Crossing The Pond

Gary’s guest this week moved permanently to the US in 2001 after his wife-to-be moved to Scotland for a year to be around him and his family. Since moving over, Chris Reilly has reinvented himself from a retail manager into a successful career in commercial banking.

They talk about his career shift, the close bond he has with his wife and growing sons, and also the many connections and avenues he has been able to explore due his affiliation to the Boston chapter of the North American Celtic Supporters club.

We also talk about his philanthropic work to help raise money and awareness for the Kano Foundation while also raising much needed funding for research into a cure for MS.

#crossingthepond #advocacy #support #northamericancsc #backing #family #thekanofoundation #glasgowcelticfootballclub #msawareness

Stuart Sharples came to the US at the tender age of 18 after taking advice from a coaching mentor.

Recounting his experience in his 14 years in the US up to now, he offers a great insight into how he managed to fit in as a youngster early on to earn the trust and recognition of his peers, the tenacity he showed to continually add more strings to his professional bow, all the way through to the value he now sees in the development and maintenance of relationships and community both here in the US and back in England

#crossingthepond #tenacity #mentorship #connections #britsabroad #soccercoaches #pitchsideperspectivepodcast #coachingperspectives #expats #family #parentalsupport

This weeks guest had no intention of coming to the US until his father was flown here for medical treatment in the early 1980s

Rajiv Goswami’s remarkable journey has seen him work for some major global companies over his time, all the way up to 2020, when he took a step back to focus on a new move into an entrepreneurial venture.

He recounts stories of different career and social pathways, his recognitions of chance moments that have occurred in his life and what he values most now as he is moving into the next phase of his plan.

#crossingthepond #expat #citibank #generalelectric #leadership #indian #traveller #adaptability #empowerment

My guest this week came to the US full-time following his graduation from college in Cardiff in 1998, after a brief stint here in the early 90s.

A man who always had a fascination with America, Nick Stokes began working in the youth sports industry in New Jersey before making the move to teaching in 2005.

We talk about the importance of relationships and connections, experiences in teaching and the pride he and his wife have for both of their teenage children, as they make their way through life on their own unique journeys.

#crossingthepond #connection #relationships #dontburnyourbridges #welshabroad #expat #workingintheusa #workingabroad #professionalfootballer #newyorkredbulls #sofiestrong

This week we will recap episodes 11-20 from earlier in the year. Some interesting guests, with funny stories and great takeaway messages.

The feedback that we’ve been receiving over the past couple of weeks has been really good to hear. Stories of people prompted to reach out to friends that they haven’t spoke to for a long time or even listening to the guest they know and gaining a better understanding of them.

Thanks again for listening, subscribing or following the podcast. We really do appreciate it. We hope listening to this recap brings up memories from the old episodes or maybe sparks interest from our newer listeners to go into the back catalog and download to the full episodes.

Gary will be back next week with a new guest.

Guests in speaking order:

Feargal Gleeson - '#15 - Focus'

Kelly Adair - '#16 - Confidence'

Paul Dawson - '#13 - Community'

Joe Melvin - '#12 - Identity'

Anthony Packwood & Jon Dunnington - '#14 Opportunity'

Toby Stupples - '#17 - Returning'

Richard Smith - '#19 & 20 - Passion'

Jay Jefferies - '#18 - Drive'

Dave Simpson - '#11 - Perspective'

When my guest Matthew Farrell agreed to come to the US in 2009 after an offer from a long time friend, he left behind his job in Liverpool and a 10 year career in semi-professional football.

Since establishing himself with his wife and young family in New Jersey, Matthew has continued to develop himself, not only in his own coaching methods and qualifications, but instilling his passion and knowledge for football into the clubs and young coaches around him.

We talk about his early football influences. The day to day traits that he and his wife pass down to their children and the characteristics he hopes to impart on aspiring coaches in his new role as Head of Coach Education and Recruitment for the National Sport Group.

#crossingthepond #development #friendships #scouser #scousersabroad #expat #workingabroad #football #soccer #soccercoaches #coachingintheusa #evertonfc

Gary’s guest this week first moved to the US in 2004. Robert Pike began his journey as a soccer coach before quickly evolving into a career in strength & conditioning, working at Pepperdine university in California.

His journey didn’t stop there, taking a bold turn to pursue his dreams of serving the community as an officer in the LAPD.

He talks about these early experiences in America, navigating the challenges of a new culture, exploring the dynamics of his family relationships back in the UK and the measures to ensure that his own mental health and his family remains the priority, despite juggling the demands of life as a police officer in Los Angeles.

#crossingthepond #menshealth #mensmentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #lapd #britsinLA #evolving

A friend from Gary’s early days in the US joins him this week.

Sonny Young first came to America in 1997, working various summer camps and programs before he decided to return to England for good in 2004 to pursue his career in teaching.

Sonny recounts the early days, how he uses skills learned from time in New Jersey in his now 20-year teaching career and how the strength of his family and connections have been huge when it has come to gaining a better understanding of himself and his own children’s development.

#crossingthepond #connections #understanding #learning #teachers #teaching #family #friendships #autism #autismawareness #mensmentalhealth #doublebusy #westham

This week Gary is joined by Neil O'Sullivan, a Dublin native who forged a path from Ireland to the US and is now a proud member of the Jersey City Fire Department.

He discusses what he left behind in Dublin, his early experiences adapting to life in the US and the hurdles he faced to get himself 'on the job' in the JCFD.

'Sully' also shares how his perspectives have shifted now that he is balancing the demands of his new career with the joys and challenges that come with raising a young family.

Gary is joined this week by Liam Brown, who moved to the US from Ireland as a child before going back to Ireland at 19 and then re-returning to the US at the age of 21.

They talk about how his love of music and soccer shaped his life early on and how these two passions essentially contributed to a lifestyle that got the better of him.

Liam shares his stories of triumphs, trials and more recently how he uses his experiences to better himself, his young sons, and anyone in his circle who may be struggling.

#crossingthepond #influences #irishabroad #thetowniknowsowell #christymoore #hobokenmusic #jerseycitymusic #openmics #performing #songwriters