Behind The Title

Sometimes the bravest conversations are the ones we avoid

Suicide is now the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK and it’s rising fastest among young women. But it is one of the most preventable causes of death, yet it remains one of the hardest things to talk about. In this episode of Behind the Title, I'm joined by Simon Gunning, CEO of CALM, to explore why the way we talk about suicide prevention matters just as much as whether we talk about it at all. Simon challenges familiar mental‑health narratives, questions whether “it’s okay not to be okay” goes far enough, and explains why prevention shouldn’t be surrounded by fear, shame or awkwardness. Instead, he makes the case for everyday conversations, small actions, and shared responsibility not as a burden, but as something deeply human. We also explore the personal cost of carrying difficult conversations, the hidden weight leaders and parents carry, and why avoiding the subject doesn’t keep people safe it keeps them silent. The bravest conversations are the ones we avoid. Listener note: This episode discusses suicide prevention. Please take care when listening In any industry, job titles carry power, perception, and pressure. But behind every title CEO, CMO, CFO is a person navigating private challenges, mental health struggles, and silent turning points that shape who they are and how they lead. Behind the Title is a candid podcast that pulls back the curtain on these personal stories. Through honest, structured conversations with leaders at all levels, we explore the inner lives that fuel (and sometimes unravel) outer success. Think of it as Alcoholics Anonymous for the media industry, but instead of substance, we talk about silence, stress, self-worth, and the systems that shape us. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Success was loud. Burnout was louder.

In this episode of Behind the Title, I sit down with Hannah Blake, Managing Director of Creative & New Media at Daily Mail Group, for a candid conversation about what leadership really costs when no one’s watching. Hannah opens up about the moments where everything appears fine externally while internally you’re paddling furiously just to keep going. She shares what it was like running a business that was running out of cash, motivating a team while privately waiting on “one or two emails” that would decide everyone’s future and how “pretending everything is fine” can feel like lying. She also talks about driving innovation inside big corporates, the burnout that hit just as things were going well, and the identity spiral that followed: Ultimately, this episode is about ambition with awareness asking what you’re driving towards, and giving yourself permission to pause before your body forces you to. Plus I love Hannah’s simplest career advice: “Sit at the front.” Show up, be curious, and ask the questions other people are too scared to ask. In any industry, job titles carry power, perception, and pressure. But behind every title CEO, CMO, CFO is a person navigating private challenges, mental health struggles, and silent turning points that shape who they are and how they lead. Behind the Title is a candid podcast that pulls back the curtain on these personal stories. Through honest, structured conversations with leaders at all levels, we explore the inner lives that fuel (and sometimes unravel) outer success. Think of it as Alcoholics Anonymous for the media industry, but instead of substance, we talk about silence, stress, self-worth, and the systems that shape us. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Cost of Staying Silent

Please take care when listening. Jess Gross has had three miscarriages and nobody at work knew about any of them. Not because she didn't need support but because telling your employer you've had a miscarriage means admitting you were pregnant. Admitting you were pregnant means they now know you're trying for a baby and in too many workplaces, that single piece of information can quietly change how your commitment, your ambition, and your future are perceived. So Jess grieved in silence, still showed up and held it together. With over 250,000 miscarriages happen in the UK every year, this is the hidden tax on women in the workplace. We talk about getting more women into leadership, but we cannot build workplaces where women can genuinely thrive if we are still expecting them to perform through experiences they dont feel comfortable sharing. The cost is invisible. While we debate flexible working policies and parental leave frameworks, one your colleague may be sitting in a Monday morning meeting having miscarried at the weekend saying nothing, because the professional risk of saying something feels too high. In the latest episode of Behind The Title, Jess, Managing Partner at MSL shares her full story with a courage I have enormous respect for. She talks about grief that had no space to breathe, a workplace culture that expected her to carry on, a leader who never once acknowledged what she was going through and what she now believes leaders must do differently. Real gender equality doesn't start with a policy document. It starts with a conversation like this one. If you manage people, this episode is for you. If you've been through this, this episode is for you. In any industry, job titles carry power, perception, and pressure. But behind every title CEO, CMO, CFO is a person navigating private challenges, mental health struggles, and silent turning points that shape who they are and how they lead. Behind the Title is a candid podcast that pulls back the curtain on these personal stories. Through honest, structured conversations with leaders at all levels, we explore the inner lives that fuel (and sometimes unravel) outer success. Think of it as Alcoholics Anonymous for the media industry, but instead of substance, we talk about silence, stress, self-worth, and the systems that shape us. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Bonus Episode Fight or Flight

Join me as Hamish Nicklin and I briefly discuss where it all started with the podcast and the realities of fight or flight mode. In any industry, job titles carry power, perception, and pressure. But behind every title CEO, CMO, CFO is a person navigating private challenges, mental health struggles, and silent turning points that shape who they are and how they lead. Behind the Title is a candid podcast that pulls back the curtain on these personal stories. Through honest, structured conversations with leaders at all levels, we explore the inner lives that fuel (and sometimes unravel) outer success. Think of it as Alcoholics Anonymous for the media industry, but instead of substance, we talk about silence, stress, self-worth, and the systems that shape us. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Guy Who Had It All (And Nearly Lost Himself)

In this episode of Behind the Title, we sit down with Paul Sculfor. A former international male model, TV personality, and founder of the Stride Foundation. From the outside, Paul’s life looked flawless: global campaigns, red carpets, parties, success. On the inside, he was spiralling, battling addiction, shame, and a growing sense that he was disappearing behind the image. Paul opens up to us about... * How addiction crept in through “normal” industry behaviour * The moment he realised he couldn’t stop — no matter how hard he tried * Why asking for help felt like failure… until it saved his life * Choosing life over fame at a crossroads that changed everything * What real freedom, success, and masculinity mean to him now This is a raw, unfiltered conversation about addiction, identity, leadership pressure, and the power of vulnerability especially for those who feel they have to keep it together for everyone else. If you’ve ever wondered “Is this sustainable?” this one’s worth your time. In any industry, job titles carry power, perception, and pressure. But behind every title CEO, CMO, CFO is a person navigating private challenges, mental health struggles, and silent turning points that shape who they are and how they lead. Behind the Title is a candid podcast that pulls back the curtain on these personal stories. Through honest, structured conversations with leaders at all levels, we explore the inner lives that fuel (and sometimes unravel) outer success. Think of it as Alcoholics Anonymous for the media industry, but instead of substance, we talk about silence, stress, self-worth, and the systems that shape us. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.