One of the wildest business stories of our time... Elizabeth Holmes and the Theranos disaster. And honestly… where do you even start with this one?

Holmes dropped out of Stanford at nineteen, put on a Steve Jobs turtleneck, lowered her voice about two octaves, and somehow convinced some of the richest, most powerful people on the planet to throw over $700 million at a device that never actually worked. (If only confidence alone could do that for the rest of us.)

Theranos promised to change healthcare forever with a simple finger-prick blood test. In reality? Their machine was so inaccurate that results could be up to 40% off, which is… not ideal when you’re trying to diagnose actual diseases.

It took brave whistleblowers to finally crack the illusion. Holmes ended up with an 11-year prison sentence and a casual $452 million restitution bill.

But beyond the drama (and oh, there’s plenty), we get into the why behind it.
Why are people so desperate for quick healthcare fixes?
Why do investors get swept up in charisma instead of due diligence?
And why does “revolutionary tech” somehow keep meaning “we hope nobody checks the numbers”?

If you love a good business scandal, a bit of chaos, or a gentle roast of Silicon Valley optimism, you’re going to enjoy this one.

Grab your brew, get comfy, and join us as we unpack the madness.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

So… do you have to be slightly unhinged to start a business?

Simon and I decided to tackle the question head-on... and honestly, the evidence is stacked against our sanity.

We kick things off with some very British statistics from 2023:
800,000 new businesses registered in the UK, which sounds impressive… until you realise 20% don’t even make it through the first year and a whopping 60% disappear within five.
Cheery, right?

There's also the emotional side of entrepreneurship... the bit no glossy Instagram reel prepares you for. The late nights, the internal panic, the quiet crying at your desk while googling “how to run a business without losing the will to live.” Entrepreneurs are 200% higher risk of depression. Yes, two hundred percent!!
Suddenly “Do you have to be crazy?” starts to feel like a genuine screening question.

But before you think this is all doom and gloom, we talk about why people still do it, and why we did it too. Because honestly? You need a little bit of madness. A bit of misplaced confidence. A sprinkle of “I’ll figure it out.” And a solid dose of resilience (or stubbornness, depending how you look at it).

We also dig into the role of support networks, the people who remind you that even when you’re convinced your business is falling apart, it’s actually just Tuesday. Entrepreneurship can be isolating, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. With the right people in your corner, the madness feels a lot more manageable.

This episode is honest, hilarious in moments, and painfully relatable if you’ve ever tried to build something from scratch.

So grab your brew, settle in, and ask yourself: Are you brave, brilliant… or just a tiny bit bonkers?

It’s probably all three.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

What’s really going on behind those “too good to be true” marketing promises?

Simon and I are talking the good stuff first: marketing that treats people like actual humans (ground-breaking, we know). Clear communication, real expectations, transparency that isn’t just sprinkled on top like glitter.

Then we jump straight into the chaos... the fear-based messaging, the “act now or you’ll die cold and alone” tactics, the pretend scarcity, the “guaranteed results” promises, and the guilt-tripping funnels that somehow convince you you’re failing at life if you don’t buy the course. You’ve seen them. You’ve probably rolled your eyes at them. Same.

From SEO cowboys, to lead-gen “gurus,” to PPC agencies that promise the moon and deliver a pebble, we shine a very bright, very unapologetic light on the worst offenders, and why these tactics stick around. Spoiler: because people don’t always know they’re being manipulated.

But here’s the good news! Once you understand how unethical marketing works, you’re a lot harder to fool. Consumer education is the real power move, and ethical businesses (the ones who actually care) are the ones who win long term.

If you’ve ever felt confused, pressured, or straight-up bamboozled by a marketing message… you’re going to love this episode. It’s honest, it’s funny, it’s slightly chaotic, and yes, we definitely rolled our eyes more than once.

Grab your brew, press play, and enjoy.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.