Science for Sport Podcast

289: What Sport Teaches Us About Leadership, Culture & the Human Mind

October 13th, 2025  |  29 mins 23 secs

accountability, athlete transition, athlete wellbeing, brisbane broncos, career transition, catalan dragons, courage, david mead, elite performance, leadership, life after sport, mental health in sport, nrl, performance coaching, professional sport, resilience, respect, rugby league, sports psychology, sports science, team culture

ChatGPT said:

Former NRL and Super League star David Mead joins host Richard Graves to share his journey from elite sport to business, exploring how athletes can successfully navigate life after competition. He reveals how the principles of courage, respect, and accountability learned on the field can drive leadership and performance beyond sport.

275: What It Really Takes: A Look at Life as a Professional Footballer

July 7th, 2025  |  33 mins 48 secs

acl recovery, athlete mental health, athlete mindset, athlete wellbeing, career transition, elite sport, football, football career, football injuries, football mentorship, football nutrition, football training, life after sport, player development, professional footballer, resilience in sport, sam winnall, science for sport, sports performance, sports psychology, sports science

Former professional footballer Sam Winnall joins the Science for Sport podcast to share honest insights from his 15-year career, including the highs, lows, and mental demands of life in elite football. He also discusses his transition into mentoring athletes and the importance of mindset, resilience, and life beyond sport.

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.

268: From Wembley to Wake-Up Calls: Stevie Ward on Concussion, Courage & Life Beyond the Game

May 19th, 2025  |  45 mins 30 secs

athlete mental health, athlete transition, athlete wellbeing, concussion in sport, elite performance, emotional intelligence, fear in sport, grand final rugby, high performance mindset, leadership in sport, leeds rhinos, psychological safety, rugby concussion, rugby league, rugby retirement, sport and identity, sport injury recovery, sports psychology, sports science, stevie ward

In this episode, former Leeds Rhinos captain Stevie Ward shares the highs and lows of his rugby career, from debuting at 18 to retiring at 27 due to concussion. He opens up about fear, injury, identity, and how emotional intelligence and psychological safety are critical in elite sport.

267: Athletes Aren’t Robots. Here’s What You’re Missing

May 12th, 2025  |  28 mins 36 secs

athlete mental health, athlete transition, athlete wellbeing, brain injury in sport, burnout in sport, clinical sports psychologist, concussion recovery, elite athlete mindset, high performance sport, identity after sport, mental health in sport, mental resilience, olympic athlete support, panic attacks in athletes, performance anxiety, psychology of performance, sport retirement challenges, sports psychology, sports science, working with elite athletes

Clinical sports psychologist Dr. Kristin Keim shares raw insights from working with elite athletes, tackling everything from panic attacks and concussion recovery to identity loss and career transition. This episode breaks down the myths of sports psychology and explores the real mental demands behind high performance.

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.

248: Overcoming Pressure and Performing Under Stress

December 30th, 2024  |  32 mins 8 secs

athlete mindset, athlete recovery, building confidence, coaching psychology, competition mindset, elite sports, emotional control, focus strategies, mastering pressure, mental game, mental resilience, mental strength, mental toughness, mindset tips, overcoming pressure, peak performance, performance psychology, performance tips, personal development, personal growth, sports performance, sports psychologist, sports psychology, sports success, stress management

Discover how to turn pressure into your greatest advantage with renowned sports psychologist Dr. Haley Perlus. In this episode, she shares actionable strategies to stay calm under stress, build mental resilience, and unlock peak performance in sports and life.