Dare to be Different with Craig White

• S1E14: Kruise Leeming - The Cost of Winning, Regret & Becoming a Better Man

  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 performance-first leadershipOwning past mistakes and letting go of guiltReconnecting with faith, vulnerability and inner peaceBecoming a better man — for himself and the people around himKruise 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 NotesKruise’s Journey into ManhoodLosing his father at age 8Taking on responsibility too youngBeing told: “You’re the man of the house now”His mum’s role in keeping him disciplinedSport as an Escape and a MirrorFinding rugby by chanceWhy individual sports weren’t enoughRealising rugby gave him belonging and identityFeeling seen for the first timeThe Drive to Succeed and What It CostHis obsession with performanceLeadership at Leeds and the emotional disconnectHow “winning” became a way to avoid feelingThe relationships and moments he regrets missingThe Turning PointGrace (his partner) giving him permission to be vulnerableStarting to question: “Why does that trigger me?”Stepping into real masculinity, not performative strengthFaith, Reflection and Slowing DownLosing belief in God – and slowly finding it againHow faith helps him see beauty in differenceLetting go of judgement and controlMentors, Father Figures and Role ModelsThe influence of his grandad and Gaz GreenwoodLearning discipline, respect, and how to carry yourselfThe power of being held to a high standardLeadership, Identity and the Work AheadLearning to lead without angerUnderstanding himself through CliftonStrengthsStarting to feel free to be himself again at WiganLooking ahead to life after rugby: speaking, coaching, and helping others

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• S2E13 Daniel Granger - From Body Fixers to Breakdown: The Pain Behind the Persona

  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 safety in feminine spaces after being abused by the men in his lifeHow fatherhood gave him purpose—but didn’t fix the painWhat it really took to feel safe in his own skin: retreats, rituals, boxing, plant medicineAnd why he now shows up for other men the way he always wished someone had shown up for himThis isn’t a story about fame or business. It’s a story about what it takes to become the man you never had.Show NotesThe Masks We WearWhy performing success left Dan feeling more alone than everThe moment he hit rock bottom and called Craig for helpChildhood Trauma & Safety in Femininity Abuse, abandonment, and the death of his father at 8 Why Dan gravitated towards women and struggled to trust menHomeless at 13 – Finding Tribe in Unlikely Places Building a hut in a park Taken in by a Christian men’s community that changed his lifeHealing Through Brotherhood Learning to feel safe around men through retreats and boxing Grieving his father for the first time during a San Pedro ceremonyBecoming a Man You Actually Like Letting go of addiction and old identities The power of fatherhood, purpose, and helping others healDan’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

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• S2E12: Diego Sanchez - From Global Fame to Grounded Healing

  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 validationWhat happens when the body says noThe life-changing moment Diego first discovered shiatsuTouch, trauma, and the power of nervous system workWhy so many high performers feel hollowShow Notes:Life on the CatwalkWhat modelling gave himHow success masked deeper disconnectionThe Moment Everything ChangedTurning 29 and hearing a word that cracked something openWhy shiatsu marked the start of a new lifeThe Power of TouchHow our nervous system holds emotion, memory and truthWhy talk therapy alone isn't enough for real transformationGrounding, Presence, and Somatic WisdomWhat Diego teaches today through his retreats and 1:1 workHow leaders can move from the head back into the bodyA New Definition of MasculinityLeading from softness, not forceReclaiming power without the armour

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• S2E11: Keith McGuinnes - When ‘Healthy’ Is Just Another Mask

  The diagnosis that changed everything: Keith McGuinnes on cancer, masculinity, and the power of receivingWhat 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 40Why he chose chemotherapy (even as a holistic health practitioner)How the experience broke his lone wolf mentalityThe power of receiving loveWhat men are missing when they stay stuck in hyper-masculinityHis work today helping men and couples reclaim intimacy, polarity and presenceThis is a raw, real and powerful conversation about grief, grace, and growing up.Show NotesKeith’s Cancer DiagnosisWhat happened at age 40 and the symptoms he ignoredWhy chemo was the right choice (even as a long-time yogi)How the experience forced him to slow down, reflect, and receiveThe Emotional JourneyGrieving the years he couldn’t receive loveLearning to express emotion and let people inHow it shifted his relationship to his own body and energyMasculinity, Polarity and IntimacyThe trap of hyper-masculine giving and the strength in receivingLetting go of lone wolf energy in favour of connectionWhy true intimacy requires openness — not just strengthPost-Cancer PurposeMoving from survival to serviceKeith’s work through Awaken Intimacy and The Open InstituteBuilding community, relational depth, and sacred spaces in modern life

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• S2E10: Emmet Byrne - Why Men's Health is Failing

  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 healthWhy we’ve normalised feeling average — and how to break out of itHow to spot the signs you’re treating symptoms, not solving the rootFrom 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=qu96RkgMYq0Show NotesFrom Pro Rugby to MedicineHow Emmet went from the Ireland jersey to medical schoolWhat rugby taught him about pressure, pain, and purposeWhy performance delays but doesn’t erase inner strugglesThe Medical System Isn’t WorkingWhy most men are treated only when they’re brokenThe failure of the symptom-focused modelHow GPs are unequipped to deal with whole-person healthThe Testosterone CrisisWhy so many men are seeing their energy, drive, and mood collapseWhat’s causing low T and what isn’tWhen testosterone replacement can help… and when it can’tMovement Is MedicineWhy sedentary living is quietly wrecking men’s wellbeingThe link between physical strength and emotional resilienceWhat Emmet recommends for men over 35A New Model for Men’s HealthFrom functional medicine to full-spectrum careWhat men really need to thriveHow OptiMan is trying to change the story

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