Crisis What Crisis with Andy Coulson

Having arrived in Britain as a five-year-old refugee fleeing the Nazis on the Kindertransport, Dame Stephanie Shirley went on to build one of Britain's most successful software companies. She built a business valued at $3 billion and has dedicated the last three decades of her life to philanthropy, giving away most of her personal wealth. Here are Dame Stephanie’s three crisis comforts. Full episo...

Having arrived in Britain as a five-year-old refugee fleeing the Nazis on the Kindertransport, Dame Stephanie Shirley went on to build one of Britain's most successful software companies. Using the pen name ‘Steve’ to be taken more seriously by clients, she built a business valued at $3 billion, turning 70 staff members into millionaires along the way. But her impact goes far beyond the business w...

Katie Melua has sold more than 11 million albums and picked up 56 platinum awards along the way. She had her first hit aged just 19 and was thrown immediately onto the treadmill of writing, recording, tours, promotion. More hits followed, but not without a very heavy price - her sudden fame contributed to an acute psychotic breakdown in 2010. Here are Katie’s three crisis comforts. Full episode ht...

In our first live podcast recording at the 2024 CBI Annual Conference, Andy speaks to Dawn Airey CBE, one of the most remarkable figures in British media. In front of an audience of business leaders and policy makers, they discussed resilience and reputation along with the crises and triumphs that have defined her career. Dawn has spent her career thriving on challenge, and along the way earned a...

Selling 11 million albums, more than a million concert tickets and picking up 56 platinum awards along the way, Katie Melua is one of Britain’s most successful singer songwriters. In this episode, she takes us on a very candid and emotional journey - from Georgia to Belfast to London and to fame at just 19 years old where she was thrown immediately onto the treadmill of recording, tours and promot...

On January 28th, 2009, a rehearsed stunt on set of Harry Potter went horrifically wrong. David, who had been the lead stunt double for his friend Daniel Radcliffe for a decade, was left paralysed from the chest down. His is a story of acceptance, of finding positives in the darkest of places and of the power of human spirit. Here are his three crisis comforts which helped and continue to help him...

On January 28th, 2009, a rehearsed stunt on set of Harry Potter went horrifically wrong. David, who for a decade was the lead stunt double for his friend Daniel Radcliffe, was left paralysed from the chest down. A number of long and dangerous operations followed, many of them lifesaving. David survived but his condition is degenerative - each year bringing yet more challenge for him. From being an...

On the face of it, magazine guru Lindsay Nicholson has had a brilliant, glamorous and high-powered career. Yet she achieved all this whilst her own life has been marked with crisis, with drama and the most unimaginable grief. Here are her three crisis comforts which helped and continue to help her survive and thrive through the most extreme and painful experiences. Full episode https://www.crisisw...

Lindsay Nicholson transformed some of our best-known magazine titles including Cosmopolitan , Prima and, most famously, Good Housekeeping . On the face of it a brilliant, glamorous and high-powered career for which she was awarded an MBE in 2018. But Lindsay achieved all this whilst her own life was marked with crisis, with drama and the most unimaginable grief. In 1992 Lindsay lost her first husb...

Adventurer Charley Boorman - whose life is full of motorbike journeys, personal challenge, crisis and resilience – shares his three crisis comforts. Full episode https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/charley-boorman-on-severe-dyslexia-loss-and-the-motorbike-crash-that-almost-claimed-his-life/ Links Charley’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charleyboorman/?hl=en Charley’s website: https://...

You know him from his epic road trips with Ewan McGregor in Long Way Round, Down and Up but adventurer Charley Boorman’s life is full of journeys of an entirely different kind … of personal challenge, crisis and resilience. As a child actor Charley, the son of director John Boorman, starred in movies including The Emerald Forest but severe dyslexia got in the way. He then faced the devastating los...

On the night of September 30, 2022, at High Barnet station, Sarah de Lagarde slipped between the train and the platform. She lost two limbs and almost her life. With resilience and an unyielding spirit, Sarah has embarked on a journey of recovery and of advocacy. Sarah’s story is one that tells a truly shocking story but also provides insight and learnings for us all. Here are her three crisis com...

On the night of September 30, 2022, at High Barnet station, Sarah de Lagarde slipped between the train and the platform. Trapped there, unseen and unheard, Sarah was hit by the train as it left the station, severing her right arm. 11 minutes after she first fell, she was struck by a second tube as it entered the station, crushing her right leg. In the aftermath of this unimaginable accident, Sarah...

Dylan Jones is a true titan of the world of media … someone who has helped shape the cultural landscape of the UK for the last four decades. Throughout our full conversation, which is courageous and, at times difficult, Dylan’s resilience and, as he puts it, ‘very particular’ approach to crisis shines through. Here are his three crisis comforts which helped and continue to help him maintain an inc...

Dylan Jones is a true titan of the world of media … someone who has helped shape the cultural landscape of the UK for the last four decades. A lad from High Wycombe who rose to become one of the best connected and sharpest operators here and in the US … along the way editing GQ magazine 22-year years, writing or editing over 25 books and picking up a cabinet full of awards including an OBE. He is...

Dr Rachel Clarke is a dedicated palliative care doctor, passionate NHS advocate and bestselling author. In this conversation, Rachel helps us look hard at how we talk about – or too often fail to talk about - death. I urge you to listen to the full episode but for now, here are Rachel’s three crisis comforts. Links Rachel’s Twitter : https://x.com/doctor_oxford Charity Hospice Ukraine: https://www...

Dr Rachel Clarke is a dedicated palliative care doctor, passionate NHS advocate and bestselling author. Through her work, Rachel has become a powerful voice and important influence on how we approach the ultimate collective crisis. We’ve discussed our unwillingness to make loss a part of mainstream conversation with other guests on the pod. In this conversation Rachel helps us look hard at how and...

After being sentenced to six and a half years for causing grievous bodily harm, a switch flipped for Jon Watts and he began the hard work to turn his life around. This is one of our most important podcasts to date and Jon opens up as never before. I urge you to listen to the full episode but for now, here are Jon’s three crisis comforts. Full episode https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/celeb...

Jon Watts is a celebrated chef whose astonishing journey has taken him from a Young Offender Institute to working alongside Jamie Oliver and becoming a celebrity chef in his own right with two hit cookbooks. At 16, Jon left school with no qualifications. Out of work, he fell into a gang and petty crime, repeatedly being arrested. At 18, his life took much a darker turn when he was jailed for causi...

Craig Mackinlay is one of the most resilient and courageous individuals we’ve had the privilege to talk to on this podcast. After contracting a severe and sudden case of sepsis, all four of Craig’s limbs were amputated. Here are his three crisis comforts which helped and continue to help him maintain an incredibly positive attitude. Full episode https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/craig-mack...

My guest for this episode is former Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay - one of the most resilient and courageous individuals we’ve had the privilege to talk to on this podcast. In September 2023 Craig contracted a severe and sudden case of sepsis, leading to all four of his limbs being amputated. What followed was the most inspiring journey of acceptance, recovery and positivity. Craig has used his...

Fred MacAulay – a true master of the art of standup who spoke movingly about dealing with the death of his father to cancer, his son’s health battles and his own crisis of confidence when his long running radio show was suddenly cancelled – shares his three crisis comforts. N.B. This was recorded whilst hiking and as men of a certain age so apologies for the occasional breathlessness. Full episode...

Over a long walk in the Scottish Highlands, I had good natter with one of Britain’s top comedy talents, Fred MacAulay – a true master of the art of stand up. Having performed at The Edinburgh Fringe 29 times, Fred was a regular voice on BBC Scotland Radio for almost 18 years and now hosts on Greatest Hits Radio. He has also appeared on our screens on Mock the Week , QI and Have I got News For You....

Jill Halfpenny – the familiar and popular face on Britain’s televisions who has opened up about the terrible losses she has suffered and how she got through - shares her three crisis comforts. Full episode https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/jill-halfpenny-on-navigating-loss-living-with-grief-and-rediscovering-joy/ Book A Life Reimagined: My Journey of Hope in the Midst of Loss , 2024. Links...

From the age of 13, Jill has been a familiar and popular face in the sitting rooms of Britain in shows from Byker Grove, Coronation Street and EastEnders to Humans . She won an Olivier award for her role in the musical Legally Blonde and was, of course, a Strictly Come Dancing champion in 2004. But hidden beneath her incredible and durable career, Jill has suffered terrible loss, both as a child a...