Big Fish with Spencer Matthews

What is the secret to endurance training? I've completed multiple extreme challenges - most recently an ultra marathon in the Amazon jungle and another in the Sahara, Marathon des Sables. In this episode with Shaun Stafford are giving you the lowdown on how I train for such events and how I keep focussed. I'll also reveal how I'm currently training for my toughest challenge to date.

This episode contains discussion around addiction and mental health. If you are affected by anything you hear in this podcast, please speak to your GP.Bryony Gordon is a journalist and author. Across her Telegraph column and bestselling books, she’s spoken openly about her mental health struggles, including living with OCD, alcoholism, drug addiction, depression and binge eating disorder. Her groundbreaking memoir Mad Girl was published back in 2016 and was a raw and jaw-droppingly truthful celebration of life with mental illness. 8 years on, she’s published her latest book Mad Women - where she reassessed everything she thought she knew about mental illness. In this episode we both talk extremely honestly about our struggles with alcohol, addiction and getting sober.If you're struggling with alcohol, Drinkline is the free national alcohol helpline. You can call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).

What actually happens to your mind and body when you drink alcohol? In this week's episode of Extra Catch with Shaun Stafford we're exploring why alcohol is so damaging for you. If you're struggling with alcohol, Drinkline is the free national alcohol helpline. You can call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).

Is happiness overrated? What's the secret to achieving true wealth? This week I'm joined by Robin Sharma - a bestselling author and globally celebrated leadership expert - to find out how you can transform your life. Robin's mentored sports superstars and financial titans and reveals the incredible secrets to their success. Robin's sold more than 25 million copies of his books worldwide and his latest book, The Wealth Money Can't Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life has just been released. This is one of my favourite interviews to date - and I know you'll learn as much as I did from this incredible guest.

One of the most common questions in my direct messages is 'what do you eat?' So in this episode Shaun Stafford and I are talking about diet and clean eating. We discuss: what clean eating is, what the benefits are and whether clean it's too difficult to sustain long-term.

Sophia Webster is a British luxury accessories designer, who founded her label in 2012. Her instantly recognisable shoes have been worn by the likes of Beyoncé, Rhianna, Taylor Swift and Oprah. She was first stocked in Brown’s after winning a shoe designer competition when studying at the Royal College of Art and is now sold in over 200 stores worldwide. Sophia turned her immense talent and strong vision into an iconic British brand, all under the age of 30.

Is a fitness tracker essential for training? What does the data tell us and how can it be optimised? In this episode with Shaun Stafford, we talk you through how you can best use your tracker and whether they're worth the money.

Amy Dowden is a professional dancer, best known for being one of the pros on Strictly Come Dancing, one of the UK’s most-watched TV programmes. Amy has shown phenomenal strength and resilience throughout her whole life. As a teen she was diagnosed with Crohn’s - an inflammatory bowel disease - and in May last year, she was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer at just 32. But last month she received the incredible news that her latest check up shows "no sign of the disease". Amy’s ill-health has never stopped her from dancing and achieving her dreams - and this interview will inspire anyone who listens. A new series of her hit show Dare to Dance is out now.

Sleep: why do you need it and how can you optimise it? In this episode of Extra Catch with Shaun Stafford, we talk you through why sleep is crucial to our wellbeing and we also bust some common sleep myths.

Richard Hammond is best known as one of the presenters of Top Gear - one of the most commercially successful ever BBC shows, which was watched by more than 350 million people across the world. Along with Jeremy Clarkson and James May they presented the show from 2002 until 2015, and since 2016 presented The Grand Tour for Amazon. 18 years ago, Richard severely injured his brain after a high-speed jet-powered car he was piloting crashed at 319 mph. He was put in a coma for two weeks. In this episode, we talk about what he experienced when faced with death and how he has recovered. Now he’s on a mission to destigmatise conversations around masculinity and mental health with his brand new podcast Who We Are Now, which has launched on Global Player.

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know I LOVE ice bathing. It's a recent addition to my morning routine, but I don't think I'll ever go back. In this episode of Extra Catch with Shaun Stafford we're talking about deliberate cold exposure: how I got into it, what the benefits are and what actually happens to your body. As always, please do your own research before trying it or speak to your GP if you have concerns.

Aston Merrygold is best known as a member of JLS - one of the most successful ever acts from the X-Factor. JLS have achieved five number one singles and a number one album - and sold more than 10 million records, making them one of the most successful British boy bands. They disbanded in 2013, before reuniting in 2020 with a huge sellout tour. In this episode we go behind the scenes of what it was actually like auditioning and filming the X-Factor.

Welcome to a brand new series of bonus episodes of Big Fish. Last series we focused on improving our mental health and resilience, but this series we're turning our focus to physical health. This year I'm training for something incredibly exciting - I'm trying to break a world record for charity and I need to be as fit as possible. I've roped in my good friend and trainer Shaun Stafford to help me.

Romesh Ranganathan is a comedian and presenter. He's one of the UK's most popular and successful stand-up comics, who's about to embark on his new tour Hustle. Romesh is so honest in this interview. He talks about suffering from imposter syndrome and the impact of his world changing overnight when his dad left his mother for another woman and soon after went to prison, all when Romesh was just 12 years old.

Season 4 of Big Fish is launching next Wednesday 6th March with Romesh Ranganathan. I cannot wait to share this next series with you - we're also launching a brand new series of bonus episodes, which I'll share with you soon.

In the final episode of season 3, Chip and I discuss the importance of learning from failure for personal and professional growth. Plus why making mistakes is essential to helping achieve your goals. We also have a chat about being prepared to failure and taking risks by stepping out of comfort zones can not only lead to personal growth but most importantly some entertaining stories to share with your mates.

Ali Abdaal is a doctor and one of the world’s most-followed productivity experts.In 2017, during his final year at Cambridge University, Ali started posting YouTube videos about health and productivity. His channel now has 7 million monthly views and over 5 million subscribers. And his online productivity courses have hundreds of thousands of students. In addition to his work as a productivity expert, Ali is a medical school lecturer, a former junior doctor in the UK’s National Health Service and the author of ‘Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You’.

We are over half way through January. But how is it going? In today's episode, with lots of people coming in to the month with plans for a whole reinvention of themselves to look healthier, be fitter and sober, Chip and I discuss all things for tackling sobriety in Dry January and beyond, plus how resilience plays a big part in our success.

Scott Walker is one of the world’s most experienced kidnap for ransom negotiators. Over the course of his career, he’s helped resolve over 300 cases or similar crises. Scott spent 16 years as a Scotland Yard detective engaged in counter-terrorism operations and resolving kidnap for ransom cases and was also deployed to hostile environments on behalf of military intelligence to conduct covert interrogation operations. Now Scott uses his unique understanding of how people think, especially in times of adversity, to train leaders over the world in resilience, negotiation, crisis-management and communication. 

I'm sure you've heard of the phrase 'imposter syndrome' - but what is it? Is it real? In today's episode, Chip and I discuss why so many of us experience feeling like an imposter at work - and what the difference is between not feeling confident or competent and suffering from imposter syndrome.

This episode is suitable for over 18s only and contains details some people may find distressing. The episode includes a personal account of being trafficked, held captive, raped and abused.Lurata Lyon is a survivor of human trafficking. She grew up in former Yugoslavia and as the brutal war in Kosovo broke out, she was kidnapped by a human trafficking gang where she suffered horrific abuse. Against all odds, she managed to escape. However, in an extraordinary turn of events, after returning home, Lurata was kidnapped by Serbia's illegitimate army. She was tortured, abused and held in captivity for 6 months. This is an astonishing story of how someone can survive absolute horror, her journey of recovery and healing will absolutely inspire you.

Happy new year! Today we're talking about the health changes I made last year which I will be taking into 2024. In 2023 I found myself exploring and experimenting with a variety of different health fads, but here are the top 3 that have vastly improved my life. As always, please do your own research or consult your GP before trying any of these.

This episode contains detailed discussion around panic attacks. If you or someone you know has been affected by anything you hear in this episode please speak to your GP.Ovie Soko is a TV personality and professional basketball player. He was catapulted into fame after reaching the final of Love Island in 2019. He won the public’s hearts with his wisdom and openness and in 2020 released his inspirational self-help book You Are Dope. In this conversation we talk about the impact of instant fame and Ovie tells me that after leaving Love Island, he suffered panic attacks after feeling like the world was watching his every move on social media.

I've absolutely loved recording these bonus episodes for season 3 of Big Fish. In this episode we're releasing our top 3 tips from 2023 - how to set goals, how to manage stress and how to identify whether you're a problem drinker. If you'd like to listen to these episodes in full, please listen back to episode 1 on drinking, episode 3 on goals and episode 5 on stress.

Eddie Jordan is an Irish businessman, former motorsport team owner.Eddie is a champion of young talent, with a host of drivers owning their breaks to him - he even gave Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher their very first drives.Having suffered a number of major accidents while competing in racing, he retired and set up his Jordan team in the 80s.Inspired by the success of his junior drivers, Eddie set up Jordan Grand Prix in 1990 and entered Formula 1. He eventually sold Jordan Grand Prix in January 2005. This is a fascinating listen for any F1 fans.

Why do we have a fear of missing out? This week Chip and I discuss the psychology behind FOMO and how we can we navigate it, especially during the festive period.This episode covers:1’00 - What is FOMO?2’00 - What’s the psychology behind it?6’00 - Times I’ve felt FOMO17’00 - How can we navigate FOMO at Christmas?

You may know Simon for his famous street interviews asking people 'Would you ever start a business of your own?'. His videos have had over 1 billion views on social media. Simon has spent the last 30 years as an entrepreneur. He started his first company when he was homeless at 15-years-old, and he sold his last company Fluid to PwC.  His life imploded when he was 15 years old. His father died in front of him and after a fall out with his mother, he left home and was penniless, jobless and forced to sleep in a stairwell. But today Simon is the founder of the world's first Help2Earn platform - HelpBnk - which helps people learn how to start and scale a business for free. He has also invested in over 70 startups in the last 15 years. In this episode we talk about how he turned his life around from sleeping on the streets, how luck played an important part in his success story and why he thinks retirement is bullshit.

Why are so many of us scared of change? In this week's bonus episode we're discussing how to get unstuck.This episode covers:2’00 - What is the cycle of change?6’00 - How can I use this cycle in my own life?9’00 - Why do we fear change?13’00 - How do I get unstuck?15’00 - How do know when you need to change your relationship 20’00 - Are men better at change than women?

Ben Frow is the definition of a big fish in the TV world. He’s Paramount’s UK content chief - he’s responsible for all of their content in the UK, including being the boss of Channel 5.He’s known as an outsider in the TV world. He doesn’t have a degree, he’s not a member of any exclusive clubs and started his career as a stylist for Richard and Judy on This Morning. He worked his way to the top without ever applying for a job.He transformed Channel 5’s reputation and boosted its audience by commissioning more history, documentaries and drama and railed against an extremely snobby industry.In this conversation we talk about his fear of rejection and why he secretly quit his job last year due to burnout. If you’ve ever wanted an insider's perspective into the multi-billion pound TV industry, this is a must-listen.

British women have recently topped a list of the world’s biggest binge drinkers. In this episode I'm asking why do Brits drink so much? It's important to note that men were found to consistently drink more heavily than women do, including in the UK where 45% of men and 26% of women are binge drinkers.This episode covers:1'00 - What is binge drinking?4'00 - What's the difference between alcohol dependency and binge-pattern drinking?7'00 - Why do Brits drink so much? 19'00 - Top tips for how you can drink less this Christmas

Tommy Mallet is an entrepreneur and TV personality - best known for appearing in The Only Way Is Essex. He started his own affordable footwear brand Mallet London in 2015, after being bullied at school for not being able to afford the best trainers. Mallet London has gone from strength to strength - with celebrity fans like Drake, Craig David and Will.I.Am. Tommy struggled academically at school, he was diagnosed a few years ago with ADHD and his dyslexia meant he struggled to read and write. He left school without any qualifications - and found his drive to earn money after working in luxury houses. This is a fascinating conversation about drive and perseverance.Catch up with Tommy and his wife Georgia in the brand-new series of Georgia and Tommy: Baby Steps on ITVBE and ITVX, coming soon.

I've recently been diagnosed with ADHD. At school I always felt different, but never knew why. In this episode, I talk to Chip about how I feel about my diagnosis, how it affects my relationships and what happens in the diagnostic test.This episode covers:0’10 - What is ADHD?1’20- Why I went for a diagnosis 3’30 - How ADHD affects me6’00 - What happens in the diagnosis test12’00 - How ADHD might impact relationships (wife, children and work)23'00 - Why it's important to get an official diagnosis

This episode contains detailed discussion around mental health and self-harm. If you or someone you know has been affected by anything you hear in this episode please speak to your GP.Dame Kelly Holmes is a double Olympic Champion and one of the UK’s most popular athletes. She set the British records in the 800m and 1000m metres. Her memoir Unique has just been released - and it’s a beautifully brave and honest book; Kelly tells her story of coming out as gay in her 50s. This was one of my favourite interviews I've ever recorded. Kelly’s story is utterly inspirational. I know you will gain a lot from listening to this.

Grief - it’s something that we all will experience. In this episode Chip talks us through the grief cycle and I share my experiences of moving through each stage, including the painful denial I felt after losing my brother which lasted for a year.This episode covers:1’00 - What’s the grief process?2’45 - Stage 1: Denial7'00 - Stage 2: Bargaining9’00 - Why you should tell your loved ones how you feel11’40 - Stage 3: Anger16’00 - Stage 4: Depression 19’00 - Why I choose to use Mike’s death as a force for good21’00 - Stage 5: Acceptance

Dean Forbes is one of the most successful black CEOs in the UK.He’s the chief executive of Forterro, a tech Unicorn - a company worth over £1bn. He goes into struggling tech businesses, turns them around and gets huge exists - often in the billions. He’s also just been named the UK’s second most influential black person in the Powerlist 2024.Dean’s story is incredible. He came from a working-class background, raised in Lewisham and his family were made homeless twice. He originally trained to become a professional footballer, but was forced to take a job in a call centre after being let go and amassing thousands in debt. I absolutely loved my conversation with Dean - he's an utter inspiration.

I'd find it difficult to admit I'm burnt out. But reading the list of commons signs of burnout made me reflect on whether it's something I've experienced when building CleanCo. This episode is all about stress and burnout; what's the difference and simple ways you can reduce your stress.In this episode:1'00 - What is burnout?4'00 - Why is it difficult to admit you're burnt out?8'00 - How does stress manifest in different people?10'00 - Ways to manage stress11'00 - Why I now do Wim Hoff's breathing method19'00 - Free ways to reduce stress if you're short of time

This episode contains detailed discussion around mental health. If you or someone you know has been affected by anything you hear in this episode please contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or speak to your GP.James McVey is a musician, best known as the lead guitarist and songwriter of The Vamps, the hit boy band, with two-number 1 albums, multiple arena tours and their music has been streamed 6 billion times. Now James has released his first solo music, which came as an immense challenge after being forced to remain silent following surgery on his vocal chords. In this powerfully honest interview we talk about how James’ childhood shaped him, including overcoming bullying in his teens to issues around his body image.

After my incredible interview with Roman Kemp last week, I wanted to spend this week's bonus episode talking about men and their mental health. Why do men struggle to talk about what's bothering us? This episode is essential listening for all men, plus any girlfriends, wives, mothers and friends who want to find out how to support someone in their life who is struggling.This episode covers:1'20 - Why there's a stigma surrounding getting help3'00 - Do all mental health issues stem from childhood trauma?4'00 - Why are men reluctant to talk about their emotions?6'20 - How does talking help?10'10 - When is it time to go to therapy?15'00 - Why do I parent my son differently to my daughter?18'00 - Will the destigmatisation of ill-mental health lead to a weaker generation?21'00 - How do you speak to someone who is struggling?

Holly Tucker is the Queen of small business. Over 20 years ago she co-founded Not On The High Street - one of the first online marketplaces to exist. She started the business in her 20s and she and her co-founder had to plead the local bank manager for a loan. Not On The High Street has since made over one billion pounds for small businesses on the platform. Holly stepped away from the company a few years back, and she's now launched Holly & Co - a marketplace founded by females, championing female founders and with female shoppers in mind. It's also an advice hub for entrepreneurs. I absolutely adored my conversation with Holly. We chatted about the importance of trusting your gut, how to find your purpose and the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when starting out.

Setting goals is absolutely crucial in achieving huge success in life and business. Comfort is 100% the biggest killer of your progress. This week we're discussing how to set goals and why finding your purpose is essential for staying committed.This episode covers:1’50 - Why goals need to be set in a timeframe3’00 - Why goals have to be achievable 4’40 - Why failure helps build resilience 7’30 - Spencer’s hairy business goal9’20 - Goals have to be risky11’30 - Comfort is the biggest killer of your success13’00 - I mapped out the next 10 years of my life16’00 - How important is having purpose?

This episode contains detailed discussion around mental health and suicide. If you or someone you know has been affected by anything you hear in this episode please contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or speak to your GP.Roman Kemp is a radio and TV presenter, best known as the host of Capital Breakfast.Roman’s become an almost accidental campaigner. Since he lost his best friend and producer to suicide, Roman’s been on a mission to shine a light on the mental health crisis facing young people in the UK today.His latest documentary, The Fight For Young Lives, is out tonight - where he explores what action is needed to support young people suffering with their mental health. I got a chance to watch this documentary before our interview, and it was truly amazing. It was honest, emotional and meaningful. Do watch it tonight.I also loved talking to Roman about his mindset - and his drive to be the best at everything he does.

Welcome to our second bonus episode of Big Fish - where each week I'm joined by my former therapist, Chip Somers, to unpack what's going on in my life and learn how we can all become the best versions of ourselves. This week we're tackling social media - and how damaging it is to our mental health and relationships. What we cover in this episode:3’00 - Why negatives comments stick5’00 - What’s the impact on young children?8’00 - Are we now struggling to communicate our feelings?12’45 - What’s the impact of technology addiction on society?18'00 - Top tips on reducing your usage

For those of you who know the show Below Deck Mediterranean - you’ll know Captain Sandy. She’s one of the first female superyacht captains in the world - with over 30 years experience in the industry.As a teenager, her life spiralled out of control and she became addicted to drugs and alcohol, resulting in multiple arrests for drink-driving. She’s now been sober for 34 years, and completely turned her life around after she was given multiple second chances by those around her. It’s something which she never takes for granted, and pays forwards to those she meets.I know you’ll be utterly inspired by Sandy’s resilience and bravery - she’s even won awards for her bravery in facing pirates off the coast of Yemen, a shocking moment she talks about in this interview.

Welcome to our first bonus episode of Big Fish - Big Fish and Chip. Each week I'm going to be joined by my former therapist, Chip Somers, to unpack what's going on in my life and discuss how we can all become the best versions of ourselves. This episode covers:1'00 - Our first meeting4'55 - How Chip got me to stop drinking8'30 - An introduction to Chip11'50 - Is the word 'alcoholic' problematic?14'30 - How do you know if you're a problem drinker?16'50 - Can you ever drink again if you're a problem drinker?17'40 - How my drinking got out of control21'30 - How can you tell a loved one that they drink too much?23'30 - What's the first step for someone who thinks they have a drinking problem?Please get in touch with us on Instagram @bigfish.pod if there are any topics you'd like us to cover.

Danny Cipriani is a former professional rugby player - but his name was on the front pages of the tabloids as often as the sports backpages.He was the youngest ever player in Premiership Rugby to make his international debut aged 20 and his undeniable talent captivated rugby fans worldwide.But off the pitch, Danny’s private life was heavily scrutinised in the press. His new book Who Am I? is his first memoir and he talks openly about his mental health challenges and brushes with the law.And in all honesty, I was taken back by how different Danny was in this interview, compared to the man I’d met over 10 years ago. You can tell he’s gone on such a journey of self-discovery and feels at peace with his past.

I am so excited to announce that next week I’m launching brand new bonus episodes of Big Fish. Each week I’m going to be joined by my former therapist, Chip Somers, to unpack what’s going on in my life and discuss how we can all become the best and most successful versions of ourselves. I’m going to talk about the challenges I’m facing - but also explore what my guests are going through and what we can learn from their resilience. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to sit in on one of my therapy sessions - you’re in the right place.

I’m so excited to bring you season three of Big Fish on Wednesday, 18th October. Thank you so much for all the love from the previous two seasons, I absolutely love reading your reviews and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you enjoy this podcast as much as I enjoy doing it. I’m also excited to announce that we’re also launching brand new bonus episodes on Fridays - and more will be revealed next week, so please stay tuned for that.

Eton College is one of the most famous boarding schools in the UK. It's educated 20 of Britain’s 57 prime ministers and has churned out many successful people over its nearly 600 year history. Eton is an easy thing to judge, but I wonder if some of your preconceptions will be challenged after hearing this week’s episode. Simon Henderson has been headmaster at Eton’s since 2015 and this interview gives you a rare insight into how things are done at one of the country’s most prestigious schools. I guarantee you’ll learn something from this episode. Simon’s views - especially on testing and extra-curricular activities - may surprise you.

Caroline Hirons is a skincare guru and is described as the most powerful woman in the beauty industry. She started off on the shop floor, working on beauty counters at Harvey Nichols. Now she's the CEO of her own brand, Skin Rocks. She took the internet by storm after launching her blog over ten years ago, which has now been viewed more than 125 million times. That led to a Sunday Times bestselling book, which became the bestselling beauty book of all time.

Sadiq Khan is the Mayor of London, one of the top jobs in British politics. He is extremely ambitious and has achieved huge success in his career, previously working as a Labour MP and a human rights solicitor. But Sadiq came from humble beginnings. He grew up on a council estate in Tooting with 7 siblings. I absolutely loved my conversation with the Mayor. We discussed how to make tough decisions, whether sacrifices are necessary for a successful career, why more CEOs aren't in politics and his new campaign to make London safer for women.

Dan Carter is hailed as one of the most elite and successful rugby players in the world. His new book The Art of Winning is a manual for aspiring leaders everywhere. There is so much to learn from Dan on how discipline, mindset and drive can help you achieve huge success - in sport, business or life.

James Buckley is an actor and YouTuber, best known for his role as Jay Cartwright in the BAFTA-nominated sitcom The Inbetweeners. The iconic show was loved and watched by millions across the UK and its first movie had the biggest ever UK opening weekend for a comedy film. But nearly a decade after the show’s final film, Jay is only just getting back into acting. In recent years he, his wife and kids have become YouTube stars and James has become the first Cameo-millionaire. It seems there’s a lot of money to be made in calling people ‘bus wankers’. This interview is absolutely fascinating: James isn’t driven by money or fame, but a pure passion to make people laugh and smile. 

Sara Davies is an entrepreneur and the youngest ever female investor on Dragons' Den. She founded her company Crafter's Companion whilst a student in 2005 - and by the time she graduated the business was turning over half a million pounds a year. This episode is absolutely jam-packed with advice for budding entrepreneurs, so if you've ever thought about starting a business - don't miss this.

In this bonus episode, I'm joined by my good friend John Belton to discuss how we completed the hardest ultra marathon known to man. We recorded this days after we returned home after taking on the gruelling challenge of a 230-kilometer self-sufficient foot race through the Amazon Jungle. I'm incredibly proud to say John came second and I third, but it was not without facing some incredible physical and emotional hurdles.

Russell Kane is probably one of the only successful stand-up comics that doesn’t even watch stand-up comedy. He took the plunge to try his hand at comedy aged 28 after building a successful career in advertising. It was a huge gamble - which left him Googling bankruptcy over fears he couldn’t pay his mortgage. Russell grew up on a London council estate and left school at 16 with few qualifications, because in his words, he was "hell bent on being like a weed smoking bad man”. But he turned his life around through adult education and sheer graft. Russell’s drive to succeed is absolutely immense. He doesn’t accept rejection and his story of passion and grit is inspiring.

Marcia Kilgore is a serial entrepreneur, who has successfully built and sold multiple brands. She began as a facialist to the stars - working with clients such as Paul Simon, Calvin Klein, Madonna and Oprah - and sold her first company Bliss Spa to Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, one of the biggest luxury brands, at just 30-years-old.The term ‘disrupter’ is thrown around in business, but for Marcia it’s actually true. She’s turned the whole beauty industry on its head with her latest venture Beauty Pie, the Netflix of beauty - which offers members luxury beauty products at a fraction of the price.

Mark Wright is a presenter and former professional footballer, who rose to fame on the BAFTA-award winning reality TV programme The Only Way Is Essex.He has an incredible drive to succeed - which comes from his absolute fear of losing everything. As a child, his father lost his business in the 80s recession and the family went from having everything to nothing.Mark is a self-confessed workaholic and is one of my only guests who actually admits he loves money. I absolutely loved talking to Mark. We’ve had an extremely similar entry to fame, and I guess I’m the Chelsea version of him… In Mark’s words we were men that women just love to hate.

We're having a mid-season break while I complete an ultra-marathon in the Amazon, but we're back with an amazing guest on Weds 14th June that you will not want to miss. To keep you going, here's 4 of my favourite moments from season 2 so far, where Gordon Ramsay, Elizabeth Day, Kelly Hoppen and Jay Blades discuss what drives them.

Elizabeth Day has absolutely revolutionised how we think about failure. Her chart-topping podcast How To Fail is currently in its 17th season, and led to a bestselling book of the same name. She's a bestselling author of 9 books and prior to podcasting, she was a writer at some of the UK’s best-known publications. Elizabeth has made so many of us rethink what failure means and show us that it’s absolutely key in achieving success. There is so much to learn from her wisdom and I know you'll love this conversation as much as I did.

James Smith is a personal trainer and three-time bestselling author, who’s amassed a huge online audience of over 1 million people.At 21, he found himself broke and knocking doors as a salesman with no real direction, so decided to become a personal trainer. He’s now built a phenomenal business, training thousands of people through his online academy and his straight-talking, no-nonsense approach sees him touring the world.In this episode we talk about how finding your purpose fuels motivation to succeed, what advice he gives to people who hate their jobs and why happiness and pleasure are two separate things.

Jay Blades is the BAFTA-winning presenter of the hit primetime TV show The Repair Shop - watched by 4.5 million people a week. But a TV career was never on the cards for him. He was raised in east London by a single mother, after his father ran off with all of their money. His education was stunted by undiagnosed dyslexia - he learned in adulthood he had the reading age of an 11-year-old.But this didn’t stop Jay. He dedicated his life helping his local community, and founded a charity teaching young people to restore old furniture. But when funding ran out and his marriage fell apart, he hit rock bottom: he was suicidal and homeless. He turned his life around and lifted himself from that darkness. Jay is one of the most incredible people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet - and I know you’ll love this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it.This episode is not suitable to those under 18 and contains offensive language and sensitive topic discussions including suicide, alcoholism and mental health issues. If you are affected by anything you hear in this episode and need support please see the suggested helpline and website links below. Samaritans helpline: 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org/ https://www.mind.org.ukhttps://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk 

Gabby Logan is one of the UK's most notable sports broadcasters but before she turned her hand to presenting, Gabby was a gymnast for Wales and Great Britain - something she got into accidentally.Gabby comes from a family of professional athletes, all with incredible talent and discipline. But it wasn't this alone that motivated Gabby to achieve all that she has. Her brother Daniel - a professional footballer - died at just 15 from a congenital heart defect and his death accelerated her drive to succeed.

David Gandy is one of the most successful male supermodels in the world.After winning a modelling competition on This Morning at 21, he became one of the biggest names in the industry and was an overnight sensation after his famous Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue ad campaign.In this episode we talk about rejection, the dangers of social media and how to know when you've pushed yourself too far.

Kelly Hoppen is one of the most sought-after interior designers of her generation. After quitting school at just 16, she took on her first client and built her design empire from there. She’s gone on to design the homes of A-listers such as the Beckhams, as well as yachts, five-star hotels and restaurants around the world. In this incredible conversation we talk about her successes and failures as an investor on Dragons' Den, how she works with A-list clients and what happened when she met the leader of a religious cult which her ex-husband had joined.

Giovanni Pernice is a highly decorated performer, best known for being one of the professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing, one of the UK’s most watched programmes.He’s a BAFTA winner, Guinness World Record holder and world champion.Gio left home at just 14 to pursue his ambitions of becoming a professional dancer - and came to the UK to take part in Strictly Coming Dancing speaking no English.His determination and drive to succeed is palpable. He’s a self-confessed workaholic who's addicted to winning - this episode is utterly inspirational.

Chelcee Grimes is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and professional footballer. She’s written songs for Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue, Olly Murs and the Saturdays.She began playing football at the age of 10 and went on to play professionally for Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham. But at 16, she decided to pursue a music career and signed an album deal at just 18. After getting dropped from her label and money running out, she got signed as a songwriter and now travels the world working with some of the world's biggest stars.

This is a story about a scam. But this isn’t any old scam. There's shamanism, a 'tree of life' in the jungle of Suriname, a bathing ritual in a dark rusty red lake, voodoo dolls, black magic and envelopes jammed full of sacrificial cash. There's even a wild capuchin monkey called Joey.At the turn of the 21st century, set in one of London's most wealthy suburbs, Hampstead, Juliette D'Souza wreaked havoc on a number of people's lives. Described by her neighbours as 'a knife in a velvet glove', D'Souza claimed to have a special connection to an ancient source of power and wisdom, deep in the Amazonian jungle. She became filthy rich, and one of the most prolific con women in British history. Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala, the soulmates behind the hit true crime podcast, Redhanded, are on the case. They speak to the reporters who travelled to Suriname to track Juliette down, one of Britain's leading shamans and the victims who came together in search of justice.This is a true story so bizarre, you might not believe your ears.All 6 episodes will be available from April 19th on Global Player. Download it now from the App Store or go to https://www.globalplayer.com

Gordon Ramsay needs no introduction. But just in case you’ve been living under a rock, he’s an internationally renowned chef, restaurateur and TV personality. His restaurant group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, now has 72 restaurants across the world and has been awarded a whopping 17 Michelin stars overall.Gordon’s drive to succeed came from his need to provide a new life for himself. He grew up on multiple council estates and his mother worked three jobs to support him and his siblings. His footballer career ended after a serious knee injury, so Gordon decided to enrol on a foundation course in hotel management. He worked as a pot washer before taking the plunge to call Marco Pierre White out of the blue and ask for a job. And the rest is history.

I'm beyond excited to bring you season 2 of Big Fish - launching Wednesday 5th April with Gordon Ramsay! Make sure you're following the feed so you don't miss an episode.

Dave Rodney, simply known as California Dave or Sherpa Dave - despite the fact that he's from Canmore in Canada - joins me for this bonus interview on Big Fish. He's one of Canada's most accomplished climbers - and the only Canadian to summit Everest twice - he's a politician, businessman and philanthropist, but most importantly, he was my brother Michael’s climbing partner on his Everest expedition in 1999. Dave was one of the last people to see Mike alive. Their dream was to reach the summit together, but unfortunately fate had other plans. Dave takes me back to the day they reached the top of the world - and Mike became the youngest Briton to reach the summit - and what happened when he realised my brother had not come back down.

Before Bear Grylls climbed mountains, he needed to learn how to climb the stairs again after breaking his back in three places. In this bonus episode he reveals how he built himself back up after catastrophic injury, plus why he was so inspired to produce Spencer's film Finding Michael.

At 21 years old, Tom Grennan shot to fame after appearing on the Chase and Status hit, All Gone Wrong. He's gone on to land a number one album, four UK top 10 singles and sell out a nation-wide tour. But Tom's journey to become one of the UK's most exciting musicians hasn't been a straightforward one. He first caught the eye as a talented footballer but turned down a scholarship in America when he was a teenager. We talk about Tom's struggle with imposter syndrome and how being attacked and left with a broken jaw, provided the material that would open up his songwriting passion. For Tom, success is about loving and appreciating what you do, but his own competitive nature doesn't allow him to enjoy the successes he's had for long.

This is the first time I've ever interviewed my wife about her incredible career. Vogue has become one of Ireland’s most sought-after media stars. Since landing her big break, she has presented documentaries and live shows, performed DJ sets for thousands of fans and collaborated with big UK brands like Little Mistress. She also runs a highly successful tanning brand, Bare By Vogue and hosts two chart-topping podcasts, My Therapist Ghosted Me and Spencer & Vogue which are listened to by millions of people every month. We talk about the importance of being an authentic influencer, how Vogue changed my mind about anxiety and what's been the proudest moment of her career so far.

Jake Humphrey wasn’t born a high performer. In fact, he failed his A levels and was sacked from McDonalds when he was just a teenager. But Jake became determined to make something of himself. He’s gone on to become one of the UK’s best-known sports broadcasters and host of his own hugely successful podcast, High Performance. Jake’s work ethic is incredible. Now at the top of his game, he’s determined to stay there and enjoy every second of it.

He’s on a personal mission to cancel ‘cancel culture’. Piers Morgan is one of the most prominent broadcasters of his generation. After studying journalism, he went to Fleet Street and quickly rose to become one of the youngest newspaper editors in Britain at just 28 years old. Since then, he’s presented prime time TV programmes in the UK and America and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the world. With a Twitter following of over 8 million, Piers has made a name for himself with his straight-talking opinions. Love him or hate him, when he talks, people listen.

At 18 years-old, Harry Stebbings started the Twenty Minute VC podcast with fifty dollars and not a single contact in venture capital. He’s the first person to turn a podcast into a multi-million pound fund. Across several vehicles, he’s raised over $400 million. And he’s only 26.Harry is seriously impressive. If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ll learn exactly what Harry looks for when he invests. But this episode isn’t just for those in business. He’s overcome bulimia and is now sober, and has tonnes of advice for those who want to take their life to the next level.

Would you replace your morning coffee with a cup of mushroom powder?Andy and Simon Salter think you should. The brothers co-founded Dirtea 18 months in 2021, as part of a movement to make functional mushrooms accessible to the masses. Their business is now the market leader in its field and they’re working to destigmatise and educate people on the health benefits. Thousands of people all over the UK are now drinking their products, which are consumed like tea or coffee, on a daily basis. Dirtea is said to sharpen your focus, strengthen your immune system, improve your sleep and soothe stress, amongst many other benefits.The co-founders of Dirtea say the health benefits and claims contained in this episode can be supported by research papers found on PubMed and mushroomreference.com, which is a curated list of references relevant to scientists who are curious about the effects of mushrooms. If you have any further questions, we recommend you speak to your nutritionist or GP.Please see some links:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18844328/http://mushroomreferences.com/2019/10/18/the-neuroprotective-effect-of-hericium-erinaceus-extracts-in-mouse-hippocampus-after-pilocarpine-induced-status-epilepticus/http://mushroomreferences.com/2021/12/20/hericium-erinaceus-mycelium-ameliorate-anxiety-induced-by-continuous-sleep-disturbance-in-vivo/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23510212/

This is the most open, honest and serious conversation I’ve ever had with Jamie. You might know him as a reality star. But Jamie is a hugely successful entrepreneur. He co-founded Candy Kittens in 2012, the fastest growing confectionary brand in Europe which turns over more than ten million pounds a year.He’s also the founder of JamPot productions, which produces chart-topping podcasts like Nearly Weds.We talk about how reality TV fuelled Jamie’s crippling anxiety, whether being on Made in Chelsea helped or hindered the success of Candy Kittens and why achieving success isn’t just about making bucket loads of cash.

Jo Malone’s name is synonymous with luxury, but Jo didn’t grow up with wealth. She was raised on a council estate in South East London and left school without any qualifications. Jo built the luxury fragrance brand Jo Malone London with her husband, Gary, and sold the company in 1999 to Estee Lauder. She left the business a few years later, after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and was given only 9 months to live. As part of the Lauder deal, she wasn’t allowed to enter the industry for 5 years. Jo felt utterly lost, so she started a new brand, Jo Loves. Jo is so honest in this episode and tells me about the mistakes she made building her second company, after the huge success of the first.

Dan Murray-Serter is a serial entrepreneur. He’s the co-founder of Heights, a braincare company. His previous company Grabble was the UK’s top fashion app. They had 30,000 new users a day, but the company failed. Dan then suffered from crippling insomnia, but couldn't see that he was mentally unwell. He thought he was just being productive; committed to building his business. Heights was born as a remedy for that insomnia and the debilitating anxiety and panic attacks he experienced. This episode is a fascinating listen for anyone who’s interested in mental health and entrepreneurship: how to stay mentally resilient while riding the storm of building a company from the ground up.

Joanne McNally exploded onto the comedy scene as one of the most popular and up-and-coming female comedians in the country. She’s recently sold out Ireland’s leading comedy venue - Vicar Street - with a whopping 66 shows, more than any other comedian. That's after being told she’d never sell a single show. Her chart-topping podcast with my wife Vogue Williams brings in over 3 million listeners a month. Joanne's resilience is inspiring; she was determined to succeed in a male-dominated industry whilst battling bulimia.If you've been affected by anything in this episode, contact Beat for information or help: 0808 801 0677.

The rise of Henry Holland was incredible. As a young journalism graduate, he designed some t-shirts, just for fun. Within six months he went from selling them via his Myspace account to his brand, House of Holland, being sold in luxury department stores all over the world. Then along came the pandemic. His company went into administration and Henry had to weather the storm of parting with the company he built. In this episode we talk about the pressures of building a brand and how to deal with your own company going under.

Even if you’re not a fan of boxing, you’ve heard of Eddie Hearn. He’s the chairman of Matchroom sport, the sporting events company which last year signed a 100 million pound five-year deal with Dazn as it aims to become the Netflix of sport. Eddie also represents boxing beasts like Anthony Joshua, Canelo Álvarez and formerly Oleksandr Usyk. He took over the business from his father, but started by printing the posters himself and sending out tweets to promote his fights. Now, he’s one of the most powerful men in boxing.

Ursula Burns is an American success story. From growing up in a deprived and dangerous area of New York, she became the first black woman to be CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Xerox, later becoming its president and chairwoman. She’s sat on the Board of Directors of Diageo, Uber, American Express and ExxonMobil and even advised President Obama. You don’t want to miss this episode.

Ant Middleton doesn’t sit still for long. He’s a former marine and sniper, perhaps best known for his role as chief instructor in SAS Who Dares Wins. In 2019 he conquered one of the biggest challenges known to man - climbing Mount Everest. This year he attempted a dangerous climb up K2, one of the world’s most treacherous mountains. He's a perfect example of someone who never gives up, even if the odds are against him. But in this episode, he reveals just how close he came to quitting his climb of K2 - something he’s never admitted before.

DJ Fat Tony is one of the most notorious hell raisers and leading figures in dance music. Raised on a council estate in South London, he ended up working in the most famous clubs in both London and New York. He’s now the official DJ to the Beckhams and Versace and best friends with Boy George and Kate Moss. But Tony’s rise to the top has been fraught with tragedy and pain. After the AIDS crisis hit London, Tony’s boyfriend was diagnosed with HIV and died shortly after and his addiction to alcohol, drugs and sex spiralled out of control. Tony is now 16 years sober and his road to recovery is utterly inspirational.If you’ve been affected by anything discuss in this episode, the following organisations may be of help:Samaritans: 116 123Alcoholics Anonymous: 0800 9177 650Narcotics Anonymous: 0300 999 1212

For years I was trapped in a cycle of excessive drinking. I became subdued, a half-version of myself and began to realise the damage alcohol was doing to my relationships and career. In 2019, I became sober. It's the best decision I’ve ever made and inspired me to start my own business. CleanCo is now the largest independent non-alcoholic brand in the UK. Building a business has been the most challenging thing I’ve ever done and I’ve become fascinated by how other people have developed a mindset for success. Each week I’ll be speaking to leading CEOs, inspiring entrepreneurs, incredible designers and other famous faces to find out what it takes to overcome life’s obstacles and be the best at what they do.