Sam is joined once again by the writer and political strategist, Alastair Campbell.  Alastair is the co-host of The Rest Is Politics podcast but is perhaps best known from his time as ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications & strategy when he was in power.  In this episode, we look at managing crises. Alastair talks about embracing the pressure of knowing that some decisions matter more; but we also discuss the flip side. Alastair talks openly and honestly about living with depression and the importance of having a strong support network.  We also talk about the power of clear communication, the importance of having a vision and how he and Tony Blair learnt from Premier League managers.  To get in touch with the show, email captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk and for extra content search for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ on LinkedIn.  If you are listening on Apple and would like to listen to this episode ad-free, as well as getting access to Crowd's other sports shows, click here: https://apple.co/3zQpfwE. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon music.  Music courtesy of BMG Production Music.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam is joined this episode by one of the biggest names in British politics, Alastair Campbell. Alastair is the co-host of The Rest Is Politics podcast but is perhaps best known from his time as ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications & strategy when he was in power. In this episode, we examine the crossover between politics and sport. Alastair explains why his involvement on the British & Irish Lions Tour received mixed reviews from the players and talks about using the fear of failure – even when in a winning position - to drive you on. To get in touch with the show, email captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk and for extra content search for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ on LinkedIn. If you are listening on Apple and would like to listen to this episode ad-free, as well as getting access to Crowd's other sports shows, click here: https://apple.co/3zQpfwE. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon music. Music courtesy of BMG Production Music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Captains, Sam is joined by former World, European and Commonwealth Champion in the 400m hurdles, Dai Greene. Dai was also Team GB athletics captain at the London 2012 Olympics.   Dai talks all about his memories of that summer and how he was able to lead the likes of Jessica Ennis-Hill and Sir Mo Farah, as well talking about the benefits of training with the right people - even if you don't get along. This is a fascinating conversation into the mindset of an individual athlete; the motivation and commitment needed to excel and the drive to continue when others don’t want to.  To get in touch with the show, email captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk and for extra content search for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ on LinkedIn.  If you are listening on Apple and would like to listen to this episode ad-free, as well as getting access to Crowd's other sports shows, click here: https://apple.co/3zQpfwE. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon music.  Music courtesy of BMG Production Music.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Captains, Sam is joined by former Wales football captain Ashley Williams.  Ashley was the skipper as Wales defied the odds to reach the semi-final of Euro 2016. Under the management of Chris Coleman, Ashley captained the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey and here he lifts the lid on the bonds that made that team so special.  Sam & Ashley compare notes about playing England, how to balance the emotion of big national occasions with carrying out a game plan and the importance of empowering other voices in the group to speak.  To get in touch with the show, email captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk and for extra content search for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ on LinkedIn.  If you are listening on Apple and would like to listen to this episode ad-free, as well as getting access to Crowd's other sports shows, click here: https://apple.co/3zQpfwE. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon music.  Music courtesy of BMG Production Music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the new NFL season underway, Sam is joined by two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora.  Osi is an award-winning pundit and an NFL icon and here he breaks down the mindset required to lead and succeed in America’s Game.  One common theme is the importance of good communication and in this episode Osi compares the different styles of legendary quarterbacks Tom Brady and Eli Manning, as well as the pitfalls of the glitz and glamour of the NFL lifestyle.  Osi is a trailblazer and a leading figure in growing the game around the world in his role as ambassador for NFL Africa, which has expanded beyond Ghana into Keyna. At present, over 100 players of African descent - whether both on the continent or elsewhere with African parentage - are involved in the NFL.  For more information, search @NFLAfrica on social media.  To get in touch with the show, email captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk and for extra content search for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ on LinkedIn.  If you are listening on Apple and would like to listen to this episode ad-free, as well as getting access to Crowd's other sports shows, click here: https://apple.co/3zQpfwE. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon music.  Music courtesy of BMG Production Music.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Warburton is joined this episode by his old friend - and rival - former Scotland rugby captain John Barclay.  John represented Scotland at three World Cups, earning 76 caps in total after making his debut against the All Blacks in 2007. At club level, John played for Glasgow Warriors before making the move south to the Scarlets where he led them to the Pro 14 title in 2017.  John reflects on the culture shock of that move and the difficulties of adapting to a new environment. He also talks about being dropped by Scotland and working his way back into the set-up, the grind of captaincy, as well as the importance of managing and maintaining relationships with some of the biggest names in Scottish rugby like Finn Russell and Greig Laidlaw. To get in touch with the show, email captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk and for extra content search for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ on LinkedIn.  If you are listening on Apple and would like to listen to this episode ad-free, as well as getting access to Crowd's other sports shows, click here: https://apple.co/3zQpfwE. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon music.  Music courtesy of BMG Production Music.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Warburton is joined by his former Wales coach Shaun Edwards; a legend of Rugby League and current France defence coach.  This is Part Two. If you haven't already, go back and listen to Part One.  In this episode, Shaun breaks down his coaching philosophy and discusses his working relationship with Warren Gatland.  Shaun has a reputation as a visionary coach but perhaps his greatest strength is keeping it simple; and here he tells Sam about his transition from playing to coaching.  To get in touch with the show, email captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk and for extra content search for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ on LinkedIn.  If you are listening on Apple and would like to listen to this episode ad-free, as well as getting access to Crowd's other sports shows, click here: https://apple.co/3zQpfwE. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon music.  Music courtesy of BMG Production Music.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Captains is back! Sam Warburton is joined by his former Wales coach Shaun Edwards; a legend of Rugby League and current France defence coach. An incredibly successful leader from a very young age, Shaun explains how his upbringing in Wigan shaped his outlook on life and that a fear of going down the pit inspired him great things as a player and coach. With the Rugby World Cup on the horizon, Shaun explains how he had to adapt his coaching style with Les Bleus and they discuss what makes France skipper Antoine Dupont a modern day great. To get in touch with the show, email captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk and for extra content search for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ on LinkedIn. If you are listening on Apple and would like to listen to this episode ad-free, as well as getting access to Crowd's other sports shows, click here: https://apple.co/3zQpfwE. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon music. Music courtesy of BMG Production Music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Captains, Sam delves into the archive to reflect on some of his favourite conversations from the series. Sam has been joined by a different world-class sporting leader each week to compare notes, relive those life changing moments and share stories about what it’s really like to wear the armband at sport’s highest level. Olympic heroes, World Cup winners, Ryder Cup winners, Premier League stars; they’ve all spoken openly and honestly about their leadership journey, offering valuable insights we can all learn from. From dealing with the thrill of success to bouncing back after disappointment - it’s self-improvement through storytelling. Like what you’ve heard? You can listen to all previous episodes wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music.  Use #CaptainsPod to get in touch with Sam on social media.   Email: captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk  LinkedIn: Captains with Sam Warburton  Twitter: @samwarburton_  Instagram: @samwarbs  TikTok: @samwarbs  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Huddle. These are bonus episodes released every week – and this is a taster of some of Sam’s favourite conversations. Each week Sam catches up with writer and broadcaster Tom Fordyce to break down some of the leadership skills he learnt during his career that have helped in life on and off the pitch.  Sam uses examples from his experience of captaining Wales and the British & Irish Lions to discuss how to prepare for a big speech, how to work with difficult people, how to deliver feedback and many more topics – all great leadership tools for leadership. They’re bitesize episodes with takeaways that we can all use in our lives. If you’ve not checked them out, you can to do so by subscribing to Crowd Sports+ on Apple. As well as The Huddle, you will get ad-free episodes of Captains and other brilliant Crowd Sports podcasts like Beef’s Golf Club, The George Groves Boxing Club and The Geraint Thomas Cycling Club. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon music.  Use #CaptainsPod to get in touch with Sam on social media.  Email: captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk  LinkedIn: Captains with Sam Warburton  Twitter: @samwarburton_  Instagram: @samwarbs  TikTok: @samwarbs  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam’s guest this week is a double Olympic gold medallist, the President of World Athletics but perhaps best known as the man who delivered London 2012.  Lord Coe breaks down the importance of building world class teams with a shared vision, something he experienced in the build-up to the Games. The pair discuss the need to create an environment where people can flourish and, crucially, able to challenge those in a leadership role. They discuss dealing with criticism and techniques to successfully get people onboard when things are challenging. Don’t just keep asking how, ask why.  Use #CaptainsPod to get in touch with Sam on social media.  Email: captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk  LinkedIn: Captains with Sam Warburton  Twitter: @samwarburton_  Instagram: @samwarbs  TikTok: @samwarbs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam’s guest this week is Man City Women’s captain and former England skipper Steph Houghton.  A hugely influential figure in the growth of women’s football over the last decade, Steph talks openly about how she dealt with the disappointment of missing out on the Lionesses historic Euro 2022 win.  The pair also reflect on trying to influence a group while on the sidelines and lessons learned on taking leadership roles within groups where there are more experienced people around. Use #CaptainsPod to get in touch with Sam on social media.  Email: captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk  LinkedIn: Captains with Sam Warburton  Twitter: @samwarburton_  Instagram: @samwarbs  TikTok: @samwarbs  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Captains Sam is joined by Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy. The Team GB flag-bearer at London 2012, Chris is the most successful track cyclist ever, with six Olympic Gold medals and eleven World Championship titles to his name. The pair discuss the power of visualisation and compare how they each used it during their careers. Chris’s achievements owe a lot to his mindset but, as he explains, patience and consistency are also key. He talks about the importance of accepting that the road to the top takes time – valuable advice for anyone listening no matter what stage of their journey they are at. Use #CaptainsPod to get in touch with Sam on social media. Email: captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk LinkedIn: Captains with Sam Warburton Twitter: @samwarburton_ Instagram: @samwarbs TikTok: @samwarbs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I was deeply lost in my own issues and as a result I was not a good captain.” This week Sam is joined by one of sport’s most recognisable names, English rugby icon and World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson.  The pair reflect on the price of success in an intense environment and how the impact of your actions can have long-lasting effects – both positive and negative - on you and your surroundings. They discuss how to deal with stress and pressure and why, ultimately, you need to understand yourself before you can understand others. This is a conversation about life and sports leadership on an elite level, packed with insight that we can all benefit from. Use #CaptainsPod to get in touch with Sam on social media. Email: captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk LinkedIn: Captains with Sam Warburton Twitter: @samwarburton_ Instagram: @samwarbs TikTok: @samwarbs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I’ve never once tried to make an excuse for any of my behaviours in the past. The hardest part is owning who you actually are.” This week on Captains Sam is joined by Troy Deeney. The Birmingham City captain opens up about his tough upbringing and discusses how those early life-changing experiences - including a prison sentence - helped shaped his leadership style later in his career. Having captained teams involved in both promotions and relegations, Troy talks about the motivation needed when leading during difficult periods, as well as the importance of showing respect and being responsible for your own actions. Use #CaptainsPod to get in touch with Sam on social media and make sure you follow our LinkedIn page for extra leadership tips. Get in touch with Sam via captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Sam is joined by professional cyclist and Ineos Grenadiers road captain Luke Rowe. Luke breaks down one of sport’s most misunderstood roles, highlighting the importance of communication and organisation with teammates while out on the road in high-pressure race conditions. Loyalty is a theme that runs throughout and Luke talks openly about how he dealt with the disappointment of being disqualified from the Tour de France in 2019. Use #CaptainsPod to get in touch with Sam on social media and make sure you follow our LinkedIn page by searching for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ for extra leadership tips. Email the show on captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk. Subscribe to Crowd Sports+ on Apple to join The Huddle and receive bonus content and ad-free episodes. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon Music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“What motivates and excites people is passion. You’ve got to give a sh*t about what you’re doing!” This week Sam’s guest is former England and Great Britain captain, Rugby League legend Jamie Peacock. One of the most successful and decorated forwards to ever play the game, Jamie reflects on his time at Bradford Bulls, his move to bitter rivals Leeds Rhinos, and outlines his really strong and clear approach to leadership – focusing on honesty and being true to your word. To support Jamie’s friend and former teammate Rob Burrow, visit the Motor Neurone Disease Association website: https://www.mndassociation.org/get-involved/donations/rob-burrow/ Use #captainspod to get in touch with Sam on social media and make sure you follow our LinkedIn page by searching for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ for extra leadership tips. Email the show on captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk. Subscribe to Crowd Sports+ on Apple to join The Huddle and receive bonus content and ad-free episodes. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon Music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Sam is joined by former England netball captain Serena Guthrie. A legend of the sport with over 100 caps to her name, Serena reflects on her leadership journey; from starting out aged 16 at Bath to leading England out at a home World Cup. Authenticity and honesty are key pillars to Serena’s captaincy style as well as being aware of the importance of leaving a positive legacy - there are plenty of useful lessons here that we can all learn from. Use #captainspod to get in touch with Sam on social media and make sure you follow our LinkedIn page by searching for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ for extra leadership tips. Email the show on captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk. Subscribe to Crowd Sports+ on Apple to join The Huddle and receive bonus content and ad-free episodes. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon Music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Advice for modern managers? Just win! Sam’s guest this week is one of the most respected names in football, Martin O’Neill. A European Cup winner as a player, he led Northern Ireland at the 1982 World Cup before winning trophies in England and Scotland as a manager. Martin reflects on how leadership – both captaincy and management – has evolved during his career and discusses what traits he looked for when appointing captains. He played for Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest and worked with Roy Keane with the Republic of Ireland, Martin is experienced in understanding how to bring the best out of people.  Subscribe to Crowd Sports+ on Apple to join The Huddle and receive weekly bonus content and ad-free episodes. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon Music. Use #captainspod to get in touch with Sam on social media and make sure you follow our LinkedIn page by searching for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ for extra leadership tips. Email the show on captains@crowdnetwork.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Sam is joined by Rugby World Cup winner and former All Blacks captain, Kieran Read. Kieran explains how a criminal psychologist helped him and his New Zealand team-mates deal with high pressure situations; the pair compare notes about leading rugby obsessed nations they reflect on sharing one of the sport's most iconic moments in recent memory; their joint trophy lift in the 2017 Lions series.  Use #captainspod to get in touch with Sam on social media and make sure you follow our LinkedIn page by searching for ‘Captains with Sam Warburton’ for extra leadership tips. Subscribe to Crowd Sports+ on Apple to join The Huddle and receive bonus content and ad-free episodes. You can also listen ad-free on Amazon Music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices