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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19:42
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19:42
A Bird's Eye View on Frozen Foods
Clarence Birdseye wasn’t just a guy with a name that sounds made-up; he was the biologist who turned frozen food from a sad soggy mess into a global game-changer. After dropping out of college and spending time ice fishing in Labrador (because of course he did), he clocked that fish frozen quickly in extreme cold stayed fresh and tasty. And just like that, flash-freezing was born.There were a few hiccups, obviously. Most households didn’t even have freezers, and shipping frozen food was a logistical nightmare. But Clarence was all in. He invented wild bits of kit like the double belt freezer and multi-plate freezer, making sure your peas stayed perfectly green.His first business flopped in 1924, but just five years later he sold it for a very casual $22 million. Fast forward to 1956, and Birds Eye had become a household name, launching fish fingers that convinced kids everywhere to eat fish without the drama.It’s a cracking tale of frozen dreams, clever inventions, and one very persistent bloke. Pop the kettle on and join us for a story that’s cooler than you’d expect.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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12:51
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12:51
Goldspun Support - Danielle Thompson
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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23:20
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23:20
The death and resurrection of Kodak
Kodak’s story is the business version of “you had one job.” They gave the world the Box Brownie, the first colour film, and basically made photography a household thing. Founded in 1880 by George Eastman, they were the dogs bollocks of the camera world... until they weren’t.Fast forward to 1975 and one of their own engineers, Steve Sasson, invents the very first digital camera. Total game-changer. But Kodak? They shoved it in a drawer. Why? Because they didn’t want to mess with their precious film sales. Even after their own research said digital would take over in ten years, they still did… nothing.What followed was a slow, painful fall from the top. While everyone else jumped on the digital train, Kodak stayed stuck in the past. Think Blockbuster vs Netflix vibes- same energy.This one’s full of corporate facepalms, missed opportunities, and a reminder that playing it safe can cost you everything. Pop the kettle on and join us for a chat about the brand that blinked and missed the future. Here's how not to run your empire.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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17:43
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17:43
DePuy or Not DePuy: When Medical Devices Go Very, Very Wrong
Things took a darker turn with the story of DePuy’s ASR hip replacements, a medical device that promised mobility but ended up causing chaos inside the body.The ASR model used an all-metal design, which turned out to be a massive problem. Over time, metal debris would shed into the bloodstream, leading to serious health issues like metallosis, pseudo tumours, and even cognitive decline. The worst part? It skipped the usual rigorous safety checks thanks to a fast-track approval route known as the 510(k) pathway.By 2008, more than 100,000 of these devices had been implanted around the world, raking in over $1 billion in sales. But the fallout was huge. Thousands of patients suffered, and DePuy eventually had to pay out $2.5 billion in settlements.It’s a case that raises big questions about medical ethics, corporate responsibility, and how something so dangerous made it into so many bodies. 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.
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!
UK