Most businesses talk about creativity. But the real question is – who is creativity actually for?

On this week’s episode of The Merri-Cast, I’m joined by Robert Edmonds - founder of NRG Studios, a creative agency helping organisations bring their stories to life through content, events and campaigns.

Robert’s career began in broadcast television, working on major productions and building his craft in an environment where storytelling really matters. That experience has clearly shaped how he approaches business today.

What really comes through with Robert in this conversation is the clarity of his thinking, particularly when it comes to clients, creativity and building a business that actually works.

In this episode, Robert shares:
• Why building a business around clients, not only creativity, changes everything
• The reality of starting from nothing and reinvesting everything back into the business
• Why building a pipeline should be every founder’s first priority
• The difference between telling a story and actually creating impact

What stayed with me was his constant focus on the client – not as a buzzword, but as something practical.

If you’re building or growing a business, there’s a lot in this episode that will resonate.

Robert Edmonds:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-edmonds-nrg-digital/
NRG Studios: https://nrg-digital.co.uk/

Trevor:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevormerriden/
Merriborn: https://merriborn.co.uk/
Email: trevor.merriden@merribornmedia.co.uk

Most businesses don’t lose their culture overnight… they lose it as they grow.

On this week’s episode of The Merri-Cast, I’m joined by David Liddle – Founder and CEO of The TCM Group and the People & Culture Institute. He’s a leading UK voice on people, culture and leadership.

His latest book, “People and Culture” explores many of the ideas we discuss in this episode - you can find it here.

I’ve known David on and off for around 20 years, and it’s been fascinating to watch his journey – from community mediation to becoming one of the most influential thinkers in his field.

What struck me most in this conversation is how honest he is about his entrepreneurial journey. It’s had its bumpy moments, but he’s come through them with resilience and continued to move onwards and upwards.

We talk about what really happens as businesses grow – and why the systems you introduce to support that growth can quietly start working against you.

In this episode, David shares:
• Why “growth can eat culture” if you’re not careful
• The mistakes that founders make as they scale
• Why most organisations handle conflict too late - and miss the opportunities it creates
• How better conversations unlock insight, learning and performance

As you’ll hear, David said so much that resonated with me, but most importantly…

Believe in yourself.
It sounds simple, but after listening to this conversation, I hope you will.

David Liddle:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liddledavid/
The TCM Group: https://thetcmgroup.com/
PCA: https://www.peopleprofessionals.org/
Book: People and Culture - A Practical Guide for HR Professionals & Leaders

Trevor:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevormerriden/
Merriborn: https://merriborn.co.uk/
Email: trevor.merriden@merribornmedia.co.uk

This week on The Merri-Cast, I’m joined by Chris Mole - founder of FounderON and former Founder & CEO of Molzi by Brainlabs.

Chris started his first business days after finishing his A-levels. What followed was a journey fuelled by curiosity, commercial instinct and what he calls the superpower of naivety.

After building and selling his Amazon agency Molzi, Chris found himself facing a challenge many entrepreneurs never talk about: what happens after the exit?

In this candid and honest conversation, we explore the highs, the pivots and the unexpected emotional shifts that come with building and selling a business.

In this episode, Chris shares:
•Why overthinking kills more businesses than bad ideas
•The bold decision to cut half his revenue to chase a bigger opportunity
•Why every founder should know their “exit number” before they build
•How naivety helped him scale fast
•The strange psychology of selling your business and suddenly having “nothing to do”

We also discuss redefining success, resisting the pressure to build a unicorn and why a “quite successful” business that gives you freedom may be smarter than chasing a large valuation.

🎧 If you’re launching your first business, scaling your second, or wondering what success actually looks like for you - this one will resonate.

Chris Mole:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismole/
FounderON: https://www.founderon.com/

Trevor:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevormerriden/
Merriborn: https://merriborn.co.uk/
Email: trevor.merriden@merribornmedia.co.uk