Science for Sport Podcast

292: How the NFL Uses Sports Science to Build Better Fields

November 3rd, 2025  |  31 mins 55 secs

artificial turf, athlete performance, beast device, biomechanics, data analysis, digital athlete, field management, injury prevention, natural grass, nfl, nfl international games, performance optimisation, performance science, player safety, sports engineering, sports science, sports technology, strike device, surface testing, turf science

NFL Field Director Nick Pappas joins host Richard Graves to reveal the science, data, and innovation behind the league’s playing surfaces, from injury prevention to performance optimisation. Discover how the NFL uses cutting-edge testing to keep players safe on every field, from the Super Bowl to Madrid.

291: Managing Workload and Performance in the NHL

October 27th, 2025  |  31 mins 39 secs

ai in sport, applied research, athlete monitoring, catapult, coaching, data analytics, high performance, ice hockey, load management, new jersey devils, nhl, performance analysis, phd research, recovery, return to play, sports data, sports science, sports technology, strength and conditioning, workload management

In this episode, New Jersey Devils Sports Scientist Steven Nightingale joins host Richard Graves to discuss how data, workload management, and recovery strategies are applied in the NHL’s demanding 82-game season. He shares insights from his global career and PhD research, revealing how science and practical experience combine to keep athletes performing at their best.

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.

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.

287: Data With Purpose: How the Houston Texans Use Sports Science to Drive Performance

September 29th, 2025  |  42 mins 20 secs

applied sports science, artificial intelligence in sport, athlete monitoring, athlete recovery, collaboration in sport, data-driven decision making, exercise physiology, high performance, houston texans, marc lewis, nfl, performance science, research to practice, sports analytics, sports science, sports technology, strength and conditioning, subjective monitoring

In this episode, Houston Texans Director of Applied Sports Science Marc Lewis shares his journey from the U.S. Army to the NFL, highlighting how discipline, research, and collaboration shaped his career. He explains how effective systems, clear communication, and purposeful data collection drive athlete performance and decision-making in high-performance environments.

286: NFL’s Digital Athlete – How Data is Transforming Player Health & Safety

September 22nd, 2025  |  26 mins 27 secs

athlete monitoring, aws, biomechanics, computer vision, concussion prevention, data analytics, digital athlete, injury prevention, load management, machine learning, nfl, performance analysis, player health, player safety, rule changes, sports data, sports innovation, sports performance, sports science, sports technology

This episode dives into the NFL’s groundbreaking Digital Athlete, as host Richard Graves speaks with Dr Mackenzie Herzog (NFL) and Julie Souza (AWS) about how data and AI are transforming player health, safety, and performance.
Discover how advanced analytics, computer vision, and machine learning are driving injury prevention, rule changes, and equipment innovation across the league.

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.

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.

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.