NEBiznis

In this episode, we sit down with Tricksy Tom, Tom Cocker, a professional magician and entertainer who turned a childhood love of card tricks into a full-time career performing on stages, holiday parks, and events across the country. We talk about the reality behind the “magic” — from intense rehearsal and dealing with things going wrong on stage, to building confidence, handling pressure, and navigating the entertainment industry.They open up about finding their creative voice, the grind of performing night after night, how social media now shapes the world of magic, and why the most powerful moments happen when tricks don’t go perfectly.CHAPTERS00:00 – Opening ✦ It's a Kind of Magic03:42 – Discovering Magic as a Kid07:18 – Turning a Hobby into a Career12:05 – Performing on Stage for the First Time16:33 – Dealing with Nerves and Mistakes21:47 – The Reality of Life on the Road26:14 – The Magic Behind “The Trick”31:39 – Finding a Personal Style36:52 – Social Media & Modern Magic42:11 – When Things Go Wrong (and Why It’s Good)47:03 – Memorable Audience Moments52:26 – Advice for Aspiring Performers56:10 – Final Thoughts & Outro

Rob welcomes Vincent and Jennifer Smart, the husband-and-wife team behind Urban Farm Mushrooms, to talk about their fascinating journey from traditional service businesses to mushroom cultivation. They discuss discovering their love for fungi, learning to grow and market their products, and the challenges of selling mushroom-based food supplements in a world still learning about “food as medicine.” Expect plenty of humour, insight, and inspiration — plus a few “magic mushroom” stories along the way.CHAPTERS00:00 – All Mushrooms Are Magic01:12 – Meet Vincent and Jen Smart03:00 – From Window Cleaning to Entrepreneurship06:10 – Finding Passion in Fungi09:30 – The Leap Into Urban Farm Mushrooms13:00 – Building a Business as a Couple16:40 – Challenges of Selling Mushrooms20:15 – Educating the Market23:00 – Mushroom Magic vs. Misconceptions26:30 – Favourite Mushrooms and Why30:10 – Growing and Training Mushrooms33:00 – Cordyceps: The Zombie Fungus36:15 – Life Beyond the Lab39:00 – The Joy of Helping Others41:10 – Advice, Kryptonite, and Superpowers44:00 – Where to Find Urban Farm Mushrooms45:50 – Closing Pun & Future Plans

This week, Rob Baines sits down with Alice Potter, founder of Eighth House HR, to talk about her journey from teaching primary school children to guiding adults through the challenges of the workplace.Alice shares how her time in the classroom prepared her for HR, the importance of clear communication, and why getting HR involved early can save businesses time, stress, and money. From funny classroom stories to jaw-dropping HR horror tales, this episode dives into what really happens behind the scenes when people, policies, and personalities collide.Chapters00:00 – Welcome01:10 – Meet Alice Potter from Eighth House HR03:00 – From Classroom to Career Change06:45 – Lessons from Teaching That Shape HR10:20 – The Realities of Primary School Life13:40 – How Teaching Prepared Her for HR Challenges17:00 – The Turning Point: Entering the HR World19:15 – “Getting HR Involved” – What It Really Means22:00 – Why Small Businesses Need HR Early25:10 – Communication: The Secret to a Healthy Workplace28:00 – HR Horror Stories and Workplace Confessions31:20 – Handling the Awkward Stuff Professionally34:00 – Life Outside HR: Dogs, Kids, and Dough Kneading36:15 – Comparing Teaching and HR38:10 – Final Five: Superpowers, Films, and Advice40:30 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Alice

Watch on ⁠YouTube⁠.Rob sits down with Dom Middlemiss, founder of ⁠DJM Financial Planning⁠ and fourth-generation farmer. Dom shares his unique journey from life on the family farm to building a financial planning business, blending traditional farming values with modern financial strategies. They discuss the challenges of running a farm, the parallels between farming cycles and financial planning, the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship, and the importance of finding balance between passion, practicality, and long-term planning.If you’ve ever wondered how farming and finance intersect—or how to turn life lessons from the field into strategies for business success—this episode is for you.Chapters00:00 – Introduction02:10 – Farming Roots05:25 – From Farm to Finance08:40 – Starting a Business12:15 – Life on the Farm Today15:20 – Lessons in Risk and Reward18:45 – Splurges and Impulses22:10 – The Joy of Financial Planning25:00 – Retirement Dreams27:15 – Farming and Finance Parallels29:21 – Closing

Watch this episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠.In this episode of NeBiznis, Rob welcomes his wife, Charlotte, a nurse with a passion for journaling and stationery. Charlotte shares her journey from nursing to launching her creative business ArtiiSmartii, where she designs stickers, bookmarks, and notepads. They discuss the therapeutic value of journaling, balancing creativity with work and the challenges of starting a small business. From washi tape obsessions to collaborating with local shops, Charlotte’s story highlights how following your passion can grow into something more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chapters00:00 – Introduction & Washi Tape Obsession04:15 – Charlotte’s Origin Story09:32 – Nursing Career & Challenges14:47 – Finding Balance Through Journaling20:10 – The Birth of Artie Smartie25:26 – First Products & Collaborations30:38 – Growing a Creative Business35:12 – Fun Characters & Favourite Creations38:20 – Quick-Fire Questions40:30 – Closing & Where to Find Charlotte

Watch this episode on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠.In this episode of NeBiznis, Rob chats with Tom Cockerill, founder of Cockrell and Co. and host of The UK Flooring Podcast. Tom shares his rollercoaster journey from building a successful flooring business to losing everything—house, cars, business—and then rising again to create a thriving consultancy that now supports flooring businesses across the UK.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠Chapters00:00 – Intro & Meet Tom Cockrell03:12 – Tom’s Business Journey08:08 – Lessons Learned & Asking for Help13:15 – Mental Health & Mindset in Business17:34 – Podcasting & Keeping It Real22:00 – Make or Break: The Mindset Course26:10 – Flooring Freedom & Client Success30:00 – Life Outside Business33:00 – Ice Baths, Kryptonite & Quickfire36:00 – Outro

Watch this episode on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠.We dive deep into the rollercoaster journey of Arron Goulbourn, founder of Heatwave Plumbing. From early dreams of becoming a car designer to dishing out mortgage advice, Arron shares how a series of twists, turns, and setbacks ultimately led him to plumbing and launching his own successful business.We talk about the power of resilience, the realities of managing tradespeople, integrating tech into traditional services, and how outdoor hiking adventures help Arron reset from the chaos of entrepreneurship. Plus, there's a surprising amount of chat about plumber innuendos, frozen bogs, and an unforgettable night in a stone hut.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chapters00:00 – Intro & Meet Arron Goulbourn03:15 – Life as a Tradesman & Business Growth08:45 – Tech That Transformed the Trade13:50 – Arron’s Winding Career Journey20:15 – Factory Work, Plumbing, and Starting Over27:20 – From Getting Fired to Founding Heatwave32:30 – Plumbing Stereotypes & Funny Stories34:45 – Hiking Adventures & Mental Reset41:00 – Ultra-Marathons, Greg’s Hut & Ice Cream Kryptonite46:00 – Plumber Jokes, Superpowers & Wrap-Up

Watch this episode on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠.Join host Rob Baines (from ⁠⁠Rob-Cam Productions⁠⁠) as he chats with Katie, a solicitor at Evans & Co., about the realities of working in family law and conveyancing, while juggling major life events like her upcoming wedding. Katie shares her journey into law, the emotional highs and lows of her work, and offers honest advice for aspiring solicitors, particularly the importance of building connections and learning through real-world experience.Beyond the legal talk, we touch on wedding stress, honeymoon plans in Mexico, dog-friendly pubs, chocolate addictions, and guilty-pleasure TV shows. Rob and Katie bond over creative passions, shared career pressures, and their mutual love of storytelling (with a surprise Doctor Who connection thrown in!).⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch this episode on ⁠YouTube⁠.Join host Rob Baines (from ⁠Rob-Cam Productions⁠) as he chats with Calum Tingle, the accountant who’s anything but ordinary. In this down-to-earth episode, Calum shares how he went from launching his accountancy business at 19 with just £50 and a laptop in his bedroom, to running ⁠Fresh Business Solutions⁠ – a modern, tech-savvy firm that’s shaking up the industry.They dive into the realities of self-employment, the challenges of growing a business from scratch, and how Calum co-founded an axe-throwing venue on the side. From musical memories to future dreams in Menorca, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and a refreshing take on what it means to be a business owner today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch this episode on YouTube.Join host Rob Baines from Rob-Cam Productions in this engaging premiere episode of NEBiznis, where we meet the people behind the professions. In this candid and often humorous conversation, Rob sits down with Steve Warren, the coffee-fueled creative mind behind Studio 8 Photography.Steve shares his winding journey from supported housing and haulage logistics to professional photography, offering insights into entrepreneurship, creativity, and adapting to change. Along the way, we dive into the realities of running a photography business, the power of visual storytelling, Doctor Who, and how a bit of humor can shape a career.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠