Science for Sport Podcast

Science for Sport

Discover the Secrets Behind Elite Performance. Join us on the Science for Sport Podcast, where every episode dives into the cutting-edge world of sports science and the untold stories behind the best athletes and teams on the planet. Hosted by Richard Graves, we bring you exclusive insights from elite athletes, world-class coaches, and leading sports scientists who are shaping the future of global sport. This isn’t just another sports podcast—this is your backstage pass to: - The science powering record-breaking performances. - The trends, challenges, and breakthroughs redefining the game. - Mastering the balance of art and science in coaching. Whether you’re a sports scientist, coach, physio, nutritionist, teacher, or just a passionate sports fan, this is your chance to learn from the pros and stay ahead of the curve. Tune in every Monday and uncover what it takes to make the best, better.

  1. 4D AGO

    Why Female Physiology Still Needs Greater Attention in Sport with Dr Candice Macmillan

    Why Female Physiology Still Needs Greater Attention in Sport with Dr Candice Macmillan This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, host Richard Graves welcomes Dr Candice Macmillan, lecturer at the University of Pretoria, sports physiotherapist, and course author of “Contraceptives and the Female Athlete” on the Science for Sport platform. As women’s sport continues to grow professionally around the world, understanding the unique physiological considerations of female athletes has never been more important. Yet many practitioners still feel underprepared when supporting athletes through topics such as the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptives, and their potential implications for performance, wellbeing, and decision-making. Drawing on her background as a sports physiotherapist, researcher, and academic, Dr Macmillan explores how practitioners can better support female athletes through education, communication, and evidence-based decision making. The conversation covers the complexity of hormonal contraceptives, how different types influence physiology and behaviour, and why awareness of factors such as testosterone suppression and symptom tracking may be crucial for athletes and support staff alike. Perhaps most importantly, Dr Macmillan explains why empowering athletes to ask the right questions about their own health may be one of the most powerful tools practitioners can provide. This episode offers valuable insights for sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, and performance staff working across elite sport — while also opening up a conversation that continues to shape the future of female athlete support systems. In This Episode You Will Learn Why female athlete health remains one of the most misunderstood areas in elite sport The difference between hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives Why the contraceptive pill is not a single solution and varies widely in composition How hormonal contraceptives can influence testosterone levels and athlete behaviour Why symptoms may impact performance more than hormone levels themselves The importance of tracking menstrual symptoms for informed medical decisions Why practitioners must help athletes learn the language to describe how they feel The role communication plays between athletes, coaches and medical staff How policy and education are shaping the future of female athlete support in sport About Dr Candice Macmillan Dr Candice Macmillan is a lecturer at the University of Pretoria, a qualified sports physiotherapist, and holds a PhD in Sports Physiotherapy. Her work focuses on female athlete health, injury prevention, and performance, with a particular interest in how physiological factors influence training, recovery, and long-term athlete wellbeing. Through her academic and applied work, she aims to bridge the gap between research and real-world practice for practitioners working in sport. Dr Macmillan is also the author of the “Contraceptives and the Female Athlete” course available on the Science for Sport platform, where she helps practitioners better understand the complexities of hormonal contraception and its potential implications for female athlete performance and health. Her research and teaching continue to contribute to a growing body of work aimed at improving education, awareness, and practical support for female athletes across sport. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

    31 min

  2. MAR 2

    Building Smarter Performance Systems with Emily Jacobson

    This week on the Science for Sport podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Emily Jacobson, Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Marquette University. Emily has spent the past decade building and refining a sports science model within a relatively small department, working primarily with men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball. Alongside her role at Marquette, she also contributes to U.S. Soccer in a high-performance capacity. In this conversation, we explore one of the most pressing challenges in applied sports science: how do you simplify complex data streams so they become actionable for coaches and meaningful for athletes? From acute:chronic workload ratios and GPS monitoring to return-to-play frameworks and Power BI dashboards, Emily shares how she transformed “expensive toys” into effective performance tools. She discusses the importance of visualisation, collaboration with data engineers, humility in decision-making, and why the “eyeball test” still matters in a world driven by wearables and AI. For practitioners working in elite sport, or those building systems within constrained environments, this episode offers practical insight into making sports science more impactful, not just more complex. In this episode you will learn: How to simplify GPS and workload data for real-world application Why acute:chronic workload ratios are a framework — not a solution How to build effective data visualisations that coaches actually use The difference between “expensive toys” and performance tools How to structure phased return-to-play models with clear definitions Why collaboration with data engineers and academics can transform departments How to educate athletes in an era of AI, social media and misinformation Why patience and long-term development still matter How to adapt sports science systems in the transfer-portal era Why relationships remain more important than technology About Emily Jacobson Emily Jacobson is the Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Marquette University, where she has worked for the past 10 seasons. A former Marquette women’s soccer student-athlete, she now oversees sports science and performance systems across multiple programmes, with a particular focus on soccer and volleyball. She has helped develop load monitoring models, return-to-play protocols and data visualisation systems that integrate GPS, velocity-based training, force plates, motion capture and body composition analysis. In addition to her work at Marquette, Emily serves as a network employee within U.S. Soccer’s high-performance department. Her approach combines applied performance coaching, collaborative analytics, and a strong emphasis on education and athlete relationships. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

    32 min

  3. FEB 23

    Peak Demands and Decision-Making Under Fatigue with Stan Parker

    Fresh from pre-season camp in Australia, Richard Graves sits down with Stan Parker, Sports Scientist at the Western Bulldogs, to explore how tracking data, contextual analytics, and interdisciplinary collaboration shape performance in elite AFL. Stan’s journey spans the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL, Queensland Rugby Sevens, and now five seasons embedded within the Bulldogs’ high-performance programme, including a PhD focused on contextualising tracking data beyond simple load metrics. This episode moves beyond “distance covered” and “top speed” to examine how sports science actually influences coaching decisions, athlete development, injury management, and tactical execution. From peak demand analysis and real-world decision-making under fatigue, to AI readiness and workflow efficiency, this is a grounded, practitioner-led conversation about where elite sport is really heading. In this episode you will learn: Why contextualising tracking data matters more than collecting more of it How to compare peak training demands to peak match demands The role of vision and video in translating data for coaches and players How to build buy-in when athletes aren’t “numbers learners” The balance between availability and performance in weekly competition cycles How interdisciplinary decision-making works inside an AFL club Why isolated fatigue “flags” can be misleading How gym-based physical development can be directly tied to on-field outcomes The importance of soft skills in high-performance environments Where AI realistically fits (and doesn’t fit) in elite sports science About Stan Parker Stan Parker is a Sports Scientist with the Western Bulldogs in the AFL. He has previously worked with the Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Rugby Sevens, building experience across multiple elite sporting codes in Australia. Stan is also completing a PhD focused on the contextualisation of tracking data in team sports, exploring how movement patterns and peak demands can better explain performance impact rather than serving purely as load monitoring tools. He is particularly interested in bridging the gap between data analytics, coaching vision, and real-world performance application. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

    31 min

  4. FEB 16

    Performance Science in AFL and NRL with Brendan Fahrner

    This episode explores what high performance really looks like inside two of the most demanding professional sporting environments in the world. Richard Graves is joined by Brendan Fahrner, formerly Head of Sports Science at the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and previously a long-serving performance staff member at Richmond Football Club during one of the most successful periods in AFL history. Across a career spanning AFL and NRL, Brendan has worked inside premiership-winning programs, navigated the evolution of GPS and performance analytics, and seen firsthand how elite sport has shifted from data accumulation to data translation. In this conversation, he strips back the noise around technology and shares why soft skills, trust, and clarity of message ultimately drive performance outcomes. From simplifying GPS dashboards to building credibility with senior coaches, Brendan offers a grounded, practical perspective on what actually moves the needle in team sport. He also speaks candidly about practitioner burnout, self-worth, and why sustainability in high performance careers is just as important as physical robustness in athletes. This episode will resonate with sports scientists, S&C coaches, performance managers and aspiring practitioners looking to build impact in elite environments. In this episode you will learn Why high performance is more about relationships than periodisation How to build trust quickly when entering a new club environment The importance of simplifying data for coaches and athletes How to align performance metrics with a coach’s game model Why most GPS reports contain too much irrelevant data How to identify the few variables that truly influence coach perception Practical strategies for athlete-centric monitoring in squad settings The crossover principles between AFL and NRL performance environments How to translate analytics into language players understand Why self-care and professional boundaries matter in elite sport The importance of valuing yourself as a practitioner About Brendan Fahrner Brendan Fahrner is a high performance practitioner with extensive experience in elite Australian sport. He began his career in the early adoption phase of GPS in the AFL, working with Richmond and later Geelong during a period of sustained premiership success. He spent the majority of his career at Richmond Football Club, contributing to three premiership titles and multiple finals campaigns. Most recently, Brendan worked in the NRL with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, applying performance principles across codes and leading athlete monitoring and sports science integration within rugby league. He has developed a strong reputation for simplifying complex performance data, building trust with athletes and coaches, and creating athlete-centred systems in high-pressure team environments. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

    28 min

  5. FEB 9

    The Evolution of Professional Cricket Through Ryan Sidebottom’s Career

    Richard Graves welcomes former England fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom to the Science for Sport Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on longevity, resilience, and the evolution of elite cricket. Across a first-class career spanning more than 20 years, Ryan experienced the game at every level — from sweeping floors and laying bricks in the winter to winning a T20 World Cup with England. In this episode, he reflects on how professional cricket changed during his career, why physical preparation became essential for longevity, and how mindset, curiosity, and self-analysis shaped his success. Ryan speaks openly about setbacks, selection disappointments, returning to the England setup after six years away, and the hard, often unseen work that underpinned his performances. It’s an honest insight into elite performance, long careers, and what really matters behind the scenes. In this episode you will learn: How professional cricket evolved from semi-professional roots to a fully supported high-performance environment Why strength & conditioning became critical to Ryan’s longevity as a fast bowler How he managed long periods outside the England setup and stayed mentally engaged The role of self-analysis, questioning, and learning from senior players What elite environments can learn from England’s 2010 T20 World Cup turnaround Why curiosity and asking questions accelerate development in elite sport How mindset, confidence, and preparation influence consistency over time About Ryan Sidebottom Ryan Sidebottom is a former England international fast bowler with a first-class career spanning over two decades. He represented England in Test cricket and was part of the 2010 ICC World T20-winning squad. At domestic level, Ryan enjoyed success with Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, winning multiple County Championship titles and taking over 1,000 career wickets. Since retiring, he has remained closely involved in the game through media, hospitality, and ambassadorial roles, with a growing interest in coaching and player development. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

    35 min

  6. FEB 2

    Building Resilient Athletes in High-Pressure Environments

    Behind every high-performance environment are people, personalities, and decisions that shape outcomes. This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by former England international and Premier League defender Warren Barton, speaking from California. Warren reflects on a career that spanned very different eras of elite football, from coming through non-league and the famously demanding culture of Wimbledon’s “Crazy Gang”, to becoming a record signing at Newcastle United during the Entertainers era. Across the conversation, Warren offers a rare, first-hand perspective on the psychology of professional sport: rejection, resilience, team identity, leadership, and how elite environments shape behaviour. The discussion also moves into modern high-performance sport, exploring how man-management, culture, and trust still sit alongside data, technology, and sports science. Warren shares thoughtful insights on coaching, communication, player wellbeing, and why asking an athlete how they feel still matters just as much as what the numbers say. A wide-ranging, honest conversation that will resonate with practitioners working in elite sport, as well as those interested in the human side of performance. In this episode you will learn How early rejection and non-academy pathways can shape resilience and long-term success Why strong team culture and shared identity can create psychological advantages over more talented opponents Lessons from Wimbledon’s “Crazy Gang” environment and what modern teams can still learn from it How elite managers like Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, and Sir Bobby Robson differed in leadership and man-management Why man-management remains central to performance, even in data-rich environments How elite players and coaches balanced intuition, experience, and emerging sports science practices The importance of trust, togetherness, and players “having each other’s backs” in high-pressure environments Where modern football may be losing connection with basic human communication Warren’s perspective on technology, VAR, and how decision-making affects the athlete and fan experience How coaches can better integrate data with athlete feedback and lived experience About Warren Barton Warren Barton is a former England international footballer who played at the highest level of English football during the 1990s. His career included spells at Wimbledon and Newcastle United, where he became part of Kevin Keegan’s iconic “Entertainers” side and captained the club during one of its most influential Premier League eras. Since retiring from playing, Warren has built a career in broadcasting and coaching, working extensively in the United States as a football analyst and pundit, including coverage of major international tournaments. He holds his UEFA Pro Licence and continues to work across elite football, combining practical experience with a deep understanding of performance, psychology, and leadership. SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

    38 min

  7. JAN 26

    Uncommonly Consistent: Football to Formula One with John Noonan

    In this episode of the Science for Sport Podcast, host Richard Graves is joined by John Noonan, a highly experienced performance coach whose career spans elite football, rugby league and union, Winter Olympic sports, and the world of Formula One. John describes himself as a “gypsy of sport” driven by curiosity, problem-solving, and a deep interest in what actually moves the needle in elite performance. From his early days in football and rugby to supporting drivers in the most intense performance environment in global sport, John shares how his thinking has evolved beyond programmes and protocols, towards relationships, skill execution, and consistency under pressure. The conversation explores how elite performers prepare for the biggest moments, why world-class athletes are “uncommonly consistent,” and how performance staff can better integrate physical, technical, and psychological elements to support athletes when it matters most. John also lifts the lid on working in motorsport, a sport decided by millimetres, milliseconds, and mental control, and reflects on burnout, travel fatigue, and managing performance across relentless global calendars. This is a thoughtful, experience-led discussion for practitioners working at the top end of elite sport, as well as anyone fascinated by what separates the very best from the rest. In this episode you will learn Why elite performance is ultimately a people business, not a programming problem How working across multiple sports shapes better decision-making as a performance coach What “uncommon consistency” really looks like in world-class athletes Why skill execution, not physical capacity, often determines success at the highest level How performance staff can influence athletes who don’t need to listen to them Lessons from Formula One on pressure, precision, and decision-making under fatigue How interdisciplinary teams can improve performance communication in real time Practical insights into managing burnout, travel, jet lag, and long competitive calendars About John Noonan John Noonan is a performance coach and sports scientist with over two decades of experience working across elite sport. His background includes roles in professional football, rugby league and union, Winter Olympic sports, and long-term work within Formula One. Now the founder of Noonan Performance, John works with elite athletes and teams to improve performance through smarter physical preparation, better communication, and a strong emphasis on skill execution and decision-making under pressure. He is known for his relationship-led approach, his ability to work across disciplines, and his focus on solving the right performance problems. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

    36 min

  8. JAN 19

    Periodised Nutrition in Practice: Delivering the Plan Away From the Club

    This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Rachel Muse, one of the leading performance chefs working with elite athletes across professional sport.Rachel is the founder of Talk Eat Laugh, a specialist performance-chef service supporting athletes in their own homes. Her work bridges the gap between performance nutrition science and real-life eating habits, ensuring athletes follow precise nutritional plans without meals becoming clinical, restrictive, or culturally disconnected.In this episode, Rachel shares her unconventional journey from mathematics graduate to elite performance chef, and explains how chefs, nutritionists, and sports science teams work together to deliver periodised nutrition away from the training ground. The conversation explores how macronutrient targets are delivered in practice, how food preferences and cultural background shape compliance, and why fuelling the brain is just as important as fuelling the body.This is a rare insight into a part of the performance system that is often overlooked, but critical to recovery, consistency, and late-game performance. In this episode, you will learn What periodised nutrition actually means in practice, beyond the theory How performance chefs work from nutritionist-led macro prescriptions Why chefs should not act as nutritionists, and where the professional boundaries sit How to deliver exact macronutrient targets without meals becoming boring or restrictive The role of carbohydrates in sustaining physical and cognitive performance late in matchesHow cultural background and food identity influence nutritional compliance Why elite performance nutrition is as much about psychology and trust as it is science What “success” really looks like when supporting elite athletes away from the club environment About Rachel Muse Rachel Muse is a performance chef with a background spanning elite hospitality, private households, and professional sport. After an unconventional route into the culinary world, she founded Talk Eat Laugh, a performance-chef business supporting elite athletes across football, rugby, swimming, and motorsport.Rachel works closely with performance nutritionists and sports science teams to deliver highly specific nutritional strategies in athletes’ home environments. Known for her emphasis on collaboration, precision, privacy, and cultural understanding, Rachel specialises in translating complex nutrition plans into meals athletes genuinely want to eat, consistently and compliantly.You can follow Rachel on LinkedIn or find Talk Eat Laugh on Instagram for insights into performance food done properly. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

    42 min
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4.7
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Discover the Secrets Behind Elite Performance. Join us on the Science for Sport Podcast, where every episode dives into the cutting-edge world of sports science and the untold stories behind the best athletes and teams on the planet. Hosted by Richard Graves, we bring you exclusive insights from elite athletes, world-class coaches, and leading sports scientists who are shaping the future of global sport. This isn’t just another sports podcast—this is your backstage pass to: - The science powering record-breaking performances. - The trends, challenges, and breakthroughs redefining the game. - Mastering the balance of art and science in coaching. Whether you’re a sports scientist, coach, physio, nutritionist, teacher, or just a passionate sports fan, this is your chance to learn from the pros and stay ahead of the curve. Tune in every Monday and uncover what it takes to make the best, better.

Information

  • Creator
    Science for Sport
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    309
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Science for Sport
  • Show Website
    Science for Sport Podcast

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