The Entrepreneur Experiment

In this weekend’s Mentor Moment, Charlene Flanagan and Niamh Ryan - the founders of Ella & Jo - share a refreshing take on what success really means. Instead of chasing someone else’s version of the win, they talk about defining success for yourself: freedom, family time, building from the west of Ireland, and creating a legacy by bringing a brand from “nothing” to customers in over 50 countries. If you’ve ever felt swept up in external pressure - the numbers, the milestones, the “next thing”- this clip is your reminder to pause, reassess, and choose what you actually want your life to look like. For the full conversation with Charlene and Niamh, listen to Episode 417 of The Entrepreneur Experiment. Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26  Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26 Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk

In this brand-new Masterclass Special, Gary Fox sits down with Diarmuid Corcoran of Chartered Capital to unpack the money questions Irish founders avoid - until it’s too late. They talk openly about why money can still feel like a “dirty word” in Ireland, why founders can be brilliant at making money but hesitant to manage it, and how wealth often compounds simply because of maths. Diarmuid breaks down the core principles of long-term investing (without the hype), the psychology that causes people to panic at the wrong time, and the practical founder moves that build real security - like taking a salary, using pensions properly, and keeping “fun investing” firmly contained. If you’ve ever said “I’ll start later,” “I’ll wait for the markets to settle,” or “my business is my pension,” this episode is the reset. Important note This episode is education and perspective - not personalised financial advice. Always do your own due diligence and speak to a qualified advisor/accountant for your circumstances. Show notes What you’ll learn Why the “rich get richer” is often compounding in action Why Ireland has a unique relationship with money (scarcity mindset + property-first thinking) The hidden risk of “safe” cash: inflation eroding purchasing power Time in the market vs timing the market (and why “waiting” usually backfires) The psychology behind bad money decisions: recency bias, fear headlines, and the Dunning–Kruger effect “Set-and-forget” investing, and why boring usually wins The founder dilemma: all eggs in the business and no personal de-risking plan Pensions: why they can be tax-efficient, protective, and misunderstood The “de-risking” concept approaching retirement (and the 2008 lesson) A simple way to start investing regularly (and remove emotion from the process) The “playpen” rule: keeping speculative investing (stocks/crypto/startups) to a small % Founder mistakes Diarmuid sees constantly: Not taking a salary early Not paying a spouse/partner (where relevant) Being far too cautious in long-term pension funds Missing employer pension matching More about Chartered Capital: Chartered Capital Initial Query Form (https://bit.ly/4a89Mcp) for people who want to get in touch. When people fill this out, Chartered Capital will reach out to  them afterwards to arrange a meeting. They also circulate a monthly newsletter that generally only consists only of good news and isn’t ever in any way technical:  Newsletter link (https://crafty-innovator-3012.kit.com/57ab7f6ffd)  Link to Blogs on Chartered Capital website (https://charteredcapital.ie/insights/blogs-and-news/) Chartered Capital Website (https://bit.ly/charcap) This is a super video on Robert Cialdini’s work for those who don’t have time to read the full book = Science of persuasion - Robert Cialdini (https://youtu.be/cFdCzN7RYbw) The Financial Planners Ireland website: https://fpireland.ie/ Our Sponsors: Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26  Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26 Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk   Book Recommendations General Psychology = Influence – The Psychology of Persuasion (https://amzn.to/4bB6q4c) by Robert Cialdini and The 48 Laws of Power (https://amzn.to/49XcBON)by Robert Greene. Running a business = Traction (https://amzn.to/4qgiJGM) and Rocket Fuel (https://amzn.to/3ZdOqWa) by Gino Wickman. Personal Finance = The Psychology of Money (https://amzn.to/4rosi7w) by Morgan Housel.

In this Mentor Moment, Keilidh Cashell shares the exact moment her career pivoted - she left her job on the makeup counter with plans to build a weekend client business… and instead, brands started reaching out with paid opportunities straight away. Keilidh breaks down how she stayed true to her values, learned the realities of the influencer industry, and why trust and long-term partnerships matter more than a quick ad. 🎧 Want the full story? Listen to Episode 414 of The Entrepreneur Experiment for the complete conversation with Keilidh. Our Sponsors: Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26 Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26 Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Spencer Matthews - founder of CleanCo, endurance adventurer, and the definition of a modern founder operating across business, body and brain. Spencer shares the real story behind his identity shift: from heavy drinking and coasting, to building extreme discipline through endurance challenges, and channeling that same intensity into building CleanCo. He opens up about raising big money, moving too fast, the U.S. expansion that didn’t land, stepping back from the day-to-day, and what he’d do differently if he was starting again. If you’re building something and trying to balance ambition with sustainability, this one is a masterclass in reinvention, risk, and rebuilding properly. Show Notes In this episode, we cover: 🔥 The wake-up call that made Spencer quit drinking, and why “identity shift” beats habit change 🚀 How CleanCo started: spotting the gap in non-alcoholic spirits and going all-in with zero experience 📈 Scaling lessons: big fundraising, big valuation pressure, and the hidden cost of moving too fast 🇺🇸 The U.S. launch mistake: “no education” + rushing expansion and the 3-year cleanup 🔁 Rebuilding properly: consistency, patience, and focusing only where you can win 🏃‍♂️ Why hard challenges feel liberating, and how endurance became his operating system 🧠 How he runs life week-to-week: training, staying busy, trusting great people, and avoiding the scroll 🏝️ The long game: why he sees a future chapter in the Eden Rock family business Links & Resources Spencer Matthews (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/spencermatthews/ CleanCo / Clean Liquor: https://www.clean.co/ Untapped (podcast): https://open.spotify.com/search/Untapped%20Spencer%20Matthews James’s Place (mentioned): https://www.jamesplace.org.uk/ Our Sponsors: Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26  Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26 Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk

Welcome back to The Entrepreneur Experiment for 2026 - and Season 28 kicks off with a special format: an Ask Me Anything Q&A. Gary answers the most “juicy” questions sent in over Christmas (LinkedIn, Instagram, and the newsletter), covering everything from taking the podcast global, to the tools and team behind the scenes, to why he’s doubling down on founder-led brands in the age of AI. You’ll also hear Gary’s hot takes for 2026 (see: remote vs. hybrid: pick a lane), the founders he believes will have breakout years, what he’d do differently if he started again, and the one mindset shift he’s bringing into the new season: decisiveness. 🎧 If you like this AMA style, Gary’s already decided: more Q&As are coming - including AMAs with past guests, o make sure you’re following us on socials (linked below) to get involved, or join the newsletter (linked below). Show Notes In this Season 28 opener, Gary kicks off 2026 with an Ask Me Anything episode — answering questions sent in over Christmas from LinkedIn, Instagram, and the newsletter. We touch on: When (and how) the podcast is going global — UK, Middle East, and the US The 2026 goal: don’t look like a podcast — look like a media company The team + tools behind the scenes (and the one tool Gary can’t live without) Founder-led brands in the age of AI: why Gary is more bullish than ever A few breakout predictions for the year ahead Gary’s hot take for 2026 (and why “uncertainty” kills momentum) What he’s leaving in 2025… and what he’s bringing into 2026 If you want more of these AMAs, tell Gary —-he’s already planning the next twist on the format. Resources (mentioned or referenced) Books Unreasonable Hospitality — Will Guidara People / Brands referenced Manna (Bobby Healy) - https://www.manna.aero/ Tech Powered Luxury - https://www.instagram.com/techpoweredluxury/?hl=en Ireland Fashion Week - https://www.instagram.com/irelandfashionweek/?hl=en Represent (George Heaton) - https://www.instagram.com/georgeheaton/?hl=en Marchon (Ollie Marchon / bottle + products) - https://www.instagram.com/olliemarchon/?hl=en “Open Residency” episode with George Heaton (hosted by Mark Brazil, co-founder of IKONICK) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tTLUuD06AY Tools Gary uses Notion ChatGPT Calendly Typeform ManyChat Todoist Moleskine ——  Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1  ---  Visit my partners  Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo —- Music Credit: “Nobody Knows” by Andrew Applepie — used under royalty-free license.