The Brilliant Business Podcast

The one about renewable energy - with Johannes Jacobs

Kardashev Won: Cooling the Planet With Zero-Fuel Power What if the "waste" heat pouring out of factories could power those same factories and help cool the planet at the same time? In this episode, host Dan Jacobs sits down with serial founder and renewable-energy innovator Johannes Jacobs, founder of Kardashev Won, to explore how advanced Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) generators can turn industrial waste heat into reliable, on-site electricity. You’ll hear how Kardashev Won is building zero-fuel, closed-loop power systems that: * Harvest waste heat from large industrial and commercial sites to co-generate clean electricity 24/7, 365 days a year. * Aim for a "moonshot" of pulling excess heat directly from the atmosphere using highly efficient heat pumps combined with ORC technology. * Deliver rapid ROI by cutting energy bills while reducing emissions and pressure on the grid. Johannes shares the engineer’s view from inside his enormous "mad scientist" workshop, where he is constantly experimenting, testing, and filming the development of next-generation turbines, heat pumps, and ORC systems. He explains how small, compounding efficiency gains across dozens of components can combine into game-changing performance, much like compound interest for energy. But this conversation goes far beyond the tech. You’ll also learn: * How he built and exited multiple service businesses in solar, plumbing, and electrical work over three decades. * Why "efficiency first" can cut a customer’s electricity use by up to 80% before you add a single solar panel, and why competing on quality beats competing on price. * The simple hiring and culture principles he used to build high-performing crews: attract upwardly mobile people, over-equip them with the right tools, and then get out of their way. * How obsessing over customer experience (from tidy worksites to a "happy letter" sign-off) creates trust, referrals, and a pipeline built almost entirely on repeat business. If you care about industrial decarbonisation, waste-heat recovery, energy efficiency, or how to design a resilient, quality-led service business, this episode is for you. Listen in to discover how Kardashev Won plans to become a planetary-scale heat pump for industry, turning today’s waste into tomorrow’s power. About Johannes Johannes Jacobs is a three-time exited entrepreneur, inventor, and renewable-energy specialist born in 1977. With roots as a scuba instructor and skipper, he went on to build and sell multiple service businesses in plumbing, electrical work, and solar, and later served as Technical Director at SolarZone leading teams on complex renewable installations. A PIRB-licensed plumber and solar specialist, he combines deep hands-on expertise with patents, real-estate projects, and master-level craftsmanship in areas like woodturning. As founder and Chief Technical Officer of Kardashev Won, inspired by the Kardashev scale, he focuses on advanced energy and sustainability solutions. Under the pen name Zax Vagen, he has also published both nonfiction on renewable energy and the fantasy novel Finding the Soul Bridge. Bilingual in English and Afrikaans, he brings a “can-do, will-try, can’t-fail” mindset to every challenge. About Dan Jacobs Dan is a business builder, founder, and podcast host with a deep interest in how human systems actually work. He studies the interplay between people, process, and technology, then turns those insights into tools leaders can use in real businesses. Dan believes the world gets better when businesses stop running on chaos and start running on well-designed systems. He founded Buybill to give small businesses big-business operational capability. Follow Dan on LinkedIn @getdanjacobs for practical, systems-aware insights on building brilliant, sustainable businesses. Music track: Rock Me Now by Pufino Source: ⁠https://freetouse.com/music

The one about high-performing women - with Dr Kellie Rose

From Survival to Thriving: Unlocking Women's High Performance Dr. Kellie Rose, a performance scientist and women’s health advisor, explains how women leaders can move from high‑functioning survival mode to sustainable high performance without sacrificing their health, families, or careers. Drawing on her background working with Olympic athletes, she unpacks what it means to become a “corporate athlete” and how to design an operating system for well‑being that supports long‑term leadership success. * How Dr. Kellie helps executive women shift from barely coping to flourishing in senior and C‑suite roles. * The “corporate athlete” idea and why leadership careers demand more longevity than elite sport. * Objective performance data: using WHOOP, biomarkers, burnout inventories, and a proprietary health index. * Why guilt and self‑sacrifice keep high achievers stuck in survival mode. * Building a well‑being operating system around five pillars: stress regulation, sleep, proactive recovery, exercise, and energy management. * Transition rituals to downregulate stress, leave work at work, and be present at home. * Sleep debt, circadian rhythm consistency, and how small changes transform next‑day cognitive performance. * Hormone‑informed performance for midlife women, perimenopause signals, and why stress can worsen symptoms. * The difference between stress and burnout, and why burnout is chronic, persistent, multi‑dimensional. * What sustainable high performance actually looks like over years, not weeks. * Dr. Kellie’s vision for the future of women’s leadership: careers by design, not by default. * “Transition rituals help downregulate stress and be present.” * “Stress can exacerbate menopause symptoms and affect energy.” * “Burnout is chronic, persistent stress lasting months.” 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Kellie Rose 01:29 The Role of Performance Science in Women's Health 04:52 Understanding Corporate Athletes 07:22 The Importance of Well‑being in High Performance 10:09 Designing a Well‑being Operating System 12:41 Transitioning from Burnout to Sustainable Performance 15:15 The Impact of Sleep on Performance 17:55 Rituals and Routines for Well‑being 20:18 Hormone‑Informed Work Rhythms 23:53 Recognising Signs of Stress and Burnout 25:47 Advice for Women in Male‑Dominated Environments 27:31 Defining Burnout vs. Stress 29:04 The Future of Women's Leadership 32:15 Closing Resources: * Dr. Kellie Rose’s Website – https://www.drkellierose.com [https://www.drkellierose.com/] * WHOOP Fitness Band – https://www.whoop.com [https://www.whoop.com/] Connect with Dr. Kellie Rose: * Website – https://www.drkellierose.com [https://www.drkellierose.com/] * LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkellierose [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkellierose] * Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/drkellierose [https://www.instagram.com/drkellierose] Dr. Kellie Rose is on a mission to take women out of high-functioning survival mode and into sustainable high-performance. A Performance Scientist and Women’s Health Advisor, with a PhD in Exercise Science and a decade working in Olympic sport, Kellie brings the science of elite performance to the world of leadership — helping executive women achieve ambitious goals without burning out. Her work challenges the outdated “grind” model of success, proving that health is not the cost of leadership — it’s the catalyst. Through her coaching, workshops and keynotes, Kellie empowers women to recalibrate their energy, optimise their biology, and expand their leadership capacity with science-based systems and strategies that actually work. She’s redefining what it means to lead well as professional women: not just with results, but with resilience, energy, and joy. About Dan Dan Jacobs is a business builder, founder, and host of The Business with Dan Jacobs Podcast. Dan believes that we can make the world a better place by helping small businesses succeed. He is the founder of ⁠⁠Buybill⁠⁠ [https://www.buybill.co], a platform designed to give small businesses access to big-business operational capability. You can follow Dan on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/getdanjacobs] .

The one about Stress - with Dr Derek Roger

The One About Stress | Dr Derek Roger Is stress something that happens to us, or something we create ourselves? In this episode of The Brilliant Business Podcast, I talk with Dr Derek Roger, one of the world’s leading researchers on stress and resilience. With decades of scientific research and more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, Dr Roger challenges many of the assumptions we hold about stress and mental pressure. His central idea is provocative but empowering: stress is not the same as pressure — and stress may actually be a choice. Dr Roger explains how much of what we call stress is actually rumination: repeatedly thinking about emotional upsets or imagined future problems. When this happens, our attention is hijacked, our productivity drops, and our bodies remain in a prolonged physiological stress response. Drawing on decades of research and workplace programmes delivered globally, he shares the science behind his Challenge of Change training programme. The programme helps people learn how to wake up from “autopilot”, control their attention, gain perspective and stop turning everyday pressure into damaging stress. You will also learn: • Why the idea that “a little stress is good for you” may be a myth • The crucial difference between pressure and stress • How rumination affects heart rate, blood pressure and immune function • Why stress reduces productivity and decision-making ability • How stress contributes to workplace absence • Practical techniques to regain control of your attention • Why happier employees often make better leaders This episode is packed with practical insight for leaders, entrepreneurs, managers and anyone who wants to perform better without burning out. If you want to rethink how stress really works and discover tools that can improve both your work and personal life, this is an episode you should not miss. Watch the full episode to hear the science behind stress and the powerful mindset shift that can transform how you respond to pressure. 00:00 – Is Stress a Choice? 00:33 – The Origins of Stress Research 03:58 – Pressure vs Stress Explained 06:05 – How Scientists Measure Stress 08:34 – Rumination: The Real Cause of Stress 13:17 – How Stress Reduces Cognitive Performance 16:05 – The Rumination Spiral and Health Impacts 18:50 – Waking Up from Autopilot Thinking 19:59 – Anxiety vs Stress: What’s the Difference? 22:29 – Is Stress Inevitable? 23:44 – The “Challenge of Change” Programme 28:53 – Stress and Workplace Absence 31:05 – Happiness, Work and Perspective 33:16 – Leadership, Culture and Stress 36:31 – Becoming an Accredited Trainer 39:14 – Why Stress Training Changes Lives 41:49 – Final Thoughts: Taking Control of Stress About Dr Derek Roger Dr Derek Roger qualified originally in psychology, but the emphasis in his work subsequently shifted towards neuroscience. His ground-breaking research, mainly at the University of York in England and later at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, has made him one of the world's leading experts on resilience and stress management.  Derek applies his significant experience at the cutting edge of neuroscience and psychology to working situations in an insightful and commercially relevant manner.   Derek is a British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist. About Dan Dan Jacobs is a business builder, founder, and host of The Business with Dan Jacobs Podcast. Dan believes that we can make the world a better place by helping small businesses succeed. He is the founder of ⁠⁠Buybill⁠⁠, a platform designed to give small businesses access to big-business operational capability. You can follow Dan on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/getdanjacobs] (@getdanjacobs)  for practical insights on building brilliant, sustainable businesses. Music track: Rock Me Now by Pufino Source: ⁠https://freetouse.com/music

The one about scaling and exiting your business - with Julia Scoville

This episode is for founders who are exhausted, stuck in the weeds, and secretly worried their “business” would collapse if they stepped away. Julia Scoville shows you how to turn that high‑stress job into a true asset that can run and even be sold without you. Drawing on corporate experience with major UK banks and her own story of building and exiting a letting agency, she lays out a clear seven‑step growth plan. You’ll hear why “just delegate more” is bad advice without systems, how to shift from operator to owner and ultimately shareholder, and how to untangle the “spaghetti” of tasks into a well‑oiled machine using org charts, clear roles and processes. Julia dives into omnipresent marketing on a small‑business budget, simple financial dashboards so tax never surprises you again, and building a motivated, values‑driven team by hiring for mindset first. If you want your business to finally work for you, this is unmissable. About Julia Julia Scoville works with business owners who look successful on paper - but are exhausted, overworked, and unknowingly running businesses they couldn’t sell. As an Exit-Ready Strategist, she helps founders fix that by building scalable systems, strong leadership teams, and businesses that don’t rely on them. Her mission is simple: turn hard-earned businesses into valuable assets, not life-long jobs. https://redlionbusinesscoaching.com/ [https://redlionbusinesscoaching.com/] Julia's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-scoville/] About Dan Dan Jacobs is a business builder, founder, and host of The Business with Dan Jacobs Podcast. Dan believes that we can make the world a better place by helping small businesses succeed. He is the founder of ⁠⁠Buybill⁠⁠ [https://www.buybill.co], a platform designed to give small businesses access to big-business operational capability. You can follow Dan on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/getdanjacobs]  for practical insights on building brilliant, sustainable businesses. Music track: Rock Me Now by Pufino Source: ⁠https://freetouse.com/music

Why You’re Sabotaging Your Business With Admin (And How An Operations Consultant Fixes It)

Are you drowning in admin you have no business doing while your sales, clients and creativity stall out? In this episode of the Brilliant Business Podcast, Dan Jacobs talks to operations consultant and founder of Backup Administration, Rachel Harvey‑Afuwape, about why small business owners must stop treating admin as a “necessary evil” and start treating operations as a strategic growth lever. Rachel explains how she “wrenches order from the jaws of chaos” for busy founders, turning scattered tasks into repeatable systems, crystal clear processes and standard operating procedures that anyone on the team can follow. She breaks down the real difference between a basic virtual assistant and a proactive operations consultant, why you are almost certainly wasting hours every week on low‑value work, and how a few focused hours of expert support can replace the 8 to 10 hours you currently lose to admin. You will hear how better project management stops half‑finished ideas and “shiny tools” from clogging up your business, how systemisation improves customer experience and referrals, and why consistent processes dramatically reduce stress and support your mental health as a founder. Rachel also shares her journey into operations and compliance, her advocacy for disability rights and accessibility, and her work chairing a charity for survivors of human trafficking, showing how a mindset of service and clarity runs through everything she does. If you are a consultant, creative or small business owner who is stuck in the weeds, this conversation will show you how expert operations support, smart systemisation and the right virtual assistance can free you to fall back in love with your business and finally focus on the work only you can do. Follow Rachel here: LinkedIn [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rachelharveyafuwape] Web: https://www.backupadministration.co.uk [https://www.backupadministration.co.uk] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/backupadministration/] Keywords operations consulting, virtual assistant, business efficiency, project management, customer experience, systemization, business growth, compliance, advocacy, small business support Summary In this episode of the Brilliant Business Podcast, Dan Jacobs interviews Rachel Harvey-Afuwape, an operations consultant at Backup Administration. Rachel discusses her role in helping small businesses streamline their operations and administrative tasks, allowing business owners to focus on their core competencies. She emphasizes the importance of clarity in business objectives, the benefits of hiring a virtual assistant, and the impact of systemization on business growth. Rachel also shares her journey into operations consulting, her advocacy work for disability rights, and the significance of compliance in business operations. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Backup Administration 01:40 Understanding the Role of an Operations Consultant 03:31 Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant 05:44 The Importance of Clarity in Business Objectives 09:26 Streamlining Processes for Efficiency 13:21 Systemisation and Its Impact on Growth 16:26 Enhancing Customer Experience through Consistency 19:24 Project Completion and Coaching for Creatives 25:52 The Journey into Operations Consulting 29:32 Advocacy and Community Support 31:07 Compliance in Business Operations About Dan Dan Jacobs [https://www.linkedin.com/in/getdanjacobs] is a business builder, founder of Buybill [https://www.buybill.co], the platform revolutionising small business operations, and Podcast host. Dan believes that we can make the world a better place by helping small businesses succeed. He is the founder of ⁠⁠Buybill⁠⁠, a platform designed to give small businesses access to big-business operational capability.  You can follow Dan on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ for practical insights on building brilliant, sustainable businesses. Keywords: operations consulting, virtual assistant, business efficiency, project management, customer experience, systemisation, business growth, compliance, advocacy, small business support Music track: Rock Me Now by Pufino Source: ⁠https://freetouse.com/music [https://freetouse.com/music]