In this episode of Behind the Title, I’m joined by Emma Bain, Chief Operating Officer at TLC Worldwide, for a conversation that strips away the polished veneer and gets honest about what senior leadership really feels like.

This is an episode about vulnerability without oversharing. About strength without pretending. And about the quiet pressure so many leaders carry without ever naming.

We talk about:

• Having a phobia of public speaking in a senior role

• Leading through Covid while going through IVF and saying nothing

• Why “imposter syndrome” might not actually be a syndrome at all

• The pressure to look composed while feeling anything but

What stood out most wasn’t the job title, it was the permission to stop labelling normal human feelings as failure.

If you’ve ever thought “Why do I still feel like this?” this conversation might change how you see yourself.

In any industry, job titles carry power, perception, and pressure. But behind every title CEO, CMO, CFO is a person navigating private challenges, mental health struggles, and silent turning points that shape who they are and how they lead.

Behind the Title is a candid podcast that pulls back the curtain on these personal stories.

Through honest, structured conversations with leaders at all levels, we explore the inner lives that fuel (and sometimes unravel) outer success.

Think of it as Alcoholics Anonymous for the media industry, but instead of substance, we talk about silence, stress, self-worth, and the systems that shape us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

⚠️ Trigger warning take care when listening.

In this episode of Behind the Title, I speak with Matt Longley, CEO of Mobsta, about anxiety, leadership and a lived experience rarely discussed openly at senior level.

Matt shares what anxiety really looked like behind his title, from toxic pressure and burnout to late‑onset self‑injury, therapy, and learning that you don’t need to hit rock bottom to ask for help.

This is a raw, honest conversation about leadership, identity, and why struggling doesn’t make you weaker, it makes you human.

In any industry, job titles carry power, perception, and pressure. But behind every title CEO, CMO, CFO is a person navigating private challenges, mental health struggles, and silent turning points that shape who they are and how they lead.

Behind the Title is a candid podcast that pulls back the curtain on these personal stories.

Through honest, structured conversations with leaders at all levels, we explore the inner lives that fuel (and sometimes unravel) outer success.

Think of it as Alcoholics Anonymous for the media industry, but instead of substance, we talk about silence, stress, self-worth, and the systems that shape us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does class look like in the creative industries and why are we still not talking about it enough?

In this episode of Behind the Title, we sit down with Lisa Thompson, Strategy & Planning Partner at Wavemaker North and co‑founder of Common People, a movement committed to tackling class inequality across creative and media industries.

Together we explore...

• Why class is the forgotten diversity metric
• The reality of the North–South divide (and whether it still exists)
• How confidence, accents, and “fitting in” shape careers
• Why being yourself is your biggest advantage — especially in pitching
• The hidden barriers facing working‑class talent
• How organisations can design inclusion that actually works
• 
  

This is a conversation about fairness, voice, and the power of creating space for people to show up as they really are, not who the industry expects them to be.

If you care about better work, better culture, and better leadership, this episode is for you.

In any industry, job titles carry power, perception, and pressure. But behind every title CEO, CMO, CFO is a person navigating private challenges, mental health struggles, and silent turning points that shape who they are and how they lead.

Behind the Title is a candid podcast that pulls back the curtain on these personal stories.

Through honest, structured conversations with leaders at all levels, we explore the inner lives that fuel (and sometimes unravel) outer success.

Think of it as Alcoholics Anonymous for the media industry, but instead of substance, we talk about silence, stress, self-worth, and the systems that shape us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.