Science for Sport Podcast
Behind the Scenes of Elite Performance – Unlocking the Science, Stories, and Strategies That Make the Best Even Better
Displaying all 9 Episode of Science for Sport Podcast with the tag “athlete development”.
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293: Johnny Nelson on the Gym that Created World Champions
November 10th, 2025 | 32 mins 20 secs
athlete development, athlete mindset, athlete resilience, boxing podcast, brendan ingle, coaching philosophy, elite athlete stories, elite mindset, elite performance, high performance sport, human performance, johnny nelson, leadership in sport, mental fitness, mental toughness, mindset, motivation, overcoming failure, performance coaching, performance culture, physical conditioning, resilience, self belief, sheffield boxing, sport psychology, sports performance, sports science, training science, wincobank gym, world champion, world champion mindset
Former world champion Johnny Nelson joins Richard Graves to share how he went from a struggling amateur to the longest-reigning cruiserweight champion in history. He reveals the mindset, coaching, and resilience that turned failure into fuel, with lessons every sports science professional can apply to elite performance.
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290: Rewiring Performance: The Neuroscience Behind Mindset and Recovery
October 20th, 2025 | 32 mins 7 secs
athlete development, born superhuman, brain training, chatgpt said: mindset, coaching, dan metcalfe, elite performance, high performance, human potential, leadership, mental training, motivation, neuroscience, performance psychology, recovery, rehabilitation, resilience, richard graves, science for sport podcast, sports science
In this episode, performance coach Dan Metcalfe joins host Richard Graves to discuss the neuroscience of mindset, recovery, and human potential. Drawing on his remarkable journey from paralysis to coaching elite athletes, Dan explores how belief, brain training, and resilience shape performance at every level.
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288: How Scotland Built a Fitter, Faster, Stronger Rugby Team
October 6th, 2025 | 33 mins 37 secs
athlete development, continuous improvement in sport, elite athlete training, elite rugby training, high performance sport, physical performance, player performance, rugby coaching, rugby fitness, rugby pathways, rugby preparation, rugby strength and conditioning, rugby strength training, rugby union, scottish rugby, six nations rugby, sports performance, sports science podcast, strength and conditioning coach, stuart yule
Host Richard Graves speaks with Stuart Yule, Head of Physical Performance for Scottish Rugby, about the journey that’s taken him from Commonwealth Games athlete to driving force behind Scotland’s rise on the international stage. Stuart shares how alignment, culture, and lessons from other sports are shaping Scotland’s physical edge and continual push for improvement.
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285: Ellie Wilson: Inside the High-Performance World of Women’s Football
September 15th, 2025 | 35 mins 28 secs
acl recovery, athlete development, athlete mindset, elite sport, ellie wilson, england youth teams, high performance, injury rehabilitation, melbourne victory, performance psychology, player welfare, sports science, strength and conditioning, talent pathways, women’s football
Professional footballer Ellie Wilson joins host Richard Graves to share her journey through elite women’s football — from academy rejection and England youth caps to overcoming a 13-month ACL injury and helping Melbourne Victory break club records. She offers powerful insights into the demands, psychology, and support systems needed to thrive in high-performance sport.
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279: Culture, Consistency, and Coaching Success in Elite Sport with Steve McNamara
August 4th, 2025 | 35 mins 27 secs
athlete development, catalans dragons, coaching, coaching philosophy, elite sport, england rugby league, high performance, performance sport, player development, rugby league, rugby podcast, sports coaching, sports leadership, steve mcnamara, team culture
In this episode, Richard Graves speaks with legendary Rugby League coach Steve McNamara about his 36-year journey through the sport, from playing in Hull to coaching England and Catalans Dragons. Steve shares powerful lessons on leadership, culture, and the evolution of the modern game.
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273: Creating Complete Athletes
June 23rd, 2025 | 34 mins 46 secs
athlete development, athlete wellbeing, coaching athletes, coaching science, elite athletes, elite performance, extrinsic motivation, high performance sport, imposter syndrome, intrinsic motivation, mental performance, motivation in sport, performance mindset, psychological safety, sport coaching, sport neuroscience, sports psychology, sports science, strength and conditioning, youth athlete development
Sports scientist and psychologist Julia Eyre joins Richard Graves to explore what it really takes to develop complete, high-performing athletes. From motivation and mindset to imposter syndrome and psychological safety, this episode challenges conventional thinking in elite sport.
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263: Secrets of Success: What Makes Teams Thrive?
April 14th, 2025 | 28 mins 39 secs
athlete development, coaching leadership, coaching strategies, diversity in sports, overcoming adversity, performance consultant, podcast episode, rugby league, rugby union, science for sport, sports performance, sports science, sports training, strength and conditioning, team dynamics, technology in sports
In this episode of the Science for Sport podcast, host Richard Graves speaks with performance consultant Tom Clough, who shares his insights on sports performance, leadership, and the importance of connection within teams. Join them as they explore Tom's journey in strength and conditioning, the role of diversity in sports, and how technology can enhance athletic development.
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259: Every Impact Matters: The Game-Changing Initiative
March 17th, 2025 | 28 mins 55 secs
athlete development, athlete monitoring, athletic performance, coaching technology, denver broncos, football safety, impact analysis, injury prevention, nfl, performance data, player safety, smart technology, sports analytics, sports data, sports education, sports innovation, sports research, sports science, sports technology, youth sports
Join us as we explore how the Denver Broncos Foundation and Riddell are revolutionising youth sport through an unprecedented state-wide smart helmet initiative. Discover how real-time impact data from 13,000 athletes is transforming player safety and coaching methodology, potentially creating the blueprint for the future of contact sports. This groundbreaking programme isn't just changing football in Colorado - it's reshaping how we think about youth sport safety worldwide.
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250: The Science for Sport Story
January 13th, 2025 | 25 mins 51 secs
athlete development, athlete performance, cardiff city fc, coaching, coaching tips, evidence-based training, fitness education, football, online learning, owen walker, podcast, professional sports, recovery methods, science for sport, sports careers, sports education, sports industry, sports innovation, sports mentorship, sports performance, sports podcast, sports research, sports science, sports scientists, sports technology, strength and conditioning
In The Science for Sport Story, founder Owen Walker shares how his journey from aspiring footballer to sports scientist led to creating the world’s leading sports science platform. Hosted by Richard Graves, this episode explores the vision, impact, and future of Science for Sport. A must-listen for sports enthusiasts and professionals alike!