Curious Customer - the Consumer Podcast.

Vishal Kumar is the founder of Caira Camera — a camera that bridges the gap between your smartphone and professional equipment. Before launching his business, Vishal worked as a data scientist at Sotheby's, where he started creating his own content and quickly discovered the frustrations that come with traditional photography workflows. His experience led him to ask a simple question: why should getting quality photos mean spending hours editing on a laptop? Caira is his answer—a camera that combines the image quality of a Sony with the ease of a smartphone, powered by AI to handle the tedious bits you'd rather skip.What We Talked AboutWhy smartphone cameras have hit a wall – The iPhone 17 Pro has identical sensors to the 16 Pro. Incremental improvements don't match the marketing hype, and tiny sensors can only get so good.The graduation dilemma – Content creators and small business owners are buying professional cameras for better quality, but the complicated menus and outdated workflows make them a nightmare to use.Why big camera brands can't innovate – Canon, Sony, and Nikon control 90% of the market but are trapped serving professional photographers who resist any change.The real pain point isn't taking photos – It's spending hours afterwards dragging files to your laptop and editing in Adobe Lightroom. That's where most people give up.AI for the boring stuff, not the creative stuff – Caira handles post-processing automatically—applying colour grades, cutting videos, adding subtitles—whilst you stay in control of the actual photography.The controversy around generative AI – Caira is the first mirrorless camera with Imagen built in. Vishal's solution to concerns? Add "nutrition labels" to AI-generated content so everyone knows what they're looking at.Data ownership and health tech – Vishal's been tracking his health data on Apple Watch for 10 years and believes we should take more control of our own health information.Ready to Hear More?If you've ever felt frustrated by the gap between your smartphone and "proper" cameras—or if you're curious about how AI might actually make your life easier rather than just generating weird images—this episode is for you. Vishal doesn't hold back on the challenges facing his business or the controversies around AI in photography. Tune in to hear how one entrepreneur is betting that the future of cameras isn't about more megapixels, but about less faff.Listen now on your favourite podcast platform.Connect with Vishal:InstagramConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

We're living through a major shift in how brands are created. Andy Hooper, co-founder of R3, reveals that celebrity-endorsed products are evolving into celebrity-owned brands where stars actually have skin in the game. When Kevin Hart opens Hart House or Selena Gomez creates Rare Beauty, they're not just lending their name for a paycheck—they're building something they genuinely believe in and will use themselves. As AI-generated content floods social media with fake recommendations, understanding which brands have real authenticity behind them will help you make better purchasing decisions.What You Need to Know:Boring Categories Are Getting Disrupted: Expect innovation in stagnant categories like soup. Traditional giants could soon face celebrity-owned alternatives that align with modern values around fresh, natural ingredients.AI is Making Endorsements Meaningless: The flood of AI-generated influencer content means you can't trust social media promotions anymore. Only brands where celebrities actually own the business have real incentive to deliver quality.Mass Market Can Mean High Quality Now: Brands like Rare Beauty prove you can have wide accessibility and high quality simultaneously. When celebrities build for themselves, products tend to be genuinely better.Look for the "Why": Good celebrity brands answer a clear question: why does this need to exist? Ask yourself if it's solving a real problem or just a cash grab. Brands built from authentic purpose deliver better value.We're Just Getting Started: Despite feeling like celebrity brands are everywhere, Andy predicts peak is still 10-15 years away. This means more choice, more innovation, and more competition in categories that have been stagnant for decades.Authenticity Will Win: The brands that survive will be those where the celebrity is genuinely invested. Look for brands where the founder's story connects naturally to the product—that's your signal for quality.Start paying attention to who actually owns the brands you buy. Next time you see a celebrity product, ask: Are they just a paid spokesperson, or did they build this company? The difference matters for quality, values, and authenticity. Vote with your wallet for brands built by people who have real stakes in making you happy—because when celebrities own the business, your satisfaction becomes their success.Connect with Andy:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

What if your electric car could make you money while you sleep, or your energy company actually helped you save instead of just sending bills? In this episode, Tim Heal, Chief Strategy Officer at Octopus Energy, reveals how the way we power our homes is fundamentally changing—and why it matters for your wallet and the planet.For decades, energy companies have operated on outdated technology, treating you as a passive consumer. But a new model is emerging: smart technology that turns your home, car, and solar panels into active participants in a flexible energy grid that rewards you for helping balance supply and demand. You're no longer just paying for power—you're becoming a partner in creating a cleaner, smarter energy system that benefits you financially.Tim shares his vision for the future: where your energy company isn't just a faceless utility, but an intelligent system that optimizes everything automatically—charging your car overnight when prices are lowest, running appliances when solar power is abundant, and keeping your home comfortable while minimizing costs and emissions.Key Topics Discussed:The Virtual Battery in Your Driveway – How 270,000 EV owners are making money while they sleep. Tim explains Octopus's smart charging program where you plug in your car, set when you need it ready, and their technology automatically charges when electricity is cheapest while paying you for helping balance the grid.What Really Happens When You Turn On Your Lights – The surprising truth about where your electricity comes from. Tim breaks down the difference between the physical grid delivering power and the commercial agreements behind the scenes, explaining why prices change every 30 minutes and how Octopus absorbs that volatility for you.Why Your Energy Company's Technology Matters – The shocking state of utility systems. While most energy companies run on systems built in the 1980s, Octopus's cloud-based Kraken platform updates 200 times per day—delivering real-time meter readings, flexible tariffs, and customer service that actually works.The Four-Part Ecosystem Transforming Energy – Beyond just flipping switches. Octopus helps you install heat pumps and solar, invests billions in renewable farms, and licenses technology to competitors like E.ON and EDF to make clean energy easier and cheaper to access.Why Optimism Matters – The human side of the energy revolution. Tim shares why he's hopeful about the future, seeing business leaders prioritize genuine impact over profit through community ownership and using business as a force for good.Listen NowReady to understand how the energy revolution impacts your wallet? Tune in to hear how modern technology and renewable energy are transforming the way we power our homes.Connect with Tim:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

Ever wondered why you feel more connected to certain creators than others? In this episode, Harry Fitzgerald, co-founder and COO of Fanvue, reveals how the way we interact with our favorite artists, athletes, and influencers is fundamentally changing—and why that matters to you as a consumer.Harry breaks down the seismic shift happening right now in the creator economy. For years, creators have been monetizing through brand deals and ads that interrupt your experience and dilute authentic connections. But a new model is emerging: direct-to-fan platforms where connection becomes the currency, and you're no longer being sold to—you're being engaged with.What makes this particularly exciting? AI is making it possible for creators to have meaningful, personalized interactions with thousands of fans simultaneously. This means you can finally get that one-on-one connection with creators you admire, scaled in a way that was impossible just a few years ago. From musicians who can now create despite physical disabilities to fitness instructors who can provide personalized guidance at scale, technology is democratizing access to the people you care about.Harry also shares his vision for where this is all heading: a future where you'll spend less time scrolling through algorithmically-fed content from strangers and more time deeply connecting with the handful of creators whose work truly resonates with you.Key Topics Discussed:The Evolution from Ads to Authentic Connection – Why the creator economy is shifting away from brand deals and ad revenue toward direct subscription models where fans pay for genuine interaction rather than being sold products, and why only 2% of creators currently use this model.How AI Enables Personalized Fan Experiences at Scale – The technology breakthrough that allows creators to have authentic one-on-one conversations with thousands of fans simultaneously, making deep connections possible without sacrificing the creator's time or the relationship's authenticity.The Netflix Moment for Creator Platforms – Harry's comparison of the current creator economy to Netflix's early DVD-by-mail days, predicting that mainstream adoption of direct-to-fan monetization will happen in less than 18 months rather than the 10-15 years it took streaming to dominate.The Future of Social Media: Discovery vs. Connection Platforms – Why consumer behavior is shifting away from algorithmic feeds that push irrelevant content toward dedicated platforms focused solely on consuming and connecting with your favorite creators.Democratizing Creativity Through AI – The inspiring story of Lucas, a musician who overcame physical disabilities through AI music tools, and how technology is enabling more people to become creators and share their talents with the world.Harry's Consumer Pick: Yuka—a free app that scans food and cosmetic products to reveal hidden additives and help you make healthier choices (his shocking discovery: that "healthy" oat milk brand had nine critical additives!).Connect with Harry:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

Meet Hannu Ryöppönen, a veteran of the food industry with an impressive track record that spans some of the world's most recognizable brands. As Group CFO at IKEA for over 13 years, he was behind the scenes of those famous meatballs and hot dogs you grab during your furniture shopping trips. He later moved to Ahold, one of the world's largest grocery retailers, and has served on the advisory board at Citibank. Today, he brings his wealth of experience to Samworth Brothers as a non-executive director—a company you might not know by name, but whose products you've almost certainly eaten. They're the manufacturers behind 75% private label products for major UK supermarkets like Tesco and Asda, plus beloved brands like Ginsters pasties, Higgerty soups, and Soreen malt loaves.Episode Highlights:IKEA's genius food strategy revealed: Those nearly-free hot dogs and £1 meatballs aren't about profit—they're designed to keep you shopping longer and send you home happy, not exhausted and irritatedYou've been eating their products without knowing it: Samworth Brothers makes the sandwiches, ready meals, and snacks in UK supermarkets worth £2 billion annually—from Tesco meal deals to petrol station sandwichesWhy your sandwich costs what it does: Branded products like Ginsters have better margins than store-brand items, which is why supermarkets push both—and why private label makes up 75% of what they produceFresh food is a race against time: Your supermarket sandwich has a 2-3 day shelf life, which is why Samworth owns 120+ refrigerated trucks to control delivery down to the minuteEven food industry veterans hate packaging: Hannu's daily frustration is consumer packaging that requires scissors or superhuman strength to open—too much glue, too much plastic, and not enough thought for actual humans trying to eat lunchTune In NowWant to understand what really goes into the food you eat every day? This episode pulls back the curtain on the strategies, logistics, and decision-making that bring products from factory to your fridge. Whether you're curious about why IKEA became a restaurant chain, how your supermarket sandwich gets made, or what a former CFO of a retail giant thinks about consumer packaging, this conversation delivers insider insights you won't hear anywhere else. Listen now to discover the hidden world behind your everyday food choices—and maybe you'll never look at an IKEA meatball the same way again.Connect with Hannu:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

Yoann Pavy has built his career transforming how consumers interact with some of the UK's most innovative brands. As a growth and marketing leader at companies like Deliveroo, Depop, and PerkBox, he's helped scale multiple billion-pound consumer businesses. Now, as Chief Growth Officer at AI Apply, Yoann is tackling one of the most stressful consumer experiences: job hunting. AI Apply is an AI-powered job search platform that helps people land interviews faster by creating tailored CVs, cover letters, and applications in seconds. Launched just two years ago with a lean team of four people, the platform has already attracted over 1 million users who are tired of the endless grind of job applications. The company embodies a consumer-first philosophy in a market traditionally dominated by B2B recruiting tools, flipping the script to empower individual job seekers rather than hiring managers.Episode Highlights:The application pain point: Job hunting isn't just hard because of market conditions—it's the tedious application process that makes people procrastinate for weeks instead of applying tonight like they promised themselvesSpeed matters: AI Apply generates a complete "job application kit" (CV, cover letter, and follow-up email) in seconds, helping users get from job discovery to interview prep at lightning speedGoing viral as a science: The team generated 52 million organic impressions in just 30 days with a blended CPM of just £0.05—proving that "going viral" isn't luck, it's a deliberate, engineered strategyThe Moneyball approach to content: Success comes from finding 10, 20, or even 100 creators who can post compelling product demos daily—it's a numbers game where volume and consistency beat viral lottery ticketsProduct as acquisition tool: Great consumer products aren't just functional—they're designed to be visually compelling when someone films them for a 10-second TikTok or Instagram ReelFighting fire with fire: Since recruiters already use AI to filter candidates, AI Apply gives job seekers the tools to level the playing field in an increasingly automated hiring processThe death of the CV: Yoann envisions a future where recruiters can see your entire digital footprint—every project, podcast, and YouTube video—creating a richer, more authentic profile than two paragraphs on a pageChannel + content + product fit: Profitable growth isn't about spending more on ads; it's about finding the perfect equation where your content format matches your product and fits the channel you're distributing onIf you've ever felt overwhelmed by job applications, wondered how tiny teams build million-user products, or want to understand how consumer brands actually grow in 2025, this episode is for you. Yoann reveals modern growth tactics that most marketers keep secret, sharing exact strategies (and real numbers) that turned AI Apply from a four-person startup into a rapidly scaling consumer platform. Listen to the full episode now to discover how the job search is being revolutionized and what it means for your career.Connect with Yoann:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

Kevin Xu quit his engineering job at Google and Stripe to solve a problem millions of Americans face: how to invest wisely without getting scammed or losing money to Wall Street insiders. After teaching himself to trade through Reddit forums and turning $35,000 into $8 million during the GameStop saga, Kevin founded AfterHour—a social platform where everyday investors can see exactly what successful traders are buying and selling with their real money. Unlike traditional investing advice where you never know if the "expert" actually follows their own recommendations, AfterHour requires users to connect their actual brokerage accounts, so you can see proof of their positions. The platform has attracted over $500 million in verified trading accounts, creating a transparent community where regular people can learn from traders who put their money where their mouth is. Kevin's latest innovation, Alpha AI, aims to be like having a knowledgeable investing friend available 24/7 to answer questions and explain market movements in simple terms.What You'll Learn:Why investing feels so intimidating - How Wall Street deliberately keeps regular people out and confusedThe real story behind GameStop - Kevin's firsthand account of spotting the opportunity before it explodedHow to spot fake investment advice - Red flags that separate real traders from internet scammersSmart money habits - Kevin's simple "all-in" strategy that made him millionsFree investing education - How social platforms can teach you more than expensive coursesAI as your investing buddy - Why chatbots might be the future of financial advice for beginnersProtecting yourself from scams - Warning signs of pump-and-dump schemes and market manipulationBuilding wealth on any budget - Why you don't need to be rich to start investing successfullyThe psychology of money - How emotions and community sentiment drive market movementsTaking on Wall Street - Why regular investors can compete with hedge funds and winWhy This Episode Could Change Your Financial FutureIf you've ever felt locked out of investing or intimidated by financial jargon, this conversation is for you. Kevin breaks down exactly how he went from knowing nothing about stocks to making millions, and more importantly, how he's building tools to help regular people do the same. You'll discover practical strategies for researching investments, learn how to avoid common beginner mistakes, and understand why transparency and community might be more valuable than any expensive financial advisor. Whether you're investing your first $100 or looking to level up your existing portfolio, Kevin's insights on social trading and AI-powered education could be the key to finally building the wealth you deserve. This isn't just another finance interview—it's a roadmap for taking control of your financial future.Connect with Kevin:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

Ever wonder why some brands stick with you while others are instantly forgettable? Or how a simple social media stunt can suddenly have everyone talking? In this episode, One of One Brands founder Arnava Asen reveals the sophisticated psychological tactics that drive your purchasing decisions—often without you even realizing it. From that spontaneous shoe purchase where you later discover everyone else bought the same pair, to why you're drawn to brands that make you work a little harder, Arnava unpacks the "living brand" revolution transforming how companies connect with consumers. He explains why the era of hyper-convenience may be ending, with Gen Z actively seeking friction and authenticity over algorithmic recommendations. Ready to Decode Your Own Consumer Mind?Tune in to discover how the brands you love are actually influencing your choices—and why understanding these hidden mechanisms might just make you a smarter, more intentional consumer. Interview Highlights:The Nike epiphany: How a simple billboard with no product—just the words "Yesterday you said tomorrow"—sparked Arnava's 20-year career and demonstrates the power of soft-selling over traditional advertisingLiving brands vs. formulaic brands: Why successful modern brands act like real people with evolving personalities, opinions, and the ability to surprise consumers, rather than following rigid brand guidelinesThe friction revolution: 70% of Gen Z now trust brands that make them work harder, from secondhand shopping to printing photos, signaling a backlash against algorithmic convenience cultureConsumer behavior patterns: How brand strategists use data and evolutionary psychology to predict purchasing decisions, often understanding consumer motivations better than consumers understand themselvesThe pendulum effect: Why brands that feel irrelevant today have the biggest opportunities, and how cultural shifts always swing back in unexpected directionsCreative disruption examples: From Liquid Death's provocative marketing to Bjorn Corn's roller disco strategy, how brands break through noise by doing the unexpectedThe embedded approach: Why traditional "brand bible" handoffs are dead, and how successful agencies now work alongside companies as fractional marketing teams for monthsStrategic foresight: How brand builders plan multi-campaign narratives that consumers never see coming, creating deeper engagement over timeConnect with Arnava:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

Meet Max Marchione, a remarkable entrepreneur who's already built a quarter-billion-dollar company before hitting his thirties. As president and co-founder of Superpower, Max has transformed his personal health struggles into a mission to democratize premium healthcare. After spending a decade battling chronic migraines and mysterious health issues that stumped over a dozen doctors, he discovered what he calls a "10x doctor" who changed everything. This experience sparked his belief that there's a massive gap between the healthcare available to billionaires like Jeff Bezos and what everyone else can access—and he's determined to close it using AI and technology.What You'll Discover:Learn how Superpower's $42-per-month membership delivers concierge-level healthcare, including home nurse visits and 100+ blood biomarkers—five times more comprehensive than a typical annual physicalDiscover why Max believes AI doctors will soon outperform human physicians and how his company is already using artificial intelligence to create personalized health reports that make everything "click" for membersUnderstand the fascinating shift in consumer behavior that made health the new status symbol, replacing traditional luxury goods as people seek to optimize their bodies and mindsExplore Max's unconventional philosophy on building authentic personal brands, independent thinking, and why he believes most things around us are "four out of ten" when they could be perfectUncover his bold vision for the future, including helping people get eight hours of sleep in just five hours and why he thinks energy healing will eventually become hard scienceMax shares candid thoughts on everything from why healthcare brands should inspire the same love as Nike or Apple, to his advice for young people navigating an AI-disrupted job market. His approach to business centers on an empowering mindset: taking 100% responsibility while building something genuinely good for the world. Whether you're interested in the future of healthcare, entrepreneurship, or personal optimization, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on how technology can solve real human problems.Tune in to hear how one young entrepreneur is revolutionizing healthcare by making the medicine of the elite accessible to everyone—and why his approach might just change how you think about your own health journey.Connect with Max:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

Ruth Handcock OBE, CEO of Octopus Money, has identified a massive gap in the financial services industry that affects millions of people. While wealthy individuals can easily access personalized financial planning, and basic investment platforms serve those ready to dive in, there's virtually nothing for people who simply want help creating a plan for their money. In just over two years, Ruth's innovative approach has already helped 39,000 people build meaningful financial plans, proving there's enormous demand for accessible money guidance. Her company combines human coaches with smart technology to deliver personalized financial advice at a fraction of traditional costs, making comprehensive planning available to anyone regardless of their current wealth level.What You'll Discover:Learn why having a financial plan is the single most important factor in building wealth, beyond even your age or income levelUnderstand the unique hybrid model that uses human coaches for guidance while letting algorithms handle the regulated advice recommendationsDiscover why starting financial conversations with "hopes and dreams" rather than budgets creates dramatically different outcomes for peopleExplore the cultural taboos around money in the UK and how they compare to other countries, plus why most people think they're "below average" at managing moneyUncover the step-by-step process that takes someone from financial confusion to a clear, actionable plan in just two coaching sessionsRuth doesn't just talk theory – she walks through exactly how someone with £100,000 sitting in their ISA could create a plan to buy their first home within three years. She explains why traditional financial advisors won't work with anyone who has less than £250,000 in assets, and how her team is proving that comprehensive financial planning can be commercially viable for the mass market. The conversation covers everything from the rise of DIY investing among younger generations to the role AI might play in future financial advice, while Ruth shares her ambitious vision for solving society's looming retirement crisis.Tune in to discover how Ruth is democratizing financial planning and why she believes the first paycheck moment could be the key to transforming people's entire financial futures. This episode will change how you think about money, planning, and what's actually possible when you have the right guidance at the right time.Connect with Ruth:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

£250M of cars! Meet Aidan Rushby, the CEO and co-founder who turned his fear of car dealership rejection into a £250 million business opportunity. After experiencing the anxiety of not knowing his car buying budget, Aidan spotted a massive gap in the UK's used car market where 7.5 million vehicles change hands annually. His solution? Carmoola, a direct-to-consumer car finance provider that puts the power back in customers' hands with instant decisions and virtual payment cards. What started as a personal frustration has evolved into a tech-driven lending platform that boasts a 94% customer satisfaction score while maintaining less than 1% default rates.What You'll Learn:Discover why customers buying luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW are statistically more likely to default than those choosing practical Honda or Ford vehicles—and what this reveals about human psychologyLearn how Carmoola's 7-question application process delivers instant lending decisions while using sophisticated AI models that combine credit data, open banking information, and behavioral analyticsUnderstand the company's approach to responsible lending, including built-in speed bumps that prevent impulse purchases and why they deliberately reject 65% of applicantsExplore the gamified customer experience that includes naming your car with old English names, earning rewards for good payment behavior, and even their quirky "Courtesy Dads" service for nervous car shoppersUncover Carmoola's expansion plans beyond lending into insurance, warranties, and PCP products, plus how they're disrupting traditional dealer commission models that have been "ripping customers off"From virtual cards that make customers feel like they're walking into dealerships with bags of cash, to using behavioral economics to nudge better financial decisions, this episode reveals how a 50-person company is taking on established players in a massive market. Aidan shares surprising data about customer segments, explains why being the actual lender (not just a broker) matters, and discusses the regulatory challenges of balancing speed with responsible lending.Tune in to hear how personal experience, smart technology, and a focus on customer empowerment are reshaping car finance—plus stick around for Aidan's unexpected app recommendation that has nothing to do with cars but everything to do with building better habits.Connect with Aidan:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

What happens when a tech investor decides to revolutionize travel during a global pandemic? Meet Cat Jones, founder and CEO of Byway, who launched her flight-free travel company in 2020 while on maternity leave. Unlike traditional travel that treats the journey as a means to an end, Byway focuses on making the journey itself the destination—connecting travelers across Europe through trains, boats, and buses in carefully crafted multi-stop adventures. What started as a personal passion for overland travel has evolved into a rapidly growing business that's challenging how we think about holidays, combining sophisticated routing technology with deeply human customer service to create trips that customers describe as "magical."In this episode, you'll:Discover how Byway's technology learns from human experts to create personalized routes that optimize for enjoyment rather than speed, and why it took 18 months before their system could beat human-planned tripsLearn why WhatsApp support became their secret weapon—starting as a way for the founder to gather feedback but evolving into the most praised aspect of their service, with customers sharing holiday photos and building genuine connections with the support teamUnderstand the psychology behind why customers are shifting from multiple short breaks to longer, more immersive journeys, and how this trend reflects a broader reaction against the pace of modern lifeExplore the infrastructure and policy challenges facing sustainable travel, from train systems designed for commuters rather than leisure travelers to government subsidies that artificially make flights cheaper than rail travelUncover Byway's ambitious vision to make flight-free travel mainstream, including their expansion across Europe and North America, and how they're building both a brand and a movement that could reshape the entire travel industryCat's story reveals how combining technology with genuine human connection can create experiences that customers not only love but actively promote to friends and family. Her insights into customer behavior, the role of delight in business strategy, and the future of sustainable travel offer valuable lessons for anyone building consumer experiences in today's market.Tune in to hear how one founder's belief that "if only we make it easy and tell people about it, more people will want to do it" is transforming an entire industry and inspiring travelers to rediscover the joy of the journey.Connect with Cat:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

What happens when you combine a gorilla, Phil Collins, and chocolate marketing genius?Phil Rumbol joins us to share the story behind one of advertising's most memorable campaigns. With an impressive career spanning from InBev's award-winning Stella Artois work to his groundbreaking tenure at Cadbury, Phil knows what it takes to build brands that stick. At Cadbury, he faced a critical challenge: the iconic chocolate brand had lost an entire generation of consumers, with anyone under 40 showing less affinity for the brand than their older counterparts. His solution? A seemingly random but strategically brilliant advert featuring a gorilla playing drums to Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" – a campaign that would become a cultural phenomenon and demonstrate the power of emotional marketing over rational messaging.Key topics you'll explore in this episode:• Learn why brands live in consumers' minds, not in company boardrooms, and how this fundamental truth shapes successful marketing strategies• Discover the six-month internal battle Phil fought to get the gorilla advert approved, including how he convinced risk-averse executives after a major product recall• Understand how to measure brand building ROI using econometrics – a statistical modeling approach that only 20% of marketers use but can prove marketing impact over time• Explore the balance between staying authentic while remaining relevant, and why brands need to work harder than ever to earn consumer attention in today's crowded marketplace• Uncover practical advice for startup CMOs on building charismatic brands from scratch, including when to use agencies versus building internal marketing capabilitiesPhil doesn't just tell war stories – he breaks down the strategic thinking behind seemingly creative decisions. From understanding that chocolate triggers actual endorphin releases to recognizing Cadbury's "Willy Wonka" brand essence, every choice was rooted in consumer psychology and business logic. He reveals why the song choice was everything, how early social media shaped their viral strategy, and what it really takes to shift from short-term sales activation to long-term brand building. Plus, he shares his current brand crush and explains why mathematical modeling should be every marketer's secret weapon.Tune in to discover how one of advertising's most talked-about campaigns came together, and walk away with practical frameworks for building brands that people actually care about.Connect with Phil:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

Maxime Barbier’s journey is anything but typical. A serial entrepreneur from Paris, Maxime built his first business at just 22, later selling it to national television in France. But what came after was even more transformative. Faced with the question of “what's next?” after a successful exit, he took 100 coffees with 100 strangers - an experiment that reshaped his view of purpose, connection, and what people truly crave. This quest ultimately led to Timeleft, a social dining platform that has already brought half a million people together across 300 cities worldwide. In this episode of the Curious Customer podcast, Maxime shares the emotional, surprising, and sometimes messy path that led him to turn simple dinners into powerful social experiences.“We are like a dating app who sell you love, but only give you first date.” — Maxime BarbierIn this episode, you will:Learn how a list of 100 personal dreams and 100 coffees with strangers sparked the birth of a global platform.Discover why Maxime believes loneliness isn’t the real problem - it’s a lack of meaningful, in-person connections.Understand how Timeleft’s unique group matching algorithm uses age, personality type, and even conversation dynamics to build strong social tables.Find out why Timeleft's users - whether in Tokyo, London, or São Paulo - keep returning not for love, but for authentic friendship and emotional connection.Hear how Maxime’s own father, facing post-accident isolation, found healing and friendship through the very platform his son created.Tune in to hear how Maxime and the Timeleft team are proving that sharing a meal with strangers might just be one of the most meaningful things you do this week.Connect with Maxime:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

What happens when a young lawyer realizes that adult friendships are slowly fizzling out because time becomes a luxury? Neil Tanna found himself watching his social connections fade as the demands of professional life took over, and instead of accepting this as inevitable, he decided to build a solution. As CEO and co-founder of Howbout, Neil has created something that's resonating powerfully with Gen Z – a social calendar app that's attracted 5 million users in just five years. Unlike traditional social media platforms that have become entertainment feeds filled with strangers and brands, Howbout brings the focus back to what really matters: your actual friends and the time you spend together. Neil's journey from frustrated lawyer to startup founder offers a fascinating look at how one person's personal pain point became a platform that's changing how an entire generation maintains their friendships.“We have lowered the barrier of entry to maintaining friendships, which is why our platform is so powerful and it doesn't need to be performative.” – Neil TannaIn this episode, you will:Learn how Neil identified the "Chief Friendship Officer" persona in every friend group and used this insight to solve the cold start problem that kills most social appsDiscover why Gen Z is surprisingly comfortable sharing their private calendars with close friends, despite older generations' concerns about privacyUnderstand the clever growth hack involving Instagram meme pages that helped Howbout acquire their first 1,000 users without traditional advertisingExplore how calendar data from 100 million user entries is being used to understand what Gen Z actually does with their time, from date night debriefs to Sunday planning sessionsUncover why Howbout's retention rates doubled after shifting focus from utility-first planning to social-first engagement, and what this means for the future of friendship appsNeil's story challenges the assumption that successful social platforms need to be entertainment-focused or rely on performative content. Instead, Howbout proves that authenticity and genuine connection – even in small, private networks of 5-15 close friends – can drive massive engagement and growth. With ambitious plans to reach 40 million users by 2026, Neil's approach to building "a world where friendships never go on pause" offers valuable lessons for anyone interested in consumer social products and the evolving nature of digital relationships.Tune in to hear how one lawyer's frustration with fading friendships became a social calendar revolution that's redefining how young people stay connected.Connect with Neil:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

As the Founding Designer of Lovable, Nad Chishtie isn’t just building another web tool—he’s helping reimagine who gets to build software in the first place. With a mission to flip the 1% of people who can code into the 99% who can create, Lovable is already turning heads with its impressive $60M run rate in under a year. Nad brings years of product and design thinking to the table, but it’s his ability to blend deep technical abstraction with intuitive simplicity that truly sets him apart. In this episode, Nad opens up about the bold thinking behind Lovable, why friction isn’t always a bad thing in user experience, and how AI can be your toughest design critic—or your best creative partner.“The way that we see things is that today less than 1% of the planet can create, deploy, and maintain full stack applications.” — Nad ChishtieIn this episode, you will:Learn why Lovable chose to build for a broad audience first—before narrowing in on specific user types.Discover how early user reactions helped shape key design decisions and why emotional responses like empowerment and speed became the team’s guiding compass.Understand how Nad uses AI not just to design faster but to think better—leveraging GPT as a critique board rather than a shortcut tool.Explore why the team has intentionally avoided complex onboarding and stuck with a simple chat interface to build anything.Hear how real users—from indie founders to romantic partners—are using Lovable to create everything from SaaS businesses to marriage proposals.Tune in to hear how Nad and the team behind one of Europe’s fastest-growing startups are rethinking what it means to design, build, and launch in the age of AI. Whether you're a designer, founder, or just curious about the future of digital creation—this one’s worth a listen.Connect with Nad:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

As the Senior Director of Marketing at LEGO, Madelaine Edwards carries a huge legacy on her shoulders - and does so with clarity and purpose. In this episode of Curious Customer, she joins Matt to share how a 90-year-old brand continues to evolve without losing sight of its origins. Starting from a small Danish carpenter’s workshop in 1932, LEGO has become one of the world’s most recognized and loved brands. But it’s not just about bricks anymore. Madelaine explains how the company’s approach to creativity, play, and innovation keeps LEGO relevant for kids, adults, and families across generations. From navigating shifts in digital entertainment to pushing for sustainability, Madelaine offers a behind-the-scenes look at how LEGO stays playful while building for the future. ”Our hope as a company is that through Lego Play, and through building and rebuilding, it becomes a bedrock for creative confidence and courage and self-belief.” — Madelaine EdwardsIn this episode, you will:Learn how LEGO balances its timeless core product with constant innovation, releasing over 800 new sets each year.Discover how LEGO collaborates with global brands like Nike, Fortnite, and Formula 1 to stay relevant to today’s younger audiences.Understand the importance of marketing in shaping both consumer perception and product development—especially when engaging different audiences like girls and adult fans.Explore how LEGO is tackling sustainability, including using recycled materials in products like tyres made from old fishing nets and engine oil.Hear what Madelaine thinks LEGO will look like ten years from now, and why physical play still matters in a digital world.Tune in to hear how a classic brand stays fresh without losing its sense of play.Connect with Madelaine:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

Before he was revolutionizing fast food delivery by air, Yariv Bash was literally shooting for the moon. As the co-founder and CEO of Flytrex, Yariv is now leading the largest drone food delivery service in the U.S.—but his journey began with building the first private spacecraft to (almost) land on the moon. That project raised over $100 million in donations and sparked Yariv’s belief in what’s possible when ambitious ideas meet relentless execution. In this episode, Matt sits down with Yariv to explore how his experience in aerospace laid the groundwork for transforming suburban food delivery—and why he thinks the real challenge isn’t the tech or the regulations, but beating the humble Toyota Corolla.Flytrex has already completed over 140,000 drone deliveries and raised $75 million to make the promise of hot, fast, and affordable food by air a reality. But the story behind those numbers is anything but simple. From battling regulatory hurdles to engineering drones specifically for burritos, Yariv shares what it takes to build a consumer experience that feels like magic—at least the first time. Whether you're a curious technophile or just someone who’s tired of soggy fries, this conversation uncovers what it takes to reshape an industry grounded in centuries of tradition. ”There’s a saying which is the future’s already here, it’s just not evenly spread. And in the areas we’re servicing we’ve done over 140,000 deliveries. ” — Yariv BashIn this episode, you will:Learn how Yariv’s lunar ambitions shaped his mindset for building a drone company from scratch.Discover why Flytrex focused on food delivery after testing drones in five countries.Understand how regulatory frameworks and economics—not just tech—are the biggest barriers to mass adoption.Explore why drones may be a quieter, cleaner, and even safer alternative to cars in your neighbourhood.Hear what customers really think about receiving their meals from the sky—and how quickly the novelty wears off.Tune in to hear how drones could reshape how we think about convenience, competition, and the future of everyday services. Whether you’re in Texas or just dreaming of a faster lunch, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Connect with Yariv:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

From the top ranks of Ford and General Motors to launching one of the world’s fastest-growing car brands, Alain Visser has seen the auto industry from every possible angle. With nearly four decades of experience, including leadership roles at Opel and Volvo, Alain grew increasingly frustrated with the industry's lack of real change. That frustration became the fuel for something bold. In 2015, he founded Lynk & Co—a brand built not just to sell cars, but to rethink what car ownership should be altogether. With a belief that consumers no longer need to own cars full-time, Alain set out to build a business model that prioritises usage, flexibility, and sustainability over outdated dealership models and marketing fluff.In this refreshingly honest conversation, Alain doesn’t hold back. He breaks down the entrenched habits of an industry stuck in its ways and explains why true innovation rarely comes from the big players. If you’ve ever wondered why all car ads look the same or why new car brands struggle to stand out, Alain’s perspective is a must-hear. He also lifts the curtain on what it really took to build a new kind of brand—and why he thinks the future of mobility looks very different from what most of us imagine.“In an industry where the difficulty to differentiate is the greatest, the effort to do so is the lowest.” — Alain VisserIn this episode, you will:Discover why Alain believes most car marketing is lazy—and how budget size can kill creativity.Learn how Lynk & Co flipped the traditional car sales model by embracing subscriptions, peer-to-peer sharing, and club-style showrooms.Understand why owning a car might soon be as outdated as owning a CD player.Find out what Alain really thinks about Tesla’s rise and why he sees it as a product revolution, not a business model shift.Explore how brands like Volvo have managed to maintain a unique identity—and why most new entrants fail to do the same.Listen to this episode to hear why Alain thinks the car industry needs to think less like engineers and more like service designers—and why the most disruptive ideas might come from outside the automotive world altogether.Connect with Alain:LinkedInConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteConnect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!

Welcome to Curious Customer – the podcast for anyone fascinated by the ever-changing world of consumer brands, products, and behaviour. Whether you're deep in the trenches of marketing, building the next big startup, or simply love decoding what makes people buy what they buy, you’re in the right place.Hosted by venture capital investor Matt, this show goes beyond surface-level chatter to uncover stories, trends, and strategies shaping today’s consumer industries. From brand-building and design to the rising impact of AI, you’ll hear from founders, marketers, and creative minds who are rethinking how we connect with customers—and where the next big opportunities are coming from.If you’ve ever wondered what’s next in the world of consumer—or just want smart, sharp conversations in bite-sized episodes—Curious Customer was made for you.🎧 Subscribe now and join the conversation at curiouscustomer.co.Connect with Matt:LinkedInCurious Customer WebsiteDon't miss an episode! Follow Curious Customer on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get notified whenever we drop a new episode. Your curiosity deserves the latest insights!