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PODCAST

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast

Philip Darke & Paul Jobson

Hosts Paul Jobson and Phil Darke have decades of experience as leaders, husbands, fathers, soccer coaches, players, and referees. In this podcast, Paul and Phil will have conversations with guests from the worlds of leadership and soccer about how we can flourish by examining life and leadership through the lens of the "beautiful game."

sports soccer

All Episodes

01:16:04

Don Williams | Finding the Right Fit - RECAST

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/10/01

In Episode 207, we are recasting our second interview with Don Williams, SRUSA Head of Operations for the Americas and former college coach at every level. He talks with Paul and Phil about modern trends impacting youth soccer and college recruitment. They explore the implications of the transfer portal, the challenges and opportunities related to international player recruitment, and how these transformations affect high school and club soccer. Williams shares his experiences with helping players

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01:08:06

Achieved vs. Received Identity with Graham Daniels,...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/09/17

In Episode 206, we are giving you an annual dose of one of our favorite interviews of all time, going back to our conversation with Graham Daniels, Ph.D., Director of Cambridge United, Director of Christians in Sport, and former player for Cambridge United and Cardiff City. He talked with us about the "Pray, Play, Say" discipleship/leadership method, his personal why, his incredible testimony of how he came to his faith in Jesus Christ and how one pivotal moment changed the course of his life

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19:12

Alignment Beats Talent | The People Advantage (Series...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/09/03

In Episode 205, Phil and Paul wrap up Season 14's The People Advantage series with Episode 10—the finale. Ten episodes in, they bring it all together around one core idea: alignment beats talent, every single time. Equal talent, or even a talent disadvantage, doesn't matter if your team is aligned and the other one isn't. What happens off the field always shows up on it. And since everyone stops playing the sport eventually, the real question is what lessons are actually being built into the people

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16:23

From Insight to Behavior: How Repetition Builds...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/08/20

In Episode 204, Phil and Paul continue Season 14's dive into The People Advantage with Episode 9 of the series—and this one tackles the gap between knowing something and actually living it out. Insight doesn't change people. Repetition does. You can sit through the best talk, the best sermon, the best conference session of your life and still forget the main point by tomorrow. Values are no different. If they only live on a website or in a preseason handout, they're not actually shaping anyone

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16:39

Clarity Creates Confidence | The People Advantage

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/08/06

In Episode 203, Phil and Paul continue Season 14's dive into The People Advantage with Episode 8 of the series—and this one gets at something every leader thinks they're already doing well: creating clarity. Talent, character, culture—none of it sticks without clarity. Clarity is what lets vision actually take hold and values actually get lived out, instead of just sitting on a page somewhere. Drawing on Patrick Lencioni's The Advantage and their own experience coaching and leading, Phil and Paul

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14:12

The People Advantage: No Jerks Allowed—Protecting...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/07/23

In Episode 202, Phil and Paul continue Season 14's dive into The People Advantage by tackling one of the toughest calls every coach, business leader, parent, and organization eventually has to make: How do you protect your culture? Talent is valuable. But talent without character can quietly unravel everything you've worked to build. Drawing on years of coaching and leadership—plus one of their favorite leadership books, Legacy—Phil and Paul talk through why great cultures never happen by accident,

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15:40

The People Advantage: Building Trust Before Crisis Hits

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/07/09

In Episode 201, Phil and Paul continue Season 14's focus on The People Advantage by exploring one of the most important ingredients in every healthy team, organization, family, and relationship: Trust. Most leaders recognize trust is important. Far fewer intentionally build it before they need it. The reality is that trust isn't built during a crisis. Trust is built long before the crisis arrives. And when conflict, adversity, disappointment, or uncertainty inevitably come, teams either draw on the

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13:36

The People Advantage: When Strengths Become Weaknesses

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/06/25

In Episode 200, Phil and Paul continue Season 14's focus on The People Advantage by exploring a reality every leader, coach, parent, and teammate needs to understand: Every strength has a shadow side. The very traits that make people successful can become liabilities when they are stressed, unhealthy, frustrated, or operating outside of their strengths. Building on the DISC framework introduced in earlier episodes, Phil and Paul discuss how leaders can identify the warning signs of unhealthy

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14:58

The People Advantage: It's Not What You Say—It's What...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/06/11

In Episode 199, the fourth installment of our series, Phil and Paul continue Season 14's focus on The People Advantageby tackling one of the most overlooked realities of leadership and communication: Communication is not measured by what you say. It's measured by what people hear, absorb, and act upon. Building on the DISC foundation from previous episodes, they explore why even well-intentioned leaders often create communication gaps—and how understanding the personalities, motivations, and

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13:39

The People Advantage: The Leadership Mistake That...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/05/28

In Episode 198, Phil and Paul continue Season 14's focus on The People Advantage by exploring one of the biggest mistakes leaders unintentionally make: leading everyone the same way. Building on the DISC foundation from Episodes 1 and 2, they unpack why communication styles matter—and why coaching, leading, parenting, and even marriage become significantly more effective when we learn to adapt how we communicate to the people around us. This episode challenges a common leadership assumption: all

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13:53

The People Advantage: Why Your Team Isn't Winning

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/05/14

In Episode 197, Phil and Paul continue the Season 14 theme—The People Advantage—by diving into a foundational truth: you lead how you're wired, and you play how you lead. Building on Episode 1, they introduce a high-level overview of the DISC behavioral model and explore how understanding yourself and others transforms team culture, communication, and performance. This conversation unpacks why even talented teams struggle—and how awareness of personality wiring can turn dysfunction into cohesion

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13:54

The People Advantage: Why Most Team Problems Aren't...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/04/30

In Episode 196, Phil and Paul kick off a new format for Season 14—short, high-impact leadership episodes centered around one core theme: The People Advantage. Over the next 10 episodes, they will unpack a foundational truth: Most team problems aren't about talent or skill—they're about misunderstanding people. From communication breakdowns to misunderstood roles, this episode explores why teams underperform—and how better understanding each other off the field transforms performance on it

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52:55

Paul Caliguiri -- Faith, Perseverance, and National...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/04/16

In Episode 195, we are re-casting our episode with Paul Caligiuri, OCFC Manager, US Nat'l Soccer Hall of Famer, Former USMNT defender/midfielder and pro player in US and Germany, one of the first Americans to play professionally in Europe, and the unlikely scorer of the "shot heard 'round the world." In the episode, Paul talks with Phil and Paul about his remarkable journey from a passionate young soccer enthusiast to a defining figure in U.S. soccer history. He also recounts his serendipitous

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16:48

Phil Darke - How to Build Better Teams and Stronger...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/04/02

In Episode 194, we're recasting Offseason Talk, Volume 2, where host Phil Darke breaks down why understanding and implementing the DISC Model of Human Behavior can be one of the most practical and powerful steps you take toward building a healthier team and a healthier life. In this episode, you'll learn how DISC can help you: · understand yourself more clearly · connect better with team members, staff, volunteers, and family · communicate more effectively · navigate

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01:04:29

Cori Close, UCLA Women's BB Head Coach—Leading with a...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/03/19

In Episode 193, we are recasting our incredible interview with Cori Close, Head Coach of UCLA Women's Basketball, who talked with Phil about lessons she learned from her mentor, John Wooden, her personal "Why," what a broom and a shovel have to do with leadership, her Close Conversations, healthy conflict, gratitude, Championship Level Habits, doing the next right thing, and how work done in the dark gets revealed in the light. Specifically, Coach Close discusses: · Issues with specialization

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46:41

Phil and Paul – The "Nor-Way" - Season 13 Post-Match...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/03/05

In Episode 192, Phil and Paul recap their highlights from the great interviews we've had in Season 13 and discuss the "Nor-Way. We discuss what it is, why it is relevant to this podcast, and whether we should implement a similar philosophy into youth sports around the world. Some of the topics covered are free play, reduced early specialization, lifelong health, and how we can reduce the dropout rate in youth sports, urging parents and coaches to keep sport player-driven and enjoyable. It's a fun

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01:12:10

Jim Spence – Faithfulness and Leading with Compassion

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/02/19

In Episode 191, Phil and Paul sat down with Jim Spence, founder of Sports Quest, to explore a 30-year journey of soccer ministry, leadership development, and faithful obedience. Jim shares how a young Englishman with dreams of professional cricket became a lifelong soccer missionary in Houston, Texas. Through stories of shattered athletic dreams, ministry pivots, and hard-earned leadership wisdom, Jim reveals how sport can be a powerful platform for sharing Christ and shaping lives. From apologizing

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50:48

Developing Players for Life - Season 13 Water Break...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/02/05

In Episode 190, Phil and Paul dive into the importance of individual and team development in every level of soccer. They discuss the role of effective communication between coaches and players, emphasizing the significance of understanding each player's personality and motivational needs. Paul brings his recent experiences from his new role as a club director to the table, particularly surrounding the recurring theme of balancing tactical instructions with personal development. We also discuss the

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58:06

Thuy Williams – Saving Lives and Overcoming Adversity...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/01/22

In Episode 189, Phil and Paul had a great conversation with Thuy Williams, an incredible athlete and coach of the US Amputee Soccer National Team using her skills and talents in the world of all-abilities and sports ministry. During the interview, she shares her incredible journey from being rescued out of Vietnam during Operation Babylift, to her childhood as an adoptee in the US, to becoming a coach and mentor in various sports, including soccer and lacrosse, around the world. Despite battling a

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01:08:22

What Makes a Leader? with Wells Thompson, Co-Founder...

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast ·

2026/01/08

In Episode 188, we are re-casting our conversation with Wells Thompson, Former MLS midfielder and 1st Round Draft Pick, Co-Founder of Soccer Resilience, husband, and father. This was our most downloaded episode of 2025 and Top 2 for both Paul and me. In this episode, he talked with Paul and Phil about his journey from childhood adversity to the MLS, his struggles with identity and mental health, his faith journey and his personal why relating to that journey, his difficulties transitioning to life

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211 results

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