EP 404 - Can improv and humour make you a better leader - and even grow your bottom line?

Neil Mullarkey (Comedy Store Players co-founder with Mike Myers, seen on Whose Line Is It Anyway and Austin Powers) shows how improv’s “Yes, And” mindset, listening with intent, and affiliative humour boost leadership, sales, creativity, and team culture.

We unpack practical tools Neil teaches at London Business School and in boardrooms across 25+ countries: running better meetings and Zooms, building psychological safety, using Pixar-style “plussing,” navigating change, and why funny people make better leaders.

What you’ll learn:

How improv drives creativity, collaboration, and faster decisions

The difference between affiliative vs. dis-affiliative humour (and why banter can backfire)

Listening with intent: the leadership meta-skill that wins deals and trust

Running high-energy meetings (in-person & remote): chat prompts, quick polls, and participation hacks

Why “Yes, And” beats rigid scripts for sales, client work, and stakeholder buy-in

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 BWB with Neil Mullarkey

01:20 Neil's Journey in Comedy and Improv

05:42 The Birth of Comedy Store Players

08:12 Improv Techniques and Their Applications

19:13 Improv in Business and Leadership

24:05 Effective Meeting Strategies

32:31 Innovative Meeting Strategies

33:35 The Role of Improv in Leadership

36:07 Handling Resistance and Transformation

41:45 Humour in the Workplace

47:32 Improv Skills for Personal Growth

56:27 Quickfire - Get To Know Neil

57:54 !Business or Bullshit Quiz!

businesswithoutbullshit.me

Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube

Follow us:

Instagram

TikTok

Linkedin

Twitter

Facebook

If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.me

EP 403 - AI is being sold as a miracle productivity tool​, but is it actually killing our ability to think?

We revisit our conversation with AI expert, author​ and speaker​ David Birss who explores the hidden dangers of generative AI - from outsourcing imagination to the slow erosion of human originality.

We explore the myth of AI productivity​, unpacking why most companies are implementing AI the wrong way, why “adequacy” is replacing excellence, and how the obsession with productivity is leading to burnout rather than breakthroughs.

David explains his Sensible AI Manifesto, showing why businesses must use AI to augment skills, not automate talent.

From ChatGPT in the workplace to the risk of Gen Z losing brain power, this episode covers the biggest questions around AI:

• Is generative AI replacing excellence with adequacy?
• How can AI increase output without destroying originality?
• What are the real risks of AI for business, education, and society?
• Could AI be weaponised - and are governments already falling behind?

Essential listening​ if you’re searching for the truth about AI in business, creativity, and the future of work.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 BWB with David Birss

00:43 Meet David - AI Expert and Innovator

01:41 The Sensible AI Manifesto: Origins and Purpose

03:24 AI in Business: Misconceptions and Realities

04:16 The Impact of AI on Productivity and Workload

10:17 The Future of AI: Risks and Ethical Considerations

17:29 AI in Warfare and Global Security

25:41 Training and Education: The UK vs. The US

34:10 The Importance of Effective AI Prompting

37:30 David's Multifaceted Career: Music, Comedy, and AI

43:11 Spotting Opportunities in Technology

44:03 Embracing AI and Art

44:47 Developing Effective AI Prompts

46:59 Challenges and Misconceptions in AI

49:05 Dealing with Change and Innovation

50:55 The Importance of Human Potential

59:04 Quickfire - Get To Know David

01:07:12 !Business or Bullshit Quiz!

businesswithoutbullshit.me

Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube

Follow us:

Instagram

TikTok

Linkedin

Twitter

Facebook

If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.me

BWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 402 - Is the UK stock market dying or is it the biggest bargain in global investing?

This week we welcome back investor and author Andrew Craig who argues that British equities are deeply undervalued and overlooked by international investors. From political uncertainty to structural challenges, Craig explains why the UK is seen as “on sale” - and why that could be a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

We pack market misperceptions, long-term risks, and where savvy investors should be looking now. Essential listening for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone questioning the future of the UK economy.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 BWB with Andrew Craig

01:29 The Decline of the UK Stock Market

06:08 Impact of Passive Investing on the Economy

11:07 IPO Market Challenges

13:01 The Role of Equity Markets in Innovation and Growth

17:31 The Vicious Cycle of Economic Policies

22:38 Global Comparisons and UK Economy Future

34:45 The Importance of Entrepreneurial Wealth Creation

38:03 The Impact of Amazon on Society

39:30 The Role of Wealthy Individuals in Society

41:33 Government vs. Private Sector Efficiency

44:39 The Future of Technology and Innovation

50:00 Challenges in the UK Infrastructure and Economy

58:54 QUICKFIRE - Get To Know Andrew

01:02:22 !BUSINESS or BULLSHIT QUIZ!

01:11:16 Wrap Up

businesswithoutbullshit.me

Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube

Follow us:

Instagram

TikTok

Linkedin

Twitter

Facebook

If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.me

BWB is powered by Oury Clark