The Upgrade Zone · Podcast + Media Studio
Real founders. Real tech. Real growth.
I sit down with owners and operators to unpack their story and the tools, systems and tech that actually moved the needle. Borrow what works, then let the studio put your brand in the same spotlight.
Free 15-minute fit check New episodes every week Founder-led, no jargon
Tune in wherever you listen
00Why this show exists
01 · The gap
£63bn/ year
Lost to the UK's digital skills gap in unrealised GDP, and forecast to widen.
UK Parliament · Commons Science and Technology Committee
02 · The opportunity
395,000+
Midlands businesses that could grow with a stronger digital presence and a better technology stack.
ONS UK Business Counts, 2024
03 · The answer
1 studioend to end
A founder show plus full media production, closing that gap one business at a time.
The Upgrade Zone · Dan Cheesecake Media
01The show
It's time we met.
The Upgrade Zone is where I interview founders, owners and operators about their story and the tech behind their business. No jargon, no hype. Just honest conversations about what they built, what broke, and the tools that helped them use technology the right, efficient way.
Scaling a team or running solo, you are all welcome in the zone.
- 01
The story
How they really got from zero to now, the messy middle included.
- 02
The stack
The exact tools, systems and tech doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes.
- 03
The upgrade
One thing you can apply to your own business before the episode ends.
02Who it's for
However your brain is wired, there's a seat for you.
Four kinds of founder tune in for four different reasons. The show, and the studio, speaks to all of them.
You lead with narrative
The Storyteller
Come for the human journey behind the business: the turning points, the doubts, the wins worth retelling.
You trust the numbers
The Analyst
Stay for the stack, the metrics and the systems: the receipts that prove what actually worked.
You're here to win
The Operator
Take the shortcut: proven moves, leverage points and efficiencies you can deploy this quarter.
You were made for the spotlight
The Magnet
Get seen and heard. Be the founder others quote, clip and follow. We'll make sure you look the part.
03The studio
Love the show? Now make it yours.
Dan Cheesecake Media is a full podcast marketing and content studio. We take your show from idea to audience, or grow the one you've got, end to end.
- 01
Strategy & launch
Positioning, format, naming and a launch plan built to land with the right audience from episode one.
- 02
Production & editing
Recording, audio and video editing, show notes and artwork. Broadcast quality without the overwhelm.
- 03
Content & clips
Short-form video, reels and graphics that turn one conversation into a month of scroll-stopping content.
- 04
Distribution, SEO & growth
SEO show pages, answer-engine and AI optimisation, and paid amplification that put you in front of buyers.
- 1
Story
We find the angle only you can own.
- 2
Studio
We produce, edit and package it.
- 3
Spotlight
We grow it where buyers are looking.
15 minutes, completely free No pitch deck A clear next step either way
On the day
Picture your recording day.
A proper studio, a relaxed conversation and someone looking after every detail, so all you have to do is tell your story.
- Before
A quick chat
We talk it through beforehand, so you know the themes and there are no surprises on the day.
- Arrive
Everything’s ready
Cameras, lights and audio are set before you sit down. Get comfortable, and we press record when you’re ready.
- Record
A real conversation
No script and no gotchas. If a sentence comes out wrong, we go again or cut it in the edit.
- After
Yours to share
Your episode goes out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and we grab a photo together before you leave.
“Everything felt intentional, from the lighting to the seating, which created a polished yet comfortable atmosphere.”
04Reviews
What guests say when the mics go off.
Real messages from people who have sat in the studio, word for word. Every quote links to the original.
“An incredibly smooth and professional experience from start to finish.”
See the original messageBeing a guest on this podcast was an incredibly smooth and professional experience from start to finish. The setup immediately stood out, high-quality cameras, crystal-clear audio, and a thoughtfully designed environment that made it easy to relax and focus on the conversation.
Everything felt intentional, from the lighting to the seating, which created a polished yet comfortable atmosphere that really helps bring out authentic, engaging discussions.
What impressed me most was how seamlessly everything was run behind the scenes. There was a clear attention to detail, both technically and in how the session was guided, which made the entire process feel effortless as a guest.
It’s the kind of setup that not only elevates the final content but also makes you want to come back again, a perfect balance of professionalism and genuine, welcoming energy.
“My experience on The Upgrade Zone podcast was top class.”
See the original messageMy experience on “The Upgrade Zone” podcast was top class. The setup was professional and Daniel has gone above and beyond to ensure the product he delivers is to the highest quality.
The hospitality outside the podcast was top class. I spent the majority of my day with Daniel outside the podcast talking through a multitude of topics. Our recording was approximately 3 hours long of high value conversation for the listener.
Couldn’t recommend this enough for the audience listening to the podcast or future guests invited onto the show.
“A real conversation rather than a scripted interview.”
See the original messageAs a guest, I found the podcast to be a very effective platform to share what we do in deer management. The format made it easy to have a real conversation rather than a scripted interview, which helped communicate the message more clearly and authentically.
It was also a great platform to present the deer management app we are developing at Sylva and its potential to modernise field data collection and decision-making.
“What an experience coming on Daniel’s podcast.”
See the original messageWhat an experience coming on Daniel’s podcast. A real in depth conversation of a range of personal topics but also the IT world and how it can be used in business.
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and can’t wait to see what the episode is like!
Next in the chair
Your story could be the next one they talk about.
Fifteen minutes, free, and a clear next step either way.
06Your host and producer
Daniel 'Cheesecake' Chrzastek
I've spent years behind the lens making people look and sound their best. Now I use that to help founders tell their story with confidence and put it in front of the people who matter to their business.
- HostThe Upgrade Zone podcast
- HostBusiness Buzz networking club, Coventry
- Behind the lensPhotographer and filmmaker
Between the show and the club, I spend a lot of my time in a room, or on a mic, with people who run businesses. It has taught me one thing above all: people trust the people they have actually heard from. That is what a good podcast gives you.
Before media I worked in engineering, SAP, SQL and web development, so the feeds, analytics and SEO get the same care as the lighting and the sound. You deal with me directly, from the first call to the finished episode.
Got a story worth telling or a show worth growing? I'd love to hear it. No hard sell, just a friendly fifteen-minute chat.
07Questions
The quick answers.
What is The Upgrade Zone podcast?
A podcast where I interview founders, owners and operators about their story and the tech behind their business, so you can use technology efficiently and in the way that suits you.
Who should be a guest on the show?
Founders, owners and operators with a real story and a smart, tech-enabled way of running their business. Any sector, any stage.
Do you produce podcasts for other businesses?
Yes. Dan Cheesecake Media is a full studio: strategy and launch, production and editing, social clips and content, plus distribution, SEO and paid growth.
Can a podcast actually bring in clients?
Yes, when it is built to. Invite the people you would like to work with as guests, and every recording becomes an hour of focused conversation with a potential client, partner or referrer. Each episode then keeps working as public proof of what you know, long after the recording ends.
Why use a studio instead of doing it myself or hiring a freelancer?
Doing it yourself means hours every week on recording, editing, clipping and uploading, and most freelancers cover only one of those jobs. With me you get strategy, production, clips and distribution from one person, on one plan. Your only job is the conversation.
I already have a podcast. Can you help it grow?
Yes. I can take over production from your next episode, or keep your current setup and add what is missing: clips, show pages, SEO and promotion. We start with a quick look at what you already have, so you only pay for what moves the show forward.
How do you help my podcast get found and grow?
SEO-optimised show pages, short-form video clips, AI answer-engine and generative-engine optimisation, and paid amplification aimed at the right audience profiles.
Do I need to be a confident speaker?
No. Most people are nervous before their first recording, and that is fine. I have spent years behind the camera putting people at ease, so we talk it through beforehand, keep the conversation relaxed and edit so you come across at your best.
What happens on the free 15-minute fit check?
We look at your business, who you want to reach and whether a podcast or content is the right tool for that. You leave with a clear recommendation and next steps, and if it is not a fit I will tell you honestly.
How do I get started?
Book a free 15-minute fit check below, or email booking@dancheesecake.media, and we'll map the fastest path to launch or grow your show.
Ready when you are
Say cheese. Grab your slice of the spotlight.
Pitch your story for the show, or hand your podcast to a studio that treats it like its own. Either way, let's make something worth pressing play on.
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“Couldn’t recommend this enough…”
Prefer to stay on this page? Open the calendar right here.
Pick a time hereOur collective · 26 places · 4 continents
Welcome to our collective.
Partners and clients across four continents, each linked back to our studio in Hinckley. One line is still open. It leads to the next business to join us.
A globe showing the Dan Cheesecake Media partner and client network: places across Poland, the United States, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Ukraine, Portugal, the Azores, St Helena, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Egypt, Peru, Montenegro and Croatia, each linked to the studio in Hinckley, England. One open line runs to a node kept for the next business to join.
Where will your node land?
Fifteen minutes on a call is enough to see whether we are a fit, and where your story could go.