Dare to be Different with Craig White

• S2E18: Clarke Carlisle - From Premier League to Rock Bottom and Back Again

  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 NotesIdentity & CollapseHow injury and loss of football destroyed Clark’s sense of worthThe dangers of tying identity to performanceAlcohol, Avoidance & The MaskDrinking, gambling, gaming — and the exhausting cost of hiding strugglesThe mask men wear to surviveRock BottomDepression, hypersomnia, bottles by the bedSuicide attempts and the moment he almost didn’t surviveThe Turning Point2017: NHS psychiatric hospital and cognitive analytical therapy (CAT)How CAT therapy gave him hope and a way outPurpose & TransformationRebuilding as a husband, father, and leaderTurning his mess into his message with his wifeWhy speaking out, and knowing who to talk to, saves lives

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• S2E17: Denis Betts - Ego, Regret & Life Beyond Rugby

  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 medalsThis is Denis Betts like you’ve never heard him before.SHOW NOTESThe Making of a LegendDennis’s rise at Wigan and Great BritainWhat success looked like in a golden era of rugby leagueFamily, Joy & SimplicityWhy his happiest moments weren’t always on the pitchGrass, sun, family dinners — finding joy in the small thingsLetting Go of AngerThe moment he decided anger wasn’t serving him anymorePlaying a violent sport without carrying violence insideEgo, Endings & RegretThe clashing egos that led to his retirementThe regret of stepping away too soonLessons from endings and identity beyond sportStrong Women & LeadershipRaising three daughters and how it shaped himCoaching Wigan Warriors WomenWhat leadership really means when you adapt to the people in front of you

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• S2E16: James Haskell - Self-Doubt, Pressure & the Real Work Behind Confidence

  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 him uncover about self-worth, confidence, and angerThe moment he saw his dad's "shadows" for the first timeWhy strength without emotional range isn't leadershipHow marriage, grief, and failure shaped the man he’s becomingIt’s not about rugby. It’s about the work men have to do when the noise stops, and the feelings finally catch up.

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• S2E15: Mike Bates - Pain, Performance and Letting Go

  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 abandonmentUsing performance as a way to earn love and worthHis transformation from elite leadership to emotional depthWhy leadership without inner work eventually breaks downHow jiu-jitsu reveals who you really are when everything else is stripped awayThis is a story about limits, letting go, and learning to lead yourself first.

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• 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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