Under the Surface

In this powerful episode of Under The Surface, Smithy sits down with YouTube pioneer and entrepreneur Caspar Lee. Despite his outgoing online persona and business success, Caspar opens up about his lifelong journey with mental health, starting with his diagnosis of Tourette’s, OCD, and ADD at the age of six.

From making videos in his bedroom in South Africa to building multiple successful companies, including Influencer.com and an investment fund, Caspar's story is one of resilience and adaptation. However, beneath the success, he shares his raw battle with severe anxiety that surfaced during lockdown—a struggle so intense that he questioned whether he could even attend his own wedding.

Caspar provides an unfiltered look at living with Tourette’s in his early years, from disrupting classes to making involuntary monkey noises while on safari near an elephant. He discusses how therapy became his turning point, teaching him not to fight his anxiety but to sit with it, and shares the practical tools that helped him recover.

Now preparing for his wedding and leading successful businesses in London, New York, Dubai, and LA, Caspar reflects on how facing his mental health challenges head-on has shaped both his personal life and entrepreneurial journey. Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Caspar Lee for an intimate conversation about mental health, business success, and finding peace with your past.

Watch the full episode on the Original Penguin website.