THE SPECIALIST PODCAST
SEASON 4
Episode 1 – Rob Barnard’s Special Guest
Emma Jones – Founder & MD, When the Bank Says No
THE SPECIALIST PODCAST
SEASON 4
Episode 2 – Rob Barnard’s Special Guest
Jason Berry – Group Sales Director of Crystal Specialist Finance and Co-founder of the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter
THE SPECIALIST PODCAST
SEASON 4
Episode 3 – Rob Barnard’s Special Guest
Matt Tristram – Co-founder, Loans Warehouse
THE SPECIALIST PODCAST
SEASON 4
Episode 4 – Rob Barnard’s Special Guest
Pete Gwilliam – Owner of Virtus Search
THE SPECIALIST PODCAST
SEASON 4
Episode 5 – Rob Barnard’s Special Guest
Bharat Sagar – Ambassador at Large, Ae3 Media and driving force behind Diversity & Inclusivity Finance Forum
About the show
Get the lowdown on what’s going on in the mortgage industry in around 20 minutes with our very own Rob Barnard and special guests.
In this podcast series, we’ll be talking to mortgage industry thought leaders who aren’t afraid to address pressing issues happening in the here and now.
The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries.
The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
Listen to the Latest Episode
All Episodes
Season 3
S3 E1: Specialist Lending Study Insights - Part 1
Rob Barnard sits down with Ali Williams, Co-founder of creative agency, mark-making*, to discuss the importance of building a strong brand with a focus on broker and consumer behaviour, and how being meaningful and memorable is the key to success.
19 FEB 2024 - 23 min
S3 E2: Specialist Lending Study Insights - Part 2
11 DEC 2023 - 20 min
S3 E3: A dive into the mortgage market and how specialist lenders can help, with Jon Hall
Rob Barnard and Jon Hall, Managing Director of Mortgages & Savings at OSB Group as they take a look at the year ahead after a challenging 12 months in the mortgage industry, the opportunities available for brokers and lenders and how they see the market moving and changing in the coming months.
29 JAN 2024 - 22 min
S3 E4: From brokerage to business, scaling up with Jon & Lisa Stones
Jon and Lisa Stones sit down with Rob to discuss their journey in growing their business, Mortgage 1st, the importance of the role of administrators, strong customer service and their top tips on identifying and scaling a business opportunity.
5 FEB 2024 - 23 min
S3 E5: Behind the curtain at IMLA & a glimpse into the new normal with Kate Davies
On this episode of the Specialist, Rob Barnard sits down with Kate Davies, Executive Director of IMLA, to discuss the inception and journey of the association, supporting new entrants into the sector as well as the ‘new normal’ of the Mortgage industry.
12 FEB 2024 - 28 min
S3 E6: The importance of a strong brand and putting people before the product with Ali Williams, Founder and Creative Director of mark-making*
Rob Barnard sits down with Ali Williams, Co-founder of creative agency, mark-making*, to discuss the importance of building a strong brand with a focus on broker and consumer behaviour, and how being meaningful and memorable is the key to success.
19 FEB 2024 - 23 min
Season 2
S2 E1: The current economic climate with Laurence Morey
This week on ‘The Specialist’ host Rob Barnard and Laurence Morey, Chief Executive at Pepper Money talk about the current economic climate. They explore the market outlook from a lender’s perspective as well as offering advice for brokers in the months and year ahead. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaires. The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
20 FEB 2023 - 23 min
S2 E2: Specialist lending from a customer's perspective
This week on ‘The Specialist’ it’s time for something a little different. Host Rob Barnard meets another Rob, a Pepper Money borrower. They chat about everything from the experience of finding a lender when you have adverse credit, to the emotional journey of securing a mortgage when the market was changing so rapidly. And ultimately, how with the help of broker partners Pepper Money mortgages can be life changing. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
27 FEB 2023 - 18 min
S2 E3: Supporting Women in Business with Samantha Da Silva
This week on ‘The Specialist’ host Rob Barnard chats to Samantha Da Silva, Proposition Director at Pepper Money. To celebrate International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, Rob and Samantha discuss what it’s really like to be a woman working in finance and how we can all do our bit to support women in business. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
8 MAR 2023 - 15 min
S2 E4: Staying Green with Richard Merritt
This week on The Specialist, it’s not easy being green! Host Rob Barnard sits down with Richard Merritt from the Mortgage Climate Action Group. Ever heard of a Green Mortgage? That’s just what Rob and Richard chat about as well as greenwashing in the industry and the balance between importance and affordability. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal and guest may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
13 MAR 2023 - 21 min
S2 E5: The Self-Employed Market with Danny Belton
This week on ‘The Specialist’, host Rob Barnard speaks to Danny Belton, Head of Lender Relationships, L&G Mortgage Club about self-employment and the mortgage market. They get to the bottom of why it can be hard for the self-employed to get a mortgage , how the pandemic impacted the market as well as provide advice and general support for brokers looking to help their self employed customers. The content of this podcast is for UK-based mortgage intermediaries. The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
20 MAR 2023 - 19 min
S2 E6: Mental Wellbeing: Supporting Colleagues and Customers
This week on ‘The Specialist’, host Rob Barnard sits down with Stephanie Charman, Head of Strategic Relationships at PMS Mortgage Club. They cover everything from the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the industry, to how to support yourself, colleagues and customers. With practical tips and advice it’s not to be missed. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries.The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
27 MAR 2023 - 22 min
Summer Edition: The place and pace of specialist lending
In this Summer episode, host Rob Barnard will be talking to mortgage industry leader and CEO of Brightstar Financial, Rob Jupp, to take a deeper dive into the current place and the pace of Specialist Lending in an ever-changing market. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
17 JUL 2023 - 21 min
Season 1
S1 Ep 1: The economic landscape with Andrew Montlake
This week on the ‘The Specialist’, host Rob Barnard and Andrew Mortlake, Managing Director at Coreco, get to the heart of the current and coming economic landscape. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. *The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
14 OCT 2022 - 20 min
S1 Ep 2: Specialist Finance in a Changing Economic Landscape - Live at Mortgage Business Expo 2022
This week on ‘The Specialist’ with Rob Barnard, we recorded live at the Mortgage Business Expo. Rob and his expert panel; James Bloom – Board Director, Alternative Bridging Corporation, Mike Cook – Chief Mortgage Officer, Market Financial Solutions, Marcus Dussard – Sales Director, Hampshire Trust Bank and Matt McCullough National Sales Manager, Aldermore Bank, talk about specialist finance in a changing economic landscape. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. *The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
21 OCT 2022 - 20 min
S1 Ep3: Broker wellbeing with Sarah Tucker
This week on ‘The Specialist’ host Rob Barnard and Sarah Tucker, the Mortgage Mum, talk wellbeing. They cover the role of a broker in turbulent times, from therapist to translator, confidant to expert – as well as what brokers can do to set healthy boundaries. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. *The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
28 OCT 2022 - 20 min
S1 Ep4: The cost of living crisis with Paula John
This week on ‘The Specialist’ host Rob Barnard and Paula John, Director at Paula John Communications, talk cost of living crisis. They cover how consumers shouldn’t bury their heads. Reaching out for help and facing their debts at a time like this is essential. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. *The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
4 NOV 2022 - 17 min
S1 Ep5: Tech in the mortgage market with Nicola Firth
This week on ‘The Specialist’ host Rob Barnard and Nicola Firth, Founder and CEO of Knowledge Bank, talk tech. They cover how tech can help brokers give better advice and operate more efficiently. As well as what lenders can be doing to improve tech adoption. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. *The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
11 NOV 2022 - 18 min
S1 E6: The importance of a good lender to broker relationship with Ryan Brailsford
This week on ‘The Specialist’ host Rob Barnard and Ryan Brailsford, Director of Business Development at Pepper Money talk lender-broker relationships. They cover the importance of an open and upfront relationship, how the role of a BDM has changed, and qualities to look out for in one. The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. *The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
18 NOV 2022 - 18 min
Christmas Special with Martin Reynolds
In this Christmas episode host Rob Barnard will be talking to mortgage industry leader and CEO of SimplyBiz Mortgages, Martin Reynolds, to guide us through the past, present and future ghosts of the mortgage market in our very own rendition of a Christmas Carol! The content of this podcast is for UK based mortgage intermediaries. *The opinions expressed in this podcast are personal to the presenter and guest and may not reflect the views of Pepper Money.
16 DEC 2022 - 24 min
Meet the Host
Rob Barnard
Rob Barnard has over 30 years of knowledge and experience navigating successfully through the twists and turns of the UK Mortgage market. Rob has developed and executed sales and marketing strategies throughout his career to drive growth and maximise retention. In his role as Director of Intermediary Relationships, Rob is responsible for nurturing and developing key broker and distribution partners for Pepper Money.
Rob is passionate about mortgages but more importantly the people he works with within the industry. As a result, he is the host of The Specialist Podcast. A platform created to provide established and upcoming stars in the industry an opportunity to discuss everything mortgages and beyond.