Wit + Grit

About Wit + Grit

We’re PJ Ellis and Andy Dawson - two dads, two mates, who’ve spent our lives working across business, law, education, charity, and media. Between us, we've made a lot of mistakes, asked a lot of questions, and raised kids who are about to walk into a world of work that’s nothing like the one we grew up in. That’s why we started Wit + Grit - a space for real, human conversations about what it takes to thrive in a world full of AI, constant pressure, and curated perfection. This podcast is about the skills you can’t Google. Things like confidence, resilience, emotional intelligence, how to fail well, how to bounce back, how to speak up, and how to listen. We’re not here to give perfect advice. We’re here to ask better questions. How do we prepare our kids for jobs that don’t exist yet? How do we connect generations in a divided, digital world? What makes someone truly employable in 2025 and beyond? Each episode, we’ll chat with educators, grads, parents, leaders, misfits, mentors, and all-round brilliant people who’ve lived through the stuff that doesn’t come with a textbook. If you’re a parent, a young person starting out, an old-head or experienced leader, or just someone trying to figure out how to be more human in a world full of noise - this one’s for you. Follow us, subscribe, and let’s have the conversations that matter - with a bit of humour, a lot of honesty, and absolutely no corporate jargon. You can connect with us at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107731497/ LinkedIn: PJ Ellis & Andy Dawson Let’s get into it.

Publisher

PJ Ellis and Andy Dawson

Category

business · education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Jun 2025

Latest episode

1 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

48 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Nov 2026

   Why Nobody Cares About Your Content & How To Change That | Ep 47 | Wit + Grit

   Why does one person's content stop you mid-scroll while someone else posts the exact same thing and nobody blinks? Welcome back to Wit and Grit with hosts PJ and Andy! Each month on Wit+Grit, we explore a different theme as part of our growing curriculum of human skills. Skills that help us communicate, connect, build confidence and navigate whatever life throws at us. And this month's theme is STORYTELLING. Because the thing that makes a piece of content land is almost never the subject. It is the person behind it. So joining PJ and Andy today is Laura, the creator behind Bite Your Brum, who has spent nearly ten years telling Birmingham's food stories to her ever growing audience. Laura started Bite Your Brum after a night at a food festival, slightly tipsy and wondering why nobody was talking about the places she loved. Ten years on she has gone from agency copywriter to full-time freelance, backing herself with a year of savings and no safety net. Together, Andy, PJ and Laura explore why most content gets ignored, what actually makes people care, how hospitality and pub work teach you more about communication than any course, and the unglamorous side of going freelance: saying no, picking your clients and learning to talk about money. Tune in for honest advice on building an audience, a crash course in food storytelling, and the five crisps that are apparently the key to Laura's heart. 🎧 Listen to the FULL EPISODE & follow us on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/66UlqMvfgoP5rrcOVlHZvy Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wit-grit/id1823013285 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@witandgritpodcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/witandgritpodcast Connect with Laura Below: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/biteyourbrum

2. 

   25 Oct 2026

   How to Speak Without Freaking. Dave James on Storytelling & Public Speaking | Ep 46 | Wit + Grit

   Why does speaking in front of a crowd sometimes feel like a life-or-death situation? Welcome to the debut episode of the new and improved Wit and Grit podcast with hosts PJ and Andy! We're kicking off our new-look podcast with a brilliant guest, plenty of laughs and one of the most important human skills of all: STORYTELLING. Each month on Wit+Grit, we explore a different theme as part of our growing curriculum of human skills. Skills that help us communicate, connect, build confidence and navigate whatever life throws at us. And this month's theme is STORYTELLING. Because whether you're presenting to hundreds of people, speaking up in a meeting or simply trying to get your point across, how you tell your story matters. Joining PJ Ellis and Andy Dawson is Dave James, speaker coach, stand-up comedian and founder of Speaking Without Freaking. Together, we explore why public speaking can feel so terrifying, how to manage those nerves and what it really takes to connect with an audience. Tune in for laugh-out-loud improv, practical stage hacks, and raw advice on owning your voice! 🎧 Listen to the FULL EPISODE & follow us on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/66UlqMvfgoP5rrcOVlHZvy?si=1f1ac64638d64364 Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wit-grit/id1823013285 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dan_the_pik Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/witandgritpodcast/ Connect with Dave James Below: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamdavejames/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamdavejames/

3. 

   29 Sept 2026

   The Rebel in a Suit | Joel Blake OBE

   What does it really mean to be a rebel in a suit? In this episode of Wit + Grit, PJ and Andy sit down with Birmingham entrepreneur and business leader Joel Blake OBE for a powerful conversation about resilience, courage, authenticity and challenging the status quo. Joel shares the extraordinary story of the moment, aged 15, that changed the direction of his life, and how the lessons from those early years have shaped the entrepreneur, father and leader he is today. From being unexpectedly pushed out of a business he helped build, to creating a category-defining fintech platform from Birmingham, Joel talks candidly about what resilience actually looks like when you're deep in the trenches - not the polished version we often hear about. The conversation explores why the people who speak least can sometimes have the most to offer, why inclusion is a genuine competitive advantage, the danger of thinking you're in control when everything is going well, and why entrepreneurs need the courage to find their micro-niche. Joel also opens up about fatherhood, vulnerability, masculinity and the difficult art of allowing your children to face challenges without immediately stepping in to rescue them. And, of course, we discover the guilty pleasure behind one of Birmingham's sharpest business minds: Skittles. An honest conversation about success, setbacks, identity, family and having the courage to be the rebel in the suit. Key takeaways * Be the rebel in the suit. * Look beyond the loudest voice. * Know your core values - and stick to them. * Resilience isn’t a slogan. * Success doesn’t necessarily mean control. * Find your micro-niche. * Inclusion is a competitive advantage. * Authenticity matters more than titles. * Embrace vulnerability. * Sometimes parenting means stepping back. Keywords / tags Joel Blake OBE, Rebel in a Suit, Wit and Grit, Wit & Grit Podcast, PJ Ellis, Andy Dawson, entrepreneurship, entrepreneur podcast, business leadership, leadership, resilience, grit, courage, authenticity, vulnerability, emotional intelligence, soft skills, human skills, inclusion, diversity and inclusion, belonging, business growth, fintech, GFA Exchange, private credit, Birmingham business, Birmingham entrepreneur, West Midlands, business failure, overcoming adversity, challenging the status quo, disruptive thinking, micro niche, entrepreneurship UK, startup founder, fatherhood, masculinity, male role models, personal development, core values, business mindset, purpose, inclusive leadership Chapters List 00:01 Introduction to Resilience and Rebellion 00:24 Identifying Potential in Entrepreneurs 02:36 The Journey of Joel Blake, OBE 07:13 Turning Adversity into Fuel 12:17 Family Legacy and Personal Struggles 14:11 The Importance of Authenticity 21:24 Thinking Like a Rebel in a Suit 26:03 The Importance of Belonging vs Inclusion 28:43 Courage in Uncertain Times 30:17 Opportunities and Challenges in Business 34:22 The Weight of Recognition and Legacy 37:55 Navigating Parenthood and Vulnerability 46:09 Quickfire Insights and Reflections

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 29 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

58

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.