Great Company with Jamie Laing

We all want to be happy and live a good life but how do we actually get there? It’s a big question, and one that most of us don’t have a clear answer to. This episode will help you find your happiest self.In fact, we’re often told that money, status and success are the keys to happiness. But according to professor and psychiatrist Dr Robert Waldinger, we’ve been getting it wrong.Dr Waldinger is the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest-running study on happiness ever conducted. I was so excited to sit down with him to discuss what more than 85 years of research reveals about living a good life and how we can all make this year the happiest year of our lives - starting now.We cover:What really matters for long-term happinessHow to live a happy lifeWhy loneliness is one of the biggest threats to our wellbeingWhat we get wrong about happiness and how to get it rightThe most common unhealthy traits in our relationshipsSimple ways to meet people and make meaningful connectionsThis conversation will leave you feeling hopeful and give you a renewed appreciation for the people in your life.Dr Robert Waldinger is Great Company.Learn more about Dr Waldinger's book 'The Good Life ' HEREIf you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year’s Eve! As we get ready for a new year, I wanted to revisit one of my all-time favourite episodes of Great Company with the incredible Alain de Botton. I’ve been lucky enough to sit down with Alain not once, but twice on the show and every time I speak to him, I come away feeling calmer, a little wiser and thinking about life in a new way. I keep coming back to this episode because every time I do, I take something new from it. Alain’s insights into human connection, love and emotional growth are fascinating. They’ve shaped how I think about my relationships, my friendships and what it really means to grow into the best version of ourselves. We cover: How to navigate heartbreak Why our childhood is so informative on the rest of our lives Why funny people often have sad parents How attachment styles and past experiences can shape the way we love What actually is the meaning of life This conversation is a gentle reminder that becoming a “new you” often starts with understanding the old one.Alain De Botton is Great Company. If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake Ji & Josh BennettSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wow. What a year.2025 has been an unforgettable year for Great Company. We’ve had so many incredible guests who’ve shared funny, inspiring and truly special conversations on the show. To celebrate another amazing year, I wanted to look back at some of those moments with you. These are conversations that made me see things differently, learn new things and reminded me how powerful it is to connect with others.In this episode, we look back at six incredible guests: Cat Burns on small talk Riordan Maynard’s time in US prisonJessie J opening up about her cancer diagnosis Amol Rajan on coping with the loss of his Dad Spencer Matthews reflecting on our friendship Alain de Botton on how to make friends and build meaningful connectionsYou can listen to their full episodes here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Kd2M4haIslbND5DN4E08C - CAT BURNS https://open.spotify.com/episode/635kWmmWQ0OL0QrtBbIzj1 - RIORDAN https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CbT2rzMmUQl67iBsIEwRW - JESSIE J https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MnO1ZfAcdJgDgdsVyu8Kd - AMOL RAJAN https://open.spotify.com/episode/6raoq8XWiSxRe1vkABkCev - SPENCER MATTHEWShttps://open.spotify.com/episode/3gfbmWug0Od4MiwP5J0Xaq - ALAIN DE BOTTONAnd a BIG thanks to you for listening to the show - whether you’ve been here from the beginning or it’s a recent find, I really appreciate every single listen so thank you! YOU are Great Company. If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake Ji & Josh BennettSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Donovan is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. I grew up knowing him as the golden boy from Neighbours so, it was surprising to hear how desperate he was to shake off that teenage heart throb image.Fame hit him young and fast, and before he’d had chance to figure out who he was, Jason found himself trapped in a world that expected him to stay the same blue eyed, blonde haired version of himself that everyone had fallen in love with.In the ‘90s, he pushed back hard: three-day bender, a coc*ine overdose at LA’s Viper Room and using dr*gs to escape the squeaky-clean persona that followed him from Neighbours to the West End.He doesn’t regret those years, but says they taught him a hell of a lot about himself.We cover:His need to shake off the teen heartthrob image and be “cool”Bingeing on coc*ine at the height of his fameHow becoming a dad changed everything and led him to quit dr*gsHis relationship with Kylie and how it’s followed him throughout his careerWhat it’s like to age in the public eyeThis conversation is a reminder that even the brightest stars carry shadows and that facing them can be the most powerful comeback of all.Jason Donovan is Great Company. This episode contains sensitive topic discussions including substance abuse. If you or someone you know is affected by anything in this episode and need support, please see the suggested helpline and website links below.Coc*ine Anonymous UK0800 612 [email protected] you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsVideo: Jake Ji & Josh BennettSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary Portas is a retail expert who has built her career on instinct, creativity and a drive to do things differently.She redefined Britain’s shopping culture in the 1990s, transforming Harvey Nichols from a tired department store into the ultimate shopping destination and later, became a household name through her hit TV series, Mary, Queen of Shops.I first met Mary a few months ago and she completely blew me away. What I didn’t know then were the circumstances that pushed her into retail in the first place. By 19, Mary had lost both her parents and found herself homeless, suddenly responsible for supporting herself and her younger brother. What began as a search for a ‘proper’ job turned into the beginning of an extraordinary career.We cover:Losing both her parents by the age of 19Becoming homeless and finding her unexpected start in retailHer game-changing years at Harvey Nichols and the magic behind her iconic shop windowsHow her brother, Lawrence, became the biological father of her sonThe significant loves of Mary’s lifeIn this conversation, Mary reminded me that identity isn’t inherited, it’s created. And sometimes it’s only after losing everything that you learn how to build a life that feels like home.Mary Portas is Great Company.If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Executive Producer: Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Issy Weeks-HankinsEditor: Dan KingVideo: Jake Ji & Josh BennettSocial Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.