Almost Pro Podcast

Almost Pro

What happens when the dream of going pro doesn’t go to plan? Almost Pro is a weekly sport podcast sharing the untold stories of past athletes whose careers fell outside the traditional definition of “pro” — where money and fame are attached — alongside the coaches and experts who shaped their journey. Hosted by Laura & Frances, each episode blends raw storytelling, expert insight, and lived experience to unpack what it really means to navigate sport on and off the field. Almost Pro is a sport community built for everyone who knows the story isn’t in the title — it’s in the journey.

  1. 6d ago

    Should Every Kid Have To Officiate One Game? | AP Bites

    Everyone thinks they could do a better job than the referee… until they’re the one making the call. 👀 Should every kid have to officiate one game? This week on AP Bites, we explore whether a turn with the whistle could help young athletes become more understanding and respectful players. We chat about split-second decisions, why the game looks different from the sideline, and the expectations we put on officials to get everything right. Plus, the volunteers working behind the scenes to make community sport happen each week. Could one game as a referee or umpire change how kids respond when a decision doesn’t go their way? Listen in and tell us what you reckon - should officiating be part of every young athlete’s sporting experience? Follow Almost Pro for more sporting stories and big conversations in small bites. CONNECT WITH US🌐 Website: https://almostpropodcast.com📧 Email: hello@almostpropodcast.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostpropodcast🎵 TikTok: @almostpropodcast▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@almostpropodcast

  2. Oct 12

    The Extraordinary Story Of Jim Thorpe | Part 2

    The Price Of Greatness. Jim Thorpe helped shape professional sport - but his own story was far from a victory lap. We’re back with The Extraordinary Story Of Jim Thorpe | Part 2, and honestly… every time we thought we knew where this story was going, it took another turn. The beginnings of the NFL. Hollywood. An unusual football team. And… a bear?! 🐻 There’s a LOT to unpack. We follow Jim beyond the playing field, into life after sport, his advocacy for Native American people, and the unfinished business of those Olympic medals. How do you fight for recognition when the world already watched you win? And who keeps fighting when you’re no longer here? Expect plenty of disbelief, a little couch coaching, and a story that had us cheering one minute and completely outraged the next. 🎧 New to Almost Pro Athletes In History? Listen to Part 1 first, then join us here for the rest of Jim’s extraordinary story. What surprised you most about Jim? Let us know - and send us your suggestions for the next athlete from history we should explore! Follow Almost Pro for more sporting stories. We’re clearly not ready to leave this rabbit hole just yet. 😂 🌐 almostpropodcast.com📸 Instagram: @almostpropodcast✉️ hello@almostpropodcast.com

  3. Oct 2

    The Extraordinary Story Of Jim Thorpe | Part 1

    Could Jim Thorpe be the original GOAT? Two Olympic gold medals, Major League Baseball AND professional American football. Honestly, Jim… leave something for the rest of us! 😂 We’re back together in Australia, and after a couple of weeks full of travel and research, we’re so excited to introduce Almost Pro Athletes In History! 🎙️ We’re taking our love of sporting stories back in time to explore the lives of athletes who are no longer here to tell their own stories. First up: The Extraordinary Story Of Jim Thorpe | Part 1. A documentary on Laura’s flight to Australia sent us down a Jim Thorpe rabbit hole—and there was absolutely no chance we were fitting this story into one episode. Expect extraordinary sporting achievements, plenty of disbelief, a little couch coaching, and a sporting story we couldn’t stop talking about! If Jim’s a new name to you too, settle in. There’s a lot to talk about—and this is only Part 1. Follow Almost Pro so you’re ready for Part 2! 🌐 almostpropodcast.com📸 Instagram: @almostpropodcast✉️ hello@almostpropodcast.com

  4. Sep 21

    Are Future Pro Athletes Falling Through The Cracks?

    Talent may exist everywhere, but opportunity does not. We’ve all heard the saying: “If you’re good enough, you’ll get noticed.” But noticed by who? In this AP Bites episode, we’re asking whether talented young athletes are falling through the cracks before they ever get the opportunity to show what they could become. At 12 or 13, are we identifying the athletes with the greatest future potential, or simply those whose talent is easiest to see right now? We explore how early development, pathway selection, family knowledge, community coaching and geography can all shape an athlete’s chances. Once one athlete gains access to better coaching, stronger competition and more opportunities, the gap can grow quickly. But does that mean we selected the better athlete, or did the opportunity itself help create the difference? And how many potential future professionals might we never know we missed? 🎧 Listen now and follow Almost Pro for more untold stories and honest conversations from the world of sport. 🌐 https://www.almostpropodcast.com 🎤 Apply to be a guest: https://www.almostpropodcast.com/applications

  5. Sep 12

    When The Fans Own The Club: The Story Of St Mirren FC.

    What happens when football fans don’t just support their club, but actually own it? ⚽ At St Mirren FC in Paisley, Scotland, that’s exactly what happened. In this special episode, we’re joined by Paul Gilligan from SMiSA (St Mirren Independent Supporters Association) to hear the story behind one of Scotland’s oldest professional football clubs and the journey that saw its supporters become the club’s majority owners. Founded in 1877, St Mirren has experienced almost 150 years of highs, lows, European football and even a period when the club came dangerously close to closing its doors. Today, SMiSA and the supporters collectively own a majority share of St Mirren FC, with fan ownership helping protect the club, give supporters a voice and build for generations to come. Paul takes us inside what supporter ownership actually looks like, from financial transparency and competing with football’s bigger budgets to investing in young players, the volunteers who keep the club moving and the incredible connection between St Mirren and the Paisley community. We also hear about the Mirren Mile, generations of St Mirren families and SMiSA International, which is opening the fan-ownership community to supporters around the world. Because at St Mirren, “our club” means something a little different. ⚫⚪ WANT TO BECOME PART OF ST MIRREN? 🌍 Join SMiSA International:SMiSA International Follow SMiSA: X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn 🎥 Learn more about the Marching On Group 🎙️ Follow Almost Pro on Spotify so you never miss an episode, and follow @almostpropodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn for more from the world of sport. 💙🧡 Welcome to the Almost Pro community. Special Guest: Paul Gilligan

  6. Sep 4

    The Hidden Team Behind Athlete Success | AP Bites

    We love the idea of the sporting superstar. One athlete. One incredible moment. One name on the scoreboard. But how much of that success actually belongs to the people standing behind them? In this episode of Almost Pro Bites, we explore the hidden team behind athlete success, from the parents driving to early-morning training and coaches staying late, to the physios, psychologists, teammates, partners and support staff working behind the scenes. We look at how access to the right coaching, opportunities and support can shape an athlete's journey, and the flip side: what happens when toxic coaching, parental pressure or the wrong environment starts holding an athlete back. Because the medal might belong to one person, but the journey rarely does. 🎙️ The Hidden Team Behind Athlete Success 🌎 Follow @almostpropodcast and join the Almost Pro community. WANT TO BE A GUEST ON ALMOST PRO? Are you an athlete, former athlete, coach, practitioner or someone working behind the scenes in sport with a story or perspective to share? 🎙️ Apply now:https://www.almostpropodcast.com/applications

  7. Aug 28

    More Than Soccer: Identity Beyond The Pitch

    MORE THAN SOCCER: IDENTITY BEYOND THE PITCH What happens when the sport that has shaped so much of who you are is no longer the only thing defining you? In this episode of Almost Pro, we sit down with Leeann Passaro, Executive Director of The Hidden Opponent, to talk soccer, mental health, leadership, and discovering who you are beyond the game. Leeann grew up competing in one of America’s strongest soccer pathways, with ambitions of playing at an elite college level. But along the way, experiences both on and off the field began to change the way she viewed success - and the future she thought she wanted. Leeann opens up about the devastating loss of former teammate Madison, her own experiences with concussions and mental health, navigating a toxic college soccer environment, and the unexpected opportunity to play college lacrosse that showed her an entirely different side of sport and leadership. We also explore how a college classroom project eventually helped lead Leeann to The Hidden Opponent, where today she is helping change the conversation around student-athlete mental health on a global scale. This isn't a story about giving up on sport. It's about discovering that sport can be an incredibly important part of who you are - without having to be all that you are. 🎧 Listen now: More Than Soccer: Identity Beyond the Pitch. Special Guest: Leeann PassaroThe Hidden Opponent: thehiddenopponent.orgInstagram: @thehiddenopponent Follow @almostpropodcast and join the Almost Pro community for more untold stories from the world of sport.

  8. Aug 18

    Wearable Tech In Sport: Where Do We Draw The Line? | AP Bites

    Smartwatches. GPS vests. Recovery rings. Heart-rate monitors. AI-powered coaching. We have access to more data about our bodies than ever before — but where do we draw the line? In this episode of Almost Pro Bites, we’re looking at the growing role of wearable technology in sport and asking whether all this data is actually making athletes better. Wearables can help monitor fatigue, track recovery and individualise training. But what happens when athletes start trusting the numbers more than their own bodies? And in competition, where does measuring performance end and enhancing performance begin? We discuss the benefits of wearable tech, our growing reliance on data, the importance of athlete instinct and self-awareness, and what happens as AI becomes even more involved in performance. 🎧 Wearable Tech in Sport: Where Do We Draw the Line? 👇 What do you think — are wearables making athletes better, or are we becoming too reliant on the numbers? Follow Almost Pro for more athlete stories, expert conversations and bite-sized discussions on the big topics shaping sport. Socials: @almostpropodcast Get in touch: hello@almostpropodcast.com

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About

What happens when the dream of going pro doesn’t go to plan? Almost Pro is a weekly sport podcast sharing the untold stories of past athletes whose careers fell outside the traditional definition of “pro” — where money and fame are attached — alongside the coaches and experts who shaped their journey. Hosted by Laura & Frances, each episode blends raw storytelling, expert insight, and lived experience to unpack what it really means to navigate sport on and off the field. Almost Pro is a sport community built for everyone who knows the story isn’t in the title — it’s in the journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Almost Pro
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Almost Pro
  • Show Website
    Almost Pro Podcast

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