Business and a Brew

Danielle Thompson
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  • Entrepreneurship
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Welcome to Business and a Brew – the podcast where real conversations about business happen over a good drink. Hosted by Danielle and Simon, this show brings together two friends with years of shared experiences, lessons learned, and plenty of stories to tell. We’re here to explore the highs, lows, and in-betweens of business, from awkward challenges to unexpected victories. No topic is off the table – if it’s part of the entrepreneurial journey, we’re talking about it. Whether you’re looking for relatable advice, fresh perspectives, or just a laugh, you’ll find it here. Think of us as your business buddies, chatting over coffee (or something stronger), keeping it real and keeping you entertained. So, grab your brew of choice, tune in, and let’s get talking. Cheers!

  1. 5d ago

    How Jeremy Clarkson's Great-Great-Great-Grandfather Built a Brand, Then Lost It All

    One throwaway line from Jeremy Clarkson on Clarkson's Farm sent Dani down a rabbit hole, and in this episode of Business in the Brew, Si gets the whole story. It's about a humble jar you've probably got in your kitchen right now, and how it became one of Britain's most enduring brands. It starts in Victorian Yorkshire with a handful of friends and a surprisingly small amount of cash. What follows is a rise and fall that almost nobody saw coming. There's a courtroom showdown that sounds decades ahead of its time, and a family fortune that didn't last. Then there's the jar that simply refused to die. Along the way, Dani and Si ask how a brand can outlive the people who built it, and how an old preserving jar ended up on the bar of nearly every craft brewery in the country. Plus, Dani discovers a business term she instantly falls in love with, Clarkson's family connection is finally revealed, and the episode goes completely off the rails with a horror film pitch you won't forget. Grab a brew and press play. About Simon and Danielle: Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.  Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003. Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009. Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.  Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

  2. Sep 14

    Blubber, Big Business, and the Logic of Exploitation: The Dark History of Commercial Whaling

    In this episode Dani and Si dive into the brutal history of commercial whaling and what it reveals about the cold logic of capitalism. From whale oil lighting the streets of London to blubber fuelling the Industrial Revolution, they unpack how a global industry legally pushed some of the largest creatures on Earth to the edge of extinction.  Along the way they mix vivid storytelling, dark humour and personal reflections on visiting the abandoned whaling stations of South Georgia, before ending on a more hopeful note as they explore how whale populations are slowly recovering when given the chance.  This episode is part history lesson, part ethical gut check and part reminder that the way we treat natural resources today will shape the world of tomorrow. About Simon and Danielle: Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.  Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003. Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009. Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.  Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

  3. Sep 7

    The True Cost of Cheap Clothes: Business Lessons from the Rana Plaza Collapse

    In this powerful episode of Business & a Brew, Dani and Si dive into the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh and ask a hard-hitting question: do big brands really care about factory safety, or only when they’re forced to? They unpack what happened on 24 April 2013, how an unsafe eight‑storey building employing thousands of garment workers was allowed to exist, and why warning signs were ignored until it was too late. Dani and Si explore the uncomfortable realities behind cheap fashion, from poverty wages and complex subcontracting chains to the “agency problem” that lets brands claim ignorance while pushing for ever lower prices and faster turnaround. They break down what changed after the disaster - including the legally binding Bangladesh Accord and its evolution into a wider international framework -  and what hasn’t, especially for workers still outside the spotlight of Western scrutiny. Whether you’re a business owner sourcing overseas, a consumer rethinking your wardrobe, or someone curious about how ethics, brand reputation, and global supply chains collide, this episode will challenge how you see that simple label: “Made in Bangladesh.” About Simon and Danielle: Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.  Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003. Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009. Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.  Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

  4. Aug 31

    Surveillance Shopping: How Agentic Commerce Will Change the Way We Buy Everything

    In this episode of Business & a Brew, Dani & Si dive into the emerging world of agentic commerce and what they dub “surveillance shopping” – a future where AI agents don’t just recommend products but actively shop, decide, and buy on our behalf.  They unpack how tools like Perplexity’s Buy with Pro, OpenAI’s agent protocols, and Amazon’s Rufus are quietly reshaping how we purchase everything from groceries to gifts, and why this shift could be as significant as the arrival of the internet.  Along the way, they explore the trade-offs between convenience and creepiness, from fridges that reorder your milk to agents that might one day choose your clothes, and question what happens to brand loyalty, impulse purchases, and the human jobs that currently sit between manufacturers and consumers.  Dani & Si also dig into thorny issues of trust, data, and privacy, asking whose interests these agents really serve and how much of our lives we’re willing to hand over in exchange for frictionless buying. It’s a thought-provoking, slightly unsettling, and often funny conversation about a shopping revolution that’s already underway, whether we’re ready for it or not. This episode is sponsored by Beyond The Dawn Digital ltd offering AI powered podcasts for clients who want to use this platform as part of their visibility and Brand expression structure - want to work with them click HERE About Simon and Danielle: Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.  Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003. Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009. Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.  Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

  5. Aug 24

    The dark underbelly of the drinks industry.

    In this episode of Business & a brew, Dani and Si dive into the dark underbelly of the drinks industry and uncover just how widespread counterfeit alcohol really is. Starting with a startling World Health Organisation statistic that one in five bottles of spirits consumed globally are counterfeit, adulterated, or illicitly produced, they explore how fake booze finds its way into bars, pubs, and shops - and what that means for both consumer safety and legitimate businesses. From methanol poisoning cases in Central Europe and bootleg spirits in India to the billions lost to alcohol fraud in the UK, they break down the real-world impact behind the headlines. Dani walks through the four main types of alcohol fraud - illicit production, duty evasion, counterfeiting, and adulteration - while Si reacts to some of the most shocking examples, including fake vodka, fake Scotch whisky, and even counterfeit craft beer. They also look beyond booze to wider food fraud, such as the highly adulterated Italian olive oil market, and discuss why complex regulation and consumer habits make these scams so hard to stamp out. The conversation closes with a focus on prevention, arguing that education and buying from reputable sources are still the most powerful tools consumers have, even as brands experiment with tech solutions like QR codes, NFC chips, and blockchain tracking. Tune in to hear Dani and Si mix storytelling, real-world cases, and their signature humour to reveal what might really be in your glass - and how to protect yourself without giving up your favourite tipple!! About Simon and Danielle: Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.  Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003. Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009. Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.  Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

  6. Aug 17

    Paid to Care, Paid to Lie: When Funeral Directors Turn Predators : Bodies for Sale Part 2 - The New York Bodysnatchers

    This episode contains descriptions of death, funeral malpractice, and the mishandling of human remains, which some listeners may find deeply upsetting. Listener discretion is advised. If you have recently experienced a bereavement, you may wish to skip this episode or proceed with caution. Business & a brew returns with Part Two of our “Bodies for Sale” series, and this time Dani and Si head to New York to unpack one of the darkest scandals in the human tissue industry. In this episode, they explore the case of former oral surgeon Michael Mastro Marino and his company, Biomedical Tissue Services, which ran a multi-state criminal enterprise harvesting human tissue from more than a thousand bodies without consent. The episode dives into the human impact of the scandal, including real patient stories of infection, disease transmission, and life-altering complications from implants that should never have been used. Si also shares the deeply unsettling British connection through the story of Sir Alistair Cooke, the revered broadcaster whose body was secretly harvested after his death, against everything he and his family would have wanted. Together, they examine the uncomfortable truth about how profitable the legal tissue industry is, where the line between legal and illegal sits, and what happens when consent and screening are treated as optional. The episode closes with a reflection on the vulnerability of the human body after death, the responsibility of those entrusted with our remains, and the urgent need for stronger oversight in industries built on trust. Dani and Si sign off with a promise that the next episode will be less horrific, along with a heartfelt thank you to listeners and to the team. About Simon and Danielle: Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.  Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003. Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009. Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.  Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

  7. Aug 10

    Paid to Care, Paid to Lie: When Funeral Directors Turn Predators : Bodies for Sale Part 1

    Disclaimer : This episode contains descriptions of death, funeral malpractice, and the mishandling of human remains, which some listeners may find deeply upsetting. Listener discretion is advised. If you have recently experienced a bereavement, you may wish to skip this episode or proceed with caution. In this episode of Business & a brew, Dani and Si dive into one of the most disturbing business scandals to hit the UK funeral industry: the case of Hull funeral director Robert Bush. They unpack how grieving families were told their loved ones had been cremated and laid to rest, only for police to later discover bodies still on the premises and ashes that were not who families believed them to be. Dani and Si explore the emotional devastation for the victims, the financial exploitation of prepaid funeral plans and stolen charitable donations, and the shocking lack of regulation that allowed this to happen.  They also look at how Scotland responded to a similar scandal with tighter controls, and what needs to change in England and Wales to protect people at their most vulnerable. This episode deals with death, bereavement, and the mishandling of human remains, so listener discretion is advised. Look out for Part 2 - coming out next week! About Simon and Danielle: Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.  Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003. Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009. Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.  Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

  8. Aug 3

    Carpet, Cabbage…and a £571m Black Hole: The Real Story Behind the Fall of BHS

    In this episode, Dani and Si dive into the rise and fall of British Home Stores (BHS), blending nostalgia with a sharp look at corporate responsibility and the changing high street.  They start with childhood memories of rainy Saturdays, fluorescent lighting, and the unmistakable smell of carpet and cafeteria food, before unpacking how a once-solid British institution, founded in 1928, collapsed in less than a century.  The conversation explores Sir Philip Green’s role in turning a healthy pension surplus into a £571 million deficit while extracting hundreds of millions for himself and his family, the controversial £1 sale to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell, and the devastating impact on employees, pensioners, and town centres across the UK.  Danny and Si also zoom out to the bigger picture: the rise of online shopping and fast fashion, the decline of anchor tenants on the high street, and the shift in consumer spending from “stuff” to experiences. With their usual mix of humour, clear explanation, and pointed opinion, they ask whether BHS was doomed by market forces alone -or whether greed and poor leadership sealed its fate. About Simon and Danielle: Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.  Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003. Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009. Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.  Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

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About

Welcome to Business and a Brew – the podcast where real conversations about business happen over a good drink. Hosted by Danielle and Simon, this show brings together two friends with years of shared experiences, lessons learned, and plenty of stories to tell. We’re here to explore the highs, lows, and in-betweens of business, from awkward challenges to unexpected victories. No topic is off the table – if it’s part of the entrepreneurial journey, we’re talking about it. Whether you’re looking for relatable advice, fresh perspectives, or just a laugh, you’ll find it here. Think of us as your business buddies, chatting over coffee (or something stronger), keeping it real and keeping you entertained. So, grab your brew of choice, tune in, and let’s get talking. Cheers!

Information

  • Creator
    Danielle Thompson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Business and a Brew
  • Show Website
    Business and a Brew