The Athlete Lab Podcast

What does it feel like when years of hard work lead to an Olympic debut, a World Championship medal, and a year beyond anything you could have imagined?In this episode of The Athlete Lab Podcast, host Phil Osaer sits down with U.S. Olympic ice dancers Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik to reflect on an extraordinary year that took them from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan to the podium at the World Figure Skating Championships.After an impressive fifth-place finish in their Olympic debut, the duo had little time to process the experience before shifting their focus to the World Championships, where they captured bronze in their first appearance together. Their remarkable season also included the opportunity to perform with Stars on Ice, bringing a new dimension to their journey as athletes and performers.Emilea and Vadym share what it was like navigating the excitement, pressure, and nonstop momentum of a breakthrough year, while looking ahead to what's next in their skating careers.In this episode, we explore:• The Olympic Experience: Making their Olympic debut in Milan, representing Team USA, and reflecting on an unforgettable fifth-place finish.• From Olympics to Worlds: The quick turnaround from the Olympic Games to the World Championships and the mindset behind their bronze-medal performance.• Stars on Ice: Taking their talents beyond competition and experiencing a different side of performing on the ice.• Reflecting on a Remarkable Year: Looking back at the milestones, experiences, and emotions of a whirlwind season.• Looking Ahead: What's next for Emilea and Vadym as they build on their success and continue chasing new goals.From the Olympic stage to the World Championship podium, Emilea and Vadym offer a look at what it means to embrace big moments, stay focused through rapid change, and keep moving forward when dreams become reality.Watch & listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | SpotifyFollow: @theathletelabpodcast | @emileazingas @vadym____kolesnikLearn more: athletelabpodcast.com

What happens when a career-ending injury leads to an entirely new understanding of human performance? In this episode of The Athlete Lab Podcast, host Phil Osaer sits down with David “Jacko” Jackson, a former professional rugby player whose journey from a traumatic brain injury to setting a Guinness World Record is a remarkable story of resilience, recovery, and pushing beyond perceived limits. Jacko’s professional rugby career came to an unexpected end in 2013 following a traumatic brain injury. His challenging road to recovery sparked a passion for understanding the science of breathing and its role in human performance. Now a Master Instructor with Oxygen Advantage, accredited strength and conditioning coach, and author of Breathe Smarter, Run Stronger, Jacko is on a mission to “Make Breathwork Normal” and help people discover how something we do every day can influence performance, recovery, and overall well-being.In this episode, we explore:· The Journey to Professional Rugby: Jacko’s path to the professional level, the injury that ended his career, and the challenges of recovery.· Discovering Breathwork: How his personal recovery journey led him to explore the power of breathing and build a new career.· The Science of Breathing: How breathing techniques can support athletic performance, recovery, and stress management.· 100 Ultramarathons in 100 Days: How Jacko set a men's Guinness World Record by running ultramarathon distances for 100 consecutive days, exploring extraordinary physical and mental endurance while raising awareness for brain injury charities.From rebuilding his life after a devastating injury to accomplishing an extraordinary endurance challenge, Jacko shares what he has learned about resilience, the power of breathing, and the remarkable capabilities of the human body.Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or simply looking for ways to improve your health and performance, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about one of the most fundamental tools we have: our breath.Get your copy of Breathe Smarter, Run Stronger: Breathwork to Transform Your Running:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breathe-Smarter-Run-Stronger-Breathwork/dp/1399423118/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0Watch & Listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | SpotifyFollow: @theathletelabpodcast | @thebreathrunningcoachLearn More About The Athlete Lab Podcast: athletelabpodcast.com

What does the future of American hockey look like, and how do we continue building on its success?Bob Mancini, Assistant Executive Director of Hockey Development at USA Hockey, joins host Phil Osaer on The Athlete Lab Podcast to discuss the growth of hockey in the United States, the evolving development landscape, and the opportunities and challenges facing the next generation of players. With decades of experience coaching and developing athletes at every level, Bob brings a unique perspective on where the game has been, where it's headed, and what matters most in developing young players. In this episode:• The Triple Gold Effect: How historic Olympic and Paralympic gold medals for the U.S. men's, women's, and sled hockey teams are creating momentum and opportunities to grow the game.• Victor Mancini's NHL Journey: A father's perspective on his son's path to professional hockey and the lessons learnedalong the way.• The Changing Junior Hockey Landscape: How evolvingpathways and opportunities are shaping decisions for young players and their families.• The Future of Hockey Development: What the new USA Hockey Development League means for player development and Bob's perspective on the overall state of the game. From grassroots hockey to the NHL, Bob shares insights intothe opportunities ahead, the importance of developing players the right way, and what it will take to build on American hockey's unprecedented success. Watch & listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | SpotifyFollow: @theathletelabpodcast | @usahockeyLearn more: athletelabpodcast.com

Two sports. Division I competition. Coaching. Counseling. And one big question: how do athletes train the mental side of performance?Andie Anastos joins host Phil Osaer on The Athlete Lab Podcast to share her journey from competing in hockey and basketball at Boston College to coaching and creating Mindset Playbook.In this episode:• Channeling emotions and responding when things don’t go as planned• Her path from hockey to basketball and eventually coaching• What mental toughness really looks like• Why identifying your “why” matters• Confidence, focus, identity, and the mental skills athletes can actually practice• Books, parent questions and helping young athletes grow beyond the gameAndie’s message is simple: mindset isn’t something athletes either have or don’t have. It’s something they can train.Watch & listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | SpotifyFollow: @theathletelabpodcast | @mindsetplaybook_Learn more: athletelabpodcast.com

Zero goals as a player. Zero wins for the team. Oneremarkable turnaround.New York Times bestselling author John U. Bacon joins host Phil Osaer on The Athlete Lab Podcast to share how he helped transform one of America's worst high school hockey teams into one of its best and the leadership lessons that changed everything. In this episode: His unlikely journey from player to coachThe incredible turnaround at Ann Arbor HuronCoaching wisdom, memorable stories and lessons learnedWhy great leaders "water all the plants"The philosophy behind his book Let Them LeadFrom an 0-22-3 season to a winning culture, Bacon provesthat great leadership isn't just about building better players. It's about building better people.Watch & listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | SpotifyFollow: @theathletelabpodcast | @johnubacon564Learn more: athletelabpodcast.com