VANESSA WILLIAMS: Being the First Black Miss America Changed My Life - But Came at a Cost

Do you ever struggle with confidence? Or feel unsure of who you are or, who you’re meant to be? This Great Moment is for anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t quite fit in. Yungblud, aka Dom Harrison, was our very first guest on Great Company, and after his HUGE Grammys win, it felt only right to revisit this conversation. Dom opens up about the difference between himself and the person he becomes on stage. He explains why creating Yungblud wasn’t a choice, but something he needed - a way to feel confident, accepted and like he truly belongs.Listen to the full episode HERE!If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake JiSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Thompson and I grew up together on Made in Chelsea. What started as a friendship on the show became something much deeper - he became like a brother to me. We spoke every day and he was there for me through some of the hardest moments in my life.Then everything changed. We had our biggest fallout and it all played out on TV.Since then, we’ve rebuilt our friendship. I’ve watched Sam turn one of the toughest years of his life into one of his best. This conversation looks back at what broke us and what brought us back together.We cover:- Growing up on Made In Chelsea- Our biggest fallout and the phone call that brought us back together- Sam’s first heartbreak and what it’s taught him- Wanting to be a dad and Sam’s fear that time is running out- Why 2025 ended up being Sam’s best year yetThis conversation is about how our hardest years can end up teaching us the most - and how it’s never too late to say sorry.Sam Thompson is Great Company.Sam's podcast with co-host Pete Wicks, Staying Relevant is available wherever you get your podcasts. Sam’s new ITV show ‘Celebrity Sabotage’ comes to your screens in February 2026. Sam is a proud ambassador for ADHD UK - please see here for more information, www.adhduk.co.uk.If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] This episode is sponsored by The AA, the UK’s No.1 breakdown provider. It’s OK with the AA, they’re the fastest major breakdown provider with more patrols up and down the country, 24/7, 365 days a year. So, if you want that peace of mind and be back on the road in no time - join today at theaa.com/great T&Cs apply. Verify claims at theaa.com/bestTHE CREDITS Executive Producer: Ewan Newbigging-ListerProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake Ji & Josh BennettSocial Media: Laura CoughlanAudio: Rafi Amsili Geovannetti Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you doing dry January? Curious about sober living? Or trying to be more mindful about what you eat and drink? This Great Moment is for you. Dr Federica Amati is a leading expert and Head Nutritionist at the health app ZOE. She was one of our first ever guests on Great Company and she completely changed the way I think about alcohol.In this Great Moment, Dr Amati reveals the dangerous link between alcohol and breast cancer, explains why every unit matters and shares simple changes we can all make to our diet to live a happier, healthier life.Listen to the full episode HERE!If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake JiSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa Williams is an absolute powerhouse. She’s a Grammy-nominated recording artist, an award-winning actor and a global cultural icon, known for roles in Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives and currently starring as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada on the West End.At just 20 years old, Vanessa became the first Black woman to win the Miss America crown. It was a historic moment that changed her life overnight. But making history came at a cost: she faced de*th threats, FBI protection and a level of public scrutiny few could imagine.In this episode, we cover:How Vanessa broke barriers as the first Black woman to win Miss America Navigating de*th threats and hate after her win Singing live at the Super Bowl and the OscarsAging on camera and her thoughts on cosmetic surgeryWhat Vanessa's mum told Elton John when they metThis is a conversation about strength, resilience and refusing to be defined by other people.Vanessa Williams is Great Company. If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] This episode is sponsored by The AA, the UK’s No.1 breakdown provider. It’s OK with the AA, they’re the fastest major breakdown provider with more patrols up and down the country, 24/7, 365 days a year. So, if you want that peace of mind and be back on the road in no time - Join today at theaa.com/great T&Cs apply. Verify claims a theaa.com/bestTHE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen Burke & Rema MukenaAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake Ji & Josh BennettSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grief is something we’ll all experience at some point in our lives and that can feel quite daunting. But my conversation on Great Company with the incredible singer-songwriter Cat Burns completely changed the way I think about it.In this Great Moment, Cat opens up about losing her dad and the impact that grief had on her. She reflects on how it reshaped the way she connects others, and why people who experience loss are often some of the most loving people you’ll ever meet.Listen to the full episode HERE!If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake JiSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MIKA’s music is full of colour. It’s bold, joyful and instantly recognisable. It’s the kind of music that lifts you up and meeting MIKA, that same energy radiates through.He’s lived a fascinating life, shaped by bright moments and darker ones too. In this conversation, we talk about the years before his success, the awkwardness of putting yourself out there and how, at his treasured white piano, he found a place of freedom where creativity led, identity didn’t need explaining and he could be himself.We cover:- Fleeing Beirut with his family after civil war broke out- The teacher who tormented him and why he was forced to leave school- How music became a warm ‘hug’ when everything else fell apart- Turning up at Warner Music aged 12 with his demo tracks- Celebrating his sexuality through his music- Why embarrassment can be a force of goodMIKA’s story is a reminder that the things that make us different are often the very things that save us.MIKA is Great Company.If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you struggling to find your purpose? Unsure what - or who - you should be investing your time in. Well, this is a conversation you need to hear.Robin Sharma is one of the world’s top leadership experts and author of one of my favourite books, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. He helps people discover their “why” and grow into the best version of themselves.In this Great Moment, Robin challenged me to ask the hard questions: Are we really investing our time in the right places? He reminded me that often our purpose is right in front of us - we just need to notice it.Listen to the full episode HERE!If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake JiSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all want to be happy and live a good life but how do we actually get there? It’s a big question, and one that most of us don’t have a clear answer to. This episode will help you find your happiest self.In fact, we’re often told that money, status and success are the keys to happiness. But according to professor and psychiatrist Dr Robert Waldinger, we’ve been getting it wrong.Dr Waldinger is the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest-running study on happiness ever conducted. I was so excited to sit down with him to discuss what more than 85 years of research reveals about living a good life and how we can all make this year the happiest year of our lives - starting now.We cover:What really matters for long-term happinessHow to live a happy lifeWhy loneliness is one of the biggest threats to our wellbeingWhat we get wrong about happiness and how to get it rightThe most common unhealthy traits in our relationshipsSimple ways to meet people and make meaningful connectionsThis conversation will leave you feeling hopeful and give you a renewed appreciation for the people in your life.Dr Robert Waldinger is Great Company.Learn more about Dr Waldinger's book 'The Good Life ' HEREIf you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter  Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year’s Eve! As we get ready for a new year, I wanted to revisit one of my all-time favourite episodes of Great Company with the incredible Alain de Botton. I’ve been lucky enough to sit down with Alain not once, but twice on the show and every time I speak to him, I come away feeling calmer, a little wiser and thinking about life in a new way. I keep coming back to this episode because every time I do, I take something new from it. Alain’s insights into human connection, love and emotional growth are fascinating. They’ve shaped how I think about my relationships, my friendships and what it really means to grow into the best version of ourselves. We cover: How to navigate heartbreak Why our childhood is so informative on the rest of our lives Why funny people often have sad parents How attachment styles and past experiences can shape the way we love What actually is the meaning of life This conversation is a gentle reminder that becoming a “new you” often starts with understanding the old one.Alain De Botton is Great Company. If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake Ji & Josh BennettSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wow. What a year.2025 has been an unforgettable year for Great Company. We’ve had so many incredible guests who’ve shared funny, inspiring and truly special conversations on the show. To celebrate another amazing year, I wanted to look back at some of those moments with you. These are conversations that made me see things differently, learn new things and reminded me how powerful it is to connect with others.In this episode, we look back at six incredible guests: Cat Burns on small talk Riordan Maynard’s time in US prisonJessie J opening up about her cancer diagnosis Amol Rajan on coping with the loss of his Dad Spencer Matthews reflecting on our friendship Alain de Botton on how to make friends and build meaningful connectionsYou can listen to their full episodes here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Kd2M4haIslbND5DN4E08C - CAT BURNS https://open.spotify.com/episode/635kWmmWQ0OL0QrtBbIzj1 - RIORDAN https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CbT2rzMmUQl67iBsIEwRW - JESSIE J https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MnO1ZfAcdJgDgdsVyu8Kd - AMOL RAJAN https://open.spotify.com/episode/6raoq8XWiSxRe1vkABkCev - SPENCER MATTHEWShttps://open.spotify.com/episode/3gfbmWug0Od4MiwP5J0Xaq - ALAIN DE BOTTONAnd a BIG thanks to you for listening to the show - whether you’ve been here from the beginning or it’s a recent find, I really appreciate every single listen so thank you! YOU are Great Company. If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake Ji & Josh BennettSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.