Stephen Manderson aka Professor Green, in today’s episode really reminded me to listen. The most successful people are the ones who listen rather than talk, they learn rather than pretending to know it all. Although we come from totally different backgrounds, we’ve always connected in such a genuine way. We first met when life was very different; Stephen was dating my friend Millie Mackintosh. A lot has happened since then, a lot of growing up and self reflection...

When people come into the studio, sometimes they might ask to not discuss certain topics but Stephen was a complete open book, so no stone was left unturned…

We cover:

•⁠ ⁠His relationship with Millie Mackintosh 

•⁠ ⁠Getting an autism diagnosis later in life, and how that has changed the way he looks at his past

•⁠ ⁠Surviving getting stabbed in the neck and how knife crime will remain high until we tackle poverty

•⁠ ⁠How he’s turned negative life experiences into learning opportunities

•⁠ ⁠The self reflection that comes with becoming a father

•⁠ ⁠Losing his father & Uncle to suicide and how he handles the grief

•⁠ ⁠Why we shouldn’t blame our elders for getting stuff wrong as they didn’t have access to therapy

Stephen is such a breath of fresh air. Our conversation reminded me how important it is to keep learning, keep being interesting and interested - keep growing as a person.

Professor Green is Great Company.

Professor Green has new music out which you can listen to here: https://drop.cobrand.com/d/ProfessorGreen/welcome-to-the-party?fbclid=PAdGRleANbYF9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpxiZ7IFQomLPel2XvNLAzZTyts6f7ec5Yf8gJZPJDy4EZWy5GEQTN8oKh-1W_aem_7w4riV-g0zJirVldl3htAQ

And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] 

THE CREDITS 

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone 

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa 

Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett

Audio: Rafi Amsili 

Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter 

- 

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might not have heard of Ben Parker, but you’ve almost definitely heard of Runna — the incredible running app that just sold to Strava for millions 

For me, this one’s probably my biggest regret but also one of my biggest lessons. A few years ago, a young entrepreneur came up to me after an event to tell me about his business. It sounded brilliant, but honestly… I couldn’t see it: “Why would a running app take off?” I thought. Well, that business was Runna, the app that’s now one of the biggest fitness apps in the world. And that young entrepreneur was Ben Parker. Missing the chance to invest in Ben’s vision taught me a powerful lesson: always look for the opportunity in someone else’s passion.

Fast-forward four years and Ben’s built — and sold — a business that most would call “impossible.” But behind that success is a story of sacrifice, pressure, and what ambition really costs. In today’s episode, Ben opens up like never before about the realities of building something extraordinary — the highs, the lows, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

We cover:

• How to turn your purpose into a thriving business
• The personal sacrifices behind success
• What makes a truly great founder
• How to build a culture that wins
• What it really takes to make it to the top

As much as I’m still a little gutted I didn’t invest, I’m blown away by what Ben’s achieved — and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him.

This is one of those rare, raw conversations you don’t want to miss.

And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] 

THE CREDITS 

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone 

Producer: Helen Burke

Editor: Dan King

Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa 

Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett

Audio: Rafi Amsili 

Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter 

- 

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Katherine Ryan turned grit into greatness. Katherine Ryan might just be the funniest person on Earth. She’s a brilliant comedian, actress, writer and podcaster who says it exactly how it is.

I first met Katherine a few years ago and I’ve always admired her energy and determination to succeed. Long before she became one of the UK’s biggest comedians, she was working on the stand-up circuit while raising her daughter Violet as a single mum. Now, with an incredible career and her fourth child on the way, she’s still doing it all completely on her own terms.

We cover:

• How Katherine navigated life as a single mum in her twenties
• Shifting her mindset: overcoming insecurities and embracing gratitude
• Her journey to succeed in a male-dominated industry
• Why she treats her kids as capable individuals, not babies
• Overcoming the challenges of maintaining intimacy during pregnancy

I love every conversation I have with Katherine - and this one was no different. It reminded me how we can always learn more about ourselves and the way we approach life.

Listen to Katherine’s new show, Write Me Dirty, where two comedians write FILTHY fiction about each other, here: OUT NOW!

And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] 

THE CREDITS 

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone 

Producer: Helen Burke

Editor: Dan King

Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa 

Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett

Audio: Rafi Amsili 

Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter 

- 

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spencer Matthews is a very old friend of mine - we grew up together sharing some pretty embarrassing moments on television, making a name for ourselves as podcasters interviewing (and winding up) some of Hollywood’s finest, in our podcast, ‘6 Degrees’.

However, in the last few years, our friendship has begun to wane, and it’s a question I’m asked all the time: "Have you and Spencer fallen out?". To tell the truth, I've never really known the answer to this… We’ve hardly seen each other for a number of reasons, and so when he reached out about this recording, I thought it’s time to get to the bottom of this, because friendships are important and worth fighting for.

We cover:

• Why he wasn’t invited to my London wedding
• Where he was during my ultramarathons
• Wild stories of our time on Made In Chelsea
• Spencer shares the lowest points of his alcoholism
• How the grief of losing his brother as a child, has impacted his capacity for emotions

This podcast was created for connection in a world of disconnection, and this episode is quite raw for me. Like many men, I’m not always the greatest communicator, and I think Spencer would say the same for himself, so having this opportunity to sit down together, and lay it all out on the table was really special.

And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk 

I also sat down with Spencer on his podcast, Untapped, which, if you loved this, you can check out too: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/untapped/id1788474884

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram- www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast 

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast 

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] 

THE CREDITS 

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone 

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa 

Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett

Audio: Rafi Amsili 

Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter 

- 

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gstaad Guy is a creator I’ve followed for a few years, the anonymous creator who lifts the lid on the 0.01%. He gained fame for impersonating and poking fun at the lavish lifestyle of the ultra-wealthy in luxury ski resorts like Gstaad, created an alter ego, Cousin Colton, to represent the "new money" crowd.

The fascinating thing about Gstaad guy is that despite satirising the ultra-wealthy, poking fun at their absurdity, he is loved by billionaires, with a huge concentration of them among his following. I was absolutely fascinated to have him in the studio to find out more…

We cover:

• The madness of Gstaad, the secret billionaire hide out in Switzerland
• The inspiration behind the character of Constantine
• Why we’re obsessed with wealth
• The issues wealthy parents instil in their kids
• How we find happiness and dealing with failure
• How he ended up working with luxury brands like Loro Piana and Audemars Piguet

This conversation really opened my eyes to how some people live, but how ultimately, regardless of money, we’re all find happiness in connection with others.

And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk 

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram- www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast 

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast 

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] 

THE CREDITS 

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa 

Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett

Audio: Rafi Amsili 

Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter 

- 

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Key is a poet, a comic and someone who I developed an unlikely friendship with through various television appearances together. A few months ago, I went to see The Ballad of Wallis Island and was totally blown away by Tim who not only starred in the movie, but wrote it too. He is a total star and I was excited to have him in the studio - his dry wit combined with my restless energy always makes for a fun time.

Tim is quite a personal guy, and like many comics, uses humour to deflect, but he shared a side of him I’d never really seen.

We cover:

• How Tim faked going to Cambridge to get into the Footlights theatre group
• Brotherly relationships and how some memories shape us
• Filming and writing The Ballad of Wallis Island
• The loneliness of LA
• Becoming a comedian and summers in Edinburgh

I loved this conversation - it’s a little more lighthearted than other episodes, but within that light, we are still able to uncover the deep.

Tim shared some poems from his new book, L.A. Baby! which you can find here: www.utterandpress.co.uk/

And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:

Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected]

--

THE CREDITS

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone

Producer: Helen Burke

Editor: Dan King

Video: Jake Ji

Audio: Rafi Amsili

Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alain de Botton came on the show one year ago and totally blew me away. We spoke about relationships with parents, partners, attachment styles and so much more. And now he’s back and we’re talking all about a relationships we often overlook but is potentially one of the most important in our lives: friendship.

Alain artfully dissects the issues we run into with deepening our friendships, why it’s so scary to vulnerable but how and why letting people in can lead us to a richer life. 

We cover:

• How to open up to having more meaningful friendships
• Sexual anxiety in friendship particularly among men
• How polyamory could be born from a lack of real friendship
• Friendship break-ups and why they can be a good thing
• Why people might be bad friends
• How to argue well in relationships

As expected, my mind was well and truly blown again. This conversation reminded me we can all have richer relationships if we take down our guards and ask the questions we really want to be asked.

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:

Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected]

If you'd like to get Alain's latest book, 'The Secrets of Successful Friendships', you can find it here: shop.theschooloflife.com/products/the-secrets-of-successful-friendships

You can also hear more about The School Of Life here: www.theschooloflife.com/signup/

And I’m also releasing a book, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ which you can pre-order here: https://boysdontcry.co.uk/

--

THE CREDITS

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone

Producer: Helen Burke

Video: Jake Ji

Audio: Rafi Amsili

Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louie Spence is a showbiz icon. For thirty years he was a professional dancer, performing on the West End and touring with the Spice Girls and Take That. But it was his starring role on Sky 1’s Pineapple Studios that made him a celebrity. 

I’ve met Louie a couple of times before now and he genuinely lights up every room he’s in. But beneath his larger-than-life character is a different, quieter person who has struggled with anxiety and depression for as long as he can remember. 

We cover: 

• His lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression 
• His mum Pat’s secret battle with alcoholism
• Finding his people at Italia Conti stage school
• Growing up as gay during the Aids epidemic
• His decision not to become a parent 

I came away from our conversation knowing more about who the real Louie Spence is - and I think he is far more entertaining and interesting than he could possibly ever know. 

If you’ve been affected by anything mentioned in today’s podcast, here are some links:

• samaritans.org
• mind.org.uk

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:

Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected]

--

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Video: Jake Ji

Audio: Rafi Amsili

Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessie J’s voice is unparalleled - a true superstar. Having been a fan for years, I was so excited to have her in the studio, but what she revealed during the record I had never expected to hear…

In May, Jessie came into record and shared with me that she’d recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. A week later, she asked if she could come back in to record following her surgery. We’ve never recorded an episode in two parts before, but it felt important to give Jessie the space to share her story in the way that felt most authentic to her.

For the first time in a long form, Jessie explains the full diagnosis story and updates us on life post surgery. She shares the experience of doing Capital’s Summertime Ball knowing it was her last performance before her surgery, how the experience has changed her, and the impacts on her relationships too.

We cover:

• Jessie’s breast cancer diagnosis and journey to surgery
• Life post surgery
• How she met and fell for her partner
• Her experience of miscarriage
• Winning the Chinese singing competition, Singer

This conversation is all about not taking life for granted because you never know what’s around the corner. It’s about looking for silver linings, and sucking life for all its worth. Jessie - thank you for sharing your story with us, we’re sending you all the love and support.

If you’ve been affected by anything mentioned in today’s podcast, here are some links:

• coppafeel.org
• www.cancerresearchuk.org
• www.macmillan.org.uk

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us

Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected]

--

THE CREDITS

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone

Producer: Helen Burke

Video: Jake Ji

Audio: Rafi Amsili

Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may know Tulisa from N-Dubz or as an X Factor judge in the 2010s, but one day it all came crashing down as she found herself at the heart of a sting, which saw her lose her reputation, her career and almost her life. She came into the Great Company studio to chat openly and exclusively with me about the last few years and share ALL the details

We cover:

• The court case that almost ruined her life
• The truth behind those headlines that changed everything
• Finding fame with N-Dubz
• Why she chooses to be celibate

This conversation is a wild ride and a reminder of never taking anything for granted. LOCK IN!

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us

Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected]

--

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Video: Jake Ji

Audio: Rafi Amsili

Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.