
Desperately Seeking Wisdom
This is a podcast where well-known people talk about what they’ve learned from life - particularly the tough times. Guests have come from the worlds of entertainment, politics, business and journalism, including: Richard Curtis, George Alagiah, Amber Rudd, the Rev. Richard Coles, Lyse Doucet and David Baddiel. It’s a chance to hear their wisdom - and to think about how it might apply to your life…After the Brexit vote, Craig Oliver's high-powered job and privileged position at the heart of the British government came to an abrupt end.In the aftermath of that bruising battle, he despaired at how divided society had become, but also came to realise something fundamental was missing from his own life. Outwardly he was still achieving; but he realised he'd never felt comfortable in his own skin.Life had always felt more of a grind than a gift – he'd always believed that if he only worked harder, he'd find fulfilment. Now he realised that wasn't the case. Like many others, he asked himself why he'd always had a constant feeling of unease and discontent?He wondered what wise people had to say about how we can live better. Craig decided to try a different path to the one he'd travelled before, reading and listening to many people. Some had little to offer, but he found many revelatory.Throughout this podcast series, Craig talks to some extraordinary people about the wisdom they've been able to take from the ups and downs of life - including traumas and triumphs - and finds out what they believe will help others gain peace of mind and heart.
Latest episodes

Mar 7, 2024 • 22min
James Cracknell - Part 2
James Cracknell is a double Olympic Gold medallist, adventurer, and now Parliamentary candidate.In part two of our conversation, we discuss the horrific cycling accident that James suffered which changed his life forever - how he coped with it and what he's learnt from it. We also discuss his constant desire to tackle new challenges and what that says about who he is.This episode was produced by Red Bicycle.

Mar 4, 2024 • 32min
James Cracknell - Part 1
James Cracknell is a double Olympic Gold medallist, adventurer, and now Parliamentary candidate. He’s faced some extraordinary highs and devastating lows – including being left brain-damaged after being hit by a truck travelling at 65mph.In part one of our conversation, we discuss how how he bounced back from the agony of having to miss his first Olympics due to illness and was able to use that pain to propel him to win gold four years later. We also talk about his extraordinary determination and ability to “empty the tanks” when you're faced with big challenges.Part two of our conversation will be out on Thursday 7th March. This episode was produced by Red Bicycle.

Feb 29, 2024 • 27min
Clive Myrie - Part 2
This is part two of our conversation with Clive Myrie, one of the most recognisable and versatile broadcasters in the UK. He’s equally at home reporting from a warzone as he is in the studio, grilling contestants on Mastermind or presenting BBC News at Ten.In this part, Clive talks about what he's learnt through his life as a journalist, reporting on some of the most extreme global stories of recent times. Clive also reflects on how he views death as he gets older and answering that all important question, what would his specialist subject be on Mastermind?This episode is produced by Red Bicycle.

Feb 26, 2024 • 44min
Clive Myrie - Part 1
Clive Myrie is one of the most recognisable and versatile broadcasters in the UK. He’s equally at home reporting from a warzone as he is in the studio, grilling contestants on Mastermind or presenting BBC News at Ten.In part one of this wide-ranging conversation, he talks about the wisdom behind the title of his bestselling book, 'Everything is Everything'. It means things are more likely to be well if you have a more positive attitude. He also talks about his experiences of racism and why it still needs to be confronted as much as ever.The second part of our conversation will be released on Thursday 29th February.This episode is produced by Red Bicycle.

Feb 22, 2024 • 42min
Rory Bremner - Part 2
Rory Bremner is one of the country's leading comedians and impressionists. He's been making the nation laugh since the 1980s, often by taking a satirical look at the people in power. Rory’s career has seen him write and star in iconic shows like Spitting Image, Whose Line Is It Anyway and Mock the Week, as well as his long-running series Bremner, Bird and Fortune.This is part two of our conversation during which we talk about what Rory has learned about himself through relationships, being a parent, therapy and having friends who can make you laugh when you need it most.This episode is produced by Red Bicycle.

Feb 19, 2024 • 33min
Rory Bremner - Part 1
Rory Bremner is one of the country's leading comedians and impressionists. He's been making the nation laugh since the 1980s, often by taking a sideways look at the people in power. Rory’s career has seen him write and star in iconic shows like Spitting Image, Whose Line Is It Anyway and Mock the Week, as well as his long-running series Bremner, Bird and Fortune.This is part one of our conversation, during which we talk about many things including his childhood and the impact of losing his father when he was still young - part two of our conversation will be released on Thursday 22nd February. This episode is produced by Red Bicycle.

Feb 15, 2024 • 44min
James Graham - Part 2
James Graham is an exceptionally talented playwright and screenwriter.His critically acclaimed plays and scripts – including Ink, Sherwood, Brexit: the Uncivil War, and Dear England, have captured the imagination of critics and audiences. He often takes pivotal moments in our history to show how and why we’ve ended up where we are now.In an open and frank conversation, James talks about how therapy helped him with workaholism and avoidance issues as well as the nation's state of mind. This is part two of our conversation and is produced by Red Bicycle.

Feb 12, 2024 • 32min
James Graham - Part 1
James Graham is an exceptionally talented playwright and screenwriter.His critically acclaimed plays and scripts – including Ink, Sherwood, Brexit: the Uncivil War, and Dear England, have captured the imagination of critics and audiences. He often takes pivotal moments in our history to show how and why we’ve ended up where we are now.In this part, James talks about how he believes story-telling is important for individuals and society as a whole and why he thinks telling both sides of a story is crucial. This is part one of our conversation, part two will be released on Thursday 15th February.This episode is produced by Red Bicycle.

Feb 8, 2024 • 27min
Emily Maitlis - Part 2
Emily Maitlis is one of the most well-known and successful broadcast journalists in Britain. She’s covered the biggest stories of our times – and interviewed some of the most famous and powerful people, including Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Russell Brand and Prince Andrew.More recently she’s become one of the lead presenters of the highly rated podcast, The News Agents.In this part we find out how challenging people sometimes requires bravery and empathy – and what she learned from the sickening experience of being stalked.This episode was produced by Red Bicycle.

Feb 5, 2024 • 33min
Emily Maitlis - Part 1
Broadcast journalist Emily Maitlis discusses her childhood, high-profile interviews, and the transition to podcasting. They explore the pressure on politicians, childhood passions, journalistic challenges, and contrasting perspectives on Trump. Delving into identity, familial influences, and navigating cultural complexities.