Startup Survival Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

How does a billionaire entrepreneur view the world? How do they feel about the wealth they’ve generated, the people with whom they’ve worked and the family that has journeyed with them?

Honest and frank with thoughts and feelings from start to finish, listen to the quite remarkable Gregory Shepard. Tune into his story and journey – from poverty to wealth, from struggle to challenge, from failure to success and from dying twice to an extraordinary life. For any startup seeking to learn from others and appreciate the value of entrepreneurship emotion, Gregory’s profound yet humble reflections, philosophy, ethics, philanthropy and proven business practices make for essential listening.

Learn more about our special guest

Gregory Shepard is a 20-year startup veteran and serial entrepreneur who has many qualities including autism, dyslexia and a range of unique processing methods (also referred to as disorders). He sold some of his business interests for $925M back in 2016. A TEDX speaker, Gregory is also a founder at BOSS Capital Partners, a global syndicate that invests in tech startups. Gregory also co-founded BOSSStartupScience an open source learning centre created to help entrepreneurs survive and thrive.

A bit of podcast author background...

UK-based Peter Harrington set up his first business following graduation in York in 1989. He has since started and grown several companies in various sectors including research, marketing, design, print, educational software and consultancy. Over the last 30+ years, Peter has employed over 1,000 people and experienced many highs and a few lows including burglaries, floods, fire and of course the most recent pandemic.

As well as being the CEO with the SimVenture team, Peter is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at London South Bank University.

Big thanks to LSE Generate, the SimVenture Team and Seajam Moths for supporting the Startup Survival Podcast.

Find Guest details and all Reference Sources

The full podcast series together with additional materials, guest details and hyperlinks to all episode reference sources is available on Peter Harrington's Blog 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to Entrepreneurship'. 

When going against the grain, we engage uncertainty and test ourselves. Yet rewards are never guaranteed. We flourish in the moment because the action, the risk, the ambition connects us with the possibility of meaningful achievement and a deeper sense of personal pride in what we do, and critically who we are.

In this episode, tune into Munir Mamujee and learn about his ‘never say die’ attitude and the personal pride he acquired through keeping his company afloat in the most difficult of Covid times.

By listening to this show you’ll discover how pride weaves its way into entrepreneurial life. From taking risks and motivating teams to expanding business horizons and being recognised for achievement, this episode is an enjoyable ride exploring key facets of personal pride.

Learn more about our special guest

Munir Mamujee is the Founding Director of m2r Education, a multi award winning, international education services company based in Wakefield. As well as being awarded an MBE in the 2022 Queen’s New Years’ Honours List for Services to Education and Export, Munir is also a Department for International Trade Export Champion and works with clients in over 40 countries.

Subscribe to the podcast

If you enjoy the Startup Survival Podcast and want to receive news and notifications of upcoming episodes, subscribe here.

A bit of podcast author background...

UK-based Peter Harrington set up his first business following graduation in York in 1989. He has since started and grown several companies in various sectors including research, marketing, design, print, educational software and consultancy. Over the last 30+ years, Peter has employed over 1,000 people and experienced many highs and a few lows including burglaries, floods, fire and of course the most recent pandemic.

As well as being the CEO with the SimVenture team, Peter is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at London South Bank University.

Big thanks to LSE Generate, the SimVenture Team and Seajam Moths for supporting the Startup Survival Podcast.

Find Guest details and all Reference Sources

The full podcast series together with additional materials, guest details and hyperlinks to all episode reference sources is available on Peter Harrington's Blog 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to Entrepreneurship'. 

Why is surprise such a powerful emotion and how can you use it in your work to attract customers and build brand loyalty?

In this episode, listen to the charismatic Dr Claire Hookham explain how to create lasting surprise that works with customers and consumers.

Dr Hookham worked at and completed a PhD with one of the world's leading entertainment brands. Her insightful experience allows her to share and explain how authentic surprise is created and how the creation of this emotion impacts future behaviour.

Full of energy and ideas, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to develop their creative thinking skills.

Subscribe to the podcast

If you enjoy the Startup Survival Podcast and want to receive news and notifications of upcoming episodes, subscribe here. 

A bit of podcast author background...

UK-based Peter Harrington set up his first business following graduation in York in 1989. He has since started and grown several companies in various sectors including research, marketing, design, print, educational software and consultancy. Over the last 30+ years, Peter has employed over 1,000 people and experienced many highs and a few lows including burglaries, floods, fire and of course the most recent pandemic.

As well as being the CEO with the SimVenture team, Peter is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at London South Bank University.

Big thanks to LSE Generate, the SimVenture Team and Seajam Moths for supporting the Startup Survival Podcast.

Find Guest details and all Reference Sources

The full podcast series together with additional materials, guest details and hyperlinks to all episode reference sources is available on Peter Harrington's Blog 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to Entrepreneurship'.

How and why can anger (and getting angry) work for any start-up, any venture?

In this episode, hear seasoned entrepreneur Alan Donegan explain how anger fuelled his desire to turn an idea into a business that has gone onto impact the lives of over 16,000 people worldwide.

By listening you'll discover how a highly distressing moment in Alan's early life connected him to his startup plans. You'll also hear his views on channeling anger, understanding rejection, the importance of saying sorry and much more.

Alan has invaluable gems to share. Don't miss this compelling first episode in Series 3.

Subscribe to the podcast

If you enjoy the Startup Survival Podcast and want to receive news and notifications of upcoming episodes, subscribe here.

A bit of podcast author background...

UK-based Peter Harrington set up his first business following graduation in York in 1989. He has since started and grown several companies in various sectors including research, marketing, design, print, educational software and consultancy. Over the last 30+ years, Peter has employed over 1,000 people and experienced many highs and a few lows including burglaries, floods, fire and of course the most recent pandemic.

As well as being the CEO with the SimVenture team, Peter is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at London South Bank University.

Big thanks to LSE Generate, the SimVenture Team and Seajam Moths for supporting the Startup Survival Podcast.

Find Guest details and all Reference Sources

The full podcast series together with additional materials, guest details and hyperlinks to all episode reference sources is available on Peter Harrington's Blog 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to Entrepreneurship'.

Discover what Series 3 of the Startup Survival Podcast covers and how the content is designed to help anyone involved with the world of startup and entrepreneurship.

Learn why understanding emotions is such an important issue for entrepreneurial minds and find out how we can better get to know ourselves.

Presented by podcast author Peter Harrington, this context-setting introduction will help you to appreciate why tuning into our feelings helps decision-making, informs behaviour and ultimately helps us to start, manage and grow more sustainable ventures.

Subscribe to the podcast

If you enjoy the Startup Survival Podcast and want to receive news and notifications of upcoming episodes, subscribe here.
 
A bit of podcast author background...

UK-based Peter Harrington set up his first business following graduation in York in 1989. He has since started and grown several companies in various sectors including research, marketing, design, print, educational software and consultancy. Over the last 30+ years, Peter has employed over 1,000 people and experienced many highs and a few lows including burglaries, floods, fire and of course the most recent pandemic.

As well as being the CEO with the SimVenture team, Peter is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at London South Bank University.

Big thanks to LSE Generate, the SimVenture Team and Seajam Moths for supporting the Startup Survival Podcast.

Find Guest details and all Reference Sources

The full podcast series together with additional materials, guest details and hyperlinks to all episode reference sources is available on Peter Harrington's Blog 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to Entrepreneurship'.

Welcome to Series 3 of the Startup Survival Podcast.

Entitled 'Strenth of Feeling', Series 3 launches in January 2022. Episodes will examine how emotions impact entrepreneurial behaviour.

Starting with the subject of anger, special guests will reveal and share how singular emotions affect startup lives. 

Issues such as fear, surprise, guilt, happiness, anxiety, joy, depression, confidence, pride and of course, vulnerability will be covered.

Do you want to be a show guest?

Are you prepared to share insights and stories from your life so others can learn and benefit from your experience?

• You may be a seasoned entrepreneur with a unique tale to tell.
• You may be an academic with deep, incisive and relevant research to share.
• You may have started or closed a business during the pandemic and have recent experience that chimes with this podcast theme.
• You may specialise in emotional intelligence and have neurological nuggets to offer.

Regardless of what you do, if you have had a close-entrepreneurial encounter emotion, you could be just the person to appear on the Startup Survival Podcast.

Don’t be undone by imposter syndrome and rule yourself out. 

But also, please be aware, sadly we can't provide guest slots for everyone.

Listen to this podcast and learn how you can apply to be a guest on the show.

Surviving startups recognise there is no perfect way through the maze of entrepreneurship. False dawns and one way streets are inevitable; but left unchecked these unrewarding routes can confuse, frustrate, trap and worst of all lead to an unplanned exit. 

By listening to this special episode, you'll discover how to think, plan and navigate through the 'early days maze'. You'll also get to know key reference sources and guides that you will treasure when working out and through the dawn of any new venture.

Tips and ideas for business forecasting, planning, research and moving forward are shared  on the show. You will also discover thought provoking true stories which support key points throughout the podcast.

 A bit of Podcast background...

UK-based Peter Harrington set up his first business following graduation in York in 1989. He has since started and grown several companies in various sectors including research, marketing, design, print, educational software and consultancy. Over the last 30+ years, Peter's companies have employed over 1,500 people and he has experienced the highs and worked through many lows including recessions, burglaries, floods, fire and of course the most recent pandemic.

As well as being the CEO with the SimVenture team, Peter is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at the London School of Economics and London South Bank University.

Big thanks to LSE Generate, the SimVenture Team and Seajam Moths for supporting the Startup Survival Podcast. 

Do you remember the scenes at Bournemouth Beach on the 25th of June 2020?

Reported as a major incident, thousands of sunseekers flocked to the sands in the middle of a heatwave - in the middle of the pandemic.

Covid meant social distancing had become the social norm. Yet despite desperate pleas to 'Keep Your Distance' and stay away, this popular Dorset resort reported record numbers of people who seemingly covered every inch of Bournemouth's golden sands.

Public services were overwhelmed.

Over 500 parking fines, 3 pier stabbings and 33 tonnes of litter were just some of the consequences of this 'Great British' gathering.

Meanwhile back in North West London...

Whilst watching the BBC's evening report, John Rathbone and Duncan Bennetts of the band 'Seajam Moths' used the scenes in Bournemouth as inspiration to write and produce (all remotely) the track 'Keep Your Distance' which is part of their first album - all available on  Spotify.

Singer, songwriter and music production specialist, Duncan Bennetts, is not only half of Seajam Moths but is also the producer of The Startup Survival Podcast. Duncan kindly lent the 'Keep Your Distance' music to the podcast and he even sings the final voiceover on each episode. Listen out for his 'Better Further'.

Read the BBC Bournemouth Beach Report
 

May be you know how your entrepreneurial adventure will end. And may be you know how you will get there. But given the uncertainty of life (pandemic or no pandemic) the chances are you don’t.

So how the heck do you plan, prepare and think through your entrepreneurial future with any degree of confidence? One way is to tune into this final episode and hear from a seasoned entrepreneur who has not only passed the start and finishing lines with several businesses but has also viewed the journey from multiple perspectives.

By listening to Jane Murray you’ll discover how to take greater control of your entrepreneurial future, how to prepare for a successful exit and how to give yourself the best chance of making start-up life work for you. Jane shares how you can think, learn and work so you avoid painful traps and instead spend as much time as possible enjoying the journey.

A bit of Podcast background...

UK-based Peter Harrington set up his first business following graduation in York in 1989. He has since started and grown several companies in various sectors including research, marketing, design, print, educational software and consultancy. Over the last 30+ years, Peter has employed over 1,000 people and experienced many highs and a few lows including burglaries, floods, fire and of course the most recent pandemic.

As well as being the CEO with the SimVenture team, Peter is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at the London School of Economics and London South Bank University.

Big thanks to LSE Generate, the SimVenture Team and Seajam Moths for supporting the Startup Survival Podcast.

Like it, love it or loath it, presenting is one of those key skills all entrepreneurs should learn to master. Being able to speak effectively to an audience gives you the power to communicate, influence and persuade.

In this episode, tune into presenter extraordinaire, Alex Simmons. Learn about his journey from Young Enterprise national finals and ‘DJing’ at teenage club events to talking to tens of thousands of people at Wembley and the 2020 Black Lives Matter event in London’s Hyde Park.

Alex shares how to plan and prepare presentations, how to structure thinking, how to use your voice and critically how to speak so people buy into what you say. Humble and still learning himself, Alex is one of the standout guests in this series.

A bit of Podcast background...

UK-based Peter Harrington set up his first business following graduation in York in 1989. He has since started and grown several companies in various sectors including research, marketing, design, print, educational software and consultancy. Over the last 30+ years, Peter has employed over 1,000 people and experienced many highs and a few lows including burglaries, floods, fire and of course the most recent pandemic.

As well as being the CEO with the SimVenture team, Peter is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at the London School of Economics and London South Bank University.

Big thanks to LSE Generate, the SimVenture Team and Seajam Moths for supporting the Startup Survival Podcast.

Find Guest details and all Reference Sources

The full podcast series together with additional materials, guest details and hyperlinks to all episode reference sources is available on Peter Harrington's Blog 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to Entrepreneurship'.