The Viking Chats: navigating the choppy waters of property, technology and business

Welcome aboard The Viking Chats—the podcast where property, tech, and business collide in candid, no-fluff conversations. Hosted by Kristjan Byfield—lettings veteran, proptech pioneer, and co-founder of Base Property Specialists and The Depositary—this show dives deep into the real-world challenges and bold innovations shaping the future of the housing sector and beyond.

Each episode, Kristjan drops anchor with industry leaders, disruptors, and entrepreneurs to unpack the messy, inspiring, and often chaotic reality of running a modern business in a rapidly evolving landscape. Expect sharp insights, honest stories, and the occasional Viking metaphor—all served with Kristjan’s trademark wit and big-hearted honesty.

Whether you’re in lettings, launching a startup, or just love a good story about navigating change—this podcast is your compass in the storm.

Podcasting since 2025 • 45 episodes

The Viking Chats: navigating the choppy waters of property, technology and business

Latest Episodes

“The Mountain Didn’t Break Me” - Sarka Wilde on Survival, Failure & Starting Again

When Sarka Wilde first joined me on The Viking Chats, the focus was very different.She was preparing to take on Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of Asia, raising money for the Propertymark Trust through what would become ...

May 11, 2026 • Season 1 • Episode 45 • 46:23

Renter’s Rights, AI & the End of ‘Winging It’ in Lettings with Rajeev Nayyar

There’s a moment in this conversation with Rajeev Nayyar where the discussion stops being about the Renter’s Rights Act and starts becoming something much bigger.Because beneath all the headlines around tribunals, rent reviews and compl...

May 06, 2026 • Season 1 • Episode 44 • 1:10:41

“We Don’t Have a Tech Problem – We Have a Thinking Problem” with Sammy Pahal, MD of UKPA

🎙 We Don’t Have a Tech Problem – We Have a Thinking ProblemThere’s a lot of noise in the property industry when it comes to “PropTech”.New platforms, new tools, new promises about transformation… and yet, if we’re honest, much of ...

April 17, 2026 • Season 1 • Episode 43 • 54:38

Stop Guessing, Start Planning - The Truth About EPCs, MEES & Retrofit with Simon Bones

This week on The Viking Chats, I’m joined by Simon Bones, founder of Genous - a retrofit specialist on a mission to bring clarity, logic and (frankly) some much-needed honesty to the world of energy efficiency.Becaus...

March 24, 2026 • Season 1 • Episode 42 • 53:28

Support When It Matters Most - Megan Eighteen & The Propertymark Trust (Podcasthon Special)

This episode of The Viking Chats is a little different.It’s part of Podcasthon - a global movement bringing podcasts together from across the world to shine a spotlight on charities and the incredible work they do....

March 13, 2026 • Season 1 • Episode 41 • 32:01

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