Origin Story with David McIntosh Jr

#150 Daniel Sloss: The Making of Comedian (Netflix, First Gigs, Fatherhood & Growing Up Scottish)

Daniel Sloss is a comedian, author, and father. From a 17-year-old at Edinburgh's Stand Comedy Club to causing 100,000 breakups worldwide, Daniel Sloss shares the moments that nearly broke him, and ultimately transformed him, on his journey to becoming one of comedy's most authentic voices.In this episode, Daniel takes us inside the make-or-break moments behind his career, including the night his Netflix specials dropped and he sat reading 3,000 DMs on ecstasy, the devastating spiral of drinking 3/4 bottle of whiskey on stage every night during his global tour, and the moment his wife told him to go back on the road because staying home was driving them both mad.He reveals how his parents drove him to gigs as a teenager and learned he'd lost his virginity by watching his set, why refusing to move to London's "clicky bullshit" scene was the best decision he made, and how Eddie Izzard convinced him to tour Europe when he thought nobody would understand his comedy.Daniel also reflects on the bold move that defined his career - being the only UK comedian to speak out when everyone else stepped back - the price of doing the right thing, and the bittersweet reality of achieving global fame while hating himself at the peak of success.This is a candid conversation about Robot Wars, imposter syndrome, becoming a father, grief, comedy as truth-telling, and why "I'm Daniel and Dad now" matters more than any sold-out show. Follow Daniel Sloss📸 Instagram 👉 @danielsloss🎫 Tour dates 👉 danielsloss.comOrigin Story takes you behind the scenes with the people whose work has shaped your life. Hosted by David McIntosh, each episode explores the pivotal moments, unexpected challenges, and hard-won lessons from creators, comedians, and change makers who've built something extraordinary.Content Warning: This episode contains strong language throughout, and discussions of sexual assault, grief, death, suicide, addiction, and mental health struggles.Sponsors: Neutonic:https://www.neutonic.com?sca_ref=10212353.vP3Eab049B&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=263773Code “David”Merch:originstoryclub.co.ukBuy Me a Coffee:

#149 Ben Barlow (Neck Deep): Punk Pop, Fame, Skateboarding, Identity & Living Life on Your Own Terms

Ben Barlow is the lead vocalist of Neck Deep — the Welsh pop-punk band formed in Wrexham in 2012 that’s become one of Britain’s biggest modern rock exports. Neck Deep are one of my favourite bandsIn this episode of Origin Story, we do it properly: in a skatepark — because skate culture and pop-punk aren’t aesthetics… they’re a philosophy. Ben talks about growing up in skateparks, why “living on your own terms” became his whole life assignment, and how the band went from posting “What Did You Expect?” online to global tours, viral hits, and over a billion streams. We go deep on authenticity vs trends, attention as currency, and why subculture feels like it’s dying — then we zoom right in again: what fame does to young men, how Ben avoided the “rockstar trap,” and the real costs of life on the road (including the moments you miss that don’t show up on Instagram).And then the episode turns into the stuff fans actually care about: the emotional engine behind the early songs, how Life’s Not Out To Get You became a lifeline for people, and why Ben still believes human art cuts through even in an AI era. About Neck Deep:Neck Deep are a Welsh pop-punk band formed in Wrexham in 2012, originally sparked when Ben Barlow and guitarist Lloyd Roberts posted “What Did You Expect?” online — a DIY start that snowballed into a decade-plus career of major chart success and global touring. Their latest chapter includes the self-titled album Neck Deep (released Jan 19, 2024 via Hopeless Records), described by the band as a “return to roots” record made in-house with Ben’s brother Seb involved in the process. Expect to learn:Why skateparks produce “no status games” — and what that teaches you about lifeThe real story of early Neck Deep: DIY beginnings, heartbreak fuel, instant traction Style vs substance (in skating and in music) — and why “being yourself” wins long-termAttention economy, trend culture, and why “effort” became social currencyFame, relationships, and how to stay grounded when your life goes nuclearWhy Life’s Not Out To Get You hit so hard, and how Ben thinks about responsibility to fans AI, authenticity, and why human-made art still mattersInstagram: @davidmcintoshjrPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/davidmcintoshjr/aboutSubstack: https://substack.com/@davidmcintoshjr?Merch: https://originstoryclub.co.uk/NeutonicFor clean focus and productivity support: Neutonic.Use code DAVID for a discount.Link: https://www.neutonic.com?sca_ref=10212353.vP3Eab049B&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=263773

#148 Jimmy Carr - AI, Politics, Dopamine and History

Jimmy Carr is back. Jimmy Carr is one of the most recognisable comedians on the planet: world-touring stand-up, TV host, and author - famous for brutal roasts and surgical one-liners. But in this episode, you get the sharper edge and the deeper thinking: why 2026 is going to feel like a turning point and how young men can get control back. Jimmy is one of the most respected comedians in the world: a world-touring stand-up, TV host, and author known for brutal one-liners and zero mercy… but in this episode you get the full range - savage comedy and the deeply human side. We talk about dating, masculinity, porn, cheap dopamine and why so many young men feel stuck - then we go way bigger: AI as a new “god”, the end of old institutions, how podcasts replaced mainstream media, and why politics is entering a genuinely weird new era. And then the episode turns: Jimmy opens up about grief and love - remembering Sean Lock (including the first joke Jimmy ever heard him say, and why he felt like a father figure), the impact of losing his mum Nora, and a beautiful tribute to Janey Godley and what she said about Jimmy behind the scenes. Expect to learn:Why women select for competence and what “safety” really signals.Jimmy’s advice to young men: porn, risk, rejection, and building a real life The loneliness trade-off: liver damage vs social isolation How Jimmy thinks about anxiety, discipline, and “life assignment” Sean Lock’s legacy — and what it’s like to lose someone you built a career beside Grief, funerals, and the difference between resume virtues and eulogy virtues AI, institutions, and why the next decade could get very “interesting”and much, much more.PartnersSlaters Made To Order If you’re in UK and you want a suit that fits properly — Slaters Made To Order is the move.Link: https://www.slaters.co.uk/made-to-order?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22326051720&gbraid=0AAAAADogE-bVEefnTzse9hLL0ErpEr-jF&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgbnKBhDgARIsAGCDdlckA1RBqnk3kO10XoXEjj-ilOMcplqUquwYMtHBJtNjWRY75T_TcmkaAlhZEALw_wcBNeutonicFor clean focus and productivity support: Neutonic.Use code DAVID for a discount.Link: https://www.neutonic.com?sca_ref=10212353.vP3Eab049B&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=26377300:00 — Young Men Are Stuck01:52 — Jimmy’s Back: Glasgow Banter04:18 — “Media Diet” & Mental Health07:27 — ADHD, Boundaries & Discipline08:23 — Arenas, Imposter Syndrome, Movies13:46 — Early Comedy Influences16:21 — How You Build Confidence17:32 — First Glasgow Joke (DVD Era)18:52 — Comedy = Friendship20:28 — Why Dark Humour Helps22:16 — Dating: Safety, Competence, Chemistry24:48 — Advice to Young Men: Porn, Games, Asking Girls Out27:09 — Drinking vs Isolation29:28 — Dealing Young People In: Agency Over Empathy31:35 — Trump + Debate vs Deliberation32:28 — Fourth Turning + Class Politics Flip34:31 — Podcasts Replaced Mainstream Media36:52 — “Be Of Service” — Working-Class Agency37:46 — “Woke”, Status & Suicidal Empathy39:19 — Jimmy’s Come-Up: Luck + Work Ethic42:29 — Pre-Show Mindset44:32 — Jimmy’s Laugh + His Mum47:48 — Sean Lock: First Meeting + Legacy53:54 — Grief, Mortality & Talking To The Dead55:18 — Funerals: Eulogy vs Résumé01:01:31 — AI, God & The Future01:04:26 — Secret Struggles: Dyslexia, Body Image, Work01:07:24 — Pax Americana Ending + The World Shifting01:10:29 — Kids, Legacy & Meaning01:13:18 — Janey Godley TributeInstagram: @davidmcintoshjrPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/davidmcintoshjr/aboutSubstack: https://substack.com/@davidmcintoshjr?Merch: https://originstoryclub.co.uk/

#147 Benny Higgins: Ex-Bank CEO on Success, Money, Art & What Really Matters

Benny Higgins is a Scottish Banker and Former CEO of RBS, Bank of Scotland and Tesco Bank. He is also the chairman of a portfolio of companies. He's a lover of Art and Poetry. He is also my good friend.Benny Higgins grew up in Toryglen tower blocks, captained Celtic’s youth team, and became a defining force in modern Scottish business — from CEO of RBS during the NatWest takeover, to building Tesco Bank from the ground up. But what makes Benny different is the paradox: a numbers man with a lifelong devotion to poetry, art, and culture — and a Glaswegian accent that never moved an inch.We recorded this in Kelvingrove Art Gallery, a place that shaped Benny as a 10-year-old at his first ever art competition — and still represents the thread running through his life: curiosity, pride, and the desire to win.We get into Celtic, class, and leadership… the reality of boardrooms at scale… why he hires through trust over “perfect CVs”… and the stories you genuinely couldn’t script: Maya Angelou, the Golden Globes, Soho, and a cocktail named after his fifth wife Sharon.Why Kelvingrove is symbolic to Benny’s origin storyToryglen tower blocks: toughness, community, and confidence through footballCeltic youth captaincy and the first leadership lessons that stuck“I just wanted to win”: the mindset behind academic dominanceActuarial exams in 2.5 years (when the average was ~7)RBS context + how the NatWest hostile takeover happenedBuilding Tesco Bank from scratch: 140 people → 5,000 → 8m customersHiring “the best people I knew” and why trust beats processSocial mobility: money, identity, and why he treats everyone the sameSoho stories: tailors, members clubs, and the “Higgins No.5” cocktailThe Golden Globes: Jon Hamm photo… taken by Bradley CooperLunch with Maya Angelou: poetry, Burns, and an unforgettable momentWhat people think is true about him (but isn’t)What’s next — and the ambition that still drives himGuestBenny Higgins — former senior leader at RBS, creator of Tesco Bank, chair/board roles across culture and business.Subscribe on YouTube + hit the bellFollow the podcast on Spotify/Apple: https://open.spotify.com/show/6DV9tUfz5nGCmH0bfZUFrMJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/davidmcintoshjrFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr/If you enjoyed this give me a follow:Sponsor — Slater Menswear (Made To Order)Quick shoutout to Slater Menswear’s Made To Order service — they’ve been part of some of the biggest moments in my own origin story: first job interview suit, first corporate role, big talks, and now sitting across from guests I genuinely admire. They measure you properly, you choose every detail, and you get a suit that actually feels like it fits the life you’re stepping into.If you’ve got a moment coming up — wedding, promotion, graduation, or a first interview — check out Slaters Made To Order. It’s a belter.

#146 Dan Boerman: Don’t Die Wondering: A Comedian's Hilarious Guide to a Weird Life

Dan Boerman is a Comedian and TV Personality on Jimmy Carr's Am I The A**hole. He is also a good friend.I’ve wanted to record this conversation for a long time.Dan Boerman is a New Zealand comedian who left a steady job, moved to the other side of the world, and has been relentlessly chasing stand-up ever since – from sleeping in a kid’s dinosaur bed outside Edinburgh to getting a thousand people to watch him fold a fitted sheet on a hill.In this episode, we get into:Growing up in small-town rural New Zealand and dropping out of schoolYears on benefits, smoking tiny “Russian doll” cigarettes in the kitchenBarbering as accidental crowd work – and the now infamous Jimmy Carr Am I the A**hole? storyLeaving security behind to move to Edinburgh for comedyWhy London feels like kindling for opportunityThe viral sheet stunt that turned into awards, brand deals and a new life“Don’t die wondering” and what it really means to bet on yourselfWhy some people live and die never hearing the sound of their own voiceThis is an episode about chasing the weird, specific thing you can’t stop thinking about – and refusing to let your life pass in quiet comfort.If you enjoyed this one, send it to someone who’s been talking about “one day” for too long.Follow Dan: @danboermancomedyFollow me / Origin Story: @davidmcnintoshjr