Explore every episode of the podcast Gold with Gore

Former Premier League footballer turned entrepreneur Paul McVeigh shares how the power of visualisation helped shape his journey. From growing up in Belfast to competing at the highest level with Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City, and beyond into global business success.

Paul reflects on how early setbacks, mental resilience, and an obsession with mindset were key to his achievements both on the pitch and in the business world. He opens up about the lessons football taught him about performance, leadership, and building a winning mindset for life after sport.

A must-listen for anyone interested in elite performance, personal development, and the psychology behind sustained success.

Peter Ridsdale, CEO of Preston North End and Former Leeds United Chairman, joins Gold with Gore for an unmissable conversation.

In this episode, Peter opens up about life in the firing line during his turbulent tenure at Leeds United – from leading the club to a Champions League semi-final, to facing intense public scrutiny and personal attacks.

He shares the inside story of what really happened behind the headlines, how he handled pressure at the top, and the lessons he's carried with him throughout his career in football and business.

Expect candid insights on leadership, resilience, and managing the weight of expectation – plus what it’s like when fans quite literally grab you by the neck in the street.

Simon Hallett, owner and Chairman of Plymouth Argyle FC, shares his journey from managing multi-billion-pound investment portfolios to leading a football club. In this episode, Simon explores the parallels between finance and football, how data-driven decision-making, culture, and patience shape success in both worlds.

He reflects on the importance of thinking long-term, managing risk, and resisting short-term pressures - whether in markets or in football management. From building a sustainable club to navigating the unpredictable nature of the game, Simon offers valuable insights on leadership, investment strategy, and making better decisions under pressure.

Whether you’re in business, investing, or simply fascinated by the intersection of sport and strategy, this episode is packed with lessons on resilience, discipline, and the power of a clear vision.

Barry Hearn, British sports promoter and founder of Matchroom Sport shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to building a £1B sports empire, redefining global entertainment and sport along the way. Barry reflects on the early influences that shaped his drive for success, from his mum’s relentless ambition for him to the lessons learned as a young chartered accountant.

He discusses the pivotal moments that catapulted him into sports management, including his unexpected entry into snooker, the bold moves that disrupted the industry, and his philosophy of turning risks into opportunities.

Barry opens up about the challenges of scaling Matchroom Sport, how he created global phenomena in darts, snooker, and boxing, and why his greatest asset is hard work and self-belief.

Connect with Spencer Gore. 

Robert Vilahamn, Head Coach of Tottenham Hotspur Women, shares his incredible journey from Sweden to Spurs, revealing what it takes to build a high-performance team and thrive under pressure.

In this episode of Gold with Gore, Robert reflects on his transition from coaching men’s football to leading one of England’s top women’s teams, the challenges of reshaping Tottenham Women’s identity, and creating a bold, attacking style of play.

He opens up about how his own struggles with professionalism as a player shaped his coaching philosophy and emphasises the importance of values like bravery, passion, and staying present in driving success. Robert also delves into the evolving demands of women’s football and how he’s preparing his players for the world stage.

Connect with your host, Spencer Gore here. 

Simon Leslie, Founder of Ink Global and owner of Eastbourne Borough FC, takes us on a journey through his remarkable career. From growing a £100M media business to navigating the impact of the pandemic, Simon shares how he turned challenges into opportunities - including the bold move to buy a football club.

In this episode, Simon dives into the mindset that shaped his success, including lessons on resilience, staying positive during tough times, and focusing on what you can control. He also reflects on how failures in his early businesses helped him build a winning formula and why he believes in investing in people to create great teams.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, dreamer, or someone seeking your next breakthrough, this episode is packed with actionable insights and motivational takeaways to help you thrive.

Dr John Blakey is the UK's leading executive coach to purpose-driven CEOs, a former FTSE 100 international managing director, and a global thought leader on high-performance leadership. He has coached over 130 CEOs in 22 countries, working with FTSE 100 leaders, Team GB Olympic squads, Premier League football clubs, and the England cricket team. He is also the author of best-selling books, including Force for Good, The Trusted Executive, and Challenging Coaching.

John explores the transformative power of purpose-driven leadership, sharing how lessons from elite sport can redefine business success. He discusses navigating risk, embracing failure, and thriving under pressure, while emphasising the importance of balancing profit, people, and planet for sustainable growth.

From his early days aspiring to be a professional footballer to becoming the CEO and Deputy Chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Paul’s career has been defined by a relentless drive for excellence. With over three decades of experience across professional sport, including roles at Tottenham Hotspur and the FA, Paul has navigated the highs and lows of football and business.

In this episode, we delve into his strategies for building high-performing teams, the challenges of transforming Brighton from near collapse to Premier League success, and the values that guide his leadership. Paul also shares insights on managing risk, communicating effectively, and staying grounded in the face of relentless pressure.

Whether you’re a business leader, football fan, or simply someone looking for inspiration, Paul’s story offers invaluable lessons on culture, vision, and perseverance.

Legendary celebrity life coach, Tim Storey, shares his journey from overcoming adversity to coaching A-list celebrities like Kayne West and Oprah Winfrey.

Spencer and Tim dive into how to turn life’s setbacks into powerful comebacks, the value of alignment in leadership, and why surrounding yourself with the right people is essential for success.

Key takeaways:

This week on Gold with Gore, Spencer is again joined by Damian Hughes, an international speaker, a bestselling author, and co-host of the ‘High Performance’ podcast. In the second part of their discussion, they speak about the formula for success in high performers, which of his guests have had the biggest impact on him, approaches to building teamship, and living a life that is ‘on purpose’.  

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com. 

This week on Gold with Gore, Spencer is joined by Damian Hughes, an international speaker, a bestselling author, and co-host of the ‘High Performance’ podcast. In the first part of their discussion, the pair speak about key influences in Damian’s early life and the impact of growing up in a boxing gym, how his interest in psychology and high performance was sparked, and the non-negotiable behaviours he swears by.  

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com. 

On this episode of Gold with Gore, Spencer is once again joined by Robbie Simpson, former football player and current Manager of Chelmsford City Football Club. The pair discuss what inspired Simpson to found ‘Life after Professional Sport’ and wealth management company RS19; the importance of purpose, and how losing this affects people; and crossovers between the management of a football team and a business. They also consider Simpson’s goals for the future in each of his roles.

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com.

In this episode of Gold with Gore, Spencer is joined by former football player and current Manager of Chelmsford City Football Club, Robbie Simpson. He is also the Co-founder of Life After Professional Sport (LAPS), which helps former sports stars to find new careers, and Founder of RS19 Ltd, a financial planning and wealth management company. Robbie discusses his drives, what made him become a better player, and how he lacked support in finding a new career when he decided to retire. 

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com. 

In the second part of Spencer’s chat with Simon Leslie, Founder and CEO of Ink Global, the pair discuss how new opportunities for business can be found in challenges, as well as why Leslie invited over 50 speakers to speak to his sales team during COVID, and which is the biggest lesson he learnt from them. They also talk about the importance of seeking opportunities in different places, and what’s next for Leslie and his company. 

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com. 

In this episode, Spencer is joined by Simon Leslie, Founder and CEO of Ink Global, the world’s leading travel media company. The pair discuss Leslie’s decision to produce in-flight magazines and to start a business, as well as the importance of creativity and thinking differently when it comes to leading a company. They further discuss how different challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have affected Ink Global, and the importance of a company’s culture when working through challenges. 

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com. 

This week on Gold with Gore, Spencer is again joined by Anna Hemmings, six-time world champion, two-time Olympian, and Founding Director of Beyond the Barriers, a high-performance consultancy offering professional training and coaching. They discuss the importance of learning to control your own response in difficult situations, the power of giving and receiving feedback, and how changing your environment can improve your success.  

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com. 

In part 1 of this episode of Gold with Gore, Anna Hemmings, six-time world champion, two-time Olympian, Founding Director of Beyond the Barriers, a high-performance consultancy offering professional training and coaching, joins Spencer to share insights into her career as Britain’s most successful female marathon kayaker. They discuss how the power of Hemmings’ mindset and passion for her sport launched her to the top of her field, and how this allowed her to work through a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome to bounce back and regain her status as the world leader at the Marathon Racing World Championships in Perth, Australia, in 2005.

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com.  

This week, Spencer is once again joined by Maximilian Bittner, CEO of Vestiaire Collective, a leading global online marketplace for pre-loved fashion. In the second part of this two-part episode, the pair discuss Max’s previous work as a consultant and what led to his decision to start his first business, Lazada. Max also explains how the business grew to become a unicorn company. The pair further explore imposter syndrome and work-life balance when running a company, as well as Max’s role at Vestiaire Collective, and goals for the future. 

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com 

On this episode of Gold with Gore, Spencer is joined by Maximilian Bittner, CEO of Vestiaire Collective, a leading global online marketplace for pre-loved fashion. The pair discuss the different paths to becoming an entrepreneur, how work ethic and confidence influence decisions, and the importance of taking risks. Further topics of discussion include how their childhood and education impacted their future life, and their university experience.  

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com 

This week, Spencer is once again joined by Pete Rabey, CEO and co-founder of the X4 Group, and host of the Leadership Learns Podcast. In this episode, Rabey discusses the biggest challenges he is facing after jumping from co-founder and Director to CEO of his company. The pair also discuss how a company can keep their culture going throughout different offices and in different countries, how to cultivate a culture that aligns with the company’s vision, and the importance of values in this process. Furthermore, they explore the impact of company culture on employee engagement.

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com.  

In this episode of Gold with Gore, Pete Rabey, CEO and co-founder of the X4 Group, and host of the Leadership Learns Podcast, joins Spencer to share insights into his company. X4 Group’s aim is to advise on and empower clients through consultative solutions that support their organisational aims. Rabey shares what inspired him to start his own business, how growth influences the way decisions are made in the company, and the mindset that helps them to achieve their goals.

We will resume the conversation in Part 2 next week!

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com. 

On this episode of Gold with Gore, Spencer is joined by Eric Partaker, an entrepreneur, coach, and mentor for chief executive officers, and the author of the bestselling book The 3 Alarms. Partaker delves into his history and the work ethic taught by his parents, which influenced his career and life. While discussing his relentlessness, Partaker explains how he ended up in the UK, and how missing Mexican food led him to co-find the restaurant chain, Chilango! Partaker not only details his successes, but also openly outlines the challenges and failures he has faced and how, with a forward-thinking mindset, they proved to be significant learning points. 

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com. 

Award-winning business coach, speaker, and entrepreneur Peter Boolkah shares his insights with Spencer this week in this episode of Gold with Gore. Peter is Founder of Peter Boolkah Business Coach and is the proclaimed ‘Transition Guy’, supporting business owners, top level executives and organisations navigate their next level growth successfully. The pair discuss Peter’s experiences working to scale-up and transition companies and touch on different business growth models, frameworks, motivations, and mindsets. They also compare notes on some of the helpful books they have read and incorporated to help build successful teams. 

If you would like help on your gold medal winning journey, reach out to EMJ at recruitment@emjreviews.com 

In this episode, Spencer hosts award-winning founder of JobServe, and Chairman of Colchester United Football Club, Robbie Cowling. This podcast looks at how he built his gold medal winning career, including how he came to establish JobServe, and subsequently buy Colchester United Football Club. They also explore a deeper dive into the driving forces behind his success, and the resilience required to overcome challenges such as the dot-com crash, recessions, and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In this episode, Spencer hosts award-winning founder of JobServe, and Chairman of Colchester United Football Club, Robbie Cowling. This podcast looks at how he built his gold medal winning career, including how he came to establish JobServe, and subsequently buy Colchester United Football Club. They also explore a deeper dive into the driving forces behind his success, and the resilience required to overcome challenges such as the dot-com crash, recessions, and the COVID-19 pandemic.