Rise and Shine: Your Daily Dose Of Business Tech Inspiration

PODCAST · technology

Rise and Shine: Your Daily Dose Of Business Tech Inspiration

Where small business tech meets plain English.Charly Leetham brings decades of hands-on experience helping business owners harness technology - without drowning in jargon or wasting time on fluff. Whether you're a DIY'er trying to make sense of your website, emails, or software, or you just want to know if your IT team is talking sense, this podcast is for you. Each episode is packed with practical advice, real-world tips, and insights from the trenches.If you've ever thought, "There’s gotta be a better way to do this tech stuff" - you’re right. Charly is here to show you how.

  1. 717

    Why Do We Keep Trying To DIY Our Own Tech? (2026/714)

    Sometimes DIY tech makes sense - especially when you’re starting out or testing a new process. But there comes a point where doing it yourself is costing you more than hiring someone who knows what they’re doing. The trick is recognising when you’ve hit that point.In this episode, Charly covers:✅ Why tech marketing sets unrealistic expectations about what you can do yourself➡️ The real costs hiding behind the DIY and budget route⚡ Why cheap providers do what’s easiest, not what’s right for your business long-term⭐ How to recognise when you’ve outgrown the DIY stage✨ The mindset shift - knowing when it’s time to bring in a specialistSometimes doing it yourself makes sense. Knowing when to stop is what matters.Book a Free 30 minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me(1 per person only)***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons.“Paradise Found”Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/

  2. 716

    Can Gamification Really Improve Your Cyber Security Training? with Craig Taylor (E37, S2026)

    Cyber security training works best when people actually want to do it. Craig Taylor, CISSP and co-founder of Cyber Hoot, has spent 30 years proving that rewarding good behaviour, recognising effort and making training feel like play gets better results than any amount of pressure. In this conversation, Charly sits down with Craig to explore how positive reinforcement and gamification are reshaping cyber security training for small businesses.Craig's background in psychology gives him a clear lens on why rewarded behaviours are repeated, and why leaderboards, small wins and open-book learning lift engagement across entire organisations.In this episode, Charly and Craig cover:✅ Why rewarded behaviours are the ones that stick➡️ How gamification lifts engagement from leadership to front-line staff⚡ The PAR method - Pause, Assess, Report - for handling suspicious messages⭐ Why leaderboards unexpectedly engaged the C-suite✨ How AI is making phishing attacks harder to spot☑️ When small businesses actually need formal cyber trainingWhether you run a solo business or manage a small team, this conversation will change how you think about cyber security education.🔗 Try Cyber Hoot free for individuals: https://cyberhoot.com/individuals🔗 Get 20% off for the first year with code: askcharlyleethamBook a Free 30 minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me(1 per person only)***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons.“Paradise Found”Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/

  3. 715

    Why Should Chrome’s Silent Gemini Nano Install Concern You? (2026/713)

    If you use Google Chrome, there could be a hidden AI model sitting on your computer right now - and you were never asked or told about it. Google has been silently downloading Gemini Nano onto users’ devices, taking up storage, using bandwidth, and raising serious privacy questions.In this episode, Charly covers:✅ What Gemini Nano is and how it ended up on your device without consent➡️ How Google profiled your hardware before deciding to push the download⚡ The contradiction between Google’s “local processing” claims and their general AI privacy policies⭐ Why having an AI model sitting alongside your personal and business data is a real concernYour computer, your data, your choice. If Google will install AI without telling you, it is time to ask what else they are doing with your information.Alexander Hanf’s full forensic analysis: https://www.thatprivacyguy.com/blog/chrome-silent-nano-install/HOW TO CHECK AND REMOVE GEMINI NANOBACK UP FIRST1. Check whether the model is on your machine.On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to your AppData, then Local, then Google, then Chrome, then User Data. Look for a folder called OptGuideOnDeviceModel. If it is there and it contains a file around four gigabytes, you have it. On a Mac, check your Chrome profile directory for the same folder name.2. To stop Chrome from downloading it again, you need to open Chrome and type chrome://flags into the address bar. Search for “Optimization Guide On Device Model” and set it to Disabled.3. Restart Chrome, then go and delete the folder from Step 1.On Windows, there is also a registry change you can make that blocks the download permanently through a policy setting, which is more reliable than the flags method. If you are not comfortable making registry changes yourself, ask someone who is - this is not something to guess at.Book a Free 30 minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me(1 per person only)***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons.“Paradise Found”Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/

  4. 714

    Is Gmail Confidential Mode Really Secure? (2026/712)

    Gmail Confidential Mode sounds impressive, but does it actually keep your sensitive emails private? If you send client details, contracts or personal information through Gmail, you need to understand what this feature really does and where it falls short.In this episode, Charly covers:✅ What Gmail Confidential Mode does and how to switch it on➡️ How to set expiry dates and passcode protection on emails⚡ The restrictions it places on forwarding, copying, printing and downloads⭐ What happens when you send confidential emails to non-Gmail users❗ The things it cannot stop, including screenshots, photos and retyping✨ Whether it is suitable for genuinely sensitive business communicationsGmail Confidential Mode is a useful tool for limiting casual sharing, but it is not true encryption or security. Watch the walkthrough to see exactly how it works and decide if it fits your business needs.Book a Free 30 minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me(1 per person only)***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons.“Paradise Found”Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/

  5. 713

    Is Your Email The Master Key To Your Business? (2026/711)

    Your email is the one system that controls access to everything else in your business - your bank, your website, your social media, and your cloud storage. But if it just works, you probably never think about it.In this episode, Charly covers:✅ Why your email is the master key to your entire business⚡ What happens when that system gets compromised or goes down➡️ The difference between treating email as a commodity and treating it as critical infrastructure⭐ The mindset shift that changes how you manage, secure, and protect your inbox✨ Questions you should be asking about access, backups, and encryptionStop treating your email like it is just another tool and start treating it like the critical business infrastructure it actually is.Book a Free 30 minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me(1 per person only)***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons.“Paradise Found”Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/

  6. 712

    What Does The UK Biobank Breach Mean For Your Privacy? (2026/710)

    Last week, half a million UK Biobank volunteers discovered their de-identified medical records listed for sale on a Chinese marketplace. No firewall was breached. No password was cracked. The data was downloaded legitimately by accredited research organisations and ended up somewhere it absolutely should not have been. This episode unpacks what the UK Biobank breach tells us about centralised data, the limits of de-identification, and why the push for mandatory digital ID should concern every business owner.In this episode, Charly covers:✅ What actually happened with the UK Biobank data and why it wasn't a cyber attack➡️ Why de-identified data can still be used to identify you⚡ How your information moves through chains of trusted partners you never agreed to⭐ What centralised databases mean for privacy and security risk❗ Why mandatory digital ID follows the same flawed model✨ What business owners need to consider about tracking and customer dataPrivacy isn't about having something to hide. It's about having things to protect.Book a Free 30 minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me(1 per person only)***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons.“Paradise Found”Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/

  7. 711

    Can You Really Personalise Gmail Templates? (2026/709)

    Wondering if you can personalise Gmail templates so each message feels tailored? A viewer asked this on YouTube last week and the honest answer is no, not really. Gmail templates (or canned responses) will let you pull a contact name and address into a message, but that is about the limit of it.In this episode, Charly covers:✅ Why Gmail templates are not really personalisable in any meaningful way➡️ The one small thing you can do with Google Contacts and the "a" key shortcut⚡ Why trying to use a group only pulls in the first person on the list⭐ Why Gmail is not a mass mailing tool and the sending limits Google enforces❗ What can happen to your account if you ignore those limitsTemplates work for sending the same message to one person at a time without retyping it. If you need genuine personalisation or want to reach a larger list, you need a dedicated email marketing tool.Watch the full walkthrough to see exactly what Gmail templates can and cannot do.Book a Free 30 minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me(1 per person only)***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons."Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  8. 710

    Should You Use a Subdomain or Subdirectory for Better SEO and Branding? (2025/628)

    🛡️ Tips to reduce bandwidth usage and avoid surprise bills:Use a CDN like CloudflareCompress images with TinyPNG or WordPress plugins like SmushOffload videos to platforms like YouTube🔗Tools: GTMetrix, Pingdom, Smush, TinyPNGWhether you’re just starting out or scaling fast, this guide helps you make smarter hosting choices.

  9. 709

    The Importance of Using a VPN for Business Security (2025/361)

    🌐🔒 Is your business data safe on public networks? In this episode, Charly breaks down the importance of using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt internet traffic and protect sensitive information. Learn why a VPN is essential for remote access and how to choose a reliable business-grade VPN with strong encryption, no-logs policies, and diverse server locations. Discover actionable steps to implement a VPN solution and ensure employee compliance for optimal protection. Tune in to safeguard your business’s online activities with a robust VPN strategy! 🚀 Get your own VPN. I use and recommend NordVPN: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/nordvpn This is a referral link. If you purchase through this link you will get 1 or 3 months free depending on the subscription you take. (I get the same as a thankyou) Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Follow us: Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Rumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleetham Odyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4 YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleetham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleetham Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgr Instagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leetham LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleetham LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3z49Z4uM8iD3jWFq4jOz8 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager

  10. 708

    The Power of Flexibility: Mastering Cash Flow Flexibility (2024/222)

    🌟 Unlock the Power of Cash Flow Flexibility to Thrive in Any Market! 🌟 In this episode, Charly talks about why being flexible with your Cash Flow Management is an essential tool for small business owners. Discover how mastering flexibility in managing your cash flow can help you weather financial unpredictability, seize new opportunities, and reduce stress. Tune in to learn how cash flow flexibility can propel your business forward with confidence and stability! ? Join the discussion in my community: https://zurl.co/HIax *** Follow us: Locals: https://zurl.co/HIax Rumble: https://zurl.co/RARY Odyssey: https://zurl.co/5Acv YouTube: https://zurl.co/lTAd Facebook - https://zurl.co/M2vQ Twitter - https://zurl.co/duJ4 Instagram - https://zurl.co/TJjg LinkedIn - https://zurl.co/wWC7 LinkedIn Company - https://zurl.co/rNCJ Spotify - https://zurl.co/IJGD Apple Podcasts - https://zurl.co/3yto iHeartRadio - https://zurl.co/iQbO Amazon Music - https://zurl.co/4SMW

  11. 707

    The Art of Delegation: Empowering Your Team for Success (2024/145)

    Join Charly as she delves into the art of delegation and its critical role in empowering your team for success. Learn how to delegate effectively to maximize productivity, foster trust, and develop your team's skills. Charly shares practical tips on identifying tasks to delegate, choosing the right people, and providing the support needed for success. Discover how mastering delegation can lead to a more efficient, motivated, and high-performing team. Tune in for insights that will transform your leadership approach and drive your team to new heights.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Where small business tech meets plain English.Charly Leetham brings decades of hands-on experience helping business owners harness technology - without drowning in jargon or wasting time on fluff. Whether you're a DIY'er trying to make sense of your website, emails, or software, or you just want to know if your IT team is talking sense, this podcast is for you. Each episode is packed with practical advice, real-world tips, and insights from the trenches.If you've ever thought, "There’s gotta be a better way to do this tech stuff" - you’re right. Charly is here to show you how.

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