Willie Mason has observed the NRL for over 20 years as a junior player, NRL star, veteran, commentator and now as a coach.
The 43-year-old's keen eye is now paying dividends as as a pathways coach for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and a co-host for one of rugby league's most popular podcasts on the 'Levels Network'.
We discussed various topics, including the 2024 season launch of the NRL in Vegas, his childhood, the impact of his father's death, the highs and lows of his career, relationships with Wayne Bennett and Phil Gould, the success of his new podcast with Justin Horo, how he guides players today as a coach and much more.
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#119 The Unapologetic Willie Mason: From Rugby League Enforcer to Insightful Mentor

Too often, we avoid real conversations. Entrepreneur Mark Bouris sits down and gets to know people, understands what makes them tick, and shares the great and unusual things they&rsquo;re doing. There&rsquo;s no sugar coating. There&rsquo;s no hiding behind fancy marketing slogans. Just an honest conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Whether you love him or hate him, you cannot deny Nick Kyrgios's uncanny ability to entertain.
It’s taken a while to get Nick on the pod but the wait is finally over.
It was awesome to get to know who the real Nick Kyrgios is. We covered a wide range of topics, including his Greek heritage, journey to success, challenges of fame and social media, his relationship with his girlfriend Costeen, interactions with the media, return to professional tennis, his various business ventures, involvement with OnlyFans, experiences interviewing icons such as Mike Tyson & Gordon Ramsay, speculation on the possibility of breakaway competitions in professional tennis similar to LIV Golf and more.
Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.   You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#128 Nick Kyrgios opens up on wild career, rock bottom, off-court earnings & tennis comeback?

As someone who has been a rugby league fan since the '60s, it's fair to say that the NRL could be in its best state yet.
Much of the strength we see in the game today is owed to the work of my latest Straight Talk guest, John Quayle.
John served as the General Manager and CEO of the NSWRL and ARL from 1983-1996. Under his leadership, the game underwent significant changes, including the iconic Tina Turner campaign, the Super League War, and the sport's expansion throughout Australia.
In this week's Straight Talk pod, John and I reminisced about the early days of rugby league, his role in professionalising the NRL, how he persuaded Tina Turner to sing in an NRL advertisement, his involvement in the Super League War, negotiation tales with Kerry Packer, and much more.
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#127 John Quayle: The man who revolutionised rugby league

In these politically divisive times, whether we sit on the left or the right, it’s crucial to engage in respectful conversations with one another.
In this week's Straight Talk pod I spoke to founder of Cheek Media Hannah Ferguson about the current state of journalism and Australian politics.
Hannah and I have different perspectives from our life experiences, but I found it very insightful to hear how she views the world.
We spoke about her experience studying law, starting Cheek Media, the importance of having healthy discourse, her thoughts on Rupert Murdoch, running for Prime Minister, the state of Australian politics, her podcast 'Big Small Talk' and much more. Enjoy!
Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.   You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#126 Do you really want to be the Prime Minister?: Hannah Ferguson on healthy discourse, Cheek Media & political aspirations

I've always been fascinated by successful leaders and coaches. Why can some make it happen and others not?
Paul Roos turned around a 72-year losing culture at the Sydney Swans and deeply contributed to the club’s popularity we see today.
If there’s someone qualified to talk about leadership and coaching, it’s Paul. I’ve long admired how he inspired change and instilled a winning mentality at the Swans.
In our second podcast together we spoke about Paul's new life in Hawaii, his early AFL playing career, his coaching & leadership process, bringing meditation to the Swans, importance of journaling, what makes a great leader, his new business 'Performance by Design' and much more.

 Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.   You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#125 Cracking the Winning Code: Paul Roos shares his leadership wisdom

George Kambosos Jr has never cut corners in his boxing career, and his next bout is shaping up to be his toughest challenge yet.
The former world champ will face Vasiliy Lomachenko, one of this generation's most decorated boxers, on May 12 in Perth.
Us Aussie boxing fans are greatly indebted to George for his relentless pursuit in bringing the best fights Down Under.
If you're looking for motivation, this podcast is a must-listen.
In our third round of recording a pod together, we spoke about:George's upcoming battle in PerthThe dedication he has in bringing the best fights to AustraliaNot taking easy matchesWhat he learned from the Haney lossesRyan Garcia's recent anticsMike Tyson v Jake PaulHow he balances his boxing career and family lifePhysical preparation and mindset for this fight
 Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.   You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#119 The Unapologetic Willie Mason: From Rugby League Enforcer to Insightful Mentor

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