Boy George: Meet The Real George O'Dowd (E307)

The High Performance Podcast

High Performance

Sports, Self-improvement, Mindset, Growth Mindset, Health & Fitness, Non-negotiables, Education, Life Lessons, High Performance

4.8 • 4.7K Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2024

⏱️ 80 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Boy George is the iconic frontman of Culture Club, celebrated for much more than his flashy style and soulful voice. Known for breaking boundaries in music and fashion, he became a symbol of self-expression in the '80s and is still going strong. Behind his unique look and bold personality is George O’Dowd, a man with stories of resilience, creativity, and self-discovery.

In this episode, George sits down with Jake and Damian to reveal the real person behind the fame. He shares memories of his early days and how challenging family dynamics, especially with his father, shaped who he is today. George also talks openly about his battles, from traumatic childhood experiences to struggles with addiction, and how each has led to valuable lessons in his life.

He dives deep into his philosophy of mind, thought, and consciousness, the core principles he credits with keeping him grounded and thriving. He also explains how he’s learned to handle public criticism, stay true to himself, and navigate life’s chaos. From joining his first band to forming Culture Club, George reflects on the magic of his musical journey and what made Culture Club so successful in a time of fast-changing culture.

With an honest look at the ups and downs, George offers insights on resilience, the importance of personal growth, and learning from both triumphs and mistakes. This episode is a powerful exploration of finding courage and embracing authenticity in the face of life’s toughest challenges.

Don't miss this unmissable opportunity to see Boy George and Culture Club relive these defining albums live. Tickets are on sale now via www.gigsandtours.com / www.ticketmaster.co.uk / www.ticketmaster.ie

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Love High Performance? Next week's episodes are available right now on the High Performance app.
0:05.3	Watch or listen to former Chelsea and Brighton manager, Graham Potter, and iconic British artist, Boy George.
0:12.8	You know, when you're someone like me, there's a lot of reputation.
0:16.3	And it's quite fun when you walk in and blow people's minds by not being what they thought.
0:19.8	In the beginning, when I was dressing up, my mum would go, look at him. And my dad would just lower his newspaper and go,
0:24.5	if he wants to get beat up, let him go out like that. You'll give in a name and a narrative about
0:29.1	who you are. And if you're lucky, you're a little bit different, you break away and you break the
0:32.9	chain and become something else. Your boy, George, you created him.
0:39.6	So treat him with a bit of respect.
0:45.6	Well, that was the rather distinctive voice of boy George, who joins us on high performance today.
0:46.2	I'm Jay Comfrey.
0:47.3	And on this show, we simply meet the most incredible people on the planet to learn how
0:52.1	they've lived and find inspiration for our own lives.
0:55.2	And I'm Damien Hughes, an expert in the world of high-performance cultures.
0:59.5	I'm lucky enough to work with people to help them understand how to create environments
1:03.0	that get the best out of themselves and others.
1:06.0	So, Boy George, well, for a start, he's been famous for a very long time.
1:09.4	Since the 1980s, he's someone who's lived in the public eye, rising to prominence as the lead singer of the band at Culture
1:15.4	Club. They've released some of the most famous songs ever written, providing a soundtrack to a whole
1:20.1	generation. But this conversation, Damien, isn't about what George has done. It's how he's done it, how he's lived his life, and how we can learn from him.
1:29.5	Absolutely.
1:30.2	And as you're going to hear, George is someone who's lived a life unapologetically being true to who he is,
	...

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