James Croker on Leadership, Belonging and the Power of Sport
Release Date: 12/08/2025
How An Employee Became The Boss (And Then Exited), with Brian Parker
Evolve to Succeed
What does it really take to grow from a junior role into Managing Director, earn equity, scale a business through major change, and successfully exit? In this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, host Warren sits down with Brian Parker, former Managing Director and shareholder of Britannia Parking. Brian shares an honest, behind-the-scenes account of his 20-year journey, starting in a junior finance role and progressing to board level, equity ownership and ultimately leading the business through a successful exit. Brian talks openly...
info_outline
James Croker on Leadership, Belonging and the Power of Sport
Evolve to Succeed
On this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren Munson sits down with James Croker, Commercial Director at Bournemouth Rugby Club. Many know James as the energetic, passionate force behind the club’s growth in recent years, but few know the full story that shaped him. James takes us from his early sporting childhood, through a 15-year career in the Royal Air Force, to the devastating series of heart attacks in his early thirties that abruptly ended both his military career and his playing days. He speaks openly about the mental health battle that followed, the loss, the darkness and...
info_outline
The Start-Up Reality: Inside the First 12 Months of Building a Business, with Josh Williams
Evolve to Succeed
What does it really take to build a startup from scratch? In this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, host Warren Munson speaks with Josh Williams, co-founder of Town, a new community platform on a mission to help people rediscover and support their local independent businesses. Founded less than a year ago, Town is already building momentum by rewarding shoppers for buying local and connecting communities through tech. Josh opens up about his journey from a series of side hustles to launching a tech startup with purpose. He talks candidly about the challenges of bootstrapping, managing...
info_outline
From Dysfunctional to High Performance: Lessons in Teamwork, with Nick Fewings
Evolve to Succeed
What makes a truly high-performing team, and why do so many fail to reach that level? In this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren Munson sits down with Nick Fewings, founder of Ngagement Works and author of Team Lead Succeed. Known as a “Teamologist,” Nick shares insights from over three decades of experience helping leaders and teams reach their potential. From his early leadership struggles at Barclays to coaching global organisations, Nick explores the psychology of teamwork, covering trust, purpose, accountability and the fine balance between empathy and strategy. He...
info_outline
How to Live Longer, Healthier and Stronger, with Rachel Williams
Evolve to Succeed
What if you could completely transform your health, energy, and outlook in just a few years? This week on the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren is joined by Rachel Williams, founder of Zest Lifestyle, wellbeing coach, and passionate advocate for preventative health. Rachel’s story is remarkable - 25 years ago she was overweight, smoking 40 cigarettes a day, drinking heavily, and burnt out from her high-pressure corporate career. Then one morning in a Barcelona hotel, she had her “OMG moment” and decided to change everything. Since then, Rachel has not only rebuilt her own life...
info_outline
How AI is Changing Business Forever, with Nick Carlile and Dan Smith
Evolve to Succeed
AI is no longer a distant concept. It’s here. But what does it mean for business, creativity and society as a whole? In this thought-provoking episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, host Warren Munson is joined by two experts at the forefront of the AI revolution. Nick Carlile, founder of Olivia AI, and Dan Smith, CEO of Fireworx. Together, they explore the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence. From democratising knowledge and levelling the playing field for small businesses, to the existential risks around ethics, regulation and human identity. Expect candid...
info_outline
The Journey from Burnout to Inner Peace - with Katherine Baldwin
Evolve to Succeed
What happens when the life you dreamed of doesn’t bring you happiness? This week on the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, we’re joined by Katherine Baldwin. Former Reuters political and foreign correspondent who once travelled the world alongside Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and David Cameron. From covering wars, natural disasters, and global crises, Katherine lived a life of adrenaline, success, and status. Yet behind the scenes, she was battling burnout, binge eating, alcohol dependence, and an overwhelming sense of emptiness. In this deeply honest and inspiring conversation, Katherine shares how...
info_outline
Defining 'Enough': Declan O'Toole on Exit Strategies & Entrepreneurial Freedom
Evolve to Succeed
Summary On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Declan O'Toole shares his remarkable journey from marine biology to building a successful catering business, Forerunner Catering. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from Meals on Wheels to providing school meals, the importance of cash flow management, and the lessons learned from navigating public sector contracts. Declan reflects on the decision to exit the business, the sale process, and life after exit, emphasising the need for resilience and the fulfillment found in the entrepreneurial journey. This episode...
info_outline
Charting New Waters: How a Startup Disrupted Superyacht Navigation
Evolve to Succeed
Dave and Alicia Store, co-founders of DSNM, join the Evolve to Succeed podcast to trace their 25-year journey from a one-man, paper-based chart-correction service to an award-winning super-yacht-navigation technology company with 27 employees and 620 vessels under subscription. Dave candidly recounts the scrappy early years - dot-matrix printers, Pritt Stick, and fax machines - while Alicia explains how joining the firm (initially to cover maternity leave) professionalised its finances, people processes and long-term vision. The couple unpack the pivotal moments that reshaped the...
info_outline
Atlantic Grit: The True Story of a 3,000 Mile Row, with Julie & Sally
Evolve to Succeed
In this captivating episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, host Warren Munson reconnects with returning guests Julie and Sally, fresh from their epic adventure of rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. After 59 grueling days at sea, the team successfully completed their journey from La Gomera to Antigua aboard the Ebb & Flow. Julie and Sally share vivid tales of their extreme challenge, from breathtaking wildlife encounters to the relentless mental and physical tests they faced. This episode is a moving testament to courage, camaraderie, and the power of human determination. Tune...
info_outlineOn this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren Munson sits down with James Croker, Commercial Director at Bournemouth Rugby Club. Many know James as the energetic, passionate force behind the club’s growth in recent years, but few know the full story that shaped him.
James takes us from his early sporting childhood, through a 15-year career in the Royal Air Force, to the devastating series of heart attacks in his early thirties that abruptly ended both his military career and his playing days. He speaks openly about the mental health battle that followed, the loss, the darkness and ultimately the community that helped pull him back up.
We explore how rugby’s core values have shaped James’s leadership philosophy, the commercial transformation at Bournemouth Rugby and his mission to build a true sense of belonging in the local business community.
This conversation is a blend of raw honesty, practical wisdom and heartfelt passion for sport and people.
If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more listeners discover the show.
This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…
-
How sport shaped James’s early life
-
Why he joined the Royal Air Force
-
The sudden heart condition that ended his military career
-
How he battled depression and rebuilt his life
-
Transitioning into coaching and returning to Bournemouth Rugby
-
Building commercial sustainability and community connection
-
Creating belonging and meaningful values in organisations
-
Why role modelling matters in sport and business
-
The importance of resilience and support networks
-
James’s ambitions for Bournemouth Rugby Club
Soundbites
“Sport always gave me purpose, even when nothing else made sense.”
“You learn from great leaders, but you learn even more from the bad ones.”
“Community saved me. Without it, I don’t know where I’d be.”
“The military took my structure away overnight. That’s when life really hit me.”
“Good rugby players aren’t always good people. We want good people first.”
“You can’t just put your values on a wall. You have to live them.”
“If you want to build community, create a sense of belonging and safety first.”
“Make your bed. Do one thing. One step leads to the next.”
Chapters
00:00 – Intro
01:00 – James’ early years
03:20 – Military career
10:30 – Heart attacks
17:40 – Navigating depression and rebuilding life
21:45 – Bournemouth Rugby
25:30 – Building community through sport
36:00 – Rugby values
49:10 – Future of Bournemouth Rugby
55:20 – Final reflections