In this episode of Extraordinary Life Stories, hosted by John Reynolds, Sir James Wates shares the remarkable story behind his extraordinary career, from growing up as a member of the Wates family and joining the family construction business, to becoming Chairman of Wates Group and Chairman of the Rugby Football Union.

Born with one arm, Sir James reflects on how his parents never treated him differently and how that upbringing gave him the confidence and resilience to pursue whatever he wanted in life. He explains why he never saw his disability as a limitation, why he chose not to use a prosthetic, and how his early experiences helped shape his approach to leadership.

Sir James also discusses the importance of family businesses, succession and the values he absorbed growing up surrounded by generations of the Wates family. He shares his philosophy that leaders should be judged by what they do, not what they say, and explains why communication, openness and taking people on the journey with you are essential to successful leadership.

The conversation also explores his work in construction, the industry's challenges around skills, apprenticeships, mental health and attracting more women, as well as the impact of AI and why he believes construction remains an industry with enormous opportunities for young people.

As Chairman of the RFU, Sir James discusses his passion for rugby, the challenges facing English rugby, the importance of its values and his ambition for the future.

Above all, this is a conversation about success, resilience, purpose and legacy and Sir James's belief that the greatest measure of success is leaving things better than you found them and creating opportunities for the next generation. 

Extraordinary Life Stories is proudly sponsored by IFS.ai

What happens when a career in the Royal Air Force leads to one of the most important sporting movements of the modern era?

In this episode of Extraordinary Life Stories, John Reynolds is joined by Vicky Gosling OBE, whose remarkable career has taken her from 21 years in the RAF and the rank of Group Captain, to helping create the Invictus Games and becoming CEO of the 2016 Games in Orlando.

Vicky talks candidly about the experiences that shaped her leadership, the realities of military life and the moment her career took an unexpected turn. She explains how her work supporting injured service personnel through sport ultimately led to the creation of the Invictus Games, bringing together more than 400 competitors from 14 nations.

Her story then moves into the world of elite sport, where she became CEO of GB Snowsport and helped drive a new era of ambition for British skiing and snowboarding. She also discusses leadership, resilience, inclusion, the importance of giving people a sense of purpose and what it takes to build high-performing teams.

Now Chair of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, Vicky reflects on a career built around service, sport and empowering others and shares the lessons she has learned along the way.

A fascinating conversation about leadership, adversity, ambition and the extraordinary twists that can shape a life.

Long before he became one of the world’s most celebrated automotive designers, Ian Callum was a schoolboy in Dumfries with a very simple ambition: to design cars when he grew up. He even told his primary school teacher.

That childhood ambition went on to become an extraordinary career, producing some of the most recognisable cars of the modern era.

In this episode of Extraordinary Life Stories, John Reynolds sits down with Ian Callum CBE to explore the story behind the man who helped redefine British automotive design.

From the Ford Escort Cosworth to the Aston Martin DB7 and Aston Martin Vanquish, Ian talks about the risks, frustrations and creative decisions behind some of the world's most iconic cars. His career at Jaguar would go on to produce the XK, XF, XJ, F-TYPE and I-PACE, helping create a new design language for the marque.

But this is also a conversation about the future of the car.

Ian gives his perspective on Jaguar's dramatic recent rebrand and the enormous shift taking place across the automotive industry as designers move from the world of combustion engines towards EVs.

From a schoolboy's dream to the drawing board of the Aston Martin DB7, and from Jaguar's golden era to the future of the electric car, this is the story of a man who turned a childhood obsession into a career designing icons.

What does it take to keep going when your body is telling you to stop?

Ash Dykes is a five-time world record holder, explorer and extreme adventurer who has pushed himself to the limits across some of the most dangerous environments on Earth.

From crossing Mongolia alone and unsupported to battling dehydration in the Gobi Desert, surviving malaria, facing wolves, bears and armed men, Ash has repeatedly found himself in situations where survival depended on one thing above all else: his mindset.

In this fascinating conversation, Ash explains how he prepares for the worst, why the mental battle is harder than the physical one, how he turned extreme exploration into a business, and why he believes adaptability is the key to survival.

He also reveals why he once ruled out the Congo Basin as simply too dangerous and why he has now decided to take it on.

From a £200 bank balance and training in his parents' garden to world records, global recognition and his next extraordinary expedition, this is a story about resilience, preparation, risk, ambition and the human capacity to keep going.

Extraordinary Life Stories is proudly sponsored by IFS.ai

What happens when you look at one of the most ordinary products in our homes and ask: surely there’s a better way?

In this episode, Julie Chen, co-founder and CEO of Cheeky Panda, shares the remarkable story behind the brand that set out to disrupt the toilet paper and tissue industry with bamboo based, sustainable alternatives.

Starting the business from her spare room with her husband, Julie tested the idea through crowdfunding, secured their first container and began cold-calling retailers.

Today, Cheeky Panda has grown from a niche sustainable brand into a mainstream name, selling through major retailers including Tesco, Waitrose, Boots and Ocado, while generating more than £1 million a month through Amazon alone.

Julie opens up about the realities behind that growth, including the challenges of raising funding as a female founder, leading teams, making mistakes, finding the right people and learning when to focus on your own strengths.

She also explains why the company's ultimate measure of success isn't simply revenue or profit, it's the ambition to save one million trees profitably.

We discuss entrepreneurship, sustainability, leadership, self-awareness, family, working with a spouse, building a purpose-driven brand and the importance of pushing yourself outside your comfort zone.

A fascinating conversation about challenging conventional thinking, building a business with purpose and proving that sustainability doesn't have to mean compromising on quality, affordability or commercial success.

Extraordinary Life Stories is proudly sponsored by IFS.ai

What does success really mean in a world being transformed by AI?

In this episode of Extraordinary Life Stories, John Reynolds sits down with entrepreneur, creator and media innovator 'Moddy' Modestas Mankus for a fascinating conversation about entrepreneurship, creativity, resilience and the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence.

Moddy shares how his early experiences of financial struggle and watching his hardworking mother shaped his ambition, work ethic and determination to build a different future. From teaching himself graphic design and creating YouTube videos as a teenager, to building media businesses and becoming a sought-after voice in AI and technology, his journey has been anything but conventional.

Today, Moddy works with some of the world's biggest brands, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft, who have approached him for his expertise and ability to explain complex technology in a way people can understand.

But behind the success are 18-hour working days, burnout, self-doubt, criticism and the difficult decisions that come with building a business without a traditional five-year plan.

Moddy also explores the future of AI, why humans need to embrace their imperfections, how creators can stand out in an increasingly AI-generated world, and why authenticity may become more valuable than ever.

Most importantly, he explains why his definition of success has changed, from simply building a big company and making money, to creating a life that allows him to be present for his family while continuing to pursue the creativity that drives him.

A candid and inspiring conversation about taking opportunities, backing yourself, persevering through setbacks and staying true to who you are.

Extraordinary Life Stories is proudly sponsored by IFS.ai

What makes someone an extraordinary entrepreneur and how do you spot that potential before anyone else does?

In this episode of Extraordinary Life Stories, John Reynolds sits down with legendary investor Tom Teichman, whose remarkable career has seen him back some of the most successful entrepreneurs and businesses of the past 25 years, including lastminute.com, Moshi Monsters and Calm.

Tom shares the lessons behind his extraordinary track record, revealing why his investment decisions are ultimately about people rather than businesses, and why listening, honesty, emotional commitment and the ability to adapt matter more than almost anything else.

He reflects on his early career in the relentless world of investment banking, his journey towards becoming a more empathetic and thoughtful leader, and the importance of trusting your instincts when identifying exceptional talent.

Tom and John also explore AI, leadership, mental and physical fitness, the dangers of putting money above everything else, and what true success really means.

A fascinating conversation about entrepreneurship, human potential, wealth, legacy and the lessons that come from a lifetime of backing extraordinary people.

In this episode:

- How Tom spotted the potential in lastminute.com

- Why great businesses are built around great people

- The qualities Tom looks for in exceptional entrepreneurs

- Why listening can be more powerful than speaking

- What psychotherapy taught Tom about leadership

- The importance of empathy and treating people as you want to be treated

- Why AI can't yet replace human judgement when it comes to talent

- Lessons from working with founders and investors

- Why wealth isn't necessarily the definition of success

- Family, relationships and the legacy we leave behind

- Tom's approach to staying physically and mentally fit

- His advice for the next generation of entrepreneurs

Extraordinary Life Stories is proudly sponsored by IFS.ai

Nicola Chapman was one of YouTube’s original influencers, long before “influencer” was even a word.

What began as a way to help people learn how to do their makeup became a global online community, millions of views, international travel, a hugely successful makeup brush business and, at its peak, around £20,000 a month in income.

But behind the success was a much more extraordinary story.

In this episode of Extraordinary Life Stories, Nicola opens up about growing up in a domestic violence environment, losing her father to MS, experiencing miscarriages, becoming a mother, building a hugely successful business and eventually being diagnosed with MS herself.

She talks candidly about undergoing a stem-cell transplant in Mexico, losing her hair, rebuilding her life and discovering that the things she once thought represented success weren't necessarily the things that made her happy.

Nicola also reflects on the changing world of social media, the pressures facing young people online, the importance of authenticity in an age of AI and why she believes being present, making memories and having enough can be far more valuable than constantly chasing more.

This is a powerful conversation about resilience, motherhood, success, social media, illness, humility and finding out what really matters.

Extraordinary Life Stories is proudly sponsored by IFS.ai

From being pushed out onto the water alone as an eight-year-old boy to becoming the most successful Olympic sailor in history, Sir Ben Ainslie’s life has been defined by competition, resilience and an extraordinary determination to win.

In this episode of Extraordinary Life Stories, John Reynolds sits down with one of Britain’s greatest sporting icons to explore the journey behind the medals, the fame and the historic comebacks.

Sir Ben opens up about the lessons he learned from his father, being bullied at school, the transition from individual athlete to leading some of the biggest teams in world sport, and why honesty and empathy have become two of the most important values in his leadership.

He also reflects on the incredible 8–1 comeback in the America’s Cup, the evolution of sailing into a high-speed global spectacle, the challenge of stepping away from elite competition and how he now balances ambition, business and family life.

This is a conversation about much more than sailing. It’s about learning to take responsibility, handling pressure, adapting to change and continuing to chase excellence when the next challenge is always on the horizon.

Extraordinary Life Stories is proudly sponsored by IFS.ai

What happens when relentless ambition meets an unexpected moment that changes everything?

In this episode of Extraordinary Life Stories, John Reynolds sits down with Jolie Sharpe, the sports presenter and digital creator whose passionate interview with England fans during the Euros went viral, changing the trajectory of her life almost overnight.

But Jolie’s story started long before that moment.From growing up surrounded by sport with her two brothers, to dropping out of university and building a successful marketing agency at just 21, Jolie has always refused to accept the word no.

After sending countless emails to broadcasters offering to work for free, she found herself at the Euros with a microphone, a camera and a determination to create her own opportunity.

Then one spontaneous interview changed everything.Jolie shares the reality behind going viral, the pressure of building a career at extraordinary speed, working across football, Formula 1 and boxing, and why saying no has become just as important as chasing every opportunity.

She also opens up about losing a close friend at 19, the lessons that changed her perspective on life, the importance of protecting her privacy, managing burnout and why she believes you have to be “delusional enough to think it’s possible, but smart enough to make it happen.”

This is a conversation about ambition, resilience, positivity, hard work and what happens when you refuse to stop chasing the life you really want.

Jolie Sharp’s story is only just getting started.

Extraordinary Life Stories is proudly sponsored by IFS.ai