Dare to be Different with Craig White

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 changeHow leaders often avoid difficult conversations inside teamsThe leadership patterns that keep organisations stuckWhy uncertainty challenges traditional leadership modelsHow modern leadership requires more openness and adaptabilityCheck 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 lifeWhy breathing and embodiment interrupt survival modeHow 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 backgroundHow overwhelming experiences can become “stored in the body”Why the body moves into fight, flight, or freeze statesHow breathwork could “revolutionize the world of men”The importance of men learning to trust themselves and the breathWhy 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 NOTESHow rugby and construction shaped his early identityThe role fatherhood plays in his decision-makingWhy people pleasing became a hidden patternHow 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 menWhy shame and self-criticism often block emotional healingHow trauma can be stored physically and subconsciouslyWhy many men feel unsafe sharing emotional painUnderstanding the cycles of abuse and emotional complexityWhy nervous system regulation is key to transformationAgreements 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/

Mike Brown, a former England rugby full-back and now a high-performance consultant, shares the emotional journey behind his fierce career. He discusses how anger and rejection shaped his identity and the cost of elite performance as he transitioned from rugby. Becoming a father reframed his purpose, pushing him to foster connections with teammates and build healthier high-performance cultures. Mike emphasizes the importance of empathy, letting go of the fear of judgment, and finding balance in life after sport.

Lawrence Dallaglio, the former England rugby captain and World Cup winner, shares how personal tragedies shaped his leadership style and resilience. He dives deep into how grief influenced his drive, making rugby a sanctuary. Discussing the emotional costs of elite performance, he reflects on vulnerability and the importance of seeking help. Dallaglio also sheds light on his charity, RugbyWorks, which supports excluded youth, emphasizing the need for connection and mentorship. Ultimately, he explores finding presence and self-compassion in a demanding life.

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 NOTESHow breathwork helped him reconnect with emotional safetyWhy the body holds the truth we often avoidThe patterns that kept him numb and performingHow presence became more powerful than performanceThe 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 thinkHow childhood attachment shapes your ability to regulate emotionsWhat happens when high performers stop and finally feelHow grief, stress, and trauma show up in the bodySimple, powerful tools to start healing your nervous systemYou 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/