The Problem With...

Ali Maclean, Irish MMA fighter and coach known from The Ultimate Fighter, shares blunt views on toughness and growth. He argues combat sports are a Trojan horse for self-development. Conversations cover fear as fuel, why walking away can be true self‑defense, jiu‑jitsu as the best on‑ramp, how sparring and injuries humble you, and practical situational awareness for real‑world safety.

Paul Sloane, Cambridge-trained engineer, ex-IBM marketer and bestselling author on lateral thinking, reframes so-called bad luck as hidden opportunity. He explores chance-driven innovations, the four traits of 'lucky' people, why polymaths spark breakthroughs, how psychological safety breeds wild ideas, and simple daily habits to invite useful randomness.

Lucy Lord, cookbook author and Supper Club founder, talks air fryers, cooking as self-care, and why most people underuse the gadget. She riffs on protein marketing scams, grab-and-go food culture, and practical habits for cooking more. Conversation also covers dating tactics like increasing your surface area for luck and small rituals that rewire what you think you can do.

Michael Morris, cultural psychologist and Columbia Business School professor, explains tribal instincts as adaptations that enabled large-scale cooperation. He outlines the peer, hero, and ancestor waves. He explores ancient DNA and trade, how groups made humans apex predators, and how dating apps and social media warp attractiveness and status.

Anthony "Staz" Stazicker CGC, a highly decorated former special forces officer, author and outdoor brand co-founder. He argues modern comfort removes essential friction. Conversations cover grit through jiu-jitsu, the brutal reality of special forces selection and sniping, Everest climbs and near-death moments, mental health/PTSD, and building purposeful kit and community work.

Ian Leslie, bestselling author and journalist who studies psychology and creativity, argues that lying is an evolutionary feature tied to intelligence and art. He discusses why honesty is hard to handle, how deception fuels creativity and online group lies, the links between childhood lying and theory of mind, and why trust must exist before brutal feedback will land.

James Haskell, former England rugby international turned DJ, author and entrepreneur. He talks about life after sport and the chaos of building businesses like Black Eye Gin. He reflects on reinventing performance through music, the toll of injuries and recovery, starting TRT and peptides, and navigating fatherhood while future-proofing a personal brand.

Dr Julie Smith, clinical psychologist and bestselling author known for accessible mental health advice. She unpacks why chasing feeling better can backfire. Short chats cover reframing anxiety as useful information, when low mood is situational versus clinical, workaholism and the cost of success, psychedelics vs therapy experiments, and how status loss shapes identity.

Connor Beaton, founder of ManTalks and coach focused on men's mental health and attachment, breaks down self-sabotage as a survival strategy rather than laziness. He explores why the brain prefers familiar failure, how shame-driven motivation limits performance, links between attachment wounds and addictive patterns, and practical ways to tolerate discomfort and rebuild trust in relationships.

Johnny Wilkinson, legendary rugby player and mental health advocate who founded One Living, explores the crisis of perfectionism. He reframes perfectionism as a survival state, argues mastery is ongoing self‑mastery, and explains how pressure, identity and gut health shape performance. Short, practical rituals and mindset shifts for presence and resilience are highlighted.