Under the Surface

For the opening episode of Season 6, Smithy is joined by Olympic Gymnastics Medallist and YouTube sensation Nile Wilson as he discusses the extreme highs and lows of his career.With over 6 million followers across all platforms, Nile was thrust into the limelight aged just 20 after winning an Olympic medal in Rio. On his return home, Nile continued to grow into an online superstar, but the reality behind the scenes was very different.This podcast explores a range of themes from success to failure, to depression, addiction and loneliness, with Nile presenting a raw account on the difficulty of being forced to retire from professional gymnastics at the age of 24.Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Nile to discuss his battles with mental health after achieving his boyhood dream.

In the third and final episode of Season 5, Smithy is joined by Welsh rugby superstar Louis Rees-Zammit as he reflects on his meteoric rise to fame and his bold transition to the NFL at the height of his career.Having made his Gloucester debut at just 18, the Welsh rugby winger looked destined for stardom—before making the shock decision to leave it all behind and pursue an NFL dream overseas.This episode explores elite sporting achievement, the pressures that accompany it, and how Louis overcame crippling homesickness to succeed in the world of rugby.Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Louis for an open and inspiring conversation about the mental battles that lie behind sporting success.

In the second episode of Season 5, Smithy is joined by actor Kadeem Ramsay as he discusses his acting journey and the knockbacks that have led him to where he is today. Kadeem opens up about the pressures of having a certain image in the acting industry and how this influenced his recent weight-loss journey.Having appeared in Top Boy and Blue Story, Kadeem talks about the pressures of fame and how interactions with fans can make or break your day. He also reflects on the impact that social media had on his early career.This episode shares a frank discussion on resilience, as well as a look at what it takes to be a star of both film and TV.Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Kadeem for an open and inspiring conversation about resilience and the mental battles that lie behind acting success.

For the launch of Season 5, host Smithy is joined by England cricketer Ollie Pope as he finalises his preparations for this winter’s Ashes. This season continues to shine a light on the personal stories of leading athletes and entertainment stars — and in this episode, Ollie takes us behind the curtain of life at the very top of international cricket.Known for his batting talent and leadership qualities, Ollie speaks candidly about the pressures of elite sport. He reflects on his experiences dealing with online trolls, the mental toll of criticism, and the resilience required to perform in the cauldron of international cricket.In a moving tribute, Ollie also shares his admiration for his late batting coach, Graham Thorpe, highlighting the pivotal role Thorpe played in his development both on and off the field.As one of the key figures in England’s Test set-up, Ollie offers a rare and honest insight into how he manages the unique challenges of representing his country on the biggest stage — from bouncing back after injury setbacks to maintaining focus under intense scrutiny.Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Ollie Pope for an open and inspiring conversation about resilience, support, and the mental battles that lie behind sporting success.

In this powerful episode of Under The Surface, Smithy sits down with YouTube pioneer and entrepreneur Caspar Lee. Despite his outgoing online persona and business success, Caspar opens up about his lifelong journey with mental health, starting with his diagnosis of Tourette’s, OCD, and ADD at the age of six.From making videos in his bedroom in South Africa to building multiple successful companies, including Influencer.com and an investment fund, Caspar's story is one of resilience and adaptation. However, beneath the success, he shares his raw battle with severe anxiety that surfaced during lockdown—a struggle so intense that he questioned whether he could even attend his own wedding.Caspar provides an unfiltered look at living with Tourette’s in his early years, from disrupting classes to making involuntary monkey noises while on safari near an elephant. He discusses how therapy became his turning point, teaching him not to fight his anxiety but to sit with it, and shares the practical tools that helped him recover.Now preparing for his wedding and leading successful businesses in London, New York, Dubai, and LA, Caspar reflects on how facing his mental health challenges head-on has shaped both his personal life and entrepreneurial journey. Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Caspar Lee for an intimate conversation about mental health, business success, and finding peace with your past.Watch the full episode on the Original Penguin website.

In this episode of Under the Surface, we visit Billy Monger at his home to explore how he transformed a life-altering racing accident into a new chapter of opportunity and advocacy, keeping his passion for racing alive.At just seventeen, Billy's promising career in motorsport took a dramatic turn due to a devastating Formula 4 race crash, resulting in the loss of both his legs. In this inspiring chat, he recounts that transformative day and the intense months of recovery that followed.Facing the stark realities of waking up as a double amputee, Billy discusses the mental and physical challenges of his journey to recovery, his return to racing, and his dedication to inspiring and supporting others facing sudden, life-altering changes.Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Billy Monger. Watch the full episode on the Original Penguin website.

For the third episode of Season 4, host Smithy is joined by Sir Bradley Wiggins, the renowned British cyclist celebrated for world titles, eight Olympic medals, and a historic Tour de France victory.Following our enlightening episode with Emmett J. Scanlan in Chester, our journey now takes us to Herne Hill Velodrome in South London, a place profoundly meaningful to Sir Bradley—where his love for cycling began.Despite his incredible achievements on the track, Sir Bradley opens up about his personal struggles, including the challenges of his mental health. He recounts how cycling was both his escape and passion from a young age.Sir Bradley candidly shares his darkest moments, including his experience of being sexually abused by his first coach at 13 and the deep-seated issues of self-worth that followed. He reflects on how these experiences impacted his life and mental health, emphasising the importance of addressing such traumas openly to help others who might be silently suffering.He also delves into the complex relationship with his father, Gary Wiggins, whose absence and legacy profoundly influenced his path in cycling. Sir Bradley explains how his father’s shadow both drove and haunted him, shaping his pursuit of success and leaving a lasting impact on his mental health and self-identity.In his professional life, Sir Bradley faced significant obstacles, including periods of intense self-doubt and the immense pressure of public expectation. Yet, his relentless determination and love for cycling propelled him forward. He speaks about pivotal moments in his career, highlighting how embracing every opportunity, no matter the scale, contributed to his enduring success.Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Sir Bradley Wiggins.

For the second episode of Season 4, host Smithy is joined by Emmett J. Scanlan, the acclaimed Irish actor known for his roles in Kin, Peaky Blinders, and Fool Me Once. Following our inspiring first episode with Tubes at his home golf course, our journey now takes us to a place deeply significant to Emmett—Chester, his home for the last decade where he's built a family and a life away from the limelight.Despite his success on screen, Emmett opens up about his personal battles, including the challenges of his mental health. He shares how acting became his escape and passion from a young age. This passion led him to a career where he could immerse himself in various characters, though it wasn't always an easy journey.Emmett candidly discusses the darker times, including a period of depression and a devastating personal loss when his wife suffered a miscarriage. He also reflects on the profound impact of losing a close friend to suicide, sharing how these experiences shaped his perspective on life and mental health. Emmett emphasises the importance of talking about such experiences, revealing the widespread yet often silent suffering many go through.In his professional life, Emmett faced significant challenges, including moments of self-doubt and rejection. However, his determination and love for storytelling saw him through. He speaks about the turning point in his career, when saying "yes" to every opportunity, no matter how small, led to a series of roles that revitalised his confidence and career trajectory.Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Emmett J. Scanlan for an intimate, inspiring discussion about mental health, resilience, and the journey through personal and professional challenges.

For the launch of Season 4, host Smithy is joined by Peter Dale, better known as Tubes to millions of fans from his work on Soccer AM. This season, we're on the road, and for episode one, our journey takes us to a place pivotal to Tubes' personal battle against addiction—his home golf course at Foxhills.Despite his fun-loving on-screen persona, Tubes candidly opens up about his past struggles with alcohol addiction. He shares how drinking gave him the confidence boost he craved but soon spiralled out of control, negatively impacting on his relationships.Tubes paints an unfiltered picture of life as a "functioning alcoholic"—planning his days around drinking, lying to loved ones, and feeling intense shame and anxiety. He discusses his turning point in 2015, when a traumatic incident forced him to admit he was an alcoholic and needed to quit for good. During his recovery journey, Tubes experienced a shocking heart attack due to a previously undetected hole in his heart.Now, over eight years sober, Tubes has replaced alcohol with a new passion—golf. He explains how the game has given him purpose, healthier coping mechanisms, and a new career post-Soccer AM. Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Tubes for an intimate, inspiring discussion about addiction, recovery, and advice for those facing the same battles that Tubes once did.

For the latest release, host Smithy and co-host Leon McKenzie are joined by Jack Dean, better known as JaackMaate to his millions of social followers.Despite his meteoric social media fame, Jack candidly shares his lifelong struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety. He opens up about his traumatic childhood filled with family turmoil, and how creating YouTube videos became his lifeline. Jack paints an unfiltered picture of living with severe OCD, including constant intrusive thoughts from health anxiety that disrupt his life daily. By speaking openly about his coping methods, from therapy to talking to mates, he hopes to help others suffering in silence feel less alone.Previous episodes have included BAFTA-winning comedian Romesh Ranganathan, footballers Jack Wilshere and Andros Townsend, reality stars Jack Fincham and Ashley Cain, who have all openly discussed their mental health struggles.