In this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with Amy Bell, the founder of Teal Compliance and Chair of the Economic Crime Committee at the Law Society.Amy’s story is the ultimate example of resilience. From scraping a 2:2 degree and having her training contract cancelled days before it started, she defied the odds to become one of the most respected voices in the legal sector. She opens up about her journey from the "worst firm in Manchester" to scaling a global consultancy that now operates in the UK and Australia.But this conversation goes deeper than just business. Amy shares her vulnerable personal journey with a late-in-life diagnosis of Autism and ADHD. She reveals how this discovery transformed her leadership style, why she "fired herself" to scale her company, and why she implemented radical management rules—like banning the requirement to call in sick before 9 AM.If you are interested in entrepreneurship, scaling a service business, or navigating neurodiversity in the workplace, this episode is a must-listen.🎙️ In This Episode, We Cover:00:00 – Intro: Who is Amy Bell?04:15 – The "Failed Student": Overcoming a 2:2 degree and rejection.11:54 – Revolutionizing legal processes (and accidentally predicting AI).21:28 – Why law firms struggle with business vs. law.30:48 – The origin of "Teal Compliance" (and Eddie’s role in it!).41:14 – SCALING: How to make yourself redundant in your own business.45:35 – Expanding to Australia: Taking a niche service global.50:59 – THE REVEAL: Navigating late-diagnosis Autism & ADHD.1:05:46 – Radical Leadership: Why traditional HR rules are broken.📚 Resources Mentioned:Book: Simple, Logical, Repeatable: Systemise Your Business to Scale by Marianne Page.💡 About The Free Lunch:Hosted by Eddie Ross, The Free Lunch explores the real stories behind successful businesses and the people who build them. We dig past the polish to find the actionable insights, failures, and "free lunches" that shaped their careers.🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on business, leadership, and resilience.#AmyBell #TealCompliance #LegalTech #Neurodiversity #ADHD #AutismInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Scaling #WomenInLaw #TheFreeLunchPodcast
In this inspiring episode of The Free Lunch, David Price shares his incredible career reinvention story — from working in corporate banking to opening the Secret Kingdoms English language bookstore in the heart of Madrid at 50+. David talks about the challenges he faced, the risks of starting over later in life, and how he turned his passion for books into a thriving bookshop business.
Whether you're considering a career change at 50+, dreaming of starting your own business, or just love entrepreneurship stories, this episode will inspire you to follow your passion and reinvent your life.
David also discusses some of his favorite books:
Humankind by Rutger Bregman
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
If you're thinking of making a big change or pursuing your own dream career, David’s story is proof that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
In this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with Mauro Botanes, the 21-year-old co-founder and CPO of Symmetry — now Spain’s fastest-growing health and fitness app, with more than 450,000 downloads in under six months.
Mauro shares how he went from being diagnostically obese to preparing for bodybuilding competitions, launching a YouTube channel, dropping out of university, and building one of the most viral fitness apps in the Spanish-speaking world.
We break down:
How Symmetry reached 452K+ downloads organically
The UGC + AI growth engine powering their viral traction
Why most fitness apps fail — and what Symmetry did differently
Building a startup at 21 (leadership, co-founder dynamics, structure)
Using AI to develop products faster and at lower cost
The future of fitness, self-development, and AI-powered personal coaching
The mindset (resilience, belief, tenacity) required to scale a company fast
If you’re interested in startups, app growth, fitness, AI, entrepreneurship, content strategy, or you want a behind-the-scenes look at one of the fastest-growing health apps in Europe, this conversation is packed with insights.
Watch until the end to hear Symmetry’s 10-year vision and how Mauro plans to build the “G-Suite of self-development.”
—
📌 Topics Covered:
0:00 – Mauro’s story
3:00 – The YouTube launch & transformation
7:00 – How Symmetry was built
12:00 – 450K downloads with no ads
18:00 – UGC vs influencers
20:00 – AI features and growth
27:00 – Leadership at 21
33:00 – The future of fitness + AI
40:00 – Symmetry’s 10-year vision
—
🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, AI, entrepreneurship and the future of work.
In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Eddie Ross sits down with Simon Olswang - legendary founder of the UK law firm Olswang, board adviser, entertainment lawyer, and a pioneer in the world of media & communications.
We dive into leadership, culture, high-pressure decisions, talent, integrity, and how to build organisations that last. Simon shares extraordinary stories from his career:
• Founding Olswang in 1980 and scaling it into one of the UK’s most influential media & entertainment law firms
• Working with major film productions (including Gandhi), Monty Python, and global icons like Diana Ross
• Leadership lessons from decades working at the intersection of law, media, private equity and technology
• How values, integrity and culture shape teams — and what happens when they disappear
• The real challenges of succession, growth, reinvention and personal resilience
• AI, change, and what he believes is coming next for society
This conversation is packed with wisdom, unforgettable stories, and practical leadership insights from someone who has operated at the highest levels for decades.
If you're interested in leadership, entrepreneurship, law, media, or personal growth — you will love this episode.
Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the hidden realities of building organisations.
How do you turn $800K into $26M in 18 months through Facebook ads—and why do most advertisers fail?
In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Eddie Ross sits down with Depesh Mandalia, one of the most respected figures in digital marketing, to break down the real mechanics behind great advertising, business growth, and applying AI inside performance marketing.
Depesh has spent 20+ years in marketing, generated over $100M in revenue for Ecommerce and digital products, built his own 7-figure affiliate business, and created the now-famous BPM Method—a framework Facebook itself invited him to teach.
This conversation goes far beyond “tactics.”
It’s a deep dive into mindset, leadership, creativity, data, AI, and the psychology behind ads that scale.
Whether you run an agency, manage a marketing team, or simply want to understand why your ads aren’t working, this episode is a masterclass.
Why 80% of success with Facebook ads happens before you spend a dollar
The BPM Method explained in plain English
How Depesh turned $800K into $26M for a client
The 4 things every winning campaign gets right
How AI is changing the future of marketing and creative
Why agencies break as they grow—and how to avoid it
The painful reality of scaling a business too fast
How to survive when you lose a major traffic source overnight
Why branding is not optional, even for performance marketers
The next 5 years of Facebook ads: creatives, signals, AI, and trust
The truth about “ad hacks” and why most people waste money on tools
How to lead teams well in a world where everything changes monthly
(Adjust after final cut)
0:00 – Intro
1:00 – Depesh’s journey: corporate → fired → $1M affiliate marketer
6:30 – The origins of the BPM Method
11:00 – Why most businesses fail before they ever launch an ad
14:40 – Case study: turning $800K into $26M
18:50 – Key mistakes 95% of advertisers make
23:20 – Why AI shifts the advantage to creative thinkers
29:00 – Agency scaling: stress, payroll, and identity
34:00 – Losing traffic, rebuilding trust, and bouncing back
41:30 – Leadership lessons from 20 years in marketing
48:00 – What the next generation of marketers must learn
53:00 – Advice for founders trying to scale with ads
Depesh Mandalia is a marketer and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience. He currently runs a performance marketing agency, mentors thousands of advertisers, and teaches his signature BPM Method, responsible for over $100M in global revenue.
After losing his job in the 2009 financial crisis, he built a 7-figure affiliate business, and since 2018 he has trained the next wave of marketers through simple, high-impact systems that actually work.
He enjoys time with family, coaching football, traveling, and helping entrepreneurs grow.
Hosted by Eddie Ross, The Free Lunch explores leadership, growth, culture, and the real mechanics behind business success—through honest conversations with people who’ve actually done it.
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🎧 What you’ll learn:⏱️ Timestamps👤 About Depesh Mandalia🍽️ About The Free Lunch Podcast📩 Enjoyed the episode?
Is AI your company’s biggest opportunity… or an expensive distraction?
In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Eddie Ross sits down with Azahara Corrales – journalist turned marketer turned AI consultant and thought leader – to unpack what really happens when businesses try to “implement AI”.
Azahara has been working with AI in marketing since before it was cool. She helps companies cut through the hype, avoid wasting money on shiny tools, and actually get ROI from AI – while staying mindful of ethics, bias and the human side of work.
If you’re a leader, founder, manager or consultant trying to figure out how AI fits into your world, this conversation will save you time, money and headaches.
Why 95% of companies are using AI wrong
How to decide where AI makes sense in your business (and where it doesn’t)
The hidden cost of forcing AI into every workflow
AI, bias & diversity: why the people building AI matter as much as the tech
How AI will split society in two: hyper-tech vs. hyper-human
What good leadership looks like in the age of AI
Why you still need education, critical thinking and emotional intelligence
How small businesses and solo operators can “borrow a team” using AI
0:00 – Intro: Who is Azahara Corrales?
1:40 – From journalism & hospitality to AI and marketing
4:20 – Becoming an AI “pioneer” (by being early and curious)
6:00 – What Azahara actually does for companies today
7:30 – The #1 mistake leaders make when “implementing AI”
9:50 – Why most AI tools are wasted spend
11:30 – Lessons from the early internet vs. today’s AI wave
12:30 – Where AI is genuinely a huge opportunity for small businesses
14:10 – Will AI replace humans… or just bad processes?
17:00 – Trust, hallucinations and why you should treat AI like “that dad who always has an answer”
19:40 – How AI is changing leadership and culture inside companies
21:45 – AI: friend or foe? Azahara’s honest answer
23:20 – Bias in AI: who builds it and what data it learns from
28:00 – Can regulation keep up? The role of governments and the EU
32:00 – Education, knowledge and what kids should really learn now
35:30 – 2030 forecast: what changes, what stays the same
40:10 – Personal AI assistants, agents and our daily lives
44:50 – Two futures: fully plugged-in vs. people who reject tech
51:30 – Azahara’s core message to leaders about AI
53:30 – Why being an AI pioneer now can be your best competitive advantage
🎧 In this episode, we cover:⏱️ Timestamps
In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, host Eddie Ross sits down with David Mears, founder of DMA , to discuss the highs and lows of running a creative agency for over 20 years. From the early days of building the agency on his own to scaling it through economic crises and the pandemic, David shares invaluable lessons on autonomy, leadership, and finding fulfillment in your work.
David reflects on:
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn your passion into a lasting business, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, agency owner, or just someone curious about the creative industry, David's story offers a roadmap for anyone looking to build something meaningful and sustainable.
Most entrepreneurs dream of making money in pajamas—but Michael Harty actually did it long before remote work became mainstream.In this episode, Eddie Ross sits down with Michael Harty, a serial entrepreneur who went from bartending and selling meat trucks to pioneering remote entrepreneurship in the '90s, long before "digital nomad" was a buzzword.You'll discover:✅ How Michael spotted lucrative opportunities that others missed✅ The "pajama" secret: why working remotely gave him an early edge✅ His biggest entrepreneurial regret—and how you can avoid the same mistake✅ Why moving quickly matters more than perfection (and how to master it)✅ The simple yet powerful leadership principle most bosses overlookThis isn’t another fluffy entrepreneur story. It's packed with honest lessons on spotting opportunities, scaling smartly, and building businesses that thrive without micromanagement.🎧 Chapters:00:00 – Michael’s Entrepreneurial Journey from Bartending to Business05:36 – The Truth About Selling Meat Trucks in France08:01 – Launching Madrid’s First Irish Bar: Lessons & Regrets12:02 – The One Attitude Every Great Team Needs16:22 – Why Micromanaging Is Secretly Killing Your Growth23:40 – How to Empower Your Team by Doing Less27:21 – Can Your Business Run Without You?30:52 – When (and How) to "Shoot the Horse" and Move On35:34 – The Entrepreneurial Gift of Knowing When to Sell39:03 – Leadership vs. Management: Getting Real Results45:42 – Why Overanalyzing Data Can Paralyze Your Business52:17 – The Authentic Leadership Advantage📌 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for actionable advice that helps you grow faster and lead better.📖 Grab Eddie’s Book "Where's My Free Lunch?"
In this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with David Hancock, a man who’s reinvented himself not once, but twice.
From serving as an Army officer in a cavalry regiment, to trading floors in the City of London, to becoming COO at a top 10 global hedge fund, David’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary. But his most radical move yet? Leaving the world of finance behind to retrain as a barrister.
Together they discuss:
The courage to start over later in life.
What it’s really like working in England’s legal system.
Why more leaders need “self-leadership” before they lead others.
The shocking realities of criminal law and the “innocent tax”.
If you’ve ever thought about pivoting careers, chasing purpose over profit, or simply want to hear an inspiring journey of reinvention – this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen now and be inspired to take your own leap.
🔥 Don’t forget to subscribe to The Free Lunch for more stories from leaders who dare to think differently.
Shaman Ahuja is the Deputy CEO of Optym, a multi-million dollar optimization software company transforming industries like airlines, railroads, and trucking. In this episode, Shaman shares hard-earned lessons on building software at scale, leading global teams, and navigating the challenges of innovation in complex industries.
We talk about:
✅ The realities of leading multi-million software projects
✅ Balancing customers, developers, and business needs
✅ How AI is reshaping software development and logistics
✅ Leadership principles for scaling tech organizations
✅ Why communication—not code—is often the biggest bottleneck
Whether you're a tech leader, aspiring CEO, or curious about what it takes to deliver software that actually works, this conversation is packed with insights.
🎙 Subscribe for more leadership, business, and culture conversations from The Free Lunch.
In this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with branding expert Brenna Garratt, the founder of Sustainer, to explore the crucial role branding plays in business success. With over 20 years of experience in building brands and helping companies navigate the complexities of the B2B market, Brenna shares valuable insights on how branding is much more than just a logo – it’s a strategic asset that drives growth, creates lasting relationships, and differentiates businesses in competitive markets.From her early days in the dot-com boom to building a thriving branding agency and ultimately selling it to a bigger group, Brenna offers a unique perspective on how leaders can use branding to shape their business identity, influence decisions, and build powerful companies.In this conversation, Brenna and Eddie dive deep into topics like:- The importance of strategic branding in B2B markets- How to transform branding from a cost center to a profit center- The challenges of naming companies and products- Why understanding your brand's perception is key to long-term successAnd much more!Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, or simply curious about how branding shapes business growth, this episode is packed with actionable advice and behind-the-scenes stories from a true expert in the field.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to The Free Lunch for more insights on leadership, business strategy, and success stories from top industry experts.00:00 - Introduction to Branding and Leadership04:51 - The Journey of Sustainer and Early Challenges09:51 - The Value of Branding in Business14:49 - Navigating B2B Branding Challenges19:55 - The Art of Presentation and Impact24:48 - Understanding Corporate Perception and Meepathy28:24 - Navigating Client Relationships and Feedback30:43 - Reframing Leadership Roles for Success32:16 - The Importance of Authentic Branding34:26 - The Challenges of Naming and Brand Identity39:43 - The Emotional Power of Branding41:18 - Leadership and Confidence in Branding43:06 - Understanding Client Dynamics and Relationships46:58 - Knowing When to Walk Away from Clients51:44 - Advice for New Entrepreneurs
In this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with Roman Townsend, founder of Belvera Partners, to explore his remarkable journey from corporate redundancy to building a thriving global communications agency.
After being laid off during COVID, Roman didn't just bounce back—he built a niche PR firm serving the travel tech industry, growing a remote-first team across continents and breaking into markets like China.
They dive into:
The mindset shift from employee to founder
Why outsourcing admin is a startup superpower
How to build a team that runs without you
The reality of remote leadership and communication
What Western founders misunderstand about China’s tech scene
Roman’s honest take on leadership, culture, and resilience
If you're thinking about leaving the corporate world to build your own business—or you're already in the thick of it—this is the real, practical conversation you need.
🔗 Subscribe for more founder journeys & leadership insights
🎙 The Free Lunch — Real conversations, no fluff.
In this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with Crystal Elam, SVP of Growth & Operations at RVO Health, to explore her unexpected rise from storm chasing to biotech and digital healthcare leadership.
Crystal shares game-changing insights on leading without authority, scaling transformation, and a philosophy she calls "Pull Through bigger than Sell To" that reshaped her career in sales.
From handling layoffs with empathy to prepping teams for AI-led disruption in healthcare, this conversation covers mentorship, vulnerability, leadership perception, and how extreme accountability drives real change.
🚀 Topics covered:
From storm chaser to healthcare executive
What “pull through” really means in sales & growth
How to lead without a title
Mentorship: how to find the right people
AI in healthcare: risks, power & personalisation
Communication that actually lands
👉 Watch to the end for Crystal’s take on vulnerability as a leadership edge.
Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments 💬
n this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with leadership veteran Tom Cates, Senior VP of Business Development at Uniglobe and former Chief Commercial Officer at Amadeus.With over four decades in leadership across aviation, banking, and global tech, Tom shares deeply personal stories and hard-earned lessons on self-awareness, feedback, team dynamics, and the power of culture.🚨 Highlights:Why leadership starts with leading yourselfHow to balance ego and humility in a senior roleWhat Tom learned managing 42 direct reportsWhy building relationships is more powerful than managing tasksHow to lead through mergers, global change, and culture clashesWhether you're an emerging manager or a seasoned executive, this is a masterclass in authentic leadership.👇 Drop your biggest leadership lesson in the comments – we'd love to hear it.
What does it really mean to lead? In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Eddie Ross sits down with his cousin Andrew Ross, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Marines, to unpack the hard truths about leadership—both in the military and in the corporate world.With nearly 20 years in uniform and another 20 in senior roles in companies like Shell, Andrew shares a rare perspective on:The difference between command, management, and leadershipWhy trust—not control—is the real glue of high-performing teamsWhat not being invited for a drink taught him about failureHow to lead without needing to be likedThe real reason some charismatic leaders fall short🔥 Whether you're a team lead, founder, or aspiring leader—this episode delivers timeless lessons on responsibility, courage, and the loneliness of command.👉 Like, subscribe, and let us know: What’s one leadership lesson YOU had to learn the hard way?#Leadership #MilitaryLeadership #CorporateCulture #FreeLunchPodcast #EddieRoss #CommandAndControl #TeamManagement #AndrewRoss #RoyalMarines #AuthenticLeadership
Most leaders talk about "culture"—but few actually understand what it takes to build one that performs and inspires.In this episode, Eddie Ross sits down with Claire Smith, Head of People and culture strategist, to expose the uncomfortable truths about leadership, communication, and workplace performance that HR won’t tell you.You’ll learn:✅ Why most companies fail at culture (even when they think they’re thriving)✅ The one dangerous mistake leaders make in “difficult conversations”✅ Why “family culture” is a toxic myth—and what to do instead✅ How to fix low engagement, misalignment, and quiet quitting✅ What Me-pathy is—and why it’s your leadership superpowerThis is not another soft talk on values. This is how top companies actually build winning culture, retain talent, and grow faster—without burning people out.🎧 Chapters:00:00 – Claire’s Squiggly Career Path04:06 – What a Head of People Really Does05:12 – Culture ≠ Perks (It’s Much Deeper)07:31 – Kindness vs. High Performance: False Tradeoff10:04 – How to Assess & Strengthen Real Culture14:49 – The Truth About Difficult Conversations18:28 – Why Leaders Underestimate Their Communication Power24:30 – Understanding Personality Styles at Work30:09 – Your Culture Must Evolve (Here’s How)35:09 – Career Growth Starts With You42:07 – How to Fix Broken Performance Reviews📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for real conversations that help you lead better.📖 Grab Eddie’s Book “Where’s My Free Lunch?”
Ever feel exhausted by endless productivity hacks that lead nowhere? It's time to escape productivity hell and discover the hidden mindset shift that separates the world's most successful leaders from everyone else.In today's episode, Eddie Ross sits down with Matthew Brown, founder of Being Thinking Doing, to reveal why traditional productivity is failing you and exactly what to do instead. You'll learn:✅ Why "fake urgency" is quietly destroying your team (and how to fix it).✅ The ancient Stoic secrets that top executives swear by.✅ Why attention—not time—is your REAL superpower.✅ How to reclaim control from "busyness" and finally achieve meaningful results.Stop working harder. Start working smarter. Matthew Brown shares secrets he's taught to Fortune 500 companies and elite leaders worldwide.📌 Chapters:00:00 – Intro00:29 – Why Productivity Hacks Are Broken02:49 – Stoicism: Your Secret Weapon04:47 – The REAL Urgent vs. Important08:27 – Escaping the Messaging App Trap11:19 – Attention: Your Ultimate Resource17:10 – Master the Art of Saying "No"22:04 – Why Effort Isn't Enough36:23 – The Busyness Trap (and Escape)46:47 – Military Secrets to Powerful Leadership📖 Get Eddie’s Book "Where’s My Free Lunch?":💡 Like & Subscribe for more powerful insights every week!
Join Eddie Ross, author of Where’s My Free Lunch?, and seasoned leadership strategist Larraine Solomon for candid, thought-provoking conversations that debunk the myth of “easy fixes” in leadership and organizational success. In this debut episode, the duo unpacks decades of experience across industries—from banking to tech—to explore why there’s no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to building trust, fostering innovation, and driving lasting change.