Thriving Minds with Alberto Zandi

Most people saw the campaign.Very few saw the years he almost gave up.This week Alberto sat down with David Gandy, the world’s most recognisable male model, entrepreneur, founder of David Gandy Wellwear, and one of the defining figures in modern masculine style.David became globally recognised through the iconic Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue campaign, a moment that helped redefine male beauty and turned him into one of the most recognisable faces in fashion. But before that breakthrough, there were years of rejection, uncertainty, lonely hotel rooms, cancelled campaigns, and moments where he questioned whether he should keep going.In this conversation, David opens up about what it really took to survive 25 years at the highest level of fashion. He explains why he never fitted the industry standard at the beginning, why he refused to shrink himself to become what everyone else wanted, and how the very thing that made him different eventually became the thing that made him stand out.But this episode is not just about modelling.It is about success, identity, masculinity, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, failure, loyalty, and what happens when the image people know becomes separate from the person you really are.You will learn:Why David felt like the odd one out when he first entered the modelling industry.How he dealt with rejection, uncertainty, and the years before his breakthrough.Why the Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue campaign changed his life almost overnight.Why becoming recognised was not enough, and why he then had to build the David Gandy name.Why loyalty, saying no, and long-term relationships helped him build a 25-year career.Why fashion brands fail more often than people realise.What he learned from building David Gandy Wellwear and returning to M&S.Why success, money, fame, and looks do not automatically create happiness.How men are struggling with body image, identity, confidence, and modern masculinity.Why perseverance, humility, and helping others matter more than believing your own hype.This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like they did not fit in, chased success thinking it would finally make them enough, or tried to build something meaningful after a difficult chapter.It is a rare look behind the image, behind the brand, and behind one of the most recognisable men in fashion.Follow David:https://www.instagram.com/davidgandy_official/https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDavidGandy/https://twitter.com/DGandyOfficialhttps://www.davidgandywellwear.com/https://www.instagram.com/davidgandywellwear/https://tiktok.com/ ⁨@davidgandywellwear⁩  https://www.facebook.com/davidgandywellwear/https://www.pinterest.co.uk/DavidGandyWellwear/#DavidGandy #Entrepreneur #ThrivingMinds #AlbertoZandi #FashionIndustry#BusinessFailure #MaleModel #BrandBuilding #Perseverance #RetailBusiness#FashionBrand #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship #SuccessMindset #CareerReinvention

What if everything you believe about yourself is just a story your brain made up?In this powerful episode, world-renowned therapist Marisa Peer reveals the shocking truth about how your mind works against you and exactly how to take back control. Having spoken at Google, trained thousands of therapists worldwide, and helped countless clients transform their lives, Marisa shares the mindset secrets that took her from deeply insecure child to global authority on the human mind.Marisa Peer is a bestselling author, motivational speaker, and the creator of Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT). She has spent over three decades working with royalty, rock stars, Olympic athletes, CEOs, and Hollywood actors. Her TED talks have been viewed millions of times, and she regularly speaks at major corporations including Google.In this conversation with Alberto Zandi, Marisa reveals:Why your brain is a "proof-making robot" that will confirm whatever you tell itThe exact words you should say to yourself to rewire anxiety into confidence- How she overcame crippling insecurity to become a world-renowned speakerWhy most people never upgrade the most important software they own: their brainThe truth about neuroplasticity and why you can change at any age- Her relationship rules after 16 years of marriage while traveling the worldWhy happiness and confidence are choices you make daily through words and mental imagesWhether you struggle with self-doubt, anxiety, or simply want to understand how your mind really works, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about yourself.Subscribe to Thriving Minds for weekly conversations with world-class experts helping you unlock the best version of yourself. Follow Marisa Peer:⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/MarisaPeer1⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/marisapeertherapy/⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/marisa.peer.therapy/⁠⁠https://twitter.com/MarisaPeerWatch/⁠ Listen to Marisa Peer:⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/master-your-mind-with-marisa/id1548923376⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aV9RHIrYLRcvFgwAAsypJ?nd=1⁠ Get Marisa Peer's Books:⁠https://amzn.to/43ISIqL⁠ #MarisaPeer #Therapist #MindsetCoach #BrainScience #Neuroplasticity #Confidence #SelfBelief #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #RTT #ThrivingMinds #AlbertoZandi

She cried every single day in the school playground.Now her jeans are worn by celebrities and royalty, including Kate Middleton.This week Alberto sat down with Donna Ida Thornton, founder of Donna Ida, known in the fashion industry as the Jean Queen, and one of the most distinctive voices in British fashion, to unpack what it really takes to build a brand that lasts for 20 years.Donna shares how she grew up in Australia, struggled deeply with school, left at 16, worked multiple jobs, saved everything she could, and eventually moved to London to build a life that felt like her own.But her story is not just about fashion.It is about resilience, reinvention, instinct, customer connection, and learning how to keep going when business becomes difficult.Before Donna Ida became one of Britain’s most respected denim brands, Donna worked in secretarial jobs, waitressed at night, took calls at Domino’s Pizza, fought to stay in the UK, and built the business from the ground up without waiting for permission.In this conversation, Donna explains why fashion and food are two of the hardest industries to survive, why even the most successful entrepreneurs struggle behind the glossy exterior, why vulnerability is not weakness, and why the best founders learn to listen to their gut, ask for what they want, and bet on themselves always.You will learn:• How Donna went from crying every day in the school playground to building one of Britain’s most respected denim brands.• Why childhood anxiety can become the foundation for resilience, independence, and entrepreneurial strength.• What it really takes to survive in one of the hardest industries in the world.• Why you should not wait for the perfect idea, the perfect moment, or someone else’s permission.• How Donna built her brand from a multi brand denim boutique into her own fashion label.• Why asking is one of the most underrated skills in business.• Why founders need to stop looking side to side and start trusting their own path.• How to build a business around customer connection, personal identity, instinct, and consistency.• Why real success is not about the glossy exterior, but about freedom, family, resilience, and building a life that feels like yours.This conversation strips away the polished version of entrepreneurship and reveals what it really takes to survive, adapt, and build something that lasts.Follow Dona:https://www.youtube.com/c/donnaidahttps://www.instagram.com/donnaidadenim/https://www.facebook.com/donnaidadenim/https://www.pinterest.co.uk/DonnaIdaDenim/_shop/https://twitter.com/donnaidadenim#ThrivingMinds #AlbertoZandi #DonnaIda #FashionEntrepreneur #BusinessResilience #Entrepreneurship #FashionIndustry #WomenInBusiness #StartupLife #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessStruggles #PersonalGrowth

This week Alberto sat down with Sarah Ann Macklin, nutritionist, best selling author of Health Shouldn’t Be This Hard, founder of the not for profit organisation Be Well Collective, host of Live Well Be Well, and one of the leading voices connecting nutrition, mental health, self compassion, and the mind body relationship.Sarah shares how she started modelling at 16, built a successful international career, and appeared to have everything society tells us should make us happy: success, beauty, social status, financial reward, and external validation. But behind the polished image, her body was sending warning signs she kept ignoring. Anxiety, exhaustion, illness, stomach problems, burnout, and eventually a hospitalisation became the turning point that forced her to rebuild her relationship with health from the inside out.In this conversation, Sarah explains why health has become so unnecessarily complicated, why the wellness industry often sells fear instead of real wellbeing, why diets rarely work long term, why the “perfect” body does not always mean a healthy body, and why self compassion may be one of the most important foundations for long term physical and mental health.You Will LearnWhy health should not feel as hard, confusing, or exhausting as it often does.How Sarah’s modelling career led to burnout, hospitalisation, and a complete career change.Why your mindset can change the way your body responds to food, hunger, stress, and health choices.Why diets often work short term but fail long term, and what to focus on instead.How self compassion, self worth, and emotional awareness shape your physical health.Why supplements, fasting, protein shakes, electrolytes, sugar, alcohol, and ultra processed foods need more nuance than social media usually allows.How to build a healthier relationship with your body, your food, your thoughts, and yourself.Buy Sarah's best seller, Healthy Shouldn't Be This Hard:https://amzn.to/3ROhnr9Follow Sarah:https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklinhttps://youtube.com/@UCASEE6WVp31E3FNeM-Mk_bwhttps://www.facebook.com/SarahAnnOfficial/https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcasthttps://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin#ThrivingMinds #AlbertoZandi #SarahAnnMacklin #NutritionalScientist #WellnessIndustry #HealthAdvice #MentalHealth #BodyImage #NutritionScience #HealthyLiving #WellnessCulture #PersonalGrowth

This week Alberto sat down with Adam Byatt, the Celebrity and Michelin starred chef, restaurateur, founder of Trinity, and one of the most respected figures in British hospitality, to unpack what it really takes to build a restaurant that lasts and succeeds for 20 years.Adam shares how he grew up in a working class family in Essex, found food as a way into a bigger world, trained at Claridge’s (London’s most famous 5 star hotel) from the age of 15, cooked at The Square during one of London’s most exciting food eras, and eventually opened his own restaurants. But his story is not a straight line. Before Trinity became one of UK’s most respected restaurants, Adam experienced huge early success, then painful failure, financial pressure, loneliness, and the responsibility of having to rebuild with a young family depending on him.In this conversation, Adam explains why hard work is more uncomfortable than most people realise, why failure can become one of the most important ingredients in long term success, why restaurants only last when they become part of a community, and why the best leaders eventually have to drop their ego, empower younger people, and build something bigger than themselves.You will learnHow Adam went from a working class childhood in Essex to becoming one of the UK’s most respected chefs. Why his early restaurant failure became essential to his long term success. What it really takes to build a restaurant that lasts & succeeds for 20 years. Why hard work is more uncomfortable than most people are willing to accept. How to build a successful business around people, community, standards, and consistency. Why Adam believes the journey matters more than the exit. Follow Adam:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4tQodst5JD0nHzD5VX0OAAhttps://www.instagram.com/adambyatthttps://www.tiktok.com/@chefadambyatthttps://www.facebook.com/AdamByattChefhttps://trinityrestaurant.co.uk/#mindset #thrivingminds #AlbertoZandi #AdamByatt #MichelinChef #TrinityRestaurant #Claridges #ChefLife #RestaurantBusiness #HospitalityIndustry #LondonChef #Entrepreneurship #FineDining #CulinaryJourney

This week Alberto sat down with Professor Jane Ogden, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Surrey and one of the leading voices on eating behaviour, food psychology, body image, dieting, and the relationship between the mind and body.In this conversation, Professor Ogden explains why our relationship with food is never just about food. She explores how childhood, family scripts, emotional hunger, body image, dieting culture, social media, stress, and the people around us can shape the way we eat and how we feel about ourselves. She also explains why food can become a problem when it starts taking up too much space in your mind, and why trying too hard to be healthy can sometimes become unhealthy.You will learn• Why food can become emotionally loaded and take up too much space in your mind• How to tell when your relationship with food may be becoming unhealthy• Why emotional hunger and physical hunger can be difficult to separate• How childhood, parents, reward, punishment, and family habits shape your eating behaviour• Why dieting, cheat meals, food rules, and cutting out food groups can create guilt, shame, and obsession• How to build a healthier, kinder, and more sustainable relationship with food with 6 toolsFollow Professor Ogden:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-ogden-3328504b/Get Professor's Ogden Book, How to Eat Well at Every Age: https://amzn.to/4fixJSP#podcast #entrepreneur #mindset #motivation #leadership #success #selfimprovement #personaldevelopment #business #growthmindset #productivity #highperformance #communication #lifeadvice #inspiration

This week Alberto sat down with Richard Harpin, the founder of HomeServe, investor, and author of How To Make A Billion In Nine Steps, to unpack the practical framework behind building a business that sold for $5.6 billion.Richard’s story challenges one of the biggest myths about entrepreneurship: that you need a completely unique idea to build something great. He explains why copying and improving can be more powerful than inventing, why founders should stay small until they prove the model, why focus matters more than endless new ideas, and why hiring your replacement can be one of the most important decisions a founder ever makes.He also shares the nine steps he believes helped build a billion dollar business, from copying and improving existing ideas, to testing before scaling, finding the right investor, hiring better people, expanding internationally, staying focused, and developing the character needed to survive the journey.You will learn• The 9 steps Richard created to help founders build a billion dollar business• Why you do not need a completely unique idea to build something great• How copying, improving, testing, and learning can create a stronger business model• Why founders should stay small until they have proved the model works• Why hiring your replacement can help your business scale faster• How focus, discipline, resilience, and self belief helped Richard build and sell HomeServe for $5.6 billion• What a billion dollar exit actually feels like, and what success and money do not solveFollow Sir Richard Harpin:https://www.instagram.com/richard_harpin/https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rharpinhttps://www.facebook.com/harpinr/https://twitter.com/richard_harpinBuy Sir Richard's Book - How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps:https://amzn.to/3R2cFpu#thrivingminds #RichardHarpin #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #StartupAdvice #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #FounderMindset #Success #PersonalGrowth #Investing #ScalingUp #Motivation #HomeServe #EntrepreneurLife

This week Alberto sat down with Dr Chloe Paidoussis Mitchell, the world renowned Chartered Counselling Psychologist, grief and trauma specialist, and best selling author of The Loss Prescription, to unpack what grief really is, what it does to the brain and body, and why so many people feel like they are grieving in the wrong way when they are not.In this conversation, Dr Chloe explains why grief is not just emotional pain but a full mind, body, and identity experience, why sudden loss can dysregulate the nervous system, why denial can be a normal early response, and why people do not move through grief in neat stages. She also explores bereavement, relationship loss, trauma, family grief, delayed grief, and the difference between suppressing pain and actually healing through it.You will learn• What grief actually is, beyond the clichés people are usually told• Why grief affects the brain, body, nervous system, and identity, not just emotions• Why there is no single right way to grieve, and why people in the same family can grieve very differently• What denial, numbness, anger, guilt, and delayed grief can really mean• What helps in the first days after a loss, and what makes grief harder in the long term• Techniques to heal healthy in the long term• How to support someone who is grieving without trying to fix or rush themFollow Dr. Chloe:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-chloe-paidoussis-mitchell-cpsychol-dcpsych-afbpss-69809b30/https://www.instagram.com/dr.chloe.paidoussis.mitchell/Buy Dr. Chloe's book:https://amzn.to/4dlgy1j#grief #mentalhealth #healing #selfawareness #trauma #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #psychology #copingwithloss #healingjourney

This week Alberto sat down with Viviane Paxinos, former Warner Bros Vice President, former AllBright CEO, and one of the most accomplished growth and transformation executives in media and digital, to unpack a career built on ambition, reinvention, resilience, and the courage to keep moving when things do not go to plan.Viviane shares how she grew up in a Greek immigrant family in Canada, moved to London on her own, built a remarkable career across Viacom and MTV, BBC Worldwide, A+E Networks, Warner Bros Discovery, UNiDAYS, and AllBright, and then faced one of the hardest leadership chapters of her life under public scrutiny.In this conversation, she speaks openly about ambition, burnout, public failure, identity, leadership shame, female leadership, fundraising, resilience, and what it really takes to rebuild yourself personally and professionally when a business goes through a painful transformation.You will learn• How to build a career across media, tech, and leadership without having everything planned from the start • What Viviene learned from leading global businesses through growth, transformation, and public failure• Why women often internalize business struggles more personally, and how to stop doing it• How to adapt to new industries quickly, even when you are not the obvious expert in the room • Why success, identity, and self worth should never be tied tightly to your title • The habits and mindset shifts that helped Viviane recover from stress, burnout, and intense professional pressureFollow Viviane:https://www.instagram.com/viv_paxinos/https://www.linkedin.com/in/viviane-paxinos-378a513/#podcast #entrepreneurship #leadership #personalgrowth #business #mindset #resilience #womeninbusiness #careeradvice #startup #wellness #storytelling #thrivingminds