
The Magic Academy
Supporting coaching wizards! Rusty and Fletch love to hang with rockstars from the coaching world and get them sharing through some pretty cool questions
Latest episodes

Jun 22, 2025 • 56min
Season 11 Episode 15 Peter Train (Pleasure and Happiness in Education)
Pete's doctorate (https://phecanada.ca/professional-learning/journal/pleasure-and-happiness-education-alternative-form-phe-peter-train) leads to a discussion with Rusty about teacher's experimenting, having a more open framework, attention, taking the ego away, sensible lunatics, astonishing yourself and the museum of values... enjoy!

Jun 16, 2025 • 47min
Season 11 Episode 14 Jeremy Holt (For the Love of the Game)
Jeremy's joins Rusty for the 2nd time on the pod following his book release to chat all things TRIBE... enjoy! For the love of the game: How to coach identity, belonging and performance in sport. Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/8hUMhxOFree chapter landing page https://mailchi.mp/cfte/for-the-love

Jun 13, 2025 • 59min
Season 11 Episode 13 Gary Klein (Expertise)
Gary and Rusty chat all things expertise, decision-making and intuition... Pete Sturgess, Max Caldas, Daniel Kahneman, netball, rowing, feedback, getting in the head of a team-mate, pre-morteming, shadow boxing and mild suggestions... enjoy!

7 snips
May 9, 2025 • 1h 2min
Season 11 Episode 12 - Paul McGuinness (Skilful players)
Paul McGuinness, the King of Manchester, returns to share his insights on football tactics and player development. He dives into the art of reading opponents, highlighting the strategic nuances drawn from legends like Messi. Topics like time-wasting strategies, the coaching of maverick athletes, and adapting to game dynamics are explored. Paul also discusses the integration of storytelling in training and the cultural impact of music in sports, proving that successful coaching is as much about creativity as it is about technique.

Apr 20, 2025 • 43min
Season 11 Episode 11 - Richard Bennett (BPF)
Rich joins Rusty to chat all things Bhudesi Pride Foundation and changing lives through rugby... https://bpfafrica.org/

Apr 11, 2025 • 35min
Season 11 Episode 10 - Chris Guest
Guests and Rusty reflect on all things coaching England Women U19 cricket... enjoy!

Apr 7, 2025 • 46min
Season 11 Episode 9 - Harry Spencer
Harry and Rusty chat all things scout mindset, qui fait quoi, expecting chaos, falling out of love with rugby (and back in love with rugby in France)... Mange tout!

Apr 2, 2025 • 58min
Season 11 Episode 8 Sam Leeming (Finding peace)
Ex-professional rugby player, diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma at 23 , retired due to concussion at 25 and now helping others find flow... an incredible story with so many great lessons... enjoy!

34 snips
Dec 30, 2024 • 1h 8min
Season 11 Episode 17 Danny and Fletch (Coaching chat and the book)
Danny Newcombe, a seasoned coach, shares his deep insights into coaching dynamics. He discusses the importance of coaching cohesion and the delicate balance between emotional and tactical approaches in team sports. The conversation highlights effective communication strategies and the intricacies of player relationships, especially under pressure. There's a fascinating dive into enhancing coaching skills through intentional practice and real-time scenarios. Listeners will also get a glimpse of innovative coaching methods that merge on-field training with player development.

10 snips
Dec 17, 2024 • 56min
Season 11 Episode 16 - Christian Penny
Christian Penny, a New Zealand coach and expert in high-performance environments, shares insights on 'bro culture' and the importance of listening. He discusses the art of coaching, emphasizing emotional connections over traditional methods. The conversation highlights adaptability in sports and theater, with a focus on nurturing relationships between players and coaches. Penny also explores the impact of Māori culture on leadership, advocating for deeper personal connections to enhance team dynamics and performance.