Science for Sport Podcast

324: Joe Truman: Training of a GB Track Sprinter

June 15th, 2026  |  24 mins 2 secs

athlete monitoring, athlete-led programming, bfr training, blood flow restriction training, british cycling, cadence, cycling performance, elite athlete, elite sport, joe truman, keirin, kilo time trial, la 2028, olympic cycling, peak power, performance coaching, physiology, power training, race-specific training, recovery, richard graves, s&c, science for sport, sport science, sports science, sprint cycling, sprint performance, strength and conditioning, tapering, team gb, team sprint, track cycling, training load

Richard Graves welcomes Great Britain track cyclist Joe Truman to discuss the science, training and decision-making behind elite track sprinting. Joe reflects on his journey through the British Cycling pathway, his first major individual European title, and the British record performance that marked a major breakthrough in his career. The conversation explores how studying sport and exercise science has shaped Joe’s training philosophy, why he now takes a more active role in his own programming, and how methods such as blood flow restriction training, tapering, cadence management and race-specific preparation are helping him push performance forward. For practitioners, this episode offers a detailed look at how an elite athlete blends science, experience and self-awareness to keep improving at the highest level.

323: The Unseen Work of S&C and Sports Science

June 8th, 2026  |  29 mins 16 secs

athletic performance, catalan dragons, coaching, decision making, elite rugby, elite sport, gps data, high performance, high performance puzzle, leadership in sport, leicester tigers, matt parr, performance data, performance environment, performance leadership, performance teams, player management, return to play, richard graves, rugby league, rugby performance, rugby union, s&c, science for sport, sports medicine, sports performance, sports science, sports science podcast, strength and conditioning, training load

Richard Graves welcomes Matt Parr back to the Science for Sport podcast to explore the invisible work behind elite performance. Matt discusses why data, GPS reports, and training plans only tell part of the story, and why relationships, trust, standards, alignment, and decision-making are often what determine whether performance systems truly work. Drawing on his experience across Leicester Tigers, Catalan Dragons, and High Performance Puzzle, Matt offers practical insight for sports science, S&C, medical, and coaching staff working in elite sport.

284: Club Plans & Personal Coaches: Adding An Edge?

September 8th, 2025  |  32 mins 14 secs

athlete monitoring, case studies mahomes lebron brady, central contracts, club vs personal coach, coaching philosophy, collaboration in sport, communication in teams, data sharing, elite sport, external practitioners, football performance, gps tracking, high performance, injury prevention, load management, multidisciplinary teams, olympic sport, performance pathways, periodisation, player availability, player welfare, premier league, programme design, recovery strategies, regeneration, return to play, rugby performance, s&c, sports science, strength and conditioning

Richard Graves and performance coach Daniel Booth debate how clubs, national teams, and personal practitioners can align around “one athlete, one plan” without adding risk—covering communication, data sharing, contracts, and load management. Practical takeaways draw on football, rugby, Olympic sport, and case studies like Mahomes and LeBron to show what good collaboration looks like in practice.

243: Beyond the Game: Rugby League Stars on Sacrifice, Resilience, and Reinvention

November 25th, 2024  |  28 mins 47 secs

athlete longevity, ben jones-bishop, fitness and recovery, head injuries in sport, hull fc, leeds rhinos, player welfare, rugby coaching, rugby evolution, rugby league, rugby league world cup, s&c, scott taylor, sport, sport science

Rugby League legends Scott Taylor and Ben Jones-Bishop share the highs, lows, and untold truths of their incredible careers. From Grand Final triumphs to the challenges of staying at the top, they dive into the evolution of the game, player welfare, and life beyond the pitch. A must-listen for fans of the sport!

192: How To Upskill And Land Your Dream Job In S&C

December 4th, 2023  |  31 mins 26 secs

gym, personal training, s&c, sport performance, sport science, sport training, strength and conditioning, trainer, training, 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.

160: Avoid The Biggest Mistakes That Athletes Make In Their Training

April 24th, 2023  |  25 mins 43 secs

aerobic, anaerobic, endurance, hypertrophy, jumping, mas, muscle, power, s&c, speed, strength, 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.

109: Game Speed: Can Field Based S&C Take Your Speed To The Next Level?

May 2nd, 2022  |  24 mins 52 secs

football, power, s&c, soccer, speed, sport, sport specific, strength

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.

57: Physio & S&C: Stop Making These Massive Mistakes

May 3rd, 2021  |  21 mins 50 secs

education, learning, minibands, physio, rehab, rehabilitation, reps, s&c, sets, sport science, training, university, weak glute med

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.

28: Finding Inspiration During Unemployment

October 12th, 2020  |  23 mins 39 secs

career, development, employment, jobs, personal development, s&c, unemployed, volunteering

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.

27: Does playing the game really boost buy in?

October 5th, 2020  |  23 mins 39 secs

football, s&c, soccer, strength & conditioning, strength training., training, womens football, womens soccer

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.