If you'd like to donate, please head to: www.makesomenoise.com/spencer-matthews-challenge

Richard runs with prosthetic legs as he has a double knee congenital amputation - but this never stopped Richard from becoming the best in the world. In 2004, aged 27, he dreamt of running a marathon and signed up for the New York Marathon having never run a mile. With pure determination and discipline, Richard has become one of the most inspirational British athletes.

If you've been affected by anything in this episode, please see this website for more help and support: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/get-help-for-myself/i-need-support-now/helplines/

Christine McGuinness is a television personality, former beauty queen and most recently, an influential advocate for autism awareness. A few years ago, her three children were all diagnosed with autism and shortly after, Christine discovered she was autistic herself - being diagnosed at 33-years-old. In this episode we talk about how Christine’s autism hugely impacted her childhood. There were times where she felt suicidal and sensory issues around food resulted in an eating disorder. She also left school before she was 14 because her school didn’t know how to support her. We also talk about her relationship with her father, who has recently beaten a 40-year long heroin addiction.

Samaritans helpline: 116 123 

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/

Beat eating disorders: 0808 801 0677

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

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).

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).

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’.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

This episode covers:

1’00 - What is FOMO?

2’00 - What’s the psychology behind it?

6’00 - Times I’ve felt FOMO

17’00 - How can we navigate FOMO at Christmas?

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?

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.

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 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.

This episode covers:

0’10 - What is ADHD?

1’20- Why I went for a diagnosis 

3’30 - How ADHD affects me

6’00 - What happens in the diagnosis test

12’00 - How ADHD might impact relationships (wife, children and work)

23'00 - Why it's important to get an official diagnosis

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.

This episode covers:

1’00 - What’s the grief process?

2’45 - Stage 1: Denial

7'00 - Stage 2: Bargaining

9’00 - Why you should tell your loved ones how you feel

11’40 - Stage 3: Anger

16’00 - Stage 4: Depression 

19’00 - Why I choose to use Mike’s death as a force for good

21’00 - Stage 5: Acceptance

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.

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 stress

11'00 - Why I now do Wim Hoff's breathing method

19'00 - Free ways to reduce stress if you're short of time

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.

This episode covers:

1'20 - Why there's a stigma surrounding getting help

3'00 - 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?

This episode covers:

1’50 - Why goals need to be set in a timeframe

3’00 - Why goals have to be achievable 

4’40 - Why failure helps build resilience 

7’30 - Spencer’s hairy business goal

9’20 - Goals have to be risky

11’30 - Comfort is the biggest killer of your success

13’00 - I mapped out the next 10 years of my life

16’00 - How important is having purpose?

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.

What we cover in this episode:

3’00 - Why negatives comments stick

5’00 - 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

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.

This episode covers:

1'00 - Our first meeting

4'55 - How Chip got me to stop drinking

8'30 - An introduction to Chip

11'50 - 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 control

21'30 - 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.uk

https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/

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.

If you've been affected by anything in this episode, contact Beat for information or help: 0808 801 0677.

If you’ve been affected by anything discuss in this episode, the following organisations may be of help:

Samaritans: 116 123

Alcoholics Anonymous: 0800 9177 650

Narcotics Anonymous: 0300 999 1212