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

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

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