
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

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.

Nov 18, 2024 • 49min
Season 11 Episode 15 - Greg Feek (Finding Strong)
Greg Feek, current Blues scrum coach, former All Black player and Leinster, Ireland and NZ rugby coach joins Rusty to chat all things scrums, San Fran, the Front Row Union and making them squeal... enjoy!

Oct 26, 2024 • 43min
Season 11 Episode 14 Davie Gray (A coach with a different lens)
Davie and Rusty catch up to chat all things mindset, soft boundaries, designing your own job, secret missions, intent/effort/focus, connecting the dots and pulling the trigger... enjoy!

Oct 13, 2024 • 1h
Season 11 Episode 13 - Gerard Jones (Inspire-Involve-Inform)
Gerard Jones, a seasoned football coach with an extensive international background, shares his insights on coaching magic moments and dealing with imposter syndrome. He reflects on balancing personal and professional life while developing youth programs across cultures. Gerard discusses managing media scrutiny and the importance of authenticity in modern coaching. He emphasizes real-time feedback and innovative methods to enhance player adaptability. Tune in for gripping anecdotes and valuable lessons from his diverse coaching journey!

5 snips
Sep 9, 2024 • 48min
Season 11 Episode 12 - Craig Morris (the Olympic journey)
Craig Morris, an accomplished athlete, shares insights from his captivating Olympic journey. He discusses the delicate balance of luck and legacy, emphasizing the importance of community support in sports. The conversation dives into the mental dynamics athletes face before competition, highlighting the need for emotional well-being and team cohesion. Craig also reflects on the significance of open communication in coaching, recounting personal anecdotes that reveal how vulnerability shapes team dynamics. His reflections on Olympic moments underscore the beauty of acceptance in sports.

Aug 26, 2024 • 45min
Season 11 Episode 11 Will Webster (player to coach)
Will Webster... lifelong learner, international rugby coach, MLR winner x 2, player whose dreams outgrew his ability, older brother who is under pressure to get married, all round good bloke. Will and Rusty chat all things becoming a great coach without the blue tick!
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