Today’s guest is Richard Scott. A coach whose journey started in the framework of his hometown club, Newcastle United, before taking him across the Atlantic to the US with a short stint in Iceland for good measure, before quickly into various roles within MLS academies experiencing the game through a completely different lens.

Recently, Richie’s made a bold pivot… stepping away from the pitch and into the creative world of product design. From football to creativity, we talk about his why, what has carried over and what he's had to leave behind?

#crossingthepondpodcast #reinvention #careerchange #expatpodcast #careerjourney #family #newcastle

**This Episode in Association with the Wigan Arts Festival 2026**

This week I sit down with The Scary Guy. A man whose name alone sparks curiosity, but whose story hits far deeper than shock value. What began as a life marked by identity struggles, and destructive choices transformed into a powerful global mission rooted in one simple idea: total responsibility.

In this episode, we unpack the pivotal moments that led to his radical name change, not as a gimmick, but as a line in the sand. A decision to leave behind a life of negativity and step fully into a purpose centered on eliminating hate, prejudice, and self-destruction.

From dark beginnings to standing in front of audiences around the world, The Scary Guy shares the raw truth about change and the honest reality of what it takes to rewire how you think, feel, and act.

This is a conversation about ownership, accountability, and the uncomfortable work of becoming better. no excuses, no shortcuts.

My guest this week took a stop in the US in 2004 as a part of his early coaching pathway before returning home to the UK to continue his career in football.

Lee Burch has since gone onto coach and manage in every division of the women’s professional game in the UK, all the way up to his current role as the manager of Rugby Borough in the Fa National League.

We’ll talk about the ups and downs of his journey to this point, the experiences in the different clubs along the way, his personal successes and triumphs, and more importantly the positive growth he has seen in the women’s professional game during his 10-year career in the league.

#crossingthepondpodcast #womensfootball #wsl #fanationalleague #leeburch #pathways #coachingpathway #journey #experiences