What a Lad

Presented by Betcha
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Rugby
  • Updated weekly

What a Lad is a podcast by James Marshall who talks to some of the biggest names and best lads on the planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5 hr ago

    Dr Kerry Spackman- What a Lad

    Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades studying one fascinating question — what separates the very best from everyone else? As a cognitive neuroscientist and high-performance consultant, Kerry has worked with Formula One legends, Olympians, key All Blacks and some of the world's highest performers, helping them understand how the brain works and how to perform when it matters most. In this episode of What a Lad, Kerry shares some incredible insights from his career. From working with three-time Formula One World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart and discovering his relentless attention to detail, to seeing firsthand the work ethic and mindset required to become a world champion. Kerry also breaks down the science behind elite performance — why athletes choke under pressure, how the best performers see things others don't, why being the best youngster doesn't guarantee future success, and how our emotions and experiences can shape the way we think and behave. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… Working with Sir Jackie Stewart and discovering what made him so different The incredible work ethic Kerry has witnessed from world champions Why some Wimbledon champions can predict where a serve is going before the ball is even hit Why thinking too much under pressure can actually make you perform worse Why being the best athlete at 16 doesn't mean you'll become the best as an adult The mentality behind Hamish Bond and Eric Murray's incredible success Why there are no shortcuts when it comes to becoming world-class How confidence can be built just like a muscle How emotional experiences from our past can continue to influence us years later Why Kerry believes we have a far greater ability to change ourselves than we realise This is one of those episodes that will make you think differently about performance, confidence and what we're actually capable of. Whether you're an athlete, coach, business owner or simply someone wanting to improve, there's plenty of gold in this one. If you enjoy hearing how some of the world's best think and what we can learn from them, you'll love this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Dr Kerry Spackman- What a Lad

  2. 26 Aug

    The Greatest Rivalry Test 2 Preview Ft Jeff McTainsh

    Episode 3 of The What a Lad Greatest Rivalry series, reviewing the All Blacks’ thrilling midweek clash against the Lions and previewing a massive second Test against the Springboks in Cape Town! For this episode, I’m joined by the great Jeff McTainsh, who has been calling the action throughout the tour and joins me directly from South Africa to share his insight into the games and the incredible atmosphere surrounding this rivalry. We break down how the All Blacks recovered from a 14-0 deficit against the Lions, including Ethan Blackadder’s enormous performance, Timoci Tavatavanawai’s impact, Emoni Narawa’s footwork and Rieko Ioane looking back to his explosive best. We also discuss the challenges of preparing a midweek All Blacks side, which players have pushed their case for Test selection and the big decisions facing Dave Rennie ahead of Cape Town. Then we preview Test 2, looking at the aerial battle, the importance of winning collisions and how the All Blacks can disrupt the Springboks’ structured game.  The All Blacks are 1-0 up, but with Handre Pollard and Siya Kolisi returning to the Springboks can they inspire a win to keep their series hopes alive, Cape Town is set up to be an absolute classic! Can the All Blacks go 2-0 up, or will the Springboks fight their way back into the series? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Greatest Rivalry Test 2 Preview Ft Jeff McTainsh

  3. 23 Aug

    The Greatest Rivalry Test 1 Review Ft Searley

    Episode 2 of The What a Lad Greatest Rivalry series, reviewing an incredible opening Test between the All Blacks and Springboks at Ellis Park! For this episode, I’m joined again by the great Searley from Searley Talks Sport as we break down how the All Blacks managed to come away with a huge 33-16 win, despite the Springboks dominating large parts of the first half. We look at the massive moments that swung the Test, including the All Blacks bench front row completely changing the scrum battle, Fabian Holland’s charge down, Jordie Barrett’s incredible defensive effort, Will Jordan’s Man of the Match performance and Cam Roigard’s game management under pressure. We also discuss just how impressive Cheslin Kolbe and Jasper Wiese were for the Springboks, the refereeing and TMO decisions, Rassie Erasmus’ reaction to the loss and what both sides will need to change heading into Test 2. The All Blacks have drawn first blood, but with the Springboks now needing to win the remaining three Tests to take the series, this Greatest Rivalry Tour has been set up perfectly! Can the All Blacks go 2-0 up in Cape Town, or will the Springboks bounce back? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Greatest Rivalry Test 1 Review Ft Searley

  4. 19 Aug

    Uilisi Halaholo- What a Lad

    Uilisi Halaholo has a story so good it was one of the reasons I started this podcast. A naturally gifted player from a young age, who was heading down the wrong path to make the most of his talent. Caught up in the wrong lifestyle, drinking and getting into trouble on a regular basis. A turning point came when he became a young father ultimately forced him to change direction. He put down the bottle, transformed himself physically and decided to give rugby a genuine crack. That decision started a journey that would take him from fighting for an opportunity with the Southland Stags, to the Hurricanes, winning a Super Rugby title, moving across the world to Cardiff and eventually representing Wales. But reaching the top didn't mean the challenges stopped. Willis opens up about the criticism he received for representing Wales, devastating injuries, missing the opportunity to play against the All Blacks, losing a close family member, financial uncertainty and one of the darkest periods of his career. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… What his life as a teenager was like! Why having his daughter changed his mindset. Why the move to Southland was the best thing for him Why he chose a contract with the Hurricanes over other offers How he ended up on a Wider Squad contract in 2016 the year he started in the final! The decision to move to Cardiff The brutal run of injuries and juggling being a father to 5 girls How all of those highs and lows shaped the person he is today As you’ll hear Uilisi is a lad! His story is an incredible example of how much can change when you decide to take control of your life. Plenty of laughs in this one, but also some incredibly raw and powerful moments. As always, if you enjoy the episode please give it a like, subscribe to the channel and share it with a mate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Uilisi Halaholo- What a Lad

  5. 1 Jul

    Ben Volavola- What a Lad

    Ben Volavola has one of the most unique careers in world rugby. Across a 13-year professional journey, he's played for the Waratahs, Crusaders, North Harbour, Canterbury, Rebels, Racing 92, Bordeaux, Perpignan, Agen, Leicester Tigers, Queensland Reds and now returns home to join the Fijian Drua. A two-time Rugby World Cup representative and one of Fiji's most experienced first fives, Ben has experienced the highs of winning Super Rugby and the lows of missing a Rugby World Cup squad. Throughout it all, he's built a reputation as one of rugby's ultimate professionals and a respected teammate wherever he's played. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… - Why rugby was the only plan he ever had growing up - The decision to represent Fiji after coming through the Australian pathway - What he learned from the Crusaders culture and why the best cultures win championships - The heartbreak of missing Fiji's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad and how he found motivation again - Playing alongside stars like Israel Folau & Richie Mo'unga - Why he's returning home to join the Fijian Drua and help build the future of Fijian rugby - The lessons he's taken from playing professionally across Australia, New Zealand, France and England Ben has experienced almost every corner of professional rugby, but what stood out most was his humility, gratitude and perspective. This is a fascinating conversation about resilience, culture, leadership and what it really takes to build a long career in professional sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Ben Volavola- What a Lad

  6. 24 Jun

    Super Rugby Review + All Black naming reaction

    The 2026 Super Rugby season is officially done and what a finish it was. The Hurricanes capped off a remarkable campaign with a dominant 60-5 victory in the final, producing one of the most complete performances we've seen in Super Rugby history. In this episode, we break down the final, review some of our preseason predictions, discuss the standout performers from the year and look at what made the Hurricanes such a dominant force throughout the competition. We also dive into Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad, discussing the bolters, unlucky omissions, selection surprises and what the squad tells us about how the All Blacks will look to play moving forward. Some of the topics discussed include... - We breakdown what we thought were the keys to the Hurricanes success - The players who stood out throughout the season - Who had the best predictions from the preseason epiosde - The biggest talking points from Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad - Which players were unlucky to miss selection - Who could become the All Blacks' best player in 2026 - Predictions for the upcoming test season and South African tour And heaps more With the Super Rugby season wrapped up and a massive international season ahead, this was a great chance to reflect on the year that was and look ahead to what's shaping up as one of the biggest years for the All Blacks in recent memory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Super Rugby Review + All Black naming reaction

  7. 17 Jun

    Liam Squire- Fan Favourite

    Liam Squire was one of the most feared players in world rugby, he had an incredible ability to throw his body into contact with zero thought of self preservation. While that approach helped Liam Squire the player, it's taken a serious toll on the body of Liam Squire the man. He's had an endless amount of injuries throughout his career and is now left with serious hip pain, shoulder pain and knee pain as he moves into the next chapter of his life. In this Fan Favourite episode of What a Lad, Liam opens up about the full journey through rugby and life. From growing up in Tokoroa and finding his way into professional rugby, to becoming an All Black, dealing with injuries, stepping away from the 2019 Rugby World Cup and ultimately being forced into retirement. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… How quickly his rise from provincial rugby to becoming an All Black Dealing with the fame of becoming an All Black Winning a Super Rugby title with the Highlanders and the culture that made that team special Why he never felt completely comfortable in the All Blacks environment The pressure and scrutiny leading into the 2019 Rugby World Cup His battles with injury and the mental toll of spending so much time on the sidelines Being told by a surgeon that if he wanted quality of life later on, it was time to retire How he has adjusted to life after rugby and what retirement has really been like This episode was recorded back in 2021 but this conversation shows a side of him that most people have never seen. Honest, reflective and incredibly open, this is a fascinating insight into the highs and lows of professional rugby and the price that can come with giving everything to the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Liam Squire- Fan Favourite

  8. 10 Jun

    Jayden Broome- What a Lad

    Jayden Broome is one of the most inspiring young rugby players you'll come across. A proud Gore local who spent his childhood with a rugby ball in his hands with a dream to become a professional rugby player. He was doing everything he could to reach that dream and everything was tracking that way. He captained all Southland age grade sides before leading New Zealand Māori Schoolboys to a historic victory over New Zealand Schools and even earned a preseason opportunity with his beloved Southland Stags. Then one moment changed everything for Jayden. After falling from a roof at a flat, Jayden suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him fighting for his life. He was placed in an induced coma, spent months in hospital and was ultimately forced to make the heartbreaking decision to walk away from the game he loved. Despite everything he's been through, Jayden's outlook on life, positivity and determination to keep moving forward is what makes this episode so special. Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were… - Walking 40 minutes to school and back every day and how that shaped him - Writing down his rugby goals as a teenager and dreaming of one day becoming an All Black - Getting his opportunity with the Southland Stags and realising he was good enough to compete at that level - The night of the accident and the reality of waking up after weeks in a coma - Learning just how close he came to losing his life - Coming to terms with the fact he would never play rugby again - Why he chose life over rugby and the powerful message he now wants to share with others - What his plans are in the future and how he wants to stay in the game This is a story about much more than rugby. It's about resilience, perspective, gratitude and finding purpose when the path you thought you were on suddenly disappears. Jayden's maturity, positivity and self-awareness at such a young age make this one of the most powerful conversations we've had on the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Jayden Broome- What a Lad
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About

What a Lad is a podcast by James Marshall who talks to some of the biggest names and best lads on the planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Presented by Betcha
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    349
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 James Marshall
  • Show Website
    What a Lad

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