Episodes
Amanza Smith might be best known for Selling Sunset, but her journey to the woman she is today is jaw-dropping. She’s lived one of those lives which makes you stop and wonder how she made it through. That’s why it was such a privilege to sit down with her today.Having survived a traumatic childhood marked by abuse and racism, Amanza battled with addiction that almost cost her life, but possessing a strength you rarely see, she got herself clean through sheer willpower. She spoke to me about how her daughter saved her life, triggering a path towards healing from the abuse she’d experienced a...
Sleep is something we all do, or at least we’re supposed to do. But for many people, it’s far from a restful reset; it’s a daily struggle that affects every part of life and is a powerful took for protecting both our mental and physical health. I was keen to chat to Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist and sleep expert, about the biggest misconceptions around sleep and how we can help ourselves when it comes to resting well.From improving memory and mood, to long-term health, Dr Lindsay breaks down what sleep actually is, and explains how the brutal cycle of insomnia is usually triggered by an...
When I was at uni, I’d come home from a day of lectures and put Raymond Blanc’s shows on my laptop - he was my safe space, and watching him would always calm any anxiety and make me feel calm. So when he replied to my message inviting him onto my show, excited is an understatement. Raymond is a true legend of the culinary world - holding two Michelin stars for the last 41 years, mentoring some of the greatest - from Heston Blumenthal to Marco Pierre White - and being entirely self-taught! You could say there’s a romance to his childhood, but growing up in post-war France was far from easy; ...
This episode is a little bit different: it’s with someone whose name I doubt you’ll know, but it’s a story which, as soon as I heard, I knew I wanted to share with you all on Great Company.Riordan Maynard was a high flying business man until one day it all came crashing down - he doesn’t shy away from the crimes he committed - but they resulted in him serving almost seven years in a maximum high security prison in the states for tax fraud. Promised a low-security camp to serve his sentence, instead he was sent to a maximum security prison, he came into contact with real violence and aggress...
In March 2025, I embarked on probably the hardest challenge of my life, running from London to Manchester, completing five ultramarathons in five days with Radio 1 for Comic Relief.I don’t think anyone anticipated how big the challenge would become - nor did I fully appreciate the scale of what I was undertaking, but needless to say it was a life changing experience and raised £2.26million for an incredible cause.I wanted to bring you - our wonderful Great Company listeners - a bonus episode of the show, to dive back into that week and give you insight into my reasons for running and the to...
Kane Brown is a trailblazer in country music, with two diamond records, platinum albums, and chart-topping collaborations that have set him apart. Despite his massive success, his path has been anything but easy: Kane is someone who finds it hard to open up, so I was honoured to get a chance to sit down with him…We started by talking about emotions—how Kane’s struggle to feel them deeply stems from a tough childhood marked by abuse from his stepdads, and constantly moving, attending over a dozen schools. He shared how depression made happiness feel out of reach, but learnt to communicate th...
Have you ever listened to a podcast and felt it’s changed your life? That happened to me when I listened to an episode of my guest today’s podcast at one of my lowest points. It’s one of the reasons I love podcasting - that ability to really connect and speak to people, and I was so delighted to welcome Dr Rangan Chatterjee onto my own podcast today…Dr Rangan is one of the UK’s most well-known doctors, but he’s also a best-selling author and host of the aforementioned, hugely successful podcast, Feel Better, Live More. We talked about stress—what it really is, how it can spiral into anxiety...
Jessie Reyez is a Canadian singer-songwriter who’s worked with the likes of Eminem, Duo Lipa, Calvin Harris - she’s a real musician’s musician, but the thing that has always struck me about Jessie was her energy: her music oozes emotion so I was excited to get her in the studio to chat.Jessie chatted to me about those big emotions she feels - how music saved her from the depths of depression age 16 and has continued to be a necessary outlet for her feelings. She opened up about her sobriety, sharing that even though she is nearly two years sober, she still misses alcohol during her lowest m...
Dr. Aliza Pressman is a renowned childhood expert and developmental psychologist with two decades of experience; she also has a hugely successful podcast and has written multiple books about how to raise good humans. I was excited to speak to her as the topic of children becomes more and more relevant in my life…Aliza chatted to me about the incredible way both children and parents’ brains develop, the importance of boundaries and structure in nurturing a child. Our conversation goes beyond the research, giving into the realities of parenting, the power of secure attachment and how our own ...
ItalianBach is a hugely successful digital star with close to 5million followers; he’s someone who relentlessly works and studies his craft so I was fascinated to have him in the studio to find out about not only how he’s building his business, but where that drive and motivation comes from. Isaac chatted to me about how he chose his alias, ItalianBach, and his first forays into making content. Together we joked about some of our most embarrassing moments from being anxious children and how, despite experiencing burnout from time to time, the persistent desire to keep creating content will ...
Ekin-Su graced our television screens in 2022, winning Love Island, earning a place as royalty on the show. Since then, she’s been heralded as both genuine and fake. In this exclusive interview, Ekin opens up about the reality of putting yourself out there…Ekin is a producer’s dream - she brings high drama, hilarious moments and meme-able content to anything she appears on. But before rising to fame, she had a tough time at school with bullying and developed a strange relationship with her appearance, placing too much value on her looks alone. After her huge success on Love Island Season 8,...
Mo Gilligan is a very funny man - he’s one of the biggest comedians in the UK, he’s hosted the BRITs, numerous TV shows and is currently on a world tour. He’s hugely successful, but what happens when you achieve all your dreams? Do you feel fulfilled? Or lost without that direction of a goal? Mo’s someone I’ve wanted to have on the show for a while, so I’m really excited to have him join me on the show this week.Mo chatted to me about his journey - from growing up on an estate and fostering a sense of community, to being catapulted into the limelight when his comedy skits went viral. He was...
Rory Sutherland is one of my heroes. You might not know his name, but you’ve definitely been influenced by his work— as the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK he has shaped the face of marketing and advertising as we know it today. He’s also become a recent TikTok phenomenon as others have realised what an absolute genius this man is. I was beyond excited to have him join me on the show.Rory is not only a marketeer, but an expert in behavioural science, talking me through how trends work and change over time. We spoke about memetics; how a herd mentality can massively dictate our tastes and the imp...
Amol Rajan is a master of tough conversations - from conducting Phillip Schofield’s first interview to speaking to the likes of Novak Djokovic, Richard Branson and Greta Thunberg. However, I never imagined that I would find my conversation with Amol so challenging for myself, effortlessly opening me up.Having become the editor of the Independent aged 29, Amol’s hard work ethic has seen him take over from Jeremy Paxman as host of University Challenge and presenting Radio 4’s Today Programme. But behind the glamour of an illustrious career, Amol and his wife were living through the rollercoas...
Cat Burns released a song on TikTok during lockdown, and quickly rose to becoming one of the UK’s best-selling female artists and a three-time BRIT Award nominee.At just 24, her success is remarkable, but what struck me most was her wisdom and self-awareness. As someone who is also neurodivergent, I was excited to connect with her, and we bonded over our shared experiences of navigating life in our own unique way.Cat shared how she finds small talk a challenge so we dived right in to the good stuff… She opened up about the lessons she’s learn from grief, how understanding her neurodiversity...
Dr. Julie is a psychologist who started putting videos on TikTok to make information about mental health more accessible but she never dreamed her videos would become as big as they did… With an audience of over 7 million, and the biggest-selling book of 2022, she’s someone I’ve wanted to chat to for a long time because the work she does is truly incredible.What I love most about Dr Julie is her refreshing honesty - she never claims to have it all figured out, and she’s so clear in her explanations. She shared insight into relationships, from why we avoid difficult conversations to how past...
We've got a brand new show joining the JamPot family and we wanted to share a little taste with you! This is Mad, Sad & Bad with Paloma Faith...If you like the sound of it and want to hear the rest of the episode and MORE, go follow us wherever you find your podcasts - there are some absolutely amazing guests coming up - you won't want to miss out!We're also on YouTube, Instagram and Tiktok @madsadbadpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Growing up in the Valleys, to London’s West End to the big screen in Hollywood, Luke Evans joins me in the studio and his story is incredible!Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, in a strict religious community, Luke knew his true identity was in conflict with his beliefs. After persistent bullying throughout his schooling, at age 16, he left home, and his new life began. From strength to strength, Luke’s career has seen him star in over 40 movies, but the life he left behind was one he knew he’d never be able to return to fully. Despite being disfellowshipped from the church, his parents never w...
Ruby Wax is a legend in the world of interviewers; having spoken to the likes of Donald Trump and O.J. Simpson, she’s a person I’ve long admired and feel an affinity to in our interview styles, so I was really excited to have her join me on the show this week.Ruby was disarmingly charming, opening up about her relationship with her parents, admitting she never truly knew or felt love for them. Her raw honesty is remarkable as she shared her experience of depression, admitting she barely remembers being unwell, often relying on her own books to piece together those periods. She also spoke ab...
Jason Derulo is a force of nature: a global hitmaker who’s sold over 250 million singles and been writing songs since the age of 8. Beyond his chart-topping career, he’s also a savvy entrepreneur and an inspiring storyteller. I’ll admit, I was a little star-struck sitting down with him, but I was excited to uncover the more human side of the pop icon—and to learn what drives his relentless success.Jason’s obsession with excellence extends far beyond music—it shapes everything he does, and this unyielding determination has been the cornerstone of his success. Life, however, hasn’t been witho...
It’s the new year, a new series and I’m thinking about making good intentions for 2025 so who better to kick off the year with than Professor Tim Spector - founder of Zoe and leading voice in nutrition to talk to me all about the link between our gut and mental health, his opinion on Ozempic and how eating better really can change our quality of life.Having received an OBE for his research in the health sector, Tim is a real voice of authority when it comes to the gut microbiome. In this episode, he breaks down the gut-brain connection, explaining how changes to your diet can decrease level...
Happy New Year! To celebrate the end of Great Company’s first chapter after 40 episodes we’re treating you to something special. For this bonus episode, the tables are turned, and I’m in the hot seat! Producer Jemima, who’s been there through it all, takes the reins to interview me!I open up about my time on Made in Chelsea, sharing how it shaped me, strained relationships, and led to social anxiety that pushed me to rely on alcohol as a crutch. We also tackle the topic of babies - a big step I’m finally ready for after years of fearing the permanence and responsibility of parenthood. And f...
Surprise - it’s a Monday release! Christmas can get a bit hectic but we wanted to make sure you still had your weekly dose of Great Company - just like the December payday, we’re a little early…What really happened on the fishing trip? It’s the question Rob Brydon—beloved Uncle Bryn in Gavin and Stacey—gets asked a lot, and with their Christmas special just around the corner, I couldn’t wait to have him on the show to ask myself….Rob Brydon is a stalwart of British television, from hosting panel show, Would I Lie to You to starring alongside Steve Coogan in The Trip, the journey there was f...
I would say that Grace Keeling, (or GK Barry) is the first person in the UK to successfully navigate herself from TikTok to mainstream television. Fresh from her time in the I’m A Celeb jungle, Grace came in to the studio to chat everything from bush-tucker trials to her love life.GK Barry gained her huge following on TikTok for her unadulterated and hilarious videos, leading to hosting her own podcast, Saving Grace and now Loose Women’s youngest presenter. But Grace hasn’t always been the confident persona she is online; bullied at school and often dealing with anxiety that left her unable...
Shirley Ballas is a powerhouse: she’s the only woman in history to win the British Open to the World Professional Latin Championships with two different partners, reaching the final an incredible 17 times, and now the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Shirley during my time on Strictly, and I’ve always been struck by how truly fascinating her story is so I’m so pleased to have her on the show this week…Shirley’s journey began on a housing estate in Northern England, where she grew up with her single mother and older brother, learning resilience ea...
Skyrocketing to fame on TikTok in 2020, amassing millions of followers and securing the number eight spot on Rolling Stone’s 2024 list of the most influential creators, Alix Earle is a force to be reckoned with. She’s also been on my dream guest-list for a long time, so while I was in LA I was delighted to sit down with her…We began by connecting over our shared experiences with anxiety. Alix opened up about her first terrifying panic attack, which landed her in the hospital, and how she’s learned to navigate her mental health since. She also reflected on the challenges of rebuilding trust ...
James Watt - or the BrewDog guy - is a guest I’ve wanted on the show for a while as, with these podcasts, I’m always curious to find out who the person is behind the name… So who is James Watt? For me, he’s an impressive business head, for some he’s a guy who sells great beer, others will know him from controversies surrounding the running of the business, but I think if I were to ask him, he’s say he’s still a North Sea fisherman at heart.In order to answer this question, I reached out to an old friend from my MIC days, who also happens to be James’ fiancé, Georgia Toffolo (Toff to me) to ...
If you want to talk about OGs, you can’t get much better than LL Cool J; one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, he’s gone on to star in movies, tv and after 11 years, he’s finally released another album and I was lucky enough to chat to him for today’s episode - what an insane honour.From a young age, LL Cool J knew music was his calling, but his journey to success was far from easy. At just four years old, he witnessed his father shoot his mother - an experience that shaped him, taught him resilience and maintaining a sense of calm in a storm. Despite the heights of his...
After reaching the heights of success so quickly, it all came crumbling down for Rizzle Kicks when Harley’s anxiety left him incapable of performing. In an attempt to help him, Jordan realised he too had demons to conquer. Now, almost ten years later, Rizzle Kicks are back! - and I was lucky enough to chat to them about the journey from then to now…Known as the quiet one, Harley opens up for the first time in a public space about his battles with his mental health, his OCD and how he found a way out of the dark space he was in that led to the break in the music. Jordan also discusses his jo...
From her breakout role as Charlotte in The Inbetweeners and gracing the covers of lads’ mags, Emily Atack always knew she’d be famous but the level of attention that came with it wasn’t quite what she’d bargained for, especially when that attention has gotten nasty.Emily and I have been friends for some time but this is the first time I’ve seen her since becoming a mum so it was fantastic having the chance to chat to her about her career and how having a child has changed her world view. We chatted about her experience with the press and the toxic language we use around weight and women in ...