What It Takes with Olly Fawcett

Olly Fawcett

What does it take to build something? What does building something take from you? In this podcast, we speak with the founders and owners of some of the most incredible brands and businesses to find out the truth about what it takes to build a brand from the ground up, and as founders what going through that process teaches you. Olly Fawcett is the founder of 303, a creative performance marketing agency working with premium brands. Over the last 10 years, he has spent time inside some amazing brands as they have grown and now is sharing those insights through What It Takes.

  1. 4D AGO ·  BONUS

    CLIP: The Toxic Culture of Kitchen Nightmares

    Kirk Haworth has been through every challenge the hospitality industry can throw at someone. From training in some of the world’s best kitchens, to having his career completely stopped by chronic illness, to rebuilding everything from the ground up. We go into the realities of kitchen culture, the physical toll of the industry, and the moments that force you to rethink everything. You'll learn about standards, pressure, and what it really means to start again when you’ve already put years into something. Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow Kirk:https://www.instagram.com/kirk_haworth/

    3 min

  2. APR 8 ·  BONUS

    CLIP: Why Classic Cars Are the Future of EVs | Founder of Everrati

    Justin Lunny is the Founder & CEO of Everrati, a company redefining iconic cars into high-performance electric vehicles. In this episode of What It Takes, Justin breaks down how he went from fintech entrepreneur to building one of the most unique automotive businesses in the world, restoring classic cars into EVs for clients including tech billionaires, Hollywood figures, and collectors. Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow Justin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinlunny/

    6 min
  3. Innovation Built a $500M Pipeline With Zero Marketing | Justin Lunny Founder of Everrati

    APR 6

    Innovation Built a $500M Pipeline With Zero Marketing | Justin Lunny Founder of Everrati

    Justin Lunny is the Founder & CEO of Everrati, a company redefining iconic cars into high-performance electric vehicles. In this episode of What It Takes, Justin breaks down how he went from fintech entrepreneur to building one of the most unique automotive businesses in the world, restoring classic cars into EVs for clients including tech billionaires, Hollywood figures, and collectors. We cover: - Why Everrati turned down certain clients (and cars) - How they built a global brand with zero marketing - The reality of building cars with 5.2 billion data points - Why EV adoption has been misunderstood - And how they’ve built $500M+ in B2B opportunity without trying Chapters 0:00 – 30-year career before Everrati 3:40 – Selling his first business 5:04 – Finding the right business partner 6:33 – The idea: iconic cars turned electric 7:28 – The moment that sparked it 9:59 – What starting actually looked like 11:10 – Hiring top engineers with just a vision 14:21 – 2 years to build the first car 15:50 – The funding reality 18:36 – First prototype & early momentum 20:08 – The PR moment that changed everything 21:20 – Who actually buys these cars 32:30 – The reason behind turning customers down 41:02 – Selling a lifestyle, not just a car 52:05 – $500M pipeline with zero marketing 56:40 – Inside a custom EV build 1:06:05 – What people get wrong about EVs 1:12:08 – Why some car brands won’t survive 1:22:19 – What it really takes to build a brand Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ Follow Justin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinlunny/

    1h 24m
  4. The Chef Who Turned Pain Into Purpose | Kirk Haworth

    MAR 23

    The Chef Who Turned Pain Into Purpose | Kirk Haworth

    Kirk Haworth has been through every challenge the hospitality industry can throw at someone. From training in some of the world’s best kitchens, to having his career completely stopped by chronic illness, to rebuilding everything from the ground up.In this episode, Kirk shares what it actually takes to operate at the highest level in hospitality and what happens when that level comes at a cost. We go into the realities of kitchen culture, the physical toll of the industry, and the moments that force you to rethink everything. You'll learn about standards, pressure, and what it really means to start again when you’ve already put years into something. Chapters: 00:00 Who is Kirk Haworth? 01:15 Early career in top kitchens 04:30 The reality of kitchen culture 07:10 Pressure, standards, and leadership in hospitality 10:45 When health started breaking down 14:20 Working through chronic pain and fatigue 18:05 The moment everything collapsed 21:30 Hitting rock bottom mentally 25:10 Rebuilding from zero 29:40 Rethinking food, health, and performance 33:15 Starting again with a new philosophy 37:20 Building Plates and a new kind of kitchen 41:50 The future of hospitality Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ Kirk:https://www.instagram.com/kirk_haworth/

    1h 31m
  5. How I Built AllSaints From Scratch | Stuart Trevor (Founder Story)

    MAR 9

    How I Built AllSaints From Scratch | Stuart Trevor (Founder Story)

    Stuart Trevor is the founder of AllSaints and one of the most influential figures in British fashion. In this episode of What It Takes with Olly Fawcett, Stuart shares the extraordinary story behind building AllSaints into a global fashion brand, his early career designing for Reiss, and why he walked away from the company at its peak. From growing up on a council estate in Dundee to dressing some of the biggest rock bands in the world, Stuart reveals the creative mindset that drove his success and how ADHD, risk-taking and instinct helped shape his career. We also explore the realities of the fashion industry, the rise of fast fashion, and why Stuart is now building a new sustainable brand that produces no new clothes, using only upcycled garments. This is a fascinating conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and what it really takes to build a global brand. 00:00 Stuart Trevor Interview – Building AllSaints, Reiss & Sustainable Fashion 01:28 Growing Up in Dundee & First Fashion Experiments 05:28 David Bowie, Punk Culture & Early Style Inspiration 09:38 ADHD, School Struggles & Creative Thinking 13:54 Discovering Fashion College by Accident18:24 Learning Tailoring & Entering the Fashion Industry 21:48 Winning the Paul Smith Competition & Early Recognition 26:01 Getting His Break at Reiss 31:01 Designing Menswear at Reiss at Age 18 35:54 Why Stuart Trevor Left Reiss 39:47 Founding AllSaints & The Brand Name Story 45:10 The First AllSaints Collection in Paris 49:55 Building the AllSaints Retail Concept 53:55 Why AllSaints Became a Cult Fashion Brand 58:21 Dressing Rock Stars & Peak AllSaints Years 1:02:22 Why Stuart Trevor Left AllSaints in 2007 1:07:37 Building Bolongaro Trevor 1:12:56 How Fashion Changed in the 2010s 1:17:37 Fast Fashion, Waste & Industry Problems 1:23:04 Creating a Brand That Produces No New Clothes 1:27:54 Upcycling & The Future of Sustainable Fashion 1:31:53 Advice for Young Fashion Founders 1:34:37 What’s Next for Stuart Trevor

    1h 36m
  6. From Banker to Stand-Up Comedian: The Story Behind the Success of Eshaan Akbar

    FEB 23

    From Banker to Stand-Up Comedian: The Story Behind the Success of Eshaan Akbar

    From Bollywood dance choreographer… to HSBC speechwriter… to one of the sharpest comics in the UK.Eshaan Akbar breaks down what stand-up actually teaches you: reading rooms, earning trust, surviving bad gigs, and why “bombing” is often an audience warm-up problem (his words… 😅).If you’ve ever felt like you’re starting late, pivoting careers, or trying to build confidence in rooms that weren’t made for you, this one lands.Chapters 00:00 Who is Eshaan Akbar?01:20 The pre-comedy life04:26 Why comedy started (a course, not a dream)05:51 Family, immigrant pressure, and dad’s support08:16 First open mic, March 201409:13 Mum’s sudden death + comedy becoming a lifeline14:27 Therapy 10 years later + what finally made him face it19:19 The grind years: unpaid gigs, long drives, learning every room29:24 Kings Lynn: the gig that turned ugly 41:38 How he writes: no scripts, built on-stage + reading rooms46:19 Crowd work, social media, and comedy’s new era58:32 Opening for Mickey Flanagan + the O2 arena realityFollow Eshaan: https://www.instagram.com/eshaanakbar/Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

    1h 20m
  7. Tricks To Having a Consistently Creative Mind - Ben Hanlin

    04/02/2025

    Tricks To Having a Consistently Creative Mind - Ben Hanlin

    In this episode of What It Takes, we sit down with magician, TV presenter, and content creator Ben Hanlin to explore the magic behind creativity. From his journey breaking into the entertainment industry to starring in Tricked and captivating audiences worldwide, Ben shares the highs, the challenges, and the secrets that have fuelled his success. He also reveals practical tricks for unlocking creativity—whether you're a performer, entrepreneur, or just looking to bring more originality into your work. Follow Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hanlin-66508b142/ https://www.instagram.com/benhanlin/https://www.tiktok.com/@benhanlin?lang=en Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

    1h 33m
  8. Starting a Market Leading Premium Brand from a Shed - Raissa De Hass

    03/26/2025

    Starting a Market Leading Premium Brand from a Shed - Raissa De Hass

    In this episode of What It Takes, we sit down with Raissa de Haas, the dynamic co-founder of Double Dutch Drinks, a brand that's taken the beverage industry by storm with its premium mixers. Raissa shares the incredible journey of how she and her twin sister, Joyce, started their business from scratch, turning a passion for craft cocktails into an award-winning drinks company. Raissa opens up about the challenges they faced as young entrepreneurs in a competitive market, from securing initial funding to scaling production while maintaining quality. She reveals the key moments that shaped their success, including building relationships with top-tier bartenders and creating a distinctive brand identity in a crowded space. Raissa also delves into what it truly takes to run a thriving drinks brand. From leading with innovation to staying resilient in the face of setbacks, she shares her top strategies for scaling sustainably, fostering a strong company culture, and continuing to push boundaries in the drinks industry. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or curious about the secrets behind building a globally recognised brand, this episode is filled with actionable insights on what it takes to succeed. Follow Raissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raissa-de-haas-02740a61/ https://www.instagram.com/doubledutchdrinks/?hl=en Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

    1h 1m
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About

What does it take to build something? What does building something take from you? In this podcast, we speak with the founders and owners of some of the most incredible brands and businesses to find out the truth about what it takes to build a brand from the ground up, and as founders what going through that process teaches you. Olly Fawcett is the founder of 303, a creative performance marketing agency working with premium brands. Over the last 10 years, he has spent time inside some amazing brands as they have grown and now is sharing those insights through What It Takes.

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