About the show

The Business Babble is built by operators, for operators.

We’re a trio of operators - two Scots and one proud South African - who still run businesses off mic. Every Thursday we sit down with founders, builders, and leaders who tell the truth about what it takes to scale across the UK - no gurus, no fluff.

72

Episodes and counting

Why we started The Business Babble

Wicus van Biljon, Johnny Bisset, and Mike Annandale kept having the same conversation after client calls, founder dinners, and community meetups - Scottish operators needed more useful, straight-talking voices. So we switched on the mics and invited the builders we respect most.

  • Practical playbooks you can put to work on Monday.
  • Stories from across sectors: tech, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, creative, third sector.
  • A bias toward founders and operators outside the usual London bubble.

What you can expect

  • 1-hour weekly deep dives with Scottish and UK operators.
  • Clear takeaways, chapter markers, and resources for every episode.
  • Bonus clips on YouTube and a Thursday newsletter that recaps the essentials.
  • Live meetups and community sessions designed to keep the conversations going.

Our mission

Keep Scottish founders and ambitious teams sharp, inspired, and connected without the noise.

  1. Educate with context

    We pair real stories with workable frameworks so you know how to apply what you hear.

  2. Inspire action

    Our guests are in the arena. They share the missteps and the moves that actually moved the needle.

  3. Foster community

    The show feeds live events, online forums, and collaborations that keep the Scottish ecosystem thriving.

  4. Promote innovation

    We spotlight new thinking across sectors - from sustainability to AI - in plain English.

  5. Support every stage

    Whether you’re pre-launch, post-series A, or bootstrapping a family business, you’ll find tactics you can use.

Meet the hosts

Three hosts, three different backgrounds, one goal: make business conversations more useful.

Portrait of host Mike Annandale

Mike Annandale

Mike founded moo-let in 2010 to reset expectations in Scottish lettings, pairing landlord know-how with award-winning customer service that keeps both tenants and owners supported.

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Portrait of host Johnny Bisset

Johnny Bisset

Johnny scaled JDB All Trades from a solo decorating outfit into a multi-discipline renovation crew delivering extensions, conversions, and premium finishes without compromising workmanship.

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Portrait of host Wicus van Biljon

Wicus van Biljon

As a Business Doctor, Wicus embeds with SME owners to craft living growth plans, streamline operations, and mentor leadership teams so strategy actually sticks.

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How each episode comes together

The prep

We research every guest, speak with their teams, and source listener questions before we hit record. Each episode has clear takeaways and chapter markers.

The experience

  • 60–70 minute studio conversation filmed in Scotland.
  • YouTube first cut, followed by audio on Apple, Spotify, and RSS.
  • Newsletter recap every Thursday morning.
  • Clips and recaps on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.