What It Takes with Olly Fawcett

Kirk Haworth has been through every challenge the hospitality industry can throw at someone.From training in some of the world’s best kitchens, to having his career completely stopped by chronic illness, to rebuilding everything from the ground up.In this episode, Kirk shares what it actually takes to operate at the highest level in hospitality and what happens when that level comes at a cost.We go into the realities of kitchen culture, the physical toll of the industry, and the moments that force you to rethink everything. You'll learn about standards, pressure, and what it really means to start again when you’ve already put years into something.Chapters:00:00 Who is Kirk Haworth?01:15 Early career in top kitchens04:30 The reality of kitchen culture07:10 Pressure, standards, and leadership in hospitality10:45 When health started breaking down14:20 Working through chronic pain and fatigue18:05 The moment everything collapsed21:30 Hitting rock bottom mentally25:10 Rebuilding from zero29:40 Rethinking food, health, and performance33:15 Starting again with a new philosophy37:20 Building Plates and a new kind of kitchen41:50 The future of hospitalityFollow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow Kirk:https://www.instagram.com/kirk_haworth/

Stuart Trevor is the founder of AllSaints and one of the most influential figures in British fashion. In this episode of What It Takes with Olly Fawcett, Stuart shares the extraordinary story behind building AllSaints into a global fashion brand, his early career designing for Reiss, and why he walked away from the company at its peak.From growing up on a council estate in Dundee to dressing some of the biggest rock bands in the world, Stuart reveals the creative mindset that drove his success and how ADHD, risk-taking and instinct helped shape his career.We also explore the realities of the fashion industry, the rise of fast fashion, and why Stuart is now building a new sustainable brand that produces no new clothes, using only upcycled garments.This is a fascinating conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and what it really takes to build a global brand.00:00 Stuart Trevor Interview – Building AllSaints, Reiss & Sustainable Fashion01:28 Growing Up in Dundee & First Fashion Experiments05:28 David Bowie, Punk Culture & Early Style Inspiration09:38 ADHD, School Struggles & Creative Thinking13:54 Discovering Fashion College by Accident18:24 Learning Tailoring & Entering the Fashion Industry21:48 Winning the Paul Smith Competition & Early Recognition26:01 Getting His Break at Reiss31:01 Designing Menswear at Reiss at Age 1835:54 Why Stuart Trevor Left Reiss39:47 Founding AllSaints & The Brand Name Story45:10 The First AllSaints Collection in Paris49:55 Building the AllSaints Retail Concept53:55 Why AllSaints Became a Cult Fashion Brand58:21 Dressing Rock Stars & Peak AllSaints Years1:02:22 Why Stuart Trevor Left AllSaints in 20071:07:37 Building Bolongaro Trevor1:12:56 How Fashion Changed in the 2010s1:17:37 Fast Fashion, Waste & Industry Problems1:23:04 Creating a Brand That Produces No New Clothes1:27:54 Upcycling & The Future of Sustainable Fashion1:31:53 Advice for Young Fashion Founders1:34:37 What’s Next for Stuart Trevor

From Bollywood dance choreographer… to HSBC speechwriter… to one of the sharpest comics in the UK.Eshaan Akbar breaks down what stand-up actually teaches you: reading rooms, earning trust, surviving bad gigs, and why “bombing” is often an audience warm-up problem (his words… 😅).If you’ve ever felt like you’re starting late, pivoting careers, or trying to build confidence in rooms that weren’t made for you, this one lands.Chapters 00:00 Who is Eshaan Akbar?01:20 The pre-comedy life04:26 Why comedy started (a course, not a dream)05:51 Family, immigrant pressure, and dad’s support08:16 First open mic, March 201409:13 Mum’s sudden death + comedy becoming a lifeline14:27 Therapy 10 years later + what finally made him face it19:19 The grind years: unpaid gigs, long drives, learning every room29:24 Kings Lynn: the gig that turned ugly 41:38 How he writes: no scripts, built on-stage + reading rooms46:19 Crowd work, social media, and comedy’s new era58:32 Opening for Mickey Flanagan + the O2 arena realityFollow Eshaan: https://www.instagram.com/eshaanakbar/Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

In this episode of What It Takes, we sit down with magician, TV presenter, and content creator Ben Hanlin to explore the magic behind creativity.
From his journey breaking into the entertainment industry to starring in Tricked and captivating audiences worldwide, Ben shares the highs, the challenges, and the secrets that have fuelled his success.
He also reveals practical tricks for unlocking creativity—whether you're a performer, entrepreneur, or just looking to bring more originality into your work. Follow Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hanlin-66508b142/ https://www.instagram.com/benhanlin/https://www.tiktok.com/@benhanlin?lang=en Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

In this episode of What It Takes, we sit down with Raissa de Haas, the dynamic co-founder of Double Dutch Drinks, a brand that's taken the beverage industry by storm with its premium mixers.
Raissa shares the incredible journey of how she and her twin sister, Joyce, started their business from scratch, turning a passion for craft cocktails into an award-winning drinks company.
Raissa opens up about the challenges they faced as young entrepreneurs in a competitive market, from securing initial funding to scaling production while maintaining quality. She reveals the key moments that shaped their success, including building relationships with top-tier bartenders and creating a distinctive brand identity in a crowded space.
Raissa also delves into what it truly takes to run a thriving drinks brand. From leading with innovation to staying resilient in the face of setbacks, she shares her top strategies for scaling sustainably, fostering a strong company culture, and continuing to push boundaries in the drinks industry.
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or curious about the secrets behind building a globally recognised brand, this episode is filled with actionable insights on what it takes to succeed.
Follow Raissa:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/raissa-de-haas-02740a61/ https://www.instagram.com/doubledutchdrinks/?hl=en
Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/
Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35