Explore every episode of the podcast Crisis What Crisis with Andy Coulson

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	Title	Pub. Date	Duration
	RICHARD DEARLOVE'S CRISIS COMPASS	03 Nov 2026	00:05:15
Former Chief of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove has spent much of his life at the heart of crises that have shaped the world. From Cold War espionage behind the Iron Curtain to 9/11, the war in Afghanistan and even a rocket attack on MI6 headquarters, Richard knows what it means to operate under extraordinary pressure. As the man known as ‘C’, he was responsible for decisions with Britain's national security at stake. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis?, I sit down with Richard to discuss his Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation he turns to when facing crisis — a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. If you haven’t heard our full conversation yet, we explore his extraordinary 38-year career in intelligence, from being recruited at just 21 to leading MI6 through 9/11, and what a lifetime in the shadows has taught him about resilience, making difficult decisions and keeping a cool head in a crisis. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 01:07 A Person – His wife Rosalind, the influence of his parents and his instinct for self-reliance. 01:43 A Habit – Fly-fishing. The challenge of fishing on the Tamar and the Test, where nothing else matters. 02:22 A Comfort – Joseph Conrad’s Nostromo, a good glass of red wine and a collection of 700 bottles. 03:37 A Piece of Advice – Making a decision is the easy part. The real challenge is putting it into action. FOLLOW THE ONE DECISION PODCAST https://www.instagram.com/onedecisionpodcast/ LISTEN TO THE ONE DECISION PODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/one-decision/id1583753742 FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Gem Hall (video)
	SIR RICHARD DEARLOVE: The Making of a Spymaster	27 Oct 2026	00:59:02
Sir Richard Dearlove is one of the world’s greatest living spymasters. He joined MI6 in 1966 at the age of 21, and over nearly four decades ran agents under intense Cold War surveillance in Nairobi, Prague, Paris, Geneva and Washington, before rising in 1999 to become Chief of the Service — the role known simply as C. His five years at the top were among the most turbulent in the Service’s history: his headquarters was struck by a rocket, 9/11 remade the global security landscape, and Britain went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since leaving the shadows, Sir Richard has built a second, very public life — Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, business adviser, outspoken commentator, and co-host of the hugely successful foreign-affairs podcast One Decision. In this conversation, Andy Coulson lifts the bonnet, as far as Sir Richard will allow, on the experiences that formed him, the decisions that defined him, and the lessons a lifetime in intelligence can offer the rest of us. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing a crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FOUR LESSONS FROM RICHARD Grasp your opportunities – don’t wait for luck. A successful career isn’t handed to you by chance. It comes from spotting the opening when it appears, and trusting your instinct for how to handle it. Build a team you can trust. Pick dependable, loyal, focused people, lean on them, and let them carry the weight. Self-pity gets you nowhere. The Dearlove family creed was simple: you get on with life. Whatever you’re facing, someone has faced worse and carried on. The most dangerous problems don’t arrive with a bang; they build quietly while no one's looking. Start putting them right today, not when it’s too late. CHAPTERS 07:15 – What resilience really means to a spymaster 08:54 – His father: an amputee who won Olympic silver on crutches 11:50 – Boarding school at four, and the making of a tough character 13:18 – The tap on the shoulder: joining MI6 at 21 18:58 – Prague: a life lived under constant surveillance 21:07 – Running a double agent behind the Iron Curtain 24:36 – How to read who holds up under pressure – and who cracks 28:03 – Becoming C 30:22 – The rocket attack on MI6 33:36 – 9/11: a shock, but not a surprise 39:07 – Iraq, the intelligence, and his quarrel with Chilcot 42:10 – Leaving the Service 46:51 – Russia, China and the end of the rules-based order 56:25 – Bond, Le Carré, and the myth of MI6 FOLLOW THE ONE DECISION PODCAST https://www.instagram.com/onedecisionpodcast/ LISTEN TO THE ONE DECISION PODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/one-decision/id1583753742 FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Gem Hall (video)
	RICHARD COLES'S CRISIS COMPASS	20 Oct 2026	00:03:19
Reverend Richard Coles has lived multiple lives — pop star, priest, broadcaster, novelist. But the greatest crisis of his life came in the form of someone he loved deeply. Richard watched helplessly as his partner David grappled with an addiction that cost David his job, his licence from the bishop, and ultimately his life. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Richard to discuss his Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that he turns to in order to help survive a crisis – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. If you haven’t heard the full conversation yet — his journey from pop star to priest, the AIDS epidemic that shaped his generation, his years with David, and what he’s learned about hope in the aftermath of loss — go back and find it in the feed. It’s well worth your time. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 00:50 A Person – His circle of friends since his teenage years, now neighbours on the South Coast. 01:23 A Habit – Singing. Every Tuesday in the Brighton Festival Chorus. 01:49 A Comfort – Cooking. The whole ritual, start to finish — yes, including the washing up 02:31 A Piece of Advice – From a friend’s motto: “Be authentic and engage.” Work out who you are. Step into the world. BUY RICHARD’S BOOK A Carol and a Killing – https://geni.us/ACAROLANDAKILLING FOLLOW RICHARD COLES Instagram – www.instagram.com/revrichardcoles/?hl=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio).
	REVEREND RICHARD COLES: Beginning Again When the Life You Knew Is Taken Away	13 Oct 2026	00:54:16
Few people have lived as many lives as Richard Coles. In the 1980s he was the keyboard-playing half of the Communards, whose “Don’t Leave Me This Way” was the biggest-selling single of 1986 – taking him, almost overnight, from the dole queue to flying aboard Concorde and the full pop-star life. Then, the gay socialist atheist who set out, in all seriousness, to bring down the government through the power of pop, became, of all things, a Church of England priest. Then a celebrated broadcaster, a best-selling novelist, a Strictly contestant, and the inspiration for the BBC sitcom Rev. But behind the reinventions runs a thread of profound loss. As AIDS swept through his world in the 1980s, Richard watched a third of his circle die – the formative crisis, he says, of his adult life. At 17, before any of the fame, he survived a breakdown and an overdose he fully intended to be his last act. And decades later came the greatest loss of all: his partner David. In this conversation, Andy Coulson explores a life in which crisis has repeatedly been the doorway to transformation – and what Richard has learned about loss, faith, forgiveness, and how we begin again when the life we knew is taken from us. His latest crime novella, A Carol and a Killing, is out this month. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FOUR LESSONS FROM RICHARD Sometimes you just have to step forward. You may be uncertain, apprehensive, but stepping forward, into the unknown, is how a new chapter begins. Crises are unavoidable; the opportunity is in not being defeated by them. When you get something badly wrong, face it, own it, make amends – and then let yourself be forgiven. Richard did a thing he remains ashamed of. What mattered wasn’t that he deserved forgiveness, but that he sought it, took his medicine, and learned to live with having been forgiven. Get less interested in yourself. The habits of self-loathing are hard to shake, but Richard found relief not through endless self-examination but through caring less about his own importance – and turning his attention outward, to other people. CHAPTERS 05:34 – Realising he was gay in a hostile world 12:10 – Seventeen, a breakdown, and the overdose he meant to be final 15:37 – Escape to London, and the friendships that still anchor him 18:26 – Bringing down the government through the power of pop 20:50 – The socialists who were, secretly, perfect Thatcherites 21:40 – Dole queue to Concorde – and the toll fame takes 29:35 – AIDS – the formative crisis 31:29 – The lie he told, the shame he carries, and seeking forgiveness 35:02 – The atheist who walked into a church and came out a believer 38:07 – Walking away from a life he loved to train for the priesthood 45:21 – Loving an addict 50:51 – Learning to live a life around the loss, not without it BUY RICHARD’S BOOK A Carol and a Killing – https://geni.us/ACAROLANDAKILLING FOLLOW RICHARD COLES Instagram – www.instagram.com/revrichardcoles/?hl=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video), Gem Hall (video).
	JO TUTCHENER SHARP'S CRISIS COMPASS	06 Oct 2026	00:08:27
Jo Tutchener Sharp is the founder of fashion brand Scamp & Dude. In 2015, with two young boys at home, she suffered a brain haemorrhage and was told she needed major, life-saving surgery. Faced as she saw it with the pearly gates, she felt regret that her positive impact on the world had not been significant enough — so she made herself a promise. If she survived, she would change all that... In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Jo to discuss her Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that she turns to in order to help survive a crisis – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. Our full conversation was recorded live at the BizFest Festival in Essex. If you haven't heard it yet, go back and find it in the feed. It's well worth your time. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 01:29 A Person – Her husband Rob, business partner and the man who literally saved her life in a hospital room 03:55 A Habit – Paddle every morning. At the club she's not Scamp & Dude Jo, she's Paddle Jo 05:10 A Comfort – A hot bubble bath with the door locked, and cold-water lake swims — being in water 05:50 A Piece of Advice – Stay positive. Good things can come from bad things, if your mind is open to it FOLLOW JO Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/scampanddudejo/?hl=en FOLLOW SCAMP & DUDE Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/scampanddude/?hl=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio)
	JO TUTCHENER SHARP: I faced the pearly gates and felt regret	29 Sep 2026	00:30:20
Recorded live at BizFest in Essex, this is the story of how a near-death moment became a £16 million business. Jo Tutchener Sharp had built a successful career – running the beauty division of Purple PR, leading communications at Estée Lauder, then founding her own agency, Beauty Scene, and growing it to a turnover of around £5 million. In 2015, with two young boys at home, she decided to step away. But the stress of the exit took a physical toll, and shortly afterwards she suffered a brain haemorrhage that could bleed again at any moment, with potentially fatal consequences. Facing what she calls her "pearly gates" moment, Jo was overwhelmed not by fear but by regret – the feeling that, were she to die tomorrow, she would not have made a big enough mark on the world. So Jo made herself a promise: if she survived, she would dedicate the rest of her life to doing good. Just eleven months after brain surgery, Scamp & Dude was born, a clothing brand with purpose stitched into its heart. Today Scamp & Dude turns over £16 million a year, has donated 4.5 million products to charitable causes, and given more than 95,000 scarves to women starting chemotherapy. For her work Jo was awarded an OBE for services to fashion and charity. In this business episode, Andy Coulson explores how Jo turned a life-threatening crisis into a moment of opportunity, and what it really takes to build a brand where purpose, family and commercial success pull in the same direction. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FOUR LESSONS FROM JO Take the calculated risk, not the leap of faith. Jo lined up five clients and £25,000 a month in fees before she resigned from Estée Lauder. De-risk the jump before you make it. Build the business around the life you actually want. Jo walked away from a £5m agency because it cost her time with her kids. Scamp & Dude was designed the opposite way – with her family built into it. Success isn't just the turnover; it's whether the business gives you the life you wanted. Purpose is the engine that keeps you going when it gets hard. For Jo it's charity; for you it might be something else entirely – but find the reason you're really doing it, because that's what stops you quitting. Awareness can be worth more than margin. Know which parts of your business are there to make money and which are there to build the brand, and don't confuse the two. CHAPTERS 07:04 – Why a great job still wasn't enough 08:50 – How to de-risk backing yourself before you jump 10:11 – Walking away from a £5m business to get her life back 10:24 – Stress and the warning she ignored 13:54 – Choosing one last Christmas before brain surgery 15:30 – Waking up alive, and the promise made in a hospital bed 19:42 – Hospital bed to product in eleven months 24:34 – The Super Scarf mission, and 95,000 women starting chemo 26:54 – How to turn your hardest moment into your superpower READ MORE ABOUT THE SUPER SCARF MISSION https://scampanddude.com/pages/superscarvesmission FOLLOW JO Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/scampanddudejo/?hl=en FOLLOW SCAMP & DUDE Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/scampanddude/?hl=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	MIKE SOUTAR'S CRISIS COMPASS	22 Sep 2026	00:06:05
Mike Soutar is an entrepreneur, publishing titan and the forensic interviewer familiar to millions from BBC’s The Apprentice. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, Mike shares the four points of personal navigation he relies on when life gets hard: a person, a habit, a comfort and a single piece of advice. If you haven’t heard our full conversation yet, go back and find it in the feed. It’s packed with hard-earned lessons about risk, resilience and leadership. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit https://www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS 00:42 A Person – His wife Bev, the rock and centre of his world 01:27 A Piece of Advice – “A great day in the office is when you lose more arguments than you win” 02:48 A Comfort – The jangly optimism of 1980s Scottish pop 04:28 A Habit – The daily wet-shaving ritual that centres him BUY MIKE'S BOOK Next Gen CEO: Leadership Lessons for an Uncertain World – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Next-Gen-CEO-Lessons-Uncertain/dp/1035095726 FOLLOW MIKE SOUTAR Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mike_soutar/?hl=en LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-soutar/ FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video).
	MIKE SOUTAR: The Apprentice star on the real ingredients for success	15 Sep 2026	01:10:03
Millions know Mike Soutar as the forensic interviewer on The Apprentice, the Scottish voice across the boardroom table for the last 15 years. But long before the television, he built one of the most remarkable careers in British media – on a deceptively simple formula of hard work, optimism and self-belief. In this business episode, we go back to the beginning. Mike started out at 17 writing horoscopes and romantic fiction at DC Thomson in Dundee, working on hot metal presses with a pencil he wasn't allowed to replace until it was a stub. By his early 20s he was editing Smash Hits. He went on to turn FHM into the biggest-selling monthly magazine in Britain, launched some of the country's best-known titles, and sat on the board of IPC when it was sold to Time Warner for more than £1 billion. But the biggest turning point of his career came not in a boardroom, but in a hospital bed. In 2006, at the height of his corporate success, a chicken Caesar wrap left him seriously ill, his organs beginning to fail, unsure whether he'd survive. Lying there, he asked himself whether he had ever really tested himself — and the honest answer was no. So he walked away from the security of corporate life, raised £4 million in five weeks, remortgaged his home and launched ShortList. His new book, Next Gen CEO, is about how the next generation of leaders can navigate an age of AI and uncertainty by becoming, of all things, more human. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FOUR LESSONS FROM MIKE Optimism without a plan is just naivety. When ShortList failed on day one, hope didn't save it, a plan did. Investors back people first, ideas second. Ideas change the moment they meet the real world. What backers are really buying is you. When you're fighting a difficult boss, keep it principled, not personal. Argue for the customer, not for yourself, and keep bringing the data. It's very hard for anyone to argue against a case built on what's genuinely right for the people you serve. Chasing purpose. Mike had sold his company, had the money and the status, and still felt hollow. He thought what was missing was a job, instead it was a purpose.. CHAPTERS 06:38 – Why AI makes human leadership more valuable, not less 10:13 – Whether a self-made career is still possible in a flat economy 14:59 – How instability early on can forge the drive to control your own destiny 21:42 – Fake it till you make it: backing yourself into a job you're not ready for 24:27 – The FHM playbook: build in service of your customer, not your advertiser 28:43 – Why he left a hit at its peak – and what fear of failure does to founders 32:12 – How to stand your ground with a boss who holds all the cards 39:41 – The near-death moment that asked him: have you ever really tested yourself? 44:23 – Losing control, and what to do when you're forced out 46:27 – How he raised £4 million in five weeks – and why investors really said yes 50:16 – The launch-day disaster, and the case for protecting your team from the panic 53:22 – The £1 million opportunity he turned down – and the lesson in why 55:03 – Why success and status left him feeling hollow – and what actually fixed it 59:15 – Knowing when a job isn't worth your reputation, and walking away 01:03:27 – What 15 years on The Apprentice taught him about how to treat people BUY MIKE'S BOOK Next Gen CEO: Leadership Lessons for an Uncertain World – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Next-Gen-CEO-Lessons-Uncertain/dp/1035095726 FOLLOW MIKE SOUTAR Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mike_soutar/?hl=en LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-soutar/ FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	UNDERSTANDING PERSPECTIVE: How to Find It When You Need It Most	08 Sep 2026	00:22:36
Perspective is one of the most useful tools we have in crisis – a way of taking pressure out of a difficult moment, stepping back and working out what really matters. In this special compilation episode of Crisis What Crisis, I share the story of the five most terrifying days of my own life and revisit four extraordinary guests whose lives have been shaped, and sometimes almost undone, by the pursuit of perspective. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 00:41 The worst experience of my life 05:06 Timbaland – the bullet that's still inside him, and why he refuses to take it out 06:05 Dame Stephanie Shirley – the Kindertransport and the neighbours who kept asking, "aren't you lucky to be saved?" 12:48 James Landale – seeing death across a crowded room, and the tank of coloured poison he can still return to 14:30 Rory Stewart – the frozen body in the snow, sitting down happy to die, and the dog that saved him 19:29 The Belmarsh swear jar – how the words you use shape the size of the crisis 21:50 Four things I take from all of this LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODES: Timbaland – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000634317774 Dame Stephanie Shirley – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000680629888 James Landale – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000642157416 Rory Stewart – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000608962048 FOLLOW THE GUESTS: Timbaland – https://www.instagram.com/timbaland/?hl=en Rory Stewart – https://www.instagram.com/rorystewartuk/?hl=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Johnny Seifert (audio)
	UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY: Why It Isn't the Enemy	01 Sep 2026	00:43:01
In this country, one in six of us will experience significant anxiety at some point in our lives. It's an epidemic that doesn't care about class, wealth, gender, age or race – and yet, as this episode argues, anxiety isn't the enemy. It's information. A signal to be read, not a fault to be removed. In this special compilation episode, Andy Coulson draws on his own experience of anxiety attacks and revisits six past guests – a broadcaster, a journalist, a content creator, an adventurer, a designer and a cellist – who each faced anxiety in a very different form and found their own way to live alongside it. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FULL EPISODES: Steve Peters: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000547878428 Christian O'Connell: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000659675816 Bryony Gordon: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000650752366 Alex Goldie: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000729186695 Mark Beaumont: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000618838895 Anya Hindmarch: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000768689727 Julian Lloyd Webber: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000779874143 FOLLOW THE GUESTS: Christian O'Connell: https://www.instagram.com/mrchristianoconnell/?hl=en Bryony Gordon: https://www.instagram.com/bryonygordon/?hl=en Alex Goldie: https://www.instagram.com/goldiealexx/?hl=en Mark Beaumont: https://www.instagram.com/mrmarkbeaumont/?hl=en Anya Hindmarch: https://www.instagram.com/anyahindmarch/?hl=en Julian Lloyd Webber: https://www.instagram.com/julian.lloydwebber/?hl=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Johnny Seifert (audio)
	ERIN BAKER'S CRISIS COMPASS	25 Aug 2026	00:02:52
Most guests give me their Crisis Compass looking back on a crisis they've survived. Erin Baker is different. Her partner died just 12 weeks before this recording, and she is, by her own account, exhausted by the demand to keep being strong. These four points aren't hard-won wisdom viewed from calmer shores — they're the things holding her up as we speak. That, I think, makes them rarer and more valuable than almost any compass I've been given. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Erin to discuss her Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that she turns to in order to help survive a crisis – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. If you haven't heard the full conversation yet, go back and find it in the feed. It's well worth your time. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 00:52 A Person – Her Frant village church community, and the stability they've offered when everything else is in flux 01:23 A Piece of Advice – A day at a time. The most hypocritical advice she could pass on — and the only one that works now 01:57 A Comfort – Writing. It's her career because it was her comfort first 02:09 A Habit – Paint by numbers. Half an hour of something absolutely mindless FOLLOW ERIN'S WRITING Postcards from Grief – https://erinbaker1001.substack.com/ FOLLOW ERIN BAKER Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/erinbakerauto/?hl=en LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-baker-58901a48/ FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	ERIN BAKER: “I'm sick and tired of being resilient”	18 Aug 2026	01:10:17
This is a very unusual episode. It is rare that we would choose to have someone join us on the podcast so close to their crisis – usually our guests come to these conversations with the clarity that a few years' distance can bring. Erin Baker is just weeks on from the death of her partner, James, and still very much living in it. What she offers instead of distance is something rarer: the raw, unfiltered honesty of someone grieving out loud, in real time. A warning – this conversation is powerful and at times very difficult, and some of the themes may be upsetting. Erin Baker is one of the most respected motoring journalists in the country – the youngest and only female motoring editor on Fleet Street in her day. But in the autumn of last year, her life came apart. Her partner of thirteen years, James, was diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal brain tumour, and the blows kept coming: her father died, one of her sons was rushed to hospital, the family dog was put down, and a car was written off in a collision with a deer. Wave after wave, all at once. Then, this year, James died. He was 53. Rather than retreat, Erin made the conscious decision to grieve in public, writing for The Times and keeping a diary on Substack called Postcards from Grief, documenting James's dying, the days since, and the unexpected things his death has taught her. She joins Andy for a conversation about resilience and its limits, about loss and control, about black humour and love, and about what actually carries us through the very worst of it. She is, without a shadow of a doubt, someone we can all learn from. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FOUR LESSONS FROM ERIN Being "strong" can be a trap. If people decide you're resilient, they assume you're coping – and leave you to it. Sometimes the bravest thing is to admit you're not fine, and to ask for the help you need. Honesty is what makes people feel less alone. It's not the tidy, theory-shaped version of grief that helps others but the messy, unguarded truth. Say the thing that feels too close to the bone; it's often the thing someone else desperately needs to hear. You can't control the future, because it doesn't exist yet. Make your plans, but hold them loosely, they're only ideas of what you'd like to happen. Learning to live a day at a time is the only way through. Find your release. For Erin it was writing, walking in nature, even paint-by-numbers – something meditative to pour the fear and grief into. When you can't carry it all in your head, give it somewhere to go. CHAPTERS 03:37 – “I'm sick and tired of being resilient”: the exhaustion of always being the strong 07:52 – Grieving out loud: the decision to write through it 11:55 – The formidable mother, and a childhood that built the muscle 13:55 – Keep buggering on 15:20 – Fighting her way to Cambridge, and up a male-dominated newsroom 20:23 – Meeting James 23:05 – The life that looked perfect from the outside – and wasn't 25:08 – The Amazon night shift: the proudest she ever was of him 30:30 – The diagnosis 39:49 – When the blows kept coming 47:02 – Her son's seizure: the worst thing she's ever seen 51:02 – Learning to hold your plans loosely 53:22 – The last night, and a hug she'll never forget 57:04 – The chaos of loss 1:06:05 – The stranger by the roadside who knew exactly what to say FOLLOW ERIN'S WRITING Postcards from Grief – https://erinbaker1001.substack.com/ FOLLOW ERIN BAKER Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/erinbakerauto/?hl=en LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-baker-58901a48/ FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER'S CRISIS COMPASS	11 Aug 2026	00:05:27
Julian Lloyd Webber spent half a century as one of the world's great cellists — and then had to discover who he was without the instrument that had defined his existence. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, Andy sits down with Julian to discuss his Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that he turns to in order to help survive a crisis – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. If you haven't heard the full conversation yet, go back and find it in the feed. It's well worth your time. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 00:58 A Person – His wife Jiaxin, and why he's not sure he'd have got through it without her 01:20 A Habit – A couple of pints of lager every night 02:49 A Comfort – Leyton Orient 03:25 A Piece of Advice – "Don't waste a second." BUY JULIAN'S BOOK Bows & Arrows – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bows-Arrows-Julian-Lloyd-Webber/dp/1837360588 SEE JULIAN LIVE Julian's Irish tour with his wife, Jiaxin – https://julianlloydwebber.com/events/ FOLLOW JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/julian.lloydwebber/ FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER: The Day the Music Stopped	04 Aug 2026	00:53:04
Julian Lloyd Webber is undoubtedly one of the country's greatest living musicians – the man who, perhaps more than anyone of his generation, took classical music out of the concert hall and into the mainstream. But in October 2013, ten minutes into a recital in a Suffolk seaside town, the power drained from his right arm and he found he could barely draw the bow across his cello. Within six months, at 63, he was forced to retire – unemployed overnight and stripped of the thing that had defined him since he was a boy of thirteen. For half a century, the cello had been Julian's whole life. He toured the world, playing with everyone from Yehudi Menuhin to Elton John, took an Elgar recording to a Brit Award and his brother's Variations to number two in the pop charts. He was the first officially licensed busker on the London Underground and the only classical soloist at the London Olympics closing ceremony. Then, at 64, he sat the first job interview of his life and went on to lead the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire into a £57 million new home, winning it royal status along the way. On his 75th birthday – and while quietly managing a prostate cancer diagnosis – he walked back onto the Wigmore Hall stage and played again. And now, twelve years after the power drained from his arm, Julian is touring – a full run across Ireland this autumn with his cellist wife, Jiaxin. His memoir, Bows & Arrows, is out now, and this conversation is about the abuse he survived as a boy, the instrument he loved and lost, and how you rebuild an identity when the thing that made you who you are is taken away. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing a crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FOUR LESSONS FROM JULIAN Talent and hard work aren't enough on their own – you need passion, because that's the only thing that gets you up to do it all again after a bad night. A second string to your bow can end up saving your life. When you lose the thing that defined you, throw yourself into whatever else genuinely moves you – even if it's nothing like what you did before. Find something that truly absorbs you, and the healing takes care of itself. When a setback knocks you down, picture the alternative. For Julian, the fear of ending up disappointed with his life was the fuel that kept him going. Healing is not forgetting; it's reaching the point where the trauma you carry doesn't drag you down. CHAPTERS 04:01 – Growing up in a chaotic, bohemian home 09:12 – The day on the Tube that took his childhood 11:03 – Why some things you don't get over – and shouldn't have to 15:21 – His father's warning that lit the fire 17:39 – Fifty years at the top: how he kept the flame alive 27:25 – The longest relationship of his life 33:12 – A football bet, a number two record, and a gold disc 35:01 – The night the power drained from his arm 39:02 – Losing your job, your income and your identity overnight 39:59 – The first job interview of his life, at 64 44:22 – The daughter's remark that brought him back to the cello 47:57 – Facing a cancer diagnosis 51:32 – Why he refuses to slow down, even now BUY JULIAN'S BOOK Bows & Arrows – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bows-Arrows-Julian-Lloyd-Webber/dp/1837360588 SEE JULIAN LIVE Julian's Irish tour with his wife, Jiaxin – https://julianlloydwebber.com/events/ FOLLOW JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/julian.lloydwebber/ FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	FRANK GARDNER'S CRISIS COMPASS	28 Jul 2026	00:04:58
Frank Gardner has lived, by his own description, two very different lives — and found a way to carry the best of the first into the second. Twenty years on from the attack in Riyadh that nearly killed him, the BBC Security Correspondent is still reporting from the places most of us wouldn't dare go. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, Andy sits down with Frank to discuss his Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that he turns to in order to help survive a crisis. Frank is the BBC's Security Correspondent and the author of a series of best-selling thrillers — the latest, Ballistic, is out now. If you haven't heard the full conversation yet, go back and find it in the feed. It's well worth your time. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 00:53 A Person – Himself 01:21 A Habit – Lifting his eyes to the horizon, the birdwatcher's discipline of really looking 02:23 A Comfort – Driving. 03:40 A Piece of Advice – Grieve it, deal with it, but don't keep defining yourself by what happened BUY FRANK'S BOOK Ballistic – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/178763549X?tag=prhmarketing2552-21 FOLLOW FRANK GARDNER Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/frank.gardner/?hl=en X – https://x.com/FrankRGardner FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	FRANK GARDNER: The day I should have died	21 Jul 2026	01:02:24
On June 6th 2004, Frank Gardner was in Riyadh filming what was meant to be a routine piece of background footage when an Al-Qaeda cell opened fire. His cameraman, Simon Cumbers, was killed. Frank was shot six times and left for dead. One surgeon later told him he'd arrived at hospital the colour of a lab coat, bleeding from every wound faster than they could pour the plasma in. It was, in the truest sense, the day Frank should have died. That day split his life in two. Before it, he was a restless Arabist who'd hitchhiked across the Middle East with nothing in his pocket, spent a decade in banking, turned down MI6, and talked his way into the BBC in his mid-30s to become its first ever security correspondent. After it, he was partially paralysed and in daily pain – yet back at work within ten months, and has spent the twenty years since reporting from the very places that nearly killed him. He describes crossing an invisible bridge to a new version of himself, this conversation is about what that crossing actually cost. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing a crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FOUR LESSONS FROM FRANK Don't waste your energy mourning what you can no longer change. Pour it into what you still can. When crisis hits, there's a fork in the road. One path is self-pity – and it's entirely justifiable. The other is deciding to make the most of what you've got left. Choosing the second is a daily struggle. Look outwards, not inwards. Fill your life with the things that make you feel useful and alive. Fixating on your own troubles is a trap – curiosity about the world around you is the way out. Volunteer for the work no one else wants – the weekends, the bank holidays, the night shifts. It's how you make yourself indispensable, and how you get your shot when it finally comes. CHAPTERS 05:18 – The daily indignities most people never see 08:57 – Why he refuses to let it define him 11:33 – Where his grit really came from: two extraordinary parents 14:19 – The bold early decisions that shaped a life 20:38 – Turning down MI6 – and the self-awareness to know why 27:45 – How to break into a career when there's no job at the end of it 30:27 – The attack: what actually happened that day 31:02 – Seven months in hospital, and living with the what-ifs 39:45 – The one thing he's still bitter about 42:15 – Losing Simon, and finding a way through the grief 44:37 – "You'll never walk again" – the second hammer blow 48:05 – The letter from the BBC that gave him something to aim for 50:42 – Going back to Saudi Arabia to face it down 53:52 – Why he doesn't spend his life grieving BUY FRANK'S BOOK Ballistic – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/178763549X?tag=prhmarketing2552-21 FOLLOW FRANK GARDNER Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/frank.gardner/?hl=en X – https://x.com/FrankRGardner FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	UNDERSTANDING SHOCK: The body's crisis handbreak	14 Jul 2026	00:24:50
Shock is a fundamental part of almost any crisis. It's a state of complete operating system override which, when left unacknowledged, can turn into something far more damaging. In this special compilation episode, Andy Coulson revisits five past guests who each experienced shock in very different ways, and found very different routes through it. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FULL EPISODES: Johnny Mercer: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000482235919 Rupert Soames: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000700198554 Dr Richard Shepherd: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000533310865 Jill Halfpenny: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000661591052 Kate Bowler: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000762523544 FOLLOW THE GUESTS: Johnny Mercer: https://www.instagram.com/johnnymercermp/?hl=en Dr Richard Shepherd: https://www.instagram.com/drrichardshepherd/?hl=en Jill Halfpenny: https://www.instagram.com/jillhalfpenny/?hl=en Kate Bowler: https://www.instagram.com/katecbowler/?hl=en
	JEREMY KING'S CRISIS COMPASS	07 Jul 2026	00:05:33
Jeremy King is the legendary restaurateur behind Le Caprice, The Ivy, The Wolseley and Simpson's on the Strand. His is a story of extraordinary gambles, of rooms that became London institutions, and of losing the company that carried his own name — and choosing to build all over again in his 70s. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Jeremy to discuss his Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that he turns to in order to help survive a crisis – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. If you haven't heard the full conversation yet, go back and find it in the feed. It's well worth your time. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 00:59 A Person – Himself. The only person he can absolutely trust in a crisis. 02:43 A Habit – Up at 5am, every day, it's the ritual that stabilises him before the world wakes up 03:44 A Comfort – His children, and the different perspective they bring 04:26 A Piece of Advice – Why get inordinately upset about something you'll forget about in future? BUY JEREMY'S BOOK Without Reservation: Lessons from a Life in Restaurants – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Without-Reservation-Lessons-Life-Restaurants/dp/0008599025 FOLLOW JEREMY KING Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jeremyrbking/?hl=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	JEREMY KING: “Let them take your money but never your soul”	30 Jun 2026	01:13:42
In April 2022, after a bruising auction battle with his own investors, Jeremy King lost the company that carried his name. He walked back into the Wolseley – the restaurant he had built into the highest grossing restaurant in Britain – to find his staff in tears and the new owners already arriving. His phone and laptop were taken from him, he felt, as he puts it, like a criminal – stripped of all his possessions and then cast out onto the street. But that was just the latest chapter in a career defined again and again by gambles, diligence, loss, and extraordinary success. Jeremy once handed the biggest decisions of his life to the roll of a dice. He built and sold an empire, built another, and now, at 72, is rebuilding for a third time – with Simpson's in the Strand, London’s most talked about restaurant of the moment and a venue he first tried to buy 26 years ago. Across the last forty-five years Jeremy has revived or built from scratch some of London’s most loved restaurants: Le Caprice, The Ivy, J Sheekey, The Wolseley and The Delaunay. His patrons have ranged from royalty to the greatest artists of the age, yet his gift has always been to make anyone who walks through his doors feel like they are the most important person in the room. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing a crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FOUR LESSONS FROM JEREMY Look for the good before the crisis has even hit. Whatever's going wrong, there's almost always something to salvage. Let them take your money. Never let them take your soul. You'll always find another way to make money. Don't act fast just to feel in control. People panic and make the wrong moves because they think a crisis demands speed. Often the bravest, smartest thing you can do is wait and see. Do the job better than it's ever been done – even sweeping a floor. Pride is yours to keep. That standard, once set, never leaves you. CHAPTERS 04:54 – Why the best operators watch before they speak 08:04 – How an early knock to your confidence can shape a whole career 25:00 – Where a true standard of excellence actually comes from 30:08 – What it really feels like to lose the company with your name on it 39:26 – Why selling too early can be the smartest deal you ever do 45:00 – Holding your nerve on the worst day of your business life 49:16 – Protecting your reputation when the story's out of your hands 51:44 – What five years with Lucian Freud taught him about risk and danger 57:18 – Why integrity is simply never trying to get away with anything 58:32 – The art of defusing a crisis before it becomes one 01:03:20 – Keeping perspective: why every crisis is relative 01:07:09 – Starting over at 72 BUY JEREMY'S BOOK Without Reservation: Lessons from a Life in Restaurants https://www.amazon.co.uk/Without-Reservation-Lessons-Life-Restaurants/dp/0008599025 FOLLOW JEREMY KING Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jeremyrbking/?hl=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	JEREMY HUNT'S CRISIS COMPASS	23 Jun 2026	00:02:56
Over 20 years in frontline politics, Sir Jeremy Hunt held three of the great offices of state – Health Secretary, Foreign Secretary, and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He survived some of the most bruising political battles of his generation, and grieved, throughout, the loss of his father, his mother, and his brother. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Jeremy to discuss his Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation he turns to on his darker days – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 01:02 A Person — the one who'll still be there when the job, the title, and the headlines are long gone 01:21 A Habit — the cross-country team he was forced into at school, and why he still hasn't stopped 01:55 A Comfort — six and a half weeks of Lent torture, and why Easter makes it worth it 02:15 A Piece of Advice — why criticism only hurts when it comes from someone you know BUY JEREMY'S BOOK: Can We Be Rich Again? The Surprising Potential of Britain's Economy – https://shorturl.at/4Kv0D FOLLOW JEREMY: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/jeremyhuntmp/ TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyrshuntmp X — https://x.com/Jeremy_Hunt LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyhuntuk/ FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram — www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok — www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production — Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	JEREMY HUNT: Frontline politics is poisonous and I'll never go back	16 Jun 2026	00:47:35
In October 2022, the British economy was in freefall. Liz Truss's mini-budget had sent the pound into a nosedive, mortgage rates were climbing at a terrifying speed, and the IMF had issued a public warning to the government to reverse course. It was, by any measure, a national crisis. Into that emergency stepped Sir Jeremy Hunt who, over a single weekend, dismantled almost the entirety of the economic programme he'd inherited. But that was just the latest chapter in a political career defined again and again by an extraordinary capacity to absorb difficulty and get on with the job. All while managing a private grief that would have broken most people in any role, let alone one of the most demanding in the country. The loss of his father, mother, and brother, all lost to cancer. His new book, Can We Be Rich Again? The Surprising Potential of Britain's Economy, is an act of deliberate optimism in a country that has largely forgotten how to be optimistic. Sir Jeremy Hunt joins Andy Coulson for a conversation about loss, resilience, reputation, and what it really takes to keep your nerve when everything is falling apart. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing a crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FOUR LESSONS FROM JEREMY: Start a business in your 20s if you possibly can. You've got no mortgage, no kids, no dependents – it doesn't matter if things go wrong, and you'll learn more from failure than you ever will from success. You can cope with one thing going wrong. It's when two or three things go wrong at once that life gets really hard – so close down the smaller crisis as fast as you can, even if that means caving in. The most important thing any leader can build is a team that will tell you when you're wrong. If people are afraid to speak truth to power, you will make bad decisions. Grief gives you something a successful career can't: a sense of what actually matters. CHAPTERS 03:34 – Why naive goals are sometimes the most powerful ones 05:20 – His father's greatest lesson 07:50 – The tragedy his family never spoke about 10:35 – What unconditional belief from a parent actually does to a child 13:37 – Why failure in your 20s is an asset, not a setback 17:07 – Why business and politics require completely different skills 22:11 – Starting a business with your best friend 26:43 – The junior doctors dispute 30:09 – How to survive being the most unpopular politician in the country 33:01 – Losing his brother Charlie: what grief teaches you that success never can 36:56 – Walking into the eye of the storm as Chancellor 40:59 – How to restore trust when trust is the only thing that matters 44:20 – Why knowing who you are is the foundation of every crisis skill worth having 44:59 – Why Britain thinks far worse of itself than the rest of the world does BUY JEREMY'S BOOK Can We Be Rich Again? The Surprising Potential of Britain's Economy – pick up a copy here: https://shorturl.at/DfIZa FOLLOW JEREMY HUNT Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jeremyhuntmp/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyrshuntmp X – https://x.com/Jeremy_Hunt LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyhuntuk/ FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod This was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), James Quinn (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)
	LESSONS ON CONTROL: How to manage a crisis	09 Jun 2026	00:17:41
What is the single most important concept in crisis management? Andy Coulson believes it's control — a lesson he first learned sitting on a plastic mattress in a Glasgow police cell, with nothing to focus on but his own breathing. In this special compilation episode, he revisits four past guests who each arrived at the same conclusion through very different routes. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FEATURING Ryan Holiday — bestselling author of The Obstacle is the Way and The Daily Stoic, on why Stoicism is history's greatest crisis management framework, and the remarkable story of Admiral James Stockdale tapping Epictetus through a prison wall in Vietnam. Alix Popham — former Welsh international rugby player, diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable CTE, on how the athlete's instinct for discipline becomes a survival strategy when the stakes are as high as they get. Natasha Silver Bell — international model turned recovery coach, on the moment she stopped blaming her external circumstances and took control of her internal state. Cally Beaton — comedian, writer, and former Viacom CBS executive, on surrender, mayhem, and why she refuses to call herself a stoic — despite sounding exactly like one. Control the controllables. It sounds simple. It isn't. But as every guest in this episode shows, it is learnable — and it might just be the most important lesson crisis has to offer. FULL EPISODES: Ryan Holiday: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000755722247 Alix Popham: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000712166764 Natasha Silver Bell: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000722574377 Cally Beaton: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis-with-andy-coulson/id1517015748?i=1000717250391 FOLLOW THE GUESTS: Ryan Holiday: https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday/ Alix Popham: https://www.instagram.com/alix_popham/ Natasha Silver Bell: https://www.instagram.com/natashasilverbell/ Cally Beaton: https://www.instagram.com/callybeatoncomedian/
	HOMESERVE FOUNDER: Going from broke to billions \| Sir Richard Harpin	02 Jun 2026	00:45:36
Sir Richard Harpin wanted to be an entrepreneur since before he knew the word. He sold conkers in the playground, bred and sold rabbits in his garden, ran a tuck shop from his school locker, and by 15 was bunking off chemistry to cash cheques with the bank manager. In this special episode of Crisis What Crisis – recorded in front of a live audience at the Walbrook Club in the City of London – Andy sits down with the founder of HomeServe, the company Richard built over 30 years and sold in 2023 for £4.1 billion. Richard was knighted in the 2024 New Year Honours. His Sunday Times bestselling book, How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps, is out now. This episode is for anyone who has ever wanted to start something, scale something, or is simply looking for guidance on how to manage the day-to-day crises of running a business. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley. Visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FIVE BUSINESS LESSONS FROM SIR RICHARD HARPIN 1) Copy. Richard didn't invent the HomeServe model – he openly admits that he copied it (and then did it better). If someone else is doing it and it works, the risk is lower. 2) Prove the model before you scale it. HomeServe burned through half a million pounds trying to grow a loss-making business. With modern technology, Richard says, you really don't have to do that. 3) The best time to build is when conditions are hardest. Comfortable conditions produce cautious thinking. The best businesses are built with their backs against the wall. 4) Admitting the mistake is often the fastest route out of it. Richard told the stock market he'd wasted £130 million, wrote off the assets, and said sorry. The share price went up £250 million the same day. The market doesn't punish honesty. It punishes opacity. 5) Not taking a risk is itself a risk. Staying still has a cost that compounds invisibly. The test isn't whether the risk is scary. It's whether you can live with not taking it. CHAPTERS 04:52 – Why Richard wanted to be an entrepreneur 10:35 – His first businesses 13:28 – What working at P&G taught him 19:22 – How HomeServe started 19:22 – Running out of money at Christmas 21:07 – Taking investment at the wrong terms 22:00 – The moment he nearly quit 23:00 – The £50 letter that saved the business 24:43 – The importance of copying 25:34 – Why he hired someone to replace himself 27:06 – Breaking America 30:01 – The £100m mistake he made publicly 30:59 – How he structures his day 36:10 – Negotiating a £4.1bn exit 37:37 – What selling actually feels like 38:55 – Why he's still working 42:25 – His advice on AI and careers 44:46 – Starting over with nothing BUY SIR RICHARD'S BOOK How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps – Sunday Times Bestseller https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Make-Billion-Nine-Steps/dp/034944644X FOLLOW SIR RICHARD HARPIN LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rharpin/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/richard_harpin/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@richard.harpin FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod FOLLOW THE WALBROOK CLUB This episode was recorded live at the Walbrook Club, London. Special thanks to Philip Palumbo and his team for hosting us. Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thewalbrookclub/
	ANYA HINDMARCH'S CRISIS COMPASS	26 May 2026	00:04:23
Dame Anya Hindmarch started her global fashion business on a gap year trip to Italy aged just 18. Four decades on, she is the founder of one of Britain's most recognisable brands – worn by the Princess of Wales and a new holder of a royal warrant from Queen Camilla. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Anya to discuss her Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that she turns on her darker days – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 01:00 A Person 01:36 A Habit 03:01 A Comfort 03:45 A Piece of Advice BUY ANYA'S BOOK If In Doubt Wash Your Hair – https://www.anyahindmarch.com/products/if-in-doubt-wash-your-hair-paperback-book-in-paper-off-white FOLLOW ANYA: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/anyahindmarch/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@anyahindmarch FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	ANYA HINDMARCH: “Everyday is a crisis when you’re running a business”	20 May 2026	00:56:33
Dame Anya Hindmarch started her global fashion business on a gap year trip to Italy aged just 18. Four decades on, she is the founder of one of Britain's most recognisable brands – worn by the Princess of Wales and a new holder of a royal warrant from Queen Camilla. Anya joins Andy for a candid conversation about courage, control and how treating fear and excitement as the same emotion has proved to be her superpower. This is a masterclass in resilience from a founder who has dealt with the ‘daily stomach punches’ of being an entrepreneur POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by @kingsleynapley – visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FOUR BUSINESS LESSONS: Doubt is your friend. Don't try to silence it. The moment you stop being scared is the moment things will go wrong. Cling on to your equity. Getting investment isn't winning a prize. When you do it the hard way, you stay in control. Be honest about the journey. Admitting what you've got it wrong buys you more credit than pretending you've got it right. Sometimes you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelette. You will get things wrong. Get them wrong, correct, and learn. CHAPTERS: 03:09 – Learning to accept that in life you’ll never be fully satisfied 06:47 – How Thatcher's Britain created a generation of founders 08:19 – Dyslexia and the entrepreneur's brain 15:55 – Starting at 18 with no network, no internet, no clue 18:09 – "Stupid determination" – the trait every founder shares 20:09 – The lonely years of building a business 21:17 – Anxiety vs stress 24:07 – Why imposter syndrome is healthy 24:58 – I'm Not A Plastic Bag: changing national behaviour with a £5 product 27:35 – Honesty as a brand strategy 30:10 – Building a blended family without dropping the business 35:06 – The mistake of stepping away as CEO 40:16 – Buying it back: how to turn a crisis into a restructure 41:32 – Localising in a global business 44:20 – Her creative process 46:30 – Outside investment: why she'd tell founders to wait 48:08 – Perspective: what a child's illness teaches a CEO 52:06 – Brand Britain – what we're selling and what we're missing 54:41 – AI: "Stop moaning and get really good at it" BUY ANYA'S BOOK If In Doubt Wash Your Hair – https://www.anyahindmarch.com/products/if-in-doubt-wash-your-hair-paperback-book-in-paper-off-white FOLLOW ANYA: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/anyahindmarch/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@anyahindmarch FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	ESTHER GHEY'S CRISIS COMPASS	12 May 2026	00:04:55
Esther Ghey's 16-year-old daughter Brianna was murdered in a park near their home in Warrington in February 2023. What followed — the campaigning, the memoir, the forgiveness, the compassion — has made her one of the most consequential reform voices in contemporary British life. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Esther to discuss her Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that she turns on her darker days – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. Esther is the founder of the Brianna Ghey Legacy Project and Peace in Mind UK, a social enterprise focused on mental health in schools. She launched the Phone Free Education campaign, has campaigned in parliament, and last month received an honorary doctorate from the University of Chester. She was named The Independent's Most Influential Woman of 2024. Her memoir Under a Pink Sky, published by Penguin, is out now in paperback. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 01:16 A Person 02:04 A Habit 03:10 A Comfort 03:39 A Piece of Advice FOLLOW ESTHER GHEY: Instagram – www.instagram.com/esther.ghey/ Peace in Mind UK – www.peaceinminduk.com Under a Pink Sky – available now in paperback FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	ESTHER GHEY: The fight to free children from their phones	05 May 2026	00:56:12
In February 2023, Esther Ghey's 16-year-old daughter Brianna was murdered in a park near their home in Warrington, in a premeditated attack by two 15-year-olds. Today, Esther is a bereaved mother, but she is also one of the most significant voices for social reform in contemporary British life. She founded the Brianna Ghey Legacy Project, co-launched the Phone-Free Education campaign with Kate Winslet, and has helped force a national reckoning on children, smartphones and social media. She was named the Independent's Most Influential Woman of 2024 and a GQ Hero. Her bestselling memoir Under a Pink Sky - now available in paperback - is a searing and hopeful account of love, loss and rebuilding. It is one of the most breathtaking tales of resilience I have ever read. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FIVE LESSONS FROM ESTHER: Grief doesn't get easier – you learn to build your life around the hole the person left. Don't blame other people for your own decisions. Perception is everything: You can walk the same street looking down at the dog mess or up at the blossom – the choice is yours. Mindfulness isn't a wellness trend. It's a tool that rewires how you respond to stress. Compassion costs nothing. CHAPTERS: 03:56 – The cherry blossom and the sign 05:20 – Growing up with mum 07:55 – Leaving school with no GCSEs, becoming a mum at 18 09:13 – The sludge-green walls and the addiction 12:17 – Why she refuses to blame anyone but herself 15:43 – Going back to school in her 30s 16:07 – Discovering mindfulness 17:51 – When Brett became Brianna 21:17 – The phone, the bedroom, the 3am email 27:24 – The day it happened 30:16 – The dream that became acceptance 32:47 – What she'd say to anyone in early grief 34:35 – Grieving in public 36:33 – Why she won't name the killers 37:55 – Meeting Emma 43:23 – Building Brianna's legacy 48:05 – Could I have done more? 51:16 – Phones don't build resilience 54:26 – Where the campaign goes next FOLLOW ESTHER GHEY: Instagram – www.instagram.com/esther.ghey/ Brianna Ghey Legacy Project – www.instagram.com/briannagheylegacyproject/ Phone-Free Education – www.instagram.com/phonefreeeducation/ BUY ESTHER'S BOOK: Under a Pink Sky – www.amazon.co.uk/Under-Pink-Sky-Esther-Ghey/dp/0241738733 FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	KATE BOWLER'S CRISIS COMPASS: 4 points of navigation for when life flips upside down	28 Apr 2026	00:04:46
Kate Bowler is one of the most thought-provoking voices on pain and suffering you'll ever encounter. Living her dream life – married to her high school sweetheart, a baby boy, and her dream job – she was diagnosed with stage four cancer just as everything fell into place. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Kate to discuss her Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that she turns to in order to help survive a crisis – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. We'd love to know yours, let us know in the reviews... Kate is a four-time New York Times bestseller, professor at Duke University, host of the Everything Happens podcast, and author of an exceptional Substack. Her latest book, Joyful Anyway, hit the shelves this month. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 00:49 A Person – Be a Roger: the quiet librarian who showed her what service really looks like 01:47 A Habit – Praying with her son every night 02:27 A Comfort – Roadside America, a 40-foot ceramic turtle, and how she befriended Tom Holland 03:49 A Piece of Advice – "It comes undone though, so don't skip to the end" BUY KATE'S NEW BOOK: Joyful Anyway – www.amazon.co.uk/Joyful-Anyway-Finding-Delight-Impossible/dp/1037202562 FOLLOW KATE BOWLER: Instagram – www.instagram.com/katecbowler/ YouTube – www.youtube.com/@katecbowler TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@katecbowler Substack – https://katebowler.substack.com/ Podcast – Everything Happens FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	KATE BOWLER: Everything DOES NOT happen for a reason	21 Apr 2026	01:00:42
At 35, Kate Bowler had the life she'd always wanted: she was a Duke University professor, married to her high school sweetheart, with a one-year-old son. Then she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Today, Kate is a five time New York Times bestselling author, host of the Everything Happens podcast and one of the most inspiring and unique voices on the subject of suffering, the myth of the prosperity gospel and the reality of the human condition. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. FIVE LESSONS FROM KATE: Don't trust your 2 am self. Your 2 a.m. self is despairing and terrified. People want to help. Give them small, specific ways to show they love you. Put an expiry date on bitterness. Saying yes opens up untold opportunities – often it’s worth it. Happiness is cheap. Meaning isn't. A happy person isn't necessarily living a meaningful life – they're often just extremely lucky. CHAPTERS: 04:42 – Defining resilience 10:49 – Growing up with depressed person 14:46 – The prosperity gospel 16:48 – When it all came apart 20:33 – The diagnosis 22:07 – Performing gratitude 35:23 – Rules for surviving cancer 43:33 – The reality of being cured 45:12 – Joyful Anyway 48:19 – The happiness industry 51:23 – On stoicism 55:35 – Fear, sharks and risk 58:18 – Tasked with love BUY KATE'S NEW BOOK: Joyful Anyway – www.amazon.co.uk/Joyful-Anyway-Finding-Delight-Impossible/dp/1037202562 FOLLOW KATE BOWLER: Instagram – www.instagram.com/katecbowler/ YouTube – www.youtube.com/@katecbowler TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@katecbowler Substack – https://katebowler.substack.com/ Podcast – Everything Happens FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	NICK WHEELER'S CRISIS COMPASS: 4 tools for navigating crisis	14 Apr 2026	00:04:24
Charles Tyrwhitt founder, Nick Wheeler, started the business with just £99, a Morris Minor (with a hole rusted through the floor), and zero understanding of how you make a shirt. Today, it’s a £400m global empire – but his story is one not short of tragedy. In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Nick to discuss his Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that he turns to in order to help survive a crisis – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. We’d love to know yours, let us know in the reviews... POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. CHAPTERS: 00:49 A Person – Learning from your children's fresh perspective 01:33 A Habit – 474 days of Duolingo (and still can't speak Italian) 02:32 A Comfort – Singing on a Brompton around London 03:12 A Piece of Advice – Stop stressing about what you can't change FOLLOW CHARLES TYRWHITT: ‪@charlestyrwhitt‬ Instagram – www.instagram.com/charlestyrwhitt/ YouTube – www.youtube.com/c/charlestyrwhitt TikTok – www.tiktok.com/discover/charles-tyrwhitt Website – https://www.charlestyrwhitt.com/uk/home FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	CHARLES TYRWHITT FOUNDER: The uni bedroom business that now does £400 million in sales \| Nick Wheeler	07 Apr 2026	00:52:47
Nick Wheeler founded Charles Tyrwhitt with just £99 and a Morris Minor with a hole rusted through the floor (and zero understanding of how you make a shirt!). Today, it’s a £400m global empire – but his story is one not short of tragedy, with the loss of his mother aged just five years old, bankruptcy, and a catalogue of mistakes which meant he nearly lost everything. In this episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with the man who revolutionised British menswear. Nick Wheeler shares the raw, unfiltered reality of building a world-class brand. If you want to learn about entrepreneurial resilience, business scaling, and the power of dogged self belief, this masterclass is for you. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. SIX BUSINESS LESSONS: 1) Build to be loved. Nick's motivation has always been simple: to be loved. By his team. By his customers. It's made him £400 million. 2) Never give away a share of your business. The minute you do, someone else has the right to tell you what to do. 3) Be the best in the world at one thing. Not two things. One. Going bust taught him that. 4) Cut early. If something isn't working, be brutally honest with yourself about why. Don't wait. 5) The only real job of an entrepreneur is choosing the right person to run your business. 6) Be a tortoise, not a hare. Grow 10% every year. It's boring for the first 20 years. Then it becomes extraordinary. CHAPTERS: 01:19 – Introduction 02:54 – The entrepreneurial gene 15:29 – From failed shoes to Charles Tyrwhitt 23:31 – Mistake one 31:07 – Mistake two 36:15 – The hardest lesson 39:31 – The pandemic 44:04 – Cracking America 50:37 – Building a brand people love FOLLOW CHARLES TYRWHITT: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/charlestyrwhitt/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRD_t-tXUDpidmNKqg4kayQ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/discover/charles-tyrwhitt Website – https://www.charlestyrwhitt.com/uk/home FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	JENNI MURRAY (1950 – 2026)	31 Mar 2026	01:12:20
In this special tribute episode, we revisit my conversation with the legendary Dame Jenni Murray. Recorded in February 2021 in the early days of the podcast, Jenni joined me to discuss her remarkable 33-year tenure at BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, her harrowing battle with breast cancer, and the lifelong, deeply personal crisis of obesity that she detailed in her book, Fat Cow, Fat Chance. Jenni was a pioneer who proved that no topic was too difficult to discuss. In this incredibly frank and moving conversation, we explore the roots of resilience, the complexity of forgiveness, and why "getting on with it" was the only strategy she knew when the world seemed to be unravelling. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters, and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley; visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. LESSONS YOU’LL LEARN: Action Eases Anxiety: When the "shit hits the fan," shifting into a practical, task-oriented mode can prevent you from folding in on yourself. Vulnerability is Bravery: Resilience isn't just about being "tough"; it's about the courage to drop the mask and admit when the pressure is too much. Forgiveness is a Process: Moving past personal trauma requires acknowledging the full, complicated humanity of those who hurt us. Set Your Own Milestones: In times of health or personal crisis, creating small, achievable targets (like writing a eulogy or finishing a treatment) provides a vital sense of control. Words Matter: Shaming – whether of oneself or others – never leads to positive change; empathy and understanding are the only true paths to recovery. CHAPTERS: 01:50 – "Fat Cow": The Reality of Public Shaming 06:05 – Inherited Habits: A Childhood Defined by Food 08:10 – The Black Bombers: Amphetamines and University Weight Loss 18:20 – Reconciling with Her Mother 22:30 – The Failure of Therapy vs. the Power of Friendship 29:35 – The Phone Call to the Samaritans 36:35 – December 2006: Cancer, Loss, and the Mastectomy 43:00 – "Just Get On With It": The Instinctive Practicality of Crisis 52:00 – A Vascular Necrosis: The Hidden Cost of Chemotherapy 57:05 – The Turning Point: Metabolic Surgery and a Second Chance 01:06:10 – Crisis Cures: Dogs, Crime Novels, and New Forest Ice Cream FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	RYAN HOLIDAY'S CRISIS COMPASS: 4 tools of a stoic philosopher	24 Mar 2026	00:02:35
Ryan Holiday – bestselling author of The Daily Stoic, Ego is the Enemy, and The Obstacle is the Way – joins me on Crisis What Crisis to explore why intelligence doesn't protect you from stupidity, why modern life's frictionlessness is making us weaker, and what ancient Stoic philosophy can teach us about navigating today's world. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Intro – Ryan Holiday’s Crisis Compass 00:18 Who Guides You in Crisis? (Marcus Aurelius) 00:58 The Power of Role Models in Stoicism 01:08 Daily Habit: Why Journaling Matters 01:24 Finding Calm: The Simple Power of Walking 01:46 One Rule to Live By (Epictetus’ Advice) 02:03 What Stoicism Really Teaches About Control 02:15 More Stoicism Episodes BUY RYAN'S BOOK: Wisdom Takes Work – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wisdom-Takes-Work-Important-Journey/dp/1788166299 FOLLOW RYAN: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/RyanHoliday TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryan_holiday YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmBIKsrzIjdHRuqs2I8nHA FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	RYAN HOLIDAY: Why wisdom takes work (and smart people still do stupid things)	17 Mar 2026	00:38:11
Why do genius-level intellects fall for conspiracy theories? How does someone who taught himself rocket science from Soviet manuals end up believing nonsense on social media? Ryan Holiday – bestselling author of The Daily Stoic, Ego is the Enemy, and The Obstacle is the Way – joins me on Crisis What Crisis to explore why intelligence doesn't protect you from stupidity, why modern life's frictionlessness is making us weaker, and what ancient Stoic philosophy can teach us about navigating today's world. In this conversation, we discuss Elon Musk's descent into conspiracy theories, why judging young men from reading philosophy is dangerous, what Marcus Aurelius would make of AI, and why Victor Frankl warned in 1979 that our "too soft" world would lead to emptiness. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR: Why "making a massive contrarian bet that works" can be brain-destroying The Stoic POW who tapped Epictetus through prison walls in Vietnam Why young men desperately need philosophy (not less of it) How to guard against your own stupidity while pursuing wisdom What Marcus Aurelius would say about your Instagram habits LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: Intelligence DOES NOT EQUAL wisdom – being brilliant at one thing doesn't protect you from being an idiot about others Stay a student forever – Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king, made a point of always staying a student Friction builds resilience – a frictionless life leaves you vulnerable when reality intervenes You don't control what happens, only how you respond Wisdom takes work – it's not something you're born with; it's the result of hard work, experience, and time CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Introduction: The Modern Day Philosopher King 02:37 – What is Stoicism? (Explained for people in crisis) 07:58 – Why Ryan turned to ancient philosophy at 19 10:11 – The marketing career he walked away from 13:25 – What if Ryan never discovered Stoicism? 15:02 – Does Stoicism have a "toxic masculinity" problem? 19:16 – Why choose Stoicism over Instagram wealth? 22:07 – What is wisdom and how do you get it? 24:53 – Elon Musk: A cautionary tale of genius + stupidity 27:42 – Will we ever have philosophical leaders again? 30:11 – Victor Frankl's 1979 warning: Life is too soft 33:05 – What would Marcus Aurelius make of AI? 36:22 – Where Ryan goes next? BUY RYAN'S BOOK: Wisdom Takes Work – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wisdom-Takes-Work-Important-Journey/dp/1788166299 FOLLOW RYAN: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/RyanHoliday TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryan_holiday YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmBIKsrzIjdHRuqs2I8nHA FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	TOM FRESTON’S CRISIS COMPASS: 4 Tools for Starting Over	10 Mar 2026	00:07:09
After building MTV and rising to the very top of the global media industry, Tom Freston experienced dramatic setbacks that forced him to rebuild - not for the first time. In this Crisis Compass segment, the co-founder of MTV and former CEO of Viacom reveals the personal habits, relationships and mindset that helped him navigate the highs and lows of an extraordinary life. Tom shares the quiet routines and pieces of advice that keep him grounded today. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. IN THIS EPISODE: 01:10 – The people Tom relies on for advice and perspective 02:25 – The daily habit that keeps Tom grounded 04:05 – The moment that changed how Tom sees business problems 05:30 – Finding comfort in nature and music TOM’S BOOK: Read Tom’s book: Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu Follow Tom Freston: https://www.amazon.com/Unplugged-Adventures-Timbuktu-Tom-Freston/dp/1668089793 FOLLOW TOM: Instagram – www.instagram.com/tomfrestonunplugged/?hl=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	MTV CO-FOUNDER: building a $7bn Media Empire with ZERO experience in TV \| Tom Freston	03 Mar 2026	01:03:20
From building a multimillion-dollar clothing business in India only to be wiped out by a global trade embargo, to redefining pop culture for a generation at MTV and Nickelodeon, Tom Freston’s career is a masterclass for any aspiring entrepreneur. In this episode, Tom joins me to discuss the resilience required to reach the top and the sheer guts needed to start over when it's all taken away. He shares his "decidedly non-traditional" path to the C-suite and why humility, earnestness, and curiosity are the ultimate defining traits for success. POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details. IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE: Building the MTV empire: The legendary "I Want My MTV" campaign and the David Bowie sauna story. The reality of being fired as the boss at Viacom by Sumner Redstone and receiving a hero’s send-off from 1,000 employees. Returning to Afghanistan to help launch the country’s first television network. Why stepping off the "conveyor belt of conformity" is the best classroom for a young person today. LESSONS YOU’LL LEARN Skills are transferable: It’s never too late to change careers. Optimism is a competitive advantage: back yourself when no one else will The most successful careers are rarely the most conventional Know when to disappear: recovery needs space, don't rush the next move Hire people smarter than you: it's your best protection against your worst instincts TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 04:44 - Stepping off the conveyor belt of conformity 12:30 - Where does confidence come from? 17:23 - Becoming a millionaire in your 20s 22:11 - The sudden collapse of Hindu Kush 31:06 - The ground floor of MTV 36:44 - The "I Want My MTV" Hail Mary pass 45:28 - Being fired as CEO of Viacom 53:30 - Reassessing life and finding Phil Stutz 56:28 - The "perfect circle" back to Afghanistan 1:00:26 - The Tom Freston manual for young people TOM’S BOOK: Read Tom’s book: Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu Follow Tom Freston: https://www.amazon.com/Unplugged-Adventures-Timbuktu-Tom-Freston/dp/1668089793 FOLLOW TOM: Instagram – www.instagram.com/tomfrestonunplugged/?hl=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	SIR TREVOR PHILLIPS'S CRISIS COMPASS: 4 tools for surviving grief and intense pressure	24 Feb 2026	00:06:55
Following the loss of his daughter Sushila to anorexia, broadcaster Sir Trevor Phillips reveals the daily habits, personal anchors, and life advice that keep him grounded. In this "Crisis Compass" segment, we move away from the headlines to look at the personal resilience required to survive a 22-year battle with mental illness. THE COMPASS QUESTIONS: In this episode, Andy Coulson asks Trevor to reveal: The person who shaped his perspective during his darkest hours. The daily habit he refuses to give up (even in crisis). The piece of advice he returns to when uncertainty takes over. His ultimate source of comfort. WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW: This is a bonus segment. Listen to the full, wide-ranging conversation with Sir Trevor Phillips here: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/8be66777-24c2-42ee-9d97-c59f4996be30/ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 – Sir Trevor Phillips: A life forged in crisis 01:06 – The people he turns to for strength 02:32 – The daily habit for mental clarity 04:00 – Life-changing advice for hard times 05:26 – Finding comfort after loss FOLLOW TREVOR: X – https://x.com/TrevorPTweets FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	SIR TREVOR PHILLIPS: Why we are WRONG about mental illness	17 Feb 2026	01:07:50
After a 22-year battle with anorexia, Sir Trevor Phillips' daughter Sushila died aged 36 in April 2021. Now he's calling for a radical shift in how we talk about mental illness – and he's not holding back. The broadcaster, writer, and equality campaigner joins Crisis What Crisis? to explain why banning social media for under-16s is "preposterous," why celebrity "mental health struggles" make him furious, and what the "seventh circle of hell" really looks like in an eating disorder ward. Trevor also talks to us about his remarkable upbringing and career across media, business and politics - all of it etched with resilience. ⚠️ Please note: This episode contains frank discussions of anorexia, eating disorders, mental illness, and grief that some listeners may find distressing. WHAT YOU’LL HEAR: The brutal reality of a 22-year battle with severe anorexia Why mental illness and sadness are NOT the same thing Trevor's message to celebrities who conflate difficulty with trauma: "F* off" Why removing friction from children's lives destroys resilience LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: Separate mental illness from sadness: stop confusing clinical illness with being "a bit fed up" Teach resilience, don't remove pain: you can't take friction out of the human condition The good guys can win: but you have to fight for it Know what you cannot do: in crisis, understand your limitations Light a candle: don't curse the darkness IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 – Introduction: Sir Trevor Phillips' remarkable life 21:23 – What Britain should learn from its racial progress 27:10 – What real resilience looks like in a crisis 31:26 – The Leadership Lesson: knowing what you can't do 33:06 – Shushila: A 22-year battle with anorexia 44:39 – How grief changed everything 49:27 – Mental Illness vs. Feeling Sad: "stop conflating them" 57:12 – Why banning under-16s from social media Is "preposterous" 01:04:30 – What immigrants can teach Britain about resilience SUPPORT & RESOURCES: If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder: Beat Eating Disorders - www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk FOLLOW TREVOR: X – https://x.com/TrevorPTweets FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod IF YOU FOUND THIS USEFUL...** If you found this episode useful I recommend heading into our archive and listening to: Lisa Squire - whose daughter, Libby Squire, was rapped and murdered. Lisa's resilience and methods for managing unimaginable heartache left me beyond moved. Click here to listen now – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crisis-what-crisis/id1517015748?i=1000592846650
	GREG JACKSON'S CRISIS COMPASS	10 Feb 2026	00:04:23
In 2021, the UK energy market collapsed. More than 30 of the big energy suppliers went under. But, the business Greg Jackson founded, Octopus Energy, didn't just survive, it grew. In this bonus Crisis Compass episode of Crisis What Crisis?, Greg shares with us the four anchors he relies on when pressure mounts and uncertainty takes over. In this segment, Andy asks Greg for: 1) A person who shaped his perspective 2) A piece of advice he returns to 3) A source of comfort 4) A daily habit he refuses to give up This is Part Two of a longer conversation with Greg. If you enjoyed this episode, you can listen to the full interview on our podcast homepage. Follow Octopus Energy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/octopusenergy/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@octopusenergy Follow Crisis What Crisis? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	OCTOPUS ENERGY BOSS: “I became the face of the energy crisis” \| Greg Jackson	03 Feb 2026	01:01:51
Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of energy giant Octopus Energy, is perhaps one of Britain’s most innovative CEOs. In 2021, the British energy market collapsed. Wholesale gas prices surged six-fold, thirty suppliers went under in months, while millions of families faced impossible bills. Rather than sticking his head in the sand, Greg went public, putting his own credibility on the line to explain why prices were rising. He cut his own salary to minimum wage, provided £150 million in bill relief packages, and became the face of the energy crisis when everyone told him not to. The result? Octopus became the UK's largest energy supplier during the worst energy crisis in a generation, now valued at over £7 billion. Greg is an entrepreneur who's built multiple businesses by doing exactly what everyone else refuses to do – a true lesson in why fortune really does favour the brave. LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: Character matters more than ability. When you see something clearly, don't hesitate. Fortune favors the brave, zig when others zag! Being smart isn't enough. The combination of being smart and working hard is critical. Communicate relentlessly, especially in crisis. FOLLOW OCTOPUS: Instagram – www.instagram.com/octopusenergy/?hl=en TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@octopusenergy?lang=en FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	BODEN FOUNDER: How I survive a crisis	27 Jan 2026	00:01:57
Johnnie Boden, founder of Boden, reveals how he survives crisis as a business leader. In this Crisis Compass bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis?, Johnnie shares the person, piece of advice, the daily habit and comfort that he uses to navigate life under pressure. This is the second part of a longer conversation with Johnnie – if you enjoyed this be sure to check out the full episode on our podcast homepage. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, CEO or leader, this episode offers a snapshot personal insight into the mindset of one of Britain's most successful fashion founders. FOLLOW BODEN: Instagram – www.instagram.com/boden/?hl=en TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@boden_clothing FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	BODEN FOUNDER: The 51% rule that saved my business \| Johnnie Boden	20 Jan 2026	00:47:47
For three decades, Johnnie Boden has turned cheerful prints, quality fabrics, and unmistakable English charm into one of Britain's most distinctive retail brands – worn by royals, loved internationally, with nearly 2 million active customers and the second-biggest British clothing business in America. But as Johnnie so candidly reveals, his success has been far from linear… In this business special of Crisis What Crisis? we delve deep into the challenges of starting and running a multinational fashion label offering lessons that apply to almost every founder, entrepreneur and leader. LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: Hire people who complement you, not clone you. Match paranoia about people with confidence about your core idea. Ask the stupid questions. Listen intensely. Admit failure fast. FOLLOW BODEN: Instagram – www.instagram.com/boden/?hl=en TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@boden_clothing FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	SAM McALISTER'S CRISIS COMPASS	16 Dec 2025	00:03:21
For over a decade at BBC Newsnight, Sam McAlister secured the interviews others couldn't – Bill Clinton, Elon Musk, Stormy Daniels. But it was six months of negotiation that led to the conversation that changed everything: Prince Andrew discussing his ties to Jeffrey Epstein in 2019. Today, Sam teaches negotiation at LSE and is one of Britain's most compelling voices on persuasion, power, and resilience. This is Sam McAlister's Crisis Compass FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	SAM McALISTER: How I got Prince Andrew to do THAT interview	09 Dec 2025	00:56:59
For over a decade at BBC Newsnight, Sam McAlister secured the interviews others couldn't – Bill Clinton, Elon Musk, Stormy Daniels. But it was 13 months of negotiation that led to the conversation that changed everything: Prince Andrew discussing his ties to Jeffrey Epstein in 2019. The interview became a global news event, resulted in Andrew stepping back from royal duties, and is still making headlines six years later. In July 2021, Sam threw the dice, she gave up her BBC pension and security as a single mother in the middle of a pandemic to write a book. That gamble paid off. Her memoir Scoops became a bestseller and a Netflix film starring Gillian Anderson and Billie Piper. Today, Sam teaches negotiation at LSE and is one of Britain's most compelling voices on persuasion, power, and resilience. LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: Don't get bitter, take control - When Sam wasn't getting credit for the Prince Andrew interview, she didn't whine or play victim. She took voluntary redundancy, wrote a book, and ended up with a Netflix deal and 30 million viewers watching Billie Piper play her. Imposter syndrome is mostly a crock - When you've worked hard and earned your place, confidence isn't arrogance – it's honesty. Build trust through respect, not manipulation - Sam's superpower wasn't sucking up to powerful people. It was treating them with respect while demanding it of herself. Know your financial bottom line before taking risks - Sam had three outcomes mapped before leaving the BBC. That clarity gave her the courage to leap. No one is dead – If you can't control it, suck it up. If you can, do something about it. FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	RELAUNCH RORY STEWART: On his love for risk and a battle with bitterness	26 Nov 2025	00:55:36
This is a relaunch of a previous episode, but the lessons contained within it are as important today as they were when we sat down to speak over two years ago. Rory Stewart has spent his life running toward gunfire. At thirty, he was governing millions of Iraqis under siege, rockets landing in his compound while insurgents climbed the walls. Years earlier, he'd walked six thousand miles across Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and India – surviving on strangers' floors, dodging bullets, and at one point sitting down in the snow ready to freeze to death until his dog Babur barked him back to life. Then he tried to fix British politics from the inside – becoming Prisons Minister, running for Prime Minister, and standing as an Independent for London Mayor before Covid cancelled the election seven weeks out and ended his political career. Today he's the force behind the podcasting phenomenon The Rest Is Politics – currently touring the country giving erudite political commentary. While his most recent book, Middleland, launched last month (October 2025), draws on pieces originally written for a local newspaper when he was serving as an MP in Cumbria, it is an urgent and inspiring portrait of rural Britain today. LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: Permission to fail breeds confidence - Rory's father set impossibly high expectations while making him feel it was okay to fail. That paradox became the foundation for handling extreme crisis without paralysis. Beware thinking in clichés during crisis - Under siege in Iraq, Rory evacuated civilians into an ambush because he fell into a "women and children first" narrative. When you're living the movie version instead of the real version, you make dangerous decisions. Animals are crisis teachers - Babur the dog saved Rory's life by refusing to let him give up in the snow. Animals approach the world with courage, presence, and forgiveness. Bitterness is backwards motion - After being defeated by Boris Johnson, Rory struggled with anger. Whenever you have bitter days, you always go backwards. It's not just bad for you – it's terrible for everyone around you. Test yourself before crisis finds you - By voluntarily embracing discomfort and risk when you don't have to, you build the capacity to handle it when you must. FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	LESSONS IN BITTERNESS: How to let go of the 'should have beens'	18 Nov 2025	00:35:13
Bitterness is the poison you drink expecting someone else to die. It's the corrosive emotion born from crisis that fills your throat with bile and consumes your every waking thought with questions like "why me?". In this special compilation episode, I've pulled together five extraordinary conversations with people who have every right to be bitter about what they've faced, but who have found their own methods of beating it back: Anthony Scaramucci, fired from the White House in 11 days while missing his son's birth and facing divorce; Amanda Knox, who served four years in an Italian prison for a murder she didn't commit; Mo Gawdat, former Google X exec who lost his son Ali to medical negligence; Lisa Squire, whose daughter Libby was tragically abducted, raped and murdered; and David Holmes, Harry Potter's stunt double who was paralysed from the waist down in an accident that should never have happened. LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: Close the gap between "should" and "is" - Bitterness lives in the space between what ought to have happened and what actually did. Accept the world as it is, not as you think it should be. Shift from victimhood to agency - Work out what is in your control and what isn’t, then focus on the former. Pair emotional honesty with tiny steps forward - Feel everything, embrace it, sit in it - but understand that emotion alone changes nothing. Choose your narrative consciously - In any crisis, there are multiple stories you can tell. Choose those that dial up pride, purpose or perspective and dial down bitterness. Forgiveness is for you, not them - Holding onto blame and hate doesn't punish those who wronged you; it only prolongs your suffering. FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	JAMES BROWN'S CRISIS COMPASS	11 Nov 2025	00:07:08
Professor James Brown is an author, podcaster and ADHD expert. Burnout, and a Christmas day spent contemplating his own death led him to get a private ADHD diagnosis. The result helped him reframe his entire life. This is James Brown's Crisis Compass FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	ADHD EXPERT: The late diagnosis that changed his life \| James Brown	04 Nov 2025	01:12:47
Professor James Brown is an author, podcaster and ADHD expert. Burnout, and a Christmas day spent contemplating his own death led him to get a private ADHD diagnosis. The result helped him reframe his entire life. Expect an honest look at the realities of ADHD, bipolar, cyclothymia, binge-eating disorder, and chronic anhedonia – the inability to feel joy. James teaches us how to co-exist with your neurodivergence, while his productivity shows us how it can be deployed to your advantage. LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: ADHD is a reason, never an excuse: understanding your condition gives you a lens to reframe your past, but it doesn't absolve you of responsibility. Consistent inconsistency is the reality: with ADHD, you can be incredibly productive one day and unable to open your inbox the next. It’s a game of averages. Motivation often comes from fear, not passion: many with ADHD are driven by external deadlines and fear of letting others down rather than internal drive. You can create meaning without feeling joy: James proves that even without experiencing happiness, you can build a life of profound purpose and impact. Society fails neurodivergent people systematically: a third of male prisoners likely have ADHD. Early diagnosis and medication improve outcomes in every domain. The cost of not treating ADHD properly is £19 billion per year to the UK economy. Book: ADHD Unpacked https://www.amazon.co.uk/ADHD-Unpacked-Everything-survive-thrive/dp/1526679361 Podcast: ADHD Adults https://theadhdadults.uk/ FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	AI EXPERT: The conversation Silicon Valley doesn't want you to hear \| Gary Marcus	23 Oct 2025	00:32:39
In this second episode in our AI mini-series I met with Professor Gary Marcus live at the RAID conference in Brussels. Gary has been writing code since he was 10, built a Latin translation program at 16, and became a professor of psychology and neuroscience at NYU. He's founded AI startups, testified before the US Senate, authored multiple books including his latest: Taming Silicon Valley: How to Protect Our Jobs, Safety, and Society in the Age of AI, meanwhile his Substack has over 80,000 subscribers who rely on him to cut through the hype. When he warned that AI was heading toward catastrophe, Sam Altman called him a troll. Gary argues that large language models are a glorified autocomplete that hallucinate constantly. He also reveals why "P Doom" (probability of AI ending humanity) is overblown, but "P Dystopia" is approaching 100%. He explains why GPT-5 disappointed everyone, and why he believes we're witnessing the greatest theft of intellectual property in history. This is the conversation Silicon Valley doesn't want you to hear. LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN FROM GARY: P Dystopia is far more dangerous than P Doom. Forget AI ending humanity. Focus on the real threat: universal surveillance states, free misinformation, and the collapse of trust in truth itself. Large language models don't understand the world, they just predict what words come next. That's why they still hallucinate constantly and, in Gary’s opinion, will never achieve AGI. We're witnessing “the greatest data heist in history”. AI companies are training on all copyrighted material without paying a penny, with the ultimate aim of replacing everyone - including you. Democracies are under threat from AI-powered misinformation. Generative AI is the "machine gun of disinformation" - making it faster, cheaper, and pitch-perfect. Critical thinking is the only defense. In a world where misinformation is free to generate, teaching kids to question everything - especially AI output - is the most important skill we can develop. Taming Silicon Valley: How to Protect Our Jobs, Safety, and Society in the Age of AI https://www.amazon.co.uk/Taming-Silicon-Valley-Protect-Society/dp/0262551063 His Substack Marcus on AI is available here: https://garymarcus.substack.com/ FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
	ICELAND BOSS: Never ever ever give up \| Richard Walker	20 Oct 2025	00:55:37
You’d think as the son of the founder Richard Walker OBE could have walked straight into the top job at Iceland Foods - the supermarket empire his parents built from a tiny shop in North Shropshire. Instead, he spent years building his own property empire in Poland, determined to prove himself on his own terms. But when his mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Richard decided it was time to be closer to the family unit and join the business, starting at the very bottom stacking shelves in London stores - the best year of his life, he claims. Since then, he's transformed Iceland into one of Britain's most pioneering retailers, removing palm oil from all own-brand products, launching radical campaigns on plastic and food poverty, and proposing that low-risk offenders serve their sentences working in Iceland stores rather than taking up valuable space in prison. This is a masterclass in how to earn respect, and use business as a platform for change. LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: Never ever ever ever give up - originally Richard’s father’s mantra that carried Iceland through countless crises. When kicked out of his own company, he started a rival chain that became his ticket back in. Tenacity isn't just admirable - it's essential. Prove yourself from the bottom up - Richard spent a year stacking shelves to earn his right to lead. The privilege of family succession means nothing without the respect of 30,000 employees who need to see you're one of them. There's a difference between delegation and abdication - leading 30,000 people requires trusting an amazing team while keeping your eye on the details. Effective leadership is knowing when to step back and when to dive in. Get comfortable being uncomfortable - whether it's climbing Everest with failing eyesight, lying next to a dead body at 29,000 feet, or building a business from scratch in Poland where you don't speak the language, growth lives outside your comfort zone. Embrace the risk. Appreciate what you already have - Chasing unicorns (like becoming an MP) can blind you to the platform you already possess. Richard realised Iceland gave him more power to drive change than any backbench seat ever could. FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod

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