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Running The Business with Matthew Wood

Running The Business with Matthew Wood

By: Matt Wood
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About this listen

Running The Business is a podcast about what it really takes to run it — whether that’s a business, a brand, a sport, or yourself.


Hosted by Matt Wood, co-founder of RunThrough - the worlds largest running event organiser - the show features conversations with people operating at the sharp end of sport, marketing, brand, and leadership - from elite athletes and founders to CMOs, CEOs, and community builders.


Across each episode, Matt explores the journeys behind the outcomes:

how people build participation pathways, create brand love through sport, scale communities, and perform under pressure — on the track, in the boardroom, and beyond.


Some episodes focus on Running the Business, others on Running the Sport or Running the Performance — but all are rooted in the same question:


How do you build something that lasts?


Whether you’re an athlete, a marketer, a founder, or simply someone curious about performance and purpose, Running The Business offers honest conversations, practical insight, and lessons drawn from the real world of sport.

© 2026 Running The Business with Matthew Wood
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • What Coaching Athletes Teaches You About Building a Business
    Mar 26 2026

    Lewis Moses is a high-performance running coach and business owner, helping athletes and coaches grow through clear systems, strong values and long-term thinking.

    In this conversation, he shares the parallels between coaching elite athletes and building a service-based business – from people management and leadership to patience, consistency and handling setbacks.

    Lewis also talks about scaling a coaching brand, maintaining standards across a team, using routines like journaling and exercise to stay grounded, and why technology and AI should enhance great coaching rather than replace it.

    A thoughtful discussion on performance, purpose and building something that lasts.

    Chapters

    00:00 Intro
    00:18 What’s harder: coaching athletes or building a business?
    01:46 What surprised Lewis most about starting a company
    03:47 Patience, process, and long-term thinking in business
    04:26 Sticking to the plan vs knowing when to pivot
    06:35 How improving a business is like improving a runner
    09:02 When Lewis realised the business needed systems
    11:42 Building trust and consistency across multiple coaches
    14:22 How to motivate athletes and employees who lose belief
    17:13 Fear vs belief in performance and business
    19:27 Resetting after setbacks, injuries, and difficult periods
    22:36 Daily habits for long-term performance and resilience
    25:12 Micro-recovery, structure, and avoiding burnout
    26:26 Will technology and AI replace coaches?
    28:29 Lewis’s advice for starting a service-based business
    29:52 Outro

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    30 mins
  • Building Consumer Trust in Food Brands | Jo Agnew - Marketing Director at Lotus Bakeries/Trek
    Mar 19 2026

    In this episode, Jo Agnew - Marketing Director at Lotus Bakeries/Trek - discusses the evolving consumer trust in food brands, the importance of brand positioning, and innovative marketing strategies in the competitive snack industry. Discover how Trek leverages community, taste, and strategic partnerships to stand out and build lasting brand loyalty.

    Consumers today demand more than just a product, they seek brands that reflect their values and lifestyles. Jo Agnew emphasises that unlike 10-15 years ago, when consumers accepted brands at face value, today’s shoppers are curious about what goes into their food and what the brands stand for.

    Building trust in food brands is a multifaceted endeavor that requires a deep understanding of consumer expectations, a commitment to quality and taste, and strategic marketing. As Jo Agnew illustrates, brands must adapt to the evolving landscape by being transparent, delivering on promises, and creating meaningful connections with consumers. By focusing on these aspects, brands like Trek can thrive in a competitive market and foster lasting loyalty among their customers.


    Chapters

    00:00 Consumer Trust in Food Brands

    03:01The Evolution of Healthy Snacking

    05:55 Building Brand Awareness and Connection

    08:57 The Importance of Packaging and Design

    12:07 Marketing Strategies for Challenger Brands

    15:00 Balancing Performance and Everyday Use

    17:47 Community Building and Brand Loyalty

    20:49 Challenges of Scaling Brands

    24:05 Future Innovations for Trek



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    27 mins
  • Building a VC Backed Platform in the Age of AI | Sam Browne, Let’s Do This – Co-Founder & CEO
    Mar 12 2026

    In this conversation, Sam breaks down the reality behind startup fundraising, Y Combinator, venture capital pressure, founder psychology, and why AI is reshaping the future of sport and live experiences. From raising early money through SEIS/EIS, to learning how VCs really think, to deciding when to pivot and when to stay true to the mission, this is a candid look at what it actually feels like to build at high speed.

    Sam also shares why most founders misunderstand venture funding, how to handle investor pressure, what makes AI different from past hype cycles like crypto and virtual events, and the advice he’d give to anyone starting a business in sport today.

    He talks openly about the mental side of leadership too — from anxiety and pressure to decision-making, ambition, and building a company without losing sight of the life you actually want to create. It’s an honest conversation about growth, trade-offs, and staying clear on the bigger picture.


    Chapters
    00:00 What people misunderstand about venture-backed companies
    01:50 Raising early capital in the UK with SEIS/EIS
    04:42 Getting into Y Combinator and lessons from Sam Altman
    05:51 The pressure and expectations of serious VC backing
    07:07 What YC taught about competition, luck, and top founders
    08:22 What investors actually bring beyond capital
    13:24 What happens when growth slows and investors get aggressive
    13:54 Should every founder take venture capital?
    17:47 The emotional reality of building under investor pressure
    18:35 How to choose whose advice to listen to
    24:27 Balancing founder vision with VC expectations
    25:39 Why AI matters more than crypto or virtual events
    31:12 How AI is changing event technology and operations
    35:09 Going all-in on AI without “burning the boats”
    40:16 Why AI automation matters more than small marketplace gains
    42:45 Advice for founders starting a business in sport today



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    50 mins
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