In this episode of the Tom Aspinall Podcast, Tom sits down with Olympic gold medallist and broadcaster Sam Quek to uncover the mindset behind her journey from elite hockey to becoming one of the UK’s best-known TV presenters.

Sam opens up about the sacrifices required to reach the top of her sport, the importance of self-belief, and what happens when the identity you’ve built your life around begins to change.

From growing up in Liverpool and discovering hockey, to Olympic glory and the transition into broadcasting, Sam’s story is ultimately about learning how to evolve when life doesn’t go exactly to plan.

She talks honestly about missing out on the 2012 Olympics, battling through serious injuries, finding balance as a parent, and the pressure of performing when everything is on the line.

She also reflects on the difference between confidence and arrogance, what winning Olympic gold actually changed for her, and how stepping outside her comfort zone opened up an entirely new career.

In this episode:

• Growing up in Liverpool & finding hockey
• Hockey’s visibility and funding problem
• The sacrifices behind elite success
• Missing out on the 2012 Olympics
• Self-belief vs arrogance in sport
• Winning Olympic gold & the opportunities that followed
• Battling through broken ribs and dark times
• Parenting while competing at the highest level
• The pressure of the 2016 Olympic final
• Life-changing moments in a penalty shootout
• Transitioning from elite sport to broadcasting
• Retirement and finding a new identity
• Learning how to evolve when life changes

An honest conversation about ambition, sacrifice, resilience, self-belief and what it takes to reinvent yourself after reaching the top.

Sponsors:

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In this episode of the Tom Aspinall Podcast, Tom sits down with Russ Cook — better known as The Hardest Geezer — to uncover the mindset behind some of the most extreme endurance challenges ever attempted.

Russ captured the world’s attention after running the entire length of Africa, covering more than 10,000 miles through 16 countries over 352 days.

But his story is about far more than running.

Russ opens up about the mentality required to keep going when your body wants to stop, dealing with fear and uncertainty, pushing through setbacks, and how taking on seemingly impossible challenges has shaped the person he is today.

From running from Istanbul to London to completing his incredible journey across Africa, Russ has repeatedly tested the limits of what he thought was possible.

In this episode:

• The mindset behind running the length of Africa

• How Russ deals with pain and exhaustion

• Building extreme mental resilience

• His journey from Istanbul to London

• Overcoming fear, setbacks and uncertainty

• Why doing hard things builds self-belief

• Finding purpose and direction

• What Russ learned about himself at his absolute limit

An incredible conversation about resilience, discipline, purpose and achieving what most people would consider impossible.

Sponsor:

◉ This episode is sponsored by That Prize Guy. This is an extremely special prize as they are making their 12th, YES 12th! Millionaire. The draw is on August 30th. Enter now before it's too late and be in with a chance of becoming a millionaire.
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Former boxing World Champion Tony Bellew joins Tom Aspinall for an open and honest conversation about his journey through boxing and the reality of life as a professional fighter.

From growing up in Liverpool and being influenced by his dad, to dedicating his life to boxing and becoming a world champion, Tony reflects on the sacrifices, pressure and relentless mindset it took to reach the very top.

He also opens up about the financial side of the sport, being ripped off as a young fighter, life after retirement, grief, depression and learning who he was once the fighting stopped.

This podcast includes:

• Growing up in Liverpool and his dad’s influence

• Choosing boxing over everything else

• Getting ripped off as a young professional

• The financial reality of boxing

• Becoming a world champion

• Training with an obsessive mentality

• Life after retirement

• Grief, depression and dealing with loss

• Why he turned down £1.6 million

• The business of boxing compared with the UFC

• His dream of fighting at Goodison Park

• The mutual respect between boxing and MMA

A fascinating look at the highs, lows and sacrifices behind Tony Bellew’s journey from Liverpool to world champion — and the man behind the fighter.

Sponsors:

◉ This episode is sponsored by That Prize Guy. This is an extremely special prize as they are making their 12th, YES 12th! Millionaire. The draw is on August 30th. Enter now before it's too late and be in with a chance of becoming a millionaire.
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Simon Squibb joins Tom Aspinall for a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, purpose, failure and what it really takes to build the life you want.

After losing his father and becoming homeless at just 15 years old, Simon was forced to find a way to survive. He started a gardening business, the beginning of an entrepreneurial journey that would eventually see him build multiple companies, achieve financial freedom and dedicate his life to helping other people pursue their dreams.

Simon opens up about those early years, the failures that shaped him, why he believes everyone has an “entrepreneurial muscle”, and what happened when making money was no longer enough.

He also explains the 92-year-old regret test, why pain can point you towards your purpose, the story behind “What’s Your Dream?”, being laughed at when he first started TikTok, fatherhood, work-life balance and what he still wants to achieve.

A conversation about much more than business. This is about figuring out what actually matters.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s chasing their own goals.

Sponsors:

◉ This episode is sponsored by That Prize Guy. This is an extremely special prize as they are making their 12th, YES 12th! Millionaire. The draw is on August 30th. Enter now before it's too late and be in with a chance of becoming a millionaire.
ENTER HERE- ⁠https://thatprizeguy.co.uk/competitions/summer-millionaire⁠

This week on the Tom Aspinall podcast, Tom is joined by competitive eating champion and multiple Guinness World Record holder Leah Shutkever.

Leah shares her journey from studying architecture to becoming a full-time competitive eater, the mindset required to compete at the highest level, and the discipline behind her preparation. She also opens up about overcoming shyness, finding confidence in a male-dominated sport, the career-changing impact of lockdown, and the biggest lessons she’s learned along the way.

Plus, Tom and Charlie take on a donut eating challenge, Leah reveals the wildest messages she’s received online, and recounts the frightening moment she passed out during a competition in Japan.

This episode includes:

• Leah Shutkever’s journey to becoming a multiple Guinness World Record holder.

• How sibling rivalry sparked her competitive mindset.

• Why she left architecture to become a full-time competitive eater.

• What she really eats day-to-day and how she prepares for food challenges.

• Why fasting gives her an advantage before competitions.

• The career-changing impact of lockdown.

• Building confidence and succeeding in a male-dominated sport.

• The wildest DMs she’s ever received.

• Tom and Charlie take on a donut eating challenge.

• The terrifying moment Leah passed out during a competition in Japan.

• The biggest mistake of her career and the lessons it taught her.

• What she’d tell her future self.

f you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s chasing their own goals.

Sponsors:

◉ This episode is sponsored by That Prize Guy. This is an extremely special prize as they are making their 12th, YES 12th! Millionaire. The draw is on August 30th. Enter now before it's too late and be in with a chance of becoming a millionaire.

ENTER HERE- https://thatprizeguy.co.uk/competitions/summer-millionaire

This week Tom sits down with comedian, presenter and podcast host Chris Ramsey for an honest conversation about pressure, failure and what it really takes to make people laugh for a living.

Chris opens up about bombing on stage, walking away from university to chase comedy, the relentless work behind stand-up and why performing live never gets any easier. Tom and Chris compare the similarities between stepping into the octagon and walking onto a stage in front of thousands of people.

The pair also discuss podcasting, fame, Strictly Come Dancing, dealing with fear, and the advice they’d give to their younger selves.

This episode includes:

• Why bombing on stage made Chris a better comedian

• Quitting university to pursue comedy full-time

• The pressure of making people laugh for a living

• Chris’ first stand-up gigs and finding his voice

• Podcasting vs TV vs live performance

• Life with Rosie Ramsey and how everything changed

• Fear, mortality and appreciating life

• Advice Chris would give to his younger self

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s chasing their own goals.

Sponsors:

◉ This episode is sponsored by That Prize Guy. Win £150,000 TAX FREE! This is lifechanging money and you can be in with a chance of winning - it really could be you! Head to https://thatprizeguy.co.uk/competitions/big-ps150000-prize

This week Tom Aspinall sits down with Tinie Tempah for an honest conversation about success, legacy and staying present.

From growing up in South London to becoming one of the UK’s biggest music artists. Tinie reflects on the moments that shaped his career, the pressures of fame, and why building a lasting legacy means more to him than ever. He also shares how fatherhood, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and business have transformed his outlook on life beyond music.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone chasing their own goals.

This episode includes:

• Growing up in South London & discovering grime

• How Pass Out changed everything

• Fame, money & family pressure

• Fatherhood, purpose & staying present

• Performing at the London 2012 Olympics

• How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu changed his mindset

• Building a business beyond music

• Investing in property & creating long-term wealth

• Advice to his future self

• Performing under pressure

Sponsors:

◉ This episode is sponsored by That Prize Guy. Win a house anywhere in the UK or Ireland OR £250,000….ENTER HERE- https://thatprizeguy.co.uk/competitions/pick-a-house-anywhere-or-ps250000-2-2936

This week Tom sits down with one of the UK’s biggest streamers, Angry Ginge.

From humble beginnings in Salford to becoming one of the biggest names in online entertainment, Ginge shares the mindset behind his success. He opens up about growing up around crime and violence, living with his nana, overcoming personal setbacks, and how streaming gave him purpose.

The pair discuss the sacrifices required to succeed, dealing with criticism, staying grounded despite fame, and why success is about backing yourself when nobody else will. Along the way, Tom and Ginge swap stories from their very different careers, covering everything from Soccer Aid and I’m A Celebrity to working the doors, pressure, confidence and the mentality needed to make it at the highest level.

If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone chasing their own goals.

This episode includes:

• Growing up in Salford

• Crime & violence

• Dramatic weight loss

• Losing his grandad

• Why Ginge streams

• Soccer Aid & the Sidemen

• I’m A Celebrity

• Handling criticism

• Success, sacrifice & mindset

• Tom’s dream podcast guest

• Final advice: It’s You vs You

Sponsors:

◉ This episode is sponsored by That Prize Guy. Win a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon or £150,000….ENTER HERE- https://thatprizeguy.co.uk/competitions/mercedes-benz-g-wagon-or-ps150000

This week Tom Aspinall sits down with tattoo artist, creative and cultural icon Grace Neutral for one of the most fascinating conversations of the series.

From growing up in the Middle East to pursuing a career in ballet, before becoming one of the world’s most recognisable hand-poked tattoo artists, Grace’s journey is anything but ordinary. She opens up about always feeling different, embracing individuality, and why learning to be unapologetically yourself is one of the most powerful things you can do.

Together, Tom and Grace explore identity, self-expression, body modification, overcoming judgement, finding purpose and the courage it takes to live life on your own terms. Grace reflects on the experiences that shaped her outlook and how every chapter of her life has helped define the person she is today.

This is an honest, thought-provoking conversation about resilience, authenticity and having the confidence to stand out rather than fit in. Whether you’ve followed Grace’s work for years or are discovering her story for the first time, this episode is a reminder that our differences are often our greatest strengths.

If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

This episode includes:

• Growing up in the Middle East and feeling different from an early age.

• Grace’s journey from ballet to becoming one of the world’s leading hand-poked tattoo artists.

• Why embracing your individuality is your greatest strength.

• Finding confidence through self-expression and creativity.

• Overcoming judgement and learning to ignore other people’s opinions.

• How every chapter of life shapes who you become.

• The importance of living authentically and unapologetically.

• Why standing out is better than fitting in.

Sponsors:

◉ This episode is sponsored by That Prize Guy. Win the comfortable living bundle- 10 grand tax free cash, £750 a month for one year, 10 grand three times during the year and a £3000 holiday voucher. ENTER HERE- https://thatprizeguy.co.uk/competitions/comfortable-living-bundle-july-1

This week Tom Aspinall is joined by legendary documentary filmmaker Louis Theroux for a fascinating conversation on confidence, curiosity, anxiety and the mindset that’s defined both of their careers. From navigating awkwardness to interviewing some of the world’s most controversial people, Louis shares the lessons that have shaped the way he sees people and himself.

Tom also opens up about recovering from his eye injury, handling social media, his long-term plans in the UFC, and what drives him to keep competing at the highest level. It’s an honest, thoughtful conversation about resilience, perspective and performing under pressure.

This episode includes:

• Why prison became Louis Theroux’s “happy place”

• The weirdest thing about “weird” people

• Self-doubt, anxiety and finding confidence

• How awkwardness became Louis’ superpower

• Tom’s eye injury and dealing with the online response

• Inside Louis’ Manosphere documentary

• How Louis became a UFC fan

• Tom’s career plan

• Does Tom actually enjoy fighting?

• The documentary Louis is most proud of

• Working with Joe Exotic

• Louis’ Inner Game

Follow Tom Aspinall's Podcast for more conversations on mindset, performance, and personal growth.

This episode is also sponsored by That Prize Guy. Fancy winning £90,000 tax-free cash? Tickets start from just 40p. Enter now using the link- https://thatprizeguy.co.uk/competitions/ps90000-july