From Bedroom to Boardroom | With Rob Spence

This business podcast shares raw lessons from the front line of entrepreneurship. Covering business, marketing, sales, and what it really takes to build and grow something from the ground up. "If I can grow a business from the corner of my bedroom, with only £500 to my name, so can YOU!" Whether you are starting a business, currently run a business, an entrepreneur, professional, executive, or considering founding a business, this weekly business bulletin is for you. Honest, raw, and unfiltered | With Rob Spence therobspence.substack.com Please don’t forget to subscribe and/or follow so you never miss an episode! Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - <a href="www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer"

From Bedroom to Boardroom | With Rob Spence is a business podcast hosted by Rob Spence, with 28 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Rob Spence hosts From Bedroom to Boardroom | With Rob Spence, a business show with 28 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #28

  Say Yes to the Side Hustle: How a Hobby Became Animal Media | Episode Twenty Eight

  Aug 18, 202614 minS1

  Say Yes to the Side Hustle: How a Hobby Became Animal Media | Episode Twenty Eight Rob is pacing around the studio with a handheld mic — literally can't stand still — because something has properly lit him up. A hobby that started three or four months ago has snowballed into a new business idea, a Shopify build started at 5am, and a growing TikTok community. This one's all energy. What We Cover The Physical Media Obsession Rob's a self-confessed gamer and film nerd, and a few months back he started reselling physical media — DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K steelbooks — picking them up at car boots and charity shops and relisting them on Vinted and eBay. It began as a wedding fund project. It's become something bigger. His TikTok, @AnimalSpence, now sits at around 1,600–1,700 followers with 10–15 new followers a day. The content covers his reselling journey, movie opinions, and all things physical media — and it's finding an audience, particularly with a younger generation rediscovering DVDs, CDs, and vinyl. Animal Media is Born The entrepreneur brain kicked in. Rob spotted a gap: people are sick of streaming subscriptions, but they still love films. There's no friction, no event, no ritual — just endless scrolling. He wants to bring back the experience of watching a movie. So he's been building animalmedia.co.uk on Shopify. The concept: mystery movie boxes (a film picked for you, no scrolling required) and movie night hampers — a random film plus popcorn, sweets, hot chocolate, the works. Available as one-offs or monthly subscriptions. He's also sitting on around 2,000 DVDs at home, so the stock problem is already solved. The Flow State Rob references The Talent Code and the concept of flow — that state where you're so locked into something that time disappears. He woke up at 5am to list DVDs, switched to website building, and didn't surface until 7am. He admits he forgot to wake his fiancée with a coffee. He regrets nothing. Why This Matters Beyond the Hobby This isn't just about DVDs. Building Animal Media is teaching Rob Shopify, e-commerce SEO, AI-generated imagery, short-form video production, and paid social — skills that feed directly back into his work with clients at Paragon. It's a live sandbox. Everything he tests on Animal Media makes him sharper at his day job. The Yes Man Lesson He had Yes Man on in the background while building. The takeaway lands: opportunities are everywhere, but most people say no to them out of habit or comfort. Rob said yes to this one. He doesn't know exactly where it goes — but the learning, the creating, and the energy it's unlocked are already worth it. Key Takeaway A hobby with an audience is a business waiting to happen. Say yes to the thing that excites you, learn as you build, and let the momentum take you somewhere you didn't plan to go. Follow Rob on TikTok at @AnimalSpence and visit animalmedia.co.uk to grab a mystery movie box or sign up for a monthly subscription. Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl Please don’t forget to subscribe and/or follow so you never miss an episode! Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #26

  You'll Never Get Slagged Off By Someone Doing Better Than You | Episode 26

  Aug 4, 202620 minS1

  You'll Never Get Slagged Off By Someone Doing Better Than You | Episode 26 An impromptu one — but sometimes the unplanned episodes are the best ones. Rob's had a run-in with a hater this week. Not a faceless internet troll, but someone in the Leicestershire business networking community who's had it in for him for a couple of years. He's telling the full story, naming what she did, and using it as a jumping-off point for something every entrepreneur needs to hear. What We Cover The Universal Entrepreneur Experience No matter how successful you become — whether you're Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or a small business owner in the East Midlands — there will always be people who slag you off. People who preach positivity, champion mental health hashtags, and then quietly go about undermining anyone doing better than them. Rob's seen it everywhere. This week, it landed on his doorstep. What Actually Happened A lady in the Leicestershire networking circuit — who works in business development for a college and has also authored a novel — has had it in for Rob for two to three years. Every time Rob promotes his networking event, Fresh Networking (running since 2019), she responds within the hour promoting a rival group. Fine. Rob has no problem with that. What crossed a line: she went onto Fresh Networking's Facebook page and commented on a "Meet the Member" post, tagging a competing networking group and implying Rob had stolen their idea. A direct, public dig. Rob responded calmly and professionally, pointing out that Fresh Networking has celebrated its members since day one in 2019. He then messaged the lady directly — friendly, measured — and got blocked. She deleted the comment. He has the screenshots. The Backstory Two or three years ago, Rob went out of his way to support this woman. He bought her book. He had her on his other podcast, How I Failed in Business , to promote it — and by his account it was one of the best episodes he ever recorded. Later, a separate guest mentioned a piece of light-hearted banter involving her — completely in context, completely in jest — and that episode happened to go out before hers. She was upset. Rob pulled the relevant segment within hours. Her own episode was never aired and remains on a hard drive. He did everything right. She's been bad-mouthing him ever since. The Lesson Here it is, plain and simple: you will never get slagged off by someone doing better than you. Elon Musk isn't scrolling Facebook to complain someone's copying his ideas. Jeff Bezos isn't walking into bookshops demanding to know why they exist. The hatred flows downhill — from people who aren't where they want to be, aimed at people who are moving in the right direction. Rise to it if you have to — but do it calmly, do it with receipts, and let the quality of your work do the rest. Key Takeaway Haters are a byproduct of success — not a sign you're doing something wrong. If someone's going out of their way to undermine you, ask yourself one question: are they doing better than you? The answer will tell you everything you need to know. Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl Please don’t forget to subscribe and/or follow so you never miss an episode! Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #25

  Two Years In and Just Getting Started: A Fresh Chapter for Paragon Creative Studios | Episode Twenty Five

  Jul 28, 20268 minS1

  Two Years In and Just Getting Started: A Fresh Chapter for Paragon Creative Studios | Episode Twenty Five After two heavy episodes, Rob made a deliberate decision to keep this one positive. No complaints, no court cases, no politics. Just a genuine milestone and a renewed sense of excitement about what's coming next. What We Cover Happy Birthday, Paragon Creative Studios Two years ago to the day of recording, Rob received the keys to the studio space in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire. Paragon Creative Studios (PCS) was born — not all at once, but bit by bit, piece by piece, gradually built into what it is today. To mark the occasion, Rob and the team have just invested in a refresh. New reception desk. New white and cream sets. Plans for additional sets in the pipeline. The studio is looking cleaner, fresher, and more capable than ever. An Honest Admission Rob holds his hands up: PCS has effectively been treated as a side hustle. Given everything else going on in the business, it hasn't received the attention it deserves. But he's sitting on an asset that could genuinely thrive — and he knows it. That changes now. What Reignited the Passion Two things: First, competition. A contact of Rob's has just opened a new studio in Leicester — and it looks great. Rather than feeling threatened, Rob says it's given him exactly the rocket he needed. Being pushed by someone doing good work is a good thing. Second, content. Rob's hobby content around movies and physical media has pulled him into a deeper understanding of cinematography, social media strategy, and what makes content actually work. All of that is now feeding back into how he thinks about PCS — and it's exciting. What's Coming A redesigned website, an overhauled social media presence, new sets, and a renewed push to make PCS the go-to content studio in Leicestershire. Watch the socials. If You're in Leicestershire Whether you need a space for a podcast, talking head videos, social media content, or photography — PCS has the kit, the capability, and the know-how. Rob would love to welcome you in. Key Takeaway Sometimes the thing that reignites your passion for a business you already own is a competitor doing well, a hobby that teaches you something new, or simply a milestone worth celebrating. All three landed at once here. Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl Please don’t forget to subscribe and/or follow so you never miss an episode! Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #24

  Read the Room: Why Our High Streets Are Dying and Who's to Blame | Episode Twenty Four

  Jul 21, 202617 minS1

  Read the Room: Why Our High Streets Are Dying and Who's to Blame | Episode Twenty Four Following last week's raw, difficult episode, Rob is back — still frustrated, still honest, but this time pointing his anger somewhere specific. Businesses are closing around him, and he wants to talk about why. What We Cover Knight and Garter — Leicester Loses a Good One Knight and Garter, one of Leicester city centre's last genuinely good independent restaurants (run by award-winning operator Sam Hagar), is closing. Not because of bad management or poor food — but because business rates imposed by Leicester City Council have become unsustainable. On top of VAT, rising food costs, fuel costs, NI increases, minimum wage hikes, and a drop in footfall — the business rates were the final straw. The High Cross Hypocrisy The same Leicester City Council recently wrote off approximately £3 million in business rate debt accumulated by the High Cross shopping centre. A generic chain-store mall that — by Rob's count — has around 30% of its units vacant. The contrast is stark: independent operators who actually make Leicester worth visiting are being squeezed out, while a largely empty shopping centre gets its debt wiped. The Big Difference Company Also in the news: the holding company behind the Leicester Comedy Festival has struggled to pay its comedians and has now been locked out of its own venue after falling behind on rent. Rob connects the dots — if people aren't coming into the city centre, venues can't trade, can't pay rent, can't keep the doors open. The ripple effect hits staff, suppliers, local breweries, and everyone downstream. Simpsons, Birmingham It's not just Leicester. Simpsons — a Michelin-starred restaurant that held its star for 25 consecutive years — has also closed, citing the same unrelenting cost pressures. When businesses of that quality and reputation can't survive, something is seriously broken. The Bigger Argument Rob's point is simple: you cannot have workers if there are no businesses to employ them. Councils that keep raising rates while letting city centres decay are killing the very ecosystem they depend on. The answer isn't another event in the town square — it's making city centres accessible, attractive, and worth the trip. A Direct Invitation Rob calls out Sir Peter Soulsby of Leicester City Council by name: come on the podcast. Explain the thinking. If anyone working in local government or high street regeneration is listening, Rob genuinely wants to hear the other side. Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl Please don’t forget to subscribe and/or follow so you never miss an episode! Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #23

  The Hardest Day in Eight and a Half Years | Episode Twenty Three

  Jul 15, 202612 minS1

  The Hardest Day in Eight and a Half Years | Episode Twenty Three No studio. No plan. Rob is recording from his car, minutes after letting three members of his telemarketing team go. In eight and a half years of running his business, he's never had to do this before. This is as raw as it gets. Note: the audio quality reflects exactly where and when this was recorded. That's the point. What We Cover What Just Happened Three good people — Rob's words — have just lost their jobs. He's clear it isn't their fault. He largely takes the responsibility himself, while also naming the factors that backed him into this corner. The Two Clients Who Didn't Pay Regular listeners will recognise both of these: The first signed a six-month agreement, allocated Paragon's resources were built around that contract — and then walked away three months in, with no legitimate cause. Because Paragon had already invoiced for the work, HMRC expected VAT on income that never arrived. Rob is taking them to court. The second signed a three-month agreement. Paragon delivered results, went above and beyond, communicated throughout. The complaints only surfaced when Rob started chasing payment. He's taking them to court too. He has the contract, the evidence, and every confidence he'll win both. The Economic Backdrop Non-paying clients don't operate in a vacuum. National insurance increases, rising wages, business rates, utility bills, insurance — the costs of running a business have climbed significantly. Rob spoke recently to a charity whose bottom line had increased by half a million pounds year on year from these rises alone. Add the natural summer slowdown in sales and marketing, and several pressures converged at once. How It Feels Rob is genuinely struggling with this. He's not trying to make it about himself — he's very aware that three people are going home today without jobs — but he's honest that this is the hardest thing he's had to do since starting the business. He doesn't know how larger companies cycle through redundancies repeatedly. To him, this isn't a number. It's people's mortgages, their families, their dignity. He ends with a direct apology to those who lost their jobs today — and a promise to himself that he'll do everything in his power to never be in this position again. Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl Please don’t forget to subscribe and/or follow so you never miss an episode! Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love: Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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