Forged for Manhood with Rick Cooper

On Forged for Manhood, I’m joined by my good friend Joe Horton — founder of Guild of Dads, podcaster, and men’s group leader.

Joe is a powerful advocate for brotherhood and for men expanding what they believe is possible in their lives.

Together, we dive into why connection is essential for men and boys at every stage of life, how isolation is crippling too many young and middle-aged men, and what practical steps you can take to build real bonds and thrive.

This is the final episode of the series — and it’s one you won’t want to miss.

🔥 3 Takeaways:

• Brotherhood is the backbone of a thriving life — no man should go it alone.

• Social isolation is a silent epidemic among men — and it’s costing lives.

• Practical tools to connect deeply, even if sports and pints aren’t your thing.

If you want to get in touch with Joe and find out what he is doing, or even join one of his hikes, go to guildofdads.com, and drop him a message. 

And....

For the passionate, the bold, and the game changers in Professional Sports and Independent Education, connect with Rick on his website or LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper | LinkedIn

In this episode of Forged for Manhood, I sit down with my FIRST FEMALE guest, Libby Flenley. This was some episode too!

Lib's is a qualified social worker, exploitation specialist, and founder of The Sex, Lies & Love Project.

With over a decade of frontline experience supporting victims and survivors of exploitation, Libby has worked across safeguarding teams, specialist organisations, and even internationally through Operation South America in Paraguay.

She now delivers training for schools, sports organisations, and even Premier League academies — helping the next generation navigate the challenges of sex, consent, and relationships in today’s digital world.

Together, we dig deep into the impact of pornography, the realities of sextortion, and what true consent really means for young people growing up online.

🔥 3 Takeaways:

• Pornography is shaping young people’s ideas of sex and consent — often in destructive ways.

• “True consent” goes far deeper than a yes or no — it’s about respect, clarity, and integrity.

• Sexting, nudes, and online exploitation are real dangers — but open conversation is the first defence.

This is a vital conversation for any man who wants to understand the world young people are facing — and how to lead better in it.
Find Libby here:The Sex, Lies & Love Project

Libby Flenley | LinkedIn

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For the passionate, the bold, and the game changers in Professional Sports and Independent Education, connect with Rick on his website or LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper | LinkedIn

In this episode of Forged for Manhood, I sit down with Sam Leeming — a human-first performance coach with lived experience as a professional sportsman and cancer survivor. At just 23, Sam’s life transformed when routine rugby knocks revealed a tumour in his chest.

Through resilience, grit, and a relentless mindset, he not only recovered but built a career guiding high performers to unlock their best selves. We dive into risk, resilience, and the pursuit of real fulfilment — where curiosity, creativity, and courage meet.

🔥 3 Takeaways:

• Healthy risk is the gateway to growth — it’s where curiosity and fulfilment live.

• True resilience is forged in setbacks — mindset determines the comeback.

• Shift focus from outcomes to graceful pursuit , that’s where we find peace and performance.

Welcome to the brotherhood. This is one you don’t want to miss.

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Find Sam at:(2) Sam Leeming | LinkedInMy Story – Sam Leeming Performance----For the passionate, the bold, and the game changers in Professional Sports and Independent Education, connect with Rick on his website or LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper | LinkedIn

In this episode of Forged for Manhood, I sit down with Callum Wilson — ex-international rugby player turned executive coach.

Cal’s a man who says what he wants, does what he wants, and lives with purpose. He’s walked the talk, and now he helps others do the same.

Together, we break down the crucial difference between being “nice” and being truly “kind.” Too many men and boys play small, people-pleasing their way through life. Real strength is forged in truth, compassion, and living from your core. We dive into what it means to move with authority, how to use language that creates your life—not just reports on it—and why authenticity is the only foundation worth standing on.

🔥 3 Takeaways:

• Don’t confuse “nice” with “kind” — kindness demands honesty and courage.

• Your being flows from your core — strengthen it, or the world will shape you instead.

• Language is power — wield it to build the life you want, not narrate the one you’re stuck in.

Get stuck in.

Where to find Cal:

Callum Andrew Wilson | LinkedInWhere to find Rick:

Rick Cooper - The Education AthleteLinkedIn

At only 28, this guy has already gone through and come out the other side a survivor of testicular cancer, and what a lovely guy powerful man Charlie Arden-Brown is.

July 2024 diagnosed and cleared in February 2025.

Charlie is also a runner, and content creator.

Since the diagnosis, he's made it his mission to talk about his balls as much as possible to help spread awareness and normalize conversations around men’s health.

A heart filling conversation talking to directly to the armour men put up and the potential critical cost it comes with, we spoke openly about:

• Breaking down the stigma around going to the doctor, especially when it involves your nuts

• The unexpected beauty of discovering a support network when you need it most, and how pivotal Movember was and still is in Charlie's journey.

• Learning to sit with fear and anxiety, and how sharing those experiences has become a form of therapy for him, and hopefully, knowledge for others

To follow or contact Charlie, check out his media handle's:

https://ca.movember.com/mospace/12648321?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadQfe1fjUlmCr6BPBYxPfax0LEQrsDqcoWCr3lCeMKHOaenAbfnooowOSeaOA_aem_6V_N7FtHrjiHlrpYCUtDwA

https://www.instagram.com/nuts.running/

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For the passionate, the bold, and the game changers in Professional Sports and Independent Education, connect with Rick on his website or LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Rick Cooper | LinkedIn

We hit on the limiting belief in that your either a Warrior guy, tough, masculine, alpha or that if you are a Creative your soft, nerdy and away with the fairies.....both co-exist and are essential in becoming a whole as a man To deny either is to deny both. Tom is a brand designer and creative director with over 13 years of experience, having worked with some of the biggest brands in the world.

After spending years inside marquee agencies and high-profile projects, he realised the most meaningful work doesn’t come from big boardrooms—it comes from working closely with people.

Today, Tom focuses on helping individuals and small teams bring their creative ideas to life. When a client finally finds the language to articulate their vision—and sees it take shape right in front of them—that’s what he calls “the juice.”

This ability to unlock clarity and spark momentum has shaped a new role for him: not just designer or director, but a creative catalyst—someone who helps others switch on their own inspiration.

To follow or contact Tom, check out his LI handle and website:⁠ Tom Dear | LinkedIn

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For the passionate, the bold, and the game changers in Professional Sports and Independent Education, connect with Rick on his website or LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Rick Cooper | LinkedIn

Deano is the current Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for Wigan Warriors in the Super League, also the Academy Welfare Manager AND owner of Bravestar Performance.

A top man I've been fortunate to spend some time with in Ireland at Blackrock College, where he significantly contributed to their athletic programme and community.

A man who has lived experience and has a deep understanding of performance through an holistic lens.

Dean and I dived into:

-The pressure on boys to fit in

- How we are on a mission for boys to remain deeply connected to themselves earlier

- The importance of pertaining purpose in life.

And lots more of our experiences and banter!

To follow or contact Dean, check out his LI handle and website:Dean Lester | LinkedInWelcome - Bravestar Performance

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For the passionate, the bold, and the game changers in Professional Sports and Independent Education, connect with Rick on his website or LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rick Cooper | LinkedIn

Tim is a former pro rugby league player - a promising career until a devastating neck injury at 24 ended that path . 

Identity loss, depression, addiction, and a brutal battle to rebuild followed. 

Coaching and strength training gave him a new purpose, but he quickly realized that without mental well-being, no athlete can reach their full potential.

Tim and I talked about delving into:

-Finding out who you are, when you strip away trying to fit in to be accepted in the quest to be true to oneself.

-The power of our actions and how they affect others, creating a ripple that drives us upward or conversely drags people to isolation

-And hanging onto out instincts and intuition when in world to constantly 'grind', 'hustle' and be up in our heads.

Plus the incredible side of his work in the prison system which fascinated me in the connection to others and our integration to our community.

To follow or contact Tim, check out his LI handle:

(1) Tim Holmes | LinkedIn

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For the passionate, the bold, and the game changers in Professional Sports and Independent Education, connect with Rick on his website or LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete | LinkedIn

Had the pleasure to connect stateside this week and bring a different viewpoint and value from Charles Wallace.

We chewed the fat over:

- Being a Man Isn’t Toxic—Being Passive and unassertive is.
How boys are confused at societal messaging for men to become 'beige' and repressed.

-Your Body Is the Front Line—Testosterone, Food, and physical health. How alcohol, junk food, porn, weed have become normalised for a reason - they are all numbing agents that kill testosterone and manipulate emotions

-Don’t Settle. How he reinvented himself later in life, and why it’s never too late to chase greatness and leave something behind worth remembering.

Charles is the founder and host of The Bear Essentials Podcast, a platform built to wake men the hell up and reclaim their edge.

After losing over 100 pounds, rebuilding his mindset, and reclaiming his life, Charles turned his pain into purpose. He’s a corporate leader with 30+ years of experience building high-performing teams and delivering results, now he’s also focused on helping men stop hibernating and start showing up.
He’s also the author of four books and is currently writing a graphic novel hybrid called The Shepherd: Hollowborn, a dark and brutal redemption story dropping this summer.
To follow or contact Charles, check out his LI handle:⁠(4) Charles Wallace | LinkedIn

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For the passionate, the bold, and the game changers in Professional Sports and Independent Education, connect with Rick on his website or LinkedIn:

⁠⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete⁠⁠

⁠⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete | LinkedIn

Class conversation with class man....

Richard is a conversation architect. Helping teams, parents and young people have better conversations. He walkers two hats, he’s a church minister and runs an organization called non- perfect dad.

With over 30 years of youth work behind him, he still takes great joy in seeing young people thrive and grow in self awareness.

🔗 Turning up our character traits, turning them down or making them to loud is stepping into making them flawed, the trait in and of itself is our unique quality

🔗 How elders are so important in role modelling emotional regulation, and praising the character of a young man to allow for self enquiry and to find about who they are without society telling them who to be

🔗 Young men being morally integral, purposefully driven and so much more...

To follow or contact Rich, check out his LI handle and Website:

Richard Shorter | LinkedInNon-Perfect Dad | Sports parents and coaches going in the same direction

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For the passionate, the bold, and the game changers in Professional Sports and Independent Education, connect with Rick on his website or LinkedIn:

⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete⁠

⁠Rick Cooper - The Education Athlete | LinkedIn