Josh Smith's Great Chat Show

Next Chapter Studios

Josh Smith's Great Chat Show: the chats that matter.

After years of interviewing some of the biggest names on the planet, from Jennifer Aniston to Timothée Chalamet, Josh Smith knows how to get people talking. Known for asking the questions others don’t, he’s built a reputation for uncovering the stories, secrets and surprising moments you’ve never heard before.

In each episode, Josh gets guests to revisit the chats that changed everything, from career-making advice and unforgettable encounters to hilarious mishaps and life-defining moments.

Full of laughs, revelations and brilliant stories that will get you talking, Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show proves that behind every great story, there’s a great chat. These are the chats that matter.

Alright then - fancy a chat?

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202 episodes
Updated July 29

Episodes202

Newest first

February 4 · 49 min
Jason Isaacs on addiction: “My world just shrunk and the walls closed in”
From Lucius Malfoy to a darkly unforgettable Captain Hook - Jason Isaacs has built an iconic career playing men you love to hate, most recently earning a Golden Globe nomination for ‘The White Lotus’. In one of Josh’s most raw Great Chats, Jason opens up about addiction, sobriety, and the inner conversation that saved his life. Each episode ends with the same question “What should we be talking about more?” - and Jason offers one of the most urgent answers yet, stepping back to examine fear, power and inequality in the world of AI. 00:00 – Trailer 00:30 – Intro 01:05 – The greatest chat: a conversation with himself 02:20 – Hypnosis, childhood, and meeting four-year-old Jason 06:20 – Addiction hiding in plain sight 08:00 – Why sobriety took years, not days 10:10 – “My world just shrunk and the walls closed in” 12:00 – Loneliness after getting sober 13:45 – Learning how to live without substances 16:00 – Asking for help (again and again) 18:30 – Why self-esteem is built, not found 20:30 – Never fitting in - even with success 22:00 – What a ‘big break’ really looks like 25:00 – Fame, ego, and letting go of outcomes 28:30 – Awards, recognition, and separating ego 31:30 – Advocating for others when you couldn’t for yourself 35:00 – Anger, resentment, and choosing forgiveness 38:00 – Magic, obsession, and the need to belong 41:45 – What should we all be talking about more? 46:15 – Final line & outro ________ Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show (@joshsmithsgreatchatshow) Brought you by Next Chapter Studios (@theNextChapterStudios) Host: Josh Smith (@joshsmithhosts) Creative Director: Carrie Rose Senior Producer: Bella Neale This podcast is part of the Spotify Partner Programme. Follow Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show on Spotify and tap the 🔔 to be notified when new episodes drop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 4 · 49 min
Golda Rosheuvel, Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte: “I was told not to come out, but I did it anyway”
Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte, Golda Rosheuvel, has built a formidable career across stage and screen. In this chat with Josh, she reveals how ‘Bridgerton’ changed her life - for better and for worse, opens up about the love-altering conversation she had with her wife, fame’s hidden costs, and why vulnerability is her true power. Golda also unpacks living with dyslexia, therapy, why imposter syndrome can actually be a good thing, and why vulnerability is the gateway to real human connection. 00:00 – Trailer 00:30 – Intro 1:05 – The chat that led to marriage 05:05 – Letting go of control 06:40 – Childhood, migration & the power of community 08:40 – Discipline, sport & training the mind 09:30 – Living and working with dyslexia 11:40 – The power of storytelling 13:20 – The failed audition that led to Queen Charlotte 15:45 – How Bridgerton changed her life (and made it smaller) 18:30 – Being queer & being told not to come out 21:30 – Therapy, mental health & imposter syndrome 30:00 – Vulnerability, friendship & real connection 34:30 – Fear, dreaming big & staying grounded 42:20 – Loneliness, fame & Queen Charlotte’s humanity 44:30 – Final question & outro ________ Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show (@joshsmithsgreatchatshow) Brought you by Next Chapter Studios (@theNextChapterStudios) Host: Josh Smith (@joshsmithhosts) Creative Director: Carrie Rose Senior Producer: Bella Neale This podcast is part of the Spotify Partner Programme. Follow Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show on Spotify and tap the 🔔 to be notified when new episodes drop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 4 · 43 min
Mia McKenna-Bruce : "The world is not built for working mums"
From ‘Tracy Beaker’ to a BAFTA Rising Star win and a leading role in Netflix’s ‘Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials’, Mia McKenna-Bruce has grown into one of Britain’s most exciting talents. In this deeply honest chat with Josh Mia opens up about burnout, motherhood, learning to advocate for herself after breaking her foot on set, unlearning people-pleasing, navigating life as a working mum, and why we need to be talking about consent more. We also talk about Mia’s upcoming roles, including one of the year’s most anticipated TV series, The Lady, where she plays the dresser to the former Duchess of York, and her portrayal of Maureen Starkey, Ringo Starr’s first wife, in The Beatles biopic. 00:00 – Trailer 00:30 – Intro 01:05 – Her Greatest Chat: Helena Bonham Carter 02:10 – Why I’m bad at advocating for myself 02:45 – Breaking my foot… and saying “I’m fine” 04:00 – Fear of being labelled ‘difficult’ 05:10 – Women, work, and burnout 06:40 – Growing up as a child actor 07:45 – Learning self-respect as an adult 08:40 – Motherhood, guilt, and ambition 10:00 – Why the world isn’t built for working mums 11:45 – Losing yourself after having a baby 13:40 – Acting as therapy 15:10 – Stepping away from acting at 18 16:45 – Australia, starting again, and finding purpose 18:30 – Rejection, auditions, and not taking it personally 20:00 – Why How to Have Sex mattered 22:00 – Consent, language, and unspoken experiences 24:00 – When men came forward after the film 26:00 – Sex education failed us 28:00 – Grief, humour, and talking it through 30:00 – Playing real women with real pain 33:30 – Class, power, and being judged 36:20 – Agatha Christie & The Beatles 38:50 – What should we be talking about more? 40:10 – Outro ________ Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show (@joshsmithsgreatchatshow) Brought you by Next Chapter Studios (@theNextChapterStudios) Host: Josh Smith (@joshsmithhosts) Creative Director: Carrie Rose Senior Producer: Bella Neale This podcast is part of the Spotify Partner Programme. Follow Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show on Spotify and tap the 🔔 to be notified when new episodes drop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 2 · 2 min
Josh Smith's Great Chat Show - Trailer
You can watch or listen to Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show for free on Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts from 4 February. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 7, 2025 · 28 min
Ep 150: Maya Rudolph
Maya Rudolph, the mother of comedy and the only person to ever make me wet myself with laughter (so far) joins us today! Maya’s rise to the top of comedy started on ‘Saturday Night Live’ with iconic sketches with the likes of Amy Poehler and Kristen Wiig before she went on to win SIX Emmys, and of course bring us so much joy in one of the greatest movies of all time, ‘Bridesmaids’. Maya is currently taking on her first lead role, playing the billionaire Molly who tries to redeem herself with a charitable foundation in one of my favourite TV shows, Apple TV+’s ‘Loot’. It’s so funny, it’s pure escapism and as ‘Loot’ returns for a third season on 15th October we chat about how comedy helped Maya find her people, herself and her confidence. In this episode I also teach Maya about some key iconic moments from British pop culture involving Posh and Becks and we chat about what’s in our dressing up boxes, the incredible advice she got from Bill Murray, straight men confidence and her incredible work playing Kamala Harris on ‘Saturday Night Live’. There are laughs and some special moments in this episode, as I think Maya shows a whole other side of her and if you love this chat as much as me please get in touch. You can find me @joshsmithhosts across socials. Love, Josh x P.S. I’m really excited to be working with Primark - our go to for smart shopping and off the moment trends. Primark are serving us the best new denim collection for autumn with every fit imaginable: wide leg, palazzo, barrel, bootleg, or baggy. Primark’s denim has a look for literally every occasion and for everyone because like Reign, Primark wants to empower you to celebrate you and your style everyday, no matter the occasion. Head to primark.com to browse the collection, and why not try the click and collect service while you’re there babes?! P.P.S If this great chat has left you wanting to improve your communication skills and boost your relationships - and build new ones- in the process check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Talk to Anyone. Build New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ which is out now in paperback. Whether you are socially anxious, struggling to make connections on dates or want to learn how to have difficult conversations, this is the book for you! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 30, 2025 · 12 min
BONUS EP! Olivia Cooke LIVE Q&A
Are you obsessed with the TV show, ‘The Girlfriend’ on Prime Video AND the show’s star Olivia Cooke? In case you have no idea what I am talking about, ‘The Girlfriend’ follows Olivia Cooke’s character Cherry as she goes toe-to-toe with her overbearing mother-in-law, Laura, played by Robin Wright with disastrous consequences. It is TV at its best and you have to watch it ASAP! Back to the podcast… you have been LOVING our recent episode with Olivia Cooke - who you will also know from ‘House of The Dragon’, ‘Ready Player One’, ‘Slow Horses’ and so much more - so I thought why not treat you to a special bonus episode with Olivia! When we recorded the episode at the London Podcast Festival I opened up the floor to audience questions and they were sooooo good I had to turn them into an episode. Olivia shares so many incredible pieces of life advice in this special episode including one of my all time favourite lines on the podcast, “shoulders back babe!” So next time you feel like an imposter in any room, remember to pull those SHOULDERS BACK BABE and walk in with the confidence that you belong. I hope this brings you as much joy and inspiration as it did me and our incredible audience and if you love this and Olivia’s episode you can also check out episode 116 where Olivia joined us with her House of Dragon co-star, Emma D’Arcy. And as always please get in touch, I love to chat to you. You can find me on @joshsmithhosts across socials. Love, Josh x P.S. I’m really excited to be working with Primark - our go to for smart shopping and off the moment trends. Primark are serving us the best new denim collection for autumn with every fit imaginable: wide leg, palazzo, barrel, bootleg, or baggy. Primark’s denim has a look for literally every occasion and for everyone because like Reign, Primark wants to empower you to celebrate you and your style everyday, no matter the occasion. Head to primark.com to browse the collection, and why not try the click and collect service while you’re there babes?! P.P.S If this great chat has left you wanting to improve your communication skills and boost your relationships - and build new ones- in the process check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Talk to Anyone. Build New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ which is out now in paperback. Whether you are socially anxious, struggling to make connections on dates or want to learn how to have difficult conversations, this is the book for you! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 23, 2025 · 28 min
Ep 149: Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor can do it all: she’s a singer, songwriter, actress, model, dancer, choreographer, and director and in this episode of ‘Reign’ Teyana proves she is an incredible philosopher too, because WOW the amount of great advice she shares in this episode is off the charts! Teyana first came to our attention in the MTV show, ‘Super Sweet 16.’ Her reality TV stints led to her choreographing for Beyonce and launching a music career with huge hits like ‘Gonna Love Me’. All before she announced she would retire from music to pursue acting. Plot spoiler - in case you don’t know already - after a five hiatus Teyana returned to music this year with her new album, ‘Escape Room’. After securing roles in ‘A Thousand and One’ and ‘Coming to America 2’, Teyana is now getting deserved Oscar buzz for starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn in Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ which is out in cinemas from 26th September. Teyana plays revolutionary Perfidia, part of the French 75 revolutionary movement fighting against right wing politics. It’s certainly a timely movie which raises questions around migrants, racism and white supremacy and it’s truly one of the best movies of the year which will hopefully get us all talking. Teyana joins me for a deep chat, which shows a whole other side of her, as she talks about everything from the power of patience to operating in survival mode. Get your notepad and pen out whilst listening to this episode because there are so many quotes you need to live by! If you love listening to Teyana as much as I did, get in touch, as I always love chatting to you and you can find me @joshsmithhosts across socials. Love, Josh x P.S. I’m really excited to be working with Primark - our go to for smart shopping and off the moment trends. Primark are serving us the best new denim collection for autumn with every fit imaginable: wide leg, palazzo, barrel, bootleg, or baggy. Primark’s denim has a look for literally every occasion and for everyone because like Reign, Primark wants to empower you to celebrate you and your style everyday, no matter the occasion. Head to primark.com to browse the collection, and why not try the click and collect service while you’re there babes?! P.P.S If this great chat has left you wanting to improve your communication skills and boost your relationships - and build new ones- in the process check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Talk to Anyone. Build New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ which is out now in paperback. Whether you are socially anxious, struggling to make connections on dates or want to learn how to have difficult conversations, this is the book for you! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 16, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
Ep 148: Olivia Cooke LIVE
I am so excited to share this episode with the one and only Olivia Cooke, which we recorded live from the London Podcast Festival! Olivia has shown us so much range on screen from big movie blockbusters like Steven Spielberg's ‘Ready Player One’ to playing THE Allicent Hightower in ‘House of The Dragon.’ But as you will discover in this episode Olivia serves just as much range when chatting off screen. As Olivia takes on the role of Cherry in your new TV obsession ‘The Girlfriend’ on Amazon Prime we chat about her journey from growing up in Oldham to starting work at 18 and all the lessons, challenges, successes and failures she’s encountered along the way. Prepare to laugh a lot as Olivia as she shares hilarious stories including one involving a merkin and to be uplifted too as Olivia opens up about her mental health journey and the power of friendship. If you enjoy listening to Olivia as much as I did, get in touch as I always love chatting to you and you can find me @joshsmithhosts across socials. Love, Josh x P.S. I’m really excited to be working with Primark - our go to for smart shopping and off the moment trends. Primark are serving us the best new denim collection for autumn with every fit imaginable: wide leg, palazzo, barrel, bootleg, or baggy. Primark’s denim has a look for literally every occasion and for everyone because like Reign, Primark wants to empower you to celebrate you and your style everyday, no matter the occasion. Head to primark.com to browse the collection, and why not try the click and collect service while you’re there babes?! P.P.S If this great chat has left you wanting to improve your communication skills and boost your relationships - and build new ones- in the process check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Talk to Anyone. Build New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ which is out now in paperback. Whether you are socially anxious, struggling to make connections on dates or want to learn how to have difficult conversations, this is the book for you! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 9, 2025 · 48 min
Ep 147: Jojo Siwa
JoJo Siwa who has truly done it all since she rose to fame at just 11 years old in the reality TV show, Dance Moms. Since then JoJo has gone on to sell over 90 million hair bows as part of a billion dollar empire, had her own Nickelodeon show, launched a hugely successful YouTube channel, notch up billions of views and music streams and became the youngest person to sell out the O2 arena. As JoJo prepares to go back on tour in October with new music she joins to have a very honest chat about her identity and her sexuality after she came out in 17 and recently formed a romantic relationship with Chris Hughes on Celebrity Big Brother UK. This chat is filled with honesty and I hope this shows you that no matter how you identify that no one has the right to your identity and you should live your life for you and on your terms. If you enjoy listening to JoJo’s story, get in touch as I always love chatting to you and you can find me @joshsmithhosts across socials. Love, Josh x P.S. I’m really excited to be working with Primark - our go to for smart shopping and off the moment trends. Primark are serving us the best new denim collection for autumn with every fit imaginable: wide leg, palazzo, barrel, bootleg, or baggy. Primark’s denim has a look for literally every occasion and for everyone because like Reign, Primark wants to empower you to celebrate you and your style everyday, no matter the occassion. Head to primark.com to browse the collection, and why not try the click and collect service while you’re there babes?! P.P.S If this great chat has left you wanting to improve your communication skills and boost your relationships - and build new ones- in the process check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Talk to Anyone. Build New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ which is out now in paperback. Whether you are socially anxious, struggling to make connections on dates or want to learn how to have difficult conversations, this is the book for you! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 26, 2025 · 46 min
Ep 146: Kelly Hoppen
We are back with season 12 and in the spirit of fresh starts, get ready for a home makeover because today we are joined by one of THE names in interior design Kelly Hoppen CBE. Since she started her business at just 16 years old Kelly has designed every kind of space imaginable from jets to hotels, become a TV personality on the likes of Dragon’s Den and now has her own collection for M&S. In today’s episode Kelly talks about how losing her father at a young age propelled to start her business, being diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult, the scars that childhood bullying has left and why you should *NEVER* chop a cushion… Along with giving us an interior design crash course Kelly shares so many great pieces of wisdom from her five decades in business so prepare to feel inspired. If you enjoy listening to Kelly, get in touch as I always love chatting to you and you can find me @joshsmithhosts across socials. Love, Josh x P.S. I am thrilled this episode is brought to you in partnership with M&S to celebrate Kelly Hoppen’s incredible M&S design collections and her most recent debut launch into the world of M&S florals. It all began with her gorgeous Calla Lily’s and statement Orchid - that you can order online right now - and her next floral arrangement from the collaboration is coming in September. The Vintage Rose Bouquet features 12 luxurious roses in a soft, powdery pink, paired with rich burgundy leaves and architectural branches, creating a bouquet that’s both classic and contemporary. Head to the M&S website to bring affordable luxury into your home here: marksandspencer.com/l/brands/kelly-hoppen P.P.S If this great chat has left you wanting to improve your communication skills and boost your relationships - and build new ones- in the process check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Talk to Anyone. Build New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ which is out now in paperback. Whether you are socially anxious, struggling to make connections on dates or want to learn how to have difficult conversations, this is the book for you! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 29, 2025 · 37 min
Ep 145: Julia Garner
Julia Garner has played some of the most iconic roles of recent times, including Ruth in ‘Ozark’ and Anna Delvey in ‘Inventing Anna’ - so I am beyond excited to have Julia on the podcast this week! The three time Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner joins us as she takes on another iconic as the Silver Surfer in ‘The Fantastic Four’ which she stars in alongside an O.G Reign queen, Vanessa Kirby (check out Vanessa’s episode - it’s a corker!). Today we have a really great chat about how a loss in confidence led to Julia enrolling in clown school in France - and how it taught her so much about failure - the power of being open and asking questions and how love at first sight when it comes to friendships is SO real. Julia sprinkles so much wisdom in this episode but above all, I really love her words on why you should approach every situation like you have no limits and how letting go is an art form in itself. If you enjoy listening to Julia, get in touch as I always love chatting to you and you can find me @joshsmithhosts across socials. Love, Josh x P.S If this great chat has left you wanting to improve your communication skills and boost your relationships - and build new ones- in the process check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Talk to Anyone. Build New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ which is out now in paperback. Whether you are socially anxious, struggling to make connections on dates or want to learn how to have difficult conversations, this is the book for you! You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 22, 2025 · 40 min
Ep 144: Sara Sampaio
From supermodel to ‘Superman’ is there anything this week’s guest Sara Sampaio can’t do? I am so excited to be joined by Sara as we take our Instagram friendship up a notch! Sara joins me to talk us through her inspiring rise through modelling - from starting out in a hair competition with little self belief to gracing the cover of every major fashion magazine including Vogue and becoming a certified Victoria’s Secret Angel! But when the pandemic hit and Sara hit a new low, she decided to start again and pursue acting. So if you are thinking of a career change, Sarah’s words today might really help you take that leap of faith. Now, as she stars as the misjudged influencer Eve Teschmacher in the new ‘Superman’ movie, she opens up about how experiencing panic attacks led her to therapy and how being diagnosed with ADHD made everything click. Sara shares some amazing words on the transformative power of finding what truly fulfills you in life, and learning the power of no so I hope this episode inspires you to trust your instincts. If you love this conversation as much as I do, get in touch with me across socials @joshsmithhosts as I always love hearing from you. I’ll see you next week for another episode of ‘Reign’ with the incredible Julia Garner. Love, Josh x P.S. This is an Advertisement for BetterHelp. The power of conversation is so important and asking for help instead of trying to face stuff alone can be SO empowering. Empowerment is what we’re all about on ‘Reign’ so I am so pleased this episode is brought to you in partnership with online therapy platform, BetterHelp. With over 5,000 therapists who have a diverse variety of expertise in mental health in the UK already, BetterHelp can provide you with access to the right mental health professional for you. With BetterHelp you can have online therapy on your schedule, wherever you are and build your support system, If you need support now you can get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp by visiting betterhelp.com/reign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 15, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep 143: Danielle Collins
Today we are joined by one of my favourite athletes, a true tennis champ, Danielle Collins. I love Danielle because she is such a fierce competitor and so real and I think you are going to be so inspired by her honesty in this episode. Fresh from Wimbledon, Danielle takes us back to her improbable journey to the top of tennis from not even being able to keep score in her first tournament as a kid and playing against 50 year old men as a ten year old to becoming a top ten player in the world, a grand slam runner up at the Australian Open, and going on a career changing 15 match winning streak last year. That streak saw her win a huge tennis title, Miami Open and another Charleston back to back - a feat last achieved by Serena Williams. But some of Danielle’s greatest challenges have come off the court as she talks about having to deal with sexism, inappaorpate behaviour from men, and playing tennis with endometriosis. I love Danielle’s words on the life changing power of letting go of trying to be liked, so I hope this episode encourages you to walk into any room with a faith in your voice and confidence in yourself. If you love this chat as much as I do please reach out, as I love to chat. You can find me across socials @joshsmithhosts and if you want more inspiring conversations with incredible sporting stars from Wimbledon Champion Elena Rybakina to Lioness legends Jill Scott and Lucy Bronze check out our podcast back catalogue. Love, Josh x P.S This week’s episode of Reign is brought to you in partnership with my favourite brands, FP Movement - who offer performance ready activewear from the studio to the street. What I love about FP Movement is that they believe in the power of community, while standing out amongst the crowd, and we are ALWAYS here for any opportunity to express yourself while lifting up others! If listening to Danielle has got you inspired to pick up a tennis racquet, head to FP Movement. Their tennis and racket sport collection is full of performance ready styles which allow for maximum flexibility and power on the court. Check out the collection online at www.freepeople.com/uk/fpmovement/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 8, 2025 · 36 min
Ep 142: Megan Stalter
Strap yourself in for a great chat with Megan Stalter - this is truly one of the funniest episodes of the podcast ever! You might already know Megan from her TikTok comedy skits which got her big break in the Emmy award winning TV show ‘Hacks’ where she plays the chaotic assistant, Kayla opposite Jean Smart. Now Megan is taking the lead in Lena Dunham’s new semi-autobigraphical Netflix show, ‘Too Much’ where she plays Jessica, who moves to London after a heartbreak and meets an indie boy in her local boozer played by Will Sharpe (you will remember him from The White Lotus - of course!) It’s a chef’s kiss from me and you will absolutely LOVE this show when it lands on Netflix on 10th July. Today we giggle through so many relatable topics like confidence, fears of phone calls, being thrown out of a Shakespeare improv group and how much we love gay - because pride is 365 days of the year babes! I hope this episode shows you that if anyone ever calls you TOO MUCH, they are actually just too small for you! And if you love this conversation too, get in touch with me across socials @joshsmithhosts as I always love hearing from you. I’ll see you next week for another episode of ‘Reign’. Love, Josh x P.P.S. If all this self-love chat has left you wanting to improve your relationships and build new ones check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now! The book gives you so much advice on how to have incredible conversations with everyone, and how you can turn everyday conversations into a self development practice so you can improve your relationships and mental health in the process. You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 1, 2025 · 47 min
Ep 141: Joy Crookes
This week we are celebrating all things love and we are joined by an artist I, and so many of you love, Joy Crookes. The BRIT Award nominee shot to fame with her top five debut album, Skin which gave us the absolute belters ‘Feet Don’t Fail Me Now’ and ‘When You Were Mine.’ Now as Joy prepares for release album two in September this year - which has already given us ‘I Know You’d Kill’ and ‘Carmen’ - we take a look back at Joy’s journey from growing up in South London doing Irish Dancing for a McDonald’s Happy Meal (that’s our gal!) to picking up an Argos guitar and finding her way to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. As we look back we also talk about how Joy isn’t interested in being an artist who doesn’t use her voice and platform, the politics of shame and the power of strangers. There is so much to take away from this chat but what I found so refreshing about this episode is how honest Joy is about how finding love made her really reflect on herself and started a mental health crisis. This really spoke to me because it isn’t always a honeymoon period when you are truly seen by someone for the first time but it’s so worth it in the end. If you loved this conversation with Joy as much as I did, please do get in touch as I love talking to you. You can get me on @joshsmithhosts and come back on Thursday because we will be serving you a bonus episode of the podcast with the audience questions from the show! It’s an absolute hoot so you don’t want to miss it! Love, Josh x P.S. I am so happy that today’s episode is brought to you with the support of Pandora. Reign and Pandora both stand for the power of telling your own story in your way, and that’s where Pandora’s charm bracelets come in. Each charm can tell a different story about who we are - from the memory of an incredible trip that we loved, to the birthstone of someone special in our lives, or a charm to celebrate an achievement, however big or small! Start telling your story with Pandora by heading to pandora.net P.P.S If all this self-love chat has left you wanting to improve your relationships and build new ones, check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Talk To Anyone. Make New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ is out now in paperback and audiobook! Whether you are socially anxious or a confident communicator already, the book gives you so much advice on how to have incredible conversations with everyone in any situation, and how you can turn everyday conversations into a self development practice so you can improve your relationships and mental health in the process. You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 26, 2025 · 21 min
BONUS EPISODE: Jodie Comer Live Q&A
Why have one episode of the podcast with Jodie Comer in a week when you can have TWO!?! Jodie is the guest that keeps on giving so I decided to spoil you this week by dropping a bonus episode with the audience questions from ‘Reign’ live on the West End at the Adelphi Theatre. The audience really delivered with the questions, so I wanted to share this part of the show with you. We cover a lot of bases here, from Jodie’s surprising first celebrity crush to her amazing words on building a legacy. I really hope this brings you as much joy and inspiration as it did me and just remember, in the words of the iconic boy band Blue, “one love is all you need,” babes! Make sure you listen to the full live recording with Jodie, if you haven’t already and I really hope we get to do another live event soon, so follow me on @joshsmithhosts to get updates and I’ll see you soon for another episode of Reign. Love Josh x P.S If all this self-love chat has left you wanting to improve your relationships and build new ones, check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Talk To Anyone. Make New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ is out now in paperback and audiobook! Whether you are socially anxious or a confident communicator already, the book gives you so much advice on how to have incredible conversations with everyone in any situation, and how you can turn everyday conversations into a self development practice so you can improve your relationships and mental health in the process. You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 24, 2025 · 57 min
Ep 140: Jodie Comer LIVE at the Adelphi Theatre in London
I have lost count how many times you have asked me to get Jodie Comer back on the podcast so when we did we had to go big or go home! So this episode was recorded in front of a 1000 plus strong audience at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End - it was a dream come true, everyone who came bought the energy and the chat really delivered! In this episode Jodie reflects back on her career from her very first performance, to her Bafta and Emmy award winning role as Villanelle in ‘Killing Eve’. Just before Jodie embarks on a nationwide tour of her Olivier and Tony Award winning role in the one woman play, ‘Prima Facie’ we talk about the game changing conversations around consent the show has started and of course we cover her latest movie role in the eagerly anticipated sequel, ‘28 Years Later’ which is out in cinemas now! As the event also celebrated the paperback release of my book, ‘Great Chat: Talk To Anyone. Build New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ Jodie shares some of the great chats that have shaped her and the power of feeling seen in intimate relationships. There is so much to take away from this conversation but I really hope Jodie’s words inspire you to get out of your own way and find your worth. If you loved this conversation with Jodie as much as I did, please do get in touch as I love talking to you. You can get me on @joshsmithhosts and come back on Thursday because we will be serving you a bonus episode of the podcast with the audience questions from the show! It’s an absolute hoot so you don’t want to miss it! Love, Josh x P.S If all this self-love chat has left you wanting to improve your relationships and build new ones, check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Talk To Anyone. Make New Connections. Improve Your Relationships’ is out now in paperback and audiobook! Whether you are socially anxious or a confident communicator already, the book gives you so much advice on how to have incredible conversations with everyone in any situation, and how you can turn everyday conversations into a self development practice so you can improve your relationships and mental health in the process. You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 19, 2025 · 13 min
My self help book, ‘Great Chat’ is out in paperback now!
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: Talk To Anyone. Make New Connections and Improve Your Relationships’ which is out now finally out in paperback and a new updated audiobook! Get your copy and listen to the audiobook here: geni.us/GreatChat Listen to the audiobook on Spotify Premium for free here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1HH55EZsUSYtajczP6yjjJ?si=d25fe2b16afd4d4b If you don’t know what ‘Great Chat’ is about, it's a self help book that will turn you into a more confident communicator. Whether you are socially anxious or a social butterfly there are seven vital lessons to make us all better communicators for ourselves and the people around us - no matter what social situation you find yourself in! So if you are finding it difficult to build meaningful connections on dates, I have got you! If it’s hard to network - I have got you! At the end of each chapter is a ‘chatterbox’, which is a challenge to practice all the amazing lessons you will learn in the book, so it’s really packed full of practical advice and guidance. Here’s even more exciting news! The paperback and audiobook have special bonus content that wasn’t in the hardback edition. You will find an extra chapter about some life changing lessons I have learnt from conversations which will inspire you to get out there and get chatting. What you, my ‘Reign’ listeners will LOVE is that I’ve extracted these lessons from my Reign guests including the amazing Kerry Washington, Richard E Grant, Cynthia Erivo, Rebecca Ferguson and Sadiq Khan AND there’s also an additional ‘Chatterbox' in the new edition on how we can all be better allies to the neurodivergent community in coversations which is so vital! The audio edition was so much fun to create and I went back into the studio a couple of weeks ago to record not only the bonus content that you can all find in the paperback but some bonus BONUS content just for the audiobook, too. For the lucky audiobook listeners, I will share some special bespoke advice from me. I asked you on my Instagram for some questions around chatting and communication, so you’ll have to get the audiobook to see if I answered them! Don’t forget, from the initial publication of ‘Great Chat’, we also have the GREATEST chat with my friend and fantastic presenter Emma Willis, at the end of the audiobook, too. So when I say the audiobook it’s super special, it really is. Now, as we did with the hardback publication, I’m going to treat you to another exclusive extract from the audiobook. In this special episode of ‘Reign’ here’s the very first chatterbox in the book: ‘Check Your Inner Chat.’ Because the first step to becoming a more confident communicator starts with the conversation you have with yourself! I hope you enjoy it and if you do, it would mean the world to me if you had a listen to the audiobook or buy the book and leave a comment wherever you get it! Hope you love it! Josh x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 17, 2025 · 51 min
Ep 139: Rita Ora
I have been a Rita Ora fan since she popped off with ‘Hot Right Now’ back in 2012, so I am so excited to have her on the show today. Since then Rita has amassed over 10 billion global streams, had 13 Top 10 UK singles, four of which have gone number 1 and she hasn’t stopped there, she’s entertained us on the likes of ‘The X-Factor’ and ‘The Masked Singer’ and she’s now tackling the acting world starring alongside Henry Cavill in the upcoming ‘Voltron’ and Disney’s ‘Descendants’. As Rita releases her latest single, ‘Heat’ - which is giving pure summer fun with the girl's energy and we truly love to hear it - Rita joins us for an interview whereby by her own admission she shares more than ever before. We talk about making mistakes, finding staying power, dealing with misogyny, owning her music and learning to work on her mental health. One of things I love most in this chat is when Rita chats about looking after her inner child which is a great reminder for us all to practice self love. If you love this conversation too, get in touch with me across socials @joshsmithhosts as I always love hearing from you. I’ll see you next week for another episode of ‘Reign’. Love, Josh x P.S. This is an Advertisement for BetterHelp. The power of conversation is so important and asking for help instead of trying to face stuff alone can be SO empowering. Empowerment is what we’re all about on ‘Reign’ so I am so pleased this episode is brought to you in partnership with online therapy platform, BetterHelp. With over 5,000 therapists who have a diverse variety of expertise in mental health in the UK already, BetterHelp can provide you with access to the best mental health professional for you. With BetterHelp you can have online therapy on your schedule, wherever you are and build your support system, If you need support now you can get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp by visiting betterhelp.com/reign. P.P.S. If all this self-love chat has left you wanting to improve your relationships and build new ones check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now! The book gives you so much advice on how to have incredible conversations with everyone, and how you can turn everyday conversations into a self development practice so you can improve your relationships and mental health in the process. You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 10, 2025 · 35 min
Ep 138: Cynthia Nixon
We say the word iconic a lot, but it really does apply to this week’s guest Cynthia Nixon! After starting her career as a child actor, in her early 30s Cynthia took the role of Miranda Hobbs in ‘Sex and The City’ and not only did her life change, but the show’s conversations around dating and sexuality changed the lives of women across the world. Off screen Cynthia also changed the game when she came out in the early 00s. As she reprises the role of Miranda in the third season of ‘And Just Like That’ - which you can watch exclusively in the UK on SKY and NOW - Cynthia joins me in Paris for a great chat that looks back on her career and her incredible advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community. We talk about how Cynthia almost lost the role of Miranda, getting with nuns (hey Rosie O'Donnell!), how you can come of age at any time, and the unforgettable chat on the set of ‘Sex and The City’ that changed her life. It’s crazy to think when Cynthia came out the only out queer women were her and Ellen, and whilst this episode shows how far we have come with LGBTQIA+ visibility I hope - especially given the world we are living in right now - is shows much further we need to go and how so many of our long fought for rights need protecting this pride month and beyond. If you love this episode as much as I do, get in touch with me across socials @joshsmithhosts as I always love hearing from you. I’ll see you next week for another episode of ‘Reign’. Love, Josh x P.S. If this chat has left you wanting to improve your relationships and build new ones check out my self help book, ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now! The book gives you so much advice on how to have incredible conversations with everyone, and how you can turn everyday conversations into a self development practice so you can improve your relationships and mental health in the process. You can get your copy here https://geni.us/GreatChat and I really hope you love it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices