The Talent Equation Podcast

Mark and I get together before Christmas to talk about how this time of year offers the opportunity to recharge and replenish ourselves in order to embody excellence for others going forward. We talk about how being 'selfless' requires us to be 'selfish'. Also Mark makes an announcement about our New Year giveaway.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Mark and I talk about the origins of PDS from his time in the military and how we came together to embed the principles of PDS across the sporting landscape. We also discuss my own commitments and some conversations we have had about honouring my own journey of change.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Taking an ecological approach to learning science, Danny Hatcher is an independent researcher currently based in the UK, sharing interesting trends and stories domestically and from around the globe. Danny holds a BSc in Sports Coaching and an MSc in Strength and Conditioning from Brighton UniversityTDanny's YouTube channel is amazing...it blends rigorous research with animation to create content that explains complex issues in relatable ways - I highly recomend checking it out. https://www.youtube.com/@Danny.HatcherIn this conversation Danny shares his unique approach to trampolining, blending ecological dynamics with a passion for movement exploration. From his lived experience of visual and hearing impairments and how this shapes his coaching appproach to his work in both traditional and freestyle trampolining. Danny also offers insights into coaching diverse athletes and how his playful, inclusive methodology fosters personal growth and adaptability, making trampolining accessible and fun for all. This is a fascinating conversation and one I am sure you will enjoy. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

In this conversation Mark and I discuss the challenge of establishing real clarity of the objectives that a person or group wants to set for themselves. We then discuss how easy it is for the leader to fall into the trap of letting them off the hook. We discuss ways that leaders can lean into the discomfort of the difficult conversation by reframing the awkwardness as a 'duty' and an act of care rather than a point of conflict. We also explore how leaders can frame the expectations in terms of how people interact with each other to minimise conflict and create a 'high challenge - high support' environment. Mark and I are available to support groups or individuals on their leadership and coaching excellence journey. Please reach out to stuart@thetalentequation.co.uk to shape a bespoke package. You can get 25% discount to access Mark's online learning space to immerse yourself in all things PDS using this code PBNO25Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Andrea Andrews is a swimming instructor with a specialist research interest in drowning prevention. Andrea describes herself like this... "My aim is to improve the lived human experience in water by helping all ages make sense of the water through natural learner-led approaches that trigger the amazing hidden skills we are all born with.I am in effect focused upon panic prevention by helping everyone overcome emotional dysregulation in water....I am a scaffolder for an elite form of human aquatic prowes..." Andrea joined me to discuss her unique approach to helping people learn to swim which is informed by the ecological approach.  Andrea explains how her childhood experiences of play in water shaped her approach to teaching and instructing and how she has been passionate about offering similar experiences to others. In this episode we cover:  - How people have an 'embodied trauma' that fuels a phobia of water.  - How babies are actually very adapted to water.  - How people sense differently in water and how verbal instructions lead to people using the wrong sensory apparatus. - How traditional teaching could actually be dangerous and lead to increased risk of drowning. and so much more... This is an absolutely fascinating conversation - I hope you enjoyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

A new collaboration between Mark Bennett MBE and Stuart Armstrong that looks at topical news items and explore how they impact people in sport, education, business and life through the lens of the PDS philosophy and the principles of Ecological Dynamics. Mark and I got cut off by our recording software crashing but we thought we would publish the rough cut anyway!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

David Thomson is an ex army veteran who became a leading financial advisor turned education technology entrepreneur. David is the Founder and CEO of 'Suada' a game changing learning platform that combines the 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵-𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗔𝗜-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀, and 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸, creating an interactive and engaging learning environment that transforms knowledge into practical skills. David is also a keynote speaker and 'Entrepreneur in Residence' at Portsmouth University, where he shares his expertise on sales, business transformation, and digital learning. David joined me to talk about how I think Suada could become a major part of the solution to bringing, flexible, dynamic, non-linear, on-demand learning and development to the world at scale. In this conversation we discuss the extreme challenges in David's upringing, how this provided a catapult to a career in the Army followed by working in a shoe factory and then into the world of finance before finding his passion helping people learn. I am delighted to announce that Suada has now become a channel partner of the podcast - my first channel partner because I am so passionate about the potential of this platform. Find out more at https://www.suada.com/If you would like to set up a call with David and the team to see how Suada could integrate into your organisation's learning goals then drop me a line and we can get it set up. Want to have more conversations like these with like minded practitioners?Join 'The Guild' - a learning community of ecological explorers. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Troy Urdahl is an award winning high school athletic director, a hall of fame coach and a college professor with more than twenty years experience in leadership and coaching. He is now an accomplished author of a fantastic book called 'Chasing Influence' which uses storytelling as a means to put forward lessons about leadership. Troy shares his journey from a sports-filled childhood to advocating for multi-sport participation, and delves into the philosophy of coaching with an emphasis on 'why' we coach and building life skills through sports. We talk about the balance between high expectations and support, the power of resilience, and the significance of 'soft skills' in coaching. Additionally, discover concepts like the Finnish notion of 'Sisu' (which roughly translates into 'never giving up'), allyship in sports and Troy's thoughts on the universal value of creating a culture that prioritises relationships over winning.Hope you enjoy. Want to learn with me and a global network of committed individuals that come together to sense make and wayfind together....Join 'The Guild' - a learning community of ecological explorers https://patreon.com/thetalentequation?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Stuart Morgan is a high performance coach and performance director working with elite golfers and aspiring players across Europe. Stuart makes a welcome return to the podcast for another frank and forthright conversation about the state of coaching and athlete development. He is also a co host on the brillient 'Practice Thinker' podcast alongside Ian Renshaw and Peter Arnott. In this conversation we discuss Stuart's experiences working in multi disciplinary teams and uncovers some of the toxicity that surrounds some of these environments. Stuart also shares his experiences of working as a Performance Director and how he has uncovered coaches that have very little understanding of their approach and how he encourages players to be more questioning of their coaches to avoid path dependency. We discuss the latest state of skill acquisition and also get into a deep dive around the way that he field has emerged and the lack of awareness among the vast majority of coaches. It's a really fascinating conversation that I am sure you will enjoy. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

In this episode, I discuss the changing nature of coach education, particularly focusing on the concept of 'deconstructed delivery.' As we move towards more learner-centered models in education, it's crucial to rethink the delivery methods to tailor them to individual needs. I explore the challenges of implementing these models at scale, the limitations of traditional education systems, and the new suite of professional standards in the UK that bring flexibility and transferability in qualifications. The discussion also touches on the necessity of continuous professional development and how adopting a deconstructed, individualized approach can transform the sports workforce and improve outcomes for participants.01:36 What does 'learner centred' even mean? 03:50 Why don't people do this already? 05:18 Barriers to change08:08 How professional standards open up new opportunities for a more dynamic, learner centred model11:50 Deconstructed Learning: A New Approach13:56 RIP CPDIf you would like to discuss any of the content in this episode or any of the other episodes please get in touch through LinkedIn or at stuart@thetalentequation.co.ukBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Tom Hartley is the Coaching Lead at UK Coaching and Foundation Phase Lead Coach at Oxford United women. In this very overdue episode (aren't they all!) I sit down with Tom Hartley to explore his extensive background in coaching and player development.Tom discusses his journey in coaching including pivotal career moments at clubs like Swindon Town and Arsenal, and unique experiences such as coaching in prisons and internationally. We discuss some of his coaching influences and also expore some of the creative ways that he develops coaches. 01:38 Career journey17:37 The role of a coach developer - 'having someone hold onto you while you lean over the edge'45:30 Creative coach development - 'jelly beans and cocktail sticks'49:45 How we can support community coaches to 'collect memories rather than medals'01:04:50 Designing effective individual development plans01:13:48 Parents as a 'multi-disciplinary team'01:16:41 Conclusion and future conversationsSupport the show on Patreon or join my learning community: https://www.patreon.com/thetalentequation Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support

In Episode 6 of the Coach Education is Broken series, I discuss the need for a significant shift in the way we think about and approach coach education by embracing the natural complexity that comes with people operating in a range of contexts. I represent the views of coach educators, system builders and coaches themselves that we need to move beyond linear development pathways, particularly if we want to engage those working in community settings with individuals that experience social and/or economic disadvantage. I would love to hear your thoughts about this and would be keen to help any organisations that are looking to tackle some of these challenges. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview01:57 Understanding the Linear Coach Development Journey04:43 Challenges in Recognizing Expertise in Youth Coaching09:52 The Need for Non-Linear Coach Development 12:03 Addressing Diversity and Inclusion in Coach Education16:21 Reforming Curriculum Design for Coaches19:34 Conclusion and Call to ActionBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Alex Lascu is a cricket coach that has doen in depth acadmeic study in coaching and skill development before turning her attention to coach development. She now works for one of the major state sports associations in Australia. Alex joined me to discuss all things coach educationa and development having listened to my recent 'Coach Education is broken series'. Through the discussion we explore some of the 'system shifts' that I have been covering and how they manifest into her work within cricket. We look at some of the practical solutions that are being implemented and how they seek to address the need to reducce the burden on coaches through enhanced support. I hope you enjoy...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Reposting a classic episode!  ------- This was recorded to reflect on the journey of the England Football Team during the previous European Championships but it still feels apt today in the wake of another final appearance and Gareth Southgate’s tenure as Head Coach coming to an end. I have been fortunate to spend time with Gareth Southgate, the England Head Coach on a couple of occasions and I was able to glean some insights from those interactions that I think are relevant to the success that the team are currently enjoying and would be useful for any coach. Hope you enjoy! *GB actually won 1 gold medal in Atlanta (not 1 bronze as I said in the recording) among a total medal haul of 15. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podca....

In Episode 5 of the 'Coach Education is Broken' series,' I explore the importance of addressing systemic barriers in the sports workforce that mean that the worksforce continues to lack diversity. This episode delves into real-world examples of how local community engagement can drive participation, social impact, and talent development but how this can only happen by utilising the qualities, skills and attributes of coaches from within that local community. Through a compelling story of a martial arts club in a deprived area, I showcase the importance of localised, bottom-up approaches to coaching and education and the impact it can have on the lives of young people. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:23 Understanding Workforce Diversity01:55 The Importance of Local Community Coaches05:19 Challenges Faced by Unqualified Coaches11:27 Decentralising Education for Greater Impact14:44 Call to Action and ConclusionBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

In episode 4 of the 'Coach Education is Broken' series, titled 'Fixing the Leaky Bucket,' I delve into the systemic and mindset shifts required to change and modernise the way that the sport sector develops it's frontline workforce. I call for better insight and data collection to inform decision making into coach education and I challenge the isector's over emphasis on recruiting new coaches instead of focussing on how we support and retain the skilled practitioners that we already have. 01:50 - The Problem with Coach Education insights02:44 - Understanding Coach Supply and Demand07:00 - Retention Challenges in Coaching08:55 - Shifting Focus to Retention and SupportBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Mauro van de Looij is a sports coach and performance psychologist from the Netherlands. He has worked as a youth coach at PSV Eindhoven and Willem II Tilburg and he teaches Performance Psychology at Fontys University of Applied Psychology. Mauro coaches athletes, trainers, students and teachers and also supports sports clubs, schools and companies in coaching and talent development.Mauro joins me to talk about his book 'https://amzn.to/3xJyG36' which is a book that is dedicated to supporting coaches to understand more about how they can unlock young athletes potential by recognising the psychological elements that are too often overlooked and can be so impactful on a young players career. In this conversation we cover: - How his own experineces dealing with pressure shaped his approach to coaching. - How he got rid of the Relative Age Effect by not playing in age group teams. - How we coined a new term - 'talent needs turbulence'. - Why so many coaches would say to him "I wish I got this on the coaching badges". Buy the book using this https://amzn.to/3xJyG36 (it helps to support the show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Alex Sarama makes a welcome return to the podcast to discuss his fantastic new book 'Transforming Basketball' and to unpack some of the ideas that are within it. Although Alex is a basketball coach and the book is based on Basketball, it is actually a briliiant read for coaches of any sport, especially team sports. This conversation explores many of these ideas including: Why '2 ball dribbling' is a complete waste of timeWhy coaches are so dependent on blocked practice and drillsWhen, how and why to use set playsSome of Alex's brillient practice designs like 'floor is lava', 'mosquito shooting' and 'jungle shooting'. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Use this link to get a copy of Alex's book (I get a small commission which helps to support the show). Support the show on Patreon or join my learning community 'The Guild' hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

In this episode, I talk about the necessity for a system shift from a coach education system that is almost completely dominated by 'qualifications', which are no more than a demonstration of competence in a moment in time to a more development and progressive model that recognises the expertise of the practitioner along their developmental journey. A significant majority of coaches want the industry to recognised as a profession and would like the work they do to be recognised by the wider public. In order to do this coaches must understand that in order to be professional recognised they need to hold themselves accountable to a process of ongoing scrutiny of their skill set so that the public can be assured of their commitment to professional development and those coaches who do show commitment to personal development can be truly separated from those that don't. Hope you enjoy the podcast and look forward to comments or ideas. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Mark Bennett makes a welcome return to the podcast. This time to help me out with some challenges that I have experienced during my last season of coaching. How to establish an agreed set of performance behaviours with a group that is equally spilt between wanting to be recreational and wanting to be driven by performance goals. We also explore how you deal with people who are self deluded and think that they want to be performance driven but then behave like recreational athletes. Mark shares a few new tools that he uses when supporting a group to be self reliant and self organising inclusing the 3As I got a lot out of the discussion...I hope you do to...BTW - Mark has launched a new online training space with loads of courses, videos and resources check it out at https://www.needcentred.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.