Claim OwnershipDare to be Different with Craig White
Subscribed: 37Played: 568
Subscribe
© 2025 Dare to be Different with Craig White
Description
Delve into the stories of sporting champions, corporate visionaries, and everyday parents who redefine leadership.
In each episode, I explore the journeys of leaders who have undergone profound transformations, emerging stronger and wiser. From overcoming challenges to embracing change, our guests share insights and lessons learned along their paths to success.
Tune in and discover what it takes to lead with authenticity and courage in every aspect of life.
36 Episodes
Reverse
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 profess...
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 turn...
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-twentiesThe clash of egos and the regret of stepping away too soonThe role of family and the influence of strong women in his lifeWhat coaching Wigan Women has taught him about leadershipWhy joy and purpose matter more than medalsThi...
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 schoolWhy he spent years performing, without knowing who he really wasWhat therapy helped ...
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-...
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 responsibilityThe cost of perfo...
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 8Finding ...
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 ...
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 inti...
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 menThe truth about testosterone decline (and why TRT isn’t a quick fix)The link between movement, strength, and emotional h...
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, f...
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 longWhy success without meaning leads to burnoutLetting go of ide...
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. ...
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 bein...
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 profe...
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 ...
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 connecti...
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 coac...
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 powe...
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 wh...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States