meet mirjam hunt and julian poole, the new hosts of winning friends

An Estonian entrepreneur and an Australian globetrotter bring two different perspectives to the second season of Winning Friends.

The second season of Winning Friends is out, with two new voices at the microphones. Mirjam Hunt and Julian Poole come from different corners of the business world, but share a curiosity about people and a good sense of humour.

Mirjam has spent years building businesses of her own in Estonia. Julian has worked with some of the world's biggest brands, travelling extensively along the way. Here's a little more about the people behind the microphones.

Mirjam Hunt: Success on her own terms

Mirjam has been sharing her life with an audience since she was 14, when she started blogging. Long before the influencer era, she was documenting her experiences and building a following that has stayed with her through motherhood and entrepreneurship.

Her graphic design hobby grew into Kukupesa, one of Estonia's best-known home décor businesses, earning Gazelle recognition for rapid growth in 2023. She later launched NÄKK, a zero-waste haircare and skincare brand, expanding into product development and manufacturing.

Alongside her own ventures, Mirjam has worked with major international brands and helped create campaigns such as Swedbank's Kogumispäevik, which won Kuldmuna advertising awards two years running.

Running two businesses while raising a family eventually led to burnout and a rethink of her priorities. Mirjam chose to focus on NÄKK and turn Kukupesa into a smaller space for creative workshops and gatherings. She had built a successful business but decided she didn't need to keep making it bigger.

In person, Mirjam is expressive, quick-witted and easy to talk to. There's little of the stereotypical Estonian reserve about her, right down to her marvellous, almost Channel 4 presenter-style English. She has a warmth and confidence that make people feel immediately at ease, but she's also wonderfully direct, with a sharp sense of humour and no great interest in putting on airs.

When preparing for interviews, Mirjam often brings us back to the person behind the achievements. What was the guest like as a child? Who encouraged them? What experiences shaped their ambitions? She's equally willing to ask a straightforward question about something outside her expertise, however accomplished the person sitting opposite her. She'd rather understand it than pretend she already does.

Julian Poole: A professional people person

Julian's CV suggests a man who has rarely sat still. He's worked as a television news reporter, radio presenter, digital strategist, event host and even a pub quizmaster. He's also driven a rickshaw across India, organised a bus trip from London to Bangkok for 42 people from 16 countries, and travelled 30,000 kilometres from Vancouver to Guatemala in a home on wheels.

After seven years at Booking.com in Amsterdam, where he helped grow the company's social media presence across more than 20 markets, Julian now leads global social strategy at Bolt, overseeing more than 200 channels across 45 markets.

One of his favourite projects at Booking.com was One Mission, a film made with contributions from some 14,000 employees across more than 190 countries. Instead of bringing in a film crew to tell the company's story, the team invited employees to tell their own. Julian believes the best stories are often already there. Someone just needs to find them.

Julian has a bright-eyed enthusiasm for people and places that's especially noticeable in the more reserved surroundings of Northern Europe. He's cheerful, attentive and happy to look a little silly when the occasion calls for it. During the filming of our behind-the-scenes material, we asked Julian to give a simple tour of the studio. The former TV presenter in him immediately came to life. He threw himself into the task with such natural enthusiasm and energy that the whole production team couldn't help but smile.

He also makes time to meet guests before recordings or continue conversations afterwards. Some of the people he's met throughout his travels and career have already appeared on Winning Friends. Having lived in several countries before settling in Estonia, he knows how much can begin with a simple introduction.

Where two business worlds meet

Mirjam has built companies from the ground up, navigated rapid growth and made the difficult decision to change direction. Julian has spent years working with global brands, gaining an understanding of how businesses and people operate across different markets and cultures.

Their backgrounds shape the conversations in different ways. Mirjam tends to explore the personal experiences behind business decisions, while Julian often spots a wider pattern or follows an unexpected connection. One question leads to another, and the conversation can go somewhere neither had planned.

They have fun with it, too. Mirjam's dry humour finds a willing audience in Julian, who is perfectly happy to be on the receiving end of a joke. His enthusiasm and her wit make for a lively pairing, and their easy rapport gives guests room to relax and join in.

Season 2 of Winning Friends is out now, with a new line-up of guests and plenty for Mirjam and Julian to get curious about. Join them for the conversations on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music or Apple Podcasts.

And if you'd like to get to know the hosts a little better, you can follow Mirjam on Instagram and connect with Julian on LinkedIn.