The Success or Excuses Podcast
You can have success, or you can have excuses, but you can’t have both. This isn’t just another business podcast. This is for those who are done with the fluff, the motivational soundbites, and the sugar-coated stories. This is for the ones who want the real conversations about what it actually takes to succeed, no shortcuts, no excuses, just raw, unfiltered truth. James Fleming is a multi-seven-figure business owner who’s been in the trenches, built from the ground up, and knows first-hand the discipline, resilience, and mindset needed to make it happen. But this isn’t just about his story, he’s sitting down with the people who have really been through it. The self-made entrepreneurs, the industry disruptors, the ones who have had it all, lost it all, and fought their way back. Expect straight-talking interviews with high-level business leaders and extraordinary individuals who have mastered their mindset, faced failure head-on, and come out stronger. The kind of people who don’t just talk about success, they live it. No fluff. No sugar-coating. Just real conversations, real lessons, and the reality of what it takes to build something that lasts. If you’re ready to stop making excuses and start taking action, hit subscribe. Success or Excuses, you decide.
Episodes
Kirsty Strain didn’t just find her voice, she rebuilt it from the ground up. From spending her teenage years bedridden with severe illness to performing on the Edinburgh Playhouse stage, starring in hit Scottish TV shows, and coaching leaders on communication, Kirsty’s journey is one of grit, healing, and finding purpose in the most unexpected places.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Kirsty to unc...
Kieran Taylor didn’t wait for certainty, he built his business in the middle of chaos. From being made redundant in Aberdeen’s oil crash to launching his own wealth advisory firm with zero clients, Kieran’s journey is all about backing yourself long before the results show up. And despite entering one of the most mistrusted industries in the UK, he set out to do it differently by putting people before products and fighting for the ...
Kyle McGuinness didn’t wait for someone to hand him a role, he built his own path, picked up a camera, learned every skill he didn’t yet have, and carved out a place for himself in Scotland’s rising indie film scene. From primary school drama clubs to cage fighting at 16, selling DVDs in high school, working in construction, and eventually stepping back into acting through sheer persistence, Kyle’s journey is anything but linear. B...
Anne Hughes didn’t plan to become a consultant, or a speaker, or a radio host, or even an entrepreneur but life had other plans.
After surviving a brain aneurysm in 2017 and enduring one of the worst bosses of her career, Anne made a life-altering decision: no more compromising, no more tolerating nonsense, and no more high heels for the sake of hierarchy.
In this raw and energising episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming si...
Kevin Crawford doesn’t shout about success, he builds it slowly, steadily, and with a level of discipline most people never see.
From starting out in his dad’s architecture practice at fourteen to running the company, navigating burnout, rebuilding his health, and eventually shifting the business into employee ownership, Kevin’s story is a lesson in how quiet leadership really works, no shortcuts, no hype. Just years of graft, lear...
Caz Milligan didn’t wait for permission, he built his own spotlight.
From TikTok virality to launching Scotland’s biggest influencer boxing event, Caz’s journey is nothing short of wild. But behind the flashy content and online persona is a lad who’s been doubted his whole life and used it as fuel to prove every single one of them wrong.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Caz to unpack the real sto...
William Curle’s life has been anything but conventional. From growing up in a small Scottish village and working in his family’s engineering business, to inventing patented oil and gas technologies, losing it all, and rebuilding again. His story is a powerful example of what’s possible when you combine grit, faith, and relentless determination.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with William to uncover ...
Samuel Jamieson didn’t follow the traditional route to leadership, he built his career through grit, resilience, and a deep belief in people. From selling fake perfume in Wishaw Market at age 9 to leading high-performing sales teams across the UK, his journey is anything but ordinary.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Samuel to talk about growing up in a working-class environment, unlearning unheal...
Anton O’Donnell didn’t just dream of making a film, he actually did it. No budget, no fancy equipment, no industry contacts. Just pure grit, a five-grand credit card limit, and a script he believed in more than anything.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Anton to unpack the unbelievable journey behind 'Concrete Jungle', the grassroots Glasgow gangster drama that hit #1 on STV Player with zero marke...
Lindsay Reid spent over a decade in the high-pressure world of corporate PR, handling everything from national crises to celebrity campaigns. But behind the polished press releases was someone quietly battling burnout, craving creativity, and questioning if there was more to life than 4am phone calls and stress.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Lindsay to uncover what happens when the face behind ...
Alex Robertson had everything he thought he wanted: A £250k-a-year job in oil and gas, a sea-view apartment, a personal driver, and a lifestyle most people only dream of. But one day, he realised he was living the dream of his 18-year-old self… and it no longer fit.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Alex to talk about the bold decision to walk away from a high-flying career and start from scratch. ...
Laurie Macpherson didn’t just change careers, she rebuilt her entire life. Redundancy, burnout, and self-doubt left her at rock bottom, questioning her worth and wondering what came next. But instead of staying stuck, she made the decision to back herself, embrace her strengths, and start over on her own terms.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Laurie to talk about what it really takes to reinvent ...
Ellie McKay didn’t lose her business she walked away from the life that was breaking her.
Successful podcast. Multi-million-pound property company. A lifestyle that looked perfect from the outside. But behind the scenes? Ellie was burning out, losing herself, and quietly falling apart.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Ellie for a raw and unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to rebuil...
Kyle Campbell didn’t just become a dad at 19, he built a life from the ground up because of it.
One minute he was a university student working shifts at McDonald’s. The next, he was staring down the reality of unexpected fatherhood. No plan. No money. No idea what came next. Just fear, sleepless nights, and the pressure of growing up overnight.
Instead of running, Kyle chose to face it. He leaned into fundraising, volunteering, and...
Michael Field didn’t just start a business, he jumped off a cliff and learned to build on the way down.
At 26, he was earning £75k a year. Safe career. Clear path. Then a casual chat in the kitchen with his manager changed everything. Three weeks later he’d quit, rented a serviced office, and launched a company with no customers, no cashflow, and only his credit card to keep it alive.
It was sink or swim. And he swam.
In this episo...
Katerina Hayes didn’t just build businesses, she rebuilt herself through every breakdown, burnout, and rock bottom moment. Seventeen years in oil & gas. A dream career abandoned. Postnatal depression. Raising a son with autism. Starting over in a new country. At one point, she and her daughter were homeless, sleeping on sofas in her production facility. And yet, she kept going.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Flemi...
Owen Llanwarne never planned on starting a business but deep down, he knew the corporate world wasn’t where he belonged.
So he left the steady salary behind, set up shop at his kitchen table, and started saying yes to small freelance jobs. No funding. No investors. Just experience, a strong gut instinct, and the belief that he could build something better.
Fast forward, and OTECSA is now a respected process safety consultancy with ...
Yvonne Lindsay didn’t just start a business, she took on an entire industry.
With no funding, no safety net, and a baby on the way, she walked out of a high-paying role at BT and launched a telecoms company from her living room. Fifteen years later, that company now turns over £6 million a year.
But this episode isn’t just about business growth. It’s about grit.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Yv...
Craig Evans didn’t grow up with money, but he had vision, grit, and a builder’s mindset.
What started as a plan to buy his first home on a shoestring turned into a full-scale property business. He’s designed entire houses in 3D before ever stepping foot in them. Negotiated deals most people would run from. And learned the hard way that success isn’t about shortcuts, it’s about strategy.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James ...
Chris McLaughlin didn’t plan on building a business he just said yes to cutting a few lawns. Ten years later, CM Garden Services has grown into a thriving family-run company with a strong brand, loyal clients, and a seriously cute mascot called Bruce.
In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Chris to talk about what it really takes to grow a business from a handful of flyers to a full team and premises al...
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