Dare to be Different with Craig White

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

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

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

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

Shaun Edwards, a legendary rugby coach and former player known for his successful stints with Wales and France, offers an introspective look at leadership and masculinity. Fresh from France's Six Nations win, he discusses the intense fear of losing that fuels his competitive spirit. Shaun reflects on the evolution from a hard-headed approach to a more nuanced, compassionate leadership style. He shares insights on managing performance pressure, the cultural differences in coaching, and the challenges of adapting playstyles across rugby codes—all while balancing family life.

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 identity and walking into the unknownThe medicine in movement, men’s work, and PeruWhat it means to build a life from the inside outThis is a conversation about what happens when men stop chasing and start feeling — and the freedom that follows.The Build-up to BurnoutJeremy’s rise through elite sport and performance coachingThe moment he realised success wasn’t enoughHow professional ambition can become emotional suppressionBreaking the PatternThe physical and emotional signals he could no longer ignoreWalking away from what looked like a dream jobThe fear and freedom of not knowing what’s nextReconnection and RecoveryWhy movement, breathwork and brotherhood became vitalInsights from ICONIC and the Peru men’s retreatLetting go of roles, pressure, and performanceA New Way of LivingLearning to listen to the bodyRebuilding from purpose, not pressureWhat high performers need to hear — and unlearn

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.We talk about how reclaiming movement helped us both heal old wounds, reconnect with our emotions, and become better leaders, fathers, partners, and men.This conversation is about breaking the stigma, getting over yourself, and remembering the body knows what to do... if you let it!Show NotesThe Stigma Around Dance and ExpressionWhy so many men freeze at the idea of dancingHow childhood and culture taught us to suppress movementCraig and Martin’s early experiences with dance, shame and identityDance as a Doorway Back to the BodyMovement as medicine for emotion, stress, and stucknessWhy the body holds wisdom that the mind can’t accessThe link between dance, emotional release, and inner freedomFrom Raves to RetreatsThe role of club culture and music in helping men reconnect with their bodiesHow early experiences with dance music created space for self-expressionThe transition from unconscious release to conscious embodimentWhy Movement Belongs in Men’s WorkHow the ICONIC retreat in Peru uses movement to create real transformationWhy most men’s breakthroughs come through the body, not the mindCreating safe spaces where men can move, feel, express without being judgedHow to StartSimple ways men can reconnect with movement and shake off years of stiffnessThe importance of containers, consistency, and communityLetting go of the need to ‘know how’ and learning to trust the body again.

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 being in the zone as effortless, timeless, and automaticThe difference between flow happening by accident vs. accessing it on demandThe key shift in focus and awareness that changes everythingHow to Train for FlowWhy “watching the ball” might actually be limiting your reactionsThe soft focus technique that allows you to see and react fasterHow to stop overthinking and let your body’s intelligence take overBeyond Competition: The Non-Dual ApproachWhy traditional competition is dualistic (me vs. you) and how that affects performanceHow non-dual awareness allows athletes to co-create the game with their opponentsWhy playing in flow isn’t just about winning—it’s about playing at your highest levelPractical Applications for Coaches and AthletesHow tennis, rugby, and even Navy SEALs have applied Scott’s workSimple drills to train focus, presence, and reaction timeWhy flow training is the next evolution in coaching and performance

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 professionals, trauma survivors, corporate leaders, and athletes worldwide, helping them develop embodied leadership and resilience. His insights are practical, powerful, and cut straight to the point.Show NotesWhy Men Need to Get Out of Their HeadsWhy most men live in their heads and the impact on confidence and leadershipThe difference between thinking about change and embodying itHow weightlifting, martial arts, and movement help men reconnect with presenceThe Role of Physical Practices in Mental ResilienceHow gym training can be a sacred practice for focus and disciplineWhy men need challenge, struggle, and physical adversity to growThe connection between breath, posture, and emotional stateBreaking Free from Overthinking and InsecurityThe science of embodiment - how your body shapes your mindsetWhy men struggle with boundaries, people-pleasing, and saying noPractical techniques to build presence and confidence in daily lifeThe Bigger Picture: Why Society is Failing MenHow modern culture is weakening masculinity and what men can do about itThe importance of mentorship, challenge, and a strong peer groupMark’s personal journey, from addiction and nihilism to leadership and resilience

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 shares his insights from psychotherapy, shadow work, and men’s development, unpacking why modern leadership feels so disconnected, hesitant, or misdirected—and what men can do to reclaim their inner power.Show NotesThe Root of Leadership StrugglesWhy so many men feel lost when it comes to leadershipThe role of absent fathers and childhood wounds in shaping a man’s confidenceHow modern society has disconnected men from true leadershipReclaiming the King EnergyThe four archetypes—King, Warrior, Magician, Lover—and why men struggle to embody themThe difference between real power and controlHow a man’s ability to process emotions directly impacts his leadershipThe Hidden Cost of Unprocessed GriefWhy so many men struggle to feel joy and fulfillmentHow suppressed grief and loss block leadership potentialThe essential role of emotional intelligence in strong leadershipPractical Steps to Step Into LeadershipHow to develop self-leadership and move from hesitation to confidenceThe power of mentorship—why every man needs a guideThe impact of men’s groups, accountability, and long-term personal growth