Explore every episode of the podcast Beaver Tales

In the very first episode of Beaver Tales, I sit down with Howard Napper, someone I admire for many reasons, to explore what it actually takes to build a business with purpose. From a moment of curiosity in a yoga class to founding a company that’s spent 25 years pushing for more sustainable products, this is a conversation about doing things differently, even when it’s harder, slower, and less profitable.

What You’ll Discover

- The Idea That Started It All: A simple question in a yoga class sparked a mission to rethink how everyday products are made.

- Why Sustainability Isn’t Straightforward: The real trade-offs between cost, durability, and environmental impact are more complex than they seem.

- Small Business Superpowers: Innovation, agility, and strong partnerships can compete with even the biggest global brands.

What really stayed with me in this conversation is the tension between values and reality. It’s easy to say you want to build something sustainable, but when margins are tighter, competition is cheaper, and customers don’t always see the difference, that’s when it really gets tested. Howard’s story shows what it looks like to stick with that vision anyway.

There’s also something deeply human in this episode. From chance meetings in the desert to navigating life-changing health challenges, it’s a reminder that business isn’t just strategy and scale. It’s shaped by moments, relationships, and how you respond when things don’t go to plan.

If you’re building something, questioning your approach, or just curious about what sits behind the products we use every day, this episode will give you a lot to think about.

You can learn more and submit your own inspiring tale at beavertales.co.

Beaver Tales is produced by Urban Podcasts.

There was a moment and I suspect you know the one - when you looked around at how business was being done and felt something quietly shut down inside you.

In this introductory episode of Beaver Tales, I explore why so many of us feel a profound sense of loss in the world of work and what it looks like when people choose to build differently. I introduce the idea of the keystone builder: those who, like beavers, don’t dominate the ecosystem instead create the conditions for everything around them to thrive.

Beaver Tales exists to find them, celebrate them, and channel attention, capital and community behind the builders who deserve it. This isn’t just another business podcast. It’s a mission to bring the keystone spirit back - one deliberate act at a time.

Why is the gap between talking about kindness in business and actually practising it, so wide?

In this episode of BeaverTales, I walk with Graham Allcott, a keynote speaker, productivity coach, and the award-winning author of Kind: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work. We explore why true kindness requires more courage, how it differs from nice, and why building a business around your core values is more important than infinite scale to Graham.

What You’ll Discover

- Kindness as a Performance Driver: Why kindness and its 8 principles are the foundations for psychological safety and trust, critical essential tools for high-performing teams.

- The Trap of Infinite Scale: How setting strict personal boundaries and focusing on quality over quantity can lead to a more rewarding and sustainable business model.

- Listening as a Superpower: Why truly deep listening is the most accessible yet overlooked tool for personal and professional growth.

- Kindness starts with You: The most important step in increasing kindness in your workplace is to be kind to yourself first.

Graham’s journey is a powerful reminder that how you build matters just as much as what you build. By choosing craft, connection, and deliberate kindness over shortcuts, we can create organisations that truly inspire.

You can learn more and submit your own inspiring tale at beavertales.co.

Beaver Tales is produced by Urban Podcasts.

How do you build a thriving, independent business when your entire industry is being consolidated by corporate giants who are both your suppliers and your competitors?

In this episode of Beaver Tales, I sit down with Dr. Euan McGinty, a Scottish-trained optometrist who packed up his life and family and moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to build a different kind of eye care practice. Rather than competing on price or selling out to massive corporate groups, as many of his competitors are, Euan and his partners at Ocean Optometry and Miller Optometry have chosen to focus on craft, deep customer relationships, seeding the next generation of professionals, and premium, independent European eyewear.

What You’ll Discover

- Resisting Corporate Consolidation: Why the traditional independent practice is disappearing, and how to survive by offering a highly differentiated, design-led experience instead of competing on price.

- Designing a "Pillow Menu" Customer Journey: How to transform a routine eye exam from a quick transaction into a guided, unhurried, experience that builds lasting trust.

- Competing for the Next Generation: Why massive corporate signing bonuses are tempting new graduates, and how independent practices can fight back by offering long-term security, mentorship, and a real stake in the business.

Building a meaningful business requires the courage to ignore the shortcuts and focus on what truly lasts. By staying human, prioritising craft, and treating every patient as a unique individual, you can create an organisation that stands out even as the rest of the industry scales up around you.

If you are running an independent business in a consolidating market, or if you simply need a reminder that doing things the right way is still worth it, this conversation is for you.

You can learn more and submit your own inspiring tale at beavertales.co.

Beaver Tales is produced by Urban Podcasts.