It’s easy to assume that celebrity interviews are always glamorous, fun, and full of red carpet energy.
But for Jo Whiley, one particular moment left her feeling the exact opposite.
The veteran BBC presenter recently opened up about an uncomfortable encounter that rattled her confidence — and it involved two of the biggest names in rap: Eminem and Dr Dre.
Jo Recalls the Interview That Shook Her Confidence
Speaking candidly on her Dig It podcast, Jo, 60, reflected on a past interview that made her feel “tiny and stupid.”
When asked whether she’d ever felt starstruck, she didn’t hesitate to name Eminem and Dr Dre as the reason behind a confidence-shaking experience.
She explained that her first interview with Eminem was actually quite positive.
He was young, soft-spoken, and kept calling her “ma’am” — respectful and humble.
But everything changed a few years later when he returned to the show, this time with Dr Dre by his side.
The Shift in Eminem’s Demeanor
According to Jo, fame had transformed Eminem into someone unrecognizable from the polite young man she first met.
“He was just this other creature altogether,” she said.
Together with Dr Dre, they came across as cheeky and overly playful in a way that left her feeling small and out of place.
“They made me feel so tiny and so stupid,” she confessed, calling the experience “really unpleasant.”
Facing Anxiety Behind the DJ Booth
This isn’t the first time Jo has been vulnerable about her struggles.
In a previous interview with Women’s Health, she talked about the intense anxiety she faced while DJing in the 1990s. One particular gig almost pushed her to the edge.
“I thought, I can’t go on like this. It’s ruining my life,” she remembered.
But it was the joy she brought to others through music that eventually pulled her through.
That realization helped her shift her mindset and reconnect with the reason she loved her job in the first place.
Speaking Out Against ‘Lad Mag’ Culture
While reflecting on her career, Jo also took a moment to criticize the hyper-sexualized media culture of the ’90s and early 2000s.
She highlighted how damaging “lad mags” were — publications that often objectified women under the guise of lifestyle content for men.
“There was so much judgement of women and their bodies,” she said. “It was a ludicrous time to be a woman.”
Her approach? Keep her head down and ride out the storm.
Finding Strength Through Menopause and Fitness
More recently, Jo has spoken up about how she struggled emotionally during menopause.
Inspired by Davina McCall’s campaign encouraging open conversations about this phase of life, Jo revealed that she felt like she “really lost” herself at the time.
“I cried all the time,” she said honestly. “I just felt very weak.” But what made the difference was turning to the gym.
Building physical strength became her lifeline. “Getting myself strong has played a really big part in helping me be the person I am today. It really saved me.”