Benny Higgins is a Scottish Banker and Former CEO of RBS, Bank of Scotland and Tesco Bank. He is also the chairman of a portfolio of companies. He's a lover of Art and Poetry. He is also my good friend.

Benny Higgins grew up in Toryglen tower blocks, captained Celtic’s youth team, and became a defining force in modern Scottish business — from CEO of RBS during the NatWest takeover, to building Tesco Bank from the ground up. But what makes Benny different is the paradox: a numbers man with a lifelong devotion to poetry, art, and culture — and a Glaswegian accent that never moved an inch.

We recorded this in Kelvingrove Art Gallery, a place that shaped Benny as a 10-year-old at his first ever art competition — and still represents the thread running through his life: curiosity, pride, and the desire to win.

We get into Celtic, class, and leadership… the reality of boardrooms at scale… why he hires through trust over “perfect CVs”… and the stories you genuinely couldn’t script: Maya Angelou, the Golden Globes, Soho, and a cocktail named after his fifth wife Sharon.

• Why Kelvingrove is symbolic to Benny’s origin story

• Toryglen tower blocks: toughness, community, and confidence through football

• Celtic youth captaincy and the first leadership lessons that stuck

• “I just wanted to win”: the mindset behind academic dominance

• Actuarial exams in 2.5 years (when the average was ~7)

• RBS context + how the NatWest hostile takeover happened

• Building Tesco Bank from scratch: 140 people → 5,000 → 8m customers

• Hiring “the best people I knew” and why trust beats process

• Social mobility: money, identity, and why he treats everyone the same

• Soho stories: tailors, members clubs, and the “Higgins No.5” cocktail

• The Golden Globes: Jon Hamm photo… taken by Bradley Cooper

• Lunch with Maya Angelou: poetry, Burns, and an unforgettable moment

• What people think is true about him (but isn’t)

• What’s next — and the ambition that still drives him

Guest

Benny Higgins — former senior leader at RBS, creator of Tesco Bank, chair/board roles across culture and business.

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Quick shoutout to Slater Menswear’s Made To Order service — they’ve been part of some of the biggest moments in my own origin story: first job interview suit, first corporate role, big talks, and now sitting across from guests I genuinely admire. They measure you properly, you choose every detail, and you get a suit that actually feels like it fits the life you’re stepping into.
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Dan Boerman is a Comedian and TV Personality on Jimmy Carr's Am I The A**hole. He is also a good friend.

I’ve wanted to record this conversation for a long time.

Dan Boerman is a New Zealand comedian who left a steady job, moved to the other side of the world, and has been relentlessly chasing stand-up ever since – from sleeping in a kid’s dinosaur bed outside Edinburgh to getting a thousand people to watch him fold a fitted sheet on a hill.

In this episode, we get into:

Growing up in small-town rural New Zealand and dropping out of school

Years on benefits, smoking tiny “Russian doll” cigarettes in the kitchen

Barbering as accidental crowd work – and the now infamous Jimmy Carr Am I the A**hole? story

Leaving security behind to move to Edinburgh for comedy

Why London feels like kindling for opportunity

The viral sheet stunt that turned into awards, brand deals and a new life

“Don’t die wondering” and what it really means to bet on yourself

Why some people live and die never hearing the sound of their own voice

This is an episode about chasing the weird, specific thing you can’t stop thinking about – and refusing to let your life pass in quiet comfort.

If you enjoyed this one, send it to someone who’s been talking about “one day” for too long.

Follow Dan: @danboermancomedy

Follow me / Origin Story: @davidmcnintoshjr

In this episode of Origin Story, I sit down with a Red Bull F1 tyre technician to unpack how he went from watching races in pubs to travelling the world with Max Verstappen’s team - Vegas, Brazil, Mexico and beyond. We get into the pressure of sub-2 second pit stops, the chaos of race weekends, and what life really looks like inside the world’s most famous F1 team.In this episode we cover:Growing up in working-class Scotland and discovering F1Why engineering wasn’t the first plan – and how he found his way into the sportThe moment Red Bull came callingWhat a race week actually looks like from the insideVegas, Brazil, Mexico and the wildest travel stories from the F1 calendarThe pressure of being “the tyre guy” in a world champion teamWhat F1 has taught him about teamwork, discipline and courageAdvice for anyone who thinks “people like me don’t get jobs like that”⏱ Chapters:00:00 – Intro03:12 – Growing up in Scotland & first F1 memories10:45 – From uni & early jobs to Red Bull Racing19:30 – Inside the tyre bay: what his job actually is27:05 – Race week routines, stress & team culture36:20 – Vegas, Brazil, Mexico & F1 travel stories47:10 – Pressure, mistakes & how you bounce back56:40 – Life outside the paddock & relationships1:05:00 – Advice for young people chasing unlikely careers💌 Stay in the Origin Story universe:Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr🎙 Follow the guest:Instagram: http://instagram.com/sc0ttduncan/SPONSORS:💧 This episode is sponsored by VYBEYBig thank you to Vybey for supporting Origin Story.If you’re like me – long recording days, travel, runs, gym, not enough sleep – plain water doesn’t always cut it. Vybey’s electrolyte powders make it stupidly easy to stay on top of your hydration:Quick to mix, actually tastes goodHelps you stay sharp and energised through busy daysPerfect for before/after workouts or long days on the road🧃 Try Vybey here (code DMAC): UK & Europe: https://vybey.co.uk/?shpxid=d48f4c7e-7953-44bb-a9d8-8a8dff0a49dbAus: http://vybey.au/Merch (Shop Origin Story): originstoryclub.co.ukPlease remember to hit subscribe!

Fin Taylor is a standup comedian and podcaster. He is the creator of Fin Vs History and Fin vs The Internet.

Comedian Fin Taylor joins Origin Story to unpack how a Glasgow kid who relocated to a Oxford girls’ boarding house (7–13) got “cancelled” at 14, started stand-up at 18, and went from £500/month gigs to sold-out tours and a cult podcast.

We get into why TV exposure ≠ audience, how to actually build jokes that work anywhere, the Riyadh debate, and the monoculture flashpoint of Bonnie Blue.

In this episode:

• ​Private school without the money: damage at both ends
• ​The headmaster who told him off… then apologised (context collapse 101)
• ​Comedy = craft: word choice, rhythm, ending on the funniest word
• ​TV vs Internet: why clips and podcasts move tickets
• ​Parasocial fans & designing theatre shows that don’t feel contrived
• ​Getting punched on stage and handling chaos in real time
• ​Building Bumble Risky: owning the edit, scaling a team
• ​The Riyadh question, Bonnie Blue, and the “death of taste”
• ​If starting today: the 90-day playbook

Chapters00:00 Cold open — “Cancelled at 14”02:18 Glasgow roots & Hutchie debate05:12 Living in a girls’ boarding house (7–13)12:30 Headmaster apology & early confidence17:40 Starting stand-up at 18; debate team as proto-comedy24:10 £500/month vs £380 rent — taking the leap30:22 Why TV didn’t move tickets36:05 Parasocial fans & theatre design43:22 Riyadh debate & brand fit51:03 Punched on stage — what you do next58:00 Building Bumble Risky & the core team1:04:10 Next horizon: a British South Park1:09:40 If starting now: people, reps, own the edit

I travelled from Scotland to Morocco on holiday. As soon as I arrived I knew I needed to interview the locals. They were the most philosophical people I had met.Taghazout is a fascinating surf village perched on Morocco’s Atlantic coast - sun-soaked, salt-stained, and full of surprises. We spent 2 days exploring this strange-and-beautiful place, and found way more than perfect waves: unexpected kindness, late-night tea rituals, and stories you won’t hear in a guidebook…Support the showEarly access & bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/davidmcintoshjrFollow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjrBuy Merch: originstoryclub.co.uk

Oliver Burkeman is a British writer and former Guardian columnist best known for Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, exploring how accepting life’s limits beats chasing productivity hacks.

We recorded this right before Oliver’s show, crammed into his dressing room at the Assembly Rooms. It’s intimate, honest, and very Origin Story: where did these ideas come from, and how do they shape a life you’re proud of? Oliver (author of 4,000 Weeks) takes us past productivity hacks to acceptance, attention, and the power of choosing enough.

In this episode

The efficiency trap: why getting faster just attracts more work

“Life task”: finding your next right thing with the resources you actually have

Planning that breathes (navigation, not micromanagement)

Daily-ish over streaks—the kinder path to consistency

Hobbies done for their own sake (the case for atelic joy)

Attention over productivity: designing a week that actually feels good

AI, inboxes, and why “caught up” is a myth

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Tell me in the comments: what would you cut this week if you truly accepted you’ll never be on top of everything?

Support the show

Early access & bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/davidmcintoshjr

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr

Writer, rapper and social commentator Darren McGarvey joins Origin Story to unpack the “trauma economy,” working-class rage, AI warping our narratives, and the safeguards every storyteller needs.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of addiction, withdrawal, violence, and mental health.

• 00:00 Welcome, why Poverty Safari mattered to me

• 01:02 Pollok in the 80s, safety, and the two-minds dichotomy

• 04:00 Structural poverty, jobs disappearing, trust collapsing

• 10:34 Working-class anger, different tribes, same material pain

• 12:17 Social mobility loneliness, West End vs Pollok

• 12:51 Hip-hop as agency, finding a community

• 16:23 Brokenness, comedowns, and what you run from

• 20:16 Sudden success, visibility shock, family trade-offs

• 24:04 When your pain becomes a product

• 27:04 Safeguards before you share, prevention beats cure

• 30:06 Accountability, making amends in public and private

• 33:10 Your story isn’t only yours, many truths, many versions

• 36:37 Going public can re-activate perpetrators, stay safe

• 37:07 Viral fame without guardrails, modern public safety

• 39:03 Boundaries, being an introvert in public

• 41:05 Harassment, threats, and learning to de-escalate

• 42:10 Reward systems, status, and identity labels

• 56:00 Getting triggered, the buzz, and stepping back

• 62:18 Advice to younger Darren, alcohol, and timing

• 66:13 What he hopes this new book does, and why

Chris “The Problem” Duncan is a UFC fighter with one of the most powerful and painful stories you’ll ever hear.The day before his very first fight, his mum was murdered. Instead of walking away, Chris fought — and won. From that moment on, he carried pain into every battle, turning trauma into purpose.In this episode, Chris opens up about:The moment with Michael Bisping that went viral.Training with Dustin Poirier & Jorge Masvidal at American Top Team.Cutting weight, surviving fear, and fighting teammates.Why pain forged his mindset and legacy.This is not just a story about fighting in the UFC.It’s a story about survival, belief, and what it really takes to keep going when life tries to break you.📍 Follow me – https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr💌 Support on Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/davidmcintoshjr🛒 Origin Story merch – https://originstoryclub.co.ukSponsors:Bands for Brothers: https://www.instagram.com/bandsforbrothers/Bad Attitude Studio: https://www.instagram.com/bad.attitude.studios/?hl=en

Ruby Lola is a Podcaster and Host of The Personal Best Podcast.

What does personal best really mean? And why do men and women get such different messages about how to achieve it?

In this episode of Origin Story, I sit down with Ruby Lola — host of Personal Best — to unpack the surprising truth about ambition, gender, and the pressure to “be enough.”

Ruby opens up about:

• Growing up with an alcoholic parent and losing her dad in her early 20s

• The hidden cost of chasing your “best self”

• Why men are pushed towards discipline and women towards self-love

• How ambition looks (and feels) different for women

• The balance between grit and grace in achieving your goals

This is a raw and unfiltered conversation about self-improvement, grief, gender, and redefining success on your own terms.

📲 Follow Me:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr
Substack → https://davidmcintoshjr.substack.com
Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/davidmcintoshjr

Get in touch - [email protected]

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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:05 What “Personal Best” Really Means
4:12 Why Men & Women Get Different Self-Help Advice
10:18 Growing Up With an Alcoholic Parent
19:39 Losing Her Dad to Addiction
31:25 The Truth About Ambition for Women
42:00 Balancing Grit & Grace
50:15 Advice for Finding Your Personal Best

In this episode of Origin Story, I sit down with someone truly one of a kind—Dylan Lombard. Dylan is one of only 15 people in the world with MDP Syndrome (Mandibular Dysplasia with Deafness and Progeroid Features), a condition that affects physical appearance, fat distribution, and hearing. But Dylan isn’t defined by a diagnosis—he’s a force of creativity, kindness, and visibility.

We talk about what it’s like growing up with a visible difference, why media representation matters, and how Dylan has used photography, poetry, and dance to connect with the world—and most importantly, with himself.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

What MDP Syndrome is, how it manifests, and how Dylan was diagnosed

What it’s like being visibly different online vs. in real life

Why photography became Dylan’s way of telling his story

The emotional toll—and power—of social media visibility

How movies like A Different Man are shifting public perception

Why face equality and better representation in schools, media, and work matter

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Welcome + Introducing Dylan Lombard

00:37 – Growing up with a visible difference

01:27 – Finding confidence through photography

02:14 – Sharing his story in the school magazine

03:24 – Storytelling as connection and advocacy

04:42 – What is MDP Syndrome?

06:07 – Photography as an emotional outlet

06:50 – The medical name and physical effects of MDP

08:12 – Pain, physical limitations, and the joy of dance

09:31 – Reframing rarity as a gift

11:00 – Early signs and years-long path to diagnosis

12:43 – Living visibly: public reactions in real life and online

13:59 – Dealing with staring, laughing, and comments

14:36 – Negative social media comments and their impact

16:43 – The harmful algorithms of negativity

18:26 – Finding confidence and community online

19:55 – How dance and photography build friendships

20:33 – Representation in film: A Different Man and breaking villain tropes

22:40 – From “villain” to hero: visibility and storytelling

23:20 – What people without visible difference should know

24:48 – Unconscious bias and the need for better education

25:25 – Dylan’s message for listeners

26:37 – Final thoughts and where to follow Dylan

LINKS

📸 Follow Dylan – https://www.instagram.com/be_yourself_dylan

🟣 Learn about Face Equality – https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/campaigns/face-equality

📍 Follow me – https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr

💌 Support on Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/davidmcintoshjr

🛒 Origin Story merch – https://originstoryclub.co.uk

ABOUT MDP

MDP stands for Mandibular Dysplasia with Deafness and Progeroid Features. It’s an ultra-rare condition that causes tight skin, hearing loss, an unusually high metabolism, and extreme fat loss in the face and limbs. Only about 15–50 people in the world are known to have it. Dylan is using his visibility to raise awareness and inspire others to embrace who they are.

ABOUT ORIGIN STORY

Each week, I sit down with hidden-gem heroes and global voices to uncover the moments that shape who they are—so we can apply their insights to our own lives. Follow the show to hear the next origin story first.