Advertise on podcast: TubbTalk: The Podcast for Managed Service Providers

As Richard hangs up his headphones on TubbTalk, the podcast for managed service providers, he shares his final thoughts on his experiences of almost 20 years of running Tubblog, the hub for MSPs. In this short solo show, he talks about the evolution of Tubblog and how it’s been a journey of consistency. He shares what the blog became and what it’s done for him, both personally and professionally. He celebrates his friends and mentors, shares what’s next and how you can stay up to date with his plans. He also shares his three words for 2025 and how they’ve inspired him, and gives his final thoughts. Mentioned in This Episode Personal website: Richard TubbGoodReads author page: Richard TubbConnect with Richard on LinkedIn

In this episode, Richard talks to Laura Cook. She’s a strategic advisor who helps expert business owners earning between 250k and £3 million break free from the trap of being tied to the day-to-day business. She works with founders who feel stretched thin and want to scale the business without losing quality or burning out. She positions them for freedom for growth and even multimillion pound exits. Laura has helped numerous business owners to triple their valuations, slash their working hours and build businesses that thrive without them. Richard asks Laura what business owners should do if they don’t think they need an exit strategy or think the company can’t run without them. She shares her advice for preparing for unexpected time off, setting up processes for others to follow and how to strategically prepare your MSP for sale. Laura talks through how to make yourself a good financial acquisition and why the specific vendors in your stack matter less than the tools you offer. She talks honestly about how to sell a family or close-knit business and what to do if you think your exiting would rock the boat. Laura explains that you don’t have to transition all in one go, and touches on both the emotional side of a business exit, having the right mindset and how to deal with a sense of loss once you do leave. And if you’re feeling burnt out, why you shouldn’t just jump ship. Richard asks Laura to talk about some of the practicalities, too. She addresses how to assess the value of your MSP and why having a niche can make your MSP more valuable. She also explains why you should plan your exit even if you change your mind later. Mentioned in This Episode Laura Cook websitePSA/RMM tool: SuperOpsIT management software: ConnectWisePSA software: AutotaskBook: Michael Gerber: The E-Myth RevisitedPersonal brand expert: Laura PearmanPersonality test: Gallup StrengthsFinder

In this episode of TubbTalk, Richard talks to Scott Riley. He’s the founder of Inside Agent, a platform that makes complex M365 security an absolute breeze for managed service providers. His journey has taken him from being Chief Strategy Officer at one of the UK's largest MSPs, then running his own successful cloud solution provider business, to building this platform that helps MSPs work smarter, not harder. Scott talks about how he got into the industry and explains what Cloud Nexus (his other company) does. He shares why he started Inside Agent and how they’re leveraging AI. Richard asks Scott how the platform keeps client data safe, how to use it for prospecting and how it helps with scalability and consistency. They discuss the pricing and contract setup and how to deploy Inside Agent for the first time. Scott shares his learnings from past challenges, why you need to value your people, who his mentors and inspirations are, and who he is outside of work. And he also shares a long-held belief he’s changed his opinion about. Mentioned in This Episode Inside AgentCloud NexusAI tool: ChatGPTAI workflow automation: n8nAutomation platform: ZapierSpeaker and author: Karl PalachukMSP expert: Erick SimpsonAI tool: ClaudeDocumentation Software: IT GlueMicrosoft Secure ScoreBearded 365 Guy: Inside Agent video demoMSP community: The Tech TribeIT expert: Lyle KirschenbaumIT expert: Dan Baird

In this interview, Richard Tubb talks to Kristian Walker. He’s an Account Executive - New Business at Huntress. Huntress are one of the world’s leading cybersecurity organisations. Kristian has been making waves sharing some great advice on MSP sales through his online videos. Kristian talks about his journey in the IT sector and what a typical day looks like for him. Richard asks him to share why many MSPs struggle with sales and his view on sales. Kristian talks through how to demonstrate the real value in MSP services, why your approach to client sales has to change and the biggest mistake he sees MSPs make with sales, as well as why engineers should get involved in sales chats. Richard asks Kristian for his top tips for better sales conversations, as well as the single thing you can do to have more sales in the rest of 2025. Kristian also explains the  Neighbourhood Watch solution from Huntress, what MSPs want (and don’t want) from vendors and what to look for in partner relationships. Richard asks Kristian how he started making videos for LinkedIn and how it feels to put yourself out there. He shares why a mindset shift will give you more confidence to do video, why you don’t need fancy kit to get started, and the responses he’s had to what he puts out.  Finally, Richard asks what’s the best part of Kristian’s job, what the job has taught him about himself and who he is outside of work. He also shares who inspires him in and out of the MSP world. Mentioned in This Episode HuntressIT solutions: DattoAuthor and speaker: Karl PalachukMSP community: GTIASales development leader at Huntress: Tracie OriskoVP Ecosystem Evangelism at ConnectWise: Arlin SorensenSales engineer at Huntress: Sasha RoshanMSP community: The Tech TribeVideo platform: Bonjoro

In this episode, Richard talks to Myles Peart. He's the Technical Director of NetSec, a UK-based managed service provider. The company recently won a prestigious MSP award from SuperOps and were named Emerging MSP of the Year. Myles talks about the experience of entering awards and what it’s like being a winner. He shares his journey in the MSP space, how he set NetSec up, their current tool stack and how his wife came to join the company. Richard asks Myles to explain why he encourages platform unification for SMBs and how his clients find using M365 almost exclusively. They discuss why a focus on cybersecurity is a good idea and the value in forming strategic business alliances. Myles shares the NetSec approach to customer relationships and why the company focused on successful project delivery in their early days. He talks about how he keeps up with the pace of tech changes and his experiences working with coaches for business and health.  Mentioned in This Episode NetSecPSA/RMM platform: SuperOpsSuperOps MSP awardsCybersecurity tool: Heimdal SecurityPassword manager: Keeper SecurityCloud backup: N-able CoveEmail signature software: ExclaimerCertification: Cyber EssentialsMicrosoft automation tool: Power AutomateScott Riley of Inside AgentNews site: Legal News WalesTech careers for young people CyberFirstUK government security centre: NCSCDavid Brereton of MysonPagesAutomation platform: ZapierBusiness event: Ideas FestEntrepreneur seminar: James Sinclair Business Master Class

In this interview, Richard Tubb speaks to John Espirian, a technical copywriter for many years. Having seen success on LinkedIn, he now works exclusively as a LinkedIn consultant. He has a private community to help people get their businesses seen online, and is the co-founder and co-host of Uplift Live, a LinkedIn-focused annual conference. Richard asks John about AI-generated posts and responses on LinkedIn and how to find a happy medium. They discuss using company pages, Sales Navigator and the premium version of the platform. John shares a ton of helpful advice on how to be relentlessly helpful and create content your audience will value, how to use LinkedIn to grow your business and what you should do if you feel like you’re being left behind. Richard asks John about some dos and don’ts when using the platform, including third-party tools, sending DMs and connection requests, the benefits of getting recommendations and how to use LinkedIn Ads. John explains what’s working well on LinkedIn right now and how to stand out. He shares some quick wins to improve your personal profile and why consistency is the key to success. Mentioned in This Episode EspirianConnect with John on LinkedInJoin Espresso+Richard's previous interview with JohnLinkedIn Conference: UpLift LiveLinkedIn Company Pages expert: Michelle RaymondLLM/AI company: OpenAIContent expert: Juma BannisterLinkedIn expert: Louise BroganBook: John Espirian: Content DNABook: Bob Burg: The Go-GiverContent marketing expert: Mark SchaeferLunchtime LinkedIn event: UpLift Live Nano

In this episode, Richard speaks to Gerald Beuchelt. He's the Chief Information Security Officer at Acronis, a company protecting millions of endpoints across 54 data centres, many of them managed by MSPs just like you. He's led security through IPOs, a $5 billion merger, and now heads up the Acronis Threat Research Unit, or TRU. And that's a team uncovering wild cyber threats that potentially pose a risk to all MSPs and their clients. Richard asks Gerald to explain the role of a CISO in his own words, how he got into cybersecurity and how his background in mathematics helps him in his work today. They explore the Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) and what Acronis looks like in 2025, with Gerald talking through the changes they’ve made. He also offers suggestions on how MSPs can deal with vendor fatigue and how bringing everything into one place makes it easier. Richard asks Gerald to explain what a cyber snake and chaosRAT are and how MSPs can support clients using older systems, as well as cyber threats to be aware of and how to educate clients on them. Gerald shares his thoughts on what a security-first MSP is, why EDR and RMM are merging and how MSPs can prepare for that and how AI use by cyber criminals is getting ever more sophisticated. He gives one practical habit MSPs can use to improve their security posture, how to get started with Acronis and make the most of its features and what’s coming next for the organisation. Mentioned in This Episode AcronisWindows domain networks directory: Active DirectoryComputer programme: KerberosThreat knowledge base: MITRE ATT&CK Verizon breach reportCRM software: SalesforceCyber threat: Sidewinder ATPSpeaker and author: Karl PalachukDark web: Digital UndergroundMSP event: MSP GlobalCyber event: Infosec LondonCloned Richard podcast

In this episode, Richard Tubb speaks to Polly Brennan, a renowned mental fitness coach. She supports organisations to bring themselves back to a healthier mindset, boosting resilience and wellbeing no matter what comes along. Polly explains what mental fitness is, her approach to it and her journey from the NHS to running her business. She and Richard discuss why we should all talk about mental health and normalise the challenges people have. Polly shares her thoughts on how MSP owners can bring the spirit of adventure into their workplace culture, why they need to give their team permission to make mistakes and how to build a connected team. Richard asks Polly for some practical advice on how to manage wellbeing, how to create a workplace culture where mental health is openly talked about and how leaders can not only support their employees but manage their own mental health. Polly explains why multitasking doesn’t work and why everyone needs a coach, even coaches. She also explains why simplicity and consistency are key for mental fitness and how we can all learn to be more resilient, as well as one daily habit to strengthen yours. Richard and Polly discuss why you should start and end your day with intention and some quick tricks to get out of work mode at the end of the day, as well as why breathwork and meditation are beneficial. Richard asks Polly about the biggest adventure of her career so far, her new membership and why she’s a Brené Brown coach. Polly talks about firewalking and glass walking and shares the books and people who’ve inspired her. Mentioned in This Episode Polly’s website: Adventurous CoachingKoast RadioRichard’s interview on Koast RadioRichard's book: The IT Business Owner's Survival GuideAcademic: Brené BrownPersonality profiling: i3 profilingTeam communication tool: SlackSlack polling tool: GeekbotPodcast interview with Kevin O' Laughlin of Nostra ITPodcast interview with Dray Aga of HuntressFree download: five first steps for MSP owners noticing mental strainSpeaker and author: Karl PalachukPodcast interview with Nigel Moore of The Tech TribePodcast interview with Dan Scott of a...

In this episode of TubbTalk, Richard Tubb speaks to Kevin O'Loughlin, the founder of Irish MSP Nostra. He started it in 2006 with the aim of making a positive impact and demonstrating Ireland's potential for global success. From a starting pioneering cloud email adoption service in 2007, Nostra has grown to deliver €50,000,000 in annual revenue and is growing at 30% year on year through strategic acquisitions and organic growth. And it's on its journey to become a market leading, full-service IT managed service of either business. Kevin tells Richard why he founded Nostra, their approach to cybersecurity and the tech stack they use, as well as why cannibalising the services they offer has led to growth. Richard asks Kevin about the companies they partner with and why it’s important to nurture your vendor relationships. They also discuss why MSPs are so resistant to change in an industry where change happens constantly. Having gone through several mergers and acquisitions, Kevin explains Nostra’s approach to them and red flags to be aware of. He also shares his tips on choosing the right tools for your MSP without feeling overwhelmed. Finally, Richard asks Kevin how he became an Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and what that meant for him and Nostra. Kevin shares how he keeps going when things are hard, and reveals his biggest inspirations. Mentioned in This Episode NostraMSP community: IT NationCybersecurity and backup: DattoCybersecurity software: AcronisIT management software: KaseyaCybersecurity partner: HuntressCybersecurity software: WebrootSOC as a Service: Enhanced (Formerly InSoc) MSP solutions: BarracudaPSA tool: AutotaskNetwork security: SonicWallCloud marketplace: Pax8Book: Rhonda Byrne: The SecretInvestor: Ray Dalio Author and speaker: Tony RobbinsInvestor: Warren Buffett 

In this episode of TubbTalk, Richard Tubb is joined by Kennedy, the founder of Email Marketing Heroes and the host of the Email Marketing Show podcast. He’s a professional mind reader turned email marketing expert. He combines psychology, showmanship and strategy to provide his clients with seriously powerful marketing insights. Richard asks Kennedy what MSPs are missing out on by not having a proper email marketing strategy, and how getting it right means your clients know, like and trust you. Kennedy shares his advice on the importance of consistency, segmentation and how to get prospects onto your list, as well as why you can’t just rely on social media to grow your MSP. He also shares his approach to writing emails and how to get personality into your emails without losing credibility, as well as how to avoid your newsletters ending up in the spam or read later folders. Richard also asks Kennedy about his business, Email Marketing Heroes, the Email Marketing Show podcast, how he became a mind-reader and why he’s in performer mode so often, even when he’s off-stage. Kennedy explains how to measure the ROI of marketing and emails in your MSP business, a simple automation that even the smallest MSP should have in place, and one thing you think you want from email marketing that you actually don’t. Mentioned in This Episode Kennedy's websiteBook: Bob Burg: The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business IdeaEvent (Newcastle upon Tyne): The Podcast PaddockDownload the free Fast and Forever FrameworkSign up for Kennedy’s email newsletter

Time for another Team Tubb Travelogue! This time, Lenka Koppova catches up withRichard Tubb and Pascal Fintoni, who are in Manchester for the SuperOps SuperSummit 2025. Grab a cup of your favourite tea or coffee, relax and join them for a fun conversation about the highlights from this big event. Pascal explains how the talks followed the journey a customer might take, from marketing through to sending a proposal, which was a really effective way to showcase how AI can help at each stage.  Richard highlighted a talk from the VP of Product, Damo Vasudevan, on using AI assisted dashboards and for automation to improve service delivery. They were also joined by special guest Kimmah Lewis, who explained how she and her team put the event together and how much work goes into planning the day. Also Mentioned in the Travelogue The opening keynote from the CEO of SuperOps and closing remarks by the VP of Global MarketingThe benefits of a no-pitch eventHow AI helps MSPs deliver better, faster and cheaper while maintaining qualityWhere AI has been used badlyThe importance of collaboration, supporting your community and the human touchExpert panel sessionsSwag bags What is the TubbTalk Travelogue? These are ad-hoc, bonus episodes of our regular TubbTalk podcast, recorded live at an event. A member of TeamTubb calls Richard for an on-the-ground update on what they’ve learned and their highlights from the day. What to Know about the SuperOps SuperSummit SuperSummit is the flagship event from PSA-RMM experts SuperOps. They host these virtually and in-person, and 2025 is the first time they held an event in Manchester. The free, one-day event is open to all managed service provider (MSP) owners and IT professionals, and provides plenty of networking opportunities, exhibitor stands and talks from industry legends. Lunch, refreshments and an after-party were also supplied! This year's focus was on AI and how to use it to grow and scale your MSP business. There were dos and don'ts, trends to be aware of and practical advice on how to get started with AI. And as it was strictly a no-pitch space, attendees got plenty of value without the waffle. Were you at the SuperOps SuperSummit too? Send us a voice recording with your highlights, and we will add your comments to our next Team Tubb Travelogue!  

In this episode of TubbTalk, Richard speaks to Matt Middleton-Leal, Managing Director, EMEA North of Qualys, a pioneering and disruptive cloud-based IT, security and compliance solutions provider. Matt shares his journey in the MSP industry and what studying aeronautics taught him about risk management. He also explains who Qualys are and what they do, before digging into risk and risk management. He and Richard discuss what MSPs are missing when it comes to risk, and whether or not their clients fully understand its importance. From there, Matt explains why Qualys provide a Risk Operations Centre (ROC) solution and how that works. He shares how a ROC can be an opportunity for MSPs, but why they need a mindset shift first. Richard asks Matt why he thinks some businesses are investing in risk management, but why there’s reluctance from some clients. They also discuss governance, using ROC to reduce CISO burnout, and demonstrating how you’re helping clients with risk mitigation. Matt also shares what the experience of being a Qualys partner is like for an MSP. Finally, Richard asks Matt what he does outside of work and how he keeps his cybersecurity knowledge up to date, what’s next for Qualys and what Matt sees as the future of cybersecurity. Mentioned in This Episode QualysBook: Richard Seiersen: How to Measure Anything in Cybersecurity RiskUK government agency: National Cyber Security CentreCertification: Cyber Essentials

Time for another Team Tubb Travelogue! This time, Lenka Koppova catches up with Richard Tubb and James Steel of Salesbuildr, who are in Birmingham for UpLift Live 2025, a conference focused entirely on LinkedIn.They were also briefly joined by a special guest, so listen in to find out who! Grab a cup of your favourite tea or coffee, relax and join them for a fun conversation about the highlights from this big event. Richard says he really liked the supportive community. About 40% of the attendees are LinkedIn professionals, and the rest are people who use LinkedIn to market their business. It's good that not all of the delegates are trainers. James shared how much he appreciated the advice on using LinkedIn for different things - you don't have to be professional and business-like all the time. You can share personal updates, you can use long-form videos to get your message across and you can be yourself and succeed on LinkedIn. Also Mentioned in the PodcastLive sketch notes and subtitles throughout the dayDedicated WhatsApp group for all attendees - available straight after registrationLinkedIn group for all attendeesVariety of topics covered during the eventAnd of course, the Travelogue quiz! What is the TubbTalk Travelogue?These are ad-hoc, bonus episodes of our regular TubbTalk podcast, recorded live at an event. A member of TeamTubb calls Richard for an on-the-ground update on what they’ve learned and their highlights from the day. What to Know About UpLift Live 2025UpLift Live is the UK’s first and only conference dedicated solely to mastering LinkedIn. Attendees learn how to transform their LinkedIn strategy while networking with other business owners and entrepreneurs, and hear from expert speakers on all aspects of LinkedIn. The hosts are: John Espirian, a technical copywriter and Linkedin speaker and trainerGus Bhandal, marketing expert and LinkedIn trainerJeremy Freeman, a content writer

In this interview, Richard Tubb speaks to Daniel Priestley. He’s a worldwide renowned entrepreneur, international speaker, and best-selling author, an expert in business growth, personal branding, and entrepreneurship. He’s the author of several books which provide actionable strategies for entrepreneurs looking to stand out, attract opportunities, and scale. He’s helped thousands of business owners and thought leaders position themselves as industry influencers. Richard interviewed Daniel at IT Nation Connect Europe and asked him to share his experiences and also explain what he does. Daniel talked though how MSPs can become oversubscribed and how to become a key person of influence. He and Richard talked about the importance of working on your business rather than in it, how to craft your 60 second pitch and where MSPs should focus their efforts to see the biggest returns. Daniel discusses how to use vendor relationships to become a key person of influence and explains the difference between being an expert and being an authority – and why it matters. Richard asks Daniel to explain why having a personal brand doesn’t mean your business is over-reliant on you being present, how to be a successful key person of influence as a service-based business and how to stand out in a sea of AI content. Daniel shares a common myth about personal branding that MSPs should stop believing, the best investment you can make for that personal brand, and why you should be part of a mastermind. He also reveals the people and books who’ve inspired him. Mentioned in This Episode MSP community event: IT Nation ConnectBook: Daniel Priestley: Key Person of InfluenceBook: Daniel Priestley: OversubscribedBook: Daniel Priestley: Entrepreneur RevolutionPocast: Diary of a CEOPodcast:  The Joe Rogan ExperienceIT management software: ConnectWiseMarketing conference: AtomiconBusiness conference: Start Up WeekBook: Francis Rodino: Leads MachineBook: Peter Thiel: Zero to OneBook: Ray Dalio: PrinciplesBook: Brent Schlender: Becoming Steve JobsBook: Andre Agassi: Open...

In this episode, Richard speaks to Peter Kujawa. Peter is a seasoned executive attorney and industry leader with a wealth of experience in the MSP space. He now heads up the service leadership at IT Nation, part of the team at ConnectWise, overseeing IT Nation Connect, IT Nation Evolve peer groups and the partner advisory councils. Peter tells Richard how they foster and cultivate a strong community, and why it’s important that everyone in the leadership team has a go-giver mentality. He also touches on the types of MSP who join IT Nation, and how they use their membership for success. Richard asks Peter to explain the service leadership index 2025 annual IT solution provider compensation report and they discuss a couple of key points from it – around wage inflation and the fact that the more profitable MSPs tend to pay lower salaries. Peter also shares his advice from his time running an MSP and how he grew it, the mistakes he sees others make when trying to scale and the big opportunities for MSPs at the moment, as well as why AI isn’t taking away jobs. This episode was recorded live in London at IT Nation Connect Europe 25, so Peter explains what organisers ConnectWise were hoping to achieve, the attendance figures, why competitors are welcome and the decision to make the conference an annual event. Mentioned in This Episode IT NationIT Software: ConnectWiseMSP community event: IT Nation ConnectPeer groups: IT Nation EvolveBook: Bob Burg: The Go-GiverConsultation solutions: Service LeadershipPodcast: Richard’s interview with Dan Scott