

The Talent Equation Podcast
Stuart Armstrong
The Talent Equation podcast is an 'exploration in human advancement'... mostly (but not exclusively) through the lens of sport and physical activity. Each episode is an 'emergent conversation' with practitioners, parents, researchers, authors (or some combination of all three) taking a deep dive into the ways that people can help others to enhance their developmental journey in whatever field they are committed to. These conversations are not mainstream - you will not hear ideas that are provided on standard education courses - they often fly in the face of convention - they will sometimes be controversial and provocative - the show is about doing things differently and doing different things. The people who come on the show are innovators - they are trying to break new ground or swim against the tide of what they see as a broken culture or an ineffective system - what they say will prompt new thinking or new ideas. All that is asked of the listener is to embrace the conversation with an open mind.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 21, 2020 • 1h 28min
Exploring direct instruction in the 'rainforest of learning' - a conversation with Ed Cope
Dr Ed Cope is a Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Loughborough University in the UK. He has had lecturing positions in Sports Coaching at Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Hull. Ed has also worked at the English Football Association, where he was responsible for the design and development of their education courses.In this conversation Ed and I unpack an article that he has recently written with Prof Chris Cushion about 'Direct Instruction' which leads to some surprising conclusions about how we might think about instruction (hint: it's not instruction at all). Link to the article - https://impact.chartered.college/article/a-move-towards-reconceptualising-direct-instruction-sport-coaching-pedagogy/Link to an article about the principles of direct instruction - https://teacherhead.com/2018/06/10/exploring-barak-rosenshines-seminal-principles-of-instruction-why-it-is-the-must-read-for-all-teachers/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Oct 15, 2020 • 1h 38min
"Technical information is like crack to people" - a conversation with Adam Young
Adam Young is a golf coach and someone who defies easy categorisation. He is one of the most knowledgable people about the technical aspects of golf and has a real in depth understanding of physics, bio-mechanics and physiology but he eschews all of that in favour of a coaching approach which has very little of that information present in the learning environment for the participant. He works in an extremely 'task led' way and uses constraints as a way to support a golfer to learn how to become more proficient in the game. His approach has built a significant following online and his book 'The Practice Manual' https://www.adamyounggolf.com/book/ is a fantastic companion to anyone wanting to learn the game. I hope you enjoy our conversation about coaching...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Sep 30, 2020 • 2h 16min
"I'm not anti-technology...I'm just pro human" - a conversation with Carl Woods
Carl Woods, a Senior Research Fellow at Victoria University, discusses the importance of coaches understanding 'knowledge of' and 'knowledge about' sport. He explores how technology can hinder skill acquisition and shares insights on designing learning environments using 'fishtanking'. The conversation delves into various ecological principles applied by coaches in high-performance sports teams.

Sep 24, 2020 • 1h 39min
'How elite athletes are made' - a conversation with Mark Williams and the Conclave
Mark Williams, a leading authority on expertise in sport with 18 published books, discusses athlete development and the science behind it. He critiques the 10,000-hour rule, emphasizing the importance of deliberate practice tailored to individual needs. The conversation explores the debate between early specialization and diversification in training. Williams also highlights the critical role of coaching and accessibility in nurturing talent, as well as how experiential learning through informal sports can shape elite athletes.

Sep 4, 2020 • 1h 15min
'A coaching culture with no precious professional boundaries' - a conversation with Iain Brunnschweiler
Iain 'Brunchy' Brunnschweiller is the Head of Coaching and Player Development at Southampton FC. His work seeks to improve the development experience for the players within the academy so that the club can continue it's impressive record of supporting the development of some of the countries most able young players. In this conversation we explore the ways that Iain has evolved his coaching approach and how his experiences as a professional sportsman have influenced his development as a professional coach developer. We also spend a bit of time exploring the unique role of 'keepers' in a range of sports and how their development presents some unique challenges fro those wanting to develop their abilities in a non linear way.I hope you enjoy the discussion.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Aug 27, 2020 • 1h 35min
Developing skill in combat sports - a conversation with the 'Box Gathering'
I was invited by Ivan Cobb and Adam Haniver to join the community of boxing coaches that they convene to talk about skill acquisition, ecological dynamics and the constraints led approach. It is a wide ranging discussion where I am responding to questions and exploring the ways that a 1 to 1 combat sport could utilise ecological principles and apply the constraints led approach. Hope you enjoyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Jul 8, 2020 • 1h 34min
"I am a guest in someone else's practice" - a conversation with Greg Spencer
Greg Spencer has spent a good proportion of his life afloat...he is a paddler...he is passionate about all forms of self propelled floating water craft...he particularly loves canoes and he loves helping other people to fall in love with canoes. In this conversation, Greg and I explore how canoe coaching sets so comfortably with the ecological approach and how it has influenced the ways in which he works to develop a club environment that is about "people learning from people". We cover a lot of ground including...- Why young people make the best coaches- Why the least psychologically safe space for kids is an age grade team- How he wants to develop clubs that are 'nested social learning spaces' - The role of the coach as a facilitator of learning - a 'guide by the side'I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I didCheck out www.singleblade.co.uk for more information on the work that Greg is doingStuartBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

May 23, 2020 • 1h 10min
Developing coaches through 'Cut, Bleed & Bandage' - A Coach Logic 'Breakfast Club' with Ed Coughlan
This weeks podcast comes from a 'Breakfast Club' session that I did with the Mark Cairns, one of the founders of 'Coach Logic' and Dr Ed Coughlan. In this conversation, Ed walks through his ideas about helping coaches to develop using a 'cut, bleed and bandage approach' and we then explore various other methods and some ways that coaches can commit to their development and learning. Hope you enjoy.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

May 11, 2020 • 2h 2min
"CLA has given us the ability to develop 'anti-fragile' movers" a conversation with Kathy Sierra
Kathy Sierra is the name behind the fabulous @intrinzen Twitter account and the @Pantherflows Instagram account. Kathy has an amazing backstory including time as an exercise physiologist and owner of one of the biggest gyms in California to a career in video game design. More recently she spends her time using ecological principles to develop the movement capabilities of horses. As her website puts it..."We use the principles of exercise physiology, motivation science, and neuroscience in a specific, unique way to develop a horse that is intrinsically motivated to “dance” in true self-carriage. Not for us, but for himself. And all of the wonderful experiences we have the horse — from ground work to riding — are the beautiful, organic side-effect of helping the horse develop autonomy, mastery, and purpose through powerful postures and movements".It is absolutely astounding...as is this conversation....it really doesn't matter if you are into horses or not...trust me...you will not want to miss this conversation...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Apr 29, 2020 • 1h 8min
"Recognising people for their own personal genius" - a conversation Gerard Jones
Gérard Jones is Elite Coach Educator with the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (Moroccan Football Federation). He is also published author and professional football coach with over 14 years coaching experience across the world. He recently served as a Grassroots Instructor with USSF and Director of Coaching in the US, having also been a Head of Academy Coaching at EFL League One side Bristol Rovers FC, where he was responsible for coach and player development.In this podcast we discuss Coach Education, Non Linear Pedagogy, 'Priming to attune' and a range of other subjects. EnjoyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.