The Entrepreneur Experiment – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Welcome back to The Entrepreneur Experiment for 2026 - and Season 28 kicks off with a special format: an Ask Me Anything Q&A. Gary answers the most “juicy” questions sent in over Christmas (LinkedIn, Instagram, and the newsletter), covering everything from taking the podcast global, to the tools and team behind the scenes, to why he’s doubling down on founder-led brands in the age of AI. You’ll also hear Gary’s hot takes for 2026 (see: remote vs. hybrid: pick a lane), the founders he believes will have breakout years, what he’d do differently if he started again, and the one mindset shift he’s bringing into the new season: decisiveness. 🎧 If you like this AMA style, Gary’s already decided: more Q&As are coming - including AMAs with past guests, o make sure you’re following us on socials (linked below) to get involved, or join the newsletter (linked below). Show Notes In this Season 28 opener, Gary kicks off 2026 with an Ask Me Anything episode — answering questions sent in over Christmas from LinkedIn, Instagram, and the newsletter. We touch on: When (and how) the podcast is going global — UK, Middle East, and the US The 2026 goal: don’t look like a podcast — look like a media company The team + tools behind the scenes (and the one tool Gary can’t live without) Founder-led brands in the age of AI: why Gary is more bullish than ever A few breakout predictions for the year ahead Gary’s hot take for 2026 (and why “uncertainty” kills momentum) What he’s leaving in 2025… and what he’s bringing into 2026 If you want more of these AMAs, tell Gary —-he’s already planning the next twist on the format. Resources (mentioned or referenced) Books Unreasonable Hospitality — Will Guidara People / Brands referenced Manna (Bobby Healy) - https://www.manna.aero/ Tech Powered Luxury - https://www.instagram.com/techpoweredluxury/?hl=en Ireland Fashion Week - https://www.instagram.com/irelandfashionweek/?hl=en Represent (George Heaton) - https://www.instagram.com/georgeheaton/?hl=en Marchon (Ollie Marchon / bottle + products) - https://www.instagram.com/olliemarchon/?hl=en “Open Residency” episode with George Heaton (hosted by Mark Brazil, co-founder of IKONICK) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tTLUuD06AY Tools Gary uses Notion ChatGPT Calendly Typeform ManyChat Todoist Moleskine ——  Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1  ---  Visit my partners  Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo —- Music Credit: “Nobody Knows” by Andrew Applepie — used under royalty-free license.

Recorded live at The Sugar Club, this special edition of The Entrepreneur Experiment brings three standout Irish founders on stage for an honest, high-energy conversation about building modern businesses in public. Aine Kennedy, founder of The Smooth Company and newly crowned EY Entrepreneur of the Year, shares how she launched her first product with no budget, built everything herself, with the help of her family, and turned documenting the journey on TikTok into 150 million organic views, now shipping to 70 countries worldwide. Nadia Adan, founder of Ashford Motors, breaks down how she went from a small yard and a handful of cars to creating one of Ireland’s most recognisable automotive brands - by obsessing over customer experience, moving faster than traditional dealers, and using social media to build trust at scale. Rounding out the panel, Jack Pierse, co-founder of Wayflyer and now Bold Golf and Happy Stack, reflects on launching a fintech at the start of COVID, scaling to €100 million per month in lending, the realities of hypergrowth, and what he’s doing differently this time. From viral content and community-led growth to staying lean, moving fast, and learning the hard lessons of scale, this live episode is packed with real-world insight, plenty of humour, and unfiltered founder stories. An entertaining and insightful listen for you! Show Notes Hosted by Gary Fox, with Aine Kennedy, Nadia Adan, and Jack Pierse Recorded live at The Sugar Club, Dublin How Aine Kennedy launched The Smooth Company from scratch and built a global brand by documenting the journey online Turning TikTok into a growth engine: 150 million organic views and customers in 70 countries Why building in public — without gatekeeping — is changing who feels able to start a business Nadia Adan’s rise from a small car yard to one of Ireland’s most recognisable automotive brands Using customer service, flexibility, and speed to outperform traditional main dealers Dealing with online trolls when reputation and real-world sales are on the line The Wayflyer origin story: launching during COVID and scaling to €100M per month in lending The realities of hypergrowth, rapid hiring, and the lessons learned the hard way Why Jack Pierse is building his second company, Happy Stack, slower and leaner A candid, entertaining live discussion on growth, community, and staying adaptable in modern business Links & Resources The Smooth Company – https://www.thesmoothcompany.com/ Ashford Motors - https://www.ashfordmotors.ie/ Happy Stack – https://www.happystack.com/ Bold Golf - https://bold-golf.com/ ——  Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1  ---  Visit my partners  Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE   Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo —- Music Credit: “Nobody Knows” by Andrew Applepie — used under royalty-free license.

When opportunity knocks, sometimes the smartest move is to just say yes and figure it out later. Richard Fitzgerald, founder of Augustus Media - the company behind Lovin’ Dubai, Lovin’ Saudi and more — reveals how 100 days of relentless work and curiosity helped him build one of the Middle East’s leading media companies from scratch. 🎙️ Hear the full conversation in Episode 407 of The Entrepreneur Experiment to learn more about how Richard turned a leap of faith into a global business success story. 💡 If you’re new here, tap subscribe or follow — and join the thousands of founders learning how to build, grow, and thrive every week. ——  Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1  ---  Visit my partners  Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo —- Music Credit: “Nobody Knows” by Andrew Applepie — used under royalty-free license.

Each week I bring you a new mentor.

This week, your mentor is former pro golfer Jeff Hopkins, founder of New Dimensions Active.

Jeff gives us an insight into the lessons he learned from the world of professional elite sports and how he applies them to win in the business world. 

To listen to the full episode with Jeff, go back to episode 285. 

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Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure

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 *Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure.

Enter Growing Further Awards Here: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn   Unlock the secrets of thriving in sustainable real estate with industry expert David O'Meara from the Greenman Group and the Growing Further Awards.   From his humble beginnings on a farm to leading innovative supermarket-anchored property investments in Germany, David takes us through his remarkable journey and strategic insights.    Learn how Greenman’s focus pivoted from apartments and auto service centers to supermarkets.   Explore the dynamic landscape of retail strategies and energy solutions, including the concept of reverse charging and its potential impact on supermarkets.   David sheds light on the cultural factors slowing the adoption of online grocery shopping in Germany and the resilience of food retail post-COVID-19. We also tackle the complexities of urban development, the hurdles in converting traditional office spaces, and the striking contrast between urban and rural areas in Ireland, illustrating the ongoing challenges young professionals face in the rental market.   David's ventures go beyond real estate, as we delve into the Growing Further Awards, which champion innovation in sustainability and food supply chains.   Additionally, we reflect on the importance of balancing business success with personal well-being, the transformative power of collaboration, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Greenman Group to continually innovate and grow. 

 

--- Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge

 *Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure.

The Founder Formula for success covers six areas.

Today, I give you the six books you must read to master each area.

Watch the video for my full reviews but if you can't wait, here is the full list.

Brain: Atomic Habits by James Clear https://amzn.to/4dUFdHP

Body: Outlive by Dr Peter Attia https://amzn.to/3XrVJbA

Business: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries https://amzn.to/3AX29YF

Finance: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel https://amzn.to/4gkHXjp 

Family/Friends: The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Green https://amzn.to/3zdSqwj 

Fun: Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson https://amzn.to/3ZlICem 

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Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO 

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure 

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge 

*Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure.

Unlock the secrets to skyrocketing your business sales by leveraging social media with insights from Nadia of Ashford Motors, a powerhouse in the luxury car market.   We delve into why sex still sells, how she uses Instagram to sell and why buying an electric car is a terrible investment.    Nadia left behind a promising finance career to start from scratch as a motor dealer. She soon realised the power of controlling her own marketing and became a social media star.
She has 200k followers on TikTok and 114k on Instagram with a weekly audience of millions. 

Nadia opens up about handling online criticism, the value of transparency, and the mental health impacts of being in the public eye.

We learn about the importance of consistency and staying true to your brand, whether you’re creating content, dealing with customer service, or making bold business decisions.

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Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO 

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure 

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge 

*Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure.

Over the last 5 years, I've interviewed hundreds of founders to uncover the founder's formula for success.

I’ve taken the learnings from all my interviews and shaped a framework for success across six key areas.

Brain, Body, Business, Family/Friends, Finances and Fun.

This podcast is about creating experiments for ourselves so that we can devise our ultimate founder formula.

Today's podcast introduces you to The Founder Formula concept and our plan for season 20 of the podcast.

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Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge

*Use code Fox20 to get 20% discount with Azure.

Each week, I bring you a brand new mentor to help you build your own Founder Formula for success.

Today, your mentor is David Hartigan, the founder of Hemp Heros.

He teaches us when to commit everything to your business and give up your safety net.

 Check out the Full Podcast Episode with David Hartigan, CEO of Hemp Heros - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZeJRHBZPSM&t=1727s

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Thanks to my Partners

Visit them to support the podcast

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Unlock the secrets to smarter, more efficient public transport systems with our guest, Brian O'Rourke, CEO & co-founder of CitySwift.

From running buses to concerts in Croke Park & Slane, Brian and his co-founder Alan Farrelly, have see all sides of the bus transport infastructure.

This led them to strike gold with their idea to unlock the millions of terrabytes of data created by buses each year.

Discover how CitySwift harnesses extensive data analytics to tackle the unique challenges of bus operations, from traffic unpredictability to varying schedules. Learn about the historical reluctance in the public transport sector to embrace innovation and how that mindset is changing, illustrated by a compelling story about a major UK bus company's initial resistance to adopting data-driven strategies.

Explore the balancing act of improving bus schedule accuracy and efficiency, especially in the constantly evolving post-COVID travel landscape. Brian explains the specific challenges private operators face in minimizing delays without causing overcrowding or underutilization of services. Using Transport for Wales as a prime example, we discuss how strategic infrastructure improvements like bus lanes and cutting-edge data analytics are revolutionizing congestion management and bus priority planning.

Get an insider's perspective on the entrepreneurial journey behind CitySwift, from the founders' initial vision of creating an "Uber for buses" to their pivot towards scalable solutions. Hear firsthand accounts of the early days, strategic connections, and crucial decisions that propelled CitySwift forward. Plus, gain insights into the future of sustainable urban transport and the transformative potential of anonymized people movement data in redefining city planning post-COVID. This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, public transport, and sustainability.

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Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast

Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn

Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF