Writer & Poet David Larbi | Mo Gilligan's Beginning, Middle & End #podcast

David Larbi joins Mo Gilligan on the Beginning, Middle & End podcast for a warm, honest conversation about creativity, purpose, and finding happiness in everyday life. David opens up about his upbringing, early love for music and football, and how writing became a way to understand himself and the world around him. He reflects on growing up with big expectations, navigating university, and learning to trust his creative instincts — even when the path didn’t look traditional or secure. As the conversation unfolds, Mo and David dive into the realities of chasing a creative life: rejection, money pressures, vulnerability, and the emotional weight of being seen. David speaks candidly about writing Frequently Happy, the impact it’s had on readers around the world, and the responsibility that comes with sharing your inner world so openly. Thoughtful, funny, and deeply human, this episode is a reminder that happiness isn’t something you arrive at — it’s something you practise, moment by moment. ---------- 00:00 Intro & Mo welcomes David Larbi 01:05 Discovering Frequently Happy & writing in seasons 02:30 Falling in love with music & creative expression 05:00 University, academia & realising writing was the outlet 07:20 Writing in school & creativity as escape 09:00 Ghanaian parents, expectations & choosing your own path 12:10 Wanting financial freedom vs emotional fulfilment 14:20 Student finance, money pressure & self-worth 16:10 Learning to treat yourself like your best friend 18:00 Becoming an author & hearing the word out loud 20:10 Messages from readers & the real impact of the book 22:00 Seeing the book in Waterstones & family pride 25:00 Social media as proof of concept & finding your people 28:00 The pressure of visibility & responsibility of influence 31:00 Handling negativity, gratitude & staying grounded 34:00 Rejection, failure & building thicker skin 38:30 Success myths & what people don’t see 41:00 Being featured in GQ, Forbes & Radio 1 45:00 Identity, imposter feelings & staying authentic 48:00 Enjoying the fruits of your labour 52:00 Writing through seasons of life 55:00 Creativity, vibes & lived experience 58:30 How far the book has travelled & US trips 01:00:30 Final reflections on happiness, purpose & growth ---------- Welcome to my YouTube Channel! Subscribe for brand new stand up, behind the scenes action, sensational podcast content and exclusives from the MOMO G Network. Comment, like, share and tell us what you think. Follow Mo on Twitter/Instagram: https://twitter.com/mothecomedian | https://www.instagram.com/mothecomedian/ Like the page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mogilligan/ Join the Mo Gilligan mailing list on www.mogilligan.com for updates on shows and events.