Explore every episode of the podcast Take The Plunge | Business Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Rugby Pitch to Retail Shelf: Darren O’Reilly on Building WholeSupp at Scale | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:48:44 | |
In this episode, Ciaran chats with Darren O’Reilly, founder & CEO of WholeSupp, on his journey from rugby and corporate life to launching a whole-food meal shake brand built on science, transparency and taste. Darren shares the grind of finding manufacturers, bootstrapping for three years, and building a challenger brand in a crowded nutrition space. Expect insight on manufacturing, omnichannel growth, hiring, partnerships, cash flow and smart funding. 🎯 Key Takeaways
🔥 Memorable Quotes
⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Intro & mission 01:05 – Rugby to corporate life to 23kg loss sparks the idea 02:30 – 13 whole-foods and allergen-friendly formula 03:40 – Fixing the “Wild West” of supplement labelling 06:20 – Manufacturing pain: MOQs, packaging swings, 3 years to market 08:40 – Bootstrapping reality & the Shopify myth 10:00 – Launching via social proof → paid ads 11:50 – Functional nutrition and category trends 12:40 – Convenience & RTD vision 13:40 – Taste testing and customer honesty 15:40 – Data engine: high retention & feedback 17:30 – New SKU ‘Elevate’: hydration + creatine 19:10 – Defining the “healthy, active” consumer 20:10 – Team culture, first-hire lesson, and advisors 22:20 – Low fixed, flexible cost model 24:50 – Omnichannel proof: H&B rollout & activations 26:40 – Partnerships: Rugby refs, breathwork, Nadia Power 29:10 – Milestone 430k+ meals; target 500k 30:30 – Funding & CFO Val: angels, grants, EI 32:00 – Tracking metrics via StoreHero + Triple Whale 34:00 – Profitability vs growth; knowing when to scale 36:20 – Raising smart, not fast; proof before capital 37:30 – Email education wins; 3-week reorder = 80% chance of third order 39:00 – Next goal: RTD #2 in UK 🔍 Keywords: WholeSupp, whole-food nutrition, RTD, DTC, omnichannel, third-party testing, customer research, micro-influencers, retention, Enterprise Ireland, angels, challenger brand, Holland & Barrett, functional nutrition, startup funding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| From Nightclubs to Network Powerhouse: Lisa Boissel on Scaling Her Business, Miss Jones Group | 01 Aug 2025 | 00:36:22 | |
In this episode, Ciaran sits down with Lisa Boissel, CEO of Miss Jones Group, to uncover her bold journey from Dublin’s nightclub scene to owning and scaling one of the UK’s most influential networks for personal and executive assistants. Lisa shares how she spotted a gap in the PA community, took the risk of acquiring Miss Jones during COVID, and leaned into tech and AI to modernise the business. From event planning stress to leadership growth, this conversation is packed with real-world insights for anyone navigating entrepreneurship, acquisitions, or community building. 🎯 Key Takeaways: • Lisa transitioned from nightlife to entrepreneurship with no formal business background • She saw an opportunity in the PA & EA space and turned it into a thriving network • Acquiring Miss Jones during COVID was a high-stakes move rooted in conviction • Technology and AI have become essential to business operations and customer service • Community-building and strong relationships remain core to her event planning approach • Lisa prioritizes hiring people who are eager to grow with the business 🔥 Memorable Quotes: “You can always go back and get a job — so take the risk.”“I always trust my intuition on things.“I want them to grow with the company.”⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 – Intro to Lisa’s Journey 01:25 – From Nightclubs to Business Ownership 05:44 – Spotting the Gap in the PA Market 07:28 – Growing the Miss Jones Network 09:48 – Using Tech to Scale 11:57 – The Challenges of Tech Development 17:48 – AI Integration for Customer Experience 19:25 – Buying Miss Jones During COVID 23:25 – Navigating Event Planning Stress 25:10 – Building a Strong Team 30:21 – Expanding into New Markets 32:47 – Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 34:28 – Lisa’s Vision for the Future 🔍 Keywords: entrepreneurship, scaling a business, women in business, event planning, community building, PA network, acquisition, business technology, AI in business, startup growth, SME success Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Jamie Harford - Inverse Funding | Take The Plunge Podcast. S4 Ep.2 | 01 Aug 2022 | 00:38:21 | |
In this week's episode of 'Take the plunge' Swoop Founder Ciaran Burke is speaking to Inverse Funding Founder Jamie Harford. Find out how Jamie went from running a healthy fast food business in 2012 to being responsible for 20% of funding raises in Europe (2020). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Finding your purpose, accounting and whiskey: when Swoop met Andrew Van De Beek. S4 EP1 | 16 Jun 2022 | 00:33:27 | |
Finding your purpose, accounting and whiskey with Andrew Van De Beek. In this week's episode of 'Take the plunge' Swoop Founder Ciaran Burke is speaking to illumin8 Founder Andrew Van De Beek. The Aussie Accountant depicts the highs and lows of his journey as an Accountant and a Founder. Watch to find out more! Find funding for your business now for free, register with us at https://swoopfunding.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=avb-podcast More from Swoop: Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwoopFunding Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swoopfunding/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwoopFunding Where else to listen: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3qCQwfI Find Andrew at https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvandebeek/ https://www.illumin8.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| North Point Distillery - Alex MacDonald | 01 Mar 2022 | 00:26:01 | |
Alex MacDonald, Co-Founder of North Point Distillery tells us about his journey from working within government trade to starting up a distillery with Struan Mackie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Vurger co - Neil Potts and Rachel Hugh | 15 Feb 2022 | 00:37:16 | |
Neil Potts and Rachel Hugh, Co-founders of The Vurger co tell us about their journey from being told that no one wants a vegan fast food restaurant to now being in the process of opening up their 4th successful location. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Z link - Erifili Gounari | 01 Feb 2022 | 00:24:27 | |
Erifili Gounari, Founder of the Z link tells about her journey of starting up during Covid and growing her successful business whilst studying full time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Un:hurd - Alex Brees | 18 Jan 2022 | 00:25:34 | |
Alex Brees, Founder and CEO of un:hurd tells us about his journey from his determination to work at Universal Music to realising his passion for helping independent artists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| CIRCLA - Claudia Gwinnutt | 04 Jan 2022 | 00:22:43 | |
Claudia Gwinnutt, Founder and CEO of CIRCLA tells us all about her journey from jumping around in the finance world for nine years to taking a sabbatical and finding her true calling for CIRCLA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Bad Moon Talent - Andrew Drake | 21 Dec 2021 | 00:32:13 | |
Andrew Drake, Co-Founder and CEO of Bad Moon Talent tell us about his story from working for Activision Blizzard to setting up his own Esports Talent Management Company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Literal Humans - Paul David Perry & William Gadsby Peet | 23 Nov 2021 | 00:31:29 | |
Paul David Perry & William Gadsby Peet, Co-Founders of Literal Humans tell us about their story of stopping what they were doing and setting up their agency together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Unplugged - Hector Hughes | 09 Nov 2021 | 00:27:24 | |
Co-Founder of Unplugged, Hector Hughes tells us about his journey from going on a 10-day retreat in the Himalayas to quitting his job and starting up his own off-grid cabin retreat company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Founder Russ Wakeham’s Carbon-Negative Rum Brand | Two Drifters Distillery | Take The Plunge Podcast S6:E3 | 20 Sep 2024 | 00:33:48 | |
This is a podcast for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who are thinking of taking the plunge! This week Ciaran and his guest of this episode, Russ Wakeham, the founder and CEO of Two Drifters Distillery – a premium British rum company with a unique, carbon-negative footprint. In this episode, they dive deep into Russ's journey in the spirits industry, where he shares his experience of building a sustainable brand from the ground up. Two Drifters Distillery is not just known for its high-quality rum, but also for its commitment to sustainability, as the entire production process leaves a positive impact on the environment. Russ explains how they have combined their passion for great rum with innovative environmental practices to create a company that's both profitable and planet-friendly. Website: (https://twodriftersrum.com/) LinkedIn: [Russ Wakeham] (https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-wakeham-984a1938/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app) Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/2DriftersRum/) Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/twodriftersrum/?hl=en) Ready to start your own business? You can get a head start with support from Swoop! Learn more about Swoop here 👉 https://app.swoopfunding.com/stage Follow Swoop on our social media platforms as well! LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/swoopfunding/?viewAsMember=true) Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/SwoopFunding) Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/swoopfunding/?hl=en) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Be-Hookd - George James | 26 Oct 2021 | 00:28:40 | |
Founder and CEO of Be-Hookd, George James tells us about his journey from working for The X Factor to starting up his own star-studded marketing agency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Hospital Records - Chris Goss | 28 Sep 2021 | 00:47:12 | |
Co-Founder and MD of Hospital Records, Chris Goss tells us about his journey from working in a record shop to starting up his own record label with Tony Colman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Orchid Black - Jim Barnish | 14 Sep 2021 | 00:23:51 | |
Founder & Managing Partner of Orchid Black, Jim Barnish tells us about his story from being a part of his family business to having his own successful company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Talent Crunch - Ross Summers | 24 Aug 2021 | 00:26:41 | |
Ross Summers, Founder and CEO of Talent Crunch tells us about his opinion of the traditional recruitment model and what the future looks like for Talent Crunch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Soho Juice Co - Johnny Barnes | 10 Aug 2021 | 00:37:34 | |
Founder of Soho Juice Co, Johnny Barnes tells us about his journey from working in Soho, starting a lip care company to developing an award-winning juice company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Sk|in - Ben Barter | 27 Jul 2021 | 00:24:05 | |
Co-founder of Sk|in, Ben Barter tells us about his journey from using furlough to reflect on his career to then starting his new, unique company with co-founder Flinty Bane. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Alyve - Sam Price | 13 Jul 2021 | 00:24:10 | |
Sam Price, Founder and CEO of Alyve talks to us about his personal journey with nutrition, the benefits he experienced and the process of turning it into a successful business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Nú Infusions - Conor Meehan | 29 Jun 2021 | 00:21:22 | |
Founder of Nú Infusions, Conor Meehan talks us through his journey of discovering guayusa tea, its benefits, launching an online store and creating new products. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Focused for Business - Hatty Fawcett | 15 Jun 2021 | 00:26:37 | |
Founder of Focused for Business, Hatty Fawcett talks us through her journey of being a marketeer working for startups to starting her own business to help businesses raise equity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| White Bear Studio - Dave Endersen | 01 Jun 2021 | 00:21:22 | |
Dave Endersen, Director and Partner at White Bear studio tells us all about his journey so far and the step he took in joining his wife, Kelly, full time at White Bear in 2019. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How Ernesto Turned £300 into a Thriving Subway Franchise Empire S6:E2 | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:46:45 | |
Welcome to Take The Plunge, a podcast for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs ready to take the plunge into the world of business! Join your host, Ciaran, as he dives into an inspiring conversation with this week’s guest, Ernesto Moreno—a powerhouse in the entrepreneurial world. Ernesto's journey began in 2003 when he moved from Venezuela to the UK at just 23 years old with only £300 in his pocket. Fast forward two years, and he had already opened his first Subway restaurant with his business partners. This was just the beginning. Over the next few years, Ernesto expanded his Subway franchise to 15 restaurants across the South West of England, and his entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. He went on to co-found two more franchise businesses, CeX and Miniso, and co-create Arepa & Co, a Venezuelan-inspired restaurant chain in London, now boasting four thriving locations. Today, Ernesto's ventures employ over 450 people across 32 stores and four distinct brands. In this episode, he shares the secrets behind his success, the challenges he overcame, and his vision for Arepa & Co as he works to make it a household name. Beyond his active role in his businesses, Ernesto is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs launch and grow their own ventures. He is a seasoned business consultant and people development specialist, with over 22 years of experience working with top consulting firms like Atos Consulting and PwC. Ernesto also delivers Leadership Development and Management Training programs in partnership with edoMidas, a renowned management consultancy. If you dream of taking the plunge yourself, you can get a good start with help from Swoop Funding! Learn more about Swoop here 👉 https://app.swoopfunding.com/stage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Futrli - Hannah Dawson | 18 May 2021 | 00:29:28 | |
Hannah Dawson, Founder and CEO of Futrli talks us through her journey from owning a pub and ending up with a £40K VAT bill, to starting up Futrli to help ensure mistakes like this don't happen to other business owners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Nimble Babies - Von Sy | 04 May 2021 | 00:28:11 | |
Von Sy, Founder and CEO of Nimble babies discusses the journey of starting his company including his Dragons Den appearance and getting his products into large UK supermarkets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Journolink - Peter Ibbetson | 20 Apr 2021 | 00:31:44 | |
Peter Ibbetson, Founder and Director of Journolink joins us for the first episode of season 2. Listen to hear all about his journey in PR and the growth of Journolink. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Influencer - Ben Jeffries | 16 Mar 2021 | 00:33:01 | |
CEO and Co-Founder of Influencer, Ben Jeffries tell us how the idea of Influencer came about, their investement journey and the importance of culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Tribu Hair - Glen Brophy | 09 Mar 2021 | 00:27:18 | |
Founder of Tribu Hair, Glen Brophy tells us about his journey of opening his hair salon just meer months before Covid, the struggles of finding property and the importance of customer service. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Foodomnia - Mark Murphy | 02 Mar 2021 | 00:36:12 | |
Mark Murphy, Founder and CEO of Foodomnia tells us about the growth of 3 brands and concepts, developing with the food delivery world and his journey so far. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Novus Altair - Adnan Niazi | 23 Feb 2021 | 00:31:33 | |
This week we are joined by Adnan Niazi, Director and CEO of Novus Altair. He tells us all about how London 2012 pushed him to start his business and how they have helped on the frontline during Covid-19. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Country & Townhouse - Jeremy Isaac | 16 Feb 2021 | 00:30:36 | |
For the next episode of the Take The Plunge Podcast Jeremy Isaac, Co-Founder of Country & Townhouse tells us all about the development of the magazine, doing never done before high end advertising and adjusting to the growth of digital. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Bunsen - Finn Gleeson | 09 Feb 2021 | 00:29:00 | |
Finn Gleeson, Co-Founder of Bunsen, a popular Irish burger chain, talks about his journey of growing one to eight restaurants and adapting to the growth of working with delivery partners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Infinite Management - Sam Patterson & Monica Gartner | 02 Feb 2021 | 00:23:45 | |
Founders of Infinite Management, Sam Patterson and Monica Gartner tell us all about the accidental start of Infinite, what they've learnt so far and how they manage to juggle a long-distance relationship and running a business together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| From books to bots: The Journey of ReThink Founder Lucy McCarraher | Take The Plunge Podcast S6 Ep1 | 23 Aug 2024 | 00:41:39 | |
This is a podcast for business owners & aspiring business owners who are thinking of taking the plunge! This week Ciaran and his guest of this episode, female founder Lucy McCarraher discuss her journey in the publishing world. Lucy is the co-founder and CEO of the Book Magic AI book-writing app, co-founder of Rethink Press, and founder of the Business Book Awards. She is a Director of Dent Global and the Publish Mentor for the Key Person of Influence programme. Author of 13 books, including "A Book of One’s Own" and "Bookbuilder," Lucy is the UK's leading business book mentor, having guided over a thousand entrepreneurs and experts in writing and publishing their books. She hosts the ABOO online support group for women authors and runs women's mastermind and fiction-writing programmes. Lucy started her first publishing company at university and has since worked in publishing and media. She holds a postgraduate diploma in teaching Creative Writing and Literacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Just Work - Joanna Wilson | 26 Jan 2021 | 00:19:53 | |
Joanna Wilson, Founder of Just Work tells us the story behind starting her business, her struggles with finding a business bank account, and her hopes for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Wild Youth - Conor O'Donohoe | 19 Jan 2021 | 00:18:31 | |
For the next episode of the Take The Plunge Podcast Conor O'Donohoe, songwriter and musician of Wild Youth! He talks about his journey in music so far and life as a musician during COVID. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Arts Thread - Alex Brownless | 12 Jan 2021 | 00:33:11 | |
Alex Brownless, Co-Founder of Arts Thread tells us the story behind his career in the art world, his advice for the next generation, and his success over the last 11 and a half years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Sons - Will Kennedy and Adrian Gilbane | 05 Jan 2021 | 00:33:13 | |
Will Kennedy and Adrian Gilbane, Founders of Sons hair loss treatment talk about the story behind starting their business and their experience so far! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Bubbles Bakery - Immy Ray | 29 Dec 2020 | 00:24:10 | |
The fourth installment of the Take The Plunge podcast features Immy, Founder of Bubbles Bakery. The episode covers the story behind Bubbles Bakery and Immy's journey so far from creating a business in lockdown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Digital Works Agency - Eimear McManus | 22 Dec 2020 | 00:27:12 | |
The third installment of the Take The Plunge podcast features Eimear McManus, Director of Digital Works Agency (DWA). The episode covers Eimear's fascinating story from starting her career with just a desk in her room in Limerick to being named one of Irelands 30 under 30 through bringing brands to life! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Eiza Murphy | 15 Dec 2020 | 00:27:03 | |
Irish Singer-Songwriter, Eiza murphy reflects on her journey so far in the music industry what she hopes to do next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Bua Fit - Dave Stapleton | 08 Dec 2020 | 00:27:15 | |
Founder & CEO of Bua Fit, Dave Stapleton reflects on the journey so far in his business venture and what he hopes to do next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Emma Thompson | Take The Plunge Podcast | 11 Jan 2024 | 00:47:13 | |
Ciaran and his guest of this episode, female founder Emma Thompson, talk about the processes of becoming a beekeeper, how to make a business from a hobby and many more bee-related topics. Follow Ciaran and Thompson down the rabbit holes of beekeeping and Emma's story of how she started her business Bee Haven Body Care, a body care brand selling products made with Emma's own honey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Deidre Mc Gettrick | Take The Plunge Podcast | 17 Oct 2023 | 00:36:01 | |
This episode, Ciaran Burke gets to interview female entrepreneur and business owner Deidre Mc Gettrick. Deidre, or "Dee" as Ciaran calls her, is the founder and CEO of the furniture and furnishing retail website ufurnish.com. The idea behind ufurnish.com is to bring furniture from every possible retailer and manufacturer together, to make the furniture-buying journey easier for the customer. She shares her journey, from idea to successful business, so listen closely because you can definitely learn something. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Sháá Wasmund | Take The Plunge Podcast | 13 Sep 2023 | 00:49:14 | |
In this edition of 'Take The Plunge', our own Ciaran Burke interviews renowned British businesswoman Sháá Wasmund MBE, delving into her many past ventures and experiences. What Wasmund is, is hard to explain as she has been a boxing manager, a business owner and an author, but most of all she is headstrong and ambitious. Through her many years of working, from when she was barely 20 to today, she has stayed determined and keeps working to better herself and the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Pamela Laird - Moxi Loves | Take The Plunge Podcast | 15 May 2023 | 00:38:25 | |
In this episode, Ciaran meets Pamela Laird a renowned entrepreneur and the creative force behind MoxiLoves, a thriving beauty and lifestyle brand that has taken the industry by storm. With her keen business acumen and unwavering determination, Pamela has built an empire from the ground up, providing invaluable guidance to aspiring business owners and anyone seeking inspiration to pursue their dreams of owning a business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Julia Vendramin - LABELL-D | Take The Plunge Podcast. S4 Ep.3 | 30 Sep 2022 | 00:29:55 | |
This week Ciaran met with the co-founder of LABELL-D, Julia Vendramin. Julia discusses her long spanning career in fashion and her learnings from starting her own sustainable fashion business. This episode is packed with insights on starting and scaling your own business as well as defining your brand identity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||