Confessions of an Entrepreneur

Hosted by Carl Swansbury

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May 2026

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Ever wondered what it really takes to succeed in business? Join Carl Swansbury, Partner and Head of Corporate Finance at Ryecroft Glenton, as he sits down with influential business leaders to explore the highs, the lows, and everything in between. From the best advice they’ve received to the toughest challenges they’ve faced, these candid conversations reveal the business acumen, strategies, and mindset that drive success. Each episode is filled with practical insights and fresh perspectives to inspire your business success.

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36 recent

May 26, 20261 hr 0 min

Chris Carroll: When Success Costs Your Health

In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with North East entrepreneur Chris Carroll, a founder who has built, scaled and sold multiple businesses, while navigating life-changing health challenges that completely reshaped his perspective on success, business and life itself.Chris shares his journey from leaving a secure role as a marketing executive within a large corporate environment to launching his first agency with a determination to create financial independence, not only for himself, but to make his family proud and remove the financial worries that so many people grow up around.From the very beginning, Chris bootstrapped his businesses, focusing relentlessly on generating revenue, winning clients and maintaining cash flow. He explains the importance of understanding what customers truly need and developing the sales skills required to turn solutions into sustainable businesses.Carl and Chris discuss the rapid growth of his first agency, which scaled to a team of 35 people, before Chris’s Crohn’s disease led to a near-fatal operation that forced him to completely reassess the way he worked and lived.What could have been a devastating ending instead became a catalyst for change. Chris speaks openly about how his health challenges transformed his outlook, leading him to prioritise time, sustainability and focusing only on opportunities that genuinely create value.The conversation also explores the importance of building strong leadership teams and recognising the value of hiring people with greater expertise than yourself. Chris explains how surrounding himself with experienced senior leaders has allowed him to step back from being involved in every aspect of the business and focus instead on strategy, growth and mentoring others.Throughout the episode, Chris reflects on the importance of self-belief in entrepreneurship, backing yourself fully while remaining humble enough to recognise that every day in business is an opportunity to learn.This is an honest and insightful episode about ambition, resilience and redefining success after adversity, offering powerful lessons for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.Connect with ChrisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispixel/Connect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

April 14, 20261 hr 8 min

David Lynch: From Bedroom Start-Up to 8 figure exit

In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with North East entrepreneur and investor David Lynch, a founder who built a business from his spare bedroom into a global healthcare manufacturing exporter, before successfully exiting for millions and going on to acquire and invest in multiple businesses. David shares his journey from leaving school with modest qualifications and struggling to find direction, to discovering a passion for healthcare and ultimately building Lynch Healthcare into a highly valuable, saleable business. Starting with borrowed money from family, David took the leap into entrepreneurship, driven by a desire to take control of his own future. Over the next decade, he scaled the business with focus and resilience, achieving his goal of selling before the age of 40 and securing financial independence. Carl and David discuss the realities of learning on the job, with David emphasising that while books and podcasts have their place, the most valuable lessons come from experience. That mindset has shaped his approach to business ever since. Following his exit, David has moved into a more acquisitive role, building a portfolio of businesses through M&A across sectors including healthcare, construction, engineering and facilities services. He shares how he has developed a clear playbook for identifying, acquiring and growing businesses, with a focus on creating long-term shareholder value. The conversation also explores the importance of time, family and purpose. While financial success has given David independence, his motivation now comes from continuing to build, invest and create, adding new chapters to his life and business journey. Known for his direct and no-nonsense approach, David speaks openly about the importance of honesty, clarity and cutting through unnecessary complexity in business, qualities that have underpinned his success to date. This is a grounded and insightful episode offering practical lessons on entrepreneurship, resilience and building a business that delivers both financial and personal fulfilment. Connect with David LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lynch-42147419/ Website: https://www.41kong.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

March 17, 202659 min

Ambition, Integrity and Building a Business With Purpose

In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with North East entrepreneur, author and CEO Sophie Milliken MBE, a founder who has built, scaled and successfully exited a business, and now dedicates much of her time to helping others achieve success in their own careers and ventures.Born and raised in the North East, Sophie shares the journey that led her to leave her role as Head of Graduate Recruitment at the John Lewis Partnership and return to the region to start her first business. What began as an entrepreneurial instinct soon developed into a fast-growing company, originally built with a business partner, which Sophie later sold to a private equity-backed acquirer.Sophie reflects on what that exit meant both financially and personally, and the realisation that the acquiring company’s purpose and direction differed from her own ambitions. After stepping away from the business, she went on to launch her next venture, Moja Group, where she now works with entrepreneurs and senior leaders to help them raise their profile and become recognised authorities in their industries.The conversation also explores Sophie’s experience as a single female founder and single mother, and the determination and sacrifices required to build a successful business while creating financial independence and opportunity for her daughter.Carl and Sophie discuss the challenges women can face in business, including moments earlier in her career where gender-based barriers were placed in her path. Sophie explains how confidence, experience and self-belief have enabled her to challenge those behaviours and advocate for change.Alongside running Moja, Sophie now dedicates significant time to supporting the North East business community. She serves as a non-executive director for a number of organisations and charities, including the North East Combined Authority and the Business and Innovation Centre, and is Chair of Smart Works North East, helping women across the region access opportunities through clothing, coaching and interview support.This inspiring episode explores ambition, resilience and the importance of staying true to your values in business. Sophie shares why integrity matters above all else and why success ultimately comes from being honest with yourself, backing your instincts and helping others succeed along the way.Connect with SophieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-milliken/Website: Sophie Milliken MBEhttps://thisismoja.comConnect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

February 26, 202652 min

The Apprentice’s Linda Plant: Confidence, Credibility and the Business Plan

In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with entrepreneur, investor and BBC The Apprentice interviewer Linda Plant - a business leader whose career spans decades of building, scaling and exiting companies across many sectors.Many will recognise Linda as Sir Alan Sugar’s trusted aide and one of the programme’s most formidable interviewers, but behind the television persona is a founder who started from humble beginnings running a market stall and went on to create a major international importing and retail business.Linda shares how those early experiences shaped her instincts in business, teaching her the importance of selling, understanding your product and believing in what you offer. From those foundations she scaled a global operation, later selling the company, buying it back and eventually taking it public; a journey that demanded resilience, focus and relentless determination.Carl and Linda discuss what truly makes a strong business plan, the traits she looks for when interviewing The Apprentice finalists, and why clarity and confidence are essential for any entrepreneur seeking investment or growth.The conversation also explores the importance of honesty and integrity in business, not overselling yourself, not pretending to be something or someone you’re not, and having the courage to back yourself fully when making decisions.Linda reflects on the power of authenticity, explaining that long-term success often comes from trusting your instincts, staying true to your values and presenting your real self to the world.This is an insightful and practical episode offering lessons from one of the UK’s most experienced entrepreneurs, covering confidence, credibility and the mindset required to build sustainable success.Connect with LindaLinkedIn: Linda Plant | LinkedInWebsite: Linda PlantConnect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

February 11, 20261 hr 3 min

Purpose Beyond the Exit

In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with serial entrepreneur, business coach and mentor Mike Ames, a founder who has built, scaled and exited multiple businesses worth tens of millions of pounds, and now dedicates his time to helping other entrepreneurs achieve their own value events. Mike shares his journey from launching and growing his first business through to its eventual sale, including the profound personal and professional challenge of losing his business partner and unexpectedly stepping into the CEO role. Forced to learn fast and lead through adversity, the experience shaped his leadership philosophy and approach to decision-making. Applying those lessons to his second venture, Crimson, Mike explains how relentless clarity and “focus, focus, focus” became the defining strategy behind scaling successfully. He reflects on the power of marginal gains, consistency and compounding improvement, doing the same things slightly better over time to produce dramatically different outcomes. The conversation also explores a side of entrepreneurship rarely spoken about openly: the emotional aftermath of a successful exit. Mike discusses the anticlimax of selling a business, the reality that financial success alone does not create fulfilment, and the importance of purpose beyond the balance sheet. In a candid discussion, Mike speaks honestly about work-life balance, and the sacrifices entrepreneurs sometimes only recognise in hindsight, particularly the time missed with family while building a business. Now working as a coach and advisor to founders scaling their companies, Mike emphasises the importance of having support around you - mentors, coaches, partners and peers - people who can challenge, guide and listen through both setbacks and wins. This thoughtful and honest episode offers practical and personal lessons for founders at every stage of their journey, from start-up to scale-up and beyond exit.Connect with MikeLinkedIn: (2) Mike Ames | LinkedInWebsite: https://www.flair.co.uk/Connect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

December 11, 20251 hr 5 min

Rebel With a Purpose

In this episode of ‘Confessions of a…’, Carl meets with businessman, politician, media commentator and charity campaigner, Andy Preston, an entrepreneur who places philanthropy and community at the heart of his personal ethos.Born in Middlesbrough, Andy has become one of the North East’s entrepreneurs who’s drive and enthusiasm for life and business, has not only made him successful, but helped him be in position to make important contributions to society.An investor in a number of start-up businesses and commercial property schemes, Andy has also had a career in politics, holding the position of Deputy Mayor of Tees Valley for Business Growth and the directly elected Mayor of Middlesbrough.After a career in the RAF, Andy studied at Edinburgh University before working as an international fund manager becoming involved in several charities before founding the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation in 2011.He launched his second charity, CEO Sleepout, in 2013 to alleviate homelessness and poverty, which continues to hold successful events across the country.Andy went on to launch a charity restaurant in Middlesbrough, The Fork in the Road, providing employment opportunities for ex-offenders, recovering addicts and long-term unemployed.As someone who hates to conform, likes to rebel or being told what to do, Andy has run his life to the beat of his own drum, which has been a fundamental part of his business and life success.Andy and Carl talk frankly about the decisions Andy has made in his life and the passion for helping people and his community that has driven him to never be satisfied with his achievements and strive for greater success that helps others, and all the activities that give him happiness.This is a very fascinating and revealing episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, which offers some interesting life and business lessons from an entrepreneur who’s wanted to achieve as much as possible, in as little time as possible, while taking nothing for granted.Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Preston | LinkedInWebsite: www.ceosleepout.co.ukConnect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=ukWebsite: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

December 3, 20251 hr 15 min

Confessions of a Reality Star Reborn: Anthony Hutton on Fame, Loss and Finding Purpose

In this episode of ‘Confessions of a…’, Carl discovers a unique, moving and inspiring story from entrepreneur and North East personality Anthony Hutton.Best known as the winner of TV’s Big Brother, Anthony has also had a successful career in business. From his humble beginnings in the North East, and despite not succeeding at school, he was always ambitious. With his heart set on a career as a professional footballer, which didn’t materialize he was looking for a break to set his life on a better path. That path led him to not only appearing on Channel 4’s Big Brother, but actually winning the programme, which was his clear objective from the moment he was accepted on the reality show.It gave him the platform he wanted for success. Although not knowing what success would look like, it did make him a celebrity. However, fame doesn’t always last, and in Anthony’s case it didn’t and caused him to lose pretty much everything. This was another opportunity in his life where Anthony learned from adversity while battling depression and personal trauma when cancer affected his family.He found a purpose by training to become a barber, building a business and a new support network, while also helping others who had experienced mental health issues as he had.This led to a new business, Never Throw In the Towel, to provide support and coaching for people with mental health challenges.Anthony’s open and honest conversation with Carl offers real insight into his personal and professional challenges, which makes for a fascinating listening experience, offering both inspiration and plenty of food for thought.Connect with AnthonyLinkedIn: Anthony Hutton | LinkedInWebsite: Never Throw In The Towel Project | Darlington | FacebookConnect with CarlLinkedIn: Carl Swansbury FCA | LinkedInWebsite: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

September 23, 20251 hr 12 min

Driven by purpose: Kevin Fasting’s story of resilience

In this episode of ‘Confessions of a…’ Carl sits down with Kevin Fasting to discover an entrepreneurial story that is weighted heavily by selflessness and influenced by a tragic family experience.Born and raised in Liverpool, serial entrepreneur Kevin has founded and invested in a large portfolio of businesses, also supporting a number of first-time founders in building their enterprises. His businesses include recruitment, technology and legal firms under the banner of the Kevin Edward Group.Kevin’s story is one of optimism and hard work, which has been motivated by his ‘why’ - to support and provide for the people around him.With a working-class upbringing in 1980s Liverpool, Kevin’s background has shaped his outlook, working hard to be able to give his family a better life.Thinking it might be football that would give him the route to success, Kevin found, when that didn’t materialise, a new way to achieve his ‘why’ to progress beyond his surroundings, leaving for university to gain new skills and experiences.However, during his first year at Leeds Beckett University, Kevin’s dad, who he held up as his hero, and had always suffered with his mental health, went missing. More than 20 years later he still hasn’t been found.A job in recruitment, which led to him becoming managing director of a 40-strong division within a year, was followed by setting up his own recruitment business. The original motivation was to generates funds from this business to advertise on bus stops to bring his dad home, and subsequently to help his mum and other family members retire.Kevin takes Carl on an intimate and fascinating journey through his life and career, revealing important lessons that he’s applied to his entrepreneurial journey and helped him through his personal challenges.This moving and highly insightful episode offers inspiration and insight for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who can benefit from hearing Kevin’s experiences and motivations.Connect with KevinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfasting/Website: https://kevinedwardgroup.com/Connect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=ukWebsite: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

August 19, 20251 hr 14 min

Against the Odds: ADHD, Adversity & Ambition

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with global recruitment specialist Steve Rawlingson. Founder of Samuel Knight, Steve overcame a challenging childhood to become a trailblazer in the recruitment industry, carving a significant niche in the international renewable energy sector. He has embraced ADHD as a ‘superpower’ to drive him to the success he is achieving and talks frankly about how the condition impacts and influences his life, and entrepreneurial spirit. Having left school with no qualifications and little idea of the direction he wanted to take, Steve opens up about the decisions he made and the opportunities that enabled him to set up, scale and grow his international business, including securing significant investment from private equity firm, Gresham House Ventures. In this fascinating episode Steve reveals his ‘why’ and what drives him, balancing business with being a dad, and, and how despite having not gained a single GCSE, his latest achievement, which is an academic one, is one of his proudest. Carl and Steve also delve into what makes an entrepreneur and how to overcome challenges to build businesses and achieve personal and professional success. This insightful and engaging episode is a must listen for anyone that is scaling up their own business and shows how self-belief, resilience and challenging yourself can drive entrepreneurs to success. Connect with Steve LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenrawlingson/ Website: https://www.samuel-knight.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

August 5, 20251 hr 15 min

Paul Lancaster: The Super Connector inspiring start-up & scale-up growth

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with the North East ‘super connector’ Paul Lancaster.The man behind the hugely successful UK Start Up and Scale Up Week, held earlier this year, Paul is a highly charged entrepreneur, driven to help others succeed in business.Focussed, creative, tenacious and brave, all of Paul’s career has been focussed on starting up, scaling and developing different businesses, across a range of sectors, whilst helping other entrepreneurs do the same.Having led a top-level early career working for corporate organisations such as Sage and British Airways, alongside privately owned firms including Nigel Wright Recruitment, Paul has also been involved in a number of start-up enterprises, including his current business, Stellar Business Events.Established in 2024, alongside North East-based investor and former ‘Confessions’ guest, Neil Stephenson, the business, organises a wide range of networking and knowledge-filled events, across the North and Scotland, all designed to support and inspire entrepreneurs.During their chat, Carl delves into what inspires Paul to inspire others and what he believes successful entrepreneurs have in common. This is a truly fascinating, thought provoking and engaging podcast, highlighting the lessons Paul’s learnt when scaling many businesses, which he now shares with other likeminded entrepreneurs, along with the importance of network and strategic business development.This is a must-listen episode for any aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, as well as those scaling their enterprise.Connect with PaulLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lordlancaster/Website: https://ukstartupweek.com/Connect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=ukWebsite: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.