Honey, I Blew Up The Business

Dan Kirby

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If you are wondering, "who is this guy and why should I listen to his podcast?" Read this.


Your host, Dan Kirby, has been an entrepreneur since 2001 and knows what it's like to experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.


In 2004, Dan co-founded The Tech Dept, who built BBC Children in Need's fundraising platform. The BBC even said, "I hope you know we wouldn't have had another record-breaking year without you. Fact."


Now they specialise in helping impact founders build scalable, reliable tech products that deliver the vision.


Dan isn't a typical tech entrepreneur who is all talk and no substance. In 2015, he was number 34 in "The Digerati" (100 most influential people in UK digital), and in 2017, he was in BIMA's "Hot 100" as a Digital Ambassador.


He's raced across deserts (completing The Marathon des Sables - 6 marathons in 7 days in the Sahara - raising £14,000 for the children's charity KidsOut).


Created the 24-hour urban festival Getahead, a not-for-profit helping people "get ahead without burning out".


And even played the lead character in a movie pilot (comedy feature) based on an event series called The Tech Off – "the lovechild of TED talks & WWE".


Oh, and he was named one of the 25 most innovative people in Europe, the Middle East & Asia for 2018 by The Holmes Report.


But in 2017, he f**ked up. Bad.


He can laugh about it now, but it was no joke at the time.


Shame, humiliation, terror. The lot.


Fortunately, Dan turned things around, and he's doing better than ever!


And now, Dan is on a mission: to create the realest entrepreneur podcast in the world! And he's on the right track – Honey I Blew Up The Business is now in the top 2.5% of all global podcasts.


Dan wants to bring people together to talk about what it's really like to be a founder. What it's like to face your demons and come out the other side as a better person and a better entrepreneur.


A tribe of like-minded people who aren't afraid to talk about this shadow side. Who want to do a lot of good in the world. And who want to make a lot of money doing it.


If that sounds like you - Drop Dan a DM on social media and see how you can get involved.


Dan lives with his wife, three teenage daughters, two dogs, and four cats in Bakewell (home of the Bakewell tart).


P.S. - Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights, and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com


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Episodes

S2 E13: Becoming Driven with Dr Doug Brackmann
29-06-2023
S2 E13: Becoming Driven with Dr Doug Brackmann
In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan is joined by Dr Doug Brackmann. Doug is a psychologist, and the author of Driven: Understanding and Harnessing the Genetic Gifts Shared by Entrepreneurs, Navy SEALs, Pro Athletes, and Maybe YOU.In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, Doug delves into his shadow side during a time when his “elephant” took him for a wild ride that he couldn’t get off from. Discover the importance of owning your wolf. The “elephant vs the monkey mind.” Why “leading with heart” makes you a better shepherd. And how to channel your driven energy from self-destruction into building a self-fulfilling life.If you are seeking some drive in your life, get this episode in your ears! 👂Connect with Doug (his content is great!):LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglasbrackmann/Get your copy of Driven here: https://amzn.eu/d/3DIdUPNSubscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale
S2 E12: Embracing Uniqueness with Vimla Appadoo and Dr Marilyn Comrie OBE
22-06-2023
S2 E12: Embracing Uniqueness with Vimla Appadoo and Dr Marilyn Comrie OBE
In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan welcomes two powerful women from the North of England – Vimla Appadoo and Dr Marilyn Comrie OBE. They both sit on the Board of the Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and see business as a force for good – and positive change. In this interview, we delve into what it’s really like at the coalface of the entrepreneurial journey. Discover the power of saying no. How to embrace your uniqueness in whatever form it takes. And why studying your “red threads” can help you discover your purpose in life. Vimla and Marilyn are currently trying to make a positive impact in the world. Maybe you can join them on this quest?Connect with Vimla:Vimla’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vimlaappadoo/Website: https://www.honeybadgerclan.com/Connect with Marilyn: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyncomrie/Subscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale
S2 E11: Fearlessness with Dominic McGregor
15-06-2023
S2 E11: Fearlessness with Dominic McGregor
In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan features a very special guest - Dominic McGregor, one of the Founders of Social Chain (alongside you-know-who) and now Founder and Partner of Fearless Adventures. Dominic is the poster boy of modern entrepreneurship, but is it all it’s made out to be? At the age of 20, he was on a rocket ship ride to fame but soon found himself in a very dark place... In this raw and candid conversation, we get into Dominic’s journey from starting a hugely successful company and his struggles with his shadow side – addiction, loneliness, and the entire works. This is the story of how adversity can spring upon you, and how to turn it around for good. Discover how to overcome your demons. The flywheel effect – what it is and how it impacts your business. And why taking responsibility for your actions is the ultimate goal in life.Subscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale
S2 E10: The Pursuit Of Excellence with Michael Bourne
08-06-2023
S2 E10: The Pursuit Of Excellence with Michael Bourne
In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan is joined by Michael Bourne, self-described “book addict” and the performance director of the Lawn Tennis Association. In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, we get a centre-court seat into what drives people to reach elite levels of a discipline. And then what destroys them. Michael peels back the layers of “Trauma with a big T” versus lower-case trauma - and why understanding these differences gives you an additional lens of empathy - to yourself. Discover why self-awareness is crucial for entrepreneurs and elite athletes. And how to jettison your rockets before they pull you back down to earth.  We also dive deep into these books (check them out!): The Myth of Normal - Gabor MateThe Body Keeps the Score - Bessel Van Der KolkPrinciples -  Ray Dalio Subscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale
S2 E7: Converting Fear Into Unlimited Potential with Geoff Thompson
18-05-2023
S2 E7: Converting Fear Into Unlimited Potential with Geoff Thompson
In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Dan is joined by Geoff Thompson,  a BAFTA-winning writer and film-maker whose life story was brought to the screen with actors like Ray Winstone and Orlando Bloom. He is the author of close to fifty books and has appeared on the Sunday Times Bestseller List several times. A total badass, Black Belt Magazine USA named Geoff "the most influential martial artist in the world since Bruce Lee." He’s also a spiritual teacher who has greatly influenced our host, Dan.In a deep and wide ranging conversation, we get into the toxic impact of false beliefs - how to unpack the misguided conditioning from the culture you grew up in. Geoff shares how a “hench fly” taught him to practise, practise, practise. Why to “find the centre, hold the centre, develop the centre”. The “cosmic post it note.” And how contracting your ego will expand your awareness - making you a better entrepreneur.Connect with Geoff:Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/geoff_thompson_official/Also, check out his TED talk on conquering fear: Conquering Fear | Geoff Thompson | TEDxLeamingtonSpaSubscribe to our newsletter and get first dibs on all the latest updates, insights and lessons from Honey I Blew Up The Business: https://signup.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale
S2 E4: Crossing The Rubicon with Jason Kingsley OBE
27-04-2023
S2 E4: Crossing The Rubicon with Jason Kingsley OBE
In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Jason Kingsley OBE returns for a re-match. Jason is the Owner and CEO of Rebellion, as well as the creator of the YouTube channel Modern History TV (over 750k subs), where he dresses up as a mediaeval knight and rides horses!Dan wanted to get Jason back on the show because he owns the cult comic 2000AD (the home of Judge Dredd), which Dan used to collect in the 1980’s! Learn why having a rebellious stance is good - up to a point. Jason explains how he got out of the gig economy and built a body of intellectual property. Discover why “fear of the unknown is greater than the danger of the unknown”...and exactly what you can learn from the Chivalric Code.Connect with Jason:Twitter: https://twitter.com/rebellionjason LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-kingsley-obe-8a6080a Check out the Kickstarter for his new book:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/modernknight/leading-the-rebellion-by-jason-kingsley-obe---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale
S2 E2: Addicted To Success with Margaret Manning OBE
13-04-2023
S2 E2: Addicted To Success with Margaret Manning OBE
In this episode of "Honey I Blew Up The Business" Season 2, Margaret Manning OBE returns to the podcast. She is a globally experienced digital entrepreneur with a focus on technology and innovation, and since the first interview, she’s become somewhat of a collaborator with our host, Dan.In this episode, we go deep into an under-explored aspect of entrepreneurship. What happens when you actually get what you want. When you win. After the credits roll. We witness how Margaret's move to sunnier climes - after selling her business - led to some very shadowy times. She found herself in "The Valley". This is the story of how success can turn on you, and what to do to pull yourself out of a dip.Why not reach out to Margaret? She’s currently looking for a “purpose component” in her life - maybe you have one?www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-manning-obe/margaret.manning@digitalconversations.com We also dive deep into this book, which has helped me build more purpose in my life: The Second Mountain by David Brooks.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale
S2 E1: Me and My Shadow with Dan Sullivan
06-04-2023
S2 E1: Me and My Shadow with Dan Sullivan
The deadly Dan duo is back! After kicking off Season 1, Dan Sullivan returns to kick off Season 2. And this is his most open interview yet.Dan Sullivan is the world's foremost expert on entrepreneurship and has personally coached more successful entrepreneurs than anyone else living. He's the founder and president of The Strategic Coach Inc, the leading entrepreneurial coaching company in the world, which over the past 40+ years has provided teaching and training to more than 30,000 entrepreneurs.Together these “cosmic twins” delve into Dan Sullivan's "shadow side", a time when he was forced to confront his own “horse’s ass” behaviour. Discover why your best self isn’t going to come from discipline and the tools to use so that growing 10x is easier than 2x.Check out Dan Sullivan’s new book at https://10xeasierbook.com/ This new book plus his previous books combine to make a great trilogy for any entrepreneur IMHO:www.whonothow.com www.gapandgainbook.com And check out his entrepreneurial coaching business - it was one of the key reasons my business turned around after our 2017 blow up: www.strategiccoach.com We also mention Joe Polish’s book What’s In It For Them www.whatsinitforthem.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▷ Honey I Blew Up The Podcast! We are no longer recording new episodes of this podcast ▷ Host Dan Kirby has sold his shares in The Tech Dept (the business he blew up & turned around) to launch Founders Are Mental - teaching tech founders how to become Zen-like without being a monk... ▷ Show sponsors The Tech Dept are still going strong - helping founders build tech from MVP to Scale