Crossing The Pond

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

We are really grateful to our guests for taking the time to join us this week. Stephen Gilpin and Ross Burbeary both hold the title of Head of Performance Services at their respective professional football clubs in the UK, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town.

They begin by talking about the impact of Ross’s time in the US in 2016 and more significantly, how they combined to start the Prostate United challenge, raising much needed funds for Prostate Cancer UK since 2018. A disease that statistically claims the life of 1 man every 45 minutes.

They speak of the motivation and inspirations to get their idea off the ground, the support that has developed in their professional community since Prostate United’s inception and ultimately how the October challenge has now evolved into a staple of the Prostate Cancer UK fundraising lineup.

Prostate United Challenge 2024

As mentioned in the episode, your October challenge can be whatever you want it to be, the most important thing is that anyone who’s interested is welcome to get involved.

We will also be rolling out a fundraising team under the banner of Crossing The Pond.

The links to sign up to get involved, donate, or simply get some more information, can be found below:

Sign Up for Prostate United ‘24

https://prostateunited.prostatecanceruk.org/sign-up

Join the CTP Podcast’s fundraising team

https://prostateunited.prostatecanceruk.org/teams/crossing-the-pond-podcast

Email your questions

[email protected]

Prostate Cancer UK

www.prostatecanceruk.org

Bob Gibson returns to the CTP microphone this week after helping me get the podcast off the ground all the way back in week one.

We highlight Bob’s story in more detail this week. Starting with the relationship and family challenges that shaped his early years in the US, to the career he has now forged for himself in the organizational strategy and personnel development field.

Bob shares professional practices that he uses to progress himself and his current team, while at the same time recounting all manner of stories that have framed his time in the US, including his journey to LA with his wife and young son.

#crossingthepond #purpose #therapy #expat #parents #development #progress #growth #coaching #staffdevelopment #leedsunited #leedsunitedlosangeles #leedsleedsleeds

This weeks guest moved to the US at the age of five when his family travelled here from northern Spain.

Juan Santamaria talks about growing up in a large immigrant community in Newark, New Jersey. How he ties his heritage into life with his wife and young family and the career experiences to his current role as Vice President and Sporting Director at Cedar Stars Academy in Northern New Jersey, where he has helped build and maintain a program that provides an excellent pathway for youth players to forge a route into college soccer.

#crossingthepond #legacies #traditions #values #familyvalues #immigrants #immigrantfamilies #heritage #Marchoporqueteñoquemarchar

In this week’s episode Gary talks to two brothers-in-law, Michael Freeman from the US and Niall Caldwell from the UK. Discussing how two people from different backgrounds can meet by way of marrying into the same family and develop a bond that supports them in their careers, life and everything in between.

They talk the funny stories, triumphs, and also the challenges they’ve faced over the time, proving that although they grow up 3000 miles away from each other, they can still share the same humor and values that take them through daily life.

#crossingthepond #inlaws #similarities #brothers #extendedfamily