows were very different.  After leaving Colchester injured and without a contract, Dean found himself struggling financially and staying with his friend Jermaine Pennant. While Jermaine was thriving at Birmingham City, Dean was driving him to training and watching someone else live the football career he desperately wanted back.  Rather than accept that his own career might be finished, Dean rebuilt himself physically, returned to the game and went on to enjoy some of the strongest years of his career.  Away from football, another chapter was already beginning.  The loss of his grandmother to cancer changed the way Dean thought about health and nutrition. While still playing professionally, he invested in his first nutrition business with two childhood friends, starting with just a handful of products from a garage.  That journey eventually led to The Real Health Store, a business Dean created after walking away from his previous company and choosing to build on his own terms. It’s a conversation about rebuilding when your identity is challenged, backing your own values and knowing when it is time to start again.  Key moments:  Making more than 300 appearances in professional football Driving Jermaine Pennant to training while trying to rebuild his own careerReturning from injury and producing some of his best football Playing Manchester United at Old Trafford How losing his grandmother changed his relationship with healthStarting his first nutrition business from a garageWalking away from his previous companyBuilding The Real Health Store on his own terms Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Connect & Follow  Alchemy Podcast:  📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial  ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T  Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub  📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial  🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/  Dean Howell / The Real Health Store: 📸 Instagram: @deanhowellofficial  📸 Instagram: @therealhealthstore  🌐 Website: https://www.therealhealthstore.com/

  4. Oct 30

    Gil Dudson - Alcohol, Self-Sabotage & the Moment Everything Had to Change

    Gil Dudson reached the highest level of rugby league, but some of his toughest battles happened away from the pitch.  In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with the Welsh international to talk about self sabotage, alcohol, pressure, faith and what it took to rebuild his life while still competing professionally.  Gil’s career included playing for Wigan Warriors, representing Wales and winning major honours. Early on, however, he struggled with imposter syndrome and repeatedly put opportunities at risk through his behaviour off the field.  Alcohol became part of that pattern.  At one stage, Gil was drinking one or two bottles of wine after games simply to switch off. Later, during Covid, a three day drinking binge pushed things to breaking point when his wife told him she could no longer live with who he had become.  Gil describes that moment as his rock bottom.  He stopped drinking and began confronting the habits and behaviours he had spent years avoiding. Alongside that came panic attacks, burnout, financial pressure and the reality that even while playing professional rugby, he needed a second job to support his family.  Faith also became an increasingly important part of his life, changing the way he approached pressure, anger, uncertainty and the decisions ahead of him.  It’s a raw conversation about self sabotage, sobriety, masculinity and what happens when success on the outside hides a very different reality underneath.  Key moments:  Breaking into professional rugby and representing Wales Joining Wigan Warriors and struggling with imposter syndrome Nearly losing his opportunity before making his debut Using alcohol to decompress after games Working a second job while playing professional rugby Burning out and experiencing panic attacks The three day binge that nearly cost him his marriage Finally admitting that alcohol had become a problem Choosing sobriety and rebuilding his life How faith changed his perspective on pressure and control Learning who he was beyond rugby Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Content note: This episode includes discussion of alcohol misuse, panic attacks and addiction.  Connect & Follow  Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/ Gil Dudson: 📸 Instagram: @gildudson

  5. Oct 30

    James Ashford - The Eight-Figure Exit That Didn’t Feel Like Success

    James Ashford built and sold a successful software business, but the biggest surprise came after the deal was done.  In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with the entrepreneur, investor and author to talk about business, identity, ambition and what happens when you finally achieve the outcome you have spent years chasing.  James built GoProposal into a highly successful software company before selling it in an eight figure deal. The sale should have felt like the ultimate finish line. Instead, the actual moment was strangely anticlimactic.  More difficult was what came afterwards.  James had gained money and freedom, but he had also lost the team, responsibility, recognition and sense of being needed that had become part of his identity.  The conversation explores the psychology behind entrepreneurship, why founders often become the bottleneck in their own businesses and how fear, imposter syndrome and the feeling of not being good enough can influence the decisions they make.  James also shares the experiences that changed the way he thinks about growth, including investing heavily in his own development, paying thousands for time with Gary Vaynerchuk and travelling to Necker Island after initially questioning whether he even belonged there.  It’s an honest conversation about success, identity and recognising that building a bigger business does not automatically answer the bigger questions in your life.  Key moments: Building GoProposal and selling the business Why the moment of the sale felt anticlimactic Losing purpose and identity after exiting Why founders can become the biggest bottleneck in their business The role fear and imposter syndrome play in decision making Why James believes the best marketing gives valuable ideas away Paying around £4,000 for 15 minutes with Gary Vaynerchuk Being invited to Necker Island and questioning whether he belonged there What spending time around Richard Branson changed for him Learning to recognise which version of yourself is making a decision Turning his experiences into the book Scale Fast, Exit Big Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Connect & Follow  Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/ James Ashford:  📸 Instagram: @thejamesashford  💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesashford/  🌐 Website: https://jamesashford.com/

  6. Oct 30

    Joe Sharp - From Nothing in the Bank to Building Three Clinics

    Joe Sharp built his business from a point where his bank balance had effectively hit zero.  In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with the physiotherapist and entrepreneur to talk about resilience, business, communication and what it takes to rebuild when the plan falls apart.  Joe had worked in professional football and private practice, but after leaving one role and being misled over another opportunity, he found himself out of work, under financial pressure and unsure what came next.  At his lowest point, he drove from Doncaster to Sheffield with almost no fuel, discovered he had no money in his account and had to call his mum in case he could not get home.  That same day, he treated former player Craig Davies for £40. He used half for fuel, half for food and made a decision: he was going to build something of his own. Joe rented a tiny room in Bawtry for £50 a week, contacted former patients and filled his diary within three months. Six years later, that one room had grown into three clinics, a growing team and a media brand with more than 100,000 YouTube subscribers.  The conversation also goes beyond the comeback story. Joe explains why communication matters more than technical ability alone, how strong systems drive growth and why success often comes from doing the basics consistently for longer than everyone else.  It’s a practical conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience and turning a difficult moment into the starting point for something much bigger.  Key moments: Going from professional football environments to having no clear next step Discovering he had no money in his bank account Treating Craig Davies for £40 to pay for fuel and food Renting his first clinic room for £50 a week Getting around 20 patients in his first week Filling his diary within three months Growing from one room to three clinics Why communication comes before technical ability and experience Building systems around patient care and retention Reaching more than 100,000 YouTube subscribers Why “success is boring” when the fundamentals are done properly Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Connect & Follow  Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/ Joe Sharp: 📸 Instagram: @thejoesharp  🌐 Website: https://joesharp.com/  ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialJoeSharp  🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejoesharp

  7. Oct 30

    Jordan Smith - From a £4 Declined Card to Building Seven Studios

    Jordan Smith has spent much of his life saying yes first and working out the details afterwards. In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with the Creative Director of Seven Studios to unpack a journey that has taken Jordan from competitive golf and marine engineering to Dubai, America, global travel and eventually building a creative business in Doncaster. Jordan’s career has rarely followed a straight line. At 19, he emailed his way into the marine industry with almost no experience and went on to work across 96 countries. Years later, he left his auntie’s wedding, borrowed someone else’s golf club and won a long-drive competition with a 362-yard drive. That single decision eventually opened the door to a job in golf media in Dubai.  The same pattern appears again and again. Jordan sees an opportunity, asks the question and backs himself before he feels fully ready.  That mindset eventually led to Seven Studios.  Building it meant walking away from well-paid engineering work, investing heavily in the business and earning almost nothing from it for 18 months. At one point, after years of travelling the world and earning good money, his card declined while trying to buy a £4 meal deal.  Jordan is also open about the less polished side of entrepreneurship. Losing clients, getting production wrong, making expensive mistakes and learning that building something better often starts with admitting when something has not worked.  It’s an honest conversation about opportunity, risk, reinvention and what it really looks like to build a business before the success story has been written.  Key moments:  Dropping out of college and struggling to find direction Sending one email that led to a career across 96 countries • Working on superyachts, commercial ships and submarines Leaving a wedding to enter a long-drive final with a borrowed clubWinning with a 362-yard drive and being flown to DubaiTurning a chance opportunity into a job in golf mediaWalking away from a well-paid career to build Seven StudiosTaking almost nothing from the business for 18 monthsHaving his card declined while trying to buy a £4 meal dealLosing clients and learning from costly mistakesWhy backing yourself before you feel ready can change everything Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Connect & Follow Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/ Jordan Smith / Seven Studios: 📸 Instagram: @seven__studios  🌐 Website: https://sevenstudios.co.uk/

  8. Oct 30

    Kat Martin - Working with Simon Cowell & Why Most Businesses Get Marketing Wrong

    Kat Martin has spent years helping businesses understand what their brand really stands for, but her own career began in a very different world.  In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with the founder of Theodore to talk about branding, marketing, entrepreneurship and the personal reality behind building a business.  Before launching her own agency, Kat worked closely with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Simon Cowell, Calvin Harris, Mark Ronson, Westlife, Groove Armada and the Backstreet Boys.  She shares what that world taught her about standards, detail and reputation, alongside some of the more unpredictable moments behind the scenes, including a meeting where Jay Kay threw a computer out of the window.  Today, Kat brings those lessons into the work she does with businesses through Theodore.  She challenges one of the biggest mistakes companies make with marketing: jumping straight into tactics without understanding what they are trying to achieve, who they are speaking to or why anyone should care.  The conversation also becomes much more personal.  Kat speaks openly about building a business as a single parent, the pressure and overwhelm that can come with entrepreneurship and her experience of perimenopause, including periods of intense anxiety that made even everyday tasks feel difficult.  It’s a conversation about branding and business, but also about the human being behind the strategy and why clarity matters both professionally and personally.  Key moments: Working with Simon Cowell and major names in the music industry What Simon Cowell taught Kat about attention to detail The meeting where Jay Kay threw a computer out of the window Why most businesses misunderstand branding and marketing The importance of asking why before choosing marketing tactics Building Theodore and creating a business around her own values Scaling a business as a single parent The reality of overwhelm behind entrepreneurship Kat’s experience of perimenopause and anxiety Why strong brands begin with clarity, not content Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Content note: This episode includes discussion of anxiety and perimenopause.  Connect & Follow Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/ Kat Martin / Theodore: 🌐 Website: https://theodore.ltd/

  9. Oct 30

    Louis Harrington - Success, Self-Destruction & What High Performance Really Means

    In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with Louis Harrington, a former professional golfer turned human performance coach who now works with athletes, coaches and business leaders operating at the highest levels.  From the outside, Louis had achieved the dream early. He turned professional at 18, won quickly and was being paid to play the sport he loved. Behind it, however, he was struggling to manage what was happening internally.  Alcohol, gambling and self destructive behaviour became ways of avoiding what he was feeling. Before the age of 20, Louis had already received two drink driving convictions and was facing the possibility of prison. He admits that part of him even felt relief at the thought of being taken out of the life he was struggling to control.  Years later, removing alcohol forced Louis to confront what he had spent years avoiding. That experience now shapes the work he does with elite performers, helping people look beyond results, status and achievement to understand what is really driving them.  Louis challenges some of the ideas we usually associate with high performance. Why can someone have success and still feel unfulfilled? What happens when your identity becomes attached to your sport, business or achievements? And who are you when those things are taken away?  It’s a thoughtful and challenging conversation about fear, identity, responsibility, authenticity and why trusting yourself may matter more than trying to control every outcome.  Key moments:  Turning professional as a golfer at 18 Winning early and discovering success did not solve everything Two drink driving convictions before the age of 20Facing the possibility of prison and feeling an unexpected sense of relief Why alcohol and gambling became ways of avoiding what he was feeling How his first coaching client became a Vice President at The Walt Disney Company Asking elite performers: who are you without the sport, business or success Why trust can become the counterweight to fear The difference between carrying responsibility and being able to respond Why leaders must stay consistent when performance falls apart Louis’s advice to anyone wanting to improve: face the question that scares you most Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Connect & Follow  Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/ Louis Harrington: 📸 Instagram: @louis_harrington_official  🌐 Website: https://thesharingexperience.com/  💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-harrington-325875b9/

  10. Oct 30

    Mike Brown - 72 England Caps, Relentless Pressure & Refusing to Be Written Off

    Mike Brown spent 21 years in professional rugby, earned 72 England caps and became one of the most recognisable fullbacks of his generation.  In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with Mike to talk about the mindset, pressure and preparation behind a career built on competitiveness and a relentless need to prove people wrong.  That mentality helped take him to the highest level of the game, but it also came with criticism, pressure and moments where fear began to affect the way he performed.  Mike reflects on England’s disastrous 2015 home World Cup, the public perception of his “Mr Angry” persona and the environments where the pressure to avoid mistakes became overwhelming. He also looks back on the feedback, setbacks and specialist coaching that helped him keep improving for more than two decades.  One of the most revealing parts of the conversation comes after Newcastle. Mike spent around ten months without a club, watching his savings disappear while the rugby world appeared to have decided his career was over.  Rather than accept it, he kept training, stayed ready and created his own opportunity. After spotting an injury while watching Leicester Tigers on television, Mike messaged the coach himself. At 37, after 72 England caps, he drove to Leicester for a trial, unsure whether he still belonged there.  He earned the contract and extended his career. It’s a powerful conversation about resilience, criticism, preparation and what happens when the identity you have built over an entire career starts to disappear. Key moments: Earning 72 England caps and becoming Six Nations Player of the ChampionshipWhy being disliked became part of Mike’s competitive identityWhat went wrong during England’s 2015 home World CupThe pressure and fear he experienced inside elite rugby environmentsWhy feedback became fuel rather than something to avoidSpending ten months without a club and watching his savings disappearMessaging Leicester himself after spotting an opportunity on televisionGoing on trial at 37 after an international career at the highest levelThe preparation and specialist coaching that helped him play for 21 yearsBuilding a new identity after professional sport Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Connect & Follow  Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/ Mike Brown: 🌐 Website: https://mb15.co.uk/  📸 Instagram: @mikebrown_15

  11. Oct 30

    Ryan Jenner - Cocaine Addiction, £90K of Debt & the Fight to Get His Life Back

    In this episode of the Alchemy Podcast, Jonathan sits down with Ryan Jenner, a successful entrepreneur who made serious money in the nightlife and events industry, navigating a world of celebrities, gangsters, drugs, excess and death threats.  From the outside, Ryan appeared to have it all. Successful businesses, money, a family and a lifestyle many would envy. Behind the success, however, was a very different reality.  Years of unresolved grief and personal tragedy eventually fuelled a devastating cocaine addiction that saw Ryan spending hundreds of pounds a day on drugs, accumulating almost £90,000 in debt and reaching a point where he questioned whether he wanted to carry on living.  Despite seemingly having everything, Ryan found himself losing almost everything, without even those closest to him realising the extent of his struggles.  Ryan opens up about the extraordinary highs, the darker realities of the nightlife industry, the destructive nature of addiction and the turning point that ultimately saved his life.  It’s real, it’s raw and it’s relatable. A powerful conversation about the hidden struggles behind success, the impact of unresolved trauma and finding the strength to rebuild when everything falls apart.  Key moments:  Losing his mum at seven and his dad at 14 How football became an escape from grief Breaking into the nightclub and events world Walking away from his first major event with £9,000 in cash The £18,000 Cartier that was taken off a wrist and handed to him Being threatened with having his kneecaps shot How his brother’s sudden death accelerated his cocaine use Spending up to £400 a day on cocaine and falling towards £90,000 of debt The point where Ryan believed he might not survive his addiction Admitting he could no longer stop Walking into his first Cocaine Anonymous meeting Rebuilding trust, family life and a future in recovery Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters.  Content note: This episode includes discussion of bereavement, drug addiction and suicidal thoughts.  Connect & Follow  Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/ Ryan Jenner: 📸 Instagram: @ryanjenner8 @shineassured

  12. Oct 30

    Jonathan Mills - Losing Football, Finding Purpose & Redefining Success

    Jonathan Mills spent years believing he was going to become a professional footballer. At 18, that future disappeared in a single conversation. In the first episode of Alchemy 2.0, the roles are reversed as Jonathan moves from host to guest and sits down with Ellie to tell more of his own story. From the age of ten, football was not just something Jonathan did. It was his identity. After two years at Cambridge United, he walked into a meeting expecting to be offered professional terms and left knowing his time at the club was over. Within an hour, he was on a train back to Birmingham. Jonathan reflects on what that moment did to his confidence, why the label of “footballer” followed him for years afterwards and how difficult it can be to separate who you are from what you do. The conversation moves through business, player management, Ironman triathlon and the pattern Jonathan eventually recognised in himself: taking something he loved, pushing it to the extreme and gradually removing the enjoyment from it. That realisation changed the way he approached performance, work and life. Jonathan also opens up about why business itself has never been the real motivation, the importance of helping people, why human connection matters more in an increasingly automated world and how his definition of success has changed. Today, success is less about status or material things and more about choice, adventure, doing meaningful work and knowing internally that he has given his best. It’s a conversation about identity, ambition, failure, reinvention and learning that sometimes the life you thought you wanted is not the one that ultimately gives you the most fulfilment. Key moments: • Being released by Cambridge United at 18 • Losing the identity he had built around football • Why being a player manager became one of the hardest periods of his life • Saying yes to an Ironman before knowing what it involved • How endurance sport gave him a new sense of adventure • Repeating the same mistake of turning enjoyment into obsession • Why fun became essential to high performance • Building businesses around helping people rather than chasing money • Why human connection matters more in the age of AI • Redefining success around freedom, adventure and choice • Why doing the work matters more than constantly watching the score Subscribe to the Alchemy Podcast for more honest, thought provoking conversations, powerful personal stories and fresh perspectives that challenge the way we think about life, success and what really matters. Connect & Follow Alchemy Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @alchemypodcastofficial ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonathanmills_alchemyhub?si=PERNkuThtSRg5j4T Jonathan Mills: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmillsalchemyhub 📸 Instagram: @alchemyhubofficial 🌐 Website: https://www.alchemyhub.co.uk/

  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Hosting conversations with people who’ve pushed themselves in different arenas - business, sport, leadership, and life.The Alchemy podcast explores the stories behind high performance, speaking with entrepreneurs, leaders, and world-class performers about the moments, decisions, and lessons that shape the path they’ve taken.These aren’t polished success stories or sales pitches. Just honest conversations about the grit, the setbacks, and the often unspoken realities behind building something meaningful.If you’re curious about what drives people to keep moving forward, you’re in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Mills
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Alchemy Podcast
  • Show Website
    Alchemy Podcast

You Might Also Like