Best Mark McGuinness Podcasts (2025)

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Recalling Brigid by Orna Ross 34:42

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25d ago34:42

34:42

Episode 86 Recalling Brigid by Orna Ross Orna Ross reads ‘Recalling Brigid’ and discusses the poem with Mark McGuinness. https://media.blubrry.com/amouthfulofair/media.blubrry.com/amouthfulofair/content.blubrry.com/amouthfulofair/86_Recalling_Brigid_by_Orna_Ross.mp3 This poem is from: Poet Town: The Poetry of Hastings & Thereabouts edited by Richar…

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ON FRIENDSHIP… With Dawn French and Vogue Williams 24:16

1d ago24:16

24:16

I’ve always been obsessed with friendship - how it shapes us, challenges us and often goes uncelebrated. In this episode, both Dawn French and Vogue Williams get honest about the beauty and the messiness of it all. Despite being surrounded by great friends, Vogue explains why she worries she’s not the best friend back - although she’s definitely wo…

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Alex Hassell - Rivals, Rejection and Taking Acid at Alton Towers 45:58

6d ago45:58

45:58

You might know the star of Rivals for his revealing role in the hit Disney+ show, but did you know about his dramatic allium allergy?! I thought not. Alex Hassell might be best known for his portrayal of the dashing bounder, Rupert Campbell-Black in the Emmy-Award winning TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals but his career spans the Royal Shakesp…

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ON PERSPECTIVE… With Adeel Akhtar and Pat Cummins 12:03

8d ago12:03

12:03

Perspective is something we all chase - because when it slips, life can feel chaotic and overwhelming. But when we find it again, everything becomes a little clearer. In this episode, actor Adeel Akhtar reflects on a time when he lost sight of perspective and how becoming a parent helped him rediscover what truly matters. Cricketing great Pat Cummi…

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Mo Gawdat - The 3 BIGGEST Mistakes We Make In Finding Love 1:02:24

13d ago1:02:24

1:02:24

I don’t often have repeat guests on How To Fail but Mo Gawdat is the exception. When he first came on this podcast in 2019, he fundamentally changed my mindset and my approach to life. Back then, he was on a mission to make 1 billion people happier. Now, he returns to focus his brilliant philosophical and analytical brain to the perpetual human que…

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Market Structure Partners' Niki Beattie on why, and how, we need to rethink how markets work 37:04

14d ago37:04

37:04

Today’s guest delivers a blunt warning to policymakers, arguing the UK has made “a massive mistake” by failing to stop trading venues from charging for market data - a failure she says has weakened the country’s competitiveness. She calls on the government to “wake up and listen” to the scale of the issue or risk losing ground to rival financial ce…

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ON IVF… With Jessel Taank and Paloma Faith 35:51

15d ago35:51

35:51

We don’t talk about this enough, even though so many of us face it personally or through someone we love. Real Housewives of New York star, Jessel Taank, opens up about her three-year journey to become a mum; the strain it put on her marriage, the financial toll and the moments during five rounds of IVF when she questioned everything - even whether…

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Ruth Wilson - Be Challenged By What Disgusts You 44:07

20d ago44:07

44:07

Ruth Wilson MBE has made a habit of tackling psychologically demanding roles. You’ll know her from playing a mother grieving the loss of her child in The Affair, a sociopathic research scientist in Luther or even from her acclaimed stage performances in Anna Christie and King Lear. Now, Wilson is back with Apple TV's Down Cemetery Road, based on no…

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ON REJECTION… With Mel B and Nicole Scherzinger 19:07

22d ago19:07

19:07

We all face rejection, no matter who we are. In this episode we revisit conversations with two extraordinary women who have faced rejection and overcome it: Spice Girl Mel B opens up about her unsuccessful audition for The Sound of Music and the pain of feeling like she didn’t fit the mould because of how she looked while Nicole shares what life wa…

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Michelle Yeoh - On typecasting, fertility and THAT Oscars speech 53:19

27d ago53:19

53:19

Michelle Yeoh has created a legendary body of work that defies easy categorisation. You’ll know her from cult classic Kung Fu Cinema, Everything Everywhere, All At Once - the film that made her the first Asian woman to be given the Academy Award for Best Actress at the time. She was cast as a Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies, then starred in the gl…

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Special episode: How to navigate a dawn raid with the SFO's Emma Isaac and Simmons & Simmons' Camilla de Silva 55:19

28d ago55:19

55:19

Today’s episode is part of a special series of Following the Rules produced in association with Simmons & Simmons, an international law firm supporting financial institutions across the global regulatory landscape. The series offers practical insights to help financial services firms navigate legal, regulatory, technological, and cultural change. I…

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ON PARENTING…with Andy Cohen and Caitlin Moran 13:34

29d ago13:34

13:34

Today, we’re chatting all about parenting on How To Fail! We’ll be revisiting some of the most meaningful moments from the archive - the ones that can bring a fresh insight, thoughtful perspective and a sense of comfort through parenting’s tougher challenges. First, you'll hear from the Daddy of Reality TV, Andy Cohen, who speaks about a time he fe…

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Kelly Brook - I’m In My Don’t Give A Damn Era! 52:55

1M ago52:55

52:55

Just a heads-up that in this episode we talk about late miscarriage. I am so grateful to Kelly for opening up about something that affects and speaks to so many of us - it’s a beautiful conversation but if you’re feeling tender around those issues for whatever reason, we’ve put in the time-stamps below in case you need to skip that bit. Kelly is a…

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ON REALITY TV… With Dorinda Medley and Captain Sandy 14:13

1M ago14:13

14:13

If you know me at all, you’ll know that I am a huge advocate for reality TV. So what better reason to have a little trawl through my archives than to revisit some of my favourite interviews from reality TV stars? First, we hear from Dorinda Medley, known and adored from The Real Housewives of New York. Dorinda speaks about being approached to join …

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Malala Yousafzai - I Am Not Who You Think I Am 52:12

1M ago52:12

52:12

You might think you know about Malala. But you’d be wrong. For so many years, she stood as a symbol of resistance: the teenage girl who was shot by the Taliban for insisting on the right to go to school and who later won the Nobel Prize at 17 for her efforts to make education available for everyone. But there was another story that existed behind t…

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Graham Kent, Deutsche Bank's Group Chief Compliance Officer, on the compliance challenges shaping the industry’s future 31:14

1M ago31:14

31:14

Today’s guest outlines how the accelerating pace of regulatory change poses significant challenges for global financial institutions. He highlights that fragmentation can create a complex landscape for banks’ compliance divisions, and underscores the benefits of adopting a more coordinated, risk-based approach to rulemaking. He also discusses how t…

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ON EMBARRASSING MOMENTS… With Dan Levy and Phoebe Waller-Bridge 11:34

1M ago11:34

11:34

Welcome back to this How to Fail episode where we journey through the archive to revisit some of the best bits. This week we’re keeping it light and taking a look at some of the funniest and most entertaining embarrassing moments on How to Fail. You’ll hear from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, originally released in July 2018. Phoebe talks about trying to im…

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From The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 44:08

2M ago44:08

44:08

By Mark McGuinness

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Jon Bon Jovi - Fame is a liar and a thief 52:18

2M ago52:18

52:18

We have a bonafide legend on How To Fail: the American singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor and philanthropist who, along with his band, sold more than 130 million albums and performed in over 50 countries for more than 40 million fans before being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It’s ACTUAL Jon Bon Jovi - the frontman of the world-do…

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ON BODY IMAGE… With Martine Wright and Paloma Faith 18:48

2M ago18:48

18:48

Body image is a common theme on How to Fail. It’s something everyone at some point has either struggled with personally, or knows someone who has. We hear from Paloma Faith on the topic - she speaks about being thrown out of ballet school aged 10, because she showed signs of becoming curvy, and that wasn’t the correct body for a ballet dancer. Then…

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Denise Welch - I Got Sober For Love 59:28

2M ago59:28

59:28

You might know Denise from Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, or as the winner of Celebrity Big Brother in 2012 and a regular panelist on ITV’s flagship panel chat show, Loose Women, or remember when she won Celebrity Big Brother in 2012. But what you might not know is the extraordinary story that shaped the strong woman she is. It’s a story of addi…

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Special episode: How to cut red tape for financial leaders while raising conduct standards with Penny Miller and Andrea Finn of Simmons & Simmons 31:52

2M ago31:52

31:52

Today’s episode is part of a special series of Following the Rules produced in association with Simmons & Simmons, an international law firm supporting financial institutions across the global regulatory landscape. The series offers practical insights to help financial services firms navigate legal, regulatory, technological, and cultural change. I…

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ON SCHOOL… With Jamie Dornan and Bernie Sanders 18:19

2M ago18:19

18:19

I’m diving into the back catalogue, bringing you moments of insight, laughter and truth from past guests. These themed episodes are a chance to reflect on the universal experiences that connect us all. This week we’re looking at school and those formative years that shape who we become. You’ll hear from actor Jamie Dornan, originally released in No…

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Charlotte Church - ‘I was totally exploited. I was a commodity’ 45:48

2M ago45:48

45:48

Charlotte Church is currently starring in the first ever series of BBC One’s Celebrity Traitors. But she first found global fame as the young classical singer with the voice of an angel. By 22, she had sold 10 million records and performed for popes, presidents and princes. The success came at a devastating personal cost - here, she tells us what r…

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ON BABY LOSS… With Sara Pascoe and Trinny Woodall 28:11

2M ago28:11

28:11

Welcome back to this How to Fail special, where we revisit powerful moments from the archive that offer insight, perspective and - hopefully - a sense of comfort during life’s more difficult chapters. This week, to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week (9th to 15th October) and Elizabeth’s new role as ambassador for The Miscarriage Association, we're refle…

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Stephen Grosz - ‘Real love is going to hurt’ 52:23

2M ago52:23

52:23

Warning: this episode may contain MIND-BLOWING moments. Stephen Grosz is a practising psychoanalyst and a personal hero of mine. He has worked with patients for more than 45 years and his first book, The Examined Life, drew on these experiences. When it was published in 2013, it caused a sensation and went straight to number one in the Sunday Times…

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Special episode: How to master compliant voice surveillance in financial services with Smarsh’s Ryan Kahan 27:49

2M ago27:49

27:49

By Lucy McNulty

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Jilly Cooper: On Failure, Love and Literature 38:07

2M ago38:07

38:07

By Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

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ON NAVIGATING YOUR 20s... With Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Lily Allen 17:15

2M ago17:15

17:15

Welcome back to this How to Fail special where we journey through the archive to uncover insight and revisit powerful conversations. Each week, I hand-pick moments that speak to our shared challenges - hopefully offering comfort, clarity, and a renewed sense of perspective for whatever life might be throwing your way. Your 20s are notoriously a tim…

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Jane Goodall on Optimism, Hope and Conservation 1:00:28

2M ago1:00:28

1:00:28

We said goodbye to Jane Goodall, who passed away yesterday at 91 after a life that inspired millions. I feel so grateful to have had the chance to speak with her back in July 2022, a conversation I’ll never forget. Today, in honour of her incredible legacy, I want to re-share it with you. ____________________________________________________________…

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Letitia Wright - ‘I was bullied… now I’m Black Panther’ 52:54

3M ago52:54

52:54

You’ll know Letitia Wright from her standout roles in Black Panther, Wakanda Forever, Black Mirror and Top Boy. She won the BAFTA Rising Star award in 2019 and is currently starring in Not Your Superwoman at The Bush Theatre, London. But Letitia’s journey hasn’t always been lined with red carpets. Born in Guyana and raised in Tottenham, North Londo…

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ON ADDICTION... With Mae Martin and Marian Keyes 16:29

3M ago16:29

16:29

Welcome back to this How to Fail special where we revisit conversations from the archive to highlight particular themes and tap into the wisdom they contain. Each week, I select moments that can offer perspective, comfort and encouragement for whatever you might be going through. Since September is National Recovery Month, we’re exploring the theme…

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Alchemy by Gregory Leadbetter 40:44

3M ago40:44

40:44

By Mark McGuinness

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Joe Locke - ‘At 20, I Felt Like I Was Already 35’ 46:20

3M ago46:20

46:20

Joe Locke shot to global fame as Charlie Spring in Netflix’s Heartstopper, a role that catapulted him overnight from a schoolboy on the Isle of Man to an Emmy-nominated actor with millions of followers. In this candid conversation, the Heartstopper star reflects on the whirlwind of early success, the pressure of being seen as a role model and why h…

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Special episode: How to future proof your business with Charlotte Stalin and Sarah James of Simmons & Simmons 38:01

3M ago38:01

38:01

Today’s episode is a special one produced in association with Simmons & Simmons, an international law firm supporting financial institutions across the global regulatory landscape. It also forms part of a new Following the Rules series providing practical, actionable guidance to help listeners and the financial services firms they work for navigate…

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ON WRITING... With Salman Rushdie and Kazuo Ishiguro 24:18

3M ago24:18

24:18

Welcome to another special edition of How to Fail, where I revisit conversations from the How to Fail archives. Each week, we shine a light on a particular theme, hopefully offering inspiration, perspective and comfort through the words of past guests. This week’s theme is on writing - appropriately, because my new book ‘One of Us’ is out this week…

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Mark Ronson - The Stories Behind ‘Uptown Funk,’ Amy Winehouse & ‘I’m Just Ken’ 50:59

3M ago50:59

50:59

Content Warning: This episode contains mentions of drug use. Mark Ronson is the hitmaker behind some of the most iconic music of the past two decades. A nine-time Grammy-winning producer, DJ, and Oscar-winning songwriter (yes - he wrote “I’m Just Ken”), Ronson has collaborated with legends like Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus and Duran Duran…

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ON GRIEF… With Mo Gawdat and Bonnie Tyler 13:28

3M ago13:28

13:28

Welcome to the newest evolution of How to Fail! Each week, I’ll be diving into the archives to spotlight key themes that have come up throughout my conversations with How to Fail guests. I’ll be sharing bite-sized takeaways every Monday to support, inspire and help with whatever you might be going through. This week’s theme is a big one: we’re talk…

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Robin Wright on ageing, confidence and the myth of being ‘too late’ 49:50

3M ago49:50

49:50

‘I didn’t think I had that confidence, so I turned those roles down.’ Robin Wright is the legendary star of The Princess Bride, Forrest Gump, House of Cards, and Amazon’s gripping new thriller The Girlfriend. An Emmy-nominated actress, Golden Globe winner and now an acclaimed director, Wright joins How To Fail to talk about fear, self-worth, womanh…

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FCA’s Charlotte Clark on the firms ‘over-interpreting’ Consumer Duty, how the watchdog plans to help City firms navigate compliance, and its role in supporting firms through rapid AI adoption 30:05

3M ago30:05

30:05

Today’s guest discusses how some wholesale financial institutions may be unnecessarily “gold-plating” their efforts to comply with the Financial Conduct Authority’s Consumer Duty regime. She details how the regulator plans to both clarify and simplify its expectations of all firms subject to the far-reaching ruleset. She also discusses the FCA’s pl…

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ON HEARTBREAK... With Alain de Botton and Jay Shetty 15:17

3M ago15:17

15:17

Welcome to this brand-new concept for How to Fail – where I dive into the back catalogue of the How to Fail archives, highlighting specific themes each week to bring you bitesize takeaways! Hopefully these episodes can bring some clarity on similar issues you’re facing or great stories that you might find comfort from. This week we’re looking at he…

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Tom Ellis - Fatherhood, Surrogacy and Years of Therapy 49:40

3M ago49:40

49:40

You may know Tom Ellis as the devilishly charming lead in Netflix’s Lucifer, or as the lovable Gary in the BBC sitcom Miranda. He's also made waves in the U.S., starring alongside Gina Rodriguez in Players, and appearing in Hulu’s Tell Me Lies, created by his wife, Meghan Oppenheimer. In 2023, Tom and Meghan welcomed a daughter via surrogate, addin…

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Sir Walter Raleigh to His Son 31:36

4M ago31:36

31:36

By Mark McGuinness

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Failure Throwback: Jameela Jamil 58:34

4M ago58:34

58:34

Jameela Jamil is an actor, activist, and founder of the I Weigh movement. From teaching English to starring in The Good Place, Jameela shares the highs, lows, and radical honesty that define her journey. This episode first went out in February 2021. We talk about: Her struggle to be a "good" celebrity Body image battles and self-kindness Financial …

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Failure Throwback: Glennon Doyle 1:07:01

4M ago1:07:01

1:07:01

Author of Untamed and fierce truth-teller Glennon Doyle joins me for a raw and revelatory episode, first recorded in July 2020. We dive into: Why we chase approval instead of trusting our inner voice Her struggles with body image, love, and emotional resilience The failures that shaped her—from family breakdowns to learning self-protection Every mo…

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Failure Throwback: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 1:08:02

4M ago1:08:02

1:08:02

This week we revisit one of my all-time favourite guests: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, recorded in July 2021. Best known for Americanah and her globally resonant TED Talks, Chimamanda opens up about the profound grief of losing both her parents within a year—and the raw journey of coping in its aftermath. We talk candidly about: Her essay Notes on Gri…

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Sir Tony Robinson - ‘I learned comedy as a defence mechanism’ 49:45

4M ago49:45

49:45

Recorded with a live audience in Cambridge, this captivating conversation delves deep into the life and career of a cultural force of the last half-century. Known of course for his iconic role as Baldrick in Blackadder, Sir Tony's sharp intelligence and dry humour have had a formative influence on generations. In this candid discussion, he opens up…

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Special episode: How to track non-financial misconduct within your business with Smarsh's Shaun Hurst and former Standard Chartered surveillance chief Emily Wright 29:52

4M ago29:52

29:52

Today’s episode is a special one produced in association with Smarsh, a technology firm providing global financial institutions with the tools to capture, store, and monitor their communications. It also marks the launch of a new Following the Rules series providing practical, actionable guidance to help listeners and the financial services firms t…

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Fern Brady - ‘I make more money in comedy than I ever did from stripping‘ 44:23

5M ago44:23

44:23

In this searingly funny and deeply affecting live conversation, Elizabeth speaks to stand-up comedian, author and Taskmaster favourite Fern Brady about her autism diagnosis, her working-class roots, and the failures that shaped her award-winning memoir Strong Female Character. Fern opens up about late diagnosis, social masking, and stripping to fun…

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Findspot Unknown by Peter Gizzi 40:33

5M ago40:33

40:33

By Mark McGuinness