Jon and Steve chat with three founders about the real-world impact of AI on creativity, leadership, and building products:

• Ellie Chapman – Founder, Lim (live visualisation & facilitation)

• Alistair McLeod – Founder, Gray Fox Consulting (fractional CIO/CTO)

• Stephen “Mitch” Mitchell – Founder & CEO, SQCDP.co.uk (factory digitisation)

In this episode:

• How AI is reshaping creative work—without replacing human connection

• Leaders setting guardrails: ethics, transparency, and “AI red lines”

• Using AI to boost productivity (20–30%?) vs. risking sameness and shortcuts

• Hallucinations, fact-checking, and why value should come before tech

• Startups vs. enterprises: who adapts faster?

• Data-driven manufacturing, better meetings, and the premium on human facilitation

Takeaways:

Curiosity beats fear, quality control matters, and the future belongs to teams that blend human judgment with smart automation.

Follow the show for more candid conversations with founders and operators.

#TwoPintsPodcast #AI #Creativity #Leadership #Innovation #NorthEastBusiness

In this episode, Jon and Steve are joined by three North East founders who’ve each taken very different paths to building a business:

💻 Mark Renney – Managing Director, Wubbleyou

🧠 Billy Webber – CEO, XR Therapeutics

⚙️ Jarek Rosinski – Founder, Transmission Dynamics

Together, they share candid stories about the highs, lows, and lessons of entrepreneurship – from turning university spinouts into thriving companies, to weathering setbacks and learning the value of resilience along the way.

We discuss:

• The defining moments that sparked their ventures

• Why resilience is more than just a buzzword

• Surviving setbacks and using them as fuel

• Balancing vision with day-to-day reality

• The advice they’d give their younger founder selves

This episode is an honest reminder that behind every business is a story of risk, resilience, and relentless determination.

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🎧 Two Pints of Lager and a Spreadsheet is Blu Sky’s podcast about the real stuff behind running a business — hosted by co-founders Jon Dudgeon and Steve Robinson.

📺 Watch the full video on YouTube

🔔 Follow the podcast to catch new episodes

🌐 Learn more at blusky.co.uk

In this episode of Two Pints of Lager and a Spreadsheet, Jon and Steve are joined by three leaders who know what it takes to build – and keep – a thriving team:

👥 Sam Spoors – Founder, Talentheads

🔗 Di Gates – Founder, Connection Heroes

💡 Trevor Norman – Founder, Tribero

They get honest about why engagement levels have been flat for years and explore what it will really take to change that. From outdated benefit packages to the demands of hybrid working, the conversation challenges assumptions and pushes leaders to think differently.

We discuss:

• Why many benefits packages are no longer fit for purpose

• The danger of assuming you know what your team wants

• Why leaders must get out from behind the desk

• The role of AI and digital tools in modern teams

• How trust and vulnerability build thriving workplaces

If you lead a team – or want to – this episode is packed with practical insights and candid advice on creating an environment where people perform, grow, and stay.

—

🎧 Two Pints of Lager and a Spreadsheet is Blu Sky’s podcast about the real stuff behind running a business, hosted by co-founders Jon Dudgeon and Steve Robinson.

📺 Watch the full video on YouTube

🔔 Follow the podcast to catch new episodes

🌐 Learn more at blusky.co.uk