Confessions of a CEO

In this short end-of-season episode of Confessions of a…, Carl Swansbury takes a moment to say thank you to everyone who has tuned in, listened, shared and supported the podcast over the past year. Across the 2025 season, Confessions of a… has welcomed an inspiring mix of founders, leaders and entrepreneurs, each sharing their stories with honesty, humility and insight. This wrap-up episode brings together some of the standout moments and key lessons from the year, offering a snapshot of the ideas that have resonated most with listeners. We hear from Sara Davies on the reality of work–life balance and the importance of letting go of perfection, reminding us that life and business are a constant compromise, and that’s okay. Bill Scott reflects on why culture is the thing he is most proud of, reinforcing the idea that successful businesses are ultimately built around people. Kevin Fasting shares a powerful perspective on forgiveness and empathy in leadership, speaking candidly about maturity, compassion and the belief that people can change. Nigel Mills then brings the focus back to strategy, longevity and adaptability, highlighting the need to stay one step ahead in an ever-changing business landscape. The episode also revisits Helen Trueman-Howe’s honest reflection on redundancy as a catalyst for change, showing how adversity can often be the push that leads to growth, reinvention and new opportunity. The montage closes with Gary Goldsmith’s bold reminder that not fitting in can be a superpower, leaving listeners with a strong message about authenticity, individuality and embracing what makes you different.Together, these moments capture the heart of Confessions of a… – real conversations, real experiences and practical lessons from people who have built, led and learned along the way. As the podcast looks ahead to the 2026 season, Confessions of a… will continue to explore the realities of leadership, entrepreneurship and growth, with more honest conversations, fresh perspectives and new voices from across the business community. Carl and his team are already lining up a strong slate of guests, and the aim remains the same, to create space for thoughtful reflection, practical insight and stories that resonate long after the microphones are switched off. Whether you’ve followed every episode or dipped in along the way, thank you for being part of the Confessions of a… journey. Carl looks forward to welcoming you back for the next chapter in 2026.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.

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.

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.

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.

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.