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Drawing on over 300 years of British Army leadership experience, ’The Centre for Army Leadership Podcast’ looks to establish what is required of our leaders and our leadership, to meet the challenges of both today and tomorrow. For the British Army, leadership underpins everything that we do. It not only ensures we do right by our people, it underpins our operational success. This podcast series seeks to harness diversity of thought and experience from military leaders as well as leaders from the worlds of sport, academia and business, stimulating debate, awareness and critical thinking. Leadership matters to us all with many of our successes and indeed our failures often defined by how well we are led, or indeed by how well we lead. The purpose of the Podcast is to provide a platform where these invaluable leadership lessons and experiences can be shared.
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Friday May 23, 2025
Friday May 23, 2025
We're kicking off an exciting new chapter for the Centre for Army Leadership podcast with a fresh rebrand, featuring more diverse and interesting guests and a bold new look!
In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome John Volanthen, a world record holding British cave diver and expert in underground exploration and rescue. John is best known for his pivotal role in the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand, where he was the first to locate the trapped youth soccer team, ultimately leading their rescue.
John’s career in cave diving has seen him break records, including setting a British cave diving depth record in 2004 and being part of the team that set a world record for the longest cave penetration in Spain. But it was his involvement in the Tham Luang rescue that truly brought him international acclaim. John, alongside his dive partner Rick Stanton, was instrumental in locating and rescuing the trapped boys, navigating dangerous conditions, and leading their safe extraction.
Beyond his diving accomplishments, John is also a passionate speaker on teamwork, resilience, and leadership, sharing lessons from his high-stakes experiences. He’s an avid runner, participating in marathons and ultra-marathons, and volunteers as a scout leader, teaching young people about caving and the importance of perseverance. He’s received numerous prestigious awards, including the George Medal for bravery, the World Humane Society’s bronze, silver, and stampede medals, and the Pride of Britain Award for Outstanding Bravery. John is also the author of Thirteen Lessons That Saved Thirteen Lives: The Thai Cave Rescue, which recounts his experience and the lessons learned, and was adapted into the film Thirteen Lives.
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