Episodios
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We are back babes and we are joined by someone who is having a YEAR, Ella Purnell.
Ella has been acting since she was 12 but this year has been her best yet! Ella starred as Lucy in one of the biggest TV shows of the year, the adaptation of the game, ‘Fallout’ on Prime Video - I was obsessed - have you seen it yet? And now Ella is starring and producing, ‘Sweetpea’ on Sky and the streaming service, NOW in the UK and Starz in the USA!
‘Sweetpea’ is one of my favourite shows of the year and it follows Ella’s character Rhiannon, a wallflower who is pushed over the edge and goes on a killing spree. It’s dark but SO GOOD, and stars previous ‘Reign’ guest and all round mega human, Nicôle Lecky, too. ‘Killing Eve’ fans, you will love this show, I promise!
Today Ella and I cover some serious ground, from everyday sexism to conkers (they are making a comeback apparently! Ella also tells me about the wild rumours she was dating Brad Pitt when they hadn’t even met, as well as how she truly found her voice.
Anyone who has a ‘go to karaoke’ list in their phone is a bit of us so I really hope you love this episode. If you do or you just want to talk about how amazing ‘Sweetpea’ is get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts - I always love talking to you. Love, Josh x
P.S. In this episode you will have heard me chatting about my book book ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now and you can get your hardback/ digital or audio book here: https://geni.us/GreatChat Whether you are already confident at chatting or are socially anxious this book really is for everyone and I hope it inspires you to turn even everyday conversation into a self development practice for your wellbeing and the good of those around you, too.
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I am SO excited about this episode because it has literally been years in the making! Today we are joined by the supermodel, business mogul and all round mega-babe, Rosie Huntington- Whiteley.
Rosie has been working as a model since she was 16 years old and 20 years later, she’s gone from pounding the pavements with her trusty A-Z map trying to book jobs to gracing every major magazine cover, runway and brand campaign.
Today Rosie looks back on her incredible career, and all the rejections and successes that have shaped her. One huge success of Rosie’s has been her collaboration with Marks and Spencer - from lingerie to now contourwear - and hearing how she turned an idea into a decade long success will inspire you to take your ideas and run with them!
There are so many great nuggets of wisdom in this episode including one of my faves, that we should see failure as happening for us, not at us.I hope you love this episode and if you do please get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts - it is always great chatting with you. Love, Josh x
P.S Thank you to our sponsor Marks and Spencer! This episode marks the release of Rosie’s latest collection, Rosie ContourWear. The latest chapter in her 12 year collaboration with M&S is a 40 piece collection of contemporary, luxury lingerie and light control shapewear - ranging from bodysuits to waist-cinching knickers - that creates a sleek, flawless foundation. You can wear the pieces beneath clothing or style them to be seen and it is available right now in selected M&S stores, or at marksandspencer.com.
P.P.S. In this episode you will have heard me chatting about my book book ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now and you can get your hardback/ digital or audio book here: https://geni.us/GreatChat I hope it inspires you to turn even everyday conversation into a self development practice for your wellbeing and the good of those around you, too.
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Today the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan joins us in the studio.
Sadiq has just won a historic third term as London Mayor but his road to political success has been an unlikely one. When he emerged in politics it was dominated by white public school boys but being one of eight who was raised in a council flat in Tooting by his parents who worked as a seamstress and a bus driver became his USP.
Sadiq’s career has seen him become a human rights lawyer, being elected MP for his community in Tooting and becoming a Labour Cabinet Minister. But his greatest impact has come as London’s longest serving mayor.
Today Sadiq talks about the recent race riots in the UK, how they personally affected him and his family and how the recent events show in our now divisive society we need to truly listen to one another and hold social media companies to account.
He also calls out those in power who have used hateful language for their own gain and after Donald Trump's war of words during his presidency led to him having increased security, how anxious Sadiq is about the prospect of the former president retaking power.
Whatever your view on politics or politicians (Sadiq knows how we all feel about politicians!) I hope you find Sadiq’s journey inspiring. What I love most though is Sadiq’s words about allyship so I hope this episode inspires you to speak up and show up for the groups in our society that need us most. If his words or story resonate with you, as always I would love to hear from you - get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts - it is always great hearing from you. Love, Josh x
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Bonjour babes! I am so excited about this episode because it has been YEARS in the making! Today, ahead of Emily In Paris season four we are joined by Mindy herself, Ashley Park.
Before Ashley made her TV debut in the hit Netflix show, she started her career in Broadway Musicals starring in Mamma Mia, The King and I and earning a Tony Award nomination for the Mean Girls Musical. But Emily in Paris has taken her career to new levels and she has since starred in Only Murder in The Building alongside Selena Gomez AND MERYL STREEP, the Emmy winning Beef and the hilarious girls trip comedy movie, Joyride (if you have missed it, watch it immediately it's SO funny!).
It’s no secret I love a ‘Great Chat’ and so does Ashley so in this episode we laugh, we get deep and there’s some tears as we talk about everything from self love to representation and her incredible friendship with Lily Collins (our OG Reign Queen - head back to episode one to listen to Lily on the podcast!). Ashley also talks about recovering from septic shock earlier this year and how filming the latest season of Emily in Paris whilst still recovering showed her the true meaning of ‘it takes a village.’
What this episode really shows is how amazing life is when YOU become the protagonist of your own life and if Ashley’s words inspire you as much as they did me, please get in touch via social media @joshsmithhosts - I always love talking to you. Love, Josh x
P.S. I am so happy that today’s episode is brought to you with the support of Pandora. Both Pandora and Reign are all about celebrating love in all its forms - be that romantic love, love for our friends and family or the practice of self love. This episode, like every episode of Reign, hopes to sprinkle some sparkle and positivity in your life and empower you to BE LOVE. Especially in difficult times, just a little bit of love can truly help you and others. So, radiate it. Initiate it. Accept it. Expect and BE LOVE - you never know how much it could change your life or someone else’s. Head to pandora.net to discover the latest jewellery collections and more.
P.P.S. In this epsidoe you will have heard Ashley and I talk about my book, ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope it inspires you to start using conversation as a self help practice, empowers you to be a better communicator and helps you build the connections you are deserving of.
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Have you had a very up and down relationship with exercise? I have! That was until the fitness queen Leanne Hainsby-Alldis came into my life via the Peloton Bike!
If you have jumped on a Peloton before you will recognise Leanne for her sparkle and pure positivity. But before fitness fame, Leanne spent a decade as a professional dancer (my dream job - shame I don’t have enough rhythm) working with everyone from Taylor Swift to Katy Perry. That all changed when on a 10/10 hangover she was headhunted to become an instructor by Peloton’s very own Cody Rigsby.
Today Leanne serves us a healthy dose of motivation - no matter where you are at in your fitness journey - and reflects on how career change, milestone anxiety and all the things we experienced in our 20s and 30s have shaped her.
But it was a change she didn’t see coming that has really shaped Leanne into the person she is today. In August 2022, shortly after losing her best friend she was diagnosed with cancer.
We recorded this just before her wedding to fellow Peloton instructor, Ben Alldis and Leanne powerfully shares her story with us and just how life changing the last few years have been. Leanne is a role model for resilience and I hope her strength really inspires you. Like Leanne says, energy starts with you - so I hope her words encourage you to nurture and look after your energy no matter what situation you find yourself in. If Leanne’s words resonate with you, drop me a message - I am @joshsmithhosts across social media. Love Josh x
P.S. In this epsidoe you will have heard me talk about my book, ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope it inspires you to start using conversation as a self help practice, empowers you to be a better communicator and helps you build the connections you are deserving of.
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I am serving you an ACE episode today as we are joined by three time grand slam champion, Stan Wawrinka! See what I did there?!?
In case you can’t tell when you listen to the episode I am beside myself excited that we recorded this at the evian Mountain of Youth VIP suite at *actual* Wimbledon just before the championships kicked off. I had goosebumps all over walking around these iconic grounds.
Stan or rather Stan The Man or Stanminal - depending on your nickname of choice - is a true sporting great. Not only has he won THREE grand slam titles, the French Open, the US open, the Australian Open Stan has won Olympic gold alongside fellow swiss icon Roger Federer, 31 career titles and double quarter finalist here at Wimbledon, too. And he already has his hands on the Wimbledon trophy as you will find out in this episode…
Today Stan talks about his journey to the top of tennis, reveals the secrets behind his champion mentality, the big loss that actually empowered him (against Novak Djokovic no less) and he serves us the best advice for nurturing our mindset and living a life without regret.
If we couldn’t love Stan more - he is such a great guy - he also talks about how other sports need to catch up with Tennis when it comes to gender parity!
I hope Stan also inspires you to not only adopt a fresh mindset but embrace failure, too and if he does get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts - I always love talking to you and there is nothing more I love than talking about tennis! And if you love tennis make sure you check out the episode with Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina too! Love, Josh x
P.S This podcast episode is sponsored by evian and it is an absolute dream come true to have recorded this amazing episode in the evian Mountain of Youth VIP suite at ACTUAL WIMBLEDON to celebrate the start of this iconic sporting event. evian have been keeping players and spectators refreshed at The Championships since 2008 as the official water partner. Keeping hydrated is one of the easiest acts of self care we can all participate in too. Drinking at least 2 litres of fluid, including water, a day can contribute to the maintenance of normal physical and cognitive function so grab your evian bottle and stay hydrated!
P.PS. In this epsidoe you will have heard me talk about my book, ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope it inspires you to start using conversation as a self help practice, empowers you to be a better communicator and helps you build the connections you are deserving of.
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I am so excited to share this very special bonus episode of the podcast with you, it’s an extract of my audio book, ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversations, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now in audio and hardback.
Hardback copy:https://geni.us/GreatChat
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1HH55EZsUSYtajczP6yjjJ?si=6ba9bc48f73544a0
Audible: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Great-Chat-Audiobook/B0CVLG18ZC?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
Apple: https://apple.co/4ajKZkf
I think I might have mentioned I have written a book a few times… maybe…and in case you didn’t know already I LOVE to chat. But when I look around it really feels like in this digital age we have lost the art of real life conversation. We are more lonely and anxious than we have ever been and chatting really is the way to reverse that and I know personally how transformative it can be for your wellbeing. That’s where ‘Great Chat’ comes in!
‘Great Chat’ uses all the lessons I have learnt from over a decade of interviewing every mood and personality and every celebrity from Oprah to Victoria Beckham, alongside jaw dropping research to give you a practical guide to help you create more meaningful conversation, whatever the situation. That could be on dates or winning someone over at work - you name it Great Chat is your wingman for any conversation or scenario - and it will help you with everything from becoming an active listener to embracing difficult conversations.
‘Great Chat’ will help you turn chatting into a self help practice to help YOUR wellbeing and I really hope you will build more meaningful connections with the people already in your life and the people you don’t know yet after reading and listening to it.
So here’s the introduction to Great Chat - I hope you love it and when you listen to the audio book you will also find an exclusive chat with me and the mega babe Emma Willis, where we put some of the ‘Great Chat’ lessons into practice. Trust me - you’re gonna wanna hear this! Let me know what you think - you can get me @joshsmithhosts - can’t wait to have a GREAT CHAT with you. Love Josh x
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As a House of The Dragon fan I am SO excited that we are joined by the show’s stars Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke for this episode!
If you are not familiar with the prequel series to Game of Thrones already - where have you been babes - it slays in many ways. There’s murder, there’s backstabbing, a whole lot of hot people getting up to hot things, and many storylines to get your head around, so it’s time to take a trip to Westeros if you haven’t already (and you don’t even have to have watched Game of Thrones to love the show).
At the centre of it all is Princess Rhaenyra played by Emma D’Arcy and her childhood best friend, Allicent Hightower, played by Olivia Cooke who destroy their friendship in the quest for power. If you thought you had had a tough friendship break up, this is NEXT LEVEL.
Outside of Westeros you may also already recognise Olivia from the Oscar nominated The Sound of Metal, Me Earl and The Girl, Ready Player One and Apple TV’s Slow Horses. And whilst this is Emma’s breakout role they were nominated for a Golden Globe for their scene stealing performance.
Today as they return to House of The Dragon season two - which is available now on Sky and streaming service NOW - they talk about the moments on the show that had them clutching their pearls, how they are finally finding their power in their roles and the sheer embarrassment of getting smacked in the face (or in Emma’s case being spat in the face by a co-star!).
What I love most about this episode though is when Emma opens up beautifully about the relief at being able to live their life openly as a non-binary person and just how cute the friendship they have built off screen is. If you love the episode too, get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts - I always love talking to you. Love, Josh x
P.S. In this epsidoe you will have heard me talk about my book, ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is FINALLY out this week! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope it inspires you to start using conversation as a self help practice, empowers you to be a better communicator and helps you build the connections you are deserving of.
P.P.S. This episode is sponsored by Bicester Village which I am so excited about as it’s one of my favourite go-to day trips for great chats and great bonding time with my loved ones. If you need a little retail therapy with a pal, Bicester Village is home to more than 150 fashion and lifestyle boutiques, renowned restaurants and five star service - and we all deserve a bit of five star service don’t we?! But luxury doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag, as Bicester Village offers up to 40% off the original retail prices ALL YEAR ROUND. Race you there? It’s only an hour from London Marylebone station if you are based in London!
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May the force be with you on this week’s episode as we are joined by Daisy Ridley.
Many of you will know Daisy from her breakout role playing Rey in three blockbuster ‘Star Wars’ movies and now she’s back in the legendary Jerry Bruckheimer’s new movie, ‘Young Woman and The Sea’, playing Trudie Ederlee, the first woman to swim the English Channel who not only had to deal with life threatening situations, she had to face a host of 1920s misogyny too.
It is already one of my favourite movies ever (bold statement but wait until you see it) and you are going to LOVE it too because it’s everything we love on Reign: sticking two fingers up at the patriarchy and proving the haters wrong!
I LOVED talking to Daisy and she joins us post going out OUT (she’s a bit of us) to talk about the incredible physical and mental challenges the film presented her, the sexism she has faced in her own life and how creating her next movie ‘Magpie’ with her husband Tom Bateman was a huge moment of overcoming self doubt.
Daisy also teases her return to ‘Star Wars’ but what I love most about this episode is Daisy’s words on how powerful finding your people and having the right people around you is. So I hope this inspires you to lean on those around you or to go out there and find your people!
If you love this chinwag with Daisy or you head straight to watch ‘Young Woman and The Sea’ and wanna compare notes get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts - I always love talking to you. Love, Josh x
P.S. You will also have heard me mention my book in this episode. ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ - you can pre-order it here: https://geni.us/GreatChat ahead of its release on 20th June.
P.P.S. This episode is sponsored by Bicester Village which I am so excited about as it’s one of my favourite go-to day trips for great chats and great bonding time with my loved ones. If you need a little retail therapy with a pal, Bicester Village is home to more than 150 fashion and lifestyle boutiques, renowned restaurants and five star service - and we all deserve a bit of five star service don’t we?! But luxury doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag, as Bicester Village offers up to 40% off the original retail prices ALL YEAR ROUND. Race you there? It’s only an hour from London Marylebone station if you are based in London!
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This is such a special episode as we are joined by the star of Baby Reindeer, Jessica Gunning, who shares her coming out story for the very first time publicly.
I felt so honoured to be able to help Jessica tell her story, and I hope as we start Pride Month, no matter how you identify, or how you are currently feeling about your identity, Jessica’s story will inspire you to embrace yourself and celebrate YOU.
As you will hear in this episode Jessica is every bit as incredible off screen as she is on screen and the entire world has now woken up to her talents in Netflix’s Baby Reindeer. If you are one of the few who hasn’t watched the show yet, it was created by, and stars Richard Gadd, who brings his own life story to screen as his character Donny is intensely stalked by Jessica’s character, Martha. It’s one of the best TV shows not just of the year, but ever, as it goes from comical to heartbreaking in just a few seconds.
But this is no overnight success, as Jessica talks us through her epic career and the incredible lessons she has learnt along the way from her first big role in one of my favourite movies of all time, Pride, to playing the hilarious parole officer Dianne in the BBC comedy, The Outlaws, which is back for a third season.
Along with our emotional chat about coming out, Jessica serves the comedy too as we talk about our failure to grasp the French language and her hilarious run in with The Outlaws co-star, Christopher Walken.
If you love this chat as much as I do please get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts - it is always great hearing from you. Love, Josh x
P.S. You will also have heard me mention my book in this episode. ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ - you can pre-order it here: https://geni.us/GreatChat ahead of its release on 20th June!
P.P.S. This episode is sponsored by Bicester Village which I am so excited about as it’s one of my favourite go-to day trips for great chats and great bonding time with my loved ones. If you need a little retail therapy with a pal, Bicester Village is home to more than 150 fashion and lifestyle boutiques, renowned restaurants and five star service - and we all deserve a bit of five star service don’t we?! But luxury doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag, as Bicester Village offers up to 40% off the original retail prices ALL YEAR ROUND. Race you there? It’s only an hour from London Marylebone station if you are based in London!
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‘The Witcher’ fans ASSEMBLE as today we are joined by royalty, Princess Ciri herself, Freya Allan.
If you don’t already know about one of Netflix’s biggest shows, ‘The Witcher’ is a high octane adventure about the Witcher Geralt, a monster hunter played by Henry Cavill (who is being replaced by Liam Hemsworth for season four) who finds out humans tend to be more wicked than beasts. If you haven’t watched it yet, you have three epic seasons to catch up on - lucky you!
I have wanted to talk to Freya on the podcast for a long time so it’s amazing to finally do it as she makes her big screen debut in one of the longest running and biggest franchises in Hollywood, ‘Planet of the Apes’.
The latest installment, ‘Kingdom of Planet of the Apes’ is currently the biggest movie in the ENTIRE WORLD and follows Freya’s character Mae, a lone human who finds unlikely friendship in Noa, the ape and there is so much drama it's gonna blow your eyebrows off. Fun fact; the apes are played by real humans and it’s so emotional so take your tissues.
Today Freya tells me about the power of proving people wrong - so get ready to feel VERY empowered - and about how she navigated a huge change in her life when she went from being in school to starring in a huge Netflix franchise at just 16 years old.
I really respect Freya’s honesty as she talks about why she didn’t want to return to season four of ‘The Witcher’, and teases what you can expect from the final installment of the show. I hope you love this episode! If you do, please get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts! Love, Josh x
P.S. You will also have heard me mention my book in this episode. ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ - you can pre-order it here: https://geni.us/GreatChat ahead of its release on 20th June!
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Today by popular demand, Nicholas Galitzine finally joins the podcast and he does not disappoint!
Many of you will know that Nicholas first burst onto our screens as the all-singing, all-charming Prince in Prime Video’s ‘Cinderella’ with Camila Cabello, and then he played a troubled marine in Netflix’s ‘Purple Hearts.’ However it was playing the closeted gay prince, Henry who falls for the son of the first female USA president, played by Taylor Zakhar Perez in ‘Red, White and Royal Blue’, that really captured imaginations!
Not someone to shy away from intimate scenes, Nicholas recently played King James I’s lover in Sky’s TV show, ‘Mary and George’, whose game playing and thirst is only matched by his ambitious mother, played by Julianne Moore.
Now Nicholas stars as a boyband member who falls for a fan’s mum, played by Anne Hathaway, in the new Prime Video movie, ‘The Idea of You’ and it’s the rom-com we have been waiting for!
In this episode Nicholas talks about why we need more male allies for women, and how he wants to set a better example to younger men in society. He also chats about doing all *those* intimate scenes, overcoming imposter syndrome and finally feeling comfortable in who he is.
What I love most is Nicholas’s words about becoming our own cheerleader which is what Reign is all about, so I hope you love this episode! If you do, please get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts! Love, Josh x
P.S. In this episode you will have heard me talking about my favourite SPF brand, Mecca Cosmetica. If you want to find out more about their products that not only protect your skin, but also contain amazing advanced skincare ingredients visit MeccaCosmetica.com And make sure you check out my favourite product, ‘To Save Face’ SPF 50+ Sunscreen’, which is the best SPF for wearing under makeup - thank me later!
P.P.S You will also have heard me mention my book. ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ - you can pre-order it here: https://geni.us/GreatChat ahead of its release on 20th June!
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Dune fans the time has come, Dune: Part Two is FINALLY coming to cinemas and today we are joined by the M-O-T-H-E-R of Dune in so many ways; the incredible Rebecca Ferguson.
After starting out in Swedish soap operas, Rebecca landed her first English-speaking role in the BBC drama, The White Queen and she didn’t look back. She quickly joined Tom Cruise - who she credits with changing her life in this episode - in the Mission Impossible franchise, starring in three of it’s movies, and has also starred in The Greatest Showman, Apple TV’s Silo, The Girl on The Train and now two Dune movies.
If you missed the first Dune movie, Rebecca plays Lady Jessica, the mother of Timothée Chalamet’s character Paul, who is destined to become the universe’s greatest leader. However, he has the power to see the future, and only he can see how dangerous he will be in this fantasy world. In Dune: Part One, things were dramatic for Lady Jessica to say the least after her husband was murdered, she lost her power and was exiled. Dune: Part Two is no different; she's pregnant with a baby she can talk to in the womb (yes, really), becomes THE all-powerful reverend mother, and that is just a taster of what to come. If you are confused so far, all you need to know is that as sequels go, this is one of the all time greats!
Today Rebecca and I have a DMC about everything Dune where she reveals she initially played hard to get, telling the franchise’s director, Denis Villeneuve (who she calls Denny) she wasn’t interested in the role (!!!) and she talks about the valuable lessons she learnt from working with Timothée.
Rebecca also tells ms about the time she stood up for herself in the face of an absolutely horrid co-star in another movie, which is a firm reminder to us all to always use our voice, even when we are scared to.
I absolutely LOVED talking to Rebecca and I think you will leave this episode just as obsessed with her as I am. It’s rare to meet someone this authentic and comfortable in their own skin, especially in this industry. If you do love this episode please get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts! And speaking of epic people, if you missed it, check out last week’s episode with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis. Love Josh x
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Today we are joined by two incredible women, Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, and I am not sure I will ever recover!
Like me you may already be obsessed with them after watching the TV show, True Detective: Night Country, which is available to watch now on Sky Atlantic, streaming service NOW and available to download and own on digital platforms. on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK. It is edge of your seat amazing! If you have already watched the whole series PLEASE DM me so we can debrief immediately.
If, however, you have missed the action so far True Detective: Night Country is a murder thriller set in the high arctic of Alaska and follows two detectives, Danvers and Navarro who are on the case when scientists from a research facility go missing. The disappearance opens up a can of worms as it turns out the research facility is linked to a mine that is poisoning an indigenous community, and it’s also linked to a cold case of a woman from the community who was brutally murdered. The twists and the turns are incredible and you won’t see the ending coming!
On today’s episode we have a proper debrief about the show and we also reflect on the pair’s game changing careers. We all know two time Oscar winner Jodie from the likes of Silence of The Lambs, Taxi Driver and Panic Room to name just a few (!!!) and Kali, before she recently started acting (this is only her THIRD acting role) achieved six world boxing titles, and you know how much we love a female athlete on this podcast (if this is your first time here, check out our two women in sports series!).
We also talk about one of the show’s most important themes: violence against women, and why as a society we need to talk about it more.We chat about the power of feeling seen, and why comparing yourself to your younger self isn’t healthy.
What I love about this episode is we are joined by two women who are, in their words, finally fully in their power after finding freedom in their life. That is something Reign is all about, so I hope you love this episode and if you do, please get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts! And speaking of epic shows, if you missed it, check out last week’s episode with One Day star, Ambika Mod! See you next week, love Josh x
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Anyone else so emotionally invested in Netflix’s One Day to the point it’s all you can think about? Just me? Didn’t think so! Well, prepare yourself as today we are joined by the show’s star, Ambika Mod.
In case you have missed the show of the year/ the best show ever, One Day is based on the best selling book by David Nicholls and follows Ambika’s Emma and Dexter (played by Leo Woodall) on the same day, for 20 years as they go from crush, to friendship and the rest is a plot spoiler so I’ll leave it to your imagination. (Note: there are plot spoilers in this episode,so consider yourself warned!)
In today’s episode Ambika joins me to talk about her journey from stand up comedy to landing a role she had secretly manifested for decades in One Day. We also chat about the importance of representation, overcoming imposter syndrome, and Ambika tells me about her own journey with mental health after starring alongside Ben Wishaw in the heartbreaking BBC adaptation of Adam Kay’s This is Going To Hurt (which if you missed it, you need to add to your watch list right now!).
This episode is also a mini reunion as it turns out that Ambika and I actually worked at Conde Nast together at the same time! But another reason I love this episode so much, and admire Ambika is because she is a symbol of what you can achieve if you work hard and stay so damn determined. So I hope you will be just as inspired as I am, to get out there and chase your dreams.
If you love this episode as much as me please get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts as I would love a debrief on One Day with you! Love, Josh x
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It’s the season of giving and receiving (oi oi) and this year I am clearly in a giving mood (oi oi x2) because I am gifting you an early Christmas present as today we are joined by the triple threat Queen, Hannah Waddingham.
It’s been hard to miss Hannah Waddingham this year because she has been booked, busy and blessed and all over our screens. In 2023 Hannah has done more than most in their entire career. She presented the Olivier awards, before going on to become an overnight gay/national treasure presenting Eurovision and she reprised her Emmy award winning role as the football boss, Rebecca Welton in the final season of Ted Lasso. If you aren’t familiar with ‘Ted Lasso’ it’s one of the best feel good shows on the planet, as it follows American college Football coach, Ted (played and co-created by Jason Sudeikis) who takes over AFC Richmond and wins the sporting world over with his distinct positive penny outlook.
As Hannah releases her very own all singing, all dancing, camp as christmas extravaganza on Apple TV+, ‘Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas’ she joins me for a jolly good chin wag and let me tell you on this show, during the season of giving, she is giving us RANGE let me tell you - Mariah Carey better watch her holiday season crown!
Today Hannah chats to me about making her dreams happen later in life after treading the boards across the West End and Broadway before her big Hollywood break in ‘Ted Lasso’ after an iconic stint in ‘Game of Thrones’, too.
I love Hannah’s words on choosing to be single, finding positivity in life even when it’s tough and never letting anyone dim her light again after men dimming her light in her 20s and 30s. Let this be a reminder to you, that you should NEVER dim your light for anyone babes and I hope this chat inspires you to shine brightly all year round babes.
It has been the BEST sharing all the episodes of Reign with you in 2023, we have had some incredible guests from Lionesses to Christina Ricci and if you have missed any episodes treat yourself this holiday season by cracking open the Quality Street tin and taking some time out to listen to some empowering conversations so you make sure you make it reign in 2024 and beyond! Thank you from the bottom of my little gay heart for listening and making this podcast a real dream come true, I love you! See you next year, Love Josh xxx
P.S If you ever want to get in touch, you can find me @joshsmithhosts across socials - I love talking to you so much so please reach out any time!
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Are you ready to slam it to the left, shake it to the right and Spice up your life, because on today’s episode we are joined by the icon, Geri Halliwell-Horner!
You will of course know Geri as one fifth of the Spice Girls who achieved icon status after producing hit after hit and teaching everyone Girl Power before going on to have a huge solo career, including releasing the greatest cover song of all time, in my humble opinion, It’s Raining Men.
Today Geri joins me in the Reign studio (screams in gay!) to talk about her latest venture, her TENTH book Rosie Frost and Falcon Queen. The book follows Rosie who, after being suddenly orphaned, moves to Bloodstone Island to attend a school built in the memory of Anne Boleyn, by Elizabeth I. In the present day, whilst she encounters mean girls and a demon teacher, Rosie even comes into contact with the ghost of Anne Boleyn who hundreds of years on, haunts the halls. Trust me, it’s a page turner for all ages.
Not only do we chat about our joint obsession with Anne Boleyn (I wore my ‘divorced, beheaded, died…’ t-shirt to make the occasion) Geri talks powerfully about her experiences with bullying, loneliness and grief after losing her father at a young age.
We also talk about navigating the pressures of your 30s, when Geri felt like she was falling behind and failing to ‘tick boxes’ in life and how not finding love meant she found comfort in her gay friends who filled that void in her life. The gays are the best, trust me babes!
What I love so much about this episode though is Geri’s words on friendship and making friends as adults, because if you wannabe my lover babes, you gotta get with my friends! I hope you take a lot of Spice and advice away from this episode and if you do please get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts Love, Josh x
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We are in the studio today and the category is ICONS ONLY, as we are joined by Billy Porter, so prepare to experience ALL the emotions from laughter to tears.
After years trying to make it in the entertainment industry on his own terms, Billy won a Tony for Kinky Boots, being his fabulous authentic self, heels and all. It was a turning point for Billy who then went on to win a Grammy, and then an Emmy for the hit TV show Pose, becoming the first black gay man to win that award in the process.
In the spirit of being 100% himself, Billy drops his seventh studio album, Black Mona Lisa, and in this episode we talk about how this has been an album 30 years in the making, as Billy tells me all about his journey, including the bullying and discrimination he has had to deal with and overcome.
Billy broke my heart when he cried talking about the lessons he has learnt from going to trauma therapy, the worst year of his life which saw him be diagnosed with HIV, diabetes and being declared bankrupt, and how he finally found love for himself. And in true Billy fashion, he will make us laugh too as shares his love for English rugby men!
This is a really special conversation and I can’t wait to share it with you. If you love Billy as much as I do, get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts and make sure you come back next week for another inspiring episode of Reign. Love, Josh x
P.S. As someone who has experienced hate and cyberbullying online, I know how it can affect you offline, too. So I am beyond proud to be bringing you four special podcast episodes talking about our digital wellbeing in partnership with Urban Decay to mark their ongoing partnership with The Cybersmile Foundation.
Their joint ‘Online Bullying Hurts IRL’ campaign hopes to educate people about how cyberbullying can affect mental health and offer support for those who need it.
If you need help or know someone who does, head to https://bit.ly/CybersmilexUDEducationalModules to find Urban Decay and Cybersmile’s educational modules and their digital changemaker toolkit which are designed to allow us to recognise the signs of cyberbullying, responsibly intervene and positively change the conversation.
Together we can build a safer online world by learning and talking about how we can make a positive impact through considered social media use. If you are struggling right now, we have got you and make sure you talk to people you trust. You are never alone offline, even if you feel it online. Love Josh x
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Today we are back in the Reign studio and I have a hoot with my new favourite pop girlie, Talia Mar.
Following her hits ‘Stay the Night’ and ‘Sweet Lies’, Talia has just dropped my favourite song of the moment, ‘Bored’ which, whilst being a banger, is actually all about a boring date she went on to Nando's. Now, if that isn’t a bit of us I don’t know what is!
In today’s episode, Talia takes us back to the beginning of her career when she started uploading YouTube videos at 13 years old - including a questionable self-penned country song about her fella going off to war, which we will discuss - and how she accidentally found herself becoming a huge gaming influencer. But music was always Talia’s first love after going to see Christina Aguilera in her ‘Dirty’ chaps era when she was five (her parents are clearly legends), and attending The BRIT School, which sounds absolutely wild.
We also chat about everything from her first job being the Karen of Chessington World of Adventures (niche!), to her hilarious perspective on getting married this year to her husband Simon, aka Miniminter who is one of the Sidemen with KSI.
Talia also talks about eye-opening online hate, which has seen her deal with everything from hateful comments, to trending on an adult website with men doing their ‘business’ on her images, and people trying to stir up trouble in her relationship. But as you will learn from this episode, Talia is a resilient queen and she won’t let that stop her for one second.
If you love Talia as much as I do, get in touch with me via social media @joshsmithhosts and come back next week for another episode of Reign when we will be joined by the ICON BILLY PORTER. I AM ALREADY SCREAMING WITH EXCITEMENT. Love, Josh x
P.S. As someone who has experienced hate and cyberbullying online, I know how it can affect you offline, too. So I am beyond proud to be bringing you four special podcast episodes talking about our digital wellbeing in partnership with Urban Decay to mark their ongoing partnership with The Cybersmile Foundation.
Their joint ‘Online Bullying Hurts IRL’ campaign hopes to educate people about how cyberbullying can affect mental health and offer support for those who need it.
If you need help or know someone who does, head to https://bit.ly/CybersmilexUDEducationalModules to find Urban Decay and Cybersmile’s educational modules and their digital changemaker toolkit which are designed to allow us to recognise the signs of cyberbullying, responsibly intervene and positively change the conversation.
Together we can build a safer online world by learning and talking about how we can make a positive impact through considered social media use. If you are struggling right now, we have got you and make sure you talk to people you trust. You are never alone offline, even if you feel it online. Love Josh x
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Today we are joined by actual genius and Oscar Winner, Emerald Fennell.
After an acting career that saw her star in one of my faves, Call The Midwife, play Camilla in The Crown, and feature in the Barbie movie as Midge, Emerald turned her talents to writing and directing. Her first movie Promising Young Woman about a survivor of sexual assault, played by Carey Mulligan, who aims to take toxic men down one by one, earned her an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and Emerald also became only the sixth woman to be nominated for Best Director at the Oscars too. What. A. Trailblazer.
Now Emerald is back with her second movie, Saltburn which follows Oliver, played by Barry Keoghan who skips off to Oxford University, becomes obsessed with the jock on the block, Felix played by Jacob Elordi (who can blame him). When Oliver secures an invite to summer on Felix’s estate what follows is a lot of racy comings and goings, some iconic camp one liners from Oliver’s mother, Elsbeth played by Rosamund Pike and her bff, Pamela played by Carey Mulligan and some very dark moments which will have your jaw on the floor.
On this episode Emerald and I talk all about Saltburn, and cover a lot of ground including the Cheeky Girls, how to master a camp one liner, the awkward things we do when we become obsessed with a romantic partner, and the desperate need many of us have to fit in. Just like her movies, this chat has RANGE.
I also really love what Emerald says about building a safe working environment on set as a female leader, after decades of Hollywood being known for unkindness and bullying. I think we need more leaders like Emerald, don’t you think?
If you love Emerald as much as I do, get in touch with me across social media @joshsmithhosts and make sure you come back next week for another inspiring episode of Reign. Love, Josh x
P.S. As someone who has experienced hate and cyberbullying online, I know how it can affect you offline, too. So I am beyond proud to be bringing you four special podcast episodes talking about our digital wellbeing in partnership with Urban Decay to mark their ongoing partnership with The Cybersmile Foundation.
Their joint ‘Online Bullying Hurts IRL’ campaign hopes to educate people about how cyberbullying can affect mental health and offer support for those who need it.
If you need help or know someone who does, head to https://bit.ly/CybersmilexUDEducationalModules to find Urban Decay and Cybersmile’s educational modules and their digital changemaker toolkit which are designed to allow us to recognise the signs of cyberbullying, responsibly intervene and positively change the conversation.
Together we can build a safer online world by learning and talking about how we can make a positive impact through considered social media use. If you are struggling right now, we have got you and make sure you talk to people you trust. You are never alone offline, even if you feel it online. Love Josh x
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