Science for Sport Podcast

Joining the conversation is Michael Carolan, a performance coach and sport rehabilitation expert with nearly 20 years of experience in elite sport and education. He discusses the transformative approach of treating rehab as a coaching opportunity rather than mere therapy. Communication and trust are key to athlete recovery, while adaptability can outshine rigid protocols. Michael emphasizes the importance of maintaining athlete connection during injury and offers strategies to train around injuries effectively. His blend of science and a human touch makes for engaging insights.

In this episode, host Richard Graves sits down with former professional footballer Sam Winnall, who shares his honest reflections on a 15-year career across clubs including Wolves, Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County, Oxford United, and Burton Albion. Sam opens up about the realities of life as a professional athlete, the highs of Wembley wins and Golden Boots, the lows of injury setbacks and contract uncertainty, and the immense physical and mental demands that most people never see. More than just a career retrospective, this episode offers valuable insights into the mindset, resilience, and adaptability required not only to succeed in elite sport, but to transition into life after it. In this episode, you’ll learn: The hidden pressures of professional sport—why talent alone isn’t enough. How dealing with setbacks, rejection, and injury shaped Sam’s career and character. What a typical day really looks like for a professional footballer, from training to nutrition to recovery. The crucial role of mental health and mindset in athletic performance and longevity. Why transition planning and identity beyond sport are essential for athletes facing retirement. The surprising ways Sam now channels his competitive edge into golf, padel, and personal growth. Whether you’re a sports scientist, coach, practitioner, or athlete, this episode is for anyone interested in the human side of elite performance and what it truly takes to stay at the top, and how to support athletes through the challenges that come with it. About Sam Winnall Sam Winnall is a former professional footballer whose career spanned over 15 years, including spells at clubs such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County, Oxford United, and Burton Albion. Known for his goal-scoring instincts and work ethic, Sam made over 300 league appearances and scored more than 100 goals, achieving promotions, cup victories, and memorable moments at some of English football’s most historic clubs. Since retiring at 32, Sam has transitioned into mentoring and supporting athletes, with a particular focus on helping them develop the mental resilience needed to thrive both during and after their sporting careers. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

What do Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James... and astronauts have in common? They’re all using the same training technology, blood flow restriction (BFR). In this episode, host Richard Graves back Dr. Warren Bradley, Chief Science Officer and founder of Hytro, to unpack how BFR is transforming the way athletes train, recover, and even how astronauts prepare for life in space. You’ll learn: What blood flow restriction actually is, and how it helps build strength, muscle, and endurance faster (with less load on your body). Why BFR is no longer just for injury rehab, and how pro athletes are using it to boost performance and speed up recovery. The science behind why restricting blood flow (safely!) creates powerful training adaptations. How Warren’s product ended up on a SpaceX rocket, and why NASA now uses BFR to fight muscle loss in space. Common myths and misconceptions about BFR… including whether it’s safe (spoiler: it is, with the right approach). Where BFR is heading next, from grassroots athletes to medical rehab and even everyday gym-goers. Warren also shares his incredible journey, from working in the Premier League to founding a company used by over 260 elite teams worldwide, all the way to collaborating with NASA for space missions. This is one of those episodes that blends cutting-edge science with real-world application. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or just a performance fanatic, this one’s a must-listen. About Dr. Warren Bradley Dr. Warren Bradley is the Founder and Chief Science Officer of Hytro, the world’s leading performance Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) company. With over a decade of experience in professional sports, including roles with Premier League football clubs and international rugby teams, Dr. Bradley has a rich background in sports science. He holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology from Liverpool John Moores University and has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications in the field. Through Hytro, Dr. Bradley has pioneered the development of patented BFR wearables, making advanced training and recovery methods accessible to athletes worldwide, from elite professionals to grassroots enthusiasts. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

In this episode, Richard Graves is joined by performance specialist Julia Eyre, a sports scientist and psychologist with a rich background in elite sport. From working with U.S. collegiate athletes to roles with German Olympic federations and the TSG Wieseck Football Academy (a partner of Eintracht Frankfurt), Julia brings a multidimensional approach to athlete development. Founder of Whiteline Performance Group, Julia focuses on creating environments where athletes thrive as humans first, pushing back against the outcome-obsessed culture of high-performance sport. In this episode, you’ll learn: The real difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and why both matter How imposter syndrome shows up at every level of sport, and what to do about it Practical tools for building psychological safety and trust in high-performance settings How to develop a reflective coaching style that supports long-term development Why embracing uncomfortable thoughts can unlock consistent, world-class performance A clear breakdown of self-determination theory and what it means for athletes and coaches This is essential listening for sports scientists, coaches, and practitioners working in elite environments, especially those looking to align peak performance with athlete wellbeing. About Julia Eyre Julia Eyre is a sports scientist and psychologist with extensive experience in elite sport across Europe and the U.S. Currently working with TSG Wieseck Football Academy and multiple German Olympic federations, Julia is also the founder of Whiteline Performance Group, which supports clubs, schools, and federations in creating holistic, human-first athlete development systems. With academic training in both sports science and clinical psychology, Julia specialises in motivation, coach education, and psychological safety in high-performance environments, and contributes to the Science for Sport education platform. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

This week, host Richard Graves is joined by Chris Polley, Vice President of Customer Success at Catapult, for a deep-dive into the world of elite sports performance monitoring. With over 55 sports scientists working across 16 countries, Chris shares what he and his team are seeing across top-tier teams in more than 40 sports worldwide. Listeners will learn: The global trends shaping the future of sports science, including data integration and AI Why the best teams often do the basics exceptionally well Common mistakes when adopting performance tech – and how to avoid them How Catapult’s wearable and video technologies are being used to save time and unlock deeper insights What really makes a great sports scientist in today’s high-performance environment Chris also shares practical advice for aspiring practitioners, highlighting the importance of communication, cultural fit, and the ability to simplify complex data to drive better decision-making. Whether you're working in pro sport or just entering the field, this episode is packed with wisdom from someone who’s helped scale one of the most widely used performance platforms in the world. About Chris Polley Chris Polley is Catapult’s Vice President of Customer Success, formerly Senior Director of Sport Science, based in Victoria, Australia. Over the past 11 years at Catapult, Chris has played a pivotal role in scaling the team from its start-up beginnings to a global fixture, now supporting over 4,400 teams across 128 countries. He leads a diverse squad of approximately 55 sports scientists across 16 nations, delivering post-sales support, global training, analytics best practice, and insights-driven performance strategies. With a strong academic grounding, including published research on activity profiling in elite lacrosse and rugby forwards, Chris brings both scientific rigour and real-world expertise to Catapult’s wearable and video technology suite FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

In this week’s episode of the Science for Sport podcast, host Richard Graves is joined by Leicester Tigers’ Head of Performance, Matt Parr, a former professional rugby player turned strength and conditioning expert with experience across both rugby union and league. Matt shares his fascinating journey from the pitch to the performance department, offering valuable insights drawn from his time at Leicester Tigers and Catalan Dragons. With a career that’s spanned both codes of rugby, Matt dives into the key physical demands of each sport and how training must adapt to meet them. He also lifts the lid on what really goes into building strength, power, and robustness across a long and gruelling season. In this episode, you’ll learn: The real physical differences between rugby union and rugby league – and why it’s not just “the same shaped ball” How to build meaningful preseason plans that lay the foundation for success Why strength underpins everything, and how it connects to power and injury prevention The importance of athlete conversations over just relying on data How Matt handles return-to-play protocols and balances performance with player wellbeing Whether you're a coach in pro sport or working at grassroots level, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways and thought-provoking reflections on what it really takes to keep athletes performing at their best. About Matt Parr Matt Parr is the Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers and a former professional prop whose rugby career saw him represent clubs such as Sale Sharks, Saracens, London Irish, and Leicester. After transitioning from player to coach, Matt began his performance career at the Tigers in 2015, later becoming Lead S&C coach in 2020. In 2022, he took on the Head of Performance role at Catalan Dragons in rugby league, before returning to Leicester in mid‑2024 to bring his cross-code expertise back to the Tigers setup . With an MSc in strength and conditioning and a reputation for strategic planning, leadership, and performance optimisation. Matt combines top-level playing experience and science-backed coaching to help elite athletes perform and stay on the field. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research 🔔 Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Stitcher

What’s it really like behind the scenes of an England Rugby Six Nations campaign? How do you fuel elite athletes to perform at their peak, and recover just as hard? This week, host Richard Graves is joined by the brilliant Dr. James Morehen,lead performance nutritionist for England Rugby and founder of the Performance Nutrition Network. With a career that’s taken him from snowboarding in Canada to backstage of international test matches, James brings a fascinating, no-nonsense look at the art (and science) of elite-level nutrition. If you’re a coach, athlete, nutritionist or just curious about what fuels champions, this episode is packed with practical insights, powerful stories, and a few grassroots tips that could change your game. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to fuel for optimal performance and recovery during high-stakes tournaments like the Six Nations The importance of preparation, trust, and consistency in elite sports nutrition Why carbohydrates aren’t the enemy, and how they’re periodised to match training loads How halftime nutrition strategies can make or break a second-half performance The real-world challenges of fuelling players during international travel and changing environments Simple, effective advice for grassroots players and coaches to improve fuelling and recovery on a budget Why Jaffa Cakes and chocolate milk still have a place in post-match recovery What inspired James to go from aspiring S&C coach to becoming one of the top performance nutritionists in UK sport The importance of building trust with athletes and the subtle art of sideline communication James’ thoughts on balancing consistency with cultural curiosity when travelling with elite teams Whether you're working at the elite level or coaching an U16s team on Sundays, this episode offers something for everyone. As James puts it, "We’re all failed athletes trying to help others be their best." FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research 🔔 Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Stitcher

Tom Coughlin, a performance nutrition consultant with over a decade of experience, shares invaluable insights from his work with Olympic athletes and professional rugby teams. He emphasizes the importance of whole foods over supplements in sports nutrition. Listeners learn about the truths behind dietary supplements and how behavioral psychology can enhance nutrition strategies. Tom also discusses the science of pre-workout nutrition and caffeine's benefits, along with practical advice for optimizing diet to boost athletic performance and build sustainable habits.

This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, host Richard Graves sits down with former Leeds Rhinos captain Stevie Ward, a man who went from teenage prodigy to Grand Final winner, only to have his career cut short by concussion at just 27. In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Stevie opens up about: What it’s really like debuting alongside your childhood heroes The fear and thrill of running out at Wembley at 18 The brutal highs and lows of elite performance, injury, and recovery How fear, when embraced, can unlock peak performance The emotional toll of early retirement and how he's rebuilding his identity beyond sport But this isn’t just a story of sport. It’s about leadership, mental health, emotional intelligence, and what it means to be truly vulnerable, in a dressing room, a boardroom, or everyday life. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, sports scientist, manager or just someone navigating life’s transitions, Stevie’s story is packed with insight and inspiration and how to lead with authenticity. About Stevie Ward Stevie is a former professional rugby player and part of the golden generation at the Leeds Rhinos, one of the most successful teams in Super League history. Stevie became the youngest grand final winner ever, going on to win two more Grand Finals and 2 Challenge Cups, and was named captain at just 26. Amongst the highs, Stevie endured ten operations and several mental health struggles. This adversity inspired Stevie to launch Mantality in 2016 to promote mental health for men through counselling, life-coaching services, and a stigma-breaking podcast. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research 🔔 Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Stitcher

This week on the Science for Sport podcast, host Richard Graves is joined by the remarkable Dr. Kristin Keim – a clinical sports psychologist, former elite cyclist, and passionate advocate for athlete mental health. In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Kristin takes us beyond the buzzwords of “mental toughness” and into the real, nuanced world of clinical sports psychology. From helping Olympians navigate panic attacks to supporting athletes through concussions, identity loss, and retirement, Kristin shares what really goes on behind the scenes of peak performance. You’ll learn: Why no two concussions – or depressions – are ever the same How chronic pain changed Kristin’s life and deepened her empathy as a clinician The overlooked emotional challenges athletes face when their careers end Why “just being tough” isn’t the answer – and what real resilience looks like The one question every athlete and aspiring sports psychologist should ask themselves With honesty, passion, and lived experience, Kristin busts myths around sports psychology and offers a rare window into what it truly takes to support athletes not just as performers, but as people. About Dr Kristin Keim Dr. Kristin Keim is a clinical and sport psychologist based in South Carolina, renowned for her work with elite athletes across endurance sports, cycling, triathlon, and MMA. A former professional cyclist, ballet dancer, and elite tennis player, she brings firsthand experience of high-performance sport to her practice. Through her company, Keim Performance Consulting, she offers a holistic, strength-based approach that integrates clinical psychology with performance science. Dr. Keim specializes in areas such as concussion recovery, performance anxiety, identity transition, and athlete mental health. Her philosophy, “Happy Racers Go Faster,” emphasizes the importance of athlete well-being as a foundation for peak performance. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research 🔔 Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Stitcher