S4E3 - Tour de France and Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins opens up about childhood trauma and abuse.

Explicit content warning

07/23/24 • 67 min

For the third episode of Season 4, host Smithy is joined by Sir Bradley Wiggins, the renowned British cyclist celebrated for world titles, eight Olympic medals, and a historic Tour de France victory.
Following our enlightening episode with Emmett J. Scanlan in Chester, our journey now takes us to Herne Hill Velodrome in South London, a place profoundly meaningful to Sir Bradley—where his love for cycling began.
Despite his incredible achievements on the track, Sir Bradley opens up about his personal struggles, including the challenges of his mental health. He recounts how cycling was both his escape and passion from a young age.
Sir Bradley candidly shares his darkest moments, including his experience of being sexually abused by his first coach at 13 and the deep-seated issues of self-worth that followed. He reflects on how these experiences impacted his life and mental health, emphasising the importance of addressing such traumas openly to help others who might be silently suffering.
He also delves into the complex relationship with his father, Gary Wiggins, whose absence and legacy profoundly influenced his path in cycling. Sir Bradley explains how his father’s shadow both drove and haunted him, shaping his pursuit of success and leaving a lasting impact on his mental health and self-identity.
In his professional life, Sir Bradley faced significant obstacles, including periods of intense self-doubt and the immense pressure of public expectation. Yet, his relentless determination and love for cycling propelled him forward. He speaks about pivotal moments in his career, highlighting how embracing every opportunity, no matter the scale, contributed to his enduring success.
Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Sir Bradley Wiggins.

Previous Episode

S4E2 - Emmett J. Scanlan: 'Kin' and 'Fool Me Once' star on personal struggles with depression and loss

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.

Next Episode

S4E4 - Billy Monger: How a Near-Fatal Crash Changed His Life and Mindset

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.