Michael Owen is one of England’s greatest strikers and football’s original Golden Boy. He signed for Liverpool at just 17, became England's youngest World Cup goalscorer and won the prestigious Ballon d'Or aged 21. 

But injuries changed everything. 

At the top of his game, and far too early into his career, Michael’s body let him down. He moved from club to club, determined to keep playing the sport he loved, before eventually retiring in 2013.  

In our conversation, Michael opens up about the highs, the low and how his family has kept him grounded throughout it all. He shares: 

• What it was like being England’s Golden Boy
• How it felt when his body betrayed him aged 21 
• How his son, James, is clinically blind and hasn't let it hold him back
• What he really thinks about his ‘boring’ image

Michael’s story is fascinating…and anything but boring. 

Michael Owen is Great Company. 

All six episodes of Meet the Owens are available to stream exclusively on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0HFKN2P87?ref_=atv_dp_share_cu_r

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram - @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

Jamie - @jamielaing

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected]

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke 

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Josh Bennett

Senior Social Media Manager: Laura Coughlan

Audio: Rafi Amsili Geovannetti

Shot on Sony Cinema Line cameras FX6, FX2 with Sony G-Master lenses 16-35GM, 24-70GM

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I wanted to revisit my conversation with one of the true queens of country music - THE Shania Twain.

Having Shania on the show was such a special moment. Her story is so inspirational, and in this Great Moment, she opens up about how writing music became her escape through some of the hardest times of her life. 

She also tells me why she loves Dolly Parton, and why learning to be proud of yourself can be one of the most powerful things you can do. 

Listen to the full episode HERE!

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] 

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Josh Bennett

Social Media: Laura Coughlan

Exec Producer: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima Rathbone

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank Warren is one of the biggest names in British boxing, having promoted some of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen. 

I'm a huge boxing fan, so sitting down with Frank was a dream come true. And his life is like a Guy Ritchie movie… 

Frank grew up on a council estate in North London, left school at 14 and fell into boxing promotion almost by accident. He went on to build an incredible career, only to be shot and nearly killed at the height of his success. 

From surviving that to promoting some of the biggest nights in boxing, Frank has seen it all. 

In this conversation, Frank shares: 

• The moment he was shot and nearly killed in 1989 
• Why signing Ricky Hatton was one of his proudest achievements 
• His thoughts on how ‘influencer-boxing’ is changing the sport 
• What happened when he got punched by Mike Tyson 

Frank is a reminder that resilience isn't about avoiding setbacks - it's about what you build after them.

Frank Warren is Great Company.

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram - @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

Jamie - @jamielaing

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected]

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Harry Sawkins

Senior Social Media Manager: Laura Coughlan

Audio: Rafi Amsili Geovannetti

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Usually, Great Moments is all about the advice and takeaways from our amazing guests. But this week it's a little different…

I wanted to share part of my conversation with a good friend of mine, Jack Whitehall. Jack didn’t come on Great Company because he wanted to… in fact, he only agreed to do it because he owed me a BIG favour.

In this Great Moment, Jack reveals exactly what that favour was and what it’s really like to work with his father, the unintentionally hilarious, Michael Whitehall.

Listen to the full episode HERE!

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] 

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Josh Bennett

Social Media: Laura Coughlan

Exec Producer: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima Rathbone

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Zand is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist whose work has taken him to some of the darkest corners of the world.

Ben immerses himself in the darkness, getting close to people living on the edges of society to understand more about their lives. His recent documentaries have explored some of the most controversial topics of our time, from cults and trad wives to the men shaping the manosphere, and those being influenced by it.

In this episode, Ben shares:

• What it was like being held at gunpoint by a kidnap gang
• Why looksmaxxing is the scariest part of the manosphere 
• His experience of meeting truly evil people
• Why people are drawn to cults 

Ben is a reminder to stay curious, ask questions and want to understand more about the world we live in.

Ben Zand is Great Company. 

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram - @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

Jamie - @jamielaing

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected]

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Harry Sawkins

Senior Social Media Manager: Laura Coughlan

Audio: Rafi Amsili Geovannetti

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much do you know about menopause? Because, I’ll be honest, before speaking to Professor Sarah Berry, I didn’t really know much… 

Menopause affects over half the population, yet 90% of women in the UK weren’t taught about it at school. So many women enter this stage of life without really knowing what’s happening to their bodies… or what to expect. 

In this Great Moment, Professor Sarah Berry, Chief Scientist at ZOE and a leading voice on menopause research, breaks down everything we need to know. 

From what it is and the symptoms we hear about all the time, to the symptoms we rarely hear about, Professor Berry explains how it can affect day to day life. 

Listen to the full episode HERE!

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] 

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Josh Bennett

Social Media: Laura Coughlan

Exec Producer: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima Rathbone

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil Patrick Harris is an Emmy and Tony award-winning actor, and for many of us, he’ll forever be the LEGEND-wait for it-DARY Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother. 

Born in New Mexico to parents who were both lawyers, Neil was the first in his family to go into showbiz. At just 12, he got his breakthrough role in Clara's Heart alongside Whoopi Goldberg. From there, the rest is history…

In this episode, Neil shares: 

• Why he never thought he’d become a dad 
• How he was forced to come out
• What it was really like to host the Oscars in 2015 
• How much of Barney Stinson is him and what HIMYM taught him 

Neil is a reminder that you never stop learning throughout your career. There is always something new to discover… and how incredible is that? 

Neil Patrick Harris is Great Company. 

Neil’s latest film, Sunny Dancer, is out on the 14th August #sunnydancermovie

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram - @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

Jamie - @jamielaing

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected]

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Josh Bennett

Senior Social Media Manager: Laura Coughlan

Audio: Rafi Amsili Geovannetti

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan and Harley aka Rizzle Kicks, are currently smashing it on the festival circuit following their long-awaited comeback. So, it felt like the perfect time to revisit my conversation with them. 

Rizzle Kicks first burst onto the scene in 2011, bringing good vibes, great music and undeniable joy to so many people’s lives. But their rapid rise to success also came with the pressure to perform at the highest standard, time and time again. 

In this Great Moment, Jordan and Harley look back on where it all began, the weight that came with early fame, and why making music together now is simply about enjoying themselves. 

Listen to the full episode HERE!

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] 

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Josh Bennett

Social Media: Laura Coughlan

Exec Producer: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima Rathbone

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Megan McKenna gave us some of reality TV’s most iconic moments on TOWIE, Celebrity Big Brother and Ex on the Beach. Since then, she’s reinvented herself, building a successful music career and sharing wholesome cooking and lifestyle content enjoyed by millions online.

But behind the scenes, Megan has been navigating something incredibly difficult. She was robbed by masked men in terrifying circumstances that left her feeling unsafe in the UK.

Megan hasn’t spoken publicly about what happened to her. Until now. She joined me on Great Company for an exclusive conversation about the night her worst fear came true.

In this conversation, Megan shares:

- The terrifying robbery that changed her life

- The lasting impact of trauma and learning to feel safe again

- Reinventing herself after reality TV

- Her fertility journey and becoming a mum

Megan is truly a beautiful soul and I’m so grateful she trusted us with her story.

Megan McKenna is Great Company. 

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram - @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

Jamie - @jamielaing

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected]

THE CREDITS

Producers: Helen Burke & Emma Rae Woodhouse 

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Joe Ferrari 

Senior Social Media Manager: Laura Coughlan

Audio: Rafi Amsili Geovannetti

Executive Producer: Ewan Newbigging-Lister

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Evans is an actor and singer who began his career on stage. He's since starred in over 40 movies including Beauty and the Beast, Fast and Furious 6 and The Girl on the Train.

Luke came on Great Company at the start of last year and his story is just incredible. Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, in a strict religious community, Luke knew his true identity was in conflict with his beliefs. After persistent bullying throughout his schooling, at age 16, he left home, and his new life began. 

In this Great Moment, Luke discuss his upbringing in Wales, his sexuality and how he seized the opportunities he really wanted.

Listen to the full episode HERE!

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: 

Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast 

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] 

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Josh Bennett

Social Media: Laura Coughlan

Exec Producer: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima Rathbone

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michelle Kennedy is the founder and CEO of Peanut, one of the fastest growing social apps for women.

I started Great Company because I wanted to connect with people again. Despite being more connected than ever online, many of us have never felt lonelier.

That's how Michelle felt after becoming a mum to her son, Finn. Instead of accepting that loneliness, she decided to build the community she wished she'd had. That's how Peanut was born.

Since launching in 2017, Peanut has grown to over 5 million registered users, offering women a safe space to ask questions, find support and build connections through every stage of life.

In this conversation, Michelle shares:

• Her journey from law to dating app companies
• Why she left Bumble to start her app, Peanut
• What she thinks makes a great leader and entrepreneur
• How Peanut grew from an idea into a community of over 5 million women
• The one piece of advice she'd give every founder

Michelle is proof that some of the best businesses start by solving problems you've lived yourself.

Michelle Kennedy is Great Company.

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:

Instagram – @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok – @greatcompanypodcast

Jamie – @jamielaing

And if you’ve got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at:

[email protected]

THE CREDITS

Producers: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Josh Bennett & Emma Gill

Senior Social Media Manager: Laura Coughlan

Audio: Rafi Amsili Geovannetti

Executive Producer: Ewan Newbigging-Lister

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.