An Evolving Man Podcast

Boarding School, Stress & Performance: England Cricket, Trauma & Leadership


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Here is the link to reach out to your MP for the screening in the House of Commons: https://seenheard.org.uk/boarding-on-insanity-parliamentary-screening/

In this New Year reflection episode, I share an update on the upcoming House of Commons screening of Boarding on Insanity and explore a powerful insight that emerged for me over Christmas while watching the Ashes series.

Why does England’s cricket team — full of talent — so often struggle under pressure?

Drawing on research from the Sutton Trust, Nick Duffell’s Wounded Leaders, and trauma experts including Judith Herman, Peter Levine, and Bessel van der Kolk, I explore how early boarding school experiences shape the nervous system — particularly our ability to regulate stress.

We discuss:

  • why many former boarders struggle to access the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state
  • how dissociation works under pressure — and why it eventually fails
  • why England’s performance improved once the pressure of winning was removed
  • how unresolved childhood stress shows up in leadership, sport, and public life

I also share a simple nervous system regulation practice I use personally and with clients — helping leaders move from chronic stress into safety, embodiment, and clarity.

This episode connects leadership, sport, trauma, and child development — and asks what might be possible if we became a trauma-informed society.

📌 House of Commons Screening – 19 January
Please contact your MP and support the call for mandatory reporting and improved child protection.

Thank you for listening, and for being part of this movement.

---

Piers is an author and a men's transformational coach and therapist who works mainly with trauma, boarding school issues, addictions and relationship problems.

He also runs online men's groups for ex-boarders, retreats and a podcast called An Evolving Man.

He is also the author of How to Survive and Thrive in Challenging Times. To purchase Piers first book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Survive-Thrive-Challenging-Times/dp/B088T5L251/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=piers+cross&qid=1609869608&sr=8-1

For more videos please visit: http://youtube.com/pierscross

For FB: https://www.facebook.com/pierscrosspublic

For Piers' website and a free training How To Find Peace In Everyday Life: https://www.piers-cross.com/community


Many blessings,

Piers Cross

http://piers-cross.com/

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An Evolving Man PodcastBy Piers Cross

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