In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, host Eddie Ross sits down with David Mears, founder of DMA , to discuss the highs and lows of running a creative agency for over 20 years. From the early days of building the agency on his own to scaling it through economic crises and the pandemic, David shares invaluable lessons on autonomy, leadership, and finding fulfillment in your work.
David reflects on:
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn your passion into a lasting business, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, agency owner, or just someone curious about the creative industry, David's story offers a roadmap for anyone looking to build something meaningful and sustainable.
Most entrepreneurs dream of making money in pajamas—but Michael Harty actually did it long before remote work became mainstream.In this episode, Eddie Ross sits down with Michael Harty, a serial entrepreneur who went from bartending and selling meat trucks to pioneering remote entrepreneurship in the '90s, long before "digital nomad" was a buzzword.You'll discover:✅ How Michael spotted lucrative opportunities that others missed✅ The "pajama" secret: why working remotely gave him an early edge✅ His biggest entrepreneurial regret—and how you can avoid the same mistake✅ Why moving quickly matters more than perfection (and how to master it)✅ The simple yet powerful leadership principle most bosses overlookThis isn’t another fluffy entrepreneur story. It's packed with honest lessons on spotting opportunities, scaling smartly, and building businesses that thrive without micromanagement.🎧 Chapters:00:00 – Michael’s Entrepreneurial Journey from Bartending to Business05:36 – The Truth About Selling Meat Trucks in France08:01 – Launching Madrid’s First Irish Bar: Lessons & Regrets12:02 – The One Attitude Every Great Team Needs16:22 – Why Micromanaging Is Secretly Killing Your Growth23:40 – How to Empower Your Team by Doing Less27:21 – Can Your Business Run Without You?30:52 – When (and How) to "Shoot the Horse" and Move On35:34 – The Entrepreneurial Gift of Knowing When to Sell39:03 – Leadership vs. Management: Getting Real Results45:42 – Why Overanalyzing Data Can Paralyze Your Business52:17 – The Authentic Leadership Advantage📌 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for actionable advice that helps you grow faster and lead better.📖 Grab Eddie’s Book "Where's My Free Lunch?"
In this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with David Hancock, a man who’s reinvented himself not once, but twice.
From serving as an Army officer in a cavalry regiment, to trading floors in the City of London, to becoming COO at a top 10 global hedge fund, David’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary. But his most radical move yet? Leaving the world of finance behind to retrain as a barrister.
Together they discuss:
The courage to start over later in life.
What it’s really like working in England’s legal system.
Why more leaders need “self-leadership” before they lead others.
The shocking realities of criminal law and the “innocent tax”.
If you’ve ever thought about pivoting careers, chasing purpose over profit, or simply want to hear an inspiring journey of reinvention – this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen now and be inspired to take your own leap.
🔥 Don’t forget to subscribe to The Free Lunch for more stories from leaders who dare to think differently.
Shaman Ahuja is the Deputy CEO of Optym, a multi-million dollar optimization software company transforming industries like airlines, railroads, and trucking. In this episode, Shaman shares hard-earned lessons on building software at scale, leading global teams, and navigating the challenges of innovation in complex industries.
We talk about:
✅ The realities of leading multi-million software projects
✅ Balancing customers, developers, and business needs
✅ How AI is reshaping software development and logistics
✅ Leadership principles for scaling tech organizations
✅ Why communication—not code—is often the biggest bottleneck
Whether you're a tech leader, aspiring CEO, or curious about what it takes to deliver software that actually works, this conversation is packed with insights.
🎙 Subscribe for more leadership, business, and culture conversations from The Free Lunch.
In this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with branding expert Brenna Garratt, the founder of Sustainer, to explore the crucial role branding plays in business success. With over 20 years of experience in building brands and helping companies navigate the complexities of the B2B market, Brenna shares valuable insights on how branding is much more than just a logo – it’s a strategic asset that drives growth, creates lasting relationships, and differentiates businesses in competitive markets.From her early days in the dot-com boom to building a thriving branding agency and ultimately selling it to a bigger group, Brenna offers a unique perspective on how leaders can use branding to shape their business identity, influence decisions, and build powerful companies.In this conversation, Brenna and Eddie dive deep into topics like:- The importance of strategic branding in B2B markets- How to transform branding from a cost center to a profit center- The challenges of naming companies and products- Why understanding your brand's perception is key to long-term successAnd much more!Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, or simply curious about how branding shapes business growth, this episode is packed with actionable advice and behind-the-scenes stories from a true expert in the field.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to The Free Lunch for more insights on leadership, business strategy, and success stories from top industry experts.00:00 - Introduction to Branding and Leadership04:51 - The Journey of Sustainer and Early Challenges09:51 - The Value of Branding in Business14:49 - Navigating B2B Branding Challenges19:55 - The Art of Presentation and Impact24:48 - Understanding Corporate Perception and Meepathy28:24 - Navigating Client Relationships and Feedback30:43 - Reframing Leadership Roles for Success32:16 - The Importance of Authentic Branding34:26 - The Challenges of Naming and Brand Identity39:43 - The Emotional Power of Branding41:18 - Leadership and Confidence in Branding43:06 - Understanding Client Dynamics and Relationships46:58 - Knowing When to Walk Away from Clients51:44 - Advice for New Entrepreneurs
In this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with Roman Townsend, founder of Belvera Partners, to explore his remarkable journey from corporate redundancy to building a thriving global communications agency.
After being laid off during COVID, Roman didn't just bounce back—he built a niche PR firm serving the travel tech industry, growing a remote-first team across continents and breaking into markets like China.
They dive into:
The mindset shift from employee to founder
Why outsourcing admin is a startup superpower
How to build a team that runs without you
The reality of remote leadership and communication
What Western founders misunderstand about China’s tech scene
Roman’s honest take on leadership, culture, and resilience
If you're thinking about leaving the corporate world to build your own business—or you're already in the thick of it—this is the real, practical conversation you need.
🔗 Subscribe for more founder journeys & leadership insights
🎙 The Free Lunch — Real conversations, no fluff.
In this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with Crystal Elam, SVP of Growth & Operations at RVO Health, to explore her unexpected rise from storm chasing to biotech and digital healthcare leadership.
Crystal shares game-changing insights on leading without authority, scaling transformation, and a philosophy she calls "Pull Through bigger than Sell To" that reshaped her career in sales.
From handling layoffs with empathy to prepping teams for AI-led disruption in healthcare, this conversation covers mentorship, vulnerability, leadership perception, and how extreme accountability drives real change.
🚀 Topics covered:
From storm chaser to healthcare executive
What “pull through” really means in sales & growth
How to lead without a title
Mentorship: how to find the right people
AI in healthcare: risks, power & personalisation
Communication that actually lands
👉 Watch to the end for Crystal’s take on vulnerability as a leadership edge.
Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments 💬
n this episode of The Free Lunch, Eddie Ross sits down with leadership veteran Tom Cates, Senior VP of Business Development at Uniglobe and former Chief Commercial Officer at Amadeus.With over four decades in leadership across aviation, banking, and global tech, Tom shares deeply personal stories and hard-earned lessons on self-awareness, feedback, team dynamics, and the power of culture.🚨 Highlights:Why leadership starts with leading yourselfHow to balance ego and humility in a senior roleWhat Tom learned managing 42 direct reportsWhy building relationships is more powerful than managing tasksHow to lead through mergers, global change, and culture clashesWhether you're an emerging manager or a seasoned executive, this is a masterclass in authentic leadership.👇 Drop your biggest leadership lesson in the comments – we'd love to hear it.
What does it really mean to lead? In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Eddie Ross sits down with his cousin Andrew Ross, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Marines, to unpack the hard truths about leadership—both in the military and in the corporate world.With nearly 20 years in uniform and another 20 in senior roles in companies like Shell, Andrew shares a rare perspective on:The difference between command, management, and leadershipWhy trust—not control—is the real glue of high-performing teamsWhat not being invited for a drink taught him about failureHow to lead without needing to be likedThe real reason some charismatic leaders fall short🔥 Whether you're a team lead, founder, or aspiring leader—this episode delivers timeless lessons on responsibility, courage, and the loneliness of command.👉 Like, subscribe, and let us know: What’s one leadership lesson YOU had to learn the hard way?#Leadership #MilitaryLeadership #CorporateCulture #FreeLunchPodcast #EddieRoss #CommandAndControl #TeamManagement #AndrewRoss #RoyalMarines #AuthenticLeadership
Most leaders talk about "culture"—but few actually understand what it takes to build one that performs and inspires.In this episode, Eddie Ross sits down with Claire Smith, Head of People and culture strategist, to expose the uncomfortable truths about leadership, communication, and workplace performance that HR won’t tell you.You’ll learn:✅ Why most companies fail at culture (even when they think they’re thriving)✅ The one dangerous mistake leaders make in “difficult conversations”✅ Why “family culture” is a toxic myth—and what to do instead✅ How to fix low engagement, misalignment, and quiet quitting✅ What Me-pathy is—and why it’s your leadership superpowerThis is not another soft talk on values. This is how top companies actually build winning culture, retain talent, and grow faster—without burning people out.🎧 Chapters:00:00 – Claire’s Squiggly Career Path04:06 – What a Head of People Really Does05:12 – Culture ≠ Perks (It’s Much Deeper)07:31 – Kindness vs. High Performance: False Tradeoff10:04 – How to Assess & Strengthen Real Culture14:49 – The Truth About Difficult Conversations18:28 – Why Leaders Underestimate Their Communication Power24:30 – Understanding Personality Styles at Work30:09 – Your Culture Must Evolve (Here’s How)35:09 – Career Growth Starts With You42:07 – How to Fix Broken Performance Reviews📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for real conversations that help you lead better.📖 Grab Eddie’s Book “Where’s My Free Lunch?”
Ever feel exhausted by endless productivity hacks that lead nowhere? It's time to escape productivity hell and discover the hidden mindset shift that separates the world's most successful leaders from everyone else.In today's episode, Eddie Ross sits down with Matthew Brown, founder of Being Thinking Doing, to reveal why traditional productivity is failing you and exactly what to do instead. You'll learn:✅ Why "fake urgency" is quietly destroying your team (and how to fix it).✅ The ancient Stoic secrets that top executives swear by.✅ Why attention—not time—is your REAL superpower.✅ How to reclaim control from "busyness" and finally achieve meaningful results.Stop working harder. Start working smarter. Matthew Brown shares secrets he's taught to Fortune 500 companies and elite leaders worldwide.📌 Chapters:00:00 – Intro00:29 – Why Productivity Hacks Are Broken02:49 – Stoicism: Your Secret Weapon04:47 – The REAL Urgent vs. Important08:27 – Escaping the Messaging App Trap11:19 – Attention: Your Ultimate Resource17:10 – Master the Art of Saying "No"22:04 – Why Effort Isn't Enough36:23 – The Busyness Trap (and Escape)46:47 – Military Secrets to Powerful Leadership📖 Get Eddie’s Book "Where’s My Free Lunch?":💡 Like & Subscribe for more powerful insights every week!
Join Eddie Ross, author of Where’s My Free Lunch?, and seasoned leadership strategist Larraine Solomon for candid, thought-provoking conversations that debunk the myth of “easy fixes” in leadership and organizational success. In this debut episode, the duo unpacks decades of experience across industries—from banking to tech—to explore why there’s no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to building trust, fostering innovation, and driving lasting change.