Stripping Off with Matt Haycox

Hosted by Matt Haycox

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274

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May 2026

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About the show

Welcome to 'Stripping Off with Matt Haycox,' where we bare it all on business, money, and life. Get ready to peel back the layers of success with entrepreneur, investor, funding expert, and mentor with over 20 years of experience building and growing businesses, Matt Haycox. Tune into steamy conversations with industry titans, celebrities, and successful entrepreneurs as they strip down their stories of triumphs, setbacks, and the raw realities of their journey to the top. Matt is going down on business, money, and life, and will take DMCs to new heights!

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May 27, 202632 min

The Fitness Coach Who Suffered from Bulimia for 30 Years | Scott Harrison

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!The fitness coach who spent 30 years hiding the secret that started it all.Scott Harrison built one of the world's biggest online fitness programmes - 77 countries, tens of thousands of participants, a 100% success rate across chronic illness. But behind the results was a man who had been badly bullied at 13, carried an eating disorder through marriage and fatherhood, went through divorce, and lost a son. In this episode he strips it all back: where the darkness came from, how long he carried it, and why he wouldn't change any of it.We also get into the fitness myths Scott has spent eight years dismantling. Why calorie deficit is the wrong focus, how you can party twice a week and still keep your results, what food actually does to your hormones, and what it really took to turn Rylan Clark from a malnourished nine stone into the person he became. One of the most honest conversations we've had on Stripping Off.Chapters0:00 - Coming Up0:05 - Intro0:48 - A Life Changer in Fitness, Nutrition & Mindset2:37 - The Six Pack Revolution Programme4:06 - Why Calorie Deficit Is the Wrong Approach6:07 - How to Get Drunk AND Have a Six Pack!7:02 - Extreme Fat Loss Results. 100% Success Rate10:10 - What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Starting?12:45 - How Food Rebalances Your Hormones15:44 - Bulimia18:44 - Martial Arts, Discipline and the Ripple Effect22:02 - Fitness Myths Debunked28:25 - Training Rylan Clark and Elite Athletes29:10 - Inside the Six Pack Revolution31:25 - Final ThoughtsFollow Scott HarrisonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamscottharrison/Website: https://thesixpackrevolution.com/ Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe to Stripping Off with Matt Haycox and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more people find the show.

May 24, 202651 min

Sexual Abuse at 4, Pregnant at 14, Prison at 17 | Natalie Russell's Story

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!In this compelling episode of Stripping Off with Matt Haycox, Matt sits down with Natalie Russell, a self-esteem and relationship recovery coach whose incredible story is one of resilience and transformation. Facing a life of abuse, addiction, prison, and toxic relationships, Natalie has endured unimaginable hardship. But instead of letting her past define her, she’s used her journey to inspire others and empower herself to become a role model for breaking generational cycles of pain.Natalie’s story will resonate with anyone who’s experienced adversity, whether it’s in relationships, personal growth, or addiction recovery. She shares the inner resolve it takes to walk away from toxicity and the process of healing that she calls “learning to love the woman that I am.” As Natalie so powerfully states, “If I can’t find a decent man, I’m sure as hell going to raise two.”This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to break free and create a life of purpose.Chapters0:00 - Coming Up0:17 - Intro0:36 - Natalie's Background6:32 - Smoking Cigarettes, Self Harming, Sexual Abuse11:22 - Self-Harming Motivation13:01 - Pregnancy at 14 from Sexual Assault15:38 - Leaving her Dad's house17:15 - Prison 5 Times by 2220:36 - Out of Prison and Swearing Off Drugs23:57 - Moving into the YMCA for a Fresh Start27:50 - Are You Fighting Back?29:56 - Lacking the Ability to Say No32:28 - The Turning Point for a New Life36:39 - Becoming a Relationship Coach37:39 - Common Traits in Clients39:54 - Why do girls pick the bad boys?42:45 - Toxic Relationships & Advice on Getting Out47:30 - Stand Out Client Stories49:25 - What does the Future hold?50:34 - Final ThoughtsFollow Natalie RussellInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamnatalierussell/Website: https://www.natalierussell.uk/ Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe to Stripping Off with Matt Haycox and leave a ★★★★☆ review on Apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout – it really helps others find us!

May 20, 202646 min

The Gladiator Mindset: How to Win When Everything's Against You | Dariush Soudi

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!The Gladiator Mindset. Two heart attacks, £100 million lost, and 20 years learned the hard way. Then $700 in his pocket, everyone had given up, and Dubai was supposed to be a fresh start.Dariush Soudi built and lost empires - gyms, tech companies, franchises - before arriving in Dubai broke, broken, and starting again from scratch.In this conversation with Matt Haycox, Dariush breaks down what doing it the hard way really costs you, why most people are conditioned to lose before they even start, and how walking into every room like a gladiator became the philosophy that rebuilt everything.Chapters0:00 - Coming Up0:16 - Intro0:49 - Dariush's Childhood5:38 - Future and Career Prospects as a Child9:51 - Why did your family move to England?10:20 - Skiving A-Levels11:20 - Going into Sales, Working Hard, Becoming a Natural12:26 - Biggest Mistakes You've Made in Sales16:03 - Dariush as a Parent - Anger Issues, In and Out of Prison in England Growing Up17:24 - Dubai Jail22:46 - Sales Career in Dariush's 20s28:16 - Dodgy Business Partners and Heart Attack from Stress33:36 - Arriving to Dubai with No Money37:05 - The Origin of 'Gladiator'39:16 - Selling Events46:04 - Why Dariush Does What He Does47:52 - Final ThoughtsFollow Dariush SoudiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariushsoudiofficial/?hl=enWebsite: https://dariushsoudi.com/ Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe to Stripping Off with Matt Haycox and leave a ★★★★☆ review on Apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout – it really helps others find us!

May 17, 20261 hr 19 min

He Beat Sampras at 19, Then Lost Millions & Hit Rock Bottom | Mark Philippoussis

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!Most people remember the highlights: the serve, the swagger, the Wimbledon final, the Davis Cup hero moments.They don’t remember what it costs.In this episode, Mark Philippoussis gets brutally honest about what happens when you get big money young (a multi-million FILA deal at 17), hit world-stopping highs (beating world #1 Pete Sampras at 19), then your body breaks, your career ends without your permission, and you’re left dealing with the fallout, mentally, financially, and personally. What you’ll learn in this episodeThe reality of making serious money at 17, and how it changes you. The mindset of a teenager taking down Pete Sampras (and why “no one expects you to win” can be a weapon). Comebacks aren’t motivational quotes, they’re rehab, dark days, and doing the work when no one’s watching. What forced retirement does to your identity (especially when you never chose it). Losing millions, making mistakes, and why asking “stupid questions” is how you get smart with money. Mark’s daily high-performance routine (the “20-20-20” first hour) and how he sets long-term + daily goals. Timestamps0:00 – Intro1:13 – Coming Up3:03 – The accidental start to a world-class career 10:30 – Signing a multi-million dollar contract at 17 18:35 – How a 19-year-old took down Pete Sampras 29:49 – 1999 Davis Cup: crowd pressure, nerves, and delivering anyway 32:36 – Wimbledon final (and the comeback year people forget) 38:27 – Knee surgeries, pain, and being told “you’ll never play again” 48:35 – Losing millions: mistakes, lessons, and rebuilding smarter 57:09 – Forced retirement (and falling out of love with the sport) 59:31 – Battling depression during the darkest stretch 01:07:47 – Why losing everything became the turning point01:12:29 – The “20-20-20” high-performance formula + journaling routine 01:20:32 – Final ThoughtsEnjoyed this episode? Please subscribe to Stripping Off with Matt Haycox and leave a ★★★★☆ review on Apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout – it really helps others find us!

May 13, 202635 min

Dapper Laughs CANCELLED - Setting the Record Straight

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!The press didn't just cancel Dapper Laughs. They tried to bury him.Dapper Laughs (Dan O'Reilly) was one of the first comedy influencers in the UK, built millions of followers from Vine to Facebook before TikTok existed, landed a TV show on ITV2, then watched it all collapse overnight. A press campaign branded him pro-r*pe, 60,000 people signed a petition, venues pulled out, promoters walked, and even the small comedy clubs wouldn't touch him. He lost the show, the tour, the money, the house, and his father... all around the same time.In this conversation, Dan gets into the stuff most people only talk about once they're through it: what cancellation actually does to your mental health, how addiction crept in when the work dried up, and how sobriety, grief, and a brutal boxing regime became the foundation of a comeback nobody saw coming. He's now 1000+ days sober, on his biggest ever tour, turning his mental health platform into a registered charity, and writing his first original screenplay. The industry that blacklisted him can't ignore him anymore. Chapters0:00 - Coming Up0:14 - Intro0:31 - From Vine to ITV to Cancelled6:04 - Rock Bottom, Addiction, Loss and Nearly Losing His Life7:40 - Life on the Other Side of the Drink9:37 - The Turning Point: Grief, Audience and Mindset11:53 - Character Creation & Testing Material15:02 - Building a Brand They Couldn't Cancel19:22 - How Fatherhood and Sobriety Changed Everything20:55 - Why He Stopped Apologising for His Comedy22:53 - Two Films and How He Gamed Amazon to Go Number One26:57 - Boxing, Sobriety and Silencing the Voice30:43 - The One Thing That Could Still Break Him31:59 - The Friends He Lost When He Stopped Saying Yes34:31 - What's Next and Final ThoughtsFollow Dapper LaughsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dappersinstagram/Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe to Stripping Off with Matt Haycox and leave a ★★★★☆ review on Apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout – it really helps others find us!

May 11, 20261 hr 25 min

STARDOM to Roofing: Fame, Money & Career Collapse | East 17’s John Hendy

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!East 17 were everywhere in the 90s — chart hits, global tours, magazine covers, and a level of fame that most people can’t imagine.In this episode, Matt Haycox sits down with John Hendy (East 17) to talk about the real story behind the headlines: how the band formed as four lads from Walthamstow (E17), how it went from “normal life” to Top of the Pops in months, the record deals and the money reality, and the internal tension that comes when fame moves faster than maturity.John opens up on the moments fans still argue about: “Stay Another Day,” the Take That rivalry era, the Brian Harvey scandal and its fallout, and what it’s like to watch your career change overnight, then end up back doing normal graft again.If you grew up on 90s pop, or you’re fascinated by what fame does to people, this is a proper behind-the-scenes listen.Chapters:0:00 – East 17: The Real Story Begins0:32 – From E17 to Fame (Fast)1:00 – How East 17 Formed (Tom Watkins Connection)8:06 – First Deal, First Shock (Money Reality)13:25 – Hits, Tours & Chaos Behind the Scenes18:07 – The Bidding War… and “£200 a Week”27:15 – Band Tension + Who Really Got Paid29:29 – Stay Another Day: What Really Happened34:40 – The Peak: Icon Moments & Global Fame40:30 – Take That, Robbie & the 90s Rivalry42:26 – Brian Harvey: The Scandal That Changed Everything54:50 – Tony Quits (The Lawyer Letter)58:41 – The Comeback Attempt… Then Dropped Again01:05:51 – Back to Roofing (Life After Fame)01:11:22 – Why He Moved to Spain01:16:47 – Rock Bottom, Family, and Perspective01:20:26 – Will East 17 Ever Reunite?01:22:09 – Final ThoughtsFollow John: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnhendyeast17_official/ Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe to Stripping Off with Matt Haycox and leave a ★★★★☆ review on Apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout – it really helps others find us!

May 10, 202632 min

Dubai’s Billionaire Matchmaker: $350k To Find “The One”

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!Dubai dating is a different planet. In this episode, Matt sits down with Christiana Maxion, a high-net-worth matchmaker who works with wealthy men looking for a serious partner, and charges $65,000 to $350,000 to do it. They get into the brutal reality of “transactional” dating, where people say they want respect, while negotiating the relationship like a deal. Christiana explains why every relationship is transactional (money, emotions, sex, status, pick your currency), and why the real difference is the standard you hold and the environment you keep putting yourself in. Then it turns into pure business: how her offline matchmaking agency works (vetting, background checks, concierge dates, feedback loops), what “success” actually means, and how she’s scaling it with MAX, a “matchmaking app” built to stop people wasting their lives in DMs and get them to the first date faster. You’ll hear Matt & Christiana talk about:Why Dubai dating feels pay-to-play, and how to avoid ending up in the same loop. The real reason men pay $65k–$350k for matchmaking (hint: it’s not romance, it’s time). What her process actually looks like: vetting, alignment, concierge dates, and feedback. “Delusional” requirements (and the fastest way to ruin your dating life). How she built MAX: subscriptions, verification, compatibility matching, and auto-booked first dates. The business model behind a matchmaking agency (and why referrals are the real growth engine). Why she’s building separate matchmaking “portals” (expats, India, Muslim marriages) and expanding across the GCC. Timestamps:0:00 – Dubai dating is “transactional” (and why) 6:29 – “Every relationship is transactional” (standards vs expectations) 7:38 – How she started “Dating in Dubai” and got fired for it 9:26 – “I’m going to solve dating in Dubai” → launching matchmaking 10:13 – Why she only represents men + the 40,000-women database 11:03 – The pricing: $65k–$350k + what “success” means 13:38 – The “delusional age range” problem (and why it fails) 19:33 – MAX: paid subscriptions + passport/LinkedIn verification 20:37 – Why swiping broke dating + how MAX gets you to a real date 27:35 – App growth: UAE applications, active users, revenue 30:09 – A real success story (and a brutal horror story) 35:52 – What she’s building next (GCC expansion + new portals) 37:10 – Where to find Christiana + MAX Follow Christiana MaxionInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/christiana.maxion.matchmaker/Website: https://christianamaxion.comApp: Maxion (available on the App Store)Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe to Stripping Off with Matt Haycox and leave a ★★★★☆ review on Apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout – it really helps others find us!

May 6, 202635 min

I Haven’t Worked In 10 Years: Rob Lipsett’s 7-Figure YouTube Blueprint

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!Rob Lipsett says he hasn’t worked in 10 years, and he’s not saying that to flex. He’s saying it because he built a business that doesn’t rely on motivation, luck, or going viral. It relies on systems, content that ranks, and products people actually buy.In this episode, Rob sits down with Matt to break down the real playbook behind his seven-figure fitness brand: how he started from zero, learned YouTube properly, and built an ecosystem that turns attention into income, without burning out or relying on one platform.They go deep on what most creators and early-stage founders get wrong: thinking ads will make them rich, ignoring titles and thumbnails, and never building an offer that converts. Rob also shares his blunt views on market “saturation”, what biohacking actually does (and doesn’t) do, and how real estate became part of his long-term legacy plan.If you’re building a personal brand, trying to escape the 9–5, or wondering how creators actually make real money, this episode will save you years of guessing.You’ll hear Rob and Matt talk about:Why “market saturation” is a good thing (and why most people use it as an excuse). The real formula: titles + thumbnails + the first 15 seconds. How Rob went from early YouTube to a seven-figure business model. Why ads aren’t the business — your product is. Building an ecosystem: apps, partnerships, and offers that don’t depend on “posting more”.Supplements and biohacking: what’s real, what’s hype, and what to ignore. Real estate, Villa Lipsett, and how influence creates unexpected opportunities.Timestamps 0:00 – Intro 1:04 – Coming Up 2:16 – Ireland’s First Fitness YouTuber 6:08 – Educational Background & Turning a Hobby into a Career 8:15 – Mastering the YouTube Algorithm & Starting from Zero 14:25 – From 9–5 Grind to Seven Figures 24:49 – Content Strategy 29:37 – Building the Ecosystem: Apps & Brand Partnerships 35:57 – Converting Followers into Sustainable Revenue 38:54 – Biohacking Realities & The Truth About Supplements 40:47 – Adapting as Your Audience Matures 43:05 – Real Estate & The Villa Lipsett Project 48:16 – The Future of Fitness & Building a Legacy 52:56 – Final ThoughtsResources & Links:Instagram @roblipsettBuzzsprout/Podcast: Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts: https://strippingoffwithmatthaycox.buzzsprout.comFollow Stripping Off on YouTubeEnjoyed this episode? Please subscribe to Stripping Off with Matt Haycox and leave a ★★★★☆ review on Apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout – it really helps others find us!

May 3, 202627 min

Inflation, Government Debt, and Why We're All Just Pawns | Spencer Lodge

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!Most people feel inflation, Spencer Lodge has lived inside it - across four countries, three decades, and more than one economic collapse. In this conversation with Matt Haycox, Spencer breaks down what actually causes inflation, why printing money is the oldest con in the book, and whether the UK is closer to bankruptcy than anyone in power will admit.One of the more clear eyed conversations we have had on Stripping Off.Chapters0:00 - Coming Up0:15 - Intro0:37 - Spencer Lodge1:05 - What Brought Spencer to Dubai2:03 - The 4am Gym Routine3:12 - Spinal Surgery and Getting Back to Fitness4:28 - How Training Affects Every Part of His Life6:06 - Spencer's Take on the Inflation Crisis10:46 - How Do You Actually Reverse Inflation?12:23 - How Do You Fix a Country's Debt?16:57 - Can a country go bankrupt?18:55 - The Human Trafficking Documentary22:00 - Four Years of Podcasting26:18 - Final ThoughtsFollow Spencer Lodge:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/Website: https://www.spencerlodge.tv/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV

March 17, 202629 min

The REAL James Lock: What TOWIE Never Showed You

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!Most people know James “Lockie” Locke from TOWIE. But the version the public sees isn’t the one he lives with every day.In this conversation, James opens up about growing up in a broken home, the emotional walls he built to survive, and how those same walls later destroyed his friendships, relationships and sense of identity. He talks honestly about being judged, misunderstood, and constantly performing a version of himself that never felt real.James reveals the truth behind his dating breakdowns, life after separation, business failures, and being labelled “the fall guy.” He shares the pressure to stay in shape while suffering body dysmorphia, the impact of fame on his mental health, and why stepping away from TOWIE wasn’t a career move, it was a life decision.James Lock Timestamps0:00 - Coming Up0:03 - Intro0:26 - Growing Up Without His Mum4:03 - The Double-Edged Sword of Being Self-Aware5:33 - Learning to Say No7:39 - James Over-Invests in Relationships and Knows It9:52 - Failed Businesses, Bad Partners and Always Being the Fall Guy13:04 - The Truth About Fitness & Discipline14:56 - Lockie's Fitness App16:44 - Body Dysmorphia19:23 - Anxiety, Overthinking, and Stopping Giving a F***22:47 - From Reality TV to Films?26:51 - The Reality of Celebrity Ex on the Beach28:06 - What's Next for Lockie?29:13 - Final Thoughts📲 Subscribe: YouTube: @NoBollocksPodcast | Spotify | AppleListen weekly on Stripping Off with Matt Haycox:📲 Follow on IG: /www.instagram.com/strippingoffwithmatthaycox💼 Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thematthaycox🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@strippingoffpodcast