The Gentleman‘s Journal Podcast
Business
Our guest today is Jamie Laing, the founder of Candy Kittens, former star of Strictly Come Dancing and Made in Chelsea, and now author of a new memoir: I Can Explain. Jamie is one of the most open and honest and energetic guests we’ve ever had on the show. A natural entrepreneur with infectious enthusiasm, in his early twenties he walked into a meeting with Harvey Nichols to pitch his new business Candy Kittens — and walked away with a £150,000 purchase order, despite never having produced a single sweet. When he was a kid, Jamie’s friends used to joke that everything he touched came with L.A.T: Laing Added Tax. But more than that, he’s a true entertainer — and a thoughtful commentator on topics of mental health, popular culture, and the perils of social media.
In a wonderful episode of the Gentleman’s Journal podcast, Jamie tells us why he originally thought Made in Chelsea might be the biggest mistake of his life; the problem with the label ‘posh’; how he always used to worry that a swarm of wasps might turn up and ruin the party; and why we should all tell our parents we love them as much as possible.
Ollie Dabbous, Head Chef at HIDE: ”It’s a pretty extreme existence, the life of a chef...”
Oliver Bullough, Investigative journalist: ”If anyone really cares, they’ll just kill me. So why worry about it?”
“If I can’t look after a plant, how am I meant to look after a child!?” — Freddie Blackett, founder of Patch Plants
Does Hollywood have a steroid problem? Overheard at the Clubhouse
NFTs: An Insider’s Guide
Lord John Bird, Founder of The Big Issue: ”The only way you can get out of the sticky stuff is by devoting yourself”
Shooting Francis Bourgeois, with Photographer Isaac Marley Morgan
Tom Molnar, co-founder of Gail’s: ”Every time we open a shop, I still have that fear: what if no-one shows up?”
Inside the World of Billionaire Estate Managers — Overheard at the Clubhouse
How to invest in contemporary art — with John Russo, CEO of Maddox Gallery
Ruth Rogers, founder of the River Cafe: ”Never hire someone without going to a restaurant with them first...”
Ben Francis, CEO of Gymshark: “We made more money in half an hour than we had done in the entire history of the business…”
Scooter Braun, music mogul: "There is no retreat. We’re going to figure this out, or we’re going to die here"
Charlie Bigham: "If everyone's doing one thing, perhaps you should do the opposite..."
“The next Coco Chanel will be a programmer" — Federico Marchetti, founder and chairman of YOOX-NET-A-PORTER
“The opposite of a good idea is often a great idea” — Marcia Kilgore, founder of Beauty Pie
“Fundamentally, culture comes from our streets” — Inside the retail revolution, with Ross Bailey, Luca Faloni and Archie Hewlett
"For our meeting with Rupert Murdoch, I didn't even have any shoes..." — Jack Rivlin, Founder of The Tab
“There’s a reason why I talk to other people for a living...” — Louis Theroux, documentary filmmaker
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