
Hosted by Dan Kirby · EN
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If you are wondering, "who is this guy and why should I listen to his podcast?" Read this.
Your host, Dan Kirby, has been an entrepreneur since 2001 and knows what it's like to experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
In 2004, Dan co-founded The Tech Dept, who built BBC Children in Need's fundraising platform. The BBC even said, "I hope you know we wouldn't have had another record-breaking year without you. Fact."
Now they specialise in helping impact founders build scalable, reliable tech products that deliver the vision.
Dan isn't a typical tech entrepreneur who is all talk and no substance. In 2015, he was number 34 in "The Digerati" (100 most influential people in UK digital), and in 2017, he was in BIMA's "Hot 100" as a Digital Ambassador.
He's raced across deserts (completing The Marathon des Sables - 6 marathons in 7 days in the Sahara - raising £14,000 for the children's charity KidsOut).
Created the 24-hour urban festival Getahead, a not-for-profit helping people "get ahead without burning out".
And even played the lead character in a movie pilot (comedy feature) based on an event series called The Tech Off – "the lovechild of TED talks & WWE".
Oh, and he was named one of the 25 most innovative people in Europe, the Middle East & Asia for 2018 by The Holmes Report.
But in 2017, he f**ked up. Bad.
He can laugh about it now, but it was no joke at the time.
Shame, humiliation, terror. The lot.
Fortunately, Dan turned things around, and he's doing better than ever!
And now, Dan is on a mission: to create the realest entrepreneur podcast in the world! And he's on the right track – Honey I Blew Up The Business is now in the top 2.5% of all global podcasts.
Dan wants to bring people together to talk about what it's really like to be a founder. What it's like to face your demons and come out the other side as a better person and a better entrepreneur.
A tribe of like-minded people who aren't afraid to talk about this shadow side. Who want to do a lot of good in the world. And who want to make a lot of money doing it.
If that sounds like you -

In this episode, Dan is joined by Nikki Trott, brand strategist, Founder of Barefoot Ventures and host of the Going Conscious podcast - a top global 2.5% podcast, just like this one. Having built a career in developing fashion brands, Nikki thought she had achieved success. But then, she blew it all up… deliberately.In this interview, we delve into Nikki’s journey from a high-flying international fashion career to the world of impact finance. She unpacks what it means to “surrender to the flow.” How hopping off the tube unlocked a new way of seeing the world. The “power of now.” And why recognising the interconnectedness of life will help you build a more resilient business.Connect with Nikki:www.linkedin.com/in/nikkitrottwww.nikkitrott.comAlso, check out her podcast Going Conscious: www.goingconscious.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale

In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan welcomes fellow podcast aficionado, Véronique Trang. Véronique is the Founder and CEO of Telmi, the world’s first podcasting platform by kids for kids.In this raw and candid interview, we explore Véronique’s journey to building a purpose-led business. The truly awkward moments of her career. The lows. And how being stuck in a vicious circle of shame led her to discover her own purpose.Learn why you need to focus on your problems first. How failure can lead to your big “aha” moment. And why ridicule is just a small price to pay to get to the next level.Why not reach out to Véronique? She’s currently looking for “purpose partners” – maybe you can help? Subscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale

In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan is joined by Dr Doug Brackmann. Doug is a psychologist, and the author of Driven: Understanding and Harnessing the Genetic Gifts Shared by Entrepreneurs, Navy SEALs, Pro Athletes, and Maybe YOU.In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, Doug delves into his shadow side during a time when his “elephant” took him for a wild ride that he couldn’t get off from. Discover the importance of owning your wolf. The “elephant vs the monkey mind.” Why “leading with heart” makes you a better shepherd. And how to channel your driven energy from self-destruction into building a self-fulfilling life.If you are seeking some drive in your life, get this episode in your ears! 👂Connect with Doug (his content is great!):LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglasbrackmann/Get your copy of Driven here: https://amzn.eu/d/3DIdUPNSubscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale

In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan welcomes two powerful women from the North of England – Vimla Appadoo and Dr Marilyn Comrie OBE. They both sit on the Board of the Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and see business as a force for good – and positive change. In this interview, we delve into what it’s really like at the coalface of the entrepreneurial journey. Discover the power of saying no. How to embrace your uniqueness in whatever form it takes. And why studying your “red threads” can help you discover your purpose in life. Vimla and Marilyn are currently trying to make a positive impact in the world. Maybe you can join them on this quest?Connect with Vimla:Vimla’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vimlaappadoo/Website: https://www.honeybadgerclan.com/Connect with Marilyn: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyncomrie/Subscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale

In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan features a very special guest - Dominic McGregor, one of the Founders of Social Chain (alongside you-know-who) and now Founder and Partner of Fearless Adventures. Dominic is the poster boy of modern entrepreneurship, but is it all it’s made out to be? At the age of 20, he was on a rocket ship ride to fame but soon found himself in a very dark place... In this raw and candid conversation, we get into Dominic’s journey from starting a hugely successful company and his struggles with his shadow side – addiction, loneliness, and the entire works. This is the story of how adversity can spring upon you, and how to turn it around for good. Discover how to overcome your demons. The flywheel effect – what it is and how it impacts your business. And why taking responsibility for your actions is the ultimate goal in life.Subscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale

In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan is joined by Michael Bourne, self-described “book addict” and the performance director of the Lawn Tennis Association. In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, we get a centre-court seat into what drives people to reach elite levels of a discipline. And then what destroys them. Michael peels back the layers of “Trauma with a big T” versus lower-case trauma - and why understanding these differences gives you an additional lens of empathy - to yourself. Discover why self-awareness is crucial for entrepreneurs and elite athletes. And how to jettison your rockets before they pull you back down to earth. We also dive deep into these books (check them out!): The Myth of Normal - Gabor MateThe Body Keeps the Score - Bessel Van Der KolkPrinciples - Ray Dalio Subscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale

In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan is joined not by one, but two spectacular guests – Natalie Pearce and Alicia Grimes. Natalie and Alicia are the Co-Founders of The Future Kind Collective, and as Dan likes to call them, the “Beyoncés of Culture.”In this interview, discover why energy is your most important asset. The ultimate taboo for a social purpose startup founder. Their prosecco-fuelled marriage proposal “baby-making” moment. And the power of doing less, but better. We also mention two books that have shaped our approach and processes as entrepreneurs:Essentialism by Greg McKeown10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Benjamin HardySubscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale

In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Olivia Sibony returns to the show!Olivia is the Co-founder of Impact Amplified and a trailblazing tech-for-good champion. In this deep and wide ranging conversation, Dan and Olivia peel back the layers of optimism and “good energy.” Discover how to reframe hard times into a more positive worldview. Why it's vital to assess every part of your business and challenge whether it's a force for good. And the reasons why Olivia prefers the power of collaboration to competition.Subscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale

In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan is joined by Geoff Thompson, a BAFTA-winning writer and film-maker whose life story was brought to the screen with actors like Ray Winstone and Orlando Bloom. He is the author of close to fifty books and has appeared on the Sunday Times Bestseller List several times. A total badass, Black Belt Magazine USA named Geoff "the most influential martial artist in the world since Bruce Lee." He’s also a spiritual teacher who has greatly influenced our host, Dan.In a deep and wide ranging conversation, we get into the toxic impact of false beliefs - how to unpack the misguided conditioning from the culture you grew up in. Geoff shares how a “hench fly” taught him to practise, practise, practise. Why to “find the centre, hold the centre, develop the centre”. The “cosmic post it note.” And how contracting your ego will expand your awareness - making you a better entrepreneur.Connect with Geoff:Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/geoff_thompson_official/Also, check out his TED talk on conquering fear: Conquering Fear | Geoff Thompson | TEDxLeamingtonSpaSubscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale

In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan is joined by Claudine Adeyemi, the CEO of EarlyBird, a voice-centric onboarding software for the employability sector.In this raw and candid conversation, we get a ring-side seat into an entrepreneur’s early stages of growth. Witness Claudine’s journey: from homeless teen to high-flying lawyer, before making not one, but two daring pivots into the world of entrepreneurship.Discover why you should simplify. How having the right mentors can help prevent strategic errors. And the lesson Steve Jobs taught Jony Ive about focus. And if you’re interested in joining Claudine on her journey (whether as an investor or eager spectator), why not connect with her? Linkedin: bit.ly/3MjdANJWebsite: bit.ly/3GeP4tgAlso, check out the juicy details of Claudine's pivot and why she bid her previous startup farewell: bit.ly/3U4SiFD---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale