Running The Business with Matthew Wood
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.
Episodes
11 episodes
The Commercial Value of Talent - Mark Middlemas, CEO – The Athlete Media Group
Is the commercial value of talent shifting? Mark Middlemas, CEO of The Athlete Media Group spoke to Matt about the evolving role of athletes in branding.In the past, brands saw talent as mere figures to endorse products. But n...
Turning Global Sport into Local Commercial Moments | Joe Pattison - Vice President, EMW Global
In this episode, Matt Wood sits down with Joe Pattison of EMW Global to unpack the evolving world of global sports marketing. From his journey through media and international markets to working at the intersection of brands, athletes and rights...
Building Partnerships That Actually Drive Growth - Tom Gilding - HYROX
In this episode, Matt Wood sits down with Tom Gilding (HYROX, ex-Runna) to break down what separates great partnerships from the ones that fall flat.From identifying untapped opportunities in the athlete journey, to why leading with valu...
What Coaching Athletes Teaches You About Building a Business
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 athlet...
Building Consumer Trust in Food Brands | Jo Agnew - Marketing Director at Lotus Bakeries/Trek
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 h...
Building a VC Backed Platform in the Age of AI | Sam Browne, Let’s Do This – Co-Founder & CEO
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/EI...
How to Build a Trusted Sports Brand | Mike Perls - Chief Brand Officer, SIS
Mike Perls MBE, Chief Brand Officer at SIS, shares his expert insights on what it takes to build and maintain a credible sports nutrition brand in a fiercely competitive market.SIS has been a pioneer in the category, and in this intervi...
Navigating the Sports Marketing Landscape | Dan Southam, Marketing – Suunto
In the competitive world of sports marketing, brands must find their unique voice and strategy to stand out. Dan Southam, a seasoned marketer at Suunto, shares his journey and the brand’s approach to positioning itself against industry giants l...
Athletes as Media Brands | Lloyd Kempson, Social Media Lead, European Athletics Championships 2026
Lloyd Kempson shares his experience with Matt as they explore the evolving role of athletes as media brands in the age of social media.As social media lead at the European Athletics Championships 2026, Lloyd has a comprehensive understa...
Community Can’t Be Manufactured | Russ Jefferys, Former parkrun CEO
Matt speaks to Russ Jefferys - previously Chief Executive Officer of parkrun - to explore how parkrun transformed sports participation in the UK and what it teaches us about community, health and the future of sport.Together, they discu...
Podcast Launch & Why Running & Business Are So Similar
In the first episode of Running the Business, host Matt Wood - co-founder of RunThrough - explores the powerful connection between running, entrepreneurship and personal development.Drawing from his background in elite athletics and yea...