Anatomy of an Agency

Josh Stephens is the Managing Director of JS Connects, with an impressive CV in the football industry amongst others. After launching ground-breaking commercial initiatives at Leyton Orient Football Club, Josh became the Head of Partnerships for The Harry Kane Company. In this episode, he brings us insight into how brand deals are formed for the world's biggest sports stars.

With work screened at BAFTA and Oscar accredited festivals, a UN Delegate, Forbes 30 Under 30 winner and now a Diana Award recipient, Ella Greenwood is one of the UK's top up and coming directors. Her main focus is to change the representation of mental health in the media, and she joins us to discuss that process as well as why having an agent is an important tool in her armoury. This episode als...

For a man who has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc and Everest (twice...) Akke Rahman has built up his fair share of death defying anecdotes. In this episode we get to hear some of his wildest tales, but also delve into what drives him to pursue his passion of mountaineering, and how he is using his profile in the talent industry to highlight social issues and raise money for charity.

This week we are joined by two freerunners! Lynn Jung and Corbin Mackin are both at the top of their game, with Lynn appearing in the new Wicked movie and Corbin an elite obstacle course racer and Ninja Warrior champion. They bring us into their all-action world to discuss how they turned their hobbies into their profession, and the pitfalls that come in a working in a dangerous environment.

Award-winning BBC presenter Nadia Ali joins us this week. As the BBC's only permanent hijab-wearing presenter, Nadia is a trailblazer. Her story is one of hard work, determination and talent that took her from a conservative Muslim family background to achieving her dream of becoming a TV presenter. Life-changing personal experiences led her not only to overcome her own trauma but to want to share...

AEG are one of the biggest companies in the music industry. They own live music venues across the globe, and promote some of the biggest acts in the world. In this episode we are joined by the Chief Operations Officer of AEG Europe - John Langford. From his early days in radio, to working with some of the most important artists in history, John gives us incredible insight into the talent agency wo...

Aged 23, Tom Lancashire made his Olympic debut at Beijing 2008, with an exciting middle-distance career ahead of him. That would be Tom's only Olympic games, after partnering with a nutrition brand that left him too unwell to compete at the elite level again. He discusses that draining period of his career with us, as well as his rise to being a professional athlete from Bolton to Beijing (via Mia...

This is the second part of our conversation with Royal Marine Commando Mark Ormrod. His life changed when he lost three limbs in Afghanistan and one of the changes was his career, as he became a motivational speaker, author, and the UK’s most decorated Invictus Games athlete. In this episode, he gives us more insight into becoming someone more and more at home in the public eye.

Blue Peter is a British institution, so we were delighted to be joined by the 37th presenter of the iconic children's TV show; Radzi. He shares his journey from a single-parent council house in Wolverhampton to becoming one of the most sought after sports TV presenters in the UK. It's no surprise that hard work and graft are required, but Radzi brings us an intellectual perspective as well as less...

We have two returning guests this week, but this time they're together! We caught up with international swimmer Michael Gunning, and the SVP of Global Marketing at Pentland Brands Simon Rowe. The two work together in Michael's role as a Speedo ambassador, and share fascinating insight into how to create a meaningful brand/athlete partnership that transcends the transactional.

Royal Marine Commando Mark Ormrod's life changed when he lost three limbs in Afghanistan. One of the changes was his career, as he became a motivational speaker, author, and the UK’s most decorated Invictus Games athlete. In this episode, Mark talks us through that journey of re-building all aspects of his life, and why representation has been vital in that process.

As one of the top parkour athletes in the world, Lynn Jung is no stranger to getting round - or over - challenges. Whether it be winning Red Bull parkour events, or performing in Hollywood musicals like 'Cats' and 'Wicked', Lynn is at the top of her game. In this episode of 'Anatomy of an Agency', she tells us about moving countries to follow her dreams, the potential pitfalls of this dangerous sp...

After revolutionising Eurostar as its Marketing and Sales Director, Emma Harris started her own agency; Glow London. In this episode of 'Anatomy of an Agency', we speak to the industry powerhouse to learn all about her experiences of working with talent. From sports stars like the Brownlee brothers, to Hollywood A-listers Tom Hanks and Dan Brown, Emma gives us the lowdown on how best to work with...

Whether it's Star Wars, Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Black Panther, Killing Eve, The Crown, Halo or a Shakespeare production in London's West End; you've seen Danny Sapani in something. In this episode of Anatomy of an Agency, we got to speak to one of Britain's top actors to discuss his navigation of the industry. Both as a working actor, but also his commercial opportunities when the camer...

In the second part of our conversation with triple Olympic rowing champion Pete Reed, we discuss his transition from Olympian to wheelchair user. He competed in three Olympic Games and came home with three gold medals, but now sees the world from a very different perspective. In this episode of Anatomy of an Agency, listen to the changes in Pete's outlook on life, and the shift in values he has ex...

Laurie Williams and Robyn Love have just returned from representing TeamGB in wheelchair basketball at the Paralympics. It's been a whirlwind year for the couple, as they also recently welcomed their daughter into the world! In this episode of Anatomy of an Agency, we spoke to Laurie and Robyn before the Games and discovered how they are navigating their early experiences and lessons they are lear...

As a World and Paralympic Champion, Will Bayley is still world No 1 and in the midst of fighting his way through the rankings at Paris 2024 focused on nothing short of another gold medal. Having overcome cancer as a young boy and living with severe athrogryposis, Will doesn't feel limited, he feels stronger than ever, even though he's well aware that the world isn't designed for the disabled commu...

With over 35 years of commentary experience, Jonathan Overend is the perfect guest to bring us an in-depth insight into the world of sports broadcasting. Whether it be Wimbledon, the Olympics or Premier League football, his voice has been the sporting soundtrack to generations of fans. In this episode of Anatomy of an Agency, he explains how he got into the industry as well as sharing his advice f...

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in global brands when they’re choosing which ambassadors to partner with? Wouldn’t we all love to be a fly on the wall for those conversations? In this episode of Anatomy of an Agency, we catch up with Stuart Wareman, Global Senior Vice President, Experiences, Events and Sponsorship at Accor. He talks to us as Paris 2024 and reveals exactly who...

Triple Olympic rowing champion Pete Reed is one of GB's most successful ever Olympic athletes. He competed in three Olympic Games and came home with three gold medals. Yet with GB Rowing on a roll, crossing the finish line first wasn't enough on its own to become a household name. Nor is Pete one to self-promote. In this episode of Anatomy of an Agency, listen to the inside story of Pete's journey...

In this episode of Anatomy of an Agency, Olympic Swimming Champion Cullen Jones talks to us about the many obstacles he faced en route to breaking not one but two world records. Swimming wasn't the obvious sport for a talented young black athlete and even making name for himself in the pool couldn't stop social stigmas and preconceptions on dry land. Find out how he's handled it and what his perso...

In this episode of Anatomy of an Agency find out how recently retired Olympic race walker Tom Bosworth has transitioned from the track to the microphone, as both a Paris 2024 Eurosport commentator from London and TikTok’s TeamGB House host in Paris. Tom explains what it takes to make this leap from the personal sacrifices and the preparation to endless shuttles under the Channel between London and...

To the rest of the world it may look like winning an Olympic gold is a catapult into a new world of opportunity. When you look beneath the surface, that isn't always the case. With 340 gold medals awarded in Toyko, topping the podium alone wasn't a right of passage to recognition beyond sport. Three years on in Paris, we caught up with Olympic sailing Champion Eilidh McIntyre to ask her what has c...

Anthony Ogogo has one of the best known stories of London 2012 - fighting for his country while his mum was fighting for her life following a brain aneurism. He took home a bronze medal, then turned pro, so never really had the full Olympic experience. After 12 years of avoiding the Games and the painful memories they bring back, he decided to embrace Paris 2024 working with Eurosport and TeamGB....

What do Olympians do at the Olympics after they've retired? In the case of Heather Fisher, the answer is - a lot! As global rugby ambassador for Airbnb, a host at TeamGB House and a Eurosport pundit, Heather got to see a whole new side to the Olympic Games, having last attended in Rio when she was competing. In this episode, she gives us a peek behind behind the curtain into what the experience ha...