

Science for Sport Podcast
Science for Sport
Discover the Secrets Behind Elite Performance.
Join us on the Science for Sport Podcast, where every episode dives into the cutting-edge world of sports science and the untold stories behind the best athletes and teams on the planet.
Hosted by Richard Graves, we bring you exclusive insights from elite athletes, world-class coaches, and leading sports scientists who are shaping the future of global sport.
This isn’t just another sports podcast—this is your backstage pass to:
- The science powering record-breaking performances.
- The trends, challenges, and breakthroughs redefining the game.
- Mastering the balance of art and science in coaching.
Whether you’re a sports scientist, coach, physio, nutritionist, teacher, or just a passionate sports fan, this is your chance to learn from the pros and stay ahead of the curve.
Tune in every Monday and uncover what it takes to make the best, better.
Join us on the Science for Sport Podcast, where every episode dives into the cutting-edge world of sports science and the untold stories behind the best athletes and teams on the planet.
Hosted by Richard Graves, we bring you exclusive insights from elite athletes, world-class coaches, and leading sports scientists who are shaping the future of global sport.
This isn’t just another sports podcast—this is your backstage pass to:
- The science powering record-breaking performances.
- The trends, challenges, and breakthroughs redefining the game.
- Mastering the balance of art and science in coaching.
Whether you’re a sports scientist, coach, physio, nutritionist, teacher, or just a passionate sports fan, this is your chance to learn from the pros and stay ahead of the curve.
Tune in every Monday and uncover what it takes to make the best, better.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 8, 2021 • 34min
84: Serve Your Athletes Better: How To Fulfill Your Potential As A Coach
In episode 84, David Joyce, Co-Editor of High Performance Training For Sports, joins us.
Specifically David will be looking at:
Why we should improve our skills
Key skills a coach needs & how to improve them
How athletes can find the perfect coach for them
Navigating the political landscape
About David
"David is an internationally recognized leader in human performance, strategy and decision making. He holds Masters degrees in both Sports Physiotherapy and Strength & Conditioning, as well as an MBA.
He has worked with hundreds of elite athletes, including multiple world and Olympic champions and in multiple sports around the world.
Nowadays, Dave’s focus has shifted much more towards enabling major sporting organisations, corporates, start-ups and emerging leaders navigate through the choppy seas of complexity, and set themselves up to thrive in an increasingly uncertain future.
He has written and co-edited with Daniel Lewindon 2 internationally best-selling textbooks on high-performance and rehabilitation, and the new edition of High Performance Training For Sports has just been released to critical acclaim around the world.."
Twitter: @davidgjoyce
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/david-joyce01/
FREE 7d COACH ACADEMY TRIAL
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Learn Quicker & More Effectively, Freeing Up Time To Spend With Friends And Family
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
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Nov 1, 2021 • 25min
83: How Cold And Heat Exposure Can Fast-Track Your Recovery - And How To Do It Safely
In episode 83, Robin Thorpe, Performance Scientist and Coach, joins us.
Specifically Robin will be looking at:
Does cold & heat exposure improve recovery
Physiology underpinning these methods
How to implement these methods
Case study: recovery in football
About Robin
"Dr. Robin Thorpe spent a decade (2009-2019) working as a Senior Performance Scientist and Conditioning Coach at Manchester United Football Club of the English Premier League. Robin worked with the First Team (under managers’ Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Ryan Giggs, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer) delivering performance and conditioning support to players whilst overseeing and managing fatigue, training load, recovery and regeneration practices throughout the Club as Head of Recovery and Regeneration. During this time Dr. Thorpe was part of a winning team achieving 10 national and international titles. Robin completed an applied PhD with Liverpool John Moores University investigating methods of fatigue and performance-monitoring, which has led to a number of original articles published in peer reviewed journals. Much of his work to date has centered around a model of monitoring the player response to stress in order to maximize athlete availability, training load prescription, performance and recovery and the reduction of injury and illness risk. Dr Thorpe also holds a position of Visiting Research Fellow at Liverpool John Moores Universtiy and Adjunct Professor at Arizona State University and has worked with many high-profile individual athletes in professional Golf and Boxing. Dr. Thorpe also assisted in the preparation of the Mexican national football team in the lead-up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In May of 2019, Dr. Thorpe accepted a position as Director of Performance & Innovation working with World Class Track and Field athletes including Olympic Gold Medalists and World Record Holders in the lead up to the Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020). As part of Dr. Thorpe’s role, he managed and directed an integrated performance framework which covers sports science, strength & conditioning and medical processes. Dr Thorpe was the Director of a novel performance lab which is an applied, contemporary performance & innovation hub involving applied and academic sports performance research in attempt to push the boundaries of sports innovation-science and knowledge to athletes, coaches and the industry as a whole. Most recently Dr. Thorpe has accepted consultancy roles in the NBA, MLB, MLS & PGA Tour as well as the tech giant Intel. Dr. Thorpe continues to conduct contemporary applied sports science & conditioning research and provides sports performance sleep science consultancies to a range of athletes and organisations."
Instagram: @dr.robinthorpe
Twitter: @DrRobinThorpe
Link to Robin's latest paper on recovery: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.707503/full
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Learn Quicker & More Effectively, Freeing Up Time To Spend With Friends And Family
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
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Oct 25, 2021 • 29min
82: Get Million Dollar Speed Using The Latest Sport Technology
In episode 82, Matt Tometz, Strength & Conditioning Coach and Sport Science Coordinator at TCBoost Sport Performance, joins us.
Specifically Matt will be looking at:
Importance of speed
How to train speed
The best speed tech for all budgets
Case study: Using tech to improve speed
About Matt
"Matt Tometz is a Sports Performance Coach/Sport Science Coordinator at TCBoost Sports Performance that's known for speed and agility development. With a speed development background and a fascination for data, it’s his daily challenge to combine the art of coaching with the science of data for his athletes of all ages and sports. Outside the facility, Matt creates educational content for coaches and athletes aiming to give the tool of autonomy for their own decision-making and training."
Instagram and Twitter: @CoachBigToe
LinkedIn and YouTube: "Matt Tometz"
Website: matttometz.com
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetalkingshoppodcast
FREE 7d COACH ACADEMY TRIAL
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Learn Quicker & More Effectively, Freeing Up Time To Spend With Friends And Family
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

Oct 18, 2021 • 21min
81: No Excuses: Obliterating the Obstacles In Front Of You
In episode 81, Zion Clark, Athlete and Motivational Speaker, joins us.
Specifically Zion will be looking at:
Importance of sport
Obstacles in training/competition
Case study: typical training day
Examples of how Sport Science helps him
About Zion
"Zion was born on September 29, 1997 in Columbus, OH. Due to his condition (Caudal Regression Syndrome...born with no legs), and his birth mother's inability to care for him, Zion was immediately thrust into the foster care system.
Thus, his journey to find a permanent home and a someone to call "mom" began. Over the course of the next 16 years Zion moved numerous times and found himself in a variety of circumstances and environments...many of them unfavorable. Zion was introduced to the sport of wrestling while in elementary school, but initially didn't fare very well...in fact, he didn't win a match for several years. Upon entering Massillon High School, Zion met Coach Gil Donahue who recognized his passion for the sport and relentless work ethic. A wonderful friendship and bond was forged.
Over the next 3 years Zion improved his wrestling technique and hit the weight room like a man possessed. An amazing transformation followed! Part of this miraculous course of events included Zion being adopted by a woman who had been praying for a son for years! In dramatic fashion, the process was completed only within days before Zion was officially scheduled to be legally aged-out (no chance of adoption). In his senior year, Zion finished the season 33-15 and was one match from qualifying for the D-I Ohio High School State Wrestling Championships. In an incredible display of heart and determination, Zion wrestled his opponent (a 20 pd. weight differential) beyond the grueling 6 minutes of regulation and 2 overtimes...only to fall 1-0 in sudden death. The fans in the packed gymnasium rose to their feet and zealously applauded Zion's courageous effort. A few months later Zion went on to capture his second high school track wheel chair racing title at the state championships. Zion's herculean efforts hadn't gone unnoticed as a Hollywood producer documented his journey during senior year. The film "Zion" garnered critical acclaim at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival (2018) and global media exposure (it's currently available on Netflix). Zion was recruited by several colleges to wrestle and chose to attend Kent State (Tuscarawas)...where he spent the following 2 years steadily improving his skills and finding success at the varsity level.
With his confidence and national ranking on the rise, Zion decided to embark on his toughest mission to date...becoming the first American Athlete to compete in both the Olympic (wrestling) and Paralympic (wheelchair racing) Games in Tokyo (2020). Understanding the magnitude of this difficult challenge, Zion has surrounded himself with a very dedicated and highly supportive team...including budding friendships with Olympic/World Champion Jordan Burroughs and undefeated (133-0) 4x NCAA titlist Joey Davis. Due to his tremendous upper body strength and athleticism, Zion is also pursuing interests in power lifting (bench press), wheelchair bodybuilding, and the circus arts. In addition to his brutal training/practice regimen, Zion stays busy as a motivational speaker. The moral of Zion's inspirational story is that things don't always go smoothly in life...but in order to succeed, you must adapt to your individual circumstances. Priding himself in hard work, Zion offers that there are no excuses...or shortcuts! It's all about faith, passion, and perseverance. Zion urges others to "Be Greater Than" > ...the obstacles you face.
YOU, and only YOU are in control of your destiny!"
Website: www.zionnoexcuses.com
TikTok https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRvTr1tn/
Instagram: @big_z_2020
Twitter: @Zz_tops330
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUF-HKYH5MSotNQRYUX8pOw
FREE 7d COACH ACADEMY TRIAL
SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/sfsepisode81
Learn Quicker & More Effectively, Freeing Up Time To Spend With Friends And Family
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
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Oct 11, 2021 • 17min
80: Firefighters' nutrition: How athletes can learn from tactical populations
In episode 80, Brittany Johnson, Associate Professor at Temple University, joins us.
Specifically Brittany will be looking at:
Importance of nutrition for firefighters
Job demands
Lessons for athletes
Case study: nutrition guide for firefighters
About Brittany
"Brittany is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Temple University. As a Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, Johnson's primary focus is understanding how food fuels athletes for optimizing health and enhancing performance. She’s predominantly worked with firefighters on improving physical fitness and reducing musculoskeletal injuries through dietary interventions."
Twitter: @dietitianprof
Instagram: @dietitianprof
FREE 7d COACH ACADEMY TRIAL
SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/sfsepisode80
Learn Quicker & More Effectively, Freeing Up Time To Spend With Friends And Family
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

Oct 4, 2021 • 29min
79: Building a champion mindset: How high-performance teams can reach the next level
In episode 79, Steve Ingham, Director at Supporting Champions, joins us.
Specifically Steve will be looking at:
Impact and efficiency of high-performance teams
Areas team need to improve
How to lead staff
How staff can improve themselves
About Steve
"Dr Steve Ingham is steeped in high performance and has been integral to the development of Britain into an Olympic superpower. He has provided support to over 1,000 athletes, of which over 200 have achieved World or Olympic medal success, including some of the world’s greatest athletes, such as Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent. Steve has coached Kelly Sotherton’s running for heptathlon and to 4x400m Olympic medal winning success.
Steve has gained high performance insight working at the British Olympic Association from 1998 to 2004, where he was Senior Sports Physiologist and Sports Science Manager, and at the English Institute of Sport from 2004 to 2016 where he was Head of Physiology and latterly the Director of Science and Technical Development, leading a team of 200 scientists in support of Team GB and Paralympics GB. Steve is the Director of Supporting Champions (https://supportingchampions.co.uk)"
Twitter: @Ingham_Steve
Twitter: @Support_Champs
Instagram: @steveandimgham
Instagram: @supportingchampions
Website: https://supportingchampions.co.uk
YouTube: https://youtu.be/KWzt1gOhZws
FREE 7d COACH ACADEMY TRIAL
SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/sfsepisode79
Learn Quicker & More Effectively, Freeing Up Time To Spend With Friends And Family
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

Sep 27, 2021 • 27min
78: Stop Wasting Time: Supercharge Your Session With World Class Warm-ups
In episode 78, Rett Larson, S&C Coach at the German Womens Volleyball Team , joins us.
Specifically Rett will be looking at:
Importance of warm ups
Key components
Mental aspects of warm ups
Rett's warm up approach
About Rett
"I am the strength and conditioning coach for the German Women’s volleyball team, this is a relatively new gig for me. I was in the same position with the Dutch women’s volleyball team for a couple of years, and the Chinese women’s volleyball team for a bunch of years. Before that I worked with lots of different sports, but it just seems that everyone only thinks I can work in volleyball."
Twitter: @RettLarson
Instagram: @Rettasaurus
Check out Rett's book chapter here: https://us.humankinetics.com/products/high-performance-training-for-sports-2nd-edition
FREE 7d COACH ACADEMY TRIAL
SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/sfsepisode78
Learn Quicker & More Effectively, Freeing Up Time To Spend With Friends And Family
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
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11 snips
Sep 20, 2021 • 27min
77: Anaerobic Speed Reserve: Your Secret Weapon To Optimise Conditioning
In episode 77, Martin Buchheit, S&C Coach, Sport Scientist & Researcher , joins us.
Specifically Martin will be looking at:
Importance of the anaerobic speed reserve (ASR)
Measuring the ASR
Application of ASR data
Case study
About Martin
"I am a very passionate strength and conditioning coach that progressively developed into an applied sport performance scientist, with a main emphasis on football (soccer). My work (>200 publications) has focused on intervention strategies and profiling assessments that may improve players’ physical and technical potential, using a scientific approach whenever possible. Using my background in strength & Conditionning (2 Msc), statistics (1 Msc) and a PhD in exercise physiology, I have developed different training 'tools' such as the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness to program high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and the 5'-5' (now 4'-3') running test to monitor training status using accelerometers, GPS and heart rate (variability). I also have extensive experience with fitness and strength training, injury prevention, recovery, nutrition, match analysis and youth development. I have been ranked as the 4 (2019) to 6th (2021) scientific expert in Soccer in the world.
Currently, I consult and speak for various organizations, and hold the position of Head of Performance at Lille OSC, together with the role of Head of Performance Research at Kitman Labs, in charge of the Performance Intelligence Research Initiative with Derk McHugues."
Twitter: @mart1buch
Instagram: @mart1buch
Martins Website: https://martin-buchheit.net/
Martin's New Book, EGOals: https://egoalsbook.com/
FREE 7d COACH ACADEMY TRIAL
SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/sfsepisode77
Learn Quicker & More Effectively, Freeing Up Time To Spend With Friends And Family
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

Sep 13, 2021 • 19min
76: Use GPS Analysis to Develop NFL Level Fitness
In episode 76, Mathew Pell, Applied Sport Scientist at Catapult Sports , joins us.
Specifically Mat will be looking at:
American Football game demands
Organisation of training
GPS outputs and KPIs
The 'perfect scenario' workflow
About Mat
"I moved to America from Australia about a year and a half ago. I’ve come fresh out of the Australian Football League where I coached in a multitude of roles from Referees to two of the senior organisations: Carton FC, and North Melbourne FC. Now I’ve transitioned to Catapult where my role is Applied Sport Scientist, and my responsibilities include all the MLS and around 20 American Football accounts"
Twitter: @MathewPell
Instagram: @Mathew_Pell
FREE 7d COACH ACADEMY TRIAL
SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/sfsepisode76
Learn Quicker & More Effectively, Freeing Up Time To Spend With Friends And Family
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

Sep 6, 2021 • 24min
75: Practical Advice To Avoid Big Youth Development Mistakes
In episode 75, Tom Green, Head of Athletic Development at St Peters RC High School, joins us.
Specifically Tom will be looking at:
What LTAD is, and supporting literature
Focus points for young children
Focus points for older children
How to build your LTAD program
About Tom
"Tom Green is the Head of Athletic Development at St Peters RC High School and youth researcher at Science for Sport. Tom currently works at Gloucester Rugby Club as a PDG coach and has formerly worked at West Bromwich Albion FC, Hartpury College, and GB Equine. Tom sits on the UKSCA special interest group for S&C in Schools."
Twitter: @ThomasGreen_1
FREE 7d COACH ACADEMY TRIAL
SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/sfsepisode75
Learn Quicker & More Effectively, Freeing Up Time To Spend With Friends And Family
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


