Stay ConnectedI’m Jamie Laing and this is Great Company – a weekly podcast full of inspiring conversations about resilience, joy and self-improvement. Each week I sit down with fascinating guests from entertainment, business and psychology to share the stories that help us learn, grow and feel more connected.
New episodes every Wednesday.
A JamPot Productions Original Podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Copyright: © JamPot Productions
Jill Scott is England's second most capped player of all time. A Lioness legend, Euros winner and Queen of the Jungle, she is without a doubt one of the hardest working footballers that England has ever produced.
What I love about Jill is her determination to succeed, even when the odds are stacked against her. Growing up in Sunderland, she was bullied by her classmates - and their parents - for playing football. But she kept showing up, every single day, training harder than anyone else and never once gave up on her dreams.
Jill talks so openly about her vulnerabilities and the pressures she’s felt during her career. To hear someone who’s achieved so much, admit they’ve questioned themselves too… that’s seriously powerful.
We cover:
Jill is one of those people who reminds you that you don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to make an impact. You just need to show up, consistently, with heart.This conversation will make you laugh, think and hopefully encourage you to stay determined and keep chasing your dreams. Jill Scott is Great Company
Listen to Ashley Roberts' incredible episode of Great Company here
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Assistant Producer: Lydia Brownell
Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan
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Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We all fell for Dani Dyer when she appeared on Love Island back in 2018. She’s a proper family girl - lives just a 6 minute drive from her parents - she once tried living 20 minutes away but that was too far, and I think this is what people love about Dani: she’s warm, charming and down to earth. Her dad also happens to be the tough guy actor, Danny Dyer which makes her bubbly sweetness even more likeable. I was excited to have her into the studio for a proper chat.
What stood out to me the most about our chat was her battles with self confidence, which I believe something to be so universal. We all can suffer from lack of confidence, and all have our own worries, insecurities and anxieties and it is by opening up that we realise that we are not so alone.
We cover:
• Her struggles with confidence from a young age
• How an accident led her to Love Island - plus her dad’s reaction to her being on the show
• Failed relationships and what she’s learnt from them
• Her dad’s addiction struggles and the impact on her growing up
• How she dealt with the father of her first child going to prison
• Meeting her husband, Jarrod Bowen (and the song the fans like to sing)
Dani came across to me as such a bright spirit and a reminder to me that everyone has their own battles to fight and by opening up we are not so alone. Dani Dyer is Great Company.
You can check out Dani's clothing collection here: The Dani Dyer Clothing Collection | Peacocks
Listen to Live and Let Dyers podcast here
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Editor: Dan King
Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa
Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan
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Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joe Marler is a former England rugby player and currently on Celebrity Traitors who spent fifteen years as one of the sport’s biggest personalities, both on and off the pitch. He’s described himself as a bully who battled through a rocky career… and maybe that’s true. But what really stands out to me is how openly Joe now talks about his mental health and how passionate he is about encouraging other men to do the same.
Talking about your feelings can be really hard - it’s something I’ve found tough over the years too. But hearing someone like Joe, a proper “man’s man” speak so vulnerably is really refreshing.
Today’s episode we cover:
• Tackling toxic masculinity in rugby - learning that he didn’t need to be the alpha male all the time
• Why he thought quitting rugby would fix his depression
• How Joe has used his big personality for both good and evil
• His relationship with his wife Daisy who he credits with saving his life
• Why filming Celebrity Traitors was the most insane & best experience he’s ever had
Joe inspires me to be more open with my male friends. And to reach out, because you never know when someone is struggling… This conversation will make you laugh, make you think and hopefully encourage you to talk to your friends. Joe Marler is Great Company.
I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Editor: Dan King
Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa
Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan
-
Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stephen Manderson aka Professor Green, in today’s episode really reminded me to listen. The most successful people are the ones who listen rather than talk, they learn rather than pretending to know it all. Although we come from totally different backgrounds, we’ve always connected in such a genuine way. We first met when life was very different; Stephen was dating my friend Millie Mackintosh. A lot has happened since then, a lot of growing up and self reflection...
When people come into the studio, sometimes they might ask to not discuss certain topics but Stephen was a complete open book, so no stone was left unturned…
We cover:
• His relationship with Millie Mackintosh
• Getting an autism diagnosis later in life, and how that has changed the way he looks at his past
• Surviving getting stabbed in the neck and how knife crime will remain high until we tackle poverty
• How he’s turned negative life experiences into learning opportunities
• The self reflection that comes with becoming a father
• Losing his father & Uncle to suicide and how he handles the grief
• Why we shouldn’t blame our elders for getting stuff wrong as they didn’t have access to therapy
Stephen is such a breath of fresh air. Our conversation reminded me how important it is to keep learning, keep being interesting and interested - keep growing as a person.
Professor Green is Great Company.
Professor Green has new music out which you can listen to here: https://drop.cobrand.com/d/ProfessorGreen/welcome-to-the-party?fbclid=PAdGRleANbYF9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpxiZ7IFQomLPel2XvNLAzZTyts6f7ec5Yf8gJZPJDy4EZWy5GEQTN8oKh-1W_aem_7w4riV-g0zJirVldl3htAQ
And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa
Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter
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Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
You might not have heard of Ben Parker, but you’ve almost definitely heard of Runna — the incredible running app that just sold to Strava for millions
For me, this one’s probably my biggest regret but also one of my biggest lessons. A few years ago, a young entrepreneur came up to me after an event to tell me about his business. It sounded brilliant, but honestly… I couldn’t see it: “Why would a running app take off?” I thought. Well, that business was Runna, the app that’s now one of the biggest fitness apps in the world. And that young entrepreneur was Ben Parker. Missing the chance to invest in Ben’s vision taught me a powerful lesson: always look for the opportunity in someone else’s passion.
Fast-forward four years and Ben’s built — and sold — a business that most would call “impossible.” But behind that success is a story of sacrifice, pressure, and what ambition really costs. In today’s episode, Ben opens up like never before about the realities of building something extraordinary — the highs, the lows, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
We cover:
As much as I’m still a little gutted I didn’t invest, I’m blown away by what Ben’s achieved — and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him.
This is one of those rare, raw conversations you don’t want to miss.
And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Editor: Dan King
Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa
Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter
-
Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Katherine Ryan is a brilliant comedian, actress, writer and podcaster who says it exactly how it is.
I first met Katherine a few years ago and I’ve always admired her energy and determination to succeed. Long before she became one of the UK’s biggest comedians, she was working on the stand-up circuit while raising her daughter Violet as a single mum. Now, with an incredible career and her fourth child on the way, she’s still doing it all completely on her own terms.
We cover:
I love every conversation I have with Katherine - and this one was no different. It reminded me how we can always learn more about ourselves and the way we approach life.
Listen to Katherine’s new show, Write Me Dirty, where two comedians write FILTHY fiction about each other, here: OUT NOW!
And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Editor: Dan King
Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa
Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter
-
Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Spencer Matthews is a very old friend of mine - we grew up together sharing some pretty embarrassing moments on television, making a name for ourselves as podcasters interviewing (and winding up) some of Hollywood’s finest, in our podcast, ‘6 Degrees’.
However, in the last few years, our friendship has begun to wane, and it’s a question I’m asked all the time: "Have you and Spencer fallen out?". To tell the truth, I've never really known the answer to this… We’ve hardly seen each other for a number of reasons, and so when he reached out about this recording, I thought it’s time to get to the bottom of this, because friendships are important and worth fighting for.
We cover:
This podcast was created for connection in a world of disconnection, and this episode is quite raw for me. Like many men, I’m not always the greatest communicator, and I think Spencer would say the same for himself, so having this opportunity to sit down together, and lay it all out on the table was really special.
And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk
I also sat down with Spencer on his podcast, Untapped, which, if you loved this, you can check out too: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/untapped/id1788474884
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram- www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa
Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter
-
Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Gstaad Guy is a creator I’ve followed for a few years, the anonymous creator who lifts the lid on the 0.01%. He gained fame for impersonating and poking fun at the lavish lifestyle of the ultra-wealthy in luxury ski resorts like Gstaad, created an alter ego, Cousin Colton, to represent the "new money" crowd.
The fascinating thing about Gstaad guy is that despite satirising the ultra-wealthy, poking fun at their absurdity, he is loved by billionaires, with a huge concentration of them among his following. I was absolutely fascinated to have him in the studio to find out more…
We cover:
This conversation really opened my eyes to how some people live, but how ultimately, regardless of money, we’re all find happiness in connection with others.
And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram- www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa
Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter
-
Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tim Key is a poet, a comic and someone who I developed an unlikely friendship with through various television appearances together. A few months ago, I went to see The Ballad of Wallis Island and was totally blown away by Tim who not only starred in the movie, but wrote it too. He is a total star and I was excited to have him in the studio - his dry wit combined with my restless energy always makes for a fun time.
Tim is quite a personal guy, and like many comics, uses humour to deflect, but he shared a side of him I’d never really seen.
We cover:
I loved this conversation - it’s a little more lighthearted than other episodes, but within that light, we are still able to uncover the deep.
Tim shared some poems from his new book, L.A. Baby! which you can find here: www.utterandpress.co.uk/
And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
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THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Editor: Dan King
Video: Jake Ji
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter
Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alain de Botton came on the show one year ago and totally blew me away. We spoke about relationships with parents, partners, attachment styles and so much more. And now he’s back and we’re talking all about a relationships we often overlook but is potentially one of the most important in our lives: friendship.
Alain artfully dissects the issues we run into with deepening our friendships, why it’s so scary to vulnerable but how and why letting people in can lead us to a richer life.
We cover:
As expected, my mind was well and truly blown again. This conversation reminded me we can all have richer relationships if we take down our guards and ask the questions we really want to be asked.
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
If you'd like to get Alain's latest book, 'The Secrets of Successful Friendships', you can find it here: shop.theschooloflife.com/products/the-secrets-of-successful-friendships
You can also hear more about The School Of Life here: www.theschooloflife.com/signup/
And I’m also releasing a book, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ which you can pre-order here: https://boysdontcry.co.uk/
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THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Video: Jake Ji
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter
Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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