Crisis What Crisis with Andy Coulson

Episoade

• JEREMY KING: “Let them take your money but never your soul” 30.06.2026 1h 13min

  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 NAPLEYI 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 JEREMYLook 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.CHAPTERS04:54 – Why the best operators watch before they speak08:04 – How an early knock to your confidence can shape a whole career25:00 – Where a true standard of excellence actually comes from30:08 – What it really feels like to lose the company with your name on it39:26 – Why selling too early can be the smartest deal you ever do45:00 – Holding your nerve on the worst day of your business life49:16 – Protecting your reputation when the story's out of your hands51:44 – What five years with Lucian Freud taught him about risk and danger57:18 – Why integrity is simply never trying to get away with anything58:32 – The art of defusing a crisis before it becomes one01:03:20 – Keeping perspective: why every crisis is relative01:07:09 – Starting over at 72BUY JEREMY'S BOOKWithout Reservation: Lessons from a Life in Restaurants https://www.amazon.co.uk/Without-Reservation-Lessons-Life-Restaurants/dp/0008599025FOLLOW JEREMY KINGInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/jeremyrbking/?hl=enFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispodThis 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 23.06.2026 2min

  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 gone01:21 A Habit — the cross-country team he was forced into at school, and why he still hasn't stopped01:55 A Comfort — six and a half weeks of Lent torture, and why Easter makes it worth it02:15 A Piece of Advice — why criticism only hurts when it comes from someone you knowBUY JEREMY'S BOOK:Can We Be Rich Again? The Surprising Potential of Britain's Economy – https://shorturl.at/4Kv0DFOLLOW JEREMY:Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/jeremyhuntmp/TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyrshuntmpX — https://x.com/Jeremy_HuntLinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyhuntuk/FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram — www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok — www.tiktok.com/@crisispodThis 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 16.06.2026 47min

  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 NAPLEYI 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.CHAPTERS03:34 – Why naive goals are sometimes the most powerful ones05:20 – His father's greatest lesson07:50 – The tragedy his family never spoke about10:35 – What unconditional belief from a parent actually does to a child13:37 – Why failure in your 20s is an asset, not a setback17:07 – Why business and politics require completely different skills22:11 – Starting a business with your best friend26:43 – The junior doctors dispute30:09 – How to survive being the most unpopular politician in the country33:01 – Losing his brother Charlie: what grief teaches you that success never can36:56 – Walking into the eye of the storm as Chancellor40:59 – How to restore trust when trust is the only thing that matters44:20 – Why knowing who you are is the foundation of every crisis skill worth having44:59 – Why Britain thinks far worse of itself than the rest of the world doesBUY JEREMY'S BOOKCan We Be Rich Again? The Surprising Potential of Britain's Economy – pick up a copy here: https://shorturl.at/DfIZaFOLLOW JEREMY HUNTInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/jeremyhuntmp/TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyrshuntmpX – https://x.com/Jeremy_HuntLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyhuntuk/FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispodThis 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 09.06.2026 17min

  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 NAPLEYI 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.FEATURINGRyan 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=1000717250391FOLLOW 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 02.06.2026 45min

  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 NAPLEYI 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 HARPIN1) 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.CHAPTERS04:52 – Why Richard wanted to be an entrepreneur 10:35 – His first businesses13:28 – 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 America30:01 – 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 nothingBUY SIR RICHARD'S BOOKHow to Make a Billion in Nine Steps – Sunday Times Bestseller https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Make-Billion-Nine-Steps/dp/034944644XFOLLOW SIR RICHARD HARPINLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rharpin/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/richard_harpin/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@richard.harpinFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISISInstagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispodFOLLOW THE WALBROOK CLUBThis 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 26.05.2026 4min

  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 Person01:36 A Habit03:01 A Comfort03:45 A Piece of AdviceBUY ANYA'S BOOKIf In Doubt Wash Your Hair – https://www.anyahindmarch.com/products/if-in-doubt-wash-your-hair-paperback-book-in-paper-off-whiteFOLLOW ANYA:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/anyahindmarch/TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@anyahindmarchFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• ANYA HINDMARCH: “Everyday is a crisis when you’re running a business” 20.05.2026 56min

  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 entrepreneurPOWERED 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 satisfied06:47 – How Thatcher's Britain created a generation of founders08:19 – Dyslexia and the entrepreneur's brain15:55 – Starting at 18 with no network, no internet, no clue18:09 – "Stupid determination" – the trait every founder shares20:09 – The lonely years of building a business21:17 – Anxiety vs stress24:07 – Why imposter syndrome is healthy24:58 – I'm Not A Plastic Bag: changing national behaviour with a £5 product27:35 – Honesty as a brand strategy30:10 – Building a blended family without dropping the business35:06 – The mistake of stepping away as CEO40:16 – Buying it back: how to turn a crisis into a restructure41:32 – Localising in a global business44:20 – Her creative process46:30 – Outside investment: why she'd tell founders to wait48:08 – Perspective: what a child's illness teaches a CEO52:06 – Brand Britain – what we're selling and what we're missing54:41 – 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-whiteFOLLOW ANYA:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/anyahindmarch/TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@anyahindmarchFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• ESTHER GHEY'S CRISIS COMPASS 12.05.2026 4min

  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 Comfort03:39 A Piece of AdviceFOLLOW ESTHER GHEY:Instagram – www.instagram.com/esther.ghey/ Peace in Mind UK – www.peaceinminduk.com Under a Pink Sky – available now in paperbackFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• ESTHER GHEY: The fight to free children from their phones 05.05.2026 56min

  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 sign05:20 – Growing up with mum07:55 – Leaving school with no GCSEs, becoming a mum at 1809:13 – The sludge-green walls and the addiction12:17 – Why she refuses to blame anyone but herself15:43 – Going back to school in her 30s16:07 – Discovering mindfulness17:51 – When Brett became Brianna21:17 – The phone, the bedroom, the 3am email27:24 – The day it happened30:16 – The dream that became acceptance32:47 – What she'd say to anyone in early grief34:35 – Grieving in public36:33 – Why she won't name the killers37:55 – Meeting Emma43:23 – Building Brianna's legacy48:05 – Could I have done more?51:16 – Phones don't build resilience54:26 – Where the campaign goes nextFOLLOW 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/0241738733FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• KATE BOWLER'S CRISIS COMPASS: 4 points of navigation for when life flips upside down 28.04.2026 4min

  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 night02:27 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/1037202562FOLLOW KATE BOWLER:Instagram – www.instagram.com/katecbowler/YouTube – www.youtube.com/@katecbowlerTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@katecbowlerSubstack – https://katebowler.substack.com/Podcast – Everything HappensFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• KATE BOWLER: Everything DOES NOT happen for a reason 21.04.2026 1h

  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 resilience10:49 – Growing up with depressed person14:46 – The prosperity gospel16:48 – When it all came apart20:33 – The diagnosis22:07 – Performing gratitude35:23 – Rules for surviving cancer43:33 – The reality of being cured45:12 – Joyful Anyway48:19 – The happiness industry51:23 – On stoicism55:35 – Fear, sharks and risk58:18 – Tasked with loveBUY KATE'S NEW BOOK:Joyful Anyway – www.amazon.co.uk/Joyful-Anyway-Finding-Delight-Impossible/dp/1037202562FOLLOW KATE BOWLER: Instagram – www.instagram.com/katecbowler/YouTube – www.youtube.com/@katecbowlerTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@katecbowlerSubstack – https://katebowler.substack.com/Podcast – Everything HappensFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• NICK WHEELER'S CRISIS COMPASS: 4 tools for navigating crisis 14.04.2026 4min

  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 perspective01:33 A Habit – 474 days of Duolingo (and still can't speak Italian)02:32 A Comfort – Singing on a Brompton around London03:12 A Piece of Advice – Stop stressing about what you can't changeFOLLOW CHARLES TYRWHITT:‪@charlestyrwhitt‬Instagram – www.instagram.com/charlestyrwhitt/YouTube – www.youtube.com/c/charlestyrwhittTikTok – www.tiktok.com/discover/charles-tyrwhittWebsite – https://www.charlestyrwhitt.com/uk/homeFOLLOW 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 07.04.2026 52min

  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 – Introduction02:54 – The entrepreneurial gene15:29 – From failed shoes to Charles Tyrwhitt23:31 – Mistake one31:07 – Mistake two36:15 – The hardest lesson39:31 – The pandemic44:04 – Cracking America50:37 – Building a brand people loveFOLLOW CHARLES TYRWHITT:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/charlestyrwhitt/YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRD_t-tXUDpidmNKqg4kayQTikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/discover/charles-tyrwhittWebsite – https://www.charlestyrwhitt.com/uk/homeFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• DAME JENNI MURRAY (1950 – 2026) 31.03.2026 1h 12min

  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 Shaming06:05 – Inherited Habits: A Childhood Defined by Food08:10 – The Black Bombers: Amphetamines and University Weight Loss18:20 – Reconciling with Her Mother22:30 – The Failure of Therapy vs. the Power of Friendship29:35 – The Phone Call to the Samaritans36:35 – December 2006: Cancer, Loss, and the Mastectomy43:00 – "Just Get On With It": The Instinctive Practicality of Crisis52:00 – A Vascular Necrosis: The Hidden Cost of Chemotherapy57:05 – The Turning Point: Metabolic Surgery and a Second Chance01:06:10 – Crisis Cures: Dogs, Crime Novels, and New Forest Ice CreamFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• RYAN HOLIDAY'S CRISIS COMPASS: 4 tools of a stoic philosopher 24.03.2026 2min

  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 Compass00:18 Who Guides You in Crisis? (Marcus Aurelius)00:58 The Power of Role Models in Stoicism01:08 Daily Habit: Why Journaling Matters01:24 Finding Calm: The Simple Power of Walking01:46 One Rule to Live By (Epictetus’ Advice)02:03 What Stoicism Really Teaches About Control02:15 More Stoicism EpisodesBUY RYAN'S BOOK:Wisdom Takes Work – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wisdom-Takes-Work-Important-Journey/dp/1788166299FOLLOW RYAN:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday/?hl=enX/Twitter: https://x.com/RyanHolidayTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryan_holidayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmBIKsrzIjdHRuqs2I8nHAFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• RYAN HOLIDAY: Why wisdom takes work (and smart people still do stupid things) 17.03.2026 38min

  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-destroyingThe Stoic POW who tapped Epictetus through prison walls in VietnamWhy young men desperately need philosophy (not less of it)How to guard against your own stupidity while pursuing wisdomWhat Marcus Aurelius would say about your Instagram habitsLESSONS YOU'LL LEARN:Intelligence DOES NOT EQUAL wisdom – being brilliant at one thing doesn't protect you from being an idiot about othersStay a student forever – Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king, made a point of always staying a studentFriction builds resilience – a frictionless life leaves you vulnerable when reality intervenesYou don't control what happens, only how you respondWisdom takes work – it's not something you're born with; it's the result of hard work, experience, and timeCHAPTERS: 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/1788166299FOLLOW RYAN: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday/?hl=enX/Twitter: https://x.com/RyanHolidayTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryan_holidayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmBIKsrzIjdHRuqs2I8nHAFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• TOM FRESTON’S CRISIS COMPASS: 4 Tools for Starting Over 10.03.2026 7min

  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 perspective02:25 – The daily habit that keeps Tom grounded04:05 – The moment that changed how Tom sees business problems05:30 – Finding comfort in nature and musicTOM’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/1668089793FOLLOW TOM: Instagram – www.instagram.com/tomfrestonunplugged/?hl=enFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• MTV CO-FOUNDER: building a $7bn Media Empire with ZERO experience in TV | Tom Freston 03.03.2026 1h 3min

  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 LEARNSkills are transferable: It’s never too late to change careers.Optimism is a competitive advantage: back yourself when no one else willThe most successful careers are rarely the most conventionalKnow when to disappear: recovery needs space, don't rush the next moveHire people smarter than you: it's your best protection against your worst instinctsTIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Intro04:44 - Stepping off the conveyor belt of conformity12:30 - Where does confidence come from?17:23 - Becoming a millionaire in your 20s22:11 - The sudden collapse of Hindu Kush31:06 - The ground floor of MTV36:44 - The "I Want My MTV" Hail Mary pass45:28 - Being fired as CEO of Viacom53:30 - Reassessing life and finding Phil Stutz56:28 - The "perfect circle" back to Afghanistan1:00:26 - The Tom Freston manual for young peopleTOM’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/1668089793FOLLOW TOM: Instagram – www.instagram.com/tomfrestonunplugged/?hl=enFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod
• SIR TREVOR PHILLIPS'S CRISIS COMPASS: 4 tools for surviving grief and intense pressure 24.02.2026 6min

  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 crisis01:06 – The people he turns to for strength02:32 – The daily habit for mental clarity04:00 – Life-changing advice for hard times05:26 – Finding comfort after lossFOLLOW TREVOR:X – https://x.com/TrevorPTweetsFOLLOW 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 17.02.2026 1h 7min

  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 anorexiaWhy mental illness and sadness are NOT the same thingTrevor's message to celebrities who conflate difficulty with trauma: "F*** off"Why removing friction from children's lives destroys resilienceLESSONS 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 conditionThe good guys can win: but you have to fight for itKnow what you cannot do: in crisis, understand your limitationsLight a candle: don't curse the darknessIN THIS EPISODE:00:00 – Introduction: Sir Trevor Phillips' remarkable life21:23 – What Britain should learn from its racial progress27:10 – What real resilience looks like in a crisis31:26 – The Leadership Lesson: knowing what you can't do33:06 – Shushila: A 22-year battle with anorexia44:39 – How grief changed everything49:27 – 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 resilienceSUPPORT & RESOURCES: If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder: Beat Eating Disorders - www.beateatingdisorders.org.ukFOLLOW TREVOR: X – https://x.com/TrevorPTweetsFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispodIF 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