The Bottom Line podcast | Listen online for free

Available Episodes

5 of 396

Decisions That Made Me: Nick Grey (Gtech, Founder and CEO)
When Nick Grey started his cordless vacuum business 20 years ago he took a big risk by handing a lot of control to a much bigger rival. The entrepreneur, who’d designed and built prototypes in his garage, tells Evan Davis about that decision and the moment he knew it had really paid off. Production team: Producer: Simon Tulett Editor: Matt Willis Sound: Gareth Jones and Jonny Baker Production co-ordinator: Katie MorrisonImage: Photographer: Jack Pope. Copyright: Gtech
--------
16:58
--------
16:58
Decisions That Made Me: Zak Brown (McLaren Racing, CEO)
Zak Brown didn’t graduate high school – he was thrown out for fighting - but he loved sport. He watched his first Formula 1 race when he was 10, and became captivated by the cars, sound and speed. An appearance on a teen version of Wheel of Fortune, aged 13, won him some Cartier watches that he would later pawn for $1000, using the money to buy a go-kart and launch his racing career. But when it became clear he wouldn’t reach the heights he hoped for, he had a big decision to make. He tells Evan Davis about his path to becoming boss of one of the biggest names in motorsport. Production team: Producer: Osman Iqbal Series producer: Simon Tulett Editor: Matt Willis Sound: Gareth Jones and Pete Wise Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
--------
17:49
--------
17:49
The Bottom Line Business Awards 2025
Which business leader, or company, has had the most outstanding 12 months? What's been the biggest disaster or blunder? Evan Davis and guests look back over the business highs and lows of the last year.Evan is joined by:Sir Martin Sorrell, executive chairman, S4 Capital; Greg Jackson, founder and CEO, Octopus Energy; Joanna Jensen, founder, Childs Farm.Production team:Producers: Georgiana Tudor and Osman Iqbal Series Producer: Simon Tulett Editor: Matt Willis Sound: Neil Churchill and Matt Cadman Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
--------
31:43
--------
31:43
Car Parks: Who's Making Money From Your Ticket?
It's an industry that has few fans, but how does it really work, and will there be enough spaces in future for the UK's growing fleet of cars?Evan Davis looks under the bonnet of a much-maligned industry to find out where the money goes and why motorists have to pay in the first place. The government has been clamping down on 'cowboy' operators - can this, along with technology like Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, make car parks fairer?With changing travel patterns post-pandemic, and growing restrictions on cars in towns and cities, we ask whether car parks can stay profitable. And, if more of them are repurposed into flats or other uses, will motorists face even more competition for spaces, and higher prices, in future? Evan is joined by:Adam Bidder, managing director, Q-Park UK and Ireland; Ashley Bijster, managing Director, Modaxo; Anthony Eskinazi, founder and president, JustPark.Production team:Producer: Simon Tulett Editor: Matt Willis Sound: James Beard Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
--------
33:17
--------
33:17
Scaling Up: What Turns a Start-Up into a Success?
What does it take to grow a new enterprise? Evan Davis hears about the decisions behind creating a multi million-pound business. Founders share the challenges of shifting from solo entrepreneur to CEO, and navigating the make-or-break moments: when to invest, when to take risks, and when to hold back. Plus, the realities of failure, internal setbacks, and the strategic role of social media in driving growth. Evan is joined by: Charlie Bowes-Lyon, Co-Founder, Wild; Charlotte Figg, Co-Founder, Purdy & Figg; Suneet Sachdeva, Founder & CEO, Bubble CiTea Production team: Producer: Osman Iqbal Editor: Matt Willis Sound: David Crackles Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
--------
31:55
--------
31:55

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About The Bottom Line

The definitive business podcast from the BBC. Each week, the BBC's Evan Davis is joined by bosses, entrepreneurs and industry experts, to lift the lid on how their businesses work, and what it’s like to be in charge. They discuss a big issue, a big challenge, or a big question facing their industry. From managing AI to managing millennials, from supermarkets to supercharging a new product.And our guests will share their stories of success and failure along the way. Podcasts are published every Thursday. And as well as being a podcast, we are also available every Thursday afternoon and Tuesday evening on BBC Radio 4. You can now also listen to The Bottom Line on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play The Bottom Line”. It works on most smart speakers.The Bottom Line has published a spin off series - Decisions That Made Me - where Evan asks entrepreneurs and business leaders about the most crucial moments in their lives and careers. You can watch these episodes here: https://t.ly/oJ8lW. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with Evan and the team on email at [email protected] Bottom Line is produced in partnership with The Open University and is an EcoAudio certified production.

Podcast website

Business Society & Culture Personal Journals