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

This week I'm joined by Paul Cliff, who I first met in the US in 2003 but ironically, we grew up less than 5 miles away from each other back home in England.

Paul describes his early years in the UK and the direction that has taken since his return home. we talk about his faith and how it leads him in his day-to-day life, His decision to make a career pivot at the age of 40 and the work he does now to lead young people in education and football in his role as a tutor at the Fowler Academy in Liverpool.

#crossingthepondpodcast #direction #careerpivots #friendship #connection #relationships #faith #understanding #opportunity #jobexperience #education

This week’s guest is Greg Lawley, whose European roots run through his family history, but whose energy and impact are very much felt right here in his fitness community, every day.

Greg is a person whose enthusiasm can’t be ignored and we dig into how, after various geographical and vocational changes, he’s found a way to channel it into something meaningful: helping others become stronger, more confident, and more connected through his CrossFit gym, Bridge Athletics.

#crossingthepondpodcast #enthusiasm #motivation #grit #crossfit #personaljourney #embraceyourself

My guest this week is Gareth Gore may be a journalist and author of a critically acclaimed book but, more importantly, he’s an old friend

from his working class upbringing in Wigan, to the halls of Cambridge University, then onto the sharp end of financial journalism and best-selling books, he’s never truly forgotten where he came from.

We talk about the importance of hard work, the class divides as you move through the journalism ranks, friendship, and staying grounded at all times wherever you are in the world.

#Journalism

#FinancialJournalism

#AuthorInterview

#InvestigativeJournalism

#WorkingClassRoots

#StayingGrounded

#HardWorkPays

#ClassAndCulture

#LifeJourneys

#Friendship

#Wigan

#wiganers

#CambridgeUniversity

#BritishJournalism

#FromWhereYoureFrom

#BehindTheBook

#WritersOfInstagram

#MediaCareers

#VoicesThatMatter

#grounding

This week we check back in with Greig Paterson, 6 months on from his move to the US with his family.

We do a bit more digging into Greig’s journey, including his time with Clemson Men’s Soccer in the late 90s, coaching in Melbourne 🇦🇺 after a short stint with United Soccer Academy and more of the day to day discoveries (good and bad) as he and his family navigate new surroundings here in the US.

#crossingthepondpodcast #journeys #revisiting #scottishfa #irishfa #fai #soccer #coaching #scotland #scottishcoaches #expat

Happy new year to everybody and welcome to the first episode of CTP for 2026!

This episode ironically enough will be a look back at all of our guests for 2025. Highlights of the stories the experiences and all the lessons learned along everybody’s individual journeys.

#crossingthepondpodcast #resilience #transformation #personalgrowth #lifelessons #experiences #challenges #change #podcast #storytelling #inspiration #mentalhealthawareness