The Viking Chats: navigating the choppy waters of property, technology and business
Welcome aboard The Viking Chats—the podcast where property, tech, and business collide in candid, no-fluff conversations. Hosted by Kristjan Byfield—lettings veteran, proptech pioneer, and co-founder of Base Property Specialists and The Depositary—this show dives deep into the real-world challenges and bold innovations shaping the future of the housing sector and beyond.
Each episode, Kristjan drops anchor with industry leaders, disruptors, and entrepreneurs to unpack the messy, inspiring, and often chaotic reality of running a modern business in a rapidly evolving landscape. Expect sharp insights, honest stories, and the occasional Viking metaphor—all served with Kristjan’s trademark wit and big-hearted honesty.
Whether you’re in lettings, launching a startup, or just love a good story about navigating change—this podcast is your compass in the storm.
Episodes
14 episodes
The Ball, The Buzz & The Business: What We Really Get from Industry Events
In this special episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield sits down with fellow Base Property Specialists & The Depositary co-founder and industry icon An Deckers (aka Big Red) for a reflective and revealing look at what actual...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:17:12
Dr. Rock & The Rise of Agentic AI: Neil Cobbold Unplugged
In this electric episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield is joined by none other than Neil Cobbold—industry heavyweight, tech evangelist, landlord, Drum & Bass DJ, and true rock superfan—to unpack what’s really going on behin...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:00:36
Integration Nation: Why GlueDog Could Be the Future of PropTech
In this unmissable episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield sits down with Mark McCorrie—founder of Made Snappy 360 and the innovator behind the integration tool GlueDog—for a no-holds-barred deep dive into the tangled, chaotic, a...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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56:29
The Unfiltered Agent: Ben Madden on Authenticity, Leadership, and Agency Without the Fluff
In this episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield sits down with the brilliantly unfiltered Ben Madden—Principal Director at Fine & Country, founder of Digital Sparks, and all-around champion for doing estate agency differently...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:01:55
It’s Not a Secret: Why the Best Letting Agents Share Everything
In this episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield is joined by the powerhouse behind Liberty Blue, Regina Mangan, for a vibrant and unfiltered discussion that every forward-thinking letting and estate agency leader needs to hear.
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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48:05
AI: Get onboard or get left behind with Mal McCallion of ModelProp
In this razor-sharp episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield sits down with one of PropTech’s original pioneers—Mal McCallion—to unpack the message every UK letting agent, estate agent and landlord needs to hear:AI isn’t...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:08:08
base turns 21- the memories, the adventures and what's next with An Deckers
In this special anniversary edition of The Viking Chats, Kristjan is joined by his "work wife" and Base Property (and The Depositary) co-founder An Deckers to celebrate a huge milestone—21 years of running one of London’s most distinctive and a...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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47:04
AI, Authenticity & Agency: A Proptech Deep Dive with Toby Martin
In this powerful episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield is joined by the sharp, funny, and endlessly insightful Toby Martin—a former agent turned consultant who’s on a mission to help agencies thrive in a tech-powered world....
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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56:35
Inventories, AI & Industry Evolution — with Nick Lyons of No Letting Go & Kaptur
In this episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield welcomes Nick Lyons, founder of No Letting Go and Kaptur Software, to dive deep into the evolution of the inventory sector—and how technology, AI, and data are reshaping it for agen...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:11:46
Game of Homes: Winning in a Tech-Driven Market with Simon Whale
Hold onto your helmets, Vikings — in this latest voyage across the turbulent seas of property, technology and business, Kristjan Byfield welcomes a true industry legend (or should we say lovable rogue?): Simon Whale, known for his time a...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:16:57
“STOP BEING BORING!" Why Creativity, Storytelling & Brand Personality Are Your Secret Superpowers
Are you stuck in a loop of “free valuations”, “stunning homes”, and “professional photography”? Do your marketing materials look suspiciously like your competitors’? Then buckle up, because this episode of Viking C...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:10:40
Behind the Curtain of Compliance, Complaints & Change in the PRS with Tim Frome of Hamilton Fraser
In this powerhouse episode of Viking Chat, industry trailblazer Kristjan Byfield sits down with Tim Frome, legal and compliance heavyweight from Hamilton Fraser, for a deep dive into the ever-evolving landscape of the private rented se...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:11:37
The Importance of the process with Vicky Bibiris
In this engaging episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield—co-founder of The Depositary and self-proclaimed industry innovator—sits down with the brilliant Vicky Bibiris, Managing Director at award-winning agency Location Location,...
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1:02:04
Beyond transactions: Can proptech make agents more human?
In this powerful first episode of our new conversation series, Kristjan Byfield—co-founder of The Depositary & base property specilaists—sits down with Sian Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base, to unpack a fascinating and timely...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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43:55