At 26, Sonia Haboub was living the dream: global education, high fashion job, and life in London. Then came the cancer diagnosis.
She quit the same day and bought a one-way ticket to nowhere.

In this wild and powerful episode, Sonia sits down with Matt to share her story, how she’s travelled to 100 countries, speaks 8 languages, survived family pressure, a life-altering diagnosis, and is now teaching the next generation and building businesses while running ultra-marathons across the world.

From rejecting societal timelines to launching brands in Kenya, Sonia's life is proof that you don’t need a plan, you need purpose.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Meet Sonia: From Corporate to Global Freedom

0:43 – 100 Countries Before 30?!

2:46 – Mastering 8 Languages (Here’s How)

7:30 – Why She Rejected the Traditional Path

15:15 – Hustling Through School to Pay the Bills

19:20 – Cancer Diagnosis That Changed Everything

21:42 – One-Way Ticket: The Start of Her New Life

28:22 – Teaching Across Cultures

31:12 – WTF is Intercultural Marketing?

32:47 – From Side Hustle to Global Business

37:15 – Her Real Thoughts on Social Media

42:34 – What’s Next for Sonia?

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Connect with Matt Haycox:
▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube: Matt Haycox - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-haycox/
▶ Website: https://matt-haycox.com/podcasts/

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, mentor, and your go-to guy for no-bollocks advice on business and personal growth.

With over 25 years of experience building and funding businesses across industries, I’ve faced it all wins, losses, and the ultimate comeback story. Through my podcasts, No Bollocks with Matt Haycox and Stripping Off with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bullshit to bring you real, actionable strategies and raw conversations with entrepreneurs, celebrities, and industry leaders.

Whether you’re looking to scale your business, secure funding, or avoid the mistakes I’ve learned the hard way, my goal is simple: to help YOU create YOUR success story.

Subscribe to my newsletter and get insider tips on entrepreneurship, strategy, & business growth!

Here’s what pisses me off…
People who hand over their balls, and their voice, to lawyers, PR reps, and anyone else who tells them to “stay quiet and let it blow over.”

In this episode, I break down how I handled a mainstream newspaper trying to drag me. Instead of hiding, I fired my lawyer and said what most people are too scared to say: the f*cking truth.

Because I’d rather go down swinging than stay silent while someone rewrites my story.

If you’re building something that matters, you’ll be hated.
The real question is, do you have the balls to speak anyway?

Timestamps
0:00 – What pisses me off
0:24 – Stop outsourcing your voice
1:03 – I fired my lawyer
1:58 – The truth has consequences
2:47 – Grow a spine. Say your truth.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Connect with Matt Haycox:
▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube: Matt Haycox - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-haycox/
▶ Website: https://matt-haycox.com/podcasts/

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, mentor, and your go-to guy for no-bollocks advice on business and personal growth.

With over 25 years of experience building and funding businesses across industries, I’ve faced it all wins, losses, and the ultimate comeback story. Through my podcasts, No Bollocks with Matt Haycox and Stripping Off with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bullshit to bring you real, actionable strategies and raw conversations with entrepreneurs, celebrities, and industry leaders.

Whether you’re looking to scale your business, secure funding, or avoid the mistakes I’ve learned the hard way, my goal is simple: to help YOU create YOUR success story.

Subscribe to my newsletter and get insider tips on entrepreneurship, strategy, & business growth!

Everyone always asks, “When’s Matt going to be the one getting grilled?”

Well, here it is. For the first time on his own feed, Matt Haycox sits in the hot seat to answer the questions you never hear him talk about—business regrets, relationships, legacy, burnout, and what truly drives him in 2025.

From strip clubs and bankruptcies to multimillion-pound deals and walking away from it all, Matt gets real about the cost of success, how he thinks differently, and why most people are stuck chasing the wrong goals. If you've ever wanted to build a business, live on your terms, or just understand how high-level entrepreneurs actually operate, this is the raw truth.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Who Are You Really?
3:11 – Biggest Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
5:29 – Are SOPs Still Essential in 2025?
7:54 – Is Business Right for Everyone?
9:18 – What Success Really Taught Me
10:50 – How I’ve Trained My Mindset
14:47 – Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
17:01 – When Life Gets in the Way of Business
21:46 – Balancing Long-Term Vision vs. Daily Life
24:53 – The One Principle I Live By
28:06 – Hardest Business Call I’ve Ever Made
30:38 – Modern Mental Health & My No-BS Take
34:23 – My Purpose in 2025
35:49 – How I Want to Be Remembered
38:19 – What’s Changed in Me Over 4 Months
42:53 – Self-Help Advice I Disagree With
45:30 – One Question That Changed Everything
47:33 – My Best Personal Advice
49:42 – Business vs Relationships—It Gets Messy
54:41 – A Question for the Next Guest (Female Fitness Coach)
55:55 – Final Thoughts

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Connect with Matt Haycox:
▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube: Matt Haycox - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-haycox/
▶ Website: https://matt-haycox.com/podcasts/

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, mentor, and your go-to guy for no-bollocks advice on business and personal growth.

With over 25 years of experience building and funding businesses across industries, I’ve faced it all wins, losses, and the ultimate comeback story. Through my podcasts, No Bollocks with Matt Haycox and Stripping Off with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bullshit to bring you real, actionable strategies and raw conversations with entrepreneurs, celebrities, and industry leaders.

Whether you’re looking to scale your business, secure funding, or avoid the mistakes I’ve learned the hard way, my goal is simple: to help YOU create YOUR success story.

Subscribe to my newsletter and get insider tips on entrepreneurship, strategy, & business growth!