Are We Failing Young Men?

In this episode of Begin Again, David Gandy opens up about masculinity, mentorship, and the reality behind becoming the world’s highest-paid male model. From feeling like he didn’t fit the mould to building one of the most iconic careers in fashion, David reflects on insecurity, identity, and what young men really need in a world that often sends them the wrong message.

But this conversation goes far beyond modelling. David speaks candidly about shyness, insecurity, self-criticism, and the strange contradiction of becoming one of the most photographed men in the world while still hating having his picture taken. He shares how those early feelings shaped him, how he learned to channel them, and why confidence is often far more complicated than it looks from the outside.

The episode also explores masculinity, mentorship, and why so many young men are struggling to find their place. David reflects on the role models that shaped him, the importance of guidance, and why he believes we need a more positive conversation around masculinity, respect, and responsibility. Rather than blaming or dividing, he argues for better examples, stronger values, and more honest conversations about what young men actually need.

At its core, this is a conversation about identity, resilience, and what it means to stay in control of your life and career in a world that is always trying to define you.

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(00:00) Intro

(01:09) The Modelling Industry in the Early 2000s

(02:55) A Message From David’s Agent and Mentor

(09:38) David on Defying Expectations and Landing Dolce & Gabbana (13:51) David’s New Partnerships With M&S and Jaeger Menswear

(18:40) David on His Parents and Upbringing

(23:06) Balancing Relationships and Career

(26:37) Saily Ad

(27:33) Shopify Ad

(28:34) Overcoming Shyness and Insecurities

(34:38) How Modelling Shaped David Long-Term

(37:01) Changing Body Standards in Modelling

(39:04) David on His Daughters and Modern Parenting

(42:27) David on His Relationship With His Dad

(44:51) Supporting Young Men and Addressing Male Suicide

(48:15) Toxic Masculinity and the Demonisation of Young Men

(50:43) What’s Happening With the Manosphere?

(53:08) The Need for Positive Role Models for Young Men

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These are just two powerful moments from full Begin Again episodes. Want the full story? You can watch and listen to the complete conversations on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this eye-opening episode, Eleanor Mills shares her deeply personal experience with psilocybin, exploring how a guided psychedelic retreat helped her confront fear, let go of the past, and rediscover a sense of connection and purpose. From moments of surrender to profound emotional breakthroughs, Eleanor reflects on how the experience reshaped her understanding of herself and the world around her.

Joining the conversation, Professor David Nutt, one of the world’s leading experts on neuroscience and psychedelics, breaks down the science behind hallucinogens. He challenges common misconceptions, explains why substances like psilocybin are classified the way they are, and reveals their potential to treat conditions such as depression and PTSD.

Together, they explore the line between stigma and science, risk and healing, asking whether psychedelics could play a transformative role in mental health and personal growth.

The full episode with Eleanor Mills can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsxiUp6fV_4&t=2079s

The full episode with Professor David Nutt can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e82IejQ3tEI

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What if staying true to yourself cost you everything?

In this episode of Begin Again, Kate Nash opens up about the reality of building a career in an industry that often tries to control, define, and silence you. From becoming a breakout star at 18 to being labelled, misunderstood, and written off, Kate shares what it really feels like to grow up in the public eye and fight to stay yourself.

She speaks candidly about the music industry today, why it’s no longer sustainable for artists, and the difficult decisions she’s had to make to keep her career alive including starting an OnlyFans to fund her tours. For Kate, it’s not about controversy, it's about survival, independence, and refusing to play by rules that no longer work.

This conversation also explores the emotional side of that fight. The pressure to be perfect, the anger that once fuelled her, and the conscious decision to move beyond it. Kate reflects on identity, feminism, and the power of women supporting each other in a world that often tries to pit them against one another.

At its core, this is a story about resilience, creative freedom, and what it takes to take back control on your own terms.

🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again.

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(00:00) Intro

(00:01:31) Intro to Kate Nash, fame and problems of public image

(00:04:51) Exploring identity and history through music

(00:08:01) The evolution of Kate’s Music and dealing with online hate

(00:12:34) Kate's Catholic upbringing, the challenges of Shame

(00:19:15) Kate's relationship with her sisters

(00:23:06) Do Health Ad

(00:24:27) Bloom and Wild Ad

(00:25:29) Kate's heart surgery

(00:32:17) Kate deciding to quit her job and start performing music

(00:36:26) Dealing with fame

(00:39:20) Manager stealing from her, and healing from

(00:47:33) Moving to LA

(00:48:57) Kate's breakout role in Netflix series *Glow*, and learning to wrestle

(00:58:31) Why the music industry is broken!

(01:01:41) Starting an OnlyFans account to fund her career

(01:06:04) How fans can support the music industry

(01:08:23) Kate's protest around London

(01:12:00) The reasons Kate is fighting for the music industry and culture

(01:16:12) A surprise letter for KateSponsored by:

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In this week’s Moments episode, we bring you two powerful clips from full Begin Again conversations exploring the reality of anxiety and how to navigate it.

Fearne Cotton opens up about her personal experience with anxiety, reflecting on the period of her life that triggered it and how it continues to show up in unexpected ways. She shares the challenges of living with racing thoughts, disrupted sleep, and the pressure of environments that no longer feel safe, while also offering an honest look at the progress she’s made and the self-awareness she’s built along the way.

Following that, mental health expert Owen O’Kane offers a grounded and reassuring perspective on anxiety, explaining why it’s a natural human response rather than something that defines us. He explores how anxiety can become something we rely on for protection, and shares practical ways to better understand and manage it without letting it take over.

This is a Moments episode, featuring two impactful clips designed to give you insight, perspective, and practical takeaways in a short space of time.

The full conversations with Fearne and Owen are available now wherever you get your podcasts, just search their names, or watch them here on YouTube:
Fearne Cotton: https://youtu.be/XZHZ_Ltbv08
Owen O’Kane: https://youtu.be/fR2WPgWBtRM

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What does fame at 17 really do to you?

In this episode of Begin Again, Jason Donovan opens up about growing up in the spotlight and what happens when success comes before you’ve had time to understand yourself.

Thrust into fame as a teenager on Neighbours, Jason shares what it was like navigating a world where everyone thought they knew him, while he was still figuring out who he was. Behind the success, there was pressure, confusion, and a lack of guidance that led him down a path he struggled to control.

He speaks candidly about the reality of those years; the partying, the expectations, and the feeling of having to navigate it all alone. At a time when mental health wasn’t openly talked about, Jason reflects on how difficult it was to process everything he was experiencing.

But this is also a story of change.

Jason shares how becoming a father became a turning point giving him purpose, grounding, and a reason to rebuild. He reflects on the lessons he’s learned, what he knows now that he didn’t then, and how he’s found a way to balance creativity, family, and peace.

At its core, this is a conversation about fame, identity, and what it takes to take back control of your life no matter where you started.

🌟 Follow for more powerful conversations about resilience, growth, and beginning again.

Follow us here:

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(00:00) Intro

(02:36) The Face Magazine Outing Scandal

(14:38) Jason's Upbringing And Relationship With His Parents

(20:34) Saily Ad

(21:30) Bloom & Wild Ad

(22:32) Jason's Relationship With His Father And Stepmother

(27:01) The Beginnings Of Jason's Career & Working With Kylie

(28:47) Jason On Neighbours And Meeting Kylie

(31:10) Spirituality And Getting Older

(35:07) Paramount + Ad

(36:23) Begin Again Newsletter

(37:17) Jason's Wife Angela And The Buzz Of Performing

(41:37) Drug Addiction And Mental Health Battle

(47:24) Recovery, Meeting His Wife And Becoming A Father

(52:41) A Letter From Jason's Father

(55:23) What's Next For Jason And What Else He'd Like To Do

Sponsored by:

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Paramount+ - Episodes 1-3 of The Madison are available to stream on Paramount+ now: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/shows/the-madison/

Episodes 4-6 will be available to stream from 21 March

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In this deeply personal episode, Ms. Jo Malone CBE opens up about her childhood and the emotional scars that shaped her, from the chaos of her family dynamic to the survival tactics she adopted at a young age. Jo shares her journey of healing, emphasising the importance of reconnecting with your inner child and embracing vulnerability.

Renowned philosopher Alain de Botton joins the conversation to provide expert insights on how to heal your inner child. Drawing on his wisdom, Alain explores how early childhood experiences shape our sense of self and our relationships, offering practical advice on how to confront and nurture our emotional wounds.

This episode is a journey into the heart of healing, teaching us how to better understand our past to foster peace and emotional growth in our present.

Full Episode with Ms. Jo Malone CBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j6JX6GkD_8

Full Episode with Alain De Botton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PXHx275Oa8&t=1928s

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What if the place you’re meant to feel safest… never was?

In this episode of Begin Again, Ruby Wax opens up about a life shaped by chaos, fear, and an unrelenting search for safety. Growing up in a home filled with instability and emotional unpredictability, Ruby shares how those early experiences have stayed with her, long after she left.

She reflects on the strange reality that, even now, she often feels safest in the most dangerous situations and why home has never been the place that gives her comfort. From childhood trauma to a lifelong battle with depression, Ruby speaks candidly about what it really feels like to live inside a mind that can turn against you.

She also revisits some of the most defining moments of her career, interviewing figures like Bill Cosby and Donald Trump, navigating the power dynamics and darkness she encountered along the way. These weren’t just interviews, they were experiences that shaped how she sees people, the world, and herself.

At the heart of this conversation is Ruby’s journey toward understanding her mind. From studying neuroscience to exploring mindfulness and meditation, she shares how she’s learned to manage the noise, the fear, and the patterns that once controlled her.

This is a story about survival, self-awareness, and what it takes to rebuild a sense of safety from the inside out.

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Ruby’s Tour “Absolutely Famous”

https://www.rubywax.net/livetour

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(00:00) Intro
(01:24) Ruby On Her Upcoming Tour “Absolutely Famous”
(04:16) Why She Is Unable To Lie
(05:13) Interviewing Bill Cosby And Donald Trump
(07:54) Her Parents And Challenging Upbringing
(10:33) Discovering The Truth About Her Family History And Generational Trauma
(16:33) Safety And Insanity
(18:43) Finding Safety In Dangerous Situations
(20:13) Feeling Like An Outsider Growing Up
(21:33) Ruby’s Experience Of Menopause
(26:21) Airbnb Ad
(27:28) Paramount+ Ad
(28:44) Her Depression And Learning To Manage It
(34:49) Ruby Reflects On Her Relationship With Husband Ed
(37:40) Getting “Kicked Out Of TV” And Finding A New Purpose
(39:20) Ruby’s Menopause
(40:17) Friendship With Alan Rickman And Carrie Fisher
(46:20) Becoming Ruby Wax And Asking Her Husband To Marry Her
(49:11) I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Friendship With Angry Ginge
(50:43) Discovering The Power Of Mindfulness
(57:18) Relationship With Gelong Thubten And A Month-Long Silent Retreat
(01:01:15) Being With Alan Rickman When He Died
(01:05:20) A Letter From Alan Rickman’s Niece

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Paramount+ - Episodes 1-3 of The Madison are available to stream on Paramount+ now: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/shows/the-madison/

Episodes 4-6 will be available to stream on 21 March.

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In this week's episode, Gail McNeill opens up about the moment she realised that having more wasn’t making her happier. She shares the powerful story of selling her house, letting go of almost all of her possessions, and discovering a new sense of freedom in living with less. Reflecting on her journey, Gail explores how success, status, and material things can leave us feeling emptier than we expect, and why true contentment often comes from within rather than from what we own.

Following that, Robin Sharma explores what it really means to find happiness in a world that constantly tells us to want more. He offers a deeper perspective on fulfilment, reminding us that lasting peace doesn’t come from achievement or external validation, but from our relationship with ourselves. Together, these conversations offer a moving reflection on freedom, self-worth, and the secret to a happier life.

The full conversations with Gail and Robin are available now from wherever you get your podcasts.

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We surprised Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt with a room full of kittens… just because we could 🐾

Apologies to audio listeners…

🎙️ Full episode with Kimberly and Davina is out now , where Kimberly opens up about her childhood, how dance saved her, and the journey to the Pussycat Dolls.

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Sometimes beginning again means surviving what should have broken you.

In this episode of Begin Again, Kimberly Wyatt opens up about growing up in an environment where she felt vulnerable and unheard, and how those early experiences shaped her confidence, her identity, and her need to escape. Dance became more than a passion; it became her outlet, her therapy, and the first place she felt truly seen. 

She shares what it really felt like to enter the world of the Pussycat Dolls; the pressure, the intensity, and the emotional toll of chasing a dream that meant everything to her. A dream that, at times, made her question her worth, her place, and whether she was enough.

And yet, it was also the thing that changed her life.

Kimberly reflects on how dance and the Dolls gave her power, purpose, and a way to reclaim her story. From feeling replaceable to rebuilding her self-worth, this is a journey of resilience, identity, and learning how to stand in your own space.

She also opens up about motherhood, healing, and what it means to finally create the safety for her children that she didn’t always have growing up.

This episode is about survival, self-worth, and the courage to keep going, even when no one is there to catch you.

🌟 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful conversations about resilience, growth, and beginning again. Tap the bell to stay connected with new episodes of Begin Again.

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(00:00) Intro

(00:24) Intro to Kimberly and Her Relationship to Davina

(01:44) Small-Town Upbringing & Discovering Her Love of Dance

(06:30) Surviving Abuse Within Her Family

(08:21) Overcoming Her Trauma Through Dance

(11:14) Rebuilding a Sense of Safety

(15:40) Having Her Kids and Unexpected Third Child

(18:23) Leaving for Dance School in New York at 14

(21:09) Building Her Dance Academy and Its Mission

(22:49) Saily Ad

(23:45) Paramount Ad

(25:01) Moving to LA at 17 and Becoming the Pussycat Dolls

(30:35) Internal Competition in the Pussycat Dolls

(34:46) The Pussycat Dolls’ Image and Owning Her Story

(37:52) Airbnb Ad

(43:05) Finding a Way Out of the Pussycat Dolls

(46:43) Coming Back to Dance and Moving to London

(50:12) Familial Estrangement and Her Siblings

(53:27) Her 12 Years With Husband Max

(55:10) COVID Affected the Pussycat Dolls Reunion

(56:44) The Return of the Pussycat Dolls

(01:02:35) The Dolls’ Lineup and New Music

Sponsored by:

Saily - Download from the app store and use code DAVINA at the checkout for 15% off

Paramount+ - Episodes 1-3 of The Madison are available to stream on Paramount+ now: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/shows/the-madison/

Episodes 4-6 will be available to stream on 21 March.

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In this week's episode, we dive into the evolving dynamics of parenting as your children grow into adults. Dearbhla Mescal shares her journey of adjusting to her children's adulthood, discussing how to navigate the shift from traditional parenting to supporting them as independent adults. She reflects on how to remain close while respecting their autonomy, finding balance in the new stage of their relationship.

Following that, Mel Robbins offers practical advice on how to maintain a healthy relationship with your adult children. She discusses the importance of setting boundaries, staying connected, and embracing the changes that come with this stage of life, while also highlighting the crucial role of communication in sustaining strong, supportive bonds.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on how to gracefully transition into a new phase of parenting as your children become adults, offering insights and real-life wisdom on fostering these crucial relationships.

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