Sofa Stories

Nick Bianchi & Gary Pemberton
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Grab a coffee, it’s time for a debrief. Welcome to The Sofa Stories Podcast with furniture retailer, entrepreneur and Padel lover, Nick Bianchi with Gary Pemberton,  entrepreneur & property specialist.

  1. 4d ago

    Les Dennis, Moroccan Magic & The Sunk Cost Fallacy

    Send us Fan Mail NB and Gary are back on the sofa at Tatton Perk in Chelford ☕️ for another fascinating episode of Sofa Stories, packed with travel adventures, personal experiences, laughter, serious conversations and plenty of food for thought. We kick things off on a more serious note, discussing the worrying riots and unrest taking place across France, with tensions also spreading into countries such as Italy. What’s driving it all, who’s behind the unrest, and could we see similar scenes here in the UK? Then it’s time for some travel inspiration as Gary shares the highlights of his incredible 16-night adventure around Morocco with Amanda, courtesy of Wendy Wu Tours. From exploring the country’s magnificent cities to experiencing the magic of the Sahara Desert, Gary reflects on the beauty, culture, people and unforgettable experiences that made the trip so enriching. Meanwhile, NB shares a very special visit with Janette and Harrison to CAFT (Children’s Adventure Farm Trust), as guests of Jason Manford. A behind-the-scenes tour of this wonderful charity left NB hugely impressed and inspired by the incredible work being done for children and families. And then comes a rather funny moment when Gary asks, “NB, why on earth is there a banner of you and Les Dennis in Alderley Edge?” All is revealed as NB explains his upcoming evening hosting the legendary Les Dennis on Saturday 14th November, raising much-needed funds for St Philip’s and St James’s Church. We finish with something that really makes us both stop and think. Inspired by a thought-provoking quote from our good friend Ben Wain, we explore the fascinating concept of the sunk cost fallacy. When is it time to let go? Whether it’s a business project, a relationship, an investment or simply something we’ve poured years of our lives into, how do we recognise when it’s time to move on rather than keep going just because of everything we’ve already invested? It’s a question that genuinely makes both Gary and NB pause and reflect, and hopefully it’ll do the same for you. we hope you enjoy  Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

  2. Sep 26

    Tom Gilbey 🍷 , Padel with Purpose & a Special Jon Wilkin Appearance

    Send us Fan Mail Live from Tatton Perk in Cheford, Nick and Gary sit down for another episode of Sofa Stories, catching up in our usual 5K format l! We kick things off with the brilliant Sober dry Wave padel event, arranged by Paul Porter and friends in support of Culture Lab in Stockport and hosted at Soul Padel. A fantastic event for a great cause, made even sweeter by Nick and Scott Hannah taking the win! 🏆 The trophy will now take pride of place on the Sofa Stories HQ mantelpiece! Next up, Nick reflects on the fantastic Tom Gilbey event at Arighi Bianchi, which he had the pleasure of hosting. Just as Nick was about to reveal who joined him as guests, one of them appeared in person… None other than Jon Wilkin! Our very first leading interview guest from the early days of Sofa Stories made a completely unexpected cameo while grabbing his coffee at Tatton Perk. ☕️ A brilliant Sofa Stories moment and great to have him back, even if only for a cheeky few minutes! We also hear how Nick and his business partner John ended up being invited into the old Granada Studios to watch Bullseye 🎯, another story that raised a few laughs around the sofa. A really fun, upbeat episode full of stories, surprises, laughs and the usual lively debate. Hope you enjoy it! 🎧🛋️ Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

  3. Sep 17

    Are we being listened to?

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Nick and Gary are back with another 'walk and talk' 5k episode, covering everything from charity padel and cold plunges to economics, politics and the art of negotiation. We kick things off with a look back at our last episode, featuring Paul Porter and Thomas Gibbons at The Farm Club, before turning our attention to Paul's forthcoming charity padel day in support of his Culture Lab, taking place on 24th September at Soul Padel. The Pickmere Piranhas have been out and about again, this time catching up at Kontrast Sauna & Ice Bath in Manchester. After braving the heat and cold, the team head to PKB for a well-earned brunch. Gary then takes us into the world of economics, sharing his experience of being invited to the NatWest Economic Forum and discussing some of the key themes that emerged. From there, the conversation turns to political donations to Reform UK and the wider questions surrounding money and influence in British politics. Is the government really listening to us? And is our country broken? We explore these questions, discussing the challenges facing the UK and what people want to see change. Finally, we are delighted to announce our next leading interview guest, Mark Grice, a global FMCG expert specialising in negotiation.  From the padel court to the boardroom, it's another episode packed with conversation, debate and plenty of food for thought. Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

  4. Sep 6

    Sunday Morning with Friends at the Farm Club

    Send us Fan Mail After a fantastic swimming  session at Pickmere lake with Thomas Gibbons and Sofa Stories Royalty Paul Porter, and both great friends and listeners of the show, Nick and Gary settle in for a proper Sunday morning debrief down at the Farm Club. Joined by Thomas and Paul, the four sit down over cortados, cappuccinos and banana bread for an easy-going conversation touching on wellness, lifestyle and everything in between. Good company, great conversation and one of those simple Sunday mornings that sticks with you. A really memorable start to the day and exactly what Sofa Stories is all about. We hope you enjoy  Nick & Gary Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

  5. Aug 13

    The Eclipse , Record Heatwaves & The Biggest Private Padel Event EVER..

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 88 In this episode of Sofa Stories, there is plenty to talk about! We kick things off with the incredible eclipse, before getting into yet more record-breaking heatwaves and the crazy weather we have been experiencing. Then it’s all about Padel, as NB discussed what was the biggest private padel event ever,an amazing day packed with great people, huge energy, plenty of laughs and, of course, some seriously competitive padel with the Worlds greatest players. From eclipses and extreme heat to an unforgettable event in Manchester, it’s another action-packed episode of Sofa Stories. 🌒🔥🎾 As always, thanks for watching.. enjoy the episode! Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

  6. Aug 5

    Episode 87: Staying Human in the Age of AI

    Send us Fan Mail As AI becomes more capable, does being genuinely human become our greatest advantage? In this episode of Sofa Stories, Gary and  Nick talk about two brilliant customer experiences we’ve had with MyoMaster Ice Baths and Mover X : experiences that stood out not because of clever technology, automation or perfectly engineered processes, but because of the people behind them. That personal connection. Someone caring. Someone listening. Someone making you feel like you matter. AI can make businesses faster, smarter and more efficient, but it can’t replace the feeling of a great human interaction. And perhaps the more AI enters our lives, the more valuable those moments become. We also wander, as Sofa Stories tends to, into the subject of swearing.. and share a line from our very good friend Darryl that has stuck with us: “A conversation never suffers by not swearing.” We hope you enjoy  Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

  7. Jul 23

    Prime Minister #7 in 8 Years, Montenegro Travels & Is Tuchel the right Man to Take England Forward?

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary In this episode of Sofa Stories, we unpack another extraordinary chapter in British politics as the UK welcomes its seventh Prime Minister in just eight years. What does this constant change at the top say about political stability, public confidence and the country’s direction of travel? We also turn our attention to Gary’s recent family holiday Montenegro, the so called Gem of the Balkans, slightly off piste from the normal Spain and France holiday destinations! Finally, we head to the football pitch to ask one of the biggest questions facing English football: Is Thomas Tuchel the right man to take England forward? We assess his tactical approach, tournament pedigree and whether he’s the coach who can finally help England turn potential into major silverware. Join us for an engaging conversation that blends politics, international affairs and football, with thoughtful discussion, differing opinions and plenty to get you thinking. Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

  8. Jul 4

    64 Days. 2 Million Steps. One Epic Walk for Parkinson’s - Huw Davis leading interview

    Send us Fan Mail Huw Davis set himself an extraordinary challenge: to walk from John O’Groats to Land’s End in just 64 days, covering more than 2 million steps, raising over £20,000 for Parkinson’s which his twin brother has. In this episode, Huw shares the highs and lows of an unforgettable journey. From breathtaking landscapes and unexpected acts of kindness to relentless weather and the physical and mental battles along the way, he reflects on what it really takes to keep moving forward. The walk also became something far more personal. After selling his business in 2008, losing his wife, and now preparing for a new chapter in life and new found love, Huw explains how those 64 days gave him the space to reflect, heal, and rediscover what matters most. This is a story about resilience, endurance, grief, hope, and proving that even the biggest challenges can be overcome one step at a time. Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

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About

Grab a coffee, it’s time for a debrief. Welcome to The Sofa Stories Podcast with furniture retailer, entrepreneur and Padel lover, Nick Bianchi with Gary Pemberton,  entrepreneur & property specialist.

Information

  • Creator
    Nick Bianchi & Gary Pemberton
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sofa Stories
  • Show Website
    Sofa Stories

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