Beyond Business

In this episode of Beyond Business, Josh sits down with Davide Pagnotta, CEO of Wise Humanity and creator of Hubie, an AI-powered emotional intelligence coach for individuals and teams.Davide’s journey spans physics, corporate leadership, company collapse, and ultimately building a platform designed to solve one of the biggest silent problems in modern work: emotional friction.We unpack:Why companies fail when people don’t feel safe asking for helpHow workplace culture shapes performance more than strategyThe difference between individual failure and system failureWhy emotional intelligence isn’t “soft” — it’s structuralHow micro-habits create lasting behavioral changeAnd why everyone is doing the best they can with the tools they haveDavide also shares the personal story that shaped his philosophy — from growing up with zero emotional filters to developing radical empathy as a leadership superpower.If you’re a founder, leader, or operator who wants better performance without burning people out, this conversation will rewire how you think about work, teams, and yourself.

In this episode of Beyond Business, Josh sits down with Tom Bodell, founder of Elevation Station, to explore what really happens when you strip away job titles, corporate safety nets, and excuses.Tom shares how working for yourself exposes the parts of your personality you can hide in corporate life — and why emotional intelligence, self-honesty, and purpose are non-negotiable if you want to grow as a professional and a human being.They discuss:Why personal development starts with managing yourselfEmotional intelligence as a learned skill, not a buzzwordHow trainers and leaders should take responsibility for attentionThe danger of ego-driven “self-help” advicePurpose, identity, and asking better questionsWhy people can’t be “fixed” — only helped, if they want itThis is a long-form, honest conversation about purpose over tactics, growth over performance, and why becoming the right person matters more than chasing the next system.

In this episode of Beyond Business, Josh sits down with Hector and Tommy, founders of Mera, a company rethinking what “team building” actually means.Forget forced fun, trust falls, and pub-heavy offsites. Mera uses nature, shared hardship, and psychology-backed reflection to build real trust, deeper communication, and stronger teams — especially in a remote-first world.We explore:Why nature is the ultimate equaliser (no job titles in the mountains)How shared discomfort creates bonds Zoom never canThe psychology behind trust, connection, and performanceWhy team connection should be a core business investment, not a “nice to have”The misconception that team building is just a fun day outHow long-term, repeat experiences outperform one-off offsitesIf you care about performance, retention, culture, and building teams that actually work — this conversation will change how you think about business.

What happens when success no longer feels successful?In this episode of Beyond Business, Josh sits down with Charles McLachlan, a pioneer in helping senior corporate leaders escape high-paying but unfulfilling careers and transition into work that offers freedom, joy, and long-term sustainability.Charles shares why the traditional corporate promise is broken, how senior leaders often become trapped by “golden handcuffs,” and why the future of work belongs to wisdom workers—experienced leaders who bring insight, perspective, and presence rather than grinding 60-hour weeks.They explore:Why corporate life can mirror unhealthy dependency cyclesThe rise of portfolio careers and part-time executive leadershipThe mindset shifts required to move from employee to value creatorWhy fulfillment, not status, is the real measure of successHow leaders over 50 can build meaningful, well-paid work into their 70sThis is a powerful conversation for executives, founders, and ambitious professionals questioning whether the traditional career path is really worth it anymore.

Mo Kanjilal — founder of Edge of Difference, TEDx speaker, author and inclusion strategist working with tech and gaming teams.Mo breaks down the uncomfortable truth:most companies say they want inclusion, but their systems aren’t built for it.We talk about:Why “DEI” as a buzzword shuts people downHow to build inclusion into hiring, leadership and everyday behaviourWhy measurement, consistency and long-term programs matter more than workshopsThe risk of AI amplifying bias when the teams building it lack diversityWhat tech and gaming companies keep getting wrongThe real stories — including grassroots football — that show inclusion done wellWhy the next generation will force leaders to change, whether they want to or notPractical, challenging and full of insights leaders can apply immediately.

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Burden, Executive & Artistic Director of the legendary Natural Theatre Company — one of the world’s oldest interactive theatre companies, founded in 1970.I came into this conversation knowing nothing about the theatre world… and left with an entirely new level of respect for the craft, the business model, and the leadership behind it.We talk about:• How Andy saved a 50-year-old organisation after losing all Arts Council funding• Why everything they do — heritage shows, immersive experiences, school workshops, corporate training — is the same core skill wrapped differently• What actually makes theatre impactful (it’s not the metrics you think)• Why change feels exciting and terrifying at the same time• The biggest misconception about working in the arts• What corporate teams learn from immersive theatre without even realising it• How they measure success through resonance, emotion & repeat clients — not vanity numbers• And the surprising challenges of leading a creative organisation through crises, reviews, and reinventionThis one is full of insights on leadership, value, decision-making, and human communication — all told through the lens of someone who has rebuilt a historic organisation while preserving its DNA.If you work with people, lead teams, or simply enjoy hearing how niche industries survive and evolve… you’ll love this episode.

In this episode of Beyond Business, Josh sits down with Kirk Kinnell — one of the UK’s most experienced hostage negotiators and a global advisor on high-stakes conflict resolution. With 30 years in armed policing, counter-terror operations, and crisis negotiations, Kirk has handled conversations that 99% of people will never experience — conversations where a single wrong word can cost a life.Now working with global corporations, governments, and humanitarian organisations, Kirk brings the psychology, neuroscience, and discipline of hostage negotiation into the world of business. From contract disputes to billion-pound deals, his team helps leaders think clearly under pressure, shift the balance of power, and create outcomes where both sides walk away feeling understood.In this powerful conversation, Kirk reveals what business people can learn from crisis situations, why empathy is the strongest negotiation tool on earth, how pressure paralyzes people (and how to prevent it), and why authenticity beats tactics every time. Whether you're closing deals, managing relationships, or leading teams — this episode will upgrade the way you communicate forever.

In this episode of Beyond Business, Josh sits down with Roxanne Taku and Joana Rocha — co-founders of Tech Talk and ResLink, two platforms transforming how people enter the tech world and how companies find real talent.Roxanne and Joana have helped more than 300 people land roles across startups and big tech, without relying on coding backgrounds. Their one-to-one coaching has an 85% success rate, and their new product, ResLink, is putting the human element back into a hiring world dominated by AI.We dive deep into:Why hiring is fundamentally broken todayThe rise of “AI vs AI” applicationsHow video resumes are outperforming traditional CVsThe mindset behind breaking limiting beliefsWhat it really takes to pivot into techTheir founder journey building a SaaS product from scratchWhy soft skills will always matterIf you're exploring tech careers, building your personal brand, or launching something from scratch — this conversation delivers clarity, strategy, and real inspiration.

In this powerful episode of Beyond Business, I sit down with personal branding coach and mindset mentor Kian Richards for a deep dive into the psychology of success, fear, discipline and purpose.From escaping the 9–5, to stepping out of your comfort zone, to finding your true “why,” this episode breaks down the real internal battles entrepreneurs face when chasing big goals — and how to overcome them.Kian shares raw stories from his upbringing, the mindset shift that changed his life, and the frameworks he uses to coach young founders into becoming leaders of both their business and themselves.If you struggle with self-image, discipline, fear of failure, overwhelm, or inconsistency — this conversation might genuinely change the trajectory of your life.

This week on Beyond Business, Lucia Tanner — founder of Emmeline Consultancy — about what it really takes to build people-first organisations.From helping a tech company grow from 70 to 1,200 employees to launching her own consultancy, Lucia has seen how empathy, culture, and leadership shape the success of any business.She shares her honest take on:-- Balancing business growth with human connection- Starting her own HR consultancy- Why trusting your instincts and values always pays offA brilliant reminder that “soft skills” are actually the strongest ones.