90. David Tait on how he turned the darkest of secret crises into a superpower

Radio presenter Christian O’Connell talks to Andy about his crippling panic attacks, life changing therapy and the danger zone of men’s mental health. As a young teenager Christian was hit with anxiety - beginning, as he puts it ‘as a whisper’ - until it forced him off air … leading him to leave Britain’s most popular breakfast show and risk it all on a life in Australia.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------From working as a dustman, being fired from hospital radio and working in telesales - Christian O’Connell went on to host the Number 1 breakfast show on Absolute Radio and pick up 11 Sony Radio Academy Gold Awards. He was at the peak of his career, yet behind the scenes he was at his lowest point.  In 2018, after suffering a series of acute panic attacks, he finally sought help with the support of his wife, and then took a huge risk and uprooted his family to the other side of the world. This move to Australia however was met with more challenges of its own as Christian struggled to be accepted.  He talks candidly and with real emotion about how he had to build a new life, take care of his family and reach another peak in his career. Christian is arguably a national treasure both here and Down Under – his is a story of remarkable resilience and one we can all learn from.  Links    https://christianoconnell.com/  Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm    Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk      Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682    Host – Andy Coulson   CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering   With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]   

Ben Goldsmith – the passionate environmentalist and financier who tragically lost his 15-year-old daughter in an accident on a farm in Somerset - shares his three crisis comforts.  Full episode https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/ben-goldsmith-on-losing-his-daughter-iris-a-desperate-search-for-meaning-and-how-nature-saved-him/  Ben’s Crisis Comforts:      Wild swimming. Anywhere I go, I love to swim in wild water. In the sea, swimming in the sea, we all love it, but swimming in rivers, ponds, I find that somehow cleanses me of emotional overload.   Walking in nature. I think we need this every day. If I don’t spend a little bit of time in nature, just for a few moments each day I start to feel short of something. I start to feel anxious.   Playing with children. Just rolling around on the floor with children and playing games and you know, just losing yourself in play with children, your own or someone else’s, I think is enormously cathartic. Links: Ben’s book: God Is An Octopus: https://amzn.to/3Iei6ub Ben’s podcast - Rewilding the World with Ben Goldsmith: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rewilding-the-world-with-ben-goldsmith/id1685196752 The Iris Project: https://theirisproject.org/ Ben’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenGoldsmith?s=20  Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm    Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk      Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682    Host – Andy Coulson   CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering   With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]   

NOTE: This episode includes themes of child sexual abuse, violence, and suicide. The following material may be distressing to some listeners.  Bonfire of the Vanities novelist Tom Wolfe would have described our guest for this episode as a ‘King of the World’. A banker who through skill and a love of risk made his fortune as a city trader.  Now the CEO of the World Gold Council, David Tait is also an accomplished mountaineer having climbed Everest an astonishing five times, in the process raising over £8m for charity.  But Wolfe’s description would, in fact, not come close to explaining the truth of who David really is.The clue lies in the beneficiary of David’s incredible fund raising, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. For David, at the age of 10, was the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of his grandfather’s brother and three other men. He was also abused by his own father.Like so many who suffer this horror David kept his abuse secret.  Doing so, he believes, allowed him to build that successful city life … but at a terrible price that very nearly claimed his life.  David’s story was portrayed movingly in the 2020 film Sulphur and White named after the butterfly that become a symbol of hope for David. In this podcast we talk about that film and a personal crisis journey that can only be described as inspiring.  Please remember - if you, or anyone you know needs support for child abuse, you can reach out to NSPCC here: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/child-sexual-abuse/ and here 0808 800 5000.  LINKSSulphur and White Watch Sulphur and White | Prime Video (amazon.co.uk)      Sulphur and White - Apple TV (UK)Sulphur and White | Official Movie Website | Watch Now  David’s websiteDavid Tait  NSPCC Donate to Charity Online | Give to NSPCC today | NSPCC  Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm    Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk      Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682    Host – Andy Coulson   CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering   With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected] transcipthttps://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/david-tait-on-how-he-turned-the-darkest-of-secret-crises-into-a-superpower/

As regular listeners and viewers will know, at the end of all our conversations we ask our guests for their three crisis comforts; their go-tos for inspiration and strength during the challenging times. Short but perfectly formed advice for getting you through the tough moments.  Over the years we have heard some incredibly interesting and more importantly, useful tips for anyone who might be feeling the weight of their own problems.    In this short episode – Julia Hobsbawm – one of the world’s most connected women - shares her three crisis comforts.  Full episode  https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/julia-hobsbawm-on-battling-sepsis-facing-down-failure-and-being-a-jew-who-doesnt-support-israel/ BookWorking Assumptions: What We Thought We Knew About Work Before Covid and Generative AI - And What We Know Now, 2024.  Links    Julia’s Podcast: The Nowhere Office Julia’s SoulCycle: https://www.justgiving.com/page/julia-hobsbawmsixtysoulcyclesforjessica   Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm    Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk      Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682    Host – Andy Coulson   CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering   With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]   

Julia Hobsbawm is the award-winning author, commentator, publisher and, quite possibly, one of the world’s most connected women.  During the course of her brilliant career, Julia has faced serious business, personal and health crises and yet … she strides on, time and time again, with a drive and resilience – and a sense of humour – from which we can all learn.    From living in the shadow of her renowned father, the Communist historian, Eric Hobsbawm, to founding – and in one instance closing - her own media companies, receiving an OBE and writing seven books … Julia’s is a life littered with triumph and crisis. Notably, in this conversation, she talks powerfully and candidly about the ‘identity crisis’ of being a Jewish woman who does not stand with Israel in the war with Gaza.  Her latest book Working Assumptions is a must read for anyone concerned about the future of work … and the workplace crisis business leaders are now wrestling with.  BookWorking Assumptions: What We Thought We Knew About Work Before Covid and Generative AI - And What We Know Now, 2024.  Links    Julia’s Podcast: The Nowhere OfficeJulia’s SoulCycle: https://www.justgiving.com/page/julia-hobsbawmsixtysoulcyclesforjessica Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm    Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk      Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682    Host – Andy Coulson   CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering   With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]   Transcripthttps://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/julia-hobsbawm-on-battling-sepsis-facing-down-failure-and-being-a-jew-who-doesnt-support-israel/

As regular listeners and viewers will know, at the end of all our conversations we ask our guests for their three crisis comforts; their go-tos for inspiration and strength during the challenging times. Short but perfectly formed advice for getting you through the tough moments.  Over the years we have heard some incredibly interesting and more importantly, useful tips for anyone who might be feeling the weight of their own problems.    In this short episode - Charlie Webster – an award-winning broadcaster, journalist, author, documentary maker, producer and campaigner, who has achieved all this whilst carrying the weight of so much personal trauma - shares her three crisis comforts.  Full episodehttps://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/charlie-webster-on-managing-trauma-confronting-abuse-and-being-given-24-hours-to-live/  BookWhy it’s OK to Talk About Trauma, 2024.  Links    Charlie’s Podcasts: Undiscussable, Surviving El Chapo, ScamandaCharlie’s Documentary: Nowhere to Run – Abused by our Coach  Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm    Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk      Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682Photo Copyright: Laura Ribatallada    Host – Andy Coulson   CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering   With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected] trancripthttps://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/charlie-websters-crisis-comforts/

The award-winning broadcaster, journalist, author, documentary maker, producer and campaigner Charlie Webster is a woman with a turbo-charged work ethic. Though perhaps her greatest superpower is her resilience. A resilience that has seen her achieve all this whilst carrying the weight of so much personal trauma.Charlie was verbally and physically abused by her stepfather and as a teenager she was sexually abused, along with a number of other girls, by her running coach…a truly tragic story that she told she brilliantly in the BBC documentary, Nowhere to Run. Then, in 2016, after completing a 3,000-mile bike ride to Rio, Charlie contracted a rare strain of malaria and was put into a coma with doctors fearing that she may not last the night.  How she managed these crises is now the subject of Charlie’s brilliant new book ‘Why it’s Okay to Talk About Trauma’ – a manual for anyone facing personal challenge.  BookWhy it’s OK to Talk About Trauma, 2024.  Links    Charlie’s Podcasts: Undiscussable, Surviving El Chapo, ScamandaCharlie’s Documentary: Nowhere to Run – Abused by our Coach  Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm    Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk      Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682Photo Copyright: Laura Ribatallada    Host – Andy Coulson   CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering   With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]   Full transcript: https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/charlie-webster-on-managing-trauma-confronting-abuse-and-being-given-24-hours-to-live/

As regular listeners and viewers will know, at the end of all our conversations we ask our guests for their three crisis comforts; their go-tos for inspiration and strength during the challenging times. Short but perfectly formed advice for getting you through the tough moments.     Over the years we have heard some incredibly interesting and more importantly, useful tips for anyone who might be feeling the weight of their own problems.     In this short episode – Revd. Jonathan Aitken - a man who has survived and thrived over eight decades of triumph and crisis – shares his three crisis comforts.  Full episodehttps://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/jonathan-aitken-on-prison-priesthood-and-purpose/    Links    Aitken is a trustee of the Saïd Foundation, McDonald Agape Foundation, and Trinity Forum Europe. Aitken is Honorary President of Tempus Novo and Patron of CSW. Aitken is the founder of Chance to Change Foundation/Friends of Pentonville.  BooksLetters for the Ages Behind Bars: Letters from History's Most Famous Prisoners, 2024.Doing Time: A spiritual survival guide, 2021.Porridge and Passion, 2005.Pride and Perjury, 2000.  Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm    Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk      Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682    Host – Andy Coulson   CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Zach Ellis and Mabel Pickering   With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]   Full transcript: https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/jonathan-aitkens-crisis-comforts/ 

The Reverend Jonathan Aitken has survived and thrived over eight decades of triumph and crisis. The former government minister, author, ordained prison chaplain and priest and, like me, a former inmate of Belmarsh prison – Jonathan has a lifetime of stories to tell and wisdom to impart. From spending childhood years battling TB to working as a reporter in Saigon; to being tipped as a future Prime Minister described as ‘not just gilded but golden’ from pleading guilty and being sentenced for perjury, to finding faith and rebuilding his life’s purpose as a priest - Jonathan has seen and been through it all. Jonathan’s most recent crisis almost claimed his life. But, throughout it all he has pushed on and pushed through with a sense of resilience – and an incredible rate of productivity - that is truly inspiring and from which I think we can all learn.  Links    Aitken is a trustee of the Saïd Foundation, McDonald Agape Foundation, and Trinity Forum Europe. Aitken is Honorary President of Tempus Novo and Patron of CSW.Aitken is the founder of Chance to Change Foundation/Friends of Pentonville.  BooksLetters for the Ages Behind Bars: Letters from History's Most Famous Prisoners, 2024.Doing Time: A spiritual survival guide, 2021.Porridge and Passion, 2005.Pride and Perjury, 2000.  Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm    Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk      Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682  Host – Andy Coulson   CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Zach Ellis and Mabel Pickering   With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]     Key Words #prison #priesthood #purpose #politician #faith #family  Full transcript: https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/jonathan-aitken-on-prison-priesthood-and-purpose/     

As regular listeners and viewers will know, at the end of all our conversations we ask our guests for their three crisis comforts; their go-tos for inspiration and strength during the challenging times. Short but perfectly formed advice for getting you through the tough moments. Over the years we have heard some incredibly interesting and more importantly, useful tips for anyone who might be feeling the weight of their own problems.     In this short episode - Three Dads Walking – a trio of remarkable men who connected over the loss of their daughters, Sophie, Beth and Emily, to suicide, share their three crisis comforts.   Please remember - if you, or anyone you know is having or have had suicidal thoughts, you can reach out to Papyrus UK suicide prevention on 0800 068 4141.  Full episode: https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/three-dads-walking-on-suicide-grief-and-finding-light-in-the-darkest-of-places/Links    Three Dads Walking: 300 Miles of Hope: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Dads-Walking-Miles-Hope/dp/14721484443 Dads Walking https://www.3dadswalking.uk/PAPYRUS: https://www.papyrus-uk.org/Papyrus has been campaigning for a suicide-safer internet for nearly twenty years. Do you want to ensure technology companies are held accountable for the safety of users on their platforms? Download their draft letter to send to your local MP here: https://www.papyrus-uk.org/online-safety-bill-write-to-your-mp/Send your letter to your MP here: https://www.writetothem.com/  Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm    Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk      Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682    Host – Andy Coulson   CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Zach Ellis and Mabel Pickering   With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global    For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]      Full transcript:   https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/three-dads-walking-crisis-comforts/