CAT BURNS: AUTISM MADE ME FEEL I WAS DOING LIFE WRONG

Dr. Aliza Pressman is a renowned childhood expert and developmental psychologist with two decades of experience; she also has a hugely successful podcast and has written multiple books about how to raise good humans. I was excited to speak to her as the topic of children becomes more and more relevant in my life…Aliza chatted to me about the incredible way both children and parents’ brains develop, the importance of boundaries and structure in nurturing a child. Our conversation goes beyond the research, giving into the realities of parenting, the power of secure attachment and how our own inner child shapes the way we raise our kids.This conversation reminded me that there is no one size fits all approach with parenting - it’s a journey, not a test.You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast and if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] if you want to listen to more of Dr. Aliza you can find her podcast Raising Good Humans here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCujIiYYaZ3vI1ZE9VBts?si=36e97be6841e4bd7--THE CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneAssistant Producer: Gurlina HeerEditor: Dan KingVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura CoughlanGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ItalianBach is a hugely successful digital star with close to 5million followers; he’s someone who relentlessly works and studies his craft so I was fascinated to have him in the studio to find out about not only how he’s building his business, but where that drive and motivation comes from. Isaac chatted to me about how he chose his alias, ItalianBach, and his first forays into making content. Together we joked about some of our most embarrassing moments from being anxious children and how, despite experiencing burnout from time to time, the persistent desire to keep creating content will never abate. This conversation was truly engrossing for anyone who loves YouTube and how sometimes the oldest and simplest tricks will always be the best. You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast and if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneAssistant Producer: Gurlina HeerVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura CoughlanGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ekin-Su graced our television screens in 2022, winning Love Island, earning a place as royalty on the show. Since then, she’s been heralded as both genuine and fake. In this exclusive interview, Ekin opens up about the reality of putting yourself out there…Ekin is a producer’s dream - she brings high drama, hilarious moments and meme-able content to anything she appears on. But before rising to fame, she had a tough time at school with bullying and developed a strange relationship with her appearance, placing too much value on her looks alone. After her huge success on Love Island Season 8, she fell into a cycle of needing external approval, culminating in appearing on Celebrity Big Brother in 2024, which she exited to boos, transporting her back to the messages her school bullies would make her believe. Feeling like she’d hit rock bottom, the only place to go was up…This conversation reminded me that you can never judge a book by its cover, and how, once we learn to love ourselves, we can find true happiness.You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast and if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneAssistant Producer: Gurlina HeerVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura CoughlanGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mo Gilligan is a very funny man - he’s one of the biggest comedians in the UK, he’s hosted the BRITs, numerous TV shows and is currently on a world tour. He’s hugely successful, but what happens when you achieve all your dreams? Do you feel fulfilled? Or lost without that direction of a goal? Mo’s someone I’ve wanted to have on the show for a while, so I’m really excited to have him join me on the show this week.Mo chatted to me about his journey - from growing up on an estate and fostering a sense of community, to being catapulted into the limelight when his comedy skits went viral. He was candid about how difficult he found that time and his late 20s; the pressure, the expectations, and the weight of success didn’t fulfil him in the way he’d imagined. And as someone who is also dyslexic, we bonded over how being the class clown was both a way to connect and a survival tool in school. Looking back, he credits his younger self—the daydreamer who never took life too seriously—with shaping the comedian he is today.This conversation is a reminder that no matter how successful someone looks from the outside, we all face struggles. And sometimes, the most important thing we can do is give ourselves permission to feel.You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast and if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneAssistant Producer: Gurlina HeerVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura CoughlanGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rory Sutherland is one of my heroes. You might not know his name, but you’ve definitely been influenced by his work— as the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK he has shaped the face of marketing and advertising as we know it today. He’s also become a recent TikTok phenomenon as others have realised what an absolute genius this man is. I was beyond excited to have him join me on the show.Rory is not only a marketeer, but an expert in behavioural science, talking me through how trends work and change over time. We spoke about memetics; how a herd mentality can massively dictate our tastes and the important role social awkwardness plays in swaying opinions. I also asked him about the best and worst marketing successes and failures, from Ryanair to bubble tea, nuclear power to wearing shorts in winter.This conversation was brimming with great advice - it’s definitely a conversation I’ll be coming back to; my main takeaway was to never blindly follow logic, but to question and push to boundaries to create something new!You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast and if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] you or anyone you know has been affected by suicidal thoughts, you can head to CALM to find support: www.thecalmzone.net--THE CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneAssistant Producer: Gurlina HeerVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura CoughlanGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amol Rajan is a master of tough conversations - from conducting Phillip Schofield’s first interview to speaking to the likes of Novak Djokovic, Richard Branson and Greta Thunberg. However, I never imagined that I would find my conversation with Amol so challenging for myself, effortlessly opening me up.Having become the editor of the Independent aged 29, Amol’s hard work ethic has seen him take over from Jeremy Paxman as host of University Challenge and presenting Radio 4’s Today Programme. But behind the glamour of an illustrious career, Amol and his wife were living through the rollercoaster of IVF and grieving the loss of his father. We talk about our relationships with our fathers and cherishing the time we have together.This conversation went a direction I did not foresee but am so thankful for - it reminded me of the power of conversation and connection to unlock parts of ourselves perhaps we didn’t realise we had inside.You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast and if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] you or anyone you know has been affected by suicidal thoughts, you can head to CALM to find support: www.thecalmzone.net--THE CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneAssistant Producer: Gurlina HeerVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura CoughlanGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cat Burns released a song on TikTok during lockdown, and quickly rose to becoming one of the UK’s best-selling female artists and a three-time BRIT Award nominee.At just 24, her success is remarkable, but what struck me most was her wisdom and self-awareness. As someone who is also neurodivergent, I was excited to connect with her, and we bonded over our shared experiences of navigating life in our own unique way.Cat shared how she finds small talk a challenge so we dived right in to the good stuff… She opened up about the lessons she’s learn from grief, how understanding her neurodiversity has given her new insight into her relationship with her father, who she also lost four years ago, and we exchanged anecdotes of heartbreak.This conversation is a reminder of why taking the time to understand our differences can actually make us feel closer and more connected.You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast and if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneAssistant Producer: Gurlina HeerEditor: Dan KingVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura CoughlanGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Julie is a psychologist who started putting videos on TikTok to make information about mental health more accessible but she never dreamed her videos would become as big as they did… With an audience of over 7 million, and the biggest-selling book of 2022, she’s someone I’ve wanted to chat to for a long time because the work she does is truly incredible.What I love most about Dr Julie is her refreshing honesty - she never claims to have it all figured out, and she’s so clear in her explanations. She shared insight into relationships, from why we avoid difficult conversations to how past experiences shape our reactions. She explained why we’re often drawn to familiar dynamics, even when they’ve previously been unhealthy, and how to break the cycle. We also explored friendship, the importance of allowing these relationships to evolve and sometimes let go too.This conversation is a powerful reminder that, in taking the time to understand ourselves, we can shape our futures as more self-aware and empathetic people.You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast and if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] if you want to read Dr. Julie's latest book, Open When...: www.amazon.co.uk/Open-When-Instant-Sunday-Bestseller/dp/0241663938--THE CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneAssistant Producer: Gurlina HeerEditor: Dan KingVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura CoughlanGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've got a brand new show joining the JamPot family and we wanted to share a little taste with you! This is Mad, Sad & Bad with Paloma Faith...If you like the sound of it and want to hear the rest of the episode and MORE, go follow us wherever you find your podcasts - there are some absolutely amazing guests coming up - you won't want to miss out!We're also on YouTube, Instagram and Tiktok @madsadbadpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up in the Valleys, to London’s West End to the big screen in Hollywood, Luke Evans joins me in the studio and his story is incredible!Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, in a strict religious community, Luke knew his true identity was in conflict with his beliefs. After persistent bullying throughout his schooling, at age 16, he left home, and his new life began. From strength to strength, Luke’s career has seen him star in over 40 movies, but the life he left behind was one he knew he’d never be able to return to fully. Despite being disfellowshipped from the church, his parents never wavered in their support for him - something that really moved meThis conversation is a powerful testament to resilience, self-belief, and the importance of family. You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast and if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] if you'd like to read Luke's amazing book, 'Boy From The Valleys' you can find it here: www.amazon.co.uk/Boy-Valleys-My-unexpected-journey/dp/1529917859--THE CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneEditor: Ben JohnsAssistant Producer: Gurlina HeerVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura CoughlanGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.