Behind The Team

Richie O'Brien

Join me as I learn from knowledgeable people in all walks of life. I believe our purpose in life is to be curious and learn. That's exactly what I'm trying to do. I can't promise it's the best podcast, but I'll always give my best. I love to learn. You should too...

  1. 10 HRS AGO

    #036 - What Is Biomechanics? - Paul Felton

    Dr Paul Felton is a human movement scientist and cricket biomechanics specialist who has spent his career studying how athletes really move and how coaches can better understand performance. With experience in both elite sport and academia, he works at the intersection of biomechanics, strength and conditioning, injury prevention, and long term athletic development. In this conversation he breaks down complex movement science into practical ideas that coaches, athletes, and parents can actually use.Expect to learn what biomechanics actually means and why most coaches already apply it without realising, whether there is ever one perfect technique, how social media has polarised the coaching world, if you can truly change movement patterns later in life, how strength training fits into youth development, and how to think critically about viral training advice. This episode challenges black and white thinking and offers a more nuanced way to approach performance, injury risk, and coaching. - Get in contact below: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richie O'Brien - YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/richieobrienx/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@richieobrienx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/richieobrienx/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 42m
  2. 4D AGO

    #034 - 10 Amazing Facts About The Brain - Frank Amthor

    Frank Amthor is a retired neuroscientist, professor, author of Neuroscience for Dummies, and science fiction writer with over 40 years of experience researching and teaching the brain. Across his career he’s studied retinal ganglion cells, explored consciousness, investigated memory, and examined how neurons communicate at the most fundamental level. In this conversation, Frank breaks down complex neuroscience into language anyone can understand, from how synapses work to why Einstein’s brain wasn’t so unusual, while also exploring the frontiers of brain health, AI, and even humanity’s future on Mars. Expect to learn how many neurons are actually in the brain and what a “quadrillion synapses” really means, whether we only use 10% of our brain (we don’t), why brain injuries can sometimes unlock savant-like abilities, how memory is reconstructed (and why it can be unreliable), why young people take more risks, how alcohol affects the frontal lobe, whether adults can grow new neurons, and what neuroscience suggests about consciousness, intelligence, and the possibility of life beyond Earth. - Get in contact below: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richie O'Brien - YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/richieobrienx/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@richieobrienx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/richieobrienx/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Find Frank below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-amthor-68a00116/ - Timestamps: (00:00) Exploring Neuroscience for the General Public (07:24) Ten Fascinating Facts About the Brain (34:48) The Brain's Capacity for Growth and Change (48:58) The Fascination with Mars and Science Fiction

    1h 2m
  3. FEB 10

    #033 - Why Are We Doing What We’ve Always Done? - Owen Southgate

    Owen is a coach, educator, and founder of NYSA working at the intersection of sport, play, and learning, with a focus on challenging cultural narratives in education and performance. In this conversation we unpack why continuing to do things “the way they’ve always been done” often limits growth, why systems in sport and education struggle when they prioritize order over meaning, and how environment and culture quietly shape who we become. We discuss simplicity versus ease, the role of play in human development, and why learning and performance are far more complex and individual than most systems allow for. The discussion moves into comfort zones, tradition, and consciousness, examining why familiarity feels safe even when it suppresses curiosity and creativity. Using examples from schooling, football academies, and child development, we explore how play supports phenomenal consciousness, why challenge is necessary for growth, and how environments can either expand or constrain potential. We finish with the responsibility of questioning inherited systems, embracing discomfort with intention, and why creating better conditions, rather than easier paths, may be the key to helping people truly flourish. - Get in contact below: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richie O'Brien - YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/richieobrienx/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@richieobrienx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/richieobrienx/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Find Owen/NYSA below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owen-southgate-278693100/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nysasweden Website: https://nysasweden.com/ - Timestamps: (00:00) The Essence of Beauty and Connection (02:59) Cultural Narratives in Sport and Education (05:58) The Role of Education in Shaping Futures (08:59) Personal Experiences and Motivations (12:05) Phenomenal Consciousness and Play (14:53) The Impact of Education Systems (18:04) The Future of Learning and Adaptation (41:46) Rethinking Education for Children (42:59) The Future of AI and Its Impact (47:41) Creativity vs. AI: The Human Element (48:10) The Challenges of Modern Education (56:07) Cultural Shifts and Their Impact (01:11:36) NISA: Bridging Education and Sports

    1h 21m
  4. FEB 6

    #031 - Do We All Think The Same? - Derek Sorensen

    Derek Sorensen is a Certified Mental Performance Coach (CMPC) and YouTuber who creates psychology-based short films exploring performance, identity, and human behavior. In this conversation we unpack why there is no single right way to pursue excellence, why so many performance systems fail when they promise one universal answer, and how environment and culture quietly shape who we become. We discuss value-driven behavior, why self-help formulas often miss the point, and how high performance is far more complex and personal than most people are led to believe. The discussion moves into comfort zones, fear, and psychological growth, examining why familiarity feels safe even when it holds us back. Using real examples from sport, training, and phobias, we explore how discomfort fuels development, why gradual exposure matters more than forced change, and how environment can either support or sabotage progress. We finish with the idea of a punk rock mentality, thinking differently on purpose, embracing being out of sync with the average, and why owning your own process may be the most powerful psychological edge there is. - Get in contact below: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richie O'Brien - YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/richieobrienx/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@richieobrienx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/richieobrienx/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Find Derek below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek76sorensen/ YouTube: Derek Sorensen Performance - YouTube Website: https://www.dereksorensenperformance.com/ - Timestamps: (00:00) Understanding Average Thinking and Behavior (07:31) Breaking the Cycle of Average Thinking (14:25) The Mundanity of Excellence (21:31) Navigating Skill Development and Motivation (28:51) The Beauty of Being Average (31:21) Redefining Excellence (34:23) Happiness vs. Striving for Excellence (36:56) The Complexity of Psychological Research (43:09) Nature vs. Nurture in Performance (49:20) The Impact of Environment on Personal Growth (54:55) Comfort Zones and Personal Development (01:00:31) The Journey of Squatting and Personal Limits (01:02:53) Understanding Comfort Zones and Discomfort (01:05:11) Overcoming Fears: The Role of Exposure (01:11:51) The Punk Rock Mentality in Performance (01:24:06) Blending Film and Psychology for Performance Enhancement

    1h 33m
  5. JAN 30

    #029 - The Truth About Vaccines, Cancer & Living Longer - John Tregoning

    John Tregoning is a Professor of Vaccine Immunology at Imperial College London discussing how the immune system works, what vaccines actually contain, and why so many health myths persist. We explore flu and COVID vaccines, side effects versus real-world risk, fertility and autism claims, and how misinformation spreads during periods of fear and uncertainty. John explains why the speed of COVID vaccine development was not unsafe, how risk should be properly balanced, and why trusted sources matter more than viral headlines. The conversation also dives into cancer, aging, and long-term health. We discuss what cancer actually is, why diagnosis rates are rising, the importance of early detection and screening, and why many people delay getting checked. John shares his personal experience with skin cancer, the psychology of health avoidance, prevention strategies, hearing loss and dementia risk, lifestyle factors that improve longevity, and why doing more of what you enjoy with people you love may be one of the most powerful health tools we have. - Get in contact below: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richie O'Brien - YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/richieobrienx/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@richieobrienx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/richieobrienx/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Find John below: LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-tregoning/ - Timestamps: (00:00) The Quest for Immortality (03:08) Understanding Mortality and Aging (06:03) The Impact of Life Experiences on Perception of Age (09:05) The Future of Medicine and Disease (11:58) Non-Infectious vs Infectious Diseases (14:57) The Role of Genetics in Health (17:59) Lifestyle Choices for Longevity (21:01) The Importance of Exercise (24:00) The Dangers of Smoking and Vaping (26:59) Alcohol Consumption and Health Risks (33:21) Cultural Attitudes Towards Drinking (36:02) The Importance of Social Connections (42:51) The Role of Vaccination in Health (57:33) Understanding Cancer and Early Detection

    1h 9m

About

Join me as I learn from knowledgeable people in all walks of life. I believe our purpose in life is to be curious and learn. That's exactly what I'm trying to do. I can't promise it's the best podcast, but I'll always give my best. I love to learn. You should too...