Simon Cowell Opens Up About His Heartbreaking Loss & His Regrets About One Direction!

Simon Cowell is a world-renowned record producer, talent scout, and music mogul. He is best known for being a judge on some of the world’s most popular TV shows including, ‘The X Factor’, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, ‘Pop Idol’, and ‘American Idol’. 

00:00 Intro
02:16 Early Context
03:17 Your Parents
04:32 Your Work Ethic, Where Does That Come From
07:20 The Importance of Respect
11:02 Making the Decision to Pursue Entertainment
16:24 Working in the Post Room at a Record Label
20:03 Making His Way Up in the Music Industry
24:00 Starting a Record Label with Your Boss
29:19 Creating Your First Smash Hit Record
36:44 Going Broke Right After Creating Your First Smash Hit
43:43 Meeting Pete Waterman, a Moment That Changed Everything
47:41 Being an Early Adopter of TV
56:54 Following Your Gut Regardless of the Criticism
01:03:34 Finding Westlife
01:06:34 Your Father Passing Away
01:14:41 Your Life Changing After Your Son, Eric, Was Born
01:20:13 Loyalty, Why It's So Important to Me
01:22:39 Setting New Work Boundaries in My New Life
01:26:19 Advice for a Young Simon Cowell
01:28:57 The Importance of Hard Work
01:31:34 Your Accident, Breaking Your Back in 3 Places
01:36:43 Going to Therapy
01:43:00 Foundational Advice for Anyone Starting Out in Their Career
01:46:43 The Importance of Legacy
01:50:06 The Rise of Bullying
01:52:06 One Direction
01:55:15 Searching for a New Boy Band
02:00:37 Harry Styles
02:02:58 AI Within the Music Industry
02:06:52 Will One Direction Get Back Together?
02:08:18 The Last Guest's Question

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[tormenter]

My mum was a stewardess for 30 years and said of all the celebs she met flying. Simon Cowell was the most genuine, down to earth celeb she ever met. He was so polite and friendly she said

[carollive]

I met Simon Cowell on the streets of Beverly Hills about 10 years ago. I am not usually the person who would go up to a celebrity and interrupt them, but I was with my young teenage daughter who was excited. He was very kind, allowed her to take a photo with him and spoke a few nice words to her. I thought then he had a kind heart.

[najadavers-wilmot]

This interview has totally changed how I see Simon. I've been following him for years on all those talent shows, and now I really respect him and his talent-spotting skills even more. I just love how incredibly humble he is. It's definitely something to admire.

[maryn]

I met Simon Cowell about 15 years ago, working in Harrods as a sales associate. He went around to each counter, smiling and saying hello. Genuinely lovely person, he deserves all his success.

[dragostodirel]

I wanted to commend you not only for convincing Simon Cowell to join the podcast but also for the incredible way you allowed him to open up. This is by far one of the most interesting podcasts I've ever listened to. Thank you!

[sarahjanesoggee]

Before retiring I was a flight attendant and had the pleasure of serving Simon and he was such a pleasure to have on board, and to my surprise he came on board a month later and remembered me! When we landed in LA as I was getting on the crew bus I noticed him letting people take pictures with him, he must have been so tired after a long flight, but his fans came first, everything you see and hear in this interview is so spot on, he is a real Gentleman and his parents must have been so proud, really enjoyed this podcast thank you

[icetealover]

I absolutely love this interviewer.
He is amazing he lets the person he is interviewing talk, doesn’t interrupt his questions are not rude he doesn’t pry into their lives and they always seem to be comfortable with him, great interview all around.

[LynneLongman]

How lovely to see someone so famous be so down to earth. He deserves his success and survived his failures. Many celebrates could take some lesson away from this interview.

[cheryl]

I can remember on AGT-- simon had asked a young boy that if you won the money 💰 what would you do with it, and the boy said I would buy my self a dog Simon replyed to the boy saying I will buy you a dog and the boys face just lit up--- how kind and thought full of Simon ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Simon is an animal lover him self !!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[blondilass]

As a 71 year old pensioner in the UK, I remember when Simon did his first shows on TV and how honestly shocking his comments were on contestants in those days, something we had never heard of or seen before. He definitely made a huge impact to the extreme that people didn't like him but secretly had the same thoughts and were too afraid to agree with him on air for fear of being unpopular. I also noticed that his attitude changed for the better when his Mum passed away and when his son was born, it was the best life changer for him it seemed. However look where he is today, a well respected man in the industry. I also have severe depression and don't see a soul on a day to day basis so most days I am in bed watching Youtube videos as company in my sad life. I really enjoyed this interview so thank you both for sharing an insight into your private lives. Have a continued great life you are both blessed. Thx.

[donnabarrera]

I’m a 70 yr old nana, with severe spinal stenosis, and this is one of the most interesting interviews I’ve watched in a very long time! I so so relate to Simon’s way of living and thinking…Bravo…find your passion and always trust your gut and love ❤️ your family! Well done!

[conniesmith]

When Simon Cowell said that his dad told him he has to be able to see everyone in the room reminds me of what Judge Judy said to her granddaughter when she was sitting in while Judge Judy was in the courtroom Judge Judy said to her granddaughter, can you read the room. That's a real gift because you are looking at a lot of different faces and you are seeing and reading them and you can see character if you really look for it

[judyquattro]

Simon is so genuinely honest about everything he was asked. I love Simon in this format.

[silverbirddog]

I'm amazed at how many times Simon Cowell has been interviewed, and how little those interviewers prepared for it, relative to how much preparation went into this interview.
Read his book. Bought copies of his early record deals. Understood the ins and outs of business and specific details about marketing, and applied that understanding to Simon's life story.
Hands down, great interview. Well done. It's great watching someone who is older and has lived an exciting life brighten up and reminisce about his life with a younger man interviewing him.
You have a natural gift for leading people down a road, and guiding them through their story, that actually helps them to relive some of their best moments. It's really remarkable to watch.
I'm only 51 minutes in, but I'm quite confident that Simon will shed some tears before it's over.

[ipacarrollread]

I miss my Dad as much as Simon seems to miss his parents. He died in 1999 and it still hurts. There are many times it is so sharp even now. I can think about and talk about him now but I still feel bitter when I think that he never met my husband and son. I admire how open Simon is about his pain. I have much more respect for him now.
My kids also changed my life and they’re the reason I kept going when I didn’t want to go on. They changed my worldview for the better. I don’t want them to feel like they’re my sole reason and purpose because that’s too heavy for someone else but being a parent made me reevaluate how I wanted to act and who I wanted to be.
I can’t believe how similar I am to Simon Cowell in so many ways - grief, parenting and the fact that phones are not an appendage. I hate being attached to instant gratification like you are when you have to have your phone and its apps. I only use like 4 or 5 apps. The rest is just a waste.

[paulashattuck]

I’m 77 years old and I have really enjoyed this interview. Thank you for a job well done.

[Melody-stdf]

The Single Most Informative thing I Learned Here that made me like Simon Cowell more, was when Stephen informed us that Simon had taken the time to not only acknowledge each individual in the studio, but to speak with them.

[petevito]

I did some work for Simon Cowell many years ago on a kitchen he had fitted He was having issue with it. So I was on the back foot from the company perspective. He was a complete gentleman man. It was very early but he asked if I wanted coffee or toast. The exact opposite to his image on tv. A while ago now but never forgot it.

[cindyphoebe]

Wow, this really opened my eyes. You get an impression of someone without really knowing them and then you see the actual person inside and out and it’s a revelation. I love Simon Cowell after this