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 marketing budget and a team of volunteers.

It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s proof that if you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way.

From rejection letters and self-doubt to bootstrapped filming, night shifts as a bouncer, and teaching himself to edit trailers during lockdown. Anton’s story is the ultimate example of backing yourself when no one else will.

And while the industry said “no”, the public said “hell yes”.

This conversation is for anyone sitting on an idea, battling imposter syndrome, or wondering if it’s too late to go all in. Spoiler: It’s not.

🎬 A must-listen for creatives, self-starters, and anyone chasing something bigger.

Key moments include: ✔️ How he turned rejection from writing competitions into motivation ✔️ Filming a pilot with no budget, no crew, just belief and borrowed spaces ✔️ Why resourcefulness beats resources every single time ✔️ Behind-the-scenes: balancing two jobs, debt, and passion ✔️ The moment Concrete Jungle hit #1 in the UK and what happened next ✔️ The power of showing up, asking questions, and not letting fear win ✔️ Why visualising success is useless without action ✔️ Building something from nothing (and not waiting for permission) ✔️ The pivot: from series to film, and what’s coming next ✔️ His 3 life lessons for anyone chasing a dream that feels impossible

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more raw, straight-talking conversations with people who’ve built, rebuilt, and kept going long after everyone else gave up.

Follow James Fleming: LinkedIn → James Fleming Instagram → @successorexcusespodcast YouTube → Success or Excuses Website → The Power Within Training

Follow Anton O’Donnell: Instagram → @anton.odonnell TikTok → @anton.odonnell LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/anton-o

Watch Concrete Jungle → STV Player Get in touch with Anton for investment, partnerships or collabs

Timestamps: [00:00] Meet Anton O’Donnell- writer, actor, creator of Concrete Jungle [01:45] The first draft: where the idea came from and how it evolved [04:30] From rejection emails to “let’s just do it anyway” [06:15] Bootstrapping the pilot episode with £5,000 and a dream [08:20] Balancing creative ambition with night shifts and burnout [10:40] Getting people to believe in your vision (when you’re unknown) [13:00] The STV breakthrough: hitting #1 with no budget or promo [16:45] How COVID changed the plan and why the film had to happen [18:50] Learning by doing: editing, sound, filming, marketing [21:10] The power of grit, trial and error, and believing in the process [24:40] What Anton wishes he’d known at the start [26:00] Future plans: from Concrete Jungle to what’s next [28:15] Final advice: Anton’s mindset rules for anyone with a creative dream

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 the press finally steps into the spotlight. From international badminton courts to singing in pubs, from mental health events to launching her own PR consultancy Lindsay’s journey is anything but typical.

This is a story of resilience, reinvention, and returning to what truly inspires and energises you. Lindsay doesn’t hold back as she shares the real truths about working in comms, building a business, and why relationships are the real currency in life and PR.

Whether you're a business owner trying to build a brand, someone burnt out from the corporate grind, or a creative soul stuck in a 9-to-5 box, this conversation will remind you that it’s never too late to rewrite the rules and do things your way.

Key moments include: ✔️ How playing international badminton shaped her work ethic ✔️ The leap from journalism to karaoke singer to PR pro ✔️ Honest truths about burnout and identity loss in corporate life ✔️ Starting a business on the side while working full-time ✔️ What PR really is - and how to use it to build your personal brand ✔️ Why your online presence matters more than ever ✔️ How one event gave her the confidence to take the leap for good ✔️ The power of consistency, reputation, and saying yes before you're ready

Follow James Fleming: LinkedIn → James Fleming Instagram → @successorexcusespodcast YouTube → Success or Excuses Podcast Website → thepowerwithintraining.com

Follow Lindsay Reid: LinkedIn → Lindsay Reid Website → lindsayreidpr.com

Timestamps: [00:00] Meet Lindsay Reid - PR consultant with a passion for people [00:09] The secret to great PR: storytelling, emotion, and value [00:38] Saying yes to the unknown, from wellness to music to business [03:00] Why PR is a long game (and not a quick win) [06:00] The podcast that changed James’ life (and Lindsay's role in it) [08:00] Lindsay’s early life as an international badminton player [10:00] From journalism to karaoke nights, rediscovering creativity [12:00] Landing a role at Stagecoach and the realities of corporate PR [14:00] Learning the hard way: big campaigns, big pressure, big lessons [15:20] Creating a body confidence movement while working full-time [18:30] Why passion projects are sometimes the path forward [20:00] Building a business based on trust, energy and great people [22:00] PR vs Marketing and why both are crucial [27:00] The real face behind the suit: balancing image and authenticity [30:00] The story of how James’ LinkedIn post went viral [33:00] Why PR is in everything even your employees’ social media [39:00] Reputation management, mistakes, and how to recover from them [44:00] The compound effect of showing up (even when it’s quiet) [50:00] Lindsay’s top advice for building a business and a brand

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. No salary. No safety net. Just a belief that he was meant for more.

It wasn’t smooth. Alex lost money for years, made mistakes, worked every hour, and still doubted if it was worth it. But along the way, he built a 300+ property portfolio, created a business that runs without him, and redefined what success means far beyond the payslip.

This conversation is packed with honest reflections on money, mindset, risk, and the uncomfortable but necessary process of growing into the next version of yourself.

Key moments include: ✔️ The moment he realised his “dream life” wasn’t making him happy ✔️ Why success without purpose will always feel empty ✔️ Leaving oil and gas during COVID to build a property business from scratch ✔️ Losing money in the early years and why that’s more common than people admit ✔️ The trap of high income + low fulfilment ✔️ Why he stopped chasing scale and started chasing sustainability ✔️ Building a team, stepping out of operations, and learning how to lead ✔️ The mindset shift that changed everything: comfort isn’t the goal, growth is

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more raw, straight-talking conversations with people who’ve built, rebuilt, and kept going long after everyone else gave up.

Follow James Fleming: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesflemingtpwtd Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast Website → https://thepowerwithintraining.com/

Follow Alex Robertson: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/ajrobertsonproperty/ Website → https://www.ajrobertson.co.uk/

Timestamps: [00:00] Intro- James welcomes Alex to the podcast [13:25] Stress as a signal: “If you can’t handle it, you’re in the wrong place” [14:00] Why Alex walked away from a £250k job to chase something more [20:50] The trap of fast cash: Earning big and still feeling broke [25:54] Starting his property business during the pandemic [33:57] Resetting the strategy: Selling off properties that didn’t serve the vision [40:32] The truth about quitting: Most people give up just before it gets good [46:01] The mindset and structure behind scaling sustainably [51:02] Alex’s advice to young investors: Start lean, think long-term