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
Jan 9, 2019 • 1h 18min
"You learn the truth from a child or a crazy person" - a conversation with Chris Panayiotou
Chris Panayiotou is the Global Technical Director for Rush Soccer, a worldwide soccer coaching network that has 50,000 players across the globe. Chris is originally from the UK and has been based in America for a number of years and has committed his coaching career to supporting other coaches within the Rush Community to improve and develop to provide the best possible experience for children in their programmes. In this conversation we reflect on our learning from the 'Future of Coaching' conference which we both attended over the weekend and Chris also shares some valuable insights into his approach and methodology which has seen him named as one of the top coaches in America by the Positive Coaching Alliance. EnjoyLink to Chris's Peom called 'Football Done' herehttps://youtu.be/vP9uSGPx_kAEnd of Average Book https://www.amazon.co.uk/End-Average-Succeed-Values-Sameness/dp/0062358367http://www.varush.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
Dec 19, 2018 • 2h
The Talent Equation Christmas Party featuring Ed Coughlan, Nick Levett, Dan Abrahams, Russell Earnshaw, David Hinchliffe & Peter Mattsson
This week's podcast is the final one of 2018...hasn't the year flown by!! For this episode I asked some of the guests I have had on the show over the year to drop by for a little Christmas sin dig so that they could share their reflections and learnings from the year. It is a bit of a crazy whirlwind of a conversation with people coming and going and we cover a lot of ground but there is some gold in these reflections. I hope you enjoy it and have a fantastic Christmas and an amazing New Year. Thanks StuartBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
Dec 12, 2018 • 1h 12min
"The resilient mind imagines hardship and prepares" - A conversation with Mark Bennett, John O'Sullivan and Juan Gonzalez-Mendia
This week's podcast is another experiment in sound recording. I am travelling in my car, Mark has just come out of the gym, Juan is in his office at school and John has just got back from taking the children to school. But we still managed to record a conversation!! You join us as we are planning our forthcoming conference 'The Future of Coaching' as we finalise how we are going to be delivering the sessions and running the conference as well as discussing some of the themes that we will be covering. We then delve into a couple of hot topics that are facing many of the coaches that we work with and explore some of the ways in which we can address them. It is a great conversation and has really whetted my appetite for the discussions to come in the New Year!!Tickets can be booked for the event through the link below.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-future-of-coaching-with-john-osullivan-stuart-armstrong-mark-bennett-mbe-tickets-49934657906Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
Dec 5, 2018 • 1h 35min
"We don't need more sports science, we need more sports humanity" - a conversation with Andrew Gillott
Andrew Gillott describes himself as a Coach Developer. I would describe him as a genius learning architect. Andrew has been instrumental in leading and creating opportunities for coaches to learn and develop and his passion for learning and development has meant that he has led some of the most innovative and creative programmes of development for coaches up and down the UK talent system. In this conversation we explore the inevitable 'drills v games' debate, how he uses an ecological approach to help coaches to appreciate their effect on athletes and why context is important when understanding the behaviour of coaches. Hope you enjoyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
Nov 28, 2018 • 1h 5min
Tackling a global inactivity pandemic with FUN!! - A conversation with Dr Amanda Visek
Dr. Amanda Visek, researcher and sports coach, discusses the key elements of fun in sports for children using concept mapping. She reveals surprising differences in how parents, coaches, and children rank fun factors. The conversation delves into the importance of creating enjoyable sports experiences to combat inactivity and keep kids engaged in physical activities.
Nov 21, 2018 • 1h 26min
Transforming a whole sport system over a curry - a conversation with Scott McNeill
Scott McNeill is a Performance Coach Developer for GB Hockey, a Performance Director for the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland as well as a mentor for the Premier League. He has been part of a group of people that have led a transformation within GB Field Hockey to redevelop the player development system in line with the principles of Ecological Dynamics. In this fascinating conversation, Scott describes the journey of bringing about this change within the sport and some of the key pillars of embedding these concepts and ideas into the psyche of the playing and coaching community. While this discussion explores how this is done on a whole sport scale, the ideas and approaches that are shared by Scott apply to anybody looking to foster a player centred environment which allows players to thrive and develop. Even though I have been on this journey with Scott and his colleagues as a coach and coach developer, I still found the conversation fascinating and insightful. I know you will too!!Enjoy!!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
Nov 14, 2018 • 1h 39min
"The only time that you will know you have done a good job is when they choose your nursing home!" - A conversation with Richard Shorter
Richard Shorter has spent his life committed to supporting families to improve their communication and relationship dynamics. He set us www.non-perfectdad.co.uk to provide a space for sporting parents to help to navigate the dynamic world of sport for young people. In this illuminating and energising conversation Richard unloads 20 years of knowledge about the challenges of parenting into an hour and a half conversation that is rich with valuable ideas! Many of these ideas have been encapsulated in Richard's new book 'Conversations for the Journey - 40 ways to build sporting character' which can be purchased at his website using a special promo code especially for Talent Equation subscribers. Use the link below to get your discount. https://non-perfectdad.co.uk/talentequation/The book has been really useful for me in the few short weeks that it has been in my possession so I can't recommend it highly enough. Hope you enjoy as much as I did!!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
Nov 7, 2018 • 1h 32min
"Don't let learning get in the way of the fun...let the fun be the pathway to learning" - a conversation with Sergio Lara-Barcial
Sergio Lara-Barcial has committed his life to improving the coaching experience for young people. As a coach, researcher and policy maker he is working hard to give himself and others more opportunities to learn, develop and improve. In this conversation we discuss his role as a national team coach and how he had to find strategies to ensure that the stress didn't affect him. He shares his research into the characteristics of serial winning coaches and he also shares the insights into his latest project...a global campaign and movement called 'icoachkids' designed to improve the sports experience for children by supporting coaches to be the best they can be. Sergio is a genuinely inspirational figure in the word of coaching...i know you will enjoy listening to his story as much as I did. Find out more about icoachkids and take the pledge at www.icoachkids.euBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
Oct 31, 2018 • 1h 28min
Engaging 'Generation Inactive' - a conversation with Jack Shakespeare
Jack Shakespeare is the head of UK Active Kid a 'not for profit health body' that is focused on tackling the growing epidemic of inactivity among young people in the UK. In this conversation Jack and I explore the ways that they are taking a 'socio-ecological' approach to creating communities and environments that support young people into a more physically active life. This is a fascinating conversation with a passionate and skilful operator working to achieve some pretty extraordinary things. I hope you enjoy.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
Oct 24, 2018 • 1h 50min
Exploring the human experience - a conversation with Sam Jarman
Sam Jarman is an ex professional golfer he is now a golf coach but his interests and knowledge go far wider than a single sport. I would describe Sam as a 'Human Experience Specialist'. In this episode we get deep into an exploration of what makes us human and how we operate in the world. Sam blows apart some common held ideas about how experience shapes us and proposes some ideas that could have profound insights as to how we can better support young people on their journeys through life and sport. This episode made my head hurt...it still makes my head hurt!! There is a lot in here and it is pretty dense...it's not for the fainthearted but it is worth the ride as there are some key ideas in here that could re-frame the way we think and act in a youth sports context. Good Luck!!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
