The Perfect 10 Podcast

The Perfect 10 Podcast
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  • Sports
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A series of powerful, personal interviews with game-changers, gold medallists, and rising stars

  1. 4d ago

    Ep: 75 Chris Bond – The Best in the World Without A Coach

    Chris Bond was one of the great surf ski paddlers of his era — an Australian Open Ski Champion who could beat Olympians such as Grant Kenny, Grant Davies and Kelvin Graham, and rose to the top of the sport from the small Central Coast club of The Entrance. And he did it without a coach. Bond claimed the 1983 World Mile Championship in Hawaii before producing what he considers one of the greatest victories of his career at Point Leo in Victoria. Renowned for his blistering early speed, he worked hard on the back end of his races and eventually won his first Australian Open Ski Championship. He returned to the podium at Moana in South Australia in 1986, finishing behind Kelvin Graham, before reclaiming the Australian title at Wanda Beach in 1988. Second late in the race behind Olympian Peter Foster, Bond saw Foster come off in the solid conditions, leaving a sprint to the line and a photo finish - on VHS with Cronulla's Warren Buchan. He also finished on the podium in the Double Ski that year alongside his legendary teammate Peter Laing. Now based at Lennox Head SLSC on the far North Coast of NSW, his love of the sport remains as strong as ever. He is actively involved in supporting his son Jackson's Ironman career, while continuing to enjoy the camaraderie and competition of Masters surf lifesaving. In this episode, we journey back to the halcyon days of surf sports and hear about some of the legends who made that era so special. Bond names the 16 men he believes would line up in the greatest ski race of all time, the three women who would occupy the dais and his greatest ever Taplin Relay team — a conversation that has sparked plenty of debate on social media in recent months. He also reflects on the rapid rise and fall of his own elite career. Family commitments, a career in Emergency Services and a slight loss of hunger eventually saw his competitive paddling fade almost as quickly as it had arrived. But the passion for surf lifesaving never disappeared and remarkably, Bond says he feels healthier in his late 60s than he did a decade ago. For Steve Allan, this conversation is particularly special. Chris was one of Steve's heroes when he was coming through surf lifesaving and had become a Queensland Surf Ski Champion in his age group. This is more than a conversation about winning races. It's a journey back to the golden era of surf lifesaving — a time when a young man from The Entrance could become the best in the world. Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at https://www.theperfect10.com.au

  2. Sep 9

    Ep: 74 Nerida Stewart – A New Netball Force Arises: The Launch of the Sydney Sirens

    Sometimes you have to step away from the game to realise just how much you still have to give. From Sydney Swifts star… to mum of five… to Head Coach of the newest team in the Super Netball competition. Nerida Stewart’s journey has taken some wonderful twists and turns. Growing up through the netball pathway in Sydney’s Hills District and then progressing through the AIS in Canberra, Nerida was fortunate to be coached by some of the legends of Australian netball. Those experiences — and the knowledge she absorbed from some of the great minds of the game — have helped shape the coach she is today. After stepping away from netball to raise her five children, Nerida returned to the game by coaching a junior team. What followed was something she will always regard as one of the proudest moments of her career — taking them all the way to a NSW Championship. From the Central Coast Heart to NSWIS and the Australian Men’s team, the Kelpies, Nerida began building a coaching career that would eventually take her into the Suncorp Super Netball environment as an assistant with West Coast Fever and Giants Netball. In 2025, she got her opportunity to become a Head Coach. This year her Giants team endured an incredibly tough season but produced a magnificent Sydney Derby victory over the Swifts and pushed both the Thunderbirds and Fever in some memorable contests. Now comes perhaps her biggest challenge yet — building the Sydney Sirens from scratch. With some exciting signings already on board, Nerida believes the Sirens have the potential to be a real force when the competition returns in 2027. She also shares her thoughts on the lack of opportunities for Australian players at the elite level, while making it clear that her new team will feature eight Australians. And, of course, Nerida reveals her all-time Starting Seven — a line-up featuring some of the biggest names and greatest players the game has ever produced. This is a wonderful story about finding your way back to something you love — and drawing on a lifetime of learning to help shape the future of the game. Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at https://www.theperfect10.com.au

  3. Aug 25

    Ep: 73 Tania Obst – The Making of A Netball Dynasty

    There’s a wonderful story behind the extraordinary success of Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst. Tania served a lengthy apprenticeship in coaching, working extensively in pathways and developing an exceptional eye for talent along the way. She also learned from some of the best in the business, including legendary Australian coach Julie Fitzgerald and England great Tracey Neville. Her journey took her to England, where she was part of a coaching team that won Commonwealth Games Gold, but when the Adelaide Thunderbirds coaching job first became available, Tania was overlooked. Rather than letting it define her, she used it as a line-in-the-sand moment — a point where she decided she would back herself, continue learning and prove that she belonged at the highest level. And prove it she has. Tania has now created a genuine Thunderbirds dynasty — three Grand Final victories in the past four seasons, including a record-breaking Grand Final win over the Melbourne Vixens in 2026 after Adelaide finished as minor premiers. I first met Tania during my time with the NSW Swifts and Giants Netball, so it has been particularly rewarding to watch her journey unfold. From identifying and nurturing talent through the pathways to building an incredible culture at Adelaide, Tania has become one of the most respected coaches in Australian sport. She also comes from a famous sporting family. Her father was an AFL legend in South Australia and a winner of the competition’s Best and Fairest. In this episode of The Perfect 10, Tania opens up about the setbacks, mentors, lessons and people who shaped her coaching career — and how being overlooked ultimately became one of the defining moments of her journey. It’s a terrific conversation with an outstanding coach who has gone from serving her apprenticeship to building one of the great modern dynasties in Australian netball. We also have something special for you - Tania names the best Starting Seven that she has seen in her time as a coach. Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at https://www.theperfect10.com.au

  4. Jul 31

    Ep: 72 Christie Dawes – Seven Paralympics, One Extraordinary Journey

    After an extraordinary career spanning more than three decades, seven Paralympic Games and three Paralympic medals, Australian wheelchair racing legend Christie Dawes joins The Perfect 10 for one of the most honest and emotional conversations you'll hear. Just weeks after competing in her final elite race at the Cape Town Marathon, Christie reflects on the journey that began after watching the wheelchair races at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics and led her to become one of Australia's most respected endurance athletes. She speaks candidly about the devastating car accident that changed her life forever, the remarkable Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew who saved her life, and the lifelong friendships forged through the Paralympic movement, including fellow Australian great Angie Ballard. Christie also opens up about the emotional challenges of elite sport, why she's said she "loved it more than it loved her", the physical toll of racing at the highest level, balancing motherhood with international competition, and the realities of competing as a female athlete into her forties. Now embarking on an exciting new chapter, the former World Champion discusses her role with ABC Radio in Newcastle, her move into event management, and why she'll be heading to the New York Marathon this year to experience one of the world's biggest races from behind the scenes. This is a conversation about courage, perspective, resilience and finding purpose beyond the finish line. Listener Discretion is Advised: This episode contains discussions about grief, trauma and the loss of a loved one, from approximately 24-30 minutes that some listeners may find distressing. If this conversation raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14, 24 hours a day. Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at The Perfect 10 website https://www.theperfect10.com.au

  5. Jun 30

    Ep: 71 Dream It. Believe It. Live It. Olympic Medallist – Mariafe Artacho del Solar 

    The Perfect 10 welcomes one of Australia's most admired Olympians, Mariafe Artacho del Solar. A three-time Olympian and a medallist on the World's biggest stage, Mariafe takes us inside the unforgettable journey that saw her and Taliqua Clancy claim silver in Tokyo, falling only to what she describes as the "perfect performance" from the United States in the gold medal match. She also reflects on Paris, where Australia finished fourth after an epic three-set battle with Brazil—a contest Mariafe ranks among the greatest matches of her career. Born in Lima, Mariafe arrived in Sydney with her mum as an 11-year-old, unable to speak English, she quickly found her place through sport. It didn't take long for the volleyball world to notice. After filling in alongside her older brother at a tournament at Manly, the teenage prodigy earned selection in Australia's Under-19 team for the World Junior Championships—at just 13 years of age. Her rise wasn't without obstacles. Mariafe was told she was too short to succeed at the highest level, but her talent, determination and competitive spirit proved impossible to ignore. In this inspiring conversation, Mariafe also reveals the power of dreaming big. As a little girl, she wrote down every goal she hoped to achieve, turning them into posters. Today, she believes those dreams became reality because she dared to imagine them first. Admired throughout Australia and especially cherished within the Latino-Australian community, Mariafe has become an icon well beyond the volleyball court. With her love of fashion, effortless elegance and authentic personality, she's built a loyal following on social media while remaining grounded and deeply connected to her family. Could there be one more Olympic chapter in 2028 Summer Olympics... or even a home Games in 2032, Mariafe hasn't closed the door. But for now, her greatest joy isn't measured in medals. It's her young son, Luka. This is a conversation about resilience, belief, family, and chasing your dreams - from Peru to the Olympic podium. Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at The Perfect 10 website https://www.theperfect10.com.au

  6. Jun 13

    Ep: 70 Liesl Tesch – The Paralympic Legend Who Changed The Game

    Before there were professional pathways, before wheelchair basketball received the recognition it deserved, Liesl Tesch was changing the game.A five-time Paralymian in wheelchair basketball, a three-time Paralympic medallist, and later a two-time Paralympic gold medallist in sailing, Liesl's sporting résumé is almost impossible to comprehend. She became the first woman in the world to play professional wheelchair basketball, competing against men in Europe and helping pave the way for generations of female athletes who followed.But medals and milestones only tell part of the story. Liesl joins The Perfect 10 to reflect on a remarkable journey that has taken her from regional New South Wales to the world's biggest sporting stages. She shares the challenges of growing up with a disability, the mentors who shaped her life, the evolution of Paralymic sport, and the lessons she's learned from a lifetime of resilience, courage and determination.This is a conversation about breaking barriers, redefining what's possible, and using sport to create lasting change. Liesl Tesch AM is one of Australia's greatest Paralymians, a sporting pioneer who rightly sits in both the Basketball Australia and Sailing Australia Hall of Fame. Liesl now serves as the Member for Gosford in the New South Wales Parliament, where she continues to champion inclusion, opportunity and community. This is an episode you'll never forget. Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at The Perfect 10 website https://www.theperfect10.com.au

  7. May 31

    Ep: 69 Emily Husband – From Mariners Coaching Masterclass to Matildas Mission

    Episode #69 of The Perfect 10 features one of the brightest coaching minds in world football — Emily Husband, Assistant Coach of the CommBank Matildas and a woman whose extraordinary journey has taken her from the terraces of Leeds to the biggest stage in international sport. Born in the UK, Emily fell in love with football as a little girl. Her Dad was a passionate Leeds United season ticket holder, and weekends were spent immersed in the atmosphere of Premier League and Europa League football. The game quickly became an obsession. Emily played senior football in England before a move to the United States sparked a new chapter — coaching. It proved to be the perfect fit. Since arriving in Australia, Husband’s rise has been remarkable. She built a powerhouse program at Sydney University under the guidance of her mentor John Curran - before taking on one of the toughest jobs in the A-League Womens competition — building the Central Coast Mariners from the ground up. What followed was extraordinary. In their very first season, the Mariners stormed into the Finals Series. One year later, Emily guided the club to the Championship, defeating powerhouse clubs Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory on the way to Grand Final glory. Her tactical brilliance, unwavering belief, and the culture she created transformed the Mariners into one of the great success stories in Australian sport. Now, alongside Matildas Head Coach Joe Montemurro, Emily is helping guide Australia’s favourite sporting team towards the next FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. This is a conversation about leadership, high performance, culture, resilience, and an all-consuming love of one sporting code. Emily laughs that she’s a “one-sport pony,” but her passion for helping players unlock their full potential is what truly defines her. An inspiring story from one of the game’s most respected coaches — a trailblazer -this is Emily Husband on The Perfect 10. Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at The Perfect 10 website https://www.theperfect10.com.au

  8. May 11

    Ep:68 Lisa Weightman – The Wonder Woman of Australian Marathon Running

    Four-time Olympian. Commonwealth Games medallist. World Championships representative. And now one of the very few athletes on the planet to complete all 7 World Marathon Majors. This week on The Perfect 10, Lisa Weightman joins award-winning host Steve Allan for a fascinating conversation about resilience, longevity and performing at the highest level for more than two decades. Lisa reflects on the coaches and mentors who shaped her journey — including the legendary Dick Telford — the influence of her Dad, balancing elite sport with a successful business career, and why so many are now calling her ‘Wonder Woman.’ While 2024 presented enormous challenges, this conversation focuses on perspective, growth and the remarkable chapter Lisa is writing right now. An inspiring and honest chat with one of Australia’s most respected athletes. Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at The Perfect 10 website https://www.theperfect10.com.au

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A series of powerful, personal interviews with game-changers, gold medallists, and rising stars

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