Josh Smith's Great Chat Show – Details, episodes & analysis

Today the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan joins us in the studio.  Sadiq has just won a historic third term as London Mayor but his road to political success has been an unlikely one. When he emerged in politics it was dominated by white public school boys but being one of eight who was raised in a council flat in Tooting by his parents who worked as a seamstress and a bus driver became his USP.  Sadiq’s career has seen him become a human rights lawyer, being elected MP for his community in Tooting and becoming a Labour Cabinet Minister. But his greatest impact has come as London’s longest serving mayor.  Today Sadiq talks about the recent race riots in the UK, how they personally affected him and his family and how the recent events show in our now divisive society we need to truly listen to one another and hold social media companies to account.  He also calls out those in power who have used hateful language for their own gain and after Donald Trump's war of words during his presidency led to him having increased security, how anxious Sadiq is about the prospect of the former president retaking power.  Whatever your view on politics or politicians (Sadiq knows how we all feel about politicians!) I hope you find Sadiq’s journey inspiring. What I love most though is Sadiq’s words about allyship so I hope this episode inspires you to speak up and show up for the groups in our society that need us most. If his words or story resonate with you, as always I would love to hear from you - get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts - it is always great hearing from you. Love, Josh x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bonjour babes! I am so excited about this episode because it has been YEARS in the making! Today, ahead of Emily In Paris season four we are joined by Mindy herself, Ashley Park.  Before Ashley made her TV debut in the hit Netflix show, she started her career in Broadway Musicals starring in Mamma Mia, The King and I and earning a Tony Award nomination for the Mean Girls Musical. But Emily in Paris has taken her career to new levels and she has since starred in Only Murder in The Building alongside Selena Gomez AND MERYL STREEP, the Emmy winning Beef and the hilarious girls trip comedy movie, Joyride (if you have missed it, watch it immediately it's SO funny!).  It’s no secret I love a ‘Great Chat’ and so does Ashley so in this episode we laugh, we get deep and there’s some tears as we talk about everything from self love to representation and her incredible friendship with Lily Collins (our OG Reign Queen - head back to episode one to listen to Lily on the podcast!). Ashley also talks about recovering from septic shock earlier this year and how filming the latest season of Emily in Paris whilst still recovering showed her the true meaning of ‘it takes a village.’ What this episode really shows is how amazing life is when YOU become the protagonist of your own life and if Ashley’s words inspire you as much as they did me, please get in touch via social media @joshsmithhosts - I always love talking to you. Love, Josh x P.S. I am so happy that today’s episode is brought to you with the support of Pandora. Both Pandora and Reign are all about celebrating love in all its forms - be that romantic love, love for our friends and family or the practice of self love. This episode, like every episode of Reign, hopes to sprinkle some sparkle and positivity in your life and empower you to BE LOVE. Especially in difficult times, just a little bit of love can truly help you and others. So, radiate it. Initiate it. Accept it. Expect and BE LOVE - you never know how much it could change your life or someone else’s. Head to pandora.net to discover the latest jewellery collections and more. P.P.S. In this epsidoe you will have heard Ashley and I talk about my book, ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope it inspires you to start using conversation as a self help practice, empowers you to be a better communicator and helps you build the connections you are deserving of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dune fans the time has come, Dune: Part Two is FINALLY coming to cinemas and today we are joined by the M-O-T-H-E-R of Dune in so many ways; the incredible Rebecca Ferguson.   After starting out in Swedish soap operas, Rebecca landed her first English-speaking role in the BBC drama, The White Queen and she didn’t look back. She quickly joined Tom Cruise - who she credits with changing her life in this episode - in the Mission Impossible franchise, starring in three of it’s movies, and has also starred in The Greatest Showman, Apple TV’s Silo, The Girl on The Train and now two Dune movies.  If you missed the first Dune movie, Rebecca plays Lady Jessica, the mother of Timothée Chalamet’s character Paul, who is destined to become the universe’s greatest leader. However, he has the power to see the future, and only he can see how dangerous he will be in this fantasy world. In Dune: Part One, things were dramatic for Lady Jessica to say the least after her husband was murdered, she lost her power and was exiled. Dune: Part Two is no different; she's pregnant with a baby she can talk to in the womb (yes, really), becomes THE all-powerful reverend mother, and that is just a taster of what to come. If you are confused so far, all you need to know is that as sequels go, this is one of the all time greats!  Today Rebecca and I have a DMC about everything Dune where she reveals she initially played hard to get, telling the franchise’s director, Denis Villeneuve (who she calls Denny) she wasn’t interested in the role (!!!) and she talks about the valuable lessons she learnt from working with Timothée. Rebecca also tells ms about the time she stood up for herself in the face of an absolutely horrid co-star in another movie, which is a firm reminder to us all to always use our voice, even when we are scared to.  I absolutely LOVED talking to Rebecca and I think you will leave this episode just as obsessed with her as I am. It’s rare to meet someone this authentic and comfortable in their own skin, especially in this industry. If you do love this episode please get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts! And speaking of epic people, if you missed it, check out last week’s episode with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis. Love Josh x  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'm so excited to bring you an amazing new series of Reign, with a whole host of incredible guests- Royalty in their own right! In this series you'll hear from Jesy Nelson, Tom Ellis and Léa Seydoux - and that's just the first few episodes. So make sure you're subscribed, so you'll be the first to hear my conversation with Jesy when it drops on Tuesday 28th! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My podcast, Reign with Josh Smith is ALL about open and empowering conversations but it’s also about the power of listening to others. So, in the spirit of listening, you asked and I am serving you the guest you have been thirsting after for the longest time in this very special bonus episode… drum roll please… It's the aSASSin herself, Jodie Comer! You will of course know Jodie for bursting onto our screens as the ‘other woman’ in Doctor Foster before she went on to slay everyone and every accent as Villanelle in Killing Eve. Now she’s starring in her first big Hollywood movie, Free Guy opposite Ryan Reyonolds which follows Ryan’s character, Guy who realises not only is he a background character in the world’s most successful computer game, Free City but the world he is living in is under threat. Step forward computer programmer Millie, played by Jodie who along with her kickass avatar, Molotovgirl teams up with Guy to help save the day. It’s all high jinx but meta AF as it encourages us all to be the main character in the game of life! Deep! I love Jodie’s personality so much so this episode is full of laughter - something we all need right now! And naturally, as this movie is all about computer gaming, in this episode we reminisce about the glory days of playing The Sims nonstop and Jodie admits that she isn’t that badass in real life after being kicked in the face on set. Something she describes as a ‘bucket list’ moment, if you say so babes! Jodie also reveals she recorded a cover of Mariah Carey’s Fantasy for the movie after Ryan Reynolds suggested it - could we be seeing the rebirth of Jodie Comer the popstar?!? YES. PLEASE. Jodie also opens about the lessons she has learnt from sitting with her ‘self’ over the last year and how it’s taught her to let go of ‘bad habits’ - who can relate?!! ME! - and how she is stepping into her power to say, ‘you've worked to be here. Stop, stop with the, ‘oh thank you.’ Or, ‘sorry, it's just so great!’ In the words of Jodie herself, ‘imposter syndrome is so 2020!’ Jodie also talks about managing her mental health after shooting new TV show, Help where she played a care home worker battling the beginning of the coronavirus opposite her mentor, Stephen Graham and how filming the show at home in Liverpool allowed her to have her Mum’s roast dinners on set. (Find out the secrets to a Comer family roast, too)! AND if that wasn’t enough Jodie reveals the meeting she had with Ridley Scott which led to her starring opposite Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Ben Affleck in the forthcoming movie, The Last Duel. I loved talking to Jodie so much - this chat is pure joy so I hope you love it as much as I do - and thank you for taking the time to listen to Reign with Josh Smith, it means the world to me. I really hope you continue to listen and find the power to Reign in your own lives, too. Until next time, WEAR THOSE CROWNS WITH PRIDE and get in touch (follow me across social media @joshsmithhosts), I love hearing from you. Love, Josh xxx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hands up if you have seen Netflix's trilogy of horror movies, Fear Street, absolutely pooped yourself AND fallen into new levels of obsession with its star, Kiana Madeira who plays the central protagonist, Deena? I knew I wasn't the only one who was obsessed SO for this very special bonus episode of Make It Reign, I am joined by the new scream queen herself, Kiana! You may have seen Kiana before in the Netflix hit, Trinkets, which follows a group of High Schoolers who end up in a Shoplifters Anonymous Group. But now she is gathering new fans by creeping us out as Deena, a teenager living in the fictional town of Shadyside for the Netflix hit Fear Street based on the books by R.L STINE.The three movies follow a group of high schoolers across three very different periods in 1994, then 1978 and finally, 1666 attempting to not only solve a murder mystery but an ancient curse. Now that's a long to-do list for one gal! One of the things I loved about the three movies was that they centre around the queer love story between Deena and her high school lover, Samantha. Isn't it about time a trilogy of films celebrate a same sex relationship without making it heavily sexualised? HELL YES! As this bonus episode lands after our Reign with Pride series - where we were joined by the likes of Cara Delevingne, Samira Wiley, Courtney Act and Paris Lees - we talk about the power of representing a queer love story. Kiana also talks powerfully about her relationship with religion, how acting affected her body image and how she has learnt to take pride in her mixed heritage and finally embrace her curly hair. I loved talking to Kiana so much as she has so many amazing words about learning to love your self and others - so I hope YOU listen to this episode and give yourselves a little bit of extra love. I am now taking a little break before we drop season four BUT there *may* be a very special surprise guest coming your way in August so make sure you follow me across social media @joshsmithhosts so you are the first to know about it. TRUST ME, you won't want to miss it as I am asked every single day when this person will appear on the podcast. Thank you for taking the time to listen to Reign - it means the world to me. I really hope you continue to listen and find the power to Reign your own lives, too. Until next time, WEAR THOSE CROWNS WITH PRIDE and get in touch, I love hearing from you. Love, Josh xxxP.S Thank you to our sponsors, Aurelia London who are, not only, THE experts in Probiotic Skincare but using their Probiotic Concentrate with my Aurelia London Day Moisturiser has bought back my glow, just in time for me to re-enter civilisation! Yay!FYI - Aurelia London's probiotic skincare is effective for skin conditions from dullness to ageing to rosacea and pigmentation to acne.And as a treat for you, you can get 20% off the entire range by heading to aurelialondon.com and using the code JOSH20 at the check out! Hope you love it as much as I do! x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Start your engines because Shane Jenek AKA Courtney Act joins me for the final episode of my mini-series, Reign with Pride! Shane has had many iconic international and historic moments as his drag persona, Courtney Act after they appeared in the first series of Australian Idol in 2003, becoming the first LGBT contestant to openly appear on a reality TV talent show downunder.International fame came knocking after Courtney Act became the runner up in the sixth season of Ru Paul’s Drag Race and was later named as the third most powerful drag queen in America by New York Magazine. Courtney went on to win UK’s Celebrity Big Brother and in 2019 was the first same-sex pairiing in the Australian version of Dancing With The Stars. Now Shane has launched his own podcast, Building Queertopia on BBC Sounds, which brings together members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community by asking them to envision a perfect ‘queer utopia’ where everyone is welcome. But before you RACE off to listen to it, this episode is a corker as we talk about growing up fearing straight men, how drag affected his mental health and how his relationship with body image has changed. SO much of what Shane says in this episode speaks of my own experiences grappling with my identity so I hope you feel heard and seen by the episode! If you have missed this series so far, this mini-series of four episodes features some of the most prominent role models in the LGBTQ+ community - from Cara Delevingne to Samira Wiley - to celebrate Pride Month. It’s something that means so much to me because when I was growing up I didn’t feel like I truly had any role models - like Shane- and I know that listening to these guests would have helped ‘younger me’ and also, ‘adult me’ during the multiple times in my life when I have struggled with taking pride in who I am. If you are struggling with your identity at the moment or just need someone to talk to please reach out to the LGBT Foundation, who I mentioned in this episode. Their helplines are always open and confidential and you can find out more at lgbt.foundation. I truly hope this series will help you take pride in your identity no matter how you identify. You can follow me at @joshsmithhosts across social media and please get in touch as I love to hear from you! Love Josh xxx Thank you to our sponsors this week, Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances. When it comes to embracing the LGBTQ+ community in its entirety, there is no one quite like Jean Paul Gaultier! The brand is a symbol of queer freedom and the gorgeous new RAINBOW limited edition Le Male Pride collector bottle symbolises just that. 100% of profits will go towards the national LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, AKT who have provided over 250,000 nights off the street for LGBTQ+ young people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. You can pick up your very own Le Male Pride bottle right now from Look Fantastic. P.S You will also have heard an advert for my favourite skincare brand, Aurelia London who are, not only, THE experts in Probiotic Skincare but using their Probiotic Concentrate with my Aurelia London Day Moisturiser has bought back my glow, just in time for me to re-enter civilisation! Yay! FYI - Aurelia London's probiotic skincare is effective for skin conditions from dullness to ageing to rosacea and pigmentation to acne. And as a treat for you, you can get 20% off the entire range by heading to aurelialondon.com and using the code JOSH20 at the check out! Hope you love it as much as I do! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Author, activist and transgender trailblazer, Paris Lees joins me for the third episode of my mini-series, Reign with Pride, and it is one of the most eye opening conversations I have ever had. Paris Lees is the definition of a LGBTQIA+ trailblazer. She was the first openly trans woman to present a show on Radio 1, to present a show on Channel 4, to appear on Question Time and become a contributing editor for Vogue. She’s even had a cameo on Hollyoaks, addressed the Oxford Union in 2014, and in 2016 gave evidence at the home affairs select committee on prostitution laws.But her personal story, which she details in her powerful new memoir 'What It Feels Like For A Girl', tells even more of a story. It is a brutally honest account of her being groomed for sex work as a teenager, the abuse she suffered from her father, being physically bullied at school, and how she came to terms with her identity. In spite of all this adversity and ending up in prison as a teenager after committing a robbery, Paris went to college and went on to graduate at Brighton University with a degree in English language and literature and finds herself where she is today. Hearing Paris Lee's lived experiences in this episode was remarkable as we reflected on chosen family, spectrum grace in the LGBTQIA+ community and how despite experiencing the darkest of times she found her power. This mini-series of four episodes will feature some of the most prominent role models in the LGBTQ+ community from Cara Delevingne to Samira Wiley, to celebrate Pride Month - something that means so much to me! When I was growing up I didn’t feel like I truly had any role models - like Samira - and I know that listening to these guests would have helped ‘younger me’ and also, ‘adult me’ during the multiple times in my life when I have struggled with taking pride in who I am. If you are struggling with your identity at the moment or just need someone to talk to please reach out to the LGBT Foundation, who I mentioned in this episode. Their helplines are always open and confidential and you can find out more at lgbt.foundation. I hope you love this episode as much as I do and I truly hope this series will help you take pride in your identity no matter how you identify. You can follow me at @joshsmithhosts across social media and please get in touch as I love to hear from you! Love Josh xxx Thank you to our sponsors this week, Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances. When it comes to embracing the LGBTQ+ community in its entirety, there is no one quite like Jean Paul Gaultier! The brand is a symbol of queer freedom and the gorgeous new RAINBOW limited edition Le Male Pride collector bottle symbolises just that. 100% of profits will go towards the national LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, AKT who have provided over 250,000 nights off the street for LGBTQ+ young people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. You can pick up your very own Le Male Pride bottle right now from Look Fantastic. P.S You will also have heard an advert for my favourite skincare brand, Aurelia London who are, not only, THE experts in Probiotic Skincare but using their Probiotic Concentrate with my Aurelia London Day Moisturiser has bought back my glow, just in time for me to re-enter civilisation! Yay! FYI - Aurelia London's probiotic skincare is effective for skin conditions from dullness to ageing to rosacea and pigmentation to acne. And as a treat for you, you can get 20% off the entire range by heading to aurelialondon.com and using the code JOSH20 at the check out! Hope you love it as much as I do! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May the lord open! The Emmy award winning The Handmaid’s Tale star Samira Wiley joins me for the second episode of Reign with Pride, opening up about being same-sex parents, coming out, and learning to take pride in the intersections of her identity. Samira Wiley has been the definition of a role model since she first starred as Poussey in Orange Is The New Black. Samira went on to win an Emmy Award for her performance as Moira in The Handmaid’s Tale which she dedicated to her wife, Lauren. She received the Human Rights Campaign's Visibility Award, and appeared as a couple on the cover of OUT magazine, giving same sex relationships the visibility they deserve! YES! I caught up with Samira just a few months after the birth of their baby daughter, George and she has so many amazing words about raising a new generation to take pride in their identity. Samira herself is now proud to call herself a ‘gay woman’ but it hasn’t always been the case, as as Samira revealed she was encouraged to enter into a fake ‘relationship’ with a gay male friend to protect her career. Now Samira, who credits playing Moira in The Handmaid’s Tale with helping her find her voice, sees her relationship as one of her greatest achievements and we love to hear it! I have to confess that I have been obsessed with Samira since I started watching The Handmaid’s Tale - which I think is THE best TV show ever made (it’s a fact!) - so of course we had a little chat about season four. If you haven’t caught up, there are some plot spoilers in the first ten minutes so listen with caution! This mini-series of four episodes will feature some of the most prominent role models in the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate Pride Month - something that means so much to me! When I was growing up I didn’t feel like I truly had any role models - like Samira - and I know that listening to these guests would have helped ‘younger me’ and also, ‘adult me’ during the multiple times in my life when I have struggled with taking pride in who I am. If you are struggling with your identity at the moment or just need someone to talk to please reach out to the LGBT Foundation, who I mentioned in this episode. Their helplines are always open and confidential and you can find out more at lgbt.foundation. I hope you love this episode as much as I do and I truly hope this series will help you take pride in your identity no matter how you identify. You can follow me at @joshsmithhosts across social media and please get in touch as I love to hear from you! Love Josh xxx Thank you to our sponsors this week, Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances. When it comes to embracing the LGBTQ+ community in its entirety, there is no one quite like Jean Paul Gaultier! The brand is a symbol of queer freedom and the gorgeous new RAINBOW limited edition Le Male Pride collector bottle symbolises just that. 100% of profits will go towards the national LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, AKT who have provided over 250,000 nights off the street for LGBTQ+ young people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. You can pick up your very own Le Male Pride bottle right now from Look Fantastic. P.S You will also have heard an advert for my favourite skincare brand, Aurelia London who are, not only, THE experts in Probiotic Skincare but using their Probiotic Concentrate with my Aurelia London Day Moisturiser has bought back my glow, just in time for me to re-enter civilisation! Yay! FYI - Aurelia London's probiotic skincare is effective for skin conditions from dullness to ageing to rosacea and pigmentation to acne. And as a treat for you, you can get 20% off the entire range by heading to aurelialondon.com and using the code JOSH20 at the check out! Hope you love it as much as I do! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cara Delevingne joins me for the first episode of my new mini-series, Reign with Pride and opens up about sexuality, sex and even some hilarious stripper stories - I promise this episode has it all! This mini-series of four episodes will feature some of the most prominent role models in the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate Pride Month - something that means so much to me! When I was growing up I didn’t feel like I truly had any role models, and I know that listening to these guests would have helped ‘younger me’ and also, ‘adult me’ during the multiple times in my life when I have struggled with taking pride in who I am. Cara Delevingne has been a role model to many since she started her modelling career just after leaving school. She went on to be the face of quite literally everything from Dior to Chanel, she’s won Model of The Year at the British Fashion Awards twice, and has found huge - and at times - isolating levels of fame. Cara then stepped into the world of movies with a role in Anna Karenina before taking on leading roles in Suicide Squad, Paper Towns before landing as a fairy in Amazon Prime’s TV extravaganza, Carnival Row. I caught up with Cara on a HAWT day whilst she was filming on location in Prague - so hot in fact that the windows had to be open - sorry about the background noise, but a girl has to stay cool! She opens up about becoming an entrepreneur with her sex tech brand, Lora DiCarlo, the stigma around female masturbation - including being shamed for masturbating at boarding school - and how after coming out as Pansexual last year, she is now defining her own sexuality on her own terms. We also talk about her ongoing journey with mental health, her views on plastic surgery and what pride means to her. Cara’s honesty in this episode is incredible, and shows that even role models don't have all the answers - because at the end of the day, who does? And that is the most reassuring thing of all, especially when you are discovering who you are! If you are struggling with your identity at the moment or just need someone to talk to please reach out to the LGBT Foundation, who I mentioned in this episode. Their helplines are always open and confidential and you can find out more at lgbt.foundation. I hope you love this episode as much as I do and I truly hope this series will help you take pride in your identity no matter how you identify. You can follow me at @joshsmithhosts across social media and please get in touch as I love to hear from you! Love Josh xxxThank you to our sponsors this week, Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances. When it comes to embracing the LGBTQ+ community in its entirety, there is no one quite like Jean Paul Gaultier! The brand is a symbol of queer freedom and the gorgeous new RAINBOW limited edition Le Male Pride collector bottle symbolises just that. 100% of profits will go towards the national LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, AKT who have provided over 250,000 nights off the street for LGBTQ+ young people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. You can pick up your very own Le Male Pride bottle right now from Look Fantastic.P.S You will also have heard an advert for my favourite skincare brand, Aurelia London who are, not only, THE experts in Probiotic Skincare but using their Probiotic Concentrate with my Aurelia London Day Moisturiser has bought back my glow, just in time for me to re-enter civilisation! Yay!FYI - Aurelia London's probiotic skincare is effective for skin conditions from dullness to ageing to rosacea and pigmentation to acne.And as a treat for you, you can get 20% off the entire range by heading to aurelialondon.com and using the code JOSH20 at the check out! Hope you love it as much as I do! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices