Science for Sport Podcast

282: AI in the Weight Room: Jacob Rothman on the Future of Velocity-Based Training

August 25th, 2025  |  25 mins 11 secs

ai in sport, ai in strength and conditioning, athlete health, athlete monitoring, athlete monitoring systems, athlete readiness, athletic performance, camera based training tech, catapult sports, data-driven training, elite sport performance, gym technology for athletes, injury prevention, lsu football training, perch technology, performance analytics, sports analytics, sports coaching technology, sports data integration, sports performance data, sports science, sports science podcast, sports technology, strength and conditioning, strength training, training optimisation, vbt, velocity based training, velocity tracking, weight room technology

This week, host Richard Graves talks with Jacob Rothman, founder of Perch and now Head of Strength at Catapult, about how AI-powered, camera-based technology is transforming strength and conditioning in elite sport. Discover how Perch’s integration with Catapult is helping teams connect weight-room data with on-field performance to drive smarter, safer training decisions.

280: Sports Science at the Intersection of Youth and Professional Football with Luke Harris

August 11th, 2025  |  31 mins 32 secs

a-league, athlete recovery, athletic performance, elite athlete development, football coaching, football fitness, force plates, gps tracking, injury prevention, physical preparation, player development, sports data, sports performance, sports science, sports science insights, sports science technology, sports technology, strength and conditioning, women’s football, youth football, youth to pro transition

Luke Harris, Head of Strength & Conditioning and Sports Science at Adelaide United, manages the development of both youth and women's teams, focusing on individualized athlete care and performance optimization. With expertise in integrating technology and building player relationships, Luke is dedicated to driving success through a balance of team goals and personal development.

269: Food First, Supplements Second: Performance Nutrition with Tom Coughlin

May 26th, 2025  |  26 mins 51 secs

athlete health, athletic performance, behavioral, caffeine, dietary fundamentals, elite athletes, food first, informed sport, nutrition consulting, nutrition myths, nutrition psychology, nutrition science, olympic athletes, performance nutrition, pre workout, professional sports, rugby nutrition, sports nutrition, sports performance, sports science, supplement safety, supplements

Performance nutrition consultant Tom Coughlin shares expert insights from his decade of experience with Olympic athletes and professional teams, emphasising a "food first" approach while discussing supplement safety and science-backed pre-workout strategies.

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.

258: League Two to Premier League: Football's Greatest Underdog Story

March 10th, 2025  |  36 mins 6 secs

athletic performance, athletic recovery, athletic training, elite athletics, elite performance, elite sport, football analytics, football coaching, football development, football fitness, football injuries, football management, football performance, football psychology, football science, football training, gps training, luton town, mental resilience, performance analysis, performance coach, player development, premier league, premier league fitness, professional football, professional soccer, recovery techniques, sports data, sports innovation, sports leadership, sports medicine, sports performance, sports psychology, sports recovery, sports science, sports technology

Former Luton Town Head of Performance Jared Roberts-Smith takes listeners behind the scenes of football's remarkable evolution, sharing insider insights from his 14-year journey from League Two to the Premier League while revealing the cutting-edge performance methods that are transforming the modern game.

255: The Post-Workout Mistake Elite Athletes Never Make

February 17th, 2025  |  28 mins 50 secs

amateur athlete, athletic performance, athletic recovery, creatine, cricket, electrolytes, elite athletes, endurance training, evidence based nutrition, fitness advice, fitness goals, food first, football, healthy eating, hydration, leeds united, leicestershire cricket, marathon, marathon training, nutrition education, nutrition science, nutrition tips, performance nutrition, performance optimization, post workout recovery, pre workout nutrition, professional sports, protein, recovery, rugby, running, sport performance, sport science, sports nutrition, sports nutritionist, sports science podcast, supplements, training tips, vitamin d, weekend warrior, youth athletes

Sports nutritionist Dan Richardson, who works with Leeds United Academy and Leicestershire County Cricket, challenges common nutrition myths and reveals why fruits and vegetables might be more important for recovery than protein shakes. Drawing from his extensive experience across multiple sports, Dan shares practical insights on proper fueling strategies, supplement facts, and why timing matters for both elite athletes and weekend warriors alike.

254: Kicking Diabetes: Brayden Narveson's NFL Journey

February 10th, 2025  |  23 mins 51 secs

athletic performance, diabetes awareness, diabetes management, football, football player, green bay packers, health innovation, insulin pump, medical device, medical technology, nfl, nfl kicker, omnipod, professional athlete, professional sports, sports medicine, sports success, sports technology, tennessee titans, type 1 diabetes

NFL kicker Brayden Narveson reveals how cutting-edge technology and unwavering determination helped him overcome a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis to achieve his pro football dreams. In this inspiring Super Bowl week conversation, discover how modern medical innovation and athletic excellence combine as Narveson shares his remarkable journey from potential career-ending diagnosis to breaking barriers in professional sports.

126: Are Tattoos Actually Bad For Athletic Performance?

August 29th, 2022  |  23 mins 57 secs

aerobic conditioning, athlete, athletic performance, performance, physiology, sweat rates, sweating, tattoo, workout

Come with us as we delve into the mysterious and exciting world of sports science…

This entertaining podcast explores:

• The science behind the world’s best athletes.
• Current issues and events in the world of sport.
• How to master the art and science of coaching.

Every Monday, Matt Solomon chats with various experts to uncover the science and secrets behind what makes the best athletes in the world so damn good at what they do. They’ll also dive into global issues and events effecting the world of sport, such as COVID-19 and gene doping.

Though anyone is welcome to join us on this journey, this podcast is primarily for:

• S&C coaches/sports scientists
• Physiotherapists
• Nutritionists/Dieticians
• Physical education teachers
• Sports enthusiasts
• Knowledge-seeking athletes

If you’re any of the above, we challenge you to listen to an episode and not fall in love with this laugh-out-loud, brain-swelling podcast.

78: Stop Wasting Time: Supercharge Your Session With World Class Warm-ups

September 27th, 2021  |  27 mins 2 secs

athletic development, athletic performance, dancing, development, mobility, power, speed, strength, warm up

Come with us as we delve into the mysterious and exciting world of sports science…

This entertaining podcast explores:

• The science behind the world’s best athletes.
• Current issues and events in the world of sport.
• How to master the art and science of coaching.

Every Monday, Matt Solomon chats with various experts to uncover the science and secrets behind what makes the best athletes in the world so damn good at what they do. They’ll also dive into global issues and events effecting the world of sport, such as COVID-19 and gene doping.

Though anyone is welcome to join us on this journey, this podcast is primarily for:

• S&C coaches/sports scientists
• Physiotherapists
• Nutritionists/Dieticians
• Physical education teachers
• Sports enthusiasts
• Knowledge-seeking athletes

If you’re any of the above, we challenge you to listen to an episode and not fall in love with this laugh-out-loud, brain-swelling podcast.

35: Personalise Your Caffeine Performance Plan

November 30th, 2020  |  18 mins 16 secs

athletic performance, caffiene, caffiene gum, coffee, energy drinks, performance, training

Come with us as we delve into the mysterious and exciting world of sports science…

This entertaining podcast explores:

• The science behind the world’s best athletes.
• Current issues and events in the world of sport.
• How to master the art and science of coaching.

Every Monday, Matt Solomon chats with various experts to uncover the science and secrets behind what makes the best athletes in the world so damn good at what they do. They’ll also dive into global issues and events effecting the world of sport, such as COVID-19 and gene doping.

Though anyone is welcome to join us on this journey, this podcast is primarily for:

• S&C coaches/sports scientists
• Physiotherapists
• Nutritionists/Dieticians
• Physical education teachers
• Sports enthusiasts
• Knowledge-seeking athletes

If you’re any of the above, we challenge you to listen to an episode and not fall in love with this laugh-out-loud, brain-swelling podcast.