In this episode, Jon and Steve are joined by three people working across investment, education, and business support — all with a front-row seat to the founder journey:

💼 Alasdair Greig – Director, North Star Ventures

🏛️ Lizzie Withington – Head of Enterprise, Newcastle University

📈 Julie Cuthbertson – Head of Client Delivery, UMi

Together, they explore what founders really need – beyond just capital and guidance. The conversation covers brutal honesty, emotional weight, and the power of collaborative support.

We discuss:

• The unspoken pressures of leadership and expectation

• What makes advice actually helpful (and what doesn’t)

• Why founders need space to be honest – and heard

• The gaps between what founders say and what they really feel

• Building trust, not just tick-box support

It’s an unfiltered conversation that brings fresh insight into how we can build better businesses by building better ecosystems.

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🎧 Two Pints of Lager and a Spreadsheet is Blu Sky’s podcast bringing together founders, doers, and big thinkers for honest conversations over a pint. It’s not about jargon – it’s about what really matters in business.

📺 Watch the full video on YouTube

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🎙️ Two Pints of Lager and a Spreadsheet

In this episode, Jon and Steve are joined by three North East founders who believe storytelling is more than marketing — it’s how we make sense of who we are and what we’re building:

📖 David Broom – Founder of B7

🎨 Ellen Hedley – Co-Founder of Vida Creative

📣 Rachel McBryde – Founder of McBryde & Co

Together, they explore how the stories we tell — and don’t tell — shape our confidence, decisions, and long-term success.

We discuss:

• The moments that give us permission to begin

• Why vulnerability builds credibility

• Building businesses later in life (and why that’s powerful)

• The pressure to appear polished — and how to resist it

• How storytelling fuels culture, connection, and clarity

This is a conversation for anyone who’s ever questioned if their story is worth telling. (Spoiler: it is.)

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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

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🎙️ Two Pints of Lager and a SpreadsheetIn this episode, Jon and Steven are joined by three of the North East’s finest minds in tax: Adrian O'Connell, Gary Smith and Nick Gray.Together, they unpack the myths around tax advice, explain why you can’t afford to DIY your tax planning, and give some home truths about how bad decisions—or no decisions—can impact your exit valuation.👥 They cover: • Why great tax advice isn’t just about saving money • The difference between tax compliance and proactive planning • Why pensions and SIPP strategies aren’t just for retirement • What HMRC’s current focus means for R&D claims and inheritance tax • How changes to Business Asset Disposal Relief and CGT are impacting founders • The importance of getting the right advice at the right time—especially at the start🎯 This is a must-listen for startup founders, growth-focused business owners, and anyone thinking about an exit or fundraising.

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🎙️ Two Pints of Lager and a Spreadsheet is Blu Sky’s podcast bringing together founders, doers, and big thinkers for honest conversations over a pint. It’s not about jargon – it’s about what really matters in business.

👀 Watch the full episode on YouTube

🔔 Follow the podcast to hear future episodes first