What I Know Now

School Sport NZ

Sport isn’t everything, but it does impact a lot of things. In this School Sport NZ podcast, hosted by CEO Mike Summerell we look at how the benefits of sport flow through to everyday life. It’s designed for people who want to be involved in sport but have other priorities too. Mike talks to a range of people with lived experience about how sport impacts relationships, careers, identities and more, and how they balanced sport with other important parts of their lives. Hear relevant and useful experience from some of the best-known names within New Zealand sport and beyond, discovering all the ways sport has benefited their lives on and off the field...but mostly off.

Episodes

  1. 14/03/2023

    Laura Langman: Sport and a working career

    For most of her storied Silver Ferns career, Laura Langman was also juggling studying and working as an accountant. That she is recognised as one of our best-ever netballers shows how anyone can balance sport with a working career.   In this episode of What I Know Now, Laura talks to School Sport CEO Mike Summerell about how she did it, with loads of great lessons for young people today.    They touch on:   The benefits of playing lots of different sports growing up Making her pro debut as a high school student, having only trialled to make up the numbers  How her teachers supported her netball career Balancing studying for a degree with pro netball Becoming the master of her diary - meeting deadlines, dealing with pressure, and achieving her purpose Getting a job with Deloitte and juggling both  How her sporting involvement and teamwork benefited her career Why sport at any level is important for young people Finding a balance between sport and other important aspects of your life - why variety is key How Pilates made a huge difference in her netball Achieving in what she was doing, not just participating in things  How sport celebrates uniqueness The benefits of sport - resilience, problem-solving, and social awareness   This is an awesome chat that shows all the ways being involved in sport can benefit your career. That it’s lessons learned the hard way from a kiwi sporting great just carries more weight.

    25 min
  2. 14/03/2023

    Louisa Wall: Sport and Equality

    Louisa Wall is a rare double international, who first played for the Silver Ferns at just 17 years old. She became a Black Fern six years later, winning a World Cup before launching a successful political career.   She’s now New Zealand’s Ambassador for Gender Equality in the Pacific, which includes using sport as a vehicle for equity and equality.   Louisa is in a great place to speak about equality within sports in areas such as culture, privilege, gender, and sexual orientation. In this episode of What I Know Now, she speaks with School Sport NZ CEO Mike Summerell about:   How having a progressive father paved the way for her to enjoy sport Looking back on the significance of her childhood sport  Being banned from playing rugby as a 5-year-old The importance of playing a range of sports, including soccer, karate, tennis, and more The hierarchy that exists between sports and how it influences opportunities for kids What she learned from doing all her homework at intervals or before school so she had time to play sport How people targeted some teams she played in for the number of gay players The difference today in how people are accepted within sport The significance of anticipating cultural diversity in sport How sport allows kids in poverty to talk about their issues  How sport helps to build strong, resilient people How to involve young people in sport The role sport can play in making an equitable society   This is an engaging, in-depth conversation that showcases how sport creates a level playing field for all. It has great insight for parents, coaches, and administrators looking to make sports even more accessible so anyone can benefit from it.

    32 min
  3. 14/03/2023

    Brad Weber: Sport and Inclusion

    Brad Weber is an All Black and a Super Rugby champion who’s become a vocal supporter of the rainbow community. From speaking out against Israel Folau to working in schools, he’s helping to pave the way for inclusivity within sports.   This episode of What I Know Now looks at how far rugby has come in being a place where people can be accepted for who they are. Brad acknowledges it’s still got some way to go, but can see the way forward.   School Sport CEO Mike Summerell and Brad talk about:   Why he doesn’t think he would have been an All Black if he didn’t play different sports at school The resilience he got from going through club rugby rather than being fast-tracked How the social side of rugby kept him in the sport, even though he didn’t get a professional contract from school How his high school rugby coaches kept players engaged  Why he’s so passionate about being an advocate for the gay community How sport has become more inclusive Being labelled by someone as the kind of person they’d hide their sexuality from The significance of casual language and how hurtful it can be to people How feeling like he could be himself set up his success at the Chiefs The role sport can play in helping young people to develop in a personal and social sense  Being impressed by the inclusivity he sees when he goes to schools now His advice for dealing with friends when they say things that aren’t acceptable   Brad’s leadership and experience make him a powerful advocate in this space. This conversation highlights the impact of small things in allowing people to be themselves and shows how sport has a huge role in helping people to develop their own way.

    20 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Sport isn’t everything, but it does impact a lot of things. In this School Sport NZ podcast, hosted by CEO Mike Summerell we look at how the benefits of sport flow through to everyday life. It’s designed for people who want to be involved in sport but have other priorities too. Mike talks to a range of people with lived experience about how sport impacts relationships, careers, identities and more, and how they balanced sport with other important parts of their lives. Hear relevant and useful experience from some of the best-known names within New Zealand sport and beyond, discovering all the ways sport has benefited their lives on and off the field...but mostly off.