Power And Purpose Podcast

Power and Purpose Podcast

Exploring leadership in the worlds of sports, business & beyond. Hosted by William Troost-Ekong, Maro Itoje & Leon Mann

  1. 5d ago

    Managing Up — When Performance Isn't Enough

    Where's the line between being strategic and being fake? In this episode, Maro Itoje, William Troost-Ekong and Leon Mann dig into one of the least-talked-about skills in sport and business: managing up. Maro reframes it as a family skill before a workplace one. Will pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to address a Nigerian football federation — and shares a costly story about throwing his boots at 20. Leon asks the question most people are too polite to: is "managing up" just a polite way of saying playing the game? The conversation lands on a two-word closer from Maro that's hard to argue with. Listen to the full episode below: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5acio7AdrIGnrGU7pXgrv2 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/power-and-purpose-podcast/id1838671753 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@listenpowerandpurpose

    49 min
  2. Why No One Succeeds Alone - And How To Build Something That Gives Back

    May 28

    Why No One Succeeds Alone - And How To Build Something That Gives Back

    Who was there for you before anyone else believed in you? In this episode, Maro Itoje, William Troost-Ekong and Leon Mann go back to the very beginning, to the parents, coaches and unsung heroes who carried them before success arrived. Then they pull back the curtain on what they are building off the pitch: Maro's Pearl Fund supporting children in Lagos and London through education, Will's Troost-Ekong Foundation empowering young people in Nigeria, and Leon's BCMS changing the face of sports journalism in the UK. This is the conversation that reminded us why we started this podcast. Support is not just something you receive. It is something you owe. Listen to the full episode below: Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5acio7AdrIGnrGU7pXgrv2⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/power-and-purpose-podcast/id1838671753⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@listenpowerandpurpose⁠

    51 min
  3. Ex-England Cricketer: Why Your First Leadership Failure Matters Most - Ebony Rainford-Brent

    May 21

    Ex-England Cricketer: Why Your First Leadership Failure Matters Most - Ebony Rainford-Brent

    What do you do when your first big moment as a leader falls completely flat? In this episode, World Cup winning cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent tells us about the captaincy speech that bombed, the moment she was told she was the first Black woman to play for England and felt dread instead of pride, and the belief that carried her from street cricket in South London to two World Cups, the ECB boardroom and building one of the most important grassroots programmes in English sport. This is one of those conversations where every answer makes you rethink how you show up as a leader. Listen to the full episode below: Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5acio7AdrIGnrGU7pXgrv2⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/power-and-purpose-podcast/id1838671753⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@listenpowerandpurpose⁠

    1h 12m
  4. What Does it Mean To Be A Man in 2026

    May 14

    What Does it Mean To Be A Man in 2026

    What happens when three men in sport stop performing masculinity and start talking about it? In this episode, Maro Itoje, William Ekong and Leon Mann have one of the rawest conversations we have had on this podcast. They open up about fatherhood, vulnerability, the men who shaped them and the moments that forced them to rethink what strength really means. Then UN Women UK Executive Director Tabitha Morton joins to reveal what young men are actually finding when they go online looking for guidance and how the Same Side campaign is using athletes to offer something better. This is the episode I wish existed when I was growing up. I think a lot of people will feel the same way. Listen to the full episode below: Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5acio7AdrIGnrGU7pXgrv2⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/power-and-purpose-podcast/id1838671753⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@listenpowerandpurpose⁠

    1h 14m
  5. Football Transfers, 100 Caps & Losing A Parent: Nothing Was Off Limits

    Apr 30

    Football Transfers, 100 Caps & Losing A Parent: Nothing Was Off Limits

    What happens when you strip away the headlines and let three men talk about what really matters? In this Season 2 opener, Maro Itoje, William Ekong and Leon Mann are back together for one of the most open and honest conversations we have ever had. Will pulls back the curtain on the real business of football, from contract negotiations to choosing family over ambition. Maro reflects on reaching 100 caps for England before sharing something deeply personal about losing his mother, grief and learning to keep going when the world feels different. This episode reminded me why we started this podcast. It is not about performance. It is about purpose. Listen to the full episode below: Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5acio7AdrIGnrGU7pXgrv2⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/power-and-purpose-podcast/id1838671753⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@listenpowerandpurpose⁠

    53 min
  6. Global Leadership Expert: How To Lead With Confidence When No One Looks Like You

    12/11/2025

    Global Leadership Expert: How To Lead With Confidence When No One Looks Like You

    What does it take to lead at the highest level when the world keeps telling you that you don’t belong? In this episode, we sit down with global legal leader Sandie Okoro OBE, whose rise from a South London childhood to the top of the World Bank is a masterclass in confidence, resilience and purpose. Her story goes far beyond law and finance. It is about challenging expectations, embracing fear, leading with kindness and humility, and breaking ceilings that were never designed to open. This conversation changed the way I think about leadership, identity and what it truly means to step into your power. Listen to the full episode with Sandie Okoro below: Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5acio7AdrIGnrGU7pXgrv2⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/power-and-purpose-podcast/id1838671753⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@listenpowerandpurpose⁠

    1h 13m
  7. Dave Coldwell: The Childhood Trauma That Made a World-Class Coach

    12/04/2025

    Dave Coldwell: The Childhood Trauma That Made a World-Class Coach

    What does it really take to build champions—inside and outside the ring? In this episode, we sit down with legendary boxing trainer Dave Coldwell, whose journey from a violent childhood to coaching world champions is a masterclass in resilience, self-belief, and emotional intelligence. His story isn’t just about boxing—it’s about rebuilding confidence, overcoming fear, and leading with honesty. This conversation reshaped how I think about performance, pressure, and what true toughness looks like. Listen to the full episode with Dave Coldwell below: Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5acio7AdrIGnrGU7pXgrv2⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/power-and-purpose-podcast/id1838671753⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@listenpowerandpurpose⁠

    1h 16m
  8. Jake Hardy: From Pot-Washing to Building Football’s Most Disruptive Boot Brand

    11/28/2025

    Jake Hardy: From Pot-Washing to Building Football’s Most Disruptive Boot Brand

    What does it really take to build a football brand from nothing? For today’s episode, we sat down with Jake Hardy, the founder and CEO of Sokito, one of football’s fastest-growing sustainable boot companies. His story isn’t glamorous. It’s raw, risky, and built on sacrifice most people will never see. This conversation changed how I think about entrepreneurship, sustainability, and what success actually costs. Listen to the full episode with Jake Hardy below: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5acio7AdrIGnrGU7pXgrv2 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/power-and-purpose-podcast/id1838671753 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@listenpowerandpurpose Sokito: https://www.sokito.com

    1h 4m
See All (17)

About

Exploring leadership in the worlds of sports, business & beyond. Hosted by William Troost-Ekong, Maro Itoje & Leon Mann

Information

  • Creator
    Power and Purpose Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Power and Purpose Podcast
  • Show Website
    Power And Purpose Podcast

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