Everyone loves the winners, but we’re here for the players, the ones rewriting rules, breaking and surviving the chaos. Doubts, pivots, and the messy undercurrents. Welcome to the Unpolished Players in Business podcast.
The Hidden Food Struggles No Health App Was Solving | Ep.11 with Nabeel Sharif
Nabeel Sharif, founder of Healthiplate, discusses how current health apps fail individuals with ADHD and PCOS by overlooking the brain and hormonal needs in this interview.
11 Sept 2025
The Loneliness of Leading a Company | Ep.10 with Michael Horsley
Host Michael Horsley interviews industry experts on overcoming the loneliness of leadership by seeking external clarity and support before decision fatigue sets in.
19 Aug 2025
The Silent Risk That Will Outdate Your Business Overnight | Ep.09 with Michael Guy
Host [Host Name] interviews digital transformation veteran Michael Guy about the silent risks that cause businesses to fail, offering practical insights to avoid common pitfalls.
16 Jul 2025
The Real Risk of AI in Music Isn’t What You Think | Ep.08 with Hazel Savage & Zhiwei
Hazel Savage and Zhiwei explore AI's growing influence in the music industry, discussing its impact on artists, platforms, and monetization strategies, in this interview episode.
4 Jun 2025
How to Make Your Products So Addicted | Ep.07 Masterclass of Bespoke Business with Joey
Joey shares how she leveraged her unique background and passion for jewelry to build a successful word-of-mouth business, emphasizing client storytelling and trust in a male-dominated industry in this interview.
7 May 2025
How Farming Taught Him Business: A Real Talk on Grit & Growth| Ep.06 Tanweer Hassan
This week's guest is Tanweer Hassan: a first-generation college student who grew up on a farm in India, taught himself English by watching TED Talks, went on to organize TEDx events and launch his own startups in the UK, and now leads the MBA program at the University of Southampton.
In this conversation, Tanweer breaks down how farming shaped his mindset: patience, resilience, no shortcuts. In this conversation, we dive into:
Why business isn’t just about unicorns and headlines
The quiet power of growing slow but steady
What farming and entrepreneurship have in common
How we revalue MBA nowadays
Subscribe, tune in, and hear a story you won’t find on the usual business podcasts.
23 Apr 2025
How a Side Hustle Became a Thriving Business | Ep.05 Saskia Roskam Co-Founder of The Biskery
We all know biscuit industry is very competitive. So how does this brand stand out in such a crowded market?
The Biskery is a handmade cookie brand from Leeds that grew from a market stall into a media-featured, award-winning business—serving clients like Penguin Publisher, Google, NHS, and so much more big brand.
No funding. No factory. Just two women, a great recipe, and a belief that biscuits can speak.
Saskia, a former documentary filmmaker, shares how storytelling became her branding superpower—turning snacks into a deeply personal product, and a crowded market into real opportunity.
If you care about brand building, creative business, or food with feeling—this one’s for you.
Timestamps:
[00:00] - Who is Saskia Roskam? The Biskery and how it all started
[01:22] - What would be the opening sense of her entropenur journey?
[07:46] - Becoming a mother: The first major turning point
[09:09] - The digital marketing experience
[12:12] - How COVID-19 made their business pivot
[13:50] - How the BBC and Leeds List catapulted their brand visibility
[26:01] - The first corporate order from Penguin Publisher
[30:34] - Sales teaches you more than R&D ever
[35:09] - What she has changed during this way?
[39:42] - Suggestion for business women and being a mother
[41:14] - When did she decide to go all in to The Biskery
[47:40] - Common marketing mistakes early founders make (and how to fix them)
[50:17] - How to build trust through the your website?
[54:21] - They said no to VC funding?
[57:51] - The co-founders dynamic
[1:03:25] - The biggest lessons her learned through this journey
[1:07:07] -The funny story of how Yuning & Sas met
[1:15:32] - How Phil Collins & Liam Gallagher found the Biskery
[1:18:17] -The advertisement spent?
[1:21:24] - What is the future adventure for Sas? Another business empire?
[1:26:19] - What would be the final scene of this imaginary documentary?
[1:29:13] - What should the documentary be called?
9 Apr 2025
What Strip Club Taught Me About Business | Ep.04 Sales & Marketing Expert Rhiannon-Amber Leavett
From strip club manager to founder of five businesses. She once had £17,000 in debt, lived on credit cards, and couldn’t afford breakfast for her kids.
But she said: “I had to start a business — because there was no way back.” “I want to earn so much money that my kids never have to struggle the way I did.” “And even then — I want to live a life that’s anything but ordinary.”
How did it all begin? For Rhiannon, the earliest lessons came from dancers, debt, and disasters. In this episode, she opens up about:
🟡 Why strip clubs are the best sales training ground in the world
🟡 How she shifted from selling services to selling products — and the painful lessons that came with it
🟡 How SME founders can build trust and grow a personal brand
🟡 The marketing crisis in the equestrian world — stuck in the 1970s
🟡 Why she keeps coming up with business ideas that actually hit real market needs
This is not a success story. This is a SURVIVAL story — and maybe the most honest one you’ll ever hear.
--------------------------
Timestamps:
[00:00] – Intro
[02:10] – From Strip Club Manager to CEO
[04:34] – No Food, No Credit, No One to Call
[07:31] – Why Business Is the Only Option
[09:09] – How to Start with 0 Experience
[12:22] – Why Every Small Business Struggles with Marketing
[14:23] – Cold Accountability: Fix the Real Problem
[17:14] – Becoming an Expert Before You Feel Like One
[24:25] – Her First Ever Client
[31:02] – Equitrain Industry Still Lives in the 1970s
[36:48] – Business Idea: Teaching Tech to People Who Hate Tech
[38:20] – Inventing the Zip-On Horse Coat
[41:56] – When Every Prototype Fails
[47:38] – Sell It Before You Make It
[49:32] – 3 Brutal Lessons from Product Development
[54:02] – Strippers Are the Best Salespeople on Earth
[57:49] – Networking Lessons from the Club
[01:04:18] – Rejection Training: The Best Sales School
[01:06:36] – I'd Build a Sales Team Out of Strippers
[01:07:36] – Childhood Business Instincts: The Pickle Relish Story
[01:19:26] – What is Her Biggest Change during this Journey
3 Apr 2025
How a Dishwasher Built China’s Top Dumpling Chain
We’re telling China’s business stories—in English, for the world.Not through big headlines or geopolitics, but through companies, strategy, culture, and the people building from the ground up.Because let’s face it—everyone’s curious about China.But curiosity deserves better answers than clichés.So we’re starting with something universal: dumplings.In this first episode, we explore how one humble dumpling brand became China’s No.1—without franchising, without outside capital, and without trying to be everything to everyone.Whether you’re into F&B, grassroots entrepreneurship, leadership models, or simply want a fresh case study from outside Silicon Valley—this one’s for you.We’ve broken down the strategy, the decisions, and the takeaways—so you don’t have to.Let’s dig in.Host by Yuning https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuning-zhao-857a26306?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_appEdited by Wan Su https://www.linkedin.com/in/wan-su-a683b8229/ --------------------------🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/4l0C4xYp6LxcwGH1oZIr3d?si=zt1sgV__RfS95Dc9F9JpYA&nd=1&dlsi=b8e3482f36d94ad2🎙️ Apple Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unpolished-players-in-business/id1798695787Let's Connect!LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/unpolished-players-in-business/](https://www.linkedin.com/company/unpolished-player-in-business/)Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unpolished_players_inbusiness/
26 Mar 2025
The Secret to Navigating Your Career in an Unpredictable Economy | Ep.03 Dr.Stuart Mills
This is not the economist you imagine.
Dr. Stuart Mills researches AI, behavioral economics, dark patterns, and the digital economy.
He questions what others accept.
He believes the pursuit of happiness might be headed in the wrong direction.
And he thinks we’re asking too little of technology—and too much of ourselves.
In this episode, Dr. Mills talks about:
• Why joy is a social experience, not a solo goal
• Why AI might be accelerating emptiness, not innovation
• How digital platforms are engineered to influence your mood
• Why uncertainty is part of being alive—and not a flaw to fix
• Why it’s still possible to be an idealist in a messy world
Not a self-help episode.
But maybe the kind of help you actually need.
-------------------------------------------
[00:00] Intro: The Adulting Paradox: Is It a Global Crisis?
[01:14] Meet Dr. Stuart Mills: Behavioral Economist & AI Researcher
[03:04] Why He Left Finance for Academia[06:25] Is Studying Abroad Still Worth It in a Tough Economy?
[09:01] What Sets Chinese Students Apart Internationally?
[12:15] China's Rise: Entering the "Long Chinese Century"?
[15:29] The 20s/30s Crisis: Why Are Young People Lost Today?
[19:26] Happiness Literature - What Actually Makes Us Happy?
[24:07] 6 Industries That Boom in Economic Downturns
[28:27] Magical Thinking & The Rise of Retail Investors
[30:30] Weak Signals That the Economy Is in Trouble
[33:28] What AI Is Really Doing (And Why It’s Not That Smart)
[37:13] The Hype vs. Reality of ChatGPT[41:30] Why We're Desperate to Believe in Revolutionary Tech
[43:47] What Truly Counts as Innovation?
[49:02] Want to Break Into AI? Here’s Where to Start
[51:57] Cross-Border E-commerce: Real Opportunity or Just Hype?
[57:14] Is China Becoming the Next Japan?
[1:03:32] One Principle for Surviving Economic Turbulence
[1:07:36] How to Build Your Economic Thinking (Without Textbooks)
[1:11:06] The Value of Conversations in Learning
[1:14:31] A Self-Destructive Sense of Fairness
[1:22:17] Do You Also Struggle With That Dark Corner in Your Mind?
[1:26:38] Has Dr.Stuart Mills Worry About Money?
[1:30:43] Final Reflections: Class, Money, and British History
12 Mar 2025
The TRUTH About Learning English: Why You’re Doing It Wrong | Ep.02 Emma Founder of English Therapy
“Language exists to connect—not to divide. It’s meant for communication, not classification.”That’s why Emma built her business. Not just to teach English, but to change the way we see it.Because let’s be real:🔥 Fluency isn’t about sounding perfect. It’s about being heard.🔥 Entrepreneurship isn’t about being big—it’s about solving real problems.🔥 The best founders don’t start with a business plan. They start with a mission.🎙️ In this episode, we dive into:💡 The moment Emma realized language is power.💡 Why even fluent speakers still feel like outsiders.💡 What people get wrong about building a business that actually helps.This episode isn’t just about English. It’s about confidence, growth, and owning your voice—on your terms.🎧 Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/c2ZEr5ecZRg 🎙️ Apple Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFRxeFY3NXZlR2tJbExCb2cwMjl1TjRPZlVxQXxBQ3Jtc0ttZDhuTXQ5ekV5UTVOZ2U2aGJKUERFb0JvQXc5c2FrQXdmXy1DcEF1eHVhbFRicm1EU3ViVzVwaXplQzZzaFhKcFllR3FxZjBXWkQxWEtCTjloQ2Q4TG1JVkF2Tk1rMTBMRmJreDhsN0lhVzVSZGJicw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Funpolished-player-in-business%2Fid1798695787&v=c2ZEr5ecZRg)Let's Connect!Linkedin / unpolished-player-in-business (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbklvTG5qY3dwS1BGamV2aVR2M0M3a3pHY1ZSQXxBQ3Jtc0trek9LMHVLZFoyTGF0RV9NM0xKZ0JrNUlYYkFCU0xpQjhnNEUyZnBuYUhxa1dFNm5ZclloUllSbVN1WXMtM0RCV3kySUpNWExEcmhraXhQZzY3OUE1TDB3Mno5T0pfRmo3NzYzRnc4cmJRRHppVjh6WQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Funpolished-player-in-business%2F&v=c2ZEr5ecZRg)Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unpolished_... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDdjUnhZM1hpWWtNTFBHV2pnb0ZGaVpZTUxQd3xBQ3Jtc0tsVEh1RkNDQkpmb0dRelBWMGd5QlNJWG5ILXQ0bWM4Z3lldlR2bDRVaEFRNFlRem1PR1FxRkRnSUJlY05Ddlh0SEoxUTM3T1pqOUlTd1FhN3lDdnNuT002c19OWVpCSXExREFzd0NBQkQ4NDRWSDFaTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Funpolished_players_inbusiness%3Figsh%3DMXN4N2p5bHhkenp2aA%253D%253D%26utm_source%3Dqr&v=c2ZEr5ecZRg)
Get your 10% off to start your English Learning Journey HERE:
https://englishtherapy.co.uk/upib/ (https://englishtherapy.co.uk/upib/)
——————
00:00 - Intro: Meet Emma & English Learning Therapy
05:10 - Emma’s Journey: From Teacher to Entrepreneur
12:45 - The Power of English: A Tool, Not Just a Language
18:30 - Passion for Teaching & Early Experiences
25:15 - Debunking the 'Native Speaker' Myth
32:00 - Bringing Identity & Stories to a New Language
38:40 - Embracing Mistakes & Overcoming Fear
45:55 - How English Learning Therapy Works
52:30 - English as a Global Tool for Communication
58:50 - Breaking Unrealistic Expectations in Language Learning
1:05:20 - Interactive Learning: Roleplay & Drama
1:12:10 - The Impact of Drama on Language Learning
1:19:35 - Future Vision for English Learning Therapy
1:30:00 - Business Challenges & Financial Side
1:38:10 - Will AI Replace Language Teachers?
26 Feb 2025
The Darkness That Built What the Idea Never Could with Ali Toosi | Ep.01
Ali’s journey seems like the perfect startup story: He moved to the UK for his MBA, faced job anxiety, and had to adapt to an all-English environment. But instead of just surviving, he turned these struggles into his entrepreneurial philosophy. 🔸 He is the founder of Experiential Academy: Bridging real-world practice and academic theory. 🔸 Co-founder of English Therapy: Helping others overcome the language barriers he once faced.Sounds like a classic success story, until Ali brushes it off:“Ideas are worthless.”“We tend to glorify this entrepreneurship, but it's not.”“One week or one month of my MBA, I was expecting somebody from university emails me we were wrong to give you a scholarship. ”This isn’t about a lightbulb moment—it’s about chaos, self-doubt, and turning survival into something real.So, how do you build something lasting while still figuring yourself out? Answers in the video.
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(0:00) – Intro
(1:53) – Who is Ali Toosi?
(3:04) – The Gap Between School and Real Business
(5:05) – The Hidden Loneliness of Founders
(7:27) – Selling Yourself in 30 Seconds
(9:33) – The Power of Listening in Sales
(12:14) – What Acting Taught Me About Business
(16:03) – No Second Takes: Theatre & Startups
(18:29) – Performing Without Pretending
(22:11) – Why Great Ideas Still Fail
(26:17) – Walking Away from a “Dream” Career
(30:12) – The Invisible Systems Behind Business
(33:36) – How Culture Shapes Ambition
(38:27) – Knowing When to Quit
(42:05) – The Reality of Impostor Syndrome
(47:21) – Moving Abroad: It’s More Than Language
(53:08) – When Success Feels Hollow
(57:49) – Why High Achievers Struggle With Fulfillment
(1:02:13) – Ideas Are Cheap. Execution Wins.
(1:06:46) – Adapt or Fail: The Constant of Change
(1:11:17) – AI: Threat or Opportunity?
(1:16:03) – The Moment Everything Shifted
(1:20:06) – The Quiet Cost of Starting Over Abroad
(1:24:11) – Breaking Into Closed Worlds
Who has been a guest on Unpolished Players In Business
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Nabeel Sharif
Michael Guy
Hazel Savage
Zhiwei
Joey
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YouTube views
4,657,731,499
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100
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Quality
35
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0
YouTube
93
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