181. How to make work fun (and still make millions), with Steve Carse

Truth, Lies, and Work is an award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott. 🎙 Meet This Week’s Guest: Steve Carse What if work was actually fun? Steve Carse didn’t just ask the question—he built an entire business around it. After being laid off in 2009, Steve didn’t follow the traditional career path. Instead, he founded King of Pops, an Atlanta-based ice pop brand that’s grown into a $10 million empire. His approach to business is refreshingly simple: when work is enjoyable, people perform better, customers stay loyal, and businesses thrive. Now, he’s sharing his insights in his new book, Work Is Fun—a playbook for building happier, more successful workplaces. 💡 Key Takeaways from Steve Carse ✅ Why workplace happiness isn’t just about free snacks – Steve explains why companies often fail at creating a great culture and how he designed a business strategy where fun and profitability go hand in hand. ✅ Turning a layoff into a $10M success story – The lessons Steve learned after losing his corporate job and how he made a roadside ice pop stand into a beloved brand. ✅ Making ‘fun’ a business advantage – Why workplace enjoyment leads to better retention, productivity, and customer loyalty—and how to actually implement it. ✅ The reality of entrepreneurship – It’s not all smooth sailing. Steve shares the challenges of scaling a company, balancing growth with culture, and why LinkedIn success stories rarely tell the full truth. If you’re a business owner trying to build a more engaging workplace or someone stuck in a soul-crushing job, this conversation is full of real-world advice you won’t want to miss. 📌 Where to Learn More 📖 Pre-order Steve’s Book: Work Is Fun (Out April 1st!) 📍 Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Work-Fun-Successful-Company-Meaningful/dp/1637746253 🍡 Learn more about King of Pops: 🌐 Website: https://www.kingofpops.com/ 💼 Follow Steve on LinkedIn & more: 🌐 Personal Website: https://www.stevecarse.com/ 🎧 What’s Next? 📅 Next Tuesday: Join us for This Week in Work—your go-to for workplace news, a spicy hot take, and our world-famous Workplace Surgery, where Leanne answers your toughest work dilemmas. 💡 Enjoyed this episode? Send it to one person who needs to hear Steve’s story! 📢 Subscribe now so you don’t miss a thing! General Support with Mental Health and Well-being If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful. Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email [e-mail] (Rest of World) Connect with Al and Leanne Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [e-mail] Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat