Under the Surface

In this episode of Under the Surface, we visit Billy Monger at his home to explore how he transformed a life-altering racing accident into a new chapter of opportunity and advocacy, keeping his passion for racing alive.

At just seventeen, Billy's promising career in motorsport took a dramatic turn due to a devastating Formula 4 race crash, resulting in the loss of both his legs. In this inspiring chat, he recounts that transformative day and the intense months of recovery that followed.

Facing the stark realities of waking up as a double amputee, Billy discusses the mental and physical challenges of his journey to recovery, his return to racing, and his dedication to inspiring and supporting others facing sudden, life-altering changes.

Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Billy Monger. Watch the full episode on the Original Penguin website.

For the second episode of Season 4, host Smithy is joined by Emmett J. Scanlan, the acclaimed Irish actor known for his roles in Kin, Peaky Blinders, and Fool Me Once. Following our inspiring first episode with Tubes at his home golf course, our journey now takes us to a place deeply significant to Emmett—Chester, his home for the last decade where he's built a family and a life away from the limelight.

Despite his success on screen, Emmett opens up about his personal battles, including the challenges of his mental health. He shares how acting became his escape and passion from a young age. This passion led him to a career where he could immerse himself in various characters, though it wasn't always an easy journey.

Emmett candidly discusses the darker times, including a period of depression and a devastating personal loss when his wife suffered a miscarriage. He also reflects on the profound impact of losing a close friend to suicide, sharing how these experiences shaped his perspective on life and mental health. Emmett emphasises the importance of talking about such experiences, revealing the widespread yet often silent suffering many go through.

In his professional life, Emmett faced significant challenges, including moments of self-doubt and rejection. However, his determination and love for storytelling saw him through. He speaks about the turning point in his career, when saying "yes" to every opportunity, no matter how small, led to a series of roles that revitalised his confidence and career trajectory.

Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Emmett J. Scanlan for an intimate, inspiring discussion about mental health, resilience, and the journey through personal and professional challenges.

For the launch of Season 4, host Smithy is joined by Peter Dale, better known as Tubes to millions of fans from his work on Soccer AM. This season, we're on the road, and for episode one, our journey takes us to a place pivotal to Tubes' personal battle against addiction—his home golf course at Foxhills.

Despite his fun-loving on-screen persona, Tubes candidly opens up about his past struggles with alcohol addiction. He shares how drinking gave him the confidence boost he craved but soon spiralled out of control, negatively impacting on his relationships.

Tubes paints an unfiltered picture of life as a "functioning alcoholic"—planning his days around drinking, lying to loved ones, and feeling intense shame and anxiety. He discusses his turning point in 2015, when a traumatic incident forced him to admit he was an alcoholic and needed to quit for good.

During his recovery journey, Tubes experienced a shocking heart attack due to a previously undetected hole in his heart.

Now, over eight years sober, Tubes has replaced alcohol with a new passion—golf. He explains how the game has given him purpose, healthier coping mechanisms, and a new career post-Soccer AM.

Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Tubes for an intimate, inspiring discussion about addiction, recovery, and advice for those facing the same battles that Tubes once did.

For the latest release, host Smithy and co-host Leon McKenzie are joined by Jack Dean, better known as JaackMaate to his millions of social followers.

Despite his meteoric social media fame, Jack candidly shares his lifelong struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety. He opens up about his traumatic childhood filled with family turmoil, and how creating YouTube videos became his lifeline.

Jack paints an unfiltered picture of living with severe OCD, including constant intrusive thoughts from health anxiety that disrupt his life daily. By speaking openly about his coping methods, from therapy to talking to mates, he hopes to help others suffering in silence feel less alone.

Previous episodes have included BAFTA-winning comedian Romesh Ranganathan, footballers Jack Wilshere and Andros Townsend, reality stars Jack Fincham and Ashley Cain, who have all openly discussed their mental health struggles.

In this latest episode of Under The Surface, host Smithy and co-host Leon McKenzie are joined by Danny Cipriani, the English rugby union player who bravely discusses his lifelong struggles with acceptance and mental health.

Danny opens up about the difficulties surrounding his upbringing and troublesome teenage years where he felt like an outsider in the rugby world. He shares his battles with depression, suicidal thoughts and the tragic loss of close friend Caroline Flack.

Despite his talents on the pitch, Danny faced constant scrutiny from the media and public, which took a major toll on his mental health. However, through therapy and self-work, he has found greater acceptance and inner peace.

Danny hopes that by sharing his deeply personal story, he can help end the stigma around men's mental health and inspire others who may be silently suffering to reach out for support.

Previous episodes have included BAFTA-winning comedian Romesh Ranganathan, footballers Jack Wilshere and Andros Townsend, reality stars Jack Fincham and Ashley Cain, who have all openly discussed their mental health struggles.