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HUNGRY.

Dan Pope

HUNGRY is THE podcast for Challenger FMCG & Hospitality Founders wanting to pour gasoline on growth.

We chat with the industry BIG HITTERS. We ooze out the HIDDEN success secrets they’ve never told before and dive deep into their gut-wrenching failures, so you avoid them. We help you grow bigger, faster, stronger. Over the last 6 years, we’ve chatted to some insane guests on the poddy: Rory Sutherland, Seth Godin, Jamie Laing, Spencer Matthews, Tom Kerridge, Sir John Hegarty, The founders of SOHO House, TRIP, The Devonshire, Tony’s Chocolonely, Vita Coco Look, I’ll be blunt, HUNGRY is NOT your normal podcast. HUNGRY is NOT scripted and sterile Q&A interviews. HUNGRY is for pretty much no one. HUNRGY is a deliciously fun, wild and crazy, ADHD rollercoaster of free flowing conversations. got what it takes? Buckle up. Strap in.

get ready to… FEED YOUR HUNGER

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  • 419 episodes
  • Updated Yesterday
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Episodes419

Newest first
  • Oct 27, 2025 · 3 hr 2 min

    41 Ways DIRTEA Built a Die Hard Cult: The Science of Status, Habit & Storytelling

    DIRTEA isn’t just another wellness brand selling mushroom powder. It’s a behavioural-science masterclass — an experiment in habit formation, storytelling, and modern ritual. Founded by brothers Simon and Andrew Salter, DIRTEA turned ancient adaptogens into a luxury lifestyle — one that sits perfectly between neuroscience, self-optimisation, and social identity. Their rise wasn’t built on ads or hype, but on behavioural insight — understanding how humans build rituals, seek belonging, and buy into meaning. =============== 🍄 ON THE MENU =============== 🍵 Turning mushrooms into modern rituals — and why it works 🧬 How habit loops and identity drive wellness loyalty 🎯 Storytelling, scarcity, and social proof in premium branding ⚙️ The psychology of pricing, packaging, and sensory triggers 👯‍♂️ Building a cult-like community through emotion and aspiration 💡 The thin line between product and placebo — and why both matter 💰 Lessons from Apple, Aesop & Athletic Greens on brand behaviour ============================================== ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 ============================================== 🌟 HUNGRY's Absolutely Bloody Marvellous Sponsors🌟 ============================================== A massive shoutout to our incredible sponsors who make HUNGRY possible: ​ ►North Star: (www.northstarbc.co.uk) 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let’s link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk me here ​ (https://www.instagram.com/_hungry.pod/) This episode was edited by: G.Thomas Craig (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gthomascraig/)

  • Oct 20, 2025 · 2 hr 12 min

    The Cornish Chef Who Revolutionised East London’s Food Scene - Tom Brown

    "The food is like almost the last piece of the puzzle." So says acclaimed chef Tom Brown, who joins us to peel back the layers of London's vibrant food scene and his own culinary philosophy. From his 'Willy Wonka' creative process at The Capital, where dishes like his crab custard defy expectation, Brown reveals that true restaurant success hinges on 'setting, service, food' a lesson from Marco Pierre White. He shares his journey from Cornwall to making Hackney home with Cornerstone where he soaked up all the sage wisdom of legend Nathan Outlaw. Tom has always been driven by the belief that "if you do something good, people will come." He finds solace in solo dining at places like Shoreditch's Navy Clubs, emphasizes the "business of happiness," ensuring guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. He delves into his obsession with oysters, learning their 'terroir' from Irish farmers, and the art of fish butchery inspired by Josh Niland. This episode is a masterclass in relentless improvement, drawing parallels between culinary reinvention and the evolution of bands like Arctic Monkeys, all while navigating the tight margins and evolving landscape of modern hospitality.

  • Oct 13, 2025 · 2 hr 24 min

    The £600M Brand Exit Expert: How Grenade Disrupted the Chocolate Industry

    🔥 From a shed in Birmingham to a £611M exit — Al Barratt’s story is a masterclass in brand-building, balance, and staying sane in the chaos. The Grenade founder reveals how he built a world-class product, a world-class team, and a brand people actually love — while ignoring industry noise, financial vanity metrics, and the temptation to chase every shiny trend. This is an episode about focus, systems, and having fun while you build something remarkable — even when revenue is flat, growth stalls, or the journey feels uphill. =============== 💥 ON THE MENU =============== 🍫 How Grenade reinvented the protein bar category — “We didn’t invent them, we invented good ones” 🚀 From shed to £611M exit at 27x EBITDA 🧠 Don’t solve problems that don’t exist — why simplicity wins 🏋️‍♂️ “Be good and new” — how to win in stale categories 💼 The hidden path to profitability (and why you should never use your own money) 🔥 “Better revenue ≠ better business” — how flat sales can still mean a better company 👊 Building a world-class team and killing cultural cancers fast 📊 Understanding systems: category, context, and shelf strategy 💸 The 6 rules Al uses when investing in other founders 🥇 Compete where you’re strong and they’re weak — love competition 😌 Finding contentment on the journey — and why happiness fuels success, not the other way around ============================================== ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 ============================================== 🌟 HUNGRY's Absolutely Bloody Marvellous Sponsors🌟 ============================================== A massive shoutout to our incredible sponsors who make HUNGRY possible: ​ ►Mimo: For more on MIMO payments, financing & cash flow: visit (mimoHQ.com) ►North Star: (www.northstarbc.co.uk) Get a FREE 30min Consultancy Session with North Star 👉 https://calendly.com/andy-northstar/f... 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let’s link-up here ​ ( / daniel-pope ) ►Stalk me here ​ ( / _hungry.pod ) This episode was edited by: G.Thomas Craig (

  • Oct 6, 2025 · 53 min

    Seth Godin “The Marketing God” Unpacks the Winning Strategies of Global Brands

    This conversation with Seth Godin explores the difference between strategy and tactics, why most brands confuse the two, and how true marketing is about the product and story itself—not just promotion. Seth unpacks how systems shape behaviour, often invisibly, and how founders can break or reframe those systems to create new opportunities. The episode dives into the idea of customer traction and feedback loops—how the right audience, story, and channel can make or break a product. Seth illustrates with examples from Patagonia, Dyson, Apple, Prince Spaghetti, Tony’s Chocolonely, Innocent Drinks, and Scharffen Berger Chocolate—showing how successful brands win by embedding meaning, status, and culture into their strategy, not just chasing tactics. Creativity and consistency are also central themes: Seth argues professionals “ship” every day, rather than waiting for inspiration, citing musicians and artists like Miles Davis, Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Patti Smith. He frames origin stories as self-fulfilling—founders must choose a productive story that drives them forward. At its core, the episode is about seeing differently: spotting the hidden systems we operate in, distinguishing tactics from strategy, and building stories that compound over time. The conversation blends behavioural economics, culture change, and practical examples into a playbook for founders who want to grow brands that matter.

  • Oct 2, 2025 · 9 min

    Espresso: Behavioural Science Lessons From Managing Nightclubs - Pan Koutlakis

    Espresso's are powered by our wonderful sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money. Get lucid clarity on margins. Be all over cash flow, after all cash is king. Manage stock and cash flow. 3. The biggest brands in FMCG love love Unleashed Your fave brands like Candy Kittens, Tiny Rebel, TRIP use religiously. Tarquins Gin, Three Spirit, Minor Figures, The Turmeric Co., Volcano Coffee 4. Book a meeting with Unleashed by just clicking here! ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here 🍲 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let’s link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk me here ​ (https://www.instagram.com/_hungry.pod/)

  • Sep 29, 2025 · 1 hr 53 min

    Fixing Restaurants, Behavioural Science, Working With Marco Pierre White - Eat Club co-founder, Pan Koutlakis

    How do we ACTUALLY save restaurants from closing? The UK government aren’t gonna save hospitality… but Marco Pierre White and Pan Koutlakis think they have the answer with Eat Club. Restaurants. It’s easier than you think to save your restaurants. Are you going to be your neighbor? What’s FUCKING MENTAL is most punters don’t even know. This cataclysmic earthquake is brewing in the background. Behind the warm hug of hospitality hides the cold bite of fear. You revel in merriment, operators reel in morbid fear. Fear of closure. Fear of NI increase. Fear. In the dining room, your giggling gaggle laughs over languid luncheon. In the back room, the howling fantods scream up operators’ bones. Think of your favourite restaurant for one second… do you realise how scary it is right now? ON THE MENU: From Cafe to Nightclub GM at 19: Eat Club's Genesis Behavioral Science & Social Proof in Nightclubs Volume is Everything: Why Restaurant Capacity Matters Reframing the Question: Growth vs. Cost-Cutting Mindset Product Market Fit: Why Restaurants are Quiet Mid-Week What is Eat Club? Dynamic Pricing for Restaurants The "Trough of Sorrow": Building Eat Club Through COVID Lessons from a Montenegrin Boss: Relentless Work Ethic The Challenge of Scaling: From 12 to 100+ Employees Tech Insights for Restaurants: Customer Lifetime Value Dynamic Pricing Objections: Why People Don't Get It Dynamic Pricing & The Human Element in Sales Marco Pierre White: Early Investor & Eat Club Ambassador Marco Pierre White on Brand vs. Business: Fill Those Tables Arbitrary Pricing: Why Dynamic Pricing is Essential

  • Sep 22, 2025 · 2 hr 9 min

    Rory Sutherland Talks Marketing With Britain’s Most Famous Landlord Oisin Rogers

    Ladies and laddies, Rory & Osh in one poddy. That is all. ON THE MENU: Scale Kills Magic: Why The Devonshire Will Never Open A Second Site Why Restaurants Must Think About “Cost of Entertainment Hour” + “why skint kids spend loads on video games” The Devonshire Hiring Strategy: Hire people who think like we think… “hiring your mates is an underrated hiring strategy” Broken Fork + Silent Irritants Rule: “Your Job is to ANNIHILATE Silent Irritants” Amazon Primeification of Pulling Pints: “…Marketing spends too much time amplifying positives vs. reducing negatives” What Standing in Queues teaches us about folly of consumer research… “if it’s felt not thought, therefore it’s not said” How Pub Seating Arrangements can improve Train Journeys… “you still feel seen and welcome if you’re leaning on an edge” The Danger of The Internal Four Walls: “Use your eyes like you’ve never used them before” How to Make Your Pub Busy + Do Things That Don’t Scale… “literally walk around your pub or restaurant and buy punters pints” How to create a BRANDQUAKE… “never forget the impact of human to human interactions” The Busy Rule: “If you can’t be good when you’re busy, you can’t be good when you’re not busy” Customer Acquisition vs. Customer Retention… “brands spend way to much time on customer acquisition vs. customer retention” Why Estate Agents don’t let buyers speak to sellers + “why watering your garden plants increases the chance of selling your house” Waitrose’s Inversion Communications Rule… “NEVER FORGET…what you don’t do is also a form of communications” Tommy Hilfiger Bullshit Rule: “necessary level of bullshit for a necessary level of expenditure” Silent Irritants vs. Silent Pleasantries: how to use behavioural variability to make your customers incredibly happy Differentiation requires something incredibly random… Rolls Royce Umbrellas in the car

  • Sep 15, 2025 · 1 hr 48 min

    The Swedish Focus Expert: How to 10x Your Brand Growth in 12 Months - Henrik Grim, Mimo

    In this episode of the Hungry Podcast, Henrik Grim, co-founder of Mimo, sits down to share the lessons he’s learned from scaling startups, investing in brands, and navigating the brutal realities of cash flow. From his early days at iZettle and Spotify to launching Mimo, Henrik traces the path that shaped his approach to building companies with purpose and resilience. He explains why cash flow is the make-or-break factor for consumer brands, how raising money is more of an art than a science, and why Sweden’s cultural DNA — rooted in the “Law of Jante” and flat hierarchies — has influenced the way startups are built. Henrik dives into what sets apart the businesses that succeed, from customer obsession and competitive urgency to knowing when data is helpful — and when it just creates noise. Along the way, Henrik reflects on personal challenges: balancing founder obsession with family life, grappling with insecurities, and learning how to give ownership and responsibility to others. He draws sharp parallels between competitive sailing, his sport of choice growing up, and entrepreneurship — from reading the conditions to finding your own path rather than following competitors. This conversation is packed with insights on startup culture, fundraising, prioritization, customer focus, and leadership — all delivered with Henrik’s mix of candor, humility, and hard-won experience.

  • Sep 8, 2025 · 2 hr 18 min

    How I Made Millions Supplying The Worlds Best Restaurants Fruit & Veg - The River Cafe, Per Se, The Devonshire

    Franco Fubini was born in Argentina, raised in Italy, educated in America, and built his career in London. He’s worked for Goldman Sachs, Apple, and luxury food brand Valderrama. But then came Natoora. Today, Franco is the founder of Natoora – the chef-obsessed fruit & veg supplier, serving Ottolenghi, Dan Barber, and Alain Ducasse. This episode is an eye-opener into food systems, supermarket power, and how our plates shape the planet. ON THE MENU: Growing up between Argentina, Italy & the U.S. – how culture shapes taste. The Goldman Sachs years – why Franco walked away from banking. Apple’s obsession with perfection – and how it influenced Natoora. Alain Ducasse, Dan Barber & Ottolenghi – building trust with world-class chefs. Why supermarkets destroyed seasonality – and how Natoora fights back. The hidden cost of cheap fruit & veg – why “local” doesn’t always mean good. How Natoora built a supply chain from scratch – and why it matters. Why chefs are the real gatekeepers of better farming. The problem with food labels, and why transparency beats marketing. Franco’s long-term vision – a revolution in how we eat and farm. An honest, global, and deeply inspiring conversation with one of food’s great challengers.

  • Sep 1, 2025 · 2 hr 23 min

    The Most Resilient Man I’ve Ever Met (+ how to smash through your obstacles)

    Story is heart breaking Age 0 – prematurely born on an ants nest, roadside in Uganda his parents couldn’t afford to get him to hospital in time Age 4 – plagued with illness due to his premature birth Age 8 – his father mysteriously “dies” in the Ugandan Civil War His Mother, in so much pain, doesn’t speak for 4 years. Age 12 – his beloved Mother passes away her final words “don’t be scared, do what you need to do” Age 13 – he’s up for adoption. Sitting in the room with 14 parents. No one raises their hand to take him. He’s alone. Completely alone. Age 14 – he meets and lives with an 83 year old called WyWy. WyWy tells him: “if you’re going to do it. DO IT. Don’t rush. But, Don’t wait” 3 weeks later, WyWy dies Age 16 – he’s living alone. again. All alone again. Fixing water supplies in Uganda schools. Mowing lawns. Buying and selling cows. Hustling. Hustling. Hustling to fund his education. Age 17 – he meets a Texan reverend called Don Cripps. He becomes a Don Cripps translator. Don Cripps helps to him get to London. Age 18 – he defies his “fate”. moves to London. Studies law. Today, he’s the founder of BLUE TURACO COFFEE Wycliffe Sande is a LIVING LEGEND. THE definition of high agency. A poddy filled with tears, joy, apathy, empathy. Hope, so much hope. never giving in. never giving up. always smiling. always laughing. Total honour bro.

  • Aug 25, 2025 · 2 hr 12 min

    The Marketing Expert: How Nandos, Pret A Manger, Green & Blacks Make Consumers Addicted

    Mark Palmer is a marketing genius, he's worked on the following brands Burger King, Nandos, Pret A Manger, Green & Blacks, Cawston Press He’s a total genius. You’re going to love this episode!!! ON THE MENU: 1. Tim Ferris Heuristic: “you are the sum of the difficult conversations you have with yourself” 2. How To Have Hard Conversations with Sainsbury’s, Tesco or Waitrose: Don’t ignore the hard stuff, get straight to the point 3. How to Fire People Correctly: “Ruthless in decision making, generous in execution” 4. Pep Guardiola Brand Building Philosophy: Move your players around to fit the brand builders 5. Green & Black Brand Building Strategy: Philosophy first, Product second, strategy third 6. Product before brand, you can layer a brand around a product 7. Seth Godin Positioning Rule: Competitors must become your colleagues 8. Anti-Fragile Customer Feedback: Why are you not buying us > Why are you buying us? 9. Invest in creative UPSTREAM “get them to join the team, not just a freelancer” 10. Biggest Challenger Brand Mistake: “Don’t build a bad version of a corporate organisation” 11. Byron Sharpe’s Mental availability vs physical availability unpacked 12. Green & Blacks Scaffolding of Ideas: Niche <> Mainstream