On a Mission Podcast 2.0

Afleveringen

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  Why Successful People Ask Better Questions with Dean Kelly and Ellie McKay 14.08.2026 25min

  Most people don’t need more information. They need the right answer, from the right person, at the exact moment they need it.   In this special episode, TalentDec co founders Dean Kelly and Ellie McKay reveal the thinking behind a new expert marketplace designed to make valuable knowledge and real world experience far more accessible.   Dean sold his first company at 30 for an eight figure sum before becoming the youngest CEO on the stock market. He has since built and sold multiple businesses, chaired companies in the UK and overseas, invested in founders and developed an international network spanning the UK and Dubai.   Ellie is the host of the On a Mission podcast, which has ranked in the top 0.5 percent of podcasts globally and regularly appeared in the UK Top 10. After more than 300 interviews with leading entrepreneurs, thought leaders and experts, she has seen how one relationship, conversation or piece of advice can completely alter someone’s direction.   TalentDec stands for Talent Decentralised. It gives people direct access to vetted experts across business, finance, health, legal, HR, sport, performance and many other areas. Instead of committing thousands of pounds to a mentor or programme, users can ask a specific question, compare different perspectives and pay for the knowledge they need.   The idea is simple. You don’t always need months of coaching or another generic course. Sometimes you need ten minutes with somebody who has already faced the problem sitting in front of you.   Dean shares how access to experienced business leaders helped him navigate recessions, complex financial decisions and challenges that could have cost his companies millions. He also explains why the most famous person isn’t necessarily the person with the best answer for you.   Ellie opens up about losing everything, declaring bankruptcy and rebuilding her life as a single mother of three. The relationships she had built through the podcast became an essential part of finding her feet again, creating new opportunities and moving forward when her circumstances changed beyond recognition.   Together, they explore the true value of experience, why successful people still need guidance and how TalentDec allows experts to earn from knowledge that has often taken decades to acquire. They also discuss the pressure to pretend we have all the answers, the importance of asking for help and why several informed perspectives can lead to far better decisions.   Whether you’re building a company, facing a difficult decision, trying to improve your health or looking for clarity in another area of your life, TalentDec helps you reach people whose experience could save you time, money and years of avoidable mistakes.   ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔ The eight figure entrepreneur building a completely new way to access expertise   ✔ Why the right person can be almost impossible to reach   ✔ What is 30 years of experience actually worth?   ✔ The one answer that could change the trajectory of your life   ✔ The board level advice most small businesses can’t afford   ✔ The uncomfortable truth about self proclaimed experts on LinkedIn   ✔ Why the biggest name in the room might give you the worst advice   ✔ The conversation with a billionaire that changed Dean’s entire perspective   ✔ Dean sat in Canary Wharf pretending he understood what the bankers were saying   ✔ How admitting he didn’t know potentially saved Dean £2 million   ✔ The relationships that carried Ellie through losing everything   ✔ Why the questions Dean gets asked most have nothing to do with business   ✔ The part of success most entrepreneurs completely overlook   ✔ How the right people can help you build the life you actually want   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Fol
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  From Market Trader to International Music Artist | The Hidden Cost of Chasing Your Dreams with ADMT 07.08.2026 1u 15min

  Millions of people know Adam (ADMT) for his incredible voice, but what I love most about him isn’t his music. It’s the person behind it.   It was an absolute pleasure to sit down with one of my good friends and an all round brilliant human being, Adam Taylor.   Behind the sold out shows, record deals and millions of views is someone who, for years, struggled to believe he was good enough. Adam speaks with incredible honesty about growing up feeling like he never quite fitted in, the impact bullying had on his confidence and working in a glass factory before music took off.   We also talk about the reality of depression and the darkest moments of Adam’s life. He shares how therapy helped him understand himself in a way he never thought possible and ultimately became one of the most important turning points in his life.   Adam is still the same grounded lad from Doncaster who cares deeply about people, values genuine connection over fame and has used some of the darkest moments in his life to create music that has helped millions of others feel less alone. We talk about everything from the dark side of social media and mental health to purpose, biohacking and what success really means when you strip away the numbers.   ⸻ In this episode:   ✔ Why Adam changed his name to AT and the story behind it.   ✔ Growing up feeling like an outsider and the lasting impact of bullying.   ✔ The teacher who saw something in him when nobody else did.   ✔ Working in a glass factory while chasing his dream of becoming a musician.   ✔ Thinking he’d made it in America before everything suddenly fell apart.   ✔ Why songwriting became his therapy and how his most personal songs have connected with millions.   ✔ His experience with depression, suicidal thoughts and the role therapy played in changing his life.   ✔ His perspective on social media, authenticity and staying true to yourself in a world that’s constantly asking you to be someone else.   If you’ve ever struggled to believe in yourself, questioned your own worth or wondered whether you really belong, I think you’ll get a lot from this conversation.   ⸻ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction01:38 Does Success Actually Change You?03:32 Knowing He Wanted To Be A Musician04:20 Never Fitting In At School08:33 Why The Education System Doesn't Work For Everyone10:55 The Teacher Who Changed His Life12:54 Getting His First Break In Music14:01 Going To LA & Thinking He'd Made It15:43 The Dream Suddenly Falls Apart18:09 Becoming A Singer20:06 Battling Self-Doubt & Fear Of Rejection21:29 The Reality Of Hate On Social Media24:45 Why He Refuses To Take Fans' Money26:10 From Factory Worker To Successful Artist28:45 Turning Pain Into Music31:08 The Darkest Period Of His Life34:12 Why Therapy Changed Everything37:29 Psychedelics, Microdosing & Mental Health41:46 The 50 Cent Moment That Changed His Career46:54 How Social Media Led To A Record Deal49:21 The Truth About Record Deals51:11 Imposter Syndrome In The Music Industry58:53 Why Music Is Still Therapy01:02:54 Opportunity, Inequality & Life In Britain01:04:34 Will AI Destroy The Music Industry?01:14:41 Adam's Mission In Life ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow ADMT: 🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/33M0vL5kF0AMJqXYxeX7kF 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamadmt/?hl=en 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAMADMT/?locale=en_GB
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  The Wealth Lie That’s Fooling Millions | With Multimillionaire Dean Kelly 31.07.2026 1u 6min

  We’ve never had more access to information, yet it’s never been harder to know who or what to trust.   Social media has created a generation of experts who look successful. AI can give two completely different answers to the same question. Millionaires are selling courses on building wealth, despite making more money from the courses than the thing they’re supposedly teaching.   So how do you separate genuine expertise from clever marketing? How do you build real wealth instead of just looking wealthy? And in a world that’s changing faster than ever, what skills are actually going to matter over the next decade?   In this episode, I’m joined by entrepreneur, investor and chairman Dean Kelly. Dean became a multimillionaire before the age of 30, has built, scaled and exited multiple businesses, advises CEOs around the world and has spent decades sitting in rooms where the biggest financial decisions are made.   This isn’t another conversation full of motivational clichés or recycled business advice.   It’s an honest, often controversial discussion about money, success, AI, critical thinking, health, entrepreneurship and why so many people are following advice from people who’ve never actually done the thing they’re teaching.   We explore why making money is only half the battle and why keeping it requires a completely different mindset. Dean explains why successful entrepreneurs lose fortunes, why wealth managers won’t care about your money as much as you do, why social media has blurred the line between perception and reality, and why genuine experience is becoming more valuable than ever.   We also dive deep into artificial intelligence. Is AI the greatest opportunity we’ve ever had, or are we outsourcing the very skill that makes us human? As more people rely on ChatGPT and other AI tools to think for them, Dean explains why critical thinking could become one of the greatest competitive advantages anyone can develop.   The conversation also moves beyond business. We discuss high performance, health, longevity, discipline, family, fulfilment and why success without your health, relationships or peace of mind is a price neither of us is willing to pay.   Finally, we tackle one of society’s biggest questions. Why has wealth become something we’re encouraged to resent instead of understand? Is Britain developing a culture that punishes ambition? And what really separates the people who continue building from those who spend their lives blaming everyone else?   Whether you’re building a business, rebuilding your life, navigating uncertainty or simply trying to think more clearly in an increasingly noisy world, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and leave you questioning far more than you expected.   ⸻ In this episode:   ✔ Why fake experts are thriving and how to spot genuine credibility.   ✔ The uncomfortable truth about business gurus and online courses.   ✔ Why making money and keeping money require completely different skills.   ✔ The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make after achieving success.   ✔ AI, critical thinking and the future of human expertise.   ✔ How successful founders make decisions under pressure.   ✔ Why health, fitness and longevity are competitive advantages.   ✔ The habits Dean has followed for more than 30 years to stay at the top of his game.   ✔ Britain’s attitude towards wealth, success and ambition.   ✔ Why fulfilment matters far more than simply chasing money.   If this episode challenged your thinking, share it with someone who needs to hear it and subscribe to On a Mission wherever you get your podcasts. The biggest breakthroughs often start by asking better questions.   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Dean Kelly: 🔗 Website: https://kellstar.co.uk 🔗 Instagra
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  I Escaped the 7/7 London Bombings… Then Went to Rehab with Hannah Lanel 10.07.2026 1u 23min

  Twenty one years ago, serial entrepreneur and wellbeing expert Hannah Lanel made a split second decision that saved her life. On the morning of the 7/7 London bombings, Hannah was sitting on the Tube when she looked up and made eye contact with another passenger. An overwhelming sense of dread washed over her. She got up, ran off the train and left the station, despite the fact it wasn’t even her stop. Hours later, she discovered she’d been sitting in the carriage where the deadliest of the London bombings took place. The man she’d made eye contact with was the bomber. If she’d stayed on that train, she would almost certainly have been among those who lost their lives that morning. What almost nobody knew at the time was that Hannah was secretly battling a crack addiction while running a successful business. To everyone around her, she appeared to have it all. Behind closed doors, she hadn’t slept for days, was falling apart and desperately needed something to change. That day became the catalyst for rebuilding her life. Ellie sits down with Hannah to explore everything that followed, from addiction, ADHD and survivor’s guilt to entrepreneurship, nutrition, mental health and why she believes we’ve got the conversation around addiction completely wrong. They also discuss the realities of building businesses, overcoming trauma, the failures of the modern wellness industry and why connection, not shame, is often the key to lasting recovery. Whether you’re interested in the 7/7 London bombings, addiction recovery, ADHD in women, mental health, trauma, entrepreneurship or nutrition, this is a conversation that will stay with you long after it ends. ⸻   In this episode: ✔ Hannah’s miraculous escape from the 7/7 London bombings ✔ Crack addiction and recovery ✔ ADHD diagnosis later in life ✔ Survivor’s guilt and PTSD ✔ Entrepreneurship and resilience ✔ Nutrition and wellbeing ✔ The psychology of addiction ✔ The wellness industry ✔ Rebuilding after trauma   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Hannah Lanel: 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlanel/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-lanel-a28970194/ 🔗 The Fore Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefore_london/
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  Female Entrepreneur Chloë Bisson on Postnatal Depression, Business and Burnout 26.06.2026 58min

  In this episode of On a Mission, I sit down with female entrepreneur, author and founder Chloë Bisson to talk about the reality of building and scaling a seven figure business whilst raising a newborn.   This is an honest conversation about female entrepreneurship, motherhood, postnatal depression, burnout and the mental load that comes with trying to balance it all.   Chloë opens up about becoming a director at just 24, building a successful career in finance, and then being diagnosed with severe clinical depression at the very point she thought she had made it.   We talk about high functioning depression, how easy it is to hide when you are still performing at a high level, and why so many ambitious women can miss the warning signs until they hit breaking point.   Chloë also shares her experience of postnatal depression after the birth of her daughter, the impact it had on her identity, and what it looked like navigating new motherhood whilst leading a fast growing business.   This episode explores the realities of being a female founder, the pressure of business growth, the guilt that can come with motherhood, and the challenge of building success without losing yourself in the process.   We also get into people pleasing, trauma, boundaries, purpose and why creating a business around your values matters more than ever when life changes.   ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔  Scaling a seven figure business as a new mother ✔ The reality of postnatal depression and maternal mental health ✔ High functioning depression and burnout in female entrepreneurs ✔ The pressure of balancing motherhood and business growth ✔ Identity shifts after becoming a parent ✔ How trauma can shape ambition and success ✔ Why boundaries are essential for female founders ✔ Building a business that supports your life and not the other way around   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Chloë Bisson 🔗 Website: https://www.chloebisson.com/hello 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloebissonofficial/?hl=en
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  From Addiction, Shame & Suicide To Finding Purpose with Eth Power 05.06.2026 1u 35min

  What happens when the life and soul of the party can no longer escape himself?   In this episode of On a Mission, Eth Power joins Ellie McKay for a raw and deeply honest conversation about addiction, shame, identity, self destruction and recovery.   For years, alcohol and drugs were at the centre of Eth’s life. What began as chasing confidence, connection and escapism eventually spiralled into chaos, leaving him battling addiction, suicidal thoughts and overwhelming shame.   Eth opens up about the reality of addiction, the choices he made whilst under the influence, the guilt that followed, and why he believes cocaine is ultimately a drug fuelled by shame.   This conversation goes far beyond sobriety.   We explore what happens when your entire identity is built around being the entertainer, the party animal and the person everyone expects you to be. We discuss the difficult process of rebuilding your life, learning to sit with uncomfortable emotions, forgiving yourself for the past and finding purpose beyond external validation.   Most importantly, we discuss how peace is often found on the other side of the very things we’ve spent years trying to avoid.   ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔ Why Eth describes cocaine as “the drug of shame”.   ✔ The reality of addiction and the guilt that follows.   ✔ Living with suicidal thoughts and reaching breaking point.   ✔ How therapy changed the course of his life.   ✔ Learning to live without alcohol and drugs.   ✔ The challenge of discovering who you are without the mask.   ✔ Self forgiveness and letting go of the past.   ✔ Why external validation never fills the void.   ✔ Finding meaning, purpose and peace.   ✔ Reconnecting with your authentic self.   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Eth Power: 🔗 Forever Young Retreat: https://www.weareforeveryoung.co.uk 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ethpower_?igsh=bDlqMDFsbDF5bmh4
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  Why So Many People Are Rethinking Alcohol with Andy Ramage 15.05.2026 1u 26min

  In this episode, I sit down with Andy Ramage, former City broker turned one of the leading voices in the alcohol free movement, for a raw conversation about alcohol, stress, identity and the habits many of us have normalised for years without ever really questioning.   What starts as a discussion about drinking quickly becomes something much bigger. We talk about the reality that alcohol is often the only drug people feel pressured to justify not taking, despite the growing links to anxiety, poor sleep, depression, chronic illness and multiple forms of cancer. We also get into the way drinking has become embedded into almost every part of modern life, from networking events and holidays to parenting, celebrations and stress relief.   Andy reflects on the moment he realised many of the people he once viewed as successful were privately exhausted, disconnected and unhappy behind closed doors, despite outward appearances suggesting otherwise. I also speak openly about my own experience of doing 14 months alcohol free, slipping back into old habits, and eventually reaching the point where alcohol no longer felt like something I was sacrificing.   We get into confidence, emotional regulation, social conditioning, performance, relationships and the uncomfortable truth that many of us spend years running on empty whilst convincing ourselves everything is fine.   There are also some pretty controversial conversations around the industries that profit from unhealthy coping mechanisms, the cultural conditioning we grow up with around alcohol, and why younger generations are increasingly rejecting it altogether.   This isn’t about judgement or preaching to people. It’s an honest conversation about awareness, health, mindset and whether the things we’ve been told help us relax are actually keeping many of us anxious, depleted and disconnected from ourselves. ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔ Why alcohol is often the last thing many of us are willing to question ✔ The growing research linking alcohol to cancer, anxiety, poor sleep and declining mental health ✔ Why society normalises drinking but questions people who choose not to drink ✔ The identity shift that comes with removing alcohol from your life ✔ Andy’s transformation from burnt out City broker to one of the biggest voices in the alcohol free movement ✔ My honest reflections on slipping back into old drinking habits after 14 months alcohol free ✔ Why moderation works for some people and completely unravels for others ✔ The hidden impact alcohol has on productivity, emotional regulation, relationships and parenting ✔ Why younger generations are beginning to reject alcohol culture altogether ✔ The financial and cultural systems that continue to profit from unhealthy coping mechanisms ✔ Why so many people never truly discover what they’re capable of because they spend decades either drinking or recovering from drinking   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Andy Ramage: 🔗 Website: https://andyramage.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyramageofficial?igsh=MWU3Nmt2cWMwZDg3bQ== 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1LZip6V4qn/?mibextid=wwXIfr 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyramage?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
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  The Secret To Personal Transformation with Andy Ramage 14.05.2026 1u 18min

    This episode was actually recorded a couple of years ago, before alcohol became the mainstream conversation it is today. Listening back now, it’s fascinating how many of the things we discussed then are starting to become widely talked about in 2026.   Ahead of tomorrow’s brand new episode with Andy Ramage, I wanted to re release our original conversation because so much of it still feels incredibly relevant.   In this episode, Andy and I talk about alcohol, stress, identity, social conditioning and the uncomfortable reality that many of us spend years normalising habits that quietly impact our energy, confidence, relationships, focus and mental health.   At the time of recording, I was at the very beginning of my own alcohol free journey, still questioning my relationship with drinking and trying to understand why something so socially accepted could also leave so many people feeling anxious, depleted and disconnected from themselves.   We talk about the culture surrounding alcohol, the pressure many people feel to drink in social and business environments, and the growing evidence linking alcohol to anxiety, poor sleep, depression and even cancer, despite how normalised drinking has become in modern society.   Andy also opens up about his own transformation from burnt out City broker to becoming one of the leading voices in the alcohol free movement, after realising many of the people he once viewed as “successful” were privately exhausted, unhealthy and unhappy behind closed doors.   What makes this conversation even more interesting listening back now is hearing some of my own thoughts and beliefs at the very start of this journey, especially knowing how much my perspective has evolved since recording it.   ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔ Why alcohol became embedded into almost every part of modern life ✔ The hidden pressure people feel to drink in social and professional settings ✔ The growing links between alcohol, anxiety, poor sleep and chronic illness ✔ Why so many successful people are privately struggling despite outward appearances ✔ Andy’s journey from professional footballer to City broker to one of the biggest voices in the alcohol free movement ✔ Why many people never realise how much alcohol is impacting them until they remove it ✔ The cultural blind spots around alcohol that most of us never question ✔ My own honest reflections from the very start of my alcohol free journey ✔ Why younger generations are beginning to rethink drinking culture altogether ✔ The mindset shift that changes alcohol from something you’re “giving up” into something you no longer want   This isn’t a preachy anti alcohol conversation. It’s an honest discussion about awareness, health, mindset and questioning behaviours many of us have accepted for years without ever really stopping to think about them.   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Andy Ramage: 🔗 Website: https://andyramage.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyramageofficial?igsh=MWU3Nmt2cWMwZDg3bQ== 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1LZip6V4qn/?mibextid=wwXIfr 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyramage?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
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  Maajid Nawaz on Grooming Gangs, Covid Backlash and Losing LBC 01.05.2026 1u 55min

  Maajid Nawaz was radicalised as a teenager and built his life around an extremist ideology that led to his arrest in Egypt, prison, and torture, before walking away from it and rethinking everything he once believed.   Years later, after becoming a well-known voice in counter extremism, he lost his role as a presenter on LBC during Covid, publicly labelled and ridiculed for his views.   This conversation lands at a time when the Home Office has apologised for what’s being described as one of the darkest periods in British history around the grooming gang scandal, and that’s where things open up.   We get into what actually happened, the cover ups, the corruption, the scale of what was allowed to go on, and why so many people were ignored or shut down for speaking about it, along with his take on who benefits when something like that is kept quiet for so long.   From there it builds into the bigger picture, power, influence, how decisions are made behind the scenes, from public narratives to government contracts, and what starts to come into view once you begin connecting the dots.   ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔ 00:00 Being drawn into extremism at a young age and how that path took hold.   ✔ 09:00 Arrest in Egypt, time in prison, and the reality of torture and its impact.   ✔ 22:00 Grooming gang scandal, the Home Office apology, and what was happening while it was being covered up.   ✔ 36:00 Why people who spoke out were shut down and what that says about the system.   ✔ 48:00 Covid, losing his role at LBC, being labelled publicly, and the personal fallout of that.   ✔ 1:05:00 Power and influence, how decisions are shaped behind the scenes, and what drives them.   ✔ 1:18:00 Government contracts, incentives, and what sits underneath public facing decisions.   ✔ 1:30:00 Where this leaves people now and why more are starting to question what’s really going.   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Maajid Nawaz: 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maajidnawaz?igsh=OHZxMWI5OWxidGVh 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1J9SUJ4cZn/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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  Built in Pain, Forged in Fire: with Adventure Athlete Darren Grigas 24.04.2026 1u 24min

  He Wasn’t Built For This… He Became It   Darren Grigas has completed a world first 127 mile foot crossing of the 55 million year old Namib, run 100 miles across a frozen lake in temperatures down to minus 50, taken on uncharted rainforest, and completed Marathon des Sables alongside Sir Ranulph Fiennes.   Most people look at extreme endurance athletes and assume they’ve always been wired differently, as though they were built for it from the start, but Darren’s story completely dismantles that.   This didn’t begin with a lifelong obsession for pushing limits. It started with a random morning, a car crash, and a body that didn’t work the same way anymore.   At that point, he wasn’t running ultra distances or training for deserts and jungles. He was living a normal life, working a job, following a routine, and struggling to run a single mile without his body breaking down.   What followed was anything but a sudden transformation. It was slow, frustrating, and at times painful enough that most people would have stepped back and accepted their limits, but instead of doing that, he started asking a different question around what the version of himself would look like if he actually overcame it.   That shift in thinking changed everything.   Over time, that mindset took him from barely getting through a mile to standing on the start line of some of the toughest endurance events on the planet.   It was great to have Darren back on the podcast for this one, because we go beyond the highlight reel and get into the reality behind it. The training around a full time job, raising kids, and dealing with pressure most people never see, along with the mental battles that don’t make it onto social media.   What stands out most isn’t just what he’s done, it’s how he thinks. The way he approaches pain, pressure and adversity, understanding the difference between discomfort and real damage, and knowing when to push and when to hold.   There’s also a side to this that most people wouldn’t expect, including personal pressure, family challenges and financial strain, all happening in the background while still showing up and doing the work.   That’s where this really lands, not in the extremes themselves but in the mindset behind them, and the idea that you don’t wait until you feel ready, you make the decision first and then build yourself into the person who can handle it.   ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔ The car crash that changed everything ✔ Struggling to run a single mile after injury ✔ The mindset shift that drove everything forward ✔ Marathon des Sables alongside Sir Ranulph Fiennes ✔ A world first 127 mile foot crossing of the Namib ✔ Running 100 miles across a frozen lake in minus 50 conditions ✔ Uncharted rainforest and extreme environments ✔ Training around work, family and real life pressure ✔ Understanding pain vs real damage ✔ Building resilience through real life adversity   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Darren Grigas: 🔗 Website: https://darrengrigas.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darren.grigas?igsh=Mzgwb2wxZmlqZzI4 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/182m17a9ni/?mibextid=wwXIfr 🔗 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/darren-grigas  
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  The Healthy Habits Slowly Destroying Your Body | Michelle Flynn 17.04.2026 1u 28min

  Renowned performance coach Michelle Flynn works with high performers operating at an elite level, people at the top of their game who, on the surface, look like they have everything under control.   She was doing the same.   Training hard, disciplined, performing at a high level, until her body shut her down. Twice.   It’s something she now sees constantly, high performers still delivering, still pushing, while carrying chronic stress and having no real understanding of what it’s doing to their body.   This goes far beyond mindset and habits.   We get into mental health, suicide, hormones, menopause, emotional pressure, and why so many people who look “fine” are anything but.   Michelle also challenges a lot of the advice being pushed in the health and performance space, and why some of it isn’t just ineffective, it can actually put people at risk when it’s followed blindly.   This is about what’s really going on underneath performance, and what it actually takes to sustain it without paying for it later.   ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔ The moment Michelle collapsed and no one could explain why. ✔ Why stress isn’t always obvious and can build without you realising.✔ The “work hard, play hard” lifestyle and its hidden impact.✔ How pushing through eventually leads to your body forcing you to stop.✔ The turning point that led her to completely rethink her life.✔ Why small daily habits matter more than extreme health routines.✔ How to manage stress and perform without burning out.   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Michelle Flynn: 🔗 Website: https://www.michelleflynncoaching.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelleflynncoaching?igsh=cnhma2V1YjRpYTF6 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleflynn?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
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  Mark Whittle: Why Success Won’t Fix You 03.04.2026 1u 19min

  Mark Whittle is someone who’s spent years studying what actually drives human behaviour, performance, and fulfilment, and why so many people still feel lost even when they “have it all”.   From working with high performers, athletes and entrepreneurs to building his own platform, Mark has seen first-hand what happens when success on paper doesn’t translate to real happiness. Because for a lot of people, hitting the top isn’t the answer, it’s where the real questions begin.     This conversation goes deep into identity, self-worth, and the unconscious patterns that quietly control most people’s lives. From building self-trust and discipline to recognising the decisions that shape your future, this is a powerful breakdown of what actually creates change.   ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔ Why success often doesn’t fix how you feel.    ✔ The danger of tying your identity to what you do.  ✔ How to build real confidence by keeping promises to yourself.  ✔ Why most people operate unconsciously and stay stuck.  ✔ The “sliding door” moments that shape your life.  ✔ Why you need the right people around you to grow.    ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Mark Whittle: 🔗 Website: https://www.takeflightworld.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markwhittle_tf?igsh=eHp1bno2eG54aXF3
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  From Supermodel To Film Producer: Reinventing At 50+ with Caprice Bourret 27.03.2026 52min

  Caprice Bourret is proof that reinvention doesn’t have an expiry date.    From becoming one of the most photographed women in the world to building a film career from scratch in her 50s, she’s lived multiple lives and she’s still not done.   Three years on from her first appearance on On A Mission, Caprice is back and this time she’s gone all in. Producing, acting, writing and running entire film productions herself, often with limited budgets and no safety net, creating opportunities instead of waiting for them.   This is a raw, unfiltered conversation on authenticity, social media, and the world we’re living in today. From online hate and parenting in a digital age to mindset, resilience, and life after surviving a brain tumour, Caprice doesn’t hold back.    A powerful reminder that you can reinvent yourself at any stage, if you’re willing to do the work.   ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔ Why Caprice believes authenticity is disappearing.  ✔ Building a film career from scratch and doing everything herself.  ✔ The mindset that’s driven her success: play the game, don’t play the victim.  ✔ Her warning about influence and why she says “don’t be a useful idiot”.  ✔ How she handles online hate and protects her energy. ✔ Life after her brain tumour and the shift in her priorities. ✔ Why it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.    ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Caprice Bourret: 🔗 Website: https://www.capricebourret.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capricebourret?igsh=MXR1d3VqYmY5dmZ2Zg==
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  The Truth About Trauma, Money and Self Sabotage with Dr Dain Heer 20.03.2026 50min

  Great to welcome back Dr. Dain Heer, internationally renowned speaker, bestselling author, and co-creator of Access Consciousness, a global movement active in over 170 countries. From a childhood marked by abuse and poverty to a career as a chiropractor who once felt suicidal, Dain’s life radically changed when he discovered practical consciousness tools that opened a completely different way of living and creating.   We always have so much fun when Dain’s on the show. In this conversation, he shares powerful insights on authenticity, self-judgement, and what it truly means to be you. This one’s for you if you’ve ever felt stuck trying to fix yourself, conflicted about success and spirituality, or unsure how to trust your own knowing, this episode offers grounded tools and fresh perspectives to help you create a more expansive life but be warned, we go off on a few very unexpected tangents.   Key moments include:   ✔ Why Dain says heaviness is often a lie, and how truth tends to feel lighter.   ✔ The difference between fighting darkness and feeding it, and why resisting something can strengthen it.   ✔ Why becoming a brighter light is a greater contribution than living in constant reaction to the chaos of the world.   ✔ The Access Consciousness tools Dain returns to again and again, including “All of life comes to me with ease and joy and glory”.   ✔ How point of view shapes reality, and why what you decide to be true starts filtering everything you see.   ✔ Money, receiving, and the belief that there is no such thing as a money problem, only an issue with what you are willing to receive.   ✔ The conflict between spirituality and money, and why Dain believes money can be used to change people’s realities.   ✔ Why force, control, and overplanning can block creation, and what happens when you start working with energy instead.   ✔ Dain’s take on goals, five year plans, and why that structure may work for some people but not for everyone.   ✔ The difference he draws between humans and humanoids, and why so many people feel like they do not fit this reality.   ✔ Self judgement, awareness, and why having the thought “I’m so judgemental” may actually prove the opposite.    ✔ AI, authenticity, and why real human energy can never be replaced by data alone   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Dain Heer: 🔗 Website: https://drdainheer.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dainheer/ 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrDainHeer 🔗 Access Consciousness: https://www.accessconsciousness.com
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  How Trauma Shapes Behaviour and Identity with Jess Cunningham 18.03.2026 1u 2min

  In this episode of the On a Mission podcast, I’m joined by Jess Cunningham, TV personality and founder of Belief Coding.   Jess talks candidly about her time on the hit BBC show The Apprentice, the biggest opportunity of her life, when suppressed memories of childhood abuse surfaced out of nowhere, just as she was stepping into the limelight for the first time.   Trying to hold it together on the outside while everything internally was starting to unravel. What you see on the surface rarely reflects what’s actually going on behind the scenes, and this conversation shows you why.   We get into self sabotage, addiction and identity, and the messy reality that most people are reacting without even realising it. Jess doesn’t shy away from the dark moments as we dive into how Belief Coding originated and why she believes most people are stuck solving the wrong problem.   ⸻   Key moments include:   ✔ The exact moment suppressed memories of abuse came back, just as she was about to go on The Apprentice.    ✔ Holding it together in public while everything internally was starting to break down.   ✔ Why she was chasing validation and trying to prove herself on a national stage.    ✔ The reality behind her behaviour on TV and what was actually driving it.   ✔ How unresolved trauma showed up through self sabotage, addiction and identity.   ✔The link between childhood experiences and the patterns people repeat in adulthood.   ✔ Why most people are reacting to life without understanding why   ✔ How Belief Coding came from trying to make sense of her own behaviour.   ✔ The uncomfortable truth that people are often solving the wrong problem.   ✔ What changes when you stop avoiding it and actually face what’s underneath.    ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Jess Cunningham: 🔗 Website: https://beliefcoding.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprodigalfox?igsh=bWk0bGtlNTR4aWJq 🔗 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jesscunninghamcfe 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EKy9pvsCQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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  The Royal Family and the Reality of Public Scrutiny with Gary Goldsmith 27.02.2026 1u 28min

  As the biological uncle to Catherine, Princess of Wales, Gary Goldsmith is no stranger to media scrutiny, scandal and public controversy.   Gary made his millions in the IT recruitment world and was a prominent figure within the recruitment sector long before the press notoriety.   In this episode, we talk about all of it. Entrepreneurship, success and being part of the royal family. The scandal that landed him in hot water and the mindset required to withstand the public fallout.   Gary reflects on building serious wealth from the ground up, taking risks without guarantees, and what happens when private decisions become national headlines.   We also discuss what William and Kate are really like behind the scenes, his time inside the Celebrity Big Brother house, and the reality of having your character shaped in the public eye.   Key moments include:   ✔ Making his millions in the IT recruitment sector and becoming a prominent figure in the industry. ✔ The risks, setbacks and financial decisions behind building wealth. ✔ The “shake” incident and the tabloid fallout that followed. ✔ Living through front page coverage and sustained media scrutiny. ✔ Royal family proximity and public perception ✔ The mindset required to handle controversy and reputational pressure. ✔ Inside Celebrity Big Brother and how reality television edits shape narratives. ✔ His candid views on Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne. ✔ Accountability, loyalty and standing by your decisions.   A conversation about business, notoriety, reputation and the resilience required when success and scrutiny collide.   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Gary Goldsmith: 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garygoninsta?igsh=MWNxZTR3NXBwZWd3MA==  🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garygoldsmith/
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  The Psychology of Not Quitting with Greg Parkin 20.02.2026 1u 21min

  Greg Parkin has exited multiple seven figure businesses, completed Ironman triathlons, and in his fifties is preparing to run 108 miles across the Pennine Way in winter. His life has been shaped by pressure, risk, discipline and a mindset built around pushing limits.   This episode explores what it really takes to build and scale at that level. The appetite for risk. The tolerance for uncertainty. The resilience required when the stakes are high. Greg breaks down the psychology that connects entrepreneurship and endurance sport, and why the same mental traits show up in both arenas.   We go deeper into his relationship with alcohol and how it became embedded in business culture and high performance environments. Greg shares how stress, identity and drinking were more connected than he realised, and how stepping away from alcohol sharpened his thinking, improved his stress tolerance and redirected his energy.   Key moments include:   ✔ Building and exiting multiple seven figure businesses. ✔ The psychology behind entrepreneurs who refuse to quit. ✔ The emotional comedown after major achievement. ✔ Preparing for 108 miles across the Pennine Way in his fifties. ✔ The mental breaking point in ultra endurance and how to push past it. ✔ High functioning drinking in ambitious environments. ✔ The stress patterns that fuel alcohol use. ✔ Turning discipline into long term sobriety. ✔ Why resilience is built through discomfort.   A conversation about ambition, identity, endurance and the discipline required to evolve when success alone is not enough.   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Greg Parkin: 🔗 Website: https://growthcoach.info 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkin.greg?igsh=YWR2bHBuOXE1NGsy 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-parkin-a7084227?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
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  His Father Was Murdered. He Refused to Break with Gian Power 13.02.2026 1u 20min

  At 23 years old, he received a phone call that changed everything.   His father had travelled to India for work. Days later, he was missing. Weeks later, a confession came in. Murder. The body was never recovered. The assets were taken. The legal system stalled. And overnight, Gian Power lost his hero, his security, and the life he had known.   This is not just a story about grief. It is about what you choose to do next.   In this deeply moving episode, Gian shares what it was like to navigate an international murder investigation in his early twenties while sitting professional exams in London, facing alleged conspirators across the table, and writing his own legal letters because he could not afford representation. He speaks openly about the confusion, the anger, the injustice, and the moment he realised that nobody could control how he responded.   Instead of allowing bitterness to define him, Gian channelled everything into building something bigger than himself. He founded The Power of Storytelling with one clear mission: to make workplaces more human. Today, the organisation works with hundreds of global brands, using storytelling, neuroscience and lived experience to change cultures from the inside out.   We also explore the psychological tools that kept him standing. Meditation in office bathrooms. Emotional regulation. Gratitude as a daily discipline. Turning anger into focus. And the neuroscience behind why sharing your story can literally save someone else’s life.   Ten years on, the fight for justice continues. But so does the mission.   Key moments include:   ✔ The phone call that confirmed his father’s murder and the body that was not his. ✔ Losing his inheritance, his childhood home and financial security overnight. ✔ Facing alleged conspirators and navigating international legal failures. ✔ Why he refuses to let anger define him. ✔ Meditation, emotional granularity and the psychology of resilience. ✔ The neuroscience of storytelling and how shared experiences change the brain. ✔ Supporting the Missing People charity and the reality of unresolved loss. ✔ Building a global organisation from tragedy.   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Gian Power: 🔗 Website: https://gianpower.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gianpower/?hl=en 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianpower
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  Royal Marine Commando Aaron Moon: Blown Up, Written Off, Still Standing 06.02.2026 1u 24min

  Aaron Moon is a Royal Marine Commando whose life changed in seconds in Afghanistan when his vehicle hit an IED. He died twice on the flight home, woke from an induced coma to life changing injuries, and later faced the letter that ended his military career for good.    In this episode, Aaron talks honestly about what came after, the denial, the loss of identity, the darkest period where he drifted and lost direction, and the moment he decided to take control again. He shares the mindset framework he built through it, why he calls it the Rebel Mindset, and how it became the foundation for rebuilding his life with purpose, direction, and momentum when everything else had been stripped away.    Years later, Aaron came close to dying again. Another life threatening moment that forced a hard reset and exposed how easily survival can turn into stagnation if you stop pushing forward.    Now Aaron is taking his message into prisons, working with men written off by the system, and preparing for his biggest challenge yet. Cycling Route 66 solo, 2,570 miles across America on one leg, chasing a world record, funding the challenge himself so that every penny raised goes directly to charity. This episode is for anyone navigating darkness, rebuilding after loss, or refusing to let adversity be the end of their story.    Key moments include:   ✔ Being blown up in Afghanistan and dying twice on the flight home. ✔ Why losing his military career hurt more than losing his leg. ✔ The denial and drifting that followed recovery. ✔ How the Rebel Mindset was built. ✔ Facing death again years later. ✔ Taking his work into prisons. ✔ Cycling Route 66 solo on one leg for a world record.   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Aaron Moon: 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.rebornmindset?igsh=YmQwYXJ2bWdnemUx 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneleg87?igsh=bHFoMXpzbGt3cHBh 🔗 Donate Now - One leg, 2,486 miles, no rest: https://teamforces.org/aaron-moon
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  Martin Stapleton From Combat to Cage Warriors and Beyond 30.01.2026 59min

  Martin Stapleton (Stapes) returns to the On a Mission Podcast for his third appearance, and once again, this is a conversation that goes far beyond fighting.   Since we last sat down together, Martin has stepped back into the cage, this time on his own terms. A former Royal Marine Commando, a world-level MMA fighter, and an entrepreneur, Martin has lived multiple lives that demand extreme resilience, discipline, and emotional control. This episode captures where those worlds collide.   We talk openly about coming back to fighting in your forties, why age is often used as an excuse rather than a limitation, and what it really means to enjoy the process rather than chasing outcomes. Martin shares the reality of lockdown nearly destroying his business, draining his savings, and forcing him to rebuild from the ground up.    Stapes goes deep into identity, loss, ego, and purpose. Why so many high performers struggle when one chapter ends, how identity can either anchor you or trap you, and how suffering can become a source of strength rather than something to escape.   We dive into emotional regulation, mental health, and the uncomfortable truth that resilience is not about never getting knocked down, but about how quickly you respond when it happens. From combat zones to the octagon to entrepreneurship and fatherhood, Martin explains how the same core principles apply, just in very different environments.   This is an honest and raw conversation about endurance, responsibility, and choosing to keep moving forward when it would be easier to stop.   Key moments include:   ✔ Martin’s return to the cage and why he refused to let his career end on someone else’s terms. ✔ How lockdown nearly wiped out his business and the mindset that carried him through rebuilding. ✔ Why suffering is a skill and how it shaped his confidence long before success arrived. ✔ The role of ego in high performance and how it evolves with age and experience. ✔ Identity, purpose, and why losing one label does not mean losing who you are. ✔ Emotional regulation, mental health, and what real resilience looks like under pressure. ✔ Why enjoying the process matters more than outcomes at this stage of life.   Insert connecting annals here.   If this episode resonates, make sure you hit subscribe or follow, and share it with anyone you think will get real value from the conversation. Your support helps keep these discussions alive and reaching the people they are meant for.   This is the On a Mission Podcast.   ⸻ Connect & Follow Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb 🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb  Follow Martin Stapleton:  🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stapes_50cal/