Explore every episode of the podcast Dare to be Different with Craig White

Sexologist Coral Osborne spent years seeing a side of men they rarely reveal publicly. Drawing on her former life as a sex worker and her work coaching high-performing men, this conversation explores what sits underneath sex, fantasy, shame, secrecy and the desire for connection.

SHOW NOTES:

- Why many of the men she met through sex work were seeking connection and non-judgment as much as sex

- How being publicly exposed forced her to confront shame, secrecy and the double life she had been living

-Why sexual fantasies can provide clues about unmet needs, attachment patterns and unresolved parts of ourselves

-Why men struggling in sexless relationships often need to examine the way they are living outside the bedroom

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, financial planner and money coach Sean McDermott explores why our relationship with money is often a reflection of our relationship with ourselves. 

The conversation moves beyond numbers into fear, scarcity, purpose, self-development and what financial success is actually supposed to provide.

SHOW NOTES:

• why understanding what you actually want from money should come before financial planning
• how fear and scarcity can remain even when somebody becomes financially successful
• why taking responsibility for your finances can reduce stress and uncertainty
• how his own approach to work and leadership has changed through self-development
• why working harder and longer is not necessarily the route to greater success

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

After unexpectedly losing his sight and later becoming paralysed, explorer Mark Pollock was forced to rebuild his identity more than once. 

In this episode, he explores grief, acceptance, hope and the practical process of finding something worth moving towards when life suddenly changes.

SHOW NOTES:

•  how grief, anger, denial and self-pity form part of the human response to crisis 
•  why having even one person firmly in your corner can make a significant difference 
•  how being challenged to create a five-year plan shifted him from patient to competitor and creator 
•  why he believes people need both acceptance of the present and hope for the future

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, elite rugby coach John Mitchell reflects on the personal transformation behind his evolution as a man and leader. He explores the conditioning that shaped his earlier coaching style, the violent attack that forced him to reassess his life, and why relationships and presence now sit at the centre of his leadership.

SHOW NOTES:

• how rugby, boarding school and a results-driven environment shaped his earlier leadership
• why the attack he experienced in South Africa became a major turning point
• how he moved beyond purely outcome-focused coaching towards stronger relationships
• what presence and emotional awareness bring to high-performance environments
• how his changing approach has affected coaching, intimate relationships and life outside rugby

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, Craig sits down with former Springbok Leader Joe van Niekerk as he reflects on his journey from elite rugby leadership to spiritual inquiry, brotherhood, and a very different definition of strength.

The conversation explores grief, identity after sport, plant medicine, vulnerability, and why the deepest work of a man’s life may begin when the old role falls away.

SHOW NOTES:

- How losing his father at 13 shaped the fearlessness that drove his rugby career

- What happened when rugby ended and the next deeper search began 

- Why ayahuasca, retreats, and time in the jungle became part of his path 

- How he now defines masculine strength through range, balance, and truth 

- Why brotherhood, vulnerability, and relationship have become central to his life

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, sex and relationship expert Carla Crivaro explains why men can find themselves wanting more sex just as their partners begin withdrawing from intimacy. 

The conversation explores sexual disconnection, emotional safety, male shame, performance pressure and the everyday behaviours that can either weaken or rebuild connection.

SHOW NOTES:

- Why a mismatch in sexual desire often reflects a much wider loss of connection

- How mental load and control can create an unhelpful mother-and-son dynamic

- Why presence, honesty and emotional discipline help a woman feel safer

- How chasing orgasm and performance can pull both partners out of intimacy

- How listening, non-sexual touch, check-ins, play and clear boundaries can rebuild closeness

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, former Wales international Rhys Thomas returns for a third time to share what it was like to finally receive the call for a heart transplant after 12 years of waiting. The conversation explores fear, surrender, survival, gratitude, recovery, and how life feels when the future suddenly opens up again.

SHOW NOTES

•  what it felt like to receive the call he had waited years for 
•  how he approached the operation emotionally and mentally before going under 
•  what waking up after the transplant was like and why it felt magical 
•  how fear, survival, and uncertainty shaped the years before the operation 
•  what he has reclaimed in himself since the transplant, including joy and softness

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, author and relationship coach Alison Armstrong breaks down how women often misunderstand men, and how that misunderstanding creates tension, shame, and conflict in relationships. The conversation explores respect, provision, partnership, emotional control, and the deeper pressures many men carry that women often never see.

SHOW NOTES:

- Alison’s story and turning point in how she saw men
- Respect, appreciation and what men respond to
- Purpose, provision and solving problems
- Shame, failure and the male experience
- Giving, receiving and relational balance
- Power struggles and misunderstanding in relationships
- Male self-control and emotional intensity
- Fear, anger and the “rage monster”

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, highly successful entrepreneur and Bournemouth Sevens founder Dodge Woodall shares what he sees in successful men who look fine on the outside but are struggling underneath. The conversation explores money, risk, burnout, marriage, emotional awareness, and why more men need honest support before things fall apart.

SHOW NOTES:

•  Why many men with status, money, and responsibility still feel deeply lost 
•  How risk, pressure, and obsession can drive entrepreneurial success and personal cost 
•  What has helped him stay connected to his wife through years of building 
•  How his parents shaped his self-belief, discipline, and way of relating to people 
•  Why unresolved emotion eventually catches up with men in business and in life

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, Craig is joined by Kayse Gehret, a healing arts practitioner and microdosing educator. During the discussion she explains how psilocybin microdosing can support nervous system regulation, emotional healing, and deeper presence. The conversation explores Casey’s personal healing journey, what microdosing actually is, and why so many men are drawn to this work when stress, pressure, and emotional armouring start taking a toll.

SHOW NOTES

-How losing her father and later developing seizures shaped her healing path 

 -What happened when she first tried psilocybin microdosing for her chronic symptoms 

 -Why many men fear softening, slowing down, and feeling more deeply 

 -How microdosing can support nervous system healing, presence, and intimacy 

 -What to consider around dosage, contraindications, and supporting practices

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, Craig sits down for a second round with renowned men’s coach Traver Boehm to share his experience of a recent 49 day dark retreat.

Together they discuss what led him back into a 49-day dark retreat after a season of grief, death, and deep internal change. Traver opens up about fear, initiation, the psychological intensity of total darkness, and how the experience altered the way he works, writes, and lives.

SHOW NOTES:

- What pushed Traver to return to the dark
- Why the 49-day retreat felt like an initiation rather than an adventure
- How pain, boredom, grief, and isolation reshaped him
- The moment “one life, soul-led, all in” became his new framework for life
- What changed in his work  and way of relating after he came out

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, Craig sits down with his wife Sara Carter to explore trauma, embodiment, healing, and the intelligence of the body. 

Sara shares how surviving rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and disconnection led her into a deep journey of somatic healing, self-trust, and learning how to listen to the body.

SHOW NOTES:

- How trauma left her numb, dissociated, and disconnected from her body 

- Why learning to feel safe again became the foundation of her healing 

- How breath, somatic practice, and authentic movement helped her reconnect with herself 

- Why women need to honor their cycles, emotions, and inner communication -

- How truth, honesty, and emotional ownership can transform relationships

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this conversation, Craig sits down with a sexual energy and intimacy coach Graeme Watefield. Together they break down why so many men carry shame, silence, and confusion around sex. The discussion explores sexual energy in practical terms, how repression shows up in the lives of leader's and why breath, presence, and nervous system regulation matter in intimacy.

SHOW NOTES:

- How his own journey through compulsive porn use and early ejaculation led him into this work 

- What he means by “sexual energy” and why many men feel disconnected from it 

- How shame and repression can affect confidence, intimacy, and the way men relate 

- Why slowing down, breathing, and feeling the body can change sexual experience 

- How deeper presence can strengthen intimacy, relationships, and leadership

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

This conversation explores modern leadership, emotional awareness, and the inner work required for men to lead with authenticity. The discussion focuses on how many men operate from the mind alone and the importance of reconnecting with the body, emotions, and purpose.

SHOW NOTES:

• Why she became passionate about helping men and male leadership evolve
• How many men are disconnected from their bodies and emotions
• What she learned after leaving a career in corporate consultancy
• Why leadership transformation requires deeper inner work
• How reconnecting with purpose can change how men lead and live

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Today Craig welcomes back Rhys Thomas, a former Wales pro rugby player turned inspirational speaker and breathwork facilitator.

This conversation explores Rhys' experiences with mortality, transformation, and the journey of learning to embrace death. The discussion reflects on life after professional sport, addiction recovery, spirituality, and turning pain into purpose.

SHOW NOTES:

- How his heart attack in changed the direction of his life 

- Why he spent years in “self-destruction, alcoholism, and darkness” after retirement 

- How hr has confronted the fear of death

- How meditation, breathwork, and spirituality helped him find renewed purpose

- Why love for his children and partner keeps him moving forward

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode Craig sits down with Blaire Palmer a former BBC journalist and producer who now has two decades of experience coaching and shaping senior leaders. She is an inspirational speaker, author and expert authority on leadership.

This conversation explores leadership, organisational change, and why many leaders struggle when faced with uncertainty and complexity. The discussion examines how leadership models are evolving and why honest conversations inside organisations are often avoided.

SHOW NOTES:

• Why many organisations struggle to adapt to change
• How leaders often avoid difficult conversations inside teams
• The leadership patterns that keep organisations stuck
• Why uncertainty challenges traditional leadership models
• How modern leadership requires more openness and adaptability

Check Blaire out:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/blairepalmer/
https://www.thatpeoplething.com/

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

This conversation explores parts work, men’s groups, and why many men remain stuck in survival patterns from childhood. The discussion focuses on the shift from reactive boyish behaviour to grounded masculine presence.

SHOW NOTES:

• Why “men need men so we can be in it together” 
• How many men are still operating as “scared little boys” 
• What happens when the inner protector runs a man’s life
• Why breathing and embodiment interrupt survival mode
• How the shift from “am I” to “I am” changes everything

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

This episode features a discussion with Lynsey Chan, a breathwork expert. 

Craig and Lynsey discuss what breathwork is and the power of breathwork in transformation, especially for men.

Together their discussion focuses on how unprocessed experiences can be stored in the body and why integration and behaviour change matter after emotional release.

SHOW NOTES:

• Lynsey's experience and background
• How overwhelming experiences can become “stored in the body”
• Why the body moves into fight, flight, or freeze states
• How breathwork could “revolutionize the world of men”
• The importance of men learning to trust themselves and the breath
• Why integration after nervous system reset is where the real work happens

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

This episode follows a leadership coach who has successfully rebuilt her identity after a deeply personal crisis, she reflects on her experiences with men in both family life and the corporate world, exploring how emotional suppression and an inability to hold women’s emotions shaped her childhood, her parents’ marriage, and her relationship with her father. 

This conversation connects personal grief, leadership, and emotional intelligence, revealing how these patterns need to be disrupted in order for real leaders to emerge in the workplaces and inter-personal relationships of today.

SHOW NOTES

–  Introduction and her work as a leadership coach
– Losing her baby and the health crisis that changed everything
– Rebuilding identity after grief and physical recovery
– Men, emotional suppression, and the inability to hold women’s pain
– How her parents’ marriage broke down
– Her strained and painful relationship with her father
– Parallels between family dynamics and the corporate world
– What leadership looks like when emotional safety is missing
– Redefining strength, vulnerability, and purpose

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

This episode explores the journey of a former rugby player turned business owner and father of five. Through moments of reflection, he opens up about the pressures of performance, emotional growth, and what truly matters when juggling success and family life.

SHOW NOTES

• How rugby and construction shaped his early identity
• The role fatherhood plays in his decision-making
• Why people pleasing became a hidden pattern
• How family teamwork became a central value

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

This episode Craig explores the inner landscape of men’s mental health with a psychotherapist who has spent decades helping her clients heal shame, regulate their nervous systems, and reconnect with their inner strength. 

With a deeply personal share, grounded insights and practical tools, this conversation invites men and women to feel again — and heal from the inside out.

In this episode, Ella reveals:

• A personal story of trauma and how it shaped perception of men
• Why shame and self-criticism often block emotional healing
• How trauma can be stored physically and subconsciously
• Why many men feel unsafe sharing emotional pain
• Understanding the cycles of abuse and emotional complexity
• Why nervous system regulation is key to transformation
• Agreements for emotional safety in relationships

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Known for his fierce competitiveness and unrelenting drive, Mike Brown opens up in this episode about the emotional fuel behind his rugby career. From growing up with a chip on his shoulder to becoming one of England’s most respected full-backs, Mike shares the untold side of performance — anger, isolation, identity, and transformation. 

He now uses everything he learned to help build healthier high-performance cultures.

SHOW NOTES

• Why anger and rejection shaped his rugby identity
• How his childhood created a need to constantly prove himself
• The emotional cost of elite performance
• How becoming a father changed his purpose
• What true leadership looks like beyond the pitch

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Former England Rugby captain and World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio shares the story behind the success — a life marked by personal tragedy, grief, leadership under pressure, and the cost of never pausing to feel. In this grounded and emotionally open conversation, Lawrence reveals how rugby became his escape, how family loss shaped his identity, and why vulnerability has taken him a lifetime to access.

SHOW NOTES

• How grief shaped his purpose and drive in rugby
• The emotional cost of never stopping to feel
• Why sport gave him identity, validation, and structure
• How being a leader meant carrying pain with silence
• His mission today to help excluded young people find hope

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Human potential coach and breathwork guide Ben Bidwell joins the show to share his journey from emotional numbness to embodied presence. 

In this deep and vulnerable conversation, Ben explores the nervous system, the healing power of breathwork, and what it truly means to feel. 

He also reflects on his past patterns of disconnection, his breakthrough moments, and why men need a different kind of support when it comes to emotional growth.

SHOW NOTES

• How breathwork helped him reconnect with emotional safety
• Why the body holds the truth we often avoid
• The patterns that kept him numb and performing
• How presence became more powerful than performance
• The emotional cost of not being taught how to feel

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Clinical psychologist and trauma specialist Dr. Warren Larkin shares decades of insight into how unresolved childhood trauma and repressed emotional pain continue to shape our adult lives, from nervous system dysregulation to chronic stress and emotional disconnection. He explains the hidden cost of survival, why we break down when we stop staying busy, and how true healing begins with nervous system awareness.

SHOW NOTES:

• Why trauma is far more common than most people think
• How childhood attachment shapes your ability to regulate emotions
• What happens when high performers stop and finally feel
• How grief, stress, and trauma show up in the body
• Simple, powerful tools to start healing your nervous system

You can find more information about Warren and his work here: https://warrenlarkinassociates.co.uk/

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

What separates elite coaches from good ones? It’s not just technique. It’s not just presence. It’s the ability to think at a much higher level.

In this episode, Craig sits down with developmental psychologist Dr. Darren Stevens for a deep dive on why most coaches unknowingly operate below the level of their clients and what it really takes operate at the next level of human development and performance.

Dr Darren Stevens is a University lecturer, researcher, and author, he is the founder of 'Constructed Development Theory'. A breakthrough psychological approach to adult development that focuses on self-awareness through understanding the unconscious use of mental shortcuts. His theory offers a practical process to elevate levels of thinking to promote personal growth.

This is a conversation for the coaches, leaders, and self development seekers who are ready to evolve beyond their limitations and step towards the next level of human development and mastery.


SHOW NOTES

- Why coaches must think above the level of their clients
- The critical role of pattern recognition in transformation
- How traditional coaching qualifications fall short
- What happens when a client outpaces the coach
- How to step into “next-level” coaching that truly changes lives

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, Craig White sits down with Leadership coach Benjamin Owen. 

Ben opens up about his personal journey and the patterns that have shaped him: father dynamics, self-story and self-sabotage, the role of coaches and teams, and the small practices he uses to steady himself. 

In this conversation we discuss:
- Why hiding parts of yourself limits your power as a coach
- The ripple effect of radical transparency in group settings
- How to embody love and openness in professional life
- Men's retreats and the tools that create transformation
- Integrating leadership with emotional awareness
- Creating space for others by going first
- Fatherhood dynamics and the effect on leadership

SHOW NOTES

– Intro & Ben’s background

– Growing up & father dynamics

 – Self-sabotage & early struggles

 – Recovery, coaches & support network

– Performance, teams & business

 – Relationships & family

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Clarke Carlisle was once known as the “brainiest footballer” — a Premier League defender, PFA chairman, and TV pundit.

But behind the public persona was a man crumbling under the weight of expectation, alcohol dependency, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Clarke sits down with Craig White to talk about the cost of tying your identity to performance, the masks men wear to survive, and the brutal reality of hitting rock bottom.

He also shares the turning point that changed his life in 2017 - discovering cognitive analytical therapy (CAT), finding hope, and learning how to rebuild as a father, husband, and leader.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own success, or wondered what it takes to come back from the darkest places, this conversation will hit home.

Show Notes

Identity & Collapse

• How injury and loss of football destroyed Clark’s sense of worth
• The dangers of tying identity to performance

Alcohol, Avoidance & The Mask

• Drinking, gambling, gaming — and the exhausting cost of hiding struggles
• The mask men wear to survive

Rock Bottom

• Depression, hypersomnia, bottles by the bed
• Suicide attempts and the moment he almost didn’t survive

The Turning Point

• 2017: NHS psychiatric hospital and cognitive analytical therapy (CAT)
• How CAT therapy gave him hope and a way out

Purpose & Transformation

• Rebuilding as a husband, father, and leader
• Turning his mess into his message with his wife
• Why speaking out, and knowing who to talk to, saves lives

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Denis Betts is a rugby league legend.

But behind the trophies and the Great Britain caps lies a story about ego, endings, and learning what really matters.

In this raw and revealing conversation, Denis and I dive into:

• Why he chose to let go of anger in his mid-twenties
• The clash of egos and the regret of stepping away too soon
• The role of family and the influence of strong women in his life
• What coaching Wigan Women has taught him about leadership
• Why joy and purpose matter more than medals

This is Denis Betts like you’ve never heard him before.

SHOW NOTES

The Making of a Legend

• Dennis’s rise at Wigan and Great Britain
• What success looked like in a golden era of rugby league

Family, Joy & Simplicity

• Why his happiest moments weren’t always on the pitch
• Grass, sun, family dinners — finding joy in the small things

Letting Go of Anger

• The moment he decided anger wasn’t serving him anymore
• Playing a violent sport without carrying violence inside

Ego, Endings & Regret

• The clashing egos that led to his retirement
• The regret of stepping away too soon
• Lessons from endings and identity beyond sport

Strong Women & Leadership

• Raising three daughters and how it shaped him
• Coaching Wigan Warriors Women
• What leadership really means when you adapt to the people in front of you

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

I first coached James Haskell when he was a teenager - he had big energy, big personality, and was full of potential. But beneath the surface, he was carrying self-doubt, pressure, and a deep need to prove himself.

In this episode, we sit down for a raw and honest conversation about what was really going on behind the image.

We talk about:

• The impact of being medicated from age 10 and surviving boarding school
• Why he spent years performing, without knowing who he really was
• What therapy helped him uncover about self-worth, confidence, and anger
• The moment he saw his dad's "shadows" for the first time
• Why strength without emotional range isn't leadership
• How marriage, grief, and failure shaped the man he’s becoming

It’s not about rugby. It’s about the work men have to do when the noise stops, and the feelings finally catch up.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Mike Bates grew up in chaos - violence, instability and the deep belief that he wasn’t enough. That belief followed him through the military, into high-stakes leadership, and even across a solo Atlantic row.

In this episode, Mike shares how childhood trauma shaped his mindset, relationships and sense of identity, and what it took to finally let go of performance and prove nothing to no one.

We talk about the rope climb that changed his life, the cost of people-pleasing, and how Brazilian jiu-jitsu helped him discover real emotional strength.

You’ll hear about:

• Growing up without his dad and how that created a fear of abandonment
• Using performance as a way to earn love and worth
• His transformation from elite leadership to emotional depth
• Why leadership without inner work eventually breaks down
• How jiu-jitsu reveals who you really are when everything else is stripped away

This is a story about limits, letting go, and learning to lead yourself first.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Wigan Warriors rugby league star and former Leeds Rhinos captain Kruise Leeming joins me for an honest, powerful conversation about leadership, loss, identity, and emotional growth.

At just eight years old, Kruise lost his dad and was immediately told he was now “the man of the house.” That moment shaped everything: his drive, his discipline, and his approach to sport and leadership. But as he opens up here, it also left scars.

We explore:

• The pressure of early responsibility
• The cost of performance-first leadership
• Owning past mistakes and letting go of guilt
• Reconnecting with faith, vulnerability and inner peace
• Becoming a better man — for himself and the people around him

Kruise speaks openly about the things he got wrong, the people he wishes he’d said sorry to, and how he’s learning to show up differently on and off the pitch.

This episode goes beyond sport. It’s about identity, masculinity, grief, and the courage it takes to slow down and change.

Show Notes

Kruise’s Journey into Manhood

• Losing his father at age 8
• Taking on responsibility too young
• Being told: “You’re the man of the house now”
• His mum’s role in keeping him disciplined

Sport as an Escape and a Mirror

• Finding rugby by chance
• Why individual sports weren’t enough
• Realising rugby gave him belonging and identity
• Feeling seen for the first time

The Drive to Succeed and What It Cost

• His obsession with performance
• Leadership at Leeds and the emotional disconnect
• How “winning” became a way to avoid feeling
• The relationships and moments he regrets missing

The Turning Point

• Grace (his partner) giving him permission to be vulnerable
• Starting to question: “Why does that trigger me?”
• Stepping into real masculinity, not performative strength

Faith, Reflection and Slowing Down

• Losing belief in God – and slowly finding it again
• How faith helps him see beauty in difference
• Letting go of judgement and control

Mentors, Father Figures and Role Models

• The influence of his grandad and Gaz Greenwood
• Learning discipline, respect, and how to carry yourself
• The power of being held to a high standard

Leadership, Identity and the Work Ahead

• Learning to lead without anger
• Understanding himself through CliftonStrengths
• Starting to feel free to be himself again at Wigan
• Looking ahead to life after rugby: speaking, coaching, and helping others

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Daniel Granger looked like he had it all.

A successful hairdresser. A public figure. TV appearances. A big personality. But behind the scenes? He was exhausted. Addicted. Broken.

In this raw and honest episode, Dan sits down with me to share the truth behind the mask. From childhood trauma and addiction to homelessness, suicide attempts and deep-rooted mistrust of men, this is a story about surviving, and eventually healing.

Dan talks about:

• Growing up in chaos and losing his dad at 8
• Finding safety in feminine spaces after being abused by the men in his life
• How fatherhood gave him purpose—but didn’t fix the pain
• What it really took to feel safe in his own skin: retreats, rituals, boxing, plant medicine
• And why he now shows up for other men the way he always wished someone had shown up for him

This isn’t a story about fame or business. It’s a story about what it takes to become the man you never had.

Show Notes

The Masks We Wear

• Why performing success left Dan feeling more alone than ever
• The moment he hit rock bottom and called Craig for help

Childhood Trauma & Safety in Femininity

•  Abuse, abandonment, and the death of his father at 8
•  Why Dan gravitated towards women and struggled to trust men

Homeless at 13 – Finding Tribe in Unlikely Places

•  Building a hut in a park
•  Taken in by a Christian men’s community that changed his life

Healing Through Brotherhood

•  Learning to feel safe around men through retreats and boxing
•  Grieving his father for the first time during a San Pedro ceremony

Becoming a Man You Actually Like

•  Letting go of addiction and old identities
•  The power of fatherhood, purpose, and helping others heal

Dan’s Mission Today

•  Creating safe spaces for men
•  Why his legacy won’t be built behind a salon chair, but in the hearts of the men he reaches

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Diego Sanchez was one of the top male models in the world — fronting major campaigns and living a life of global travel, status, and success.

But at 29, something cracked.

In this episode, I sit down with Diego to talk about the quiet breakdown that happened behind the success… and the journey that followed. 

From the catwalks of the fashion world to the forests of Uruguay, Diego now works as a somatic therapist and retreat leader helping others reconnect with their bodies and nervous systems.

We explore:

• Letting go of ego and external validation
• What happens when the body says no
• The life-changing moment Diego first discovered shiatsu
• Touch, trauma, and the power of nervous system work
• Why so many high performers feel hollow

Show Notes:

Life on the Catwalk

• What modelling gave him
• How success masked deeper disconnection

The Moment Everything Changed

• Turning 29 and hearing a word that cracked something open
• Why shiatsu marked the start of a new life

The Power of Touch

• How our nervous system holds emotion, memory and truth
• Why talk therapy alone isn't enough for real transformation

Grounding, Presence, and Somatic Wisdom

• What Diego teaches today through his retreats and 1:1 work
• How leaders can move from the head back into the body

A New Definition of Masculinity

• Leading from softness, not force
• Reclaiming power without the armour

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

The diagnosis that changed everything: Keith McGuinnes on cancer, masculinity, and the power of receiving

What happens when a fit, healthy yoga teacher steeped in Eastern practices, meditation and spiritual growth is suddenly diagnosed with cancer?

In this episode, I sit down with Keith McGuinnes, founder of Awaken Intimacy and co-founder of The Open Institute, to explore how a life-threatening illness forced him to stop pushing, start receiving, and finally open to the deeper lessons of intimacy, vulnerability and connection.

We talk about:

• The shock of receiving a cancer diagnosis at 40
• Why he chose chemotherapy (even as a holistic health practitioner)
• How the experience broke his lone wolf mentality
• The power of receiving love
• What men are missing when they stay stuck in hyper-masculinity
• His work today helping men and couples reclaim intimacy, polarity and presence

This is a raw, real and powerful conversation about grief, grace, and growing up.

Show Notes

Keith’s Cancer Diagnosis

• What happened at age 40 and the symptoms he ignored
• Why chemo was the right choice (even as a long-time yogi)
• How the experience forced him to slow down, reflect, and receive

The Emotional Journey

• Grieving the years he couldn’t receive love
• Learning to express emotion and let people in
• How it shifted his relationship to his own body and energy

Masculinity, Polarity and Intimacy

• The trap of hyper-masculine giving and the strength in receiving
• Letting go of lone wolf energy in favour of connection
• Why true intimacy requires openness — not just strength

Post-Cancer Purpose

• Moving from survival to service
• Keith’s work through Awaken Intimacy and The Open Institute
• Building community, relational depth, and sacred spaces in modern life

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Why are so many men exhausted, disconnected, and running on empty — even when they look like they’ve got it all together?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Emmet Byrne - a former Ireland rugby international turned men’s health doctor - to unpack what’s really going wrong with modern masculinity, medicine, and mental health.

We explore:

• Why the medical system is failing men
• The truth about testosterone decline (and why TRT isn’t a quick fix)
• The link between movement, strength, and emotional health
• Why we’ve normalised feeling average — and how to break out of it
• How to spot the signs you’re treating symptoms, not solving the root

From elite sport to holistic medicine, Emmet’s journey is proof that reinvention is possible, and necessary.

A must-listen for any man who wants to feel strong again. On the inside, and out.

Or watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu96RkgMYq0

Show Notes

From Pro Rugby to Medicine

• How Emmet went from the Ireland jersey to medical school
• What rugby taught him about pressure, pain, and purpose
• Why performance delays but doesn’t erase inner struggles

The Medical System Isn’t Working

• Why most men are treated only when they’re broken
• The failure of the symptom-focused model
• How GPs are unequipped to deal with whole-person health

The Testosterone Crisis

• Why so many men are seeing their energy, drive, and mood collapse
• What’s causing low T and what isn’t
• When testosterone replacement can help… and when it can’t

Movement Is Medicine

• Why sedentary living is quietly wrecking men’s wellbeing
• The link between physical strength and emotional resilience
• What Emmet recommends for men over 35

A New Model for Men’s Health

• From functional medicine to full-spectrum care
• What men really need to thrive
• How OptiMan is trying to change the story

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Fresh off France’s Six Nations win, I sat down with my old mate Shaun Edwards for a rare, wide-ranging conversation.

This isn’t just an interview — it’s two lads from Wigan catching up after decades walking very different, but strangely parallel paths. Both of us came up through rugby, through hard graft and old-school values. But over time, we’ve both had to evolve. As coaches. As leaders. As men.

We talked about it all, from the early days and the systems that changed the game, to fear, fatherhood, grief, and what it means to lead with heart, not just tactics.

Shaun opened up in a way I don’t think many have heard before. And for me, this episode felt special.

We get into:
Why Shaun hates losing more than he loves winning
What fear can teach you and where it can fuck you
How he sees leadership and masculinity now
The shift from hardness to softness
Coaching at the highest level, and what really drives performance

If you’re interested in what makes a great coach, a great team, or just a good man, this one’s worth a listen.

The Making of a Competitor

• Growing up in Wigan, and early life lessons from his dad
• Why grief became a driving force
• The difference between rugby league and union — and what it taught him

Coaching with Fire

• The early years at Wasps and Wales
• Lessons from working with Gatland, Farrell and co
• What still motivates him after all these years

A Brother Beyond Rugby

• The early days of my friendship with Shaun
• What we’ve learned from each other and where our paths crossed again
• The moment he started embracing softness

Leadership that Lasts

• What players really need from a coach today
• The evolution of Shaun’s leadership style
• Why presence, empathy and intuition matter more than ever

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

From the outside, Jeremy Bettle had it all — a high-profile career in elite sport, working with some of the world’s most successful athletes and organisations. But behind the scenes, he was running on empty.

In this episode, Jeremy shares the quiet crisis that brought him to a breaking point, and the path he took to rebuild a life rooted in presence, truth, and vitality.

We talk about:

• The cost of performing and pushing for too long
• Why success without meaning leads to burnout
• Letting go of identity and walking into the unknown
• The medicine in movement, men’s work, and Peru
• What it means to build a life from the inside out

This is a conversation about what happens when men stop chasing and start feeling — and the freedom that follows.

The Build-up to Burnout

• Jeremy’s rise through elite sport and performance coaching
• The moment he realised success wasn’t enough
• How professional ambition can become emotional suppression

Breaking the Pattern

• The physical and emotional signals he could no longer ignore
• Walking away from what looked like a dream job
• The fear and freedom of not knowing what’s next

Reconnection and Recovery

• Why movement, breathwork and brotherhood became vital
• Insights from ICONIC and the Peru men’s retreat
• Letting go of roles, pressure, and performance

A New Way of Living

• Learning to listen to the body
• Rebuilding from purpose, not pressure
• What high performers need to hear — and unlearn

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Movement is more than just physical. It’s emotional. Energetic. Transformational.

In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend and co-facilitator of the ICONIC program, Martin Bone. We explore the deeper meaning of movement and dance, not as performance, but as a powerful doorway back into the body.

For many men, especially those raised in the UK and Ireland, movement became linear - lifting weights, pushing harder, always doing. But in that, freedom, expression, and spontaneity got lost.

We talk about how reclaiming movement helped us both heal old wounds, reconnect with our emotions, and become better leaders, fathers, partners, and men.

This conversation is about breaking the stigma, getting over yourself, and remembering the body knows what to do... if you let it!

Show Notes

The Stigma Around Dance and Expression

• Why so many men freeze at the idea of dancing
• How childhood and culture taught us to suppress movement
• Craig and Martin’s early experiences with dance, shame and identity

Dance as a Doorway Back to the Body

• Movement as medicine for emotion, stress, and stuckness
• Why the body holds wisdom that the mind can’t access
• The link between dance, emotional release, and inner freedom

From Raves to Retreats

• The role of club culture and music in helping men reconnect with their bodies
• How early experiences with dance music created space for self-expression
• The transition from unconscious release to conscious embodiment

Why Movement Belongs in Men’s Work

• How the ICONIC retreat in Peru uses movement to create real transformation
• Why most men’s breakthroughs come through the body, not the mind
• Creating safe spaces where men can move, feel, express without being judged

How to Start

• Simple ways men can reconnect with movement and shake off years of stiffness
• The importance of containers, consistency, and community
• Letting go of the need to ‘know how’ and learning to trust the body again.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Athletes talk about it like it’s magic. That moment when everything slows down, the game feels effortless, and they’re completely in the zone.

But what if flow state wasn’t random? What if you could access it on demand?

I sit down with Scott Ford—author, coach, and a pioneer in non-dual awareness in sport. He’s spent over 40 years teaching athletes how to enter and sustain flow states intentionally, rather than just hoping it happens.

What is Flow State in Sport?

• Why athletes describe being in the zone as effortless, timeless, and automatic
• The difference between flow happening by accident vs. accessing it on demand
• The key shift in focus and awareness that changes everything

How to Train for Flow

• Why “watching the ball” might actually be limiting your reactions
• The soft focus technique that allows you to see and react faster
• How to stop overthinking and let your body’s intelligence take over

Beyond Competition: The Non-Dual Approach

• Why traditional competition is dualistic (me vs. you) and how that affects performance
• How non-dual awareness allows athletes to co-create the game with their opponents
• Why playing in flow isn’t just about winning—it’s about playing at your highest level

Practical Applications for Coaches and Athletes

• How tennis, rugby, and even Navy SEALs have applied Scott’s work
• Simple drills to train focus, presence, and reaction time
• Why flow training is the next evolution in coaching and performance

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Most men spend their lives in their heads: overthinking, overanalysing, and second-guessing. But true leadership, confidence, and resilience don’t start in the mind, they start in the body.

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Walsh, one of the world’s leading embodiment coaches, to explore why so many men feel disconnected from their power and how reconnecting with the body can transform how they lead, train, and show up in the world.

This isn’t just theory. Mark has worked with elite professionals, trauma survivors, corporate leaders, and athletes worldwide, helping them develop embodied leadership and resilience. His insights are practical, powerful, and cut straight to the point.

Show Notes

Why Men Need to Get Out of Their Heads

• Why most men live in their heads and the impact on confidence and leadership
• The difference between thinking about change and embodying it
• How weightlifting, martial arts, and movement help men reconnect with presence

The Role of Physical Practices in Mental Resilience

• How gym training can be a sacred practice for focus and discipline
• Why men need challenge, struggle, and physical adversity to grow
• The connection between breath, posture, and emotional state

Breaking Free from Overthinking and Insecurity

• The science of embodiment - how your body shapes your mindset
• Why men struggle with boundaries, people-pleasing, and saying no
• Practical techniques to build presence and confidence in daily life

The Bigger Picture: Why Society is Failing Men

• How modern culture is weakening masculinity and what men can do about it
• The importance of mentorship, challenge, and a strong peer group
• Mark’s personal journey, from addiction and nihilism to leadership and resilience

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

This episode isn’t just about leadership—it’s about self-awareness, emotional mastery, and the deeper work men need to do to lead with confidence and integrity.

In this conversation, I sit down with Rod Boothroyd, who has spent over two decades working with men, helping them uncover what’s holding them back and step into their full leadership potential. 

We dive deep into the reasons why so many men struggle with leadership—whether in their careers, relationships, or personal lives.

Rod shares his insights from psychotherapy, shadow work, and men’s development, unpacking why modern leadership feels so disconnected, hesitant, or misdirected—and what men can do to reclaim their inner power.

Show Notes

The Root of Leadership Struggles

• Why so many men feel lost when it comes to leadership
• The role of absent fathers and childhood wounds in shaping a man’s confidence
• How modern society has disconnected men from true leadership

Reclaiming the King Energy

• The four archetypes—King, Warrior, Magician, Lover—and why men struggle to embody them
• The difference between real power and control
• How a man’s ability to process emotions directly impacts his leadership

The Hidden Cost of Unprocessed Grief

• Why so many men struggle to feel joy and fulfillment
• How suppressed grief and loss block leadership potential
• The essential role of emotional intelligence in strong leadership

Practical Steps to Step Into Leadership

• How to develop self-leadership and move from hesitation to confidence
• The power of mentorship—why every man needs a guide
• The impact of men’s groups, accountability, and long-term personal growth

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

Matty Peet is back. After a phenomenal few years leading Wigan Rugby League to unprecedented success, I sit down with him to reflect on the highs, the challenges, and what it really takes to lead at the highest level.

From winning every available trophy to managing the relentless demands of elite coaching, Matty shares the lessons he’s learned—not just about rugby, but about leadership, resilience, and personal growth. He opens up about the pressures of expectation, the importance of connection, and why he believes every coach needs a coach.

This episode isn’t just about sport. It’s about leadership, self-awareness, and the mindset required to sustain success. 

Show Notes

Reflections on Leadership & Growth

• What’s changed for Matty over the past three years as Wigan’s head coach
• The doubts and criticism he faced when he first took the job—and how he silenced them
• The biggest lessons in resilience and leadership from elite sport.

The Power of Connection

• Why connection is the foundation of Wigan’s success
• The impact of fostering a deep bond with players beyond just performance
• How Matty balances the demands of coaching with being present for his family.

Coaching & Personal Growth

• How self-awareness has transformed Matty as a leader
• The importance of having mentors and coaches at every level of leadership
• Why vulnerability in leadership isn’t a weakness, it’s a superpower.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter for Wigan

• How Wigan is preparing for the next season with the same squad
• The importance of evolution vs. revolution in sustaining success
• Matty’s focus on innovation, creativity, and maintaining a high-performance culture.

Lessons for Leaders Everywhere

• Why every leader, whether in sport or business, needs a support system
• The importance of adaptability, emotional intelligence, and leading by example
• The role of personal development in becoming a better coach, father, and man.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, I sit down with Cody Royle, a coach to elite head coaches in professional sports and author of three impactful books, including the Amazon bestseller The Tough Stuff. 

Cody shares his journey from coaching Australia’s national Aussie Rules team to mentoring some of the top leaders in soccer, basketball, rugby, and beyond. Together, they explore the emotional toll of leadership, the power of self-awareness, and the profound impact of integrating personal growth into coaching. 

Show Notes

Cody’s Journey:

• From playing Aussie Rules football to becoming a coach at 22
• Transitioning from coaching Canada’s national team to writing The Tough Stuff
• The pivotal moments that led Cody to focus on supporting head coaches.

The Challenges of Head Coaching

• The increasing complexity of managing multi-billion-dollar sports organisations
• Balancing personal growth with professional demands
• Common struggles faced by head coaches, including pressure, identity, and maintaining perspective.

The Role of Personal Growth: 

• Why self-awareness is at the core of effective coaching
• Cody’s approach to coaching head coaches: attunement, presence, and refining existing strengths
• The importance of integrating family life and personal practices into professional pursuits.

Key Themes and Insights:

• The emotional toll of leadership and how to navigate it
• Bridging the gap between elite performance and personal well-being
• How Cody’s work is helping to shape a new generation of self-aware, emotionally intelligent coaches.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

I sit down with Martin Offiah, rugby league legend and cultural icon, to explore his journey from a young boy in Hackney to becoming one of the greatest try-scorers in the history of the sport. 

In this deeply personal conversation, Martin reflects on the mentors who shaped his career, the challenges of breaking barriers, and the lessons he’s learned about resilience and self-belief. From his rugby triumphs to his advocacy for sustainability and electric vehicles, Martin shares his powerful story of transformation and greatness. 

This is an episode for anyone who wants to learn how to turn adversity into fuel for success.

Show Notes

Martin’s Journey

• Growing up in Hackney and discovering rugby as an outlet for his energy and ambition
• The transition from rugby union to rugby league and becoming one of the sport’s most iconic players
• Reflections on the pivotal moments, including his legendary try at Wembley.

Themes of Greatness

• The coaches and mentors who believed in him and taught him the value of star power
• How Martin learned to embrace his achievements without fear of judgment.

Challenges and Resilience

• Overcoming racism and other challenges as a Black athlete in a predominantly white sport
• Lessons learned from tough times on and off the pitch.

Life Beyond Rugby

• Martin’s passion for sustainability and his work in promoting electric vehicles
• Reflections on being immortalised in a statue outside Wembley and what it means to inspire the next generation.

Insights and Advice

• How mentors, teammates, and family shaped his journey
• Lessons from rugby and life on staying authentic and resilient.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In the season finale of Dare to Be Different, I look back at the best moments from 2024 - a collection of powerful stories, raw truths, and deep transformations from the men who joined me this year.

Matty Peet
Matty shares his experience leading Wigan Warriors, redefining leadership, and balancing the demands of professional coaching with authenticity and self-awareness.

Andrew Jenkins
Andrew reflects on completing The Big Trek—1,200km across four nations—raising awareness for brain injury while sharing his powerful story of recovery, grit, and determination.

Martin Bone
Martin takes us through his personal journey of loss and healing, exploring how breathwork and movement helped him reconnect with purpose and clarity.

Rhys Thomas
Rhys shares his life-altering experience of a heart attack at 29, reflecting on how it transformed his outlook on health, life, and leadership.

Stevie Ward
Stevie talks openly about transitioning out of professional rugby due to injury, grappling with identity, and finding meaning beyond the sport.

Antonio Vizintin
Antonio shares the extraordinary story of surviving the 1972 Andes plane crash—facing unthinkable decisions and how that shaped his perspective on life, survival, and resilience.

Sean Long
Sean opens up about his struggles with mental health, addiction, and rebuilding his life, offering a raw, honest account of transformation.

Piers Cross
Piers explores how childhood trauma—particularly boarding school experiences—impacts leaders’ ability to connect, empathise, and lead authentically.

Keith Witt
Keith dives deep into relationships, emotional intelligence, and the importance of cultivating awareness to unlock our potential.

Robert Masters
Robert discusses the power of shadow work, emotional intimacy, and embracing all parts of ourselves to achieve true transformation.

Liam Hennessy
Liam shares wisdom on balance, physical health, and longevity, reminding us that sustainable leadership begins with our own well-being.

Chris Brown
Chris reflects on his journey with mental health and resilience, unpacking the tools that helped him face personal and professional challenges.

Pat Divilly
Pat talks about emotional vulnerability, self-connection, and his journey to help men create deeper, more meaningful lives.

Traver Boehm
Traver dives into the importance of brotherhood, the power of connection, and why men need other men to thrive in today’s world.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode of Dare to Be Different, I sit down with Piers Cross - author, filmmaker, and leadership coach specialising in trauma and peak performance.

Together, we explore a question that cuts to the heart of leadership today: Are our leaders carrying unresolved trauma, and how does it impact their ability to lead?

Piers shares powerful insights into the emotional wounds many leaders carry, particularly those shaped by environments like boarding schools. This conversation dives deep into how unhealed trauma manifests in leadership, from disconnection to unhealthy power dynamics, and offers tools for cultivating authentic leadership through self-awareness and healing.

This isn’t just a discussion about leaders in boardrooms, it’s about all of us stepping into leadership roles in our own lives, workplaces, and families.

The Hidden Trauma of Leaders

• How childhood experiences, especially in boarding schools, create emotional patterns that carry into adulthood.
• Why unresolved trauma leads to disconnection, poor decision-making, and struggles with vulnerability.

The Importance of Vulnerability

• Redefining vulnerability as strength in leadership and how it fosters deeper connection and trust.
• Piers explains how leaders can embrace vulnerability to improve relationships at work and home.

Breaking the Cycle of Trauma

• Understanding the link between trauma, self-awareness, and authentic leadership.
• Piers shares practices to help leaders identify and heal emotional wounds that hinder their potential.

The Role of Self-Reflection

• How leaders can pause, reflect, and move beyond their past to redefine their purpose and impact.
• Tools for developing emotional intelligence and creating a leadership style rooted in authenticity.

Practical Advice for Evolving as a Leader

• Strategies for building emotional resilience and fostering meaningful connections.
• Why joining men’s circles, seeking therapy, or engaging in reflective practices can lead to profound growth.

Subscribe to the Dare to Be Different podcast on your favorite platform for more powerful conversations. If this episode resonates with you, please leave a review to help us spread the message.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode, I sit down with Traver Boehm, author, speaker, and founder of the Man Uncivilized movement. Traver’s work has been a beacon for men seeking to reclaim their authentic selves in a world that often stifles true masculinity.

Together, we explore why men need men—why male connection and community are essential not just for personal growth but for creating a life of purpose, power, and connection. From redefining vulnerability to tackling shame and isolation head-on, this episode is a raw, honest, and impactful conversation for anyone ready to step into their full potential.

Show Notes

The Importance of Male Connection

• Traver explains why men thrive in environments of brotherhood and shared purpose.
• The risks of isolation in modern life and how it impacts mental, emotional, and relational health.

Redefining Vulnerability

• Vulnerability is reframed as strength, not weakness, and a gateway to deeper relationships and personal growth.
• Traver shares stories of men who found transformation by embracing openness and honesty with others.

Understanding and Healing Shame

• A deep dive into the role shame plays in holding men back from their true power.
• Practical steps for identifying and overcoming shame through shared experiences and self-compassion.

The Role of Pain in Transformation

• Why pain is often the catalyst for growth and how to use it as a tool for self-discovery.
• Traver shares his personal journey of loss and how it propelled him to create the Man Uncivilized movement.

Men and Emotional Freedom

• Why men struggle with expressing emotions and the consequences of emotional repression.
• Tools and practices Traver uses to help men unlock emotional freedom and live more balanced lives.

The Power of Brotherhood

• Real-life examples of how a strong male community can provide accountability, growth, and support.
• Traver discusses why men need other men to challenge them, hold space, and celebrate their wins.

Practical Steps for Men Ready to Transform

• How to build meaningful connections with other men.
• Simple practices to integrate emotional awareness and authentic leadership into daily life.

Subscribe to the Dare to Be Different podcast on your favorite platform for more transformative conversations. If this episode resonates with you, don’t forget to leave a review.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

In this episode the tables turn as guest Chris Brown steps into the interviewer’s seat to ask me the hard-hitting questions about life, purpose, and leadership. 

Kicking off with a powerful opener, Chris asks: “How do you stay strong and resilient in today’s world while staying true to yourself?” 

From there, we explore what it means to live authentically as men in a world full of expectations. I reveal the pivotal moments in my life, my personal battles, and how redefining my purpose brought me closer to a fulfilling, intentional life. 

Introduction:

• Chris Brown returns to the podcast, this time taking the reins as he interviews me about my journey and philosophy.

Resilience and Staying True to Oneself:

• I respond to Chris’s opening question on resilience, sharing how he has managed to stay grounded amidst life’s pressures.
• Insights into my personal story of growth and the milestones that shaped my outlook on life and masculinity.

Redefining Leadership and Purpose:

• The conversation moves into my take on authentic leadership and what it means to lead with purpose.
• We discuss the importance of moving away from external validation and focusing on what truly matters.

Balancing Vulnerability and Strength:

• I open up about the balance between vulnerability and strength in personal and professional relationships.
• How my experiences helped him redefine my approach to connection and leadership.

Creating Authentic Connections and Brotherhood:

• The role of male friendships and the significance of support networks in fostering personal growth and resilience.
• Tips on how to build authentic connections with other men who share similar values.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/

I sit down with Pat Divilly, an author, speaker, and expert in breathwork and shadow work. Together, we dive deep into what it means to navigate change in today's world and the importance of embracing your shadow self. From personal struggles to professional transformations, Pat shares his journey of moving beyond limiting beliefs, stepping out of societal boxes, and learning to live with authenticity and freedom. We explore themes of fear, vulnerability, and what it takes for men to truly grow.

Show Notes:

• Navigating Change:
  • Pat shares his thoughts on the inevitability of change and how it's a constant part of life.
  • The importance of balancing the desire for stability with the need for growth.
• Authenticity and Shadow Work:
  • Pat explains the concept of shadow work: acknowledging the parts of ourselves we hide or suppress.
  • How embracing your shadow can lead to more authentic living and deeper self-awareness.
• Personal Growth and Transformation:
  • Pat reflects on his journey from personal trainer to breathwork facilitator and author.
  • He shares how overcoming his own insecurities and internal struggles helped him embrace his true self.
• Tools for Change:
  • The importance of having anchors in life, such as supportive people, environments, and healthy habits.
  • How the hero’s journey metaphor can help frame personal transformation.
• Fear and Vulnerability:
  • Pat discusses how fear is often a catalyst for change and why embracing it is key to growth.
  • He shares the story of a client who faced his fear and transformed both in life and love.
• Final Thoughts:
  • Pat encourages listeners to embrace discomfort and uncertainty as part of their personal evolution.
  • Craig and Pat close the episode with a reflection on the importance of self-inquiry and support in navigating change.

Follow and Subscribe: Make sure to follow the Dare to Be Different podcast for more thought-provoking conversations. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to support the show.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Lightside Financial Planning - a fiercely independent, Liverpool-based firm focused on clear, human conversations about money. 

Find out more at https://lightsidefp.co.uk/