Episodes
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#160 Pierre Schoeman - Why I Chose Scotland Over My Springbok Dream
In this episode of Origin Story, I sit down with Pierre Schoeman, the South African-born Edinburgh and Scotland rugby prop. We talk about growing up in a country where rugby can feel like a religion, the setbacks that shaped his early career, and the decision to leave home and build a life in...
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#159 Chris Williamson - The Price of Modern Wisdom
Chris Williamson is a podcaster and the host of Modern Wisdom. This conversation has been years in the making for me. I started listening to Chris in 2019, aged 21, trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted from life. His voice has been with me through so much of that journey. To sit...
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#158 Craig Ferguson - The Man Who Walked 3,300 Miles Across America
In this episode of Origin Story, I’m joined by Craig Ferguson, a endurance challenge athlete and mental health ambassador who recently completed an extraordinary feat: walking the length of America. Over 110 days, Craig covered more than 3,300 miles, averaging around 85,000 steps daily, and…
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#157 First Minister of Scotland: John Swinney - Opportunity, Identity & Scotland’s Future
John Swinney is the First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP).But before Bute House, before becoming Scotland’s longest-serving Deputy First Minister, and before eventually taking the top job, John was a politically engaged teenager from Edinburgh who joined the…
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#156 Jackass: Wee Man's Most Dangerous Jackass Moments Explained
Jason “Wee Man” Acuña is one of the most recognisable faces from Jackass, the MTV show and movie franchise that changed comedy, skateboarding, stunts and chaos forever.But before Jackass, before the movies, before people were shouting “Wee Man’s here!” in the streets of Japan, Jason was a skater...
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#155 John McCalla-Leacy: How To Turn Adversity Into An Unbelievable Life
John McCalla-Leacy is a former KPMG global executive, coach, speaker, former international canoeist, martial arts champion and one of the most extraordinary origin stories ever told on this podcast.In this episode of Origin Story, John sits down with David McIntosh Jr for a deeply inspiring and...
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#154 Michael Smoak: Michael Smoak: Dead Parents, Heartbreak & Finding God
Michael Smoak (HigherUpWellness) is a coach, creator, podcaster and online voice known for helping people turn pain into purpose through faith, fitness, discipline and brutally honest conversations about grief, masculinity and healing. In this episode of Origin Story, Michael Smoak sits down with...
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#153 Andy Macdonald: X-Games Champ & Olympic Skateboarder on Failure, Discipline & Joy
Andy Macdonald is a skateboarding legend, Team GB Olympian, 23-time X Games medallist and officially the oldest Olympic skateboarder in history. In this episode of Origin Story, Andy Macdonald sits down with David McIntosh Jr for a funny, thoughtful and surprisingly inspiring conversation about...
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#152 Rufus Rice: A Comedian’s Guide to Being Posh
Rufus Rice is a comedian, podcaster, musician and viral TikTok creator known for his posh-boy persona, chaotic storytelling, sharp class commentary and cult online catchphrases like “Hello shaggers.” In this episode of Origin Story, Rufus Rice sits down with David McIntosh Jr at Spotify HQ for a...
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#151 Carol Kane (boohoo Founder): How I Built a British Fashion Empire
Carol Kane is the co-founder of Boohoo, the brand Boohoo - she built from a £1,500 website in 2006 into a £1.5 billion publicly listed group. She served as co-CEO and Executive Director of Boohoo Group, overseeing its IPO in 2014 and the acquisition of brands including Debenhams…
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#150 Daniel Sloss: The Making of Comedian (Netflix, First Gigs, Fatherhood & Growing Up Scottish)
Daniel Sloss is a comedian, author, and father. From a 17-year-old at Edinburgh's Stand Comedy Club to causing 100,000 breakups worldwide, Daniel Sloss shares the moments that nearly broke him, and ultimately transformed him, on his journey to becoming one of comedy's most authentic voices.In…
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#149 Ben Barlow (Neck Deep): Punk Pop, Fame, Skateboarding, Identity & Living Life on Your Own Terms
Ben Barlow is the lead vocalist of Neck Deep — the Welsh pop-punk band formed in Wrexham in 2012 that’s become one of Britain’s biggest modern rock exports. Neck Deep are one of my favourite bands In this episode of Origin Story, we do it properly: in a skatepark — because skate culture and...
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#148 Jimmy Carr - How to Build Confidence, Find Love & Stop Wasting Your Life
Jimmy Carr is back. Jimmy Carr is one of the most recognisable comedians on the planet: world-touring stand-up, TV host, and author - famous for brutal roasts and surgical one-liners. But in this episode, you get the sharper edge and the deeper thinking: why 2026 is going to feel like a turning...
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#147 Benny Higgins: Ex-Bank CEO on Success, Money, Art & What Really Matters
Benny Higgins is a Scottish Banker and Former CEO of RBS, Bank of Scotland and Tesco Bank. He is also the chairman of a portfolio of companies. He's a lover of Art and Poetry. He is also my good friend. Benny Higgins grew up in Toryglen tower blocks, captained Celtic’s youth team, and became a...
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#146 Dan Boerman: Don’t Die Wondering: A Comedian's Hilarious Guide to a Weird Life
Dan Boerman is a Comedian and TV Personality on Jimmy Carr's Am I The A**hole. He is also a good friend. I’ve wanted to record this conversation for a long time. Dan Boerman is a New Zealand comedian who left a steady job, moved to the other side of the world, and has been relentlessly chasing...
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#145 Formula 1: The Reality of Working in F1 - Scott Duncan
In this episode of Origin Story, I sit down with a Red Bull F1 tyre technician to unpack how he went from watching races in pubs to travelling the world with Max Verstappen’s team - Vegas, Brazil, Mexico and beyond. We get into the pressure of sub-2 second pit stops, the chaos of race weekends…
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#144 Fin Taylor (Fin vs History)
Fin Taylor is a standup comedian and podcaster. He is the creator of Fin Vs History and Fin vs The Internet. Comedian Fin Taylor joins Origin Story to unpack how a Glasgow kid who relocated to a Oxford girls’ boarding house (7–13) got “cancelled” at 14, started stand-up at 18, and went from...
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#143 Moroccan Locals Teach Me About Happiness, Money and Love
I travelled from Scotland to Morocco on holiday. As soon as I arrived I knew I needed to interview the locals. They were the most philosophical people I had met.Taghazout is a fascinating surf village perched on Morocco’s Atlantic coast - sun-soaked, salt-stained, and full of surprises. We spent…
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#142 Oliver Burkeman - How to Live A Life That Feels Good (without a to-do list)
Oliver Burkeman is a British writer and former Guardian columnist best known for Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, exploring how accepting life’s limits beats chasing productivity hacks. We recorded this right before Oliver’s show, crammed into his dressing room at the Assembly...
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#141 Darren McGarvey - Understanding the Anger of Britain's Working Class and the Trauma Economy
Writer, rapper and social commentator Darren McGarvey joins Origin Story to unpack the “trauma economy,” working-class rage, AI warping our narratives, and the safeguards every storyteller needs. Content note: This episode includes discussion of addiction, withdrawal, violence, and mental health....
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#140 Chris "The Problem" Duncan - From His Mum’s Murder to the UFC Octagon
Chris “The Problem” Duncan is a UFC fighter with one of the most powerful and painful stories you’ll ever hear.The day before his very first fight, his mum was murdered. Instead of walking away, Chris fought — and won. From that moment on, he carried pain into every battle, turning trauma into...
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#139 Ruby Lola: The Ambition Difference Between Men and Women
Ruby Lola is a Podcaster and Host of The Personal Best Podcast. What does personal best really mean? And why do men and women get such different messages about how to achieve it? In this episode of Origin Story, I sit down with Ruby Lola — host of Personal Best — to unpack the surprising truth...
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#138 Living With the World's Rarest Condition (15 people) - Dylan Lombard
In this episode of Origin Story, I sit down with someone truly one of a kind—Dylan Lombard. Dylan is one of only 15 people in the world with MDP Syndrome (Mandibular Dysplasia with Deafness and Progeroid Features), a condition that affects physical appearance, fat distribution, and hearing. But...
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#137 Iryna Gil: Escaping Ukraine: A Comedian's War Story
In this raw, wide-ranging interview, Ukrainian stand-up comic Iryna Gil tells the story of how her rising comedy career collided with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine just 11 days after she filmed her first special — and how she’s using comedy to challenge war fatigue, weaponised…
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#136 Sir Tom Hunter: Scotland's First Billionaire on Happiness, Wealth and Giving Back
I am joined by Sir Tom Hunter – Scotland’s first home-grown billionaire, serial entrepreneur turned venture philanthropist. He, along with his wife Lady Hunter, founded The Hunter Foundation. And previously, had built Sports Division from a £10 K loan, sold for £290 M, now invests in education &...
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#135 Will Storr: How Storytelling Can Make You Rich, Famous & Powerful
Will Storr is an award-winning author, journalist, and former photographer whose work explores the deep psychology of human behavior and storytelling. He’s the author of several critically acclaimed books including The Science of Storytelling, Selfie, The Status Game, and The Heretics. His…
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#134 Rory Sutherland's Hilarious Hidden Quirks
Rory Sutherland is back and he's as hilariously unconventional as ever. I genuinely think this might be the best we've ever gotten him. As the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK and a pioneer in behavioral science, Rory has spent decades unraveling the quirks of human behavior and the illogical decisions...
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#133 Krish Ramineni - Can We Use AI for Happiness, Health and Humanity?
Krish Ramineni is the co-founder and CEO of Fireflies.ai, an AI-powered meeting assistant used by over 200,000 organizations. A University of Pennsylvania alumnus, he previously served as one of Microsoft's youngest product managers. Krish has been recognized on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list. In this...
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#132 Brennan Reece - A Comedian's Guide to Happiness
The origin story of Brennan Reece, a renowned comedian and actor known for his roles in 'Skins' and 'Hollyoaks', and his award-winning stand-up comedy career as the English Comedian of the Year in 2015. - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram…
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welcome to ORIGIN STORY
Things have changed around here.
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#131 Graeme Carling - What Can We Learn From Old-School Entrepreneurship?
Graeme Carling is an Entrepreneur and Scotland's largest private landlord. He is the Chairman of The Carling Group.Graeme shares his humble beginnings as a joiner in Dundee and the transformation of mind and knowledge he has been on. He dispels the need for financial literacy, breaks down…
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#130 HigherUpWellness (Michael Smoak)
This week my guest is Michael Smoak. He is a Coach and Content Creator. He shares practical fitness, habit and mindset advice to his 1 million+ following. In this episode, we're diving into actionable steps to help you stick to your New Year's resolutions and improve your mind and body in 2025.…
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#129 Braulio Estima - Build a World Champion's Mindset
My guest is Braulio Estima, a 3 x ADCC renowned BJJ champion and Hall of Fame Athlete.He discusses his journey from humble beginnings in Brazil, the rise of BJJ, and its unique aspects. He shares insights on competitiveness, personal growth, and the therapeutic benefits of combat sports, drawing...
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#128 Stuart Trevor - AllSaints Founder's Origin Story
In this episode, I sit down with Stuart Trevor, the founder of AllSaints and his new label, STUART TREVOR. We explore his Scottish upbringing and how the values instilled by the Mormon church shaped his fashion journey. Stuart shares insights on the importance of sustainability in today’s…
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#127 VIDEO VLOG: Day in the Life of A Podcaster
In this week's upload, I am taking you behind-the-scenes of a Day in the Life of a podcaster. I work full time at a multi-billion pound consultancy firm and I spend weekends trying to make this podcast happen at the biggest and best level I can. There are many moving parts - routines, workouts,...
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#126 David Millar - Why Fatherhood Matters And How To Become a Better Dad
My guest is David Millar -a Men’s Work Coach, the Owner of Mantra Menswork and a Dad. We delve into the evolving landscape of fatherhood, addressing what it truly means to be a dad today. David discusses key responsibilities that define successful fathers and examines how these roles have changed...
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#125 BEMZ - Scottish Hip-Hop, Celtic Football Club, Killer Mike and 50,000 Crowds
This week guest is BBC Scotland's Act of the Year Bemz. Bemz. Bemz is a hip-artist, performer and a old friend. In this candid conversation, Bemz shares insights on: Public vs. Private Life: How does he navigate his public persona while keeping his personal life under wraps? Behind the Scenes:...
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#124 SOLO Q&A
To celebrate hitting another year, I've gathered questions from across social media platforms to bring you an extended Q&A session. I'll be tackling a wide range of topics, from personal insights to my podcasting journey, and everything in between. Expect to learn about my relationship with...
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#123 Nick Yarris - 22 Years on Death-row as an Innocent Man
Nick Yarris is a speaker, writer and ex-death row inmate. I had the privilege of sitting down with Nick Yarris in London. Nick spent 22 years on death row for a murder he didn't commit. Nick is an author, motivational speaker, and the subject of the documentary film "Fear of 13," available on...
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#122 Dr Anna Machin - Why Do We Love? Compatibility, Kissing and Cheating
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Anna Machin, an evolutionary anthropologist at the University of Oxford and expert on the science of love. Love - that mysterious, powerful force that has inspired countless works of art, literature, and music. But what exactly is love from a scientific...
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#121 Albert-László Barabási - The Science Behind Why People Succeed
Albert-László Barabási is a renowned Physicist and Scientist, Professor at Northeastern University in Boston, TED Speaker, Author and is known for his scientific discovery of Network Science, Scale-free networks and the Barabasi-Albert model. His book The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success is...
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#120 George TheTinMen - The Ugly Truth about Men and Boys Mental Health
George is a advocate for men & boys, a blogger, a podcaster and a writer. Men and boy’s are suffering in silence and statistically the biggest threat to men’s health is us. But what are the often-overlooked issues facing men today and whose problem is it to fix them? In this episode, we discuss…
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#119 Janey Godley - Lessons from 30 Years in Scottish Comedy
Janey Godley is a renowned Scottish stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. I met her in a cafe in Glasgow and we recorded this impromptu podcast! Growing up in a challenging environment in Shettleston Glasgow, she left school at 16 and began her comedy career in 1994. Godley has gained acclaim…
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#118 Steven Kotler - Fix Your Focus, Enter Peak Performance & Stop Procrastinating
Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist, he has penned 12 bestsellers, including The Art of Impossible and Stealing Fire. He is a pioneer in the theory of “flow”. His groundbreaking work has been nominated for three Pulitzer Prizes and translated into…
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#117 Luke Kidgell - Weird Heckles, World Tours and Deep Fried Mars Bars
Luke Kidgell is world-touring Australian Comedian and Podcaster. With over 3 million fans and five national tours, Luke combines humour, relatable experiences and crowd-work which makes him a viral sensation on TikTok and Youtube.Luke was in Glasgow for his world tour Happy Hour. He stopped by…
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#116 Campbell McLaren - UFC’s SECRET Founder
Campbell McLaren is the Creator and Co-Founder of the UFC, Current CEO and Founder of Hispanic MMA Franchise Combate Global and TV Executive. All the way from the US, McLaren joins me in Glasgow, Scotland to share insider stories about the birth of the UFC, the evolution of MMA, the creation of…
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#115 Nina Nesbitt - What They Didn't Tell Me About Fame
Nina Nesbitt is a world touring Scottish Singer and song-writer. Shot in Edinburgh before her BBC recording, Nina joined me to share intimate details about her early life, career beginnings, and her love for Scotland. We explore the impact of her move to London, and the challenges of navigating...
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#114 Dr Robert Glover - Being a Nice Guy is Killing Your Love Life
Dr. Robert Glover is a renowned therapist, coach, and author with over 40 years of experience in relationships. He wrote the bestselling book "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and has helped thousands of men worldwide improve their relationships, careers, and sex lives. Dr. Glover opens with addressing the...
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#113 David Robson - 13 Strategies To Improve Your Social Life
David Robson is an award-winning British science writer and author who specializes in exploring the extremes of the human brain, body, and behavior. He has written extensively for publications like the BBC and The Guardian, covering topics in medicine, psychology, and neuroscience. Robson is the...