The Lowdown

Conor Walsh
  • 0.0 (0)
  • American Football
  • Updated weekly

The Lowdown is a football podcast giving listeners unprecedented access to the minds shaping the modern game. Each week, we sit down with the people driving football forward — from club owners and technical directors to academy heads, coaches, and broadcasters — to uncover the lessons, challenges, and stories behind their journeys. Whether you’re a young coach, a player chasing the next step, or simply fascinated by what happens behind the scenes, The Lowdown offers honest insights to inspire the next generation of football professionals. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/conor-walsh-847b08127/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

  1. #198 - 2026 World Cup Preview w/ Liam Tharme

    1 day ago

    #198 - 2026 World Cup Preview w/ Liam Tharme

    Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

    38 min
  2. #197 - ProTrainUp w/ Tomasz Cybulski

    26 May

    #197 - ProTrainUp w/ Tomasz Cybulski

    In this episode, we sit down with Tomasz Cybulski, co-founder of ProTrainUp, to explore the evolution of sports technology, performance analysis, and building a startup within elite sport. Tomasz reflects on the early stages of ProTrainUp, where the company began, and how the original vision has evolved through years of working directly with clubs, coaches, and federations across different countries and sporting environments. The conversation dives into the realities of scaling a sports tech company in a rapidly changing industry, the importance of understanding club workflows and operational culture, and how co-design with practitioners has shaped the platform’s development. Tomasz also shares his perspective on product differentiation in an increasingly competitive market, the future role of AI and meaningful insight in sport, and the lessons he has learned building technology that must adapt across different cultures, structures, and performance environments. Listen to find out more including; - The journey into sports analysis and founding ProTrainUp. - Early startup growth: challenges, successes, and lessons learned. - How the company’s original vision evolved over time? - Selling technology into clubs and understanding staff workflows. - Co-designing products through feedback from clubs and practitioners. - The future of sports tech, AI, and creating meaningful product differentiation? Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

    53 min
  3. #196 - Person before Player w/ Carsten Dohm

    14 Apr

    #196 - Person before Player w/ Carsten Dohm

    In this episode, Carsten Dohm shares lessons from over 30 years in coaching, from his earliest football memories to building a philosophy centered on developing the person before the player. He explores what it takes to produce “A+ players,” while emphasizing the importance of long-term development over early performance outcomes. His approach focuses on creating environments for accelerated learning, deliberate practice, and maximizing the “golden window” of development. Drawing on his experience helping shape San Diego FC, Carsten reflects on the challenges of youth development in the U.S. and the importance of designing integrated learning ecosystems that combine education, culture, and football. He discusses building a “third culture” that blends global expertise with local identity, the growing importance of coaching skills like attention design and the need to prioritize potential, character, and adaptability. Timestamps; 00:00 - 10:21 - Person First 10:22 - 30:04 - USA 30:05 - 48:48 - A+ Players 48:49 - 1;00:54 - Compass 1:00:55 - 1:27:31 - Path to Mastery 1:27:32 - 1:33:56 - Future Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

    1hr 34min
  4. #195 - Under the Microscope w/ Paul McGuinness

    31 Mar

    #195 - Under the Microscope w/ Paul McGuinness

    "Is football becoming less of a spectacle?" On his return to the show Paul McGuinness explores whether modern football is losing its creative edge, drawing on his experience developing elite players at Manchester United and working across the Premier League. The conversation examines the effects early specialization, results-driven environments and increasingly structured tactical systems are having on player development. Paul also dives into how coaching can either nurture or suppress creativity, emphasizing the importance of “flow” in player development and the challenge of balancing structure with freedom in academy environments. He reflects on the risks of a win-focused culture, the pressures of modern evaluation systems, and whether these issues extend beyond elite clubs into grassroots football worldwide. Listen to find our more including; - Where the education of young players is going? - How Paul is adapting his coaching for today's generation? - How the link between midfield and forward players is evolving at the top level? - Paul's view on the shift from fixed positions to prioritizing player characteristics. - Having coached top Premier League talent, is there truly a decline in creative players coming through? Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

    44 min
  5. #194 - The Magic of Coaching w/ Russell Earnshaw

    24 Mar

    #194 - The Magic of Coaching w/ Russell Earnshaw

    In this episode, we sit down with coach developer Russell Earnshaw, whose work spans elite environments including Liverpool FC, England Rugby, the Premier League, and New Zealand Sevens. This conversation explores what it really means to optimize for impact in coaching—moving beyond busy work to focus on the moments that truly matter. Russell shares how coaches can better plan their weeks around energy and time, rather than just schedules, and why treating CPD (continuous professional development) like a second job is essential for long-term growth. We also dive into the role of playfulness and experimentation in high-performance environments, challenging the idea that structure and creativity are opposites. Russell unpacks his perspective on what “better” actually looks like in coaching, and how that definition evolves over time. Finally, we explore the shifting skillsets required as coaches transition into leaders—including noticing, designing environments, and creating cultures where people can truly belong and thrive. Timestamps; 00:00 - 05:35 - Coaching 05:36 - 14:33 - CPD 14:34 - 25:44 - Energy 25:45 - 45:57 - Leadership 45:58 - 56:42 - Mindset, Skillset & Structure 56:43 - 1:03:35 - Future Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

    1hr 4min
  6. #193 - North American Irish Coaches w/ John O'Rourke

    17 Mar

    #193 - North American Irish Coaches w/ John O'Rourke

    John O’Rourke, President of the North American Irish Coaches Association, joins the show to discuss the growing influence of Irish coaches across the United States and Canada. The association’s mission is to serve, connect, and elevate Irish coaches throughout North America. Having arrived in the U.S. 33 years ago, John has worked at every level of the game and has witnessed the sport’s growth in America firsthand. In this episode, we explore how the game has developed over the decades and the significant role Irish coaches have played in that journey. Furthermore, we also discuss the legacy John hopes the forthcoming World Cup will leave on the United States, how he believes the pay-to-play model may evolve in the coming years, and how talent identification across the country could change as the sport continues to grow. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

    46 min
  7. #192 - Trust & Rapport w/ Teamworks; Gareth Quinn

    24 Feb

    #192 - Trust & Rapport w/ Teamworks; Gareth Quinn

    "Today is the slowest day of technological change we have experienced in our lives." In this episode, Gareth Quinn shares his journey from working in nightlife and politics into the business world, and how those experiences helped shape the foundations of Kairos. He reflects on the early growth of the startup, the challenge of overcoming confirmation bias in football, and the push to introduce more objective, data-driven thinking in elite sport. The conversation also explores Kairos’ work in high-performance environments, including contributions connected to the Ryder Cup and South Africa’s victory at the Rugby World Cup 2019, and the lessons learned about problem-solving and momentum in both sport and business. Gareth also discusses the merger with Teamworks and the growing importance of integrating technology across sports organizations. From hubs and athlete management systems to intelligence platforms, the focus is on improving communication, creating clarity, and connecting departments. The episode closes with Gareth’s thoughts on modern leadership, the consolidation of sports technology, and what excites him most about the future of the industry. Timestamps; 00:00 - 06:29 - Nightlife 06:30 - 17:22 - Kairos 17:23 - 25:50 - Teamworks 25:51 - 34:20 - Speed of Change 34:21 - 40:15 - Leadership 40:16 - 45:33 - Future Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

    46 min
  8. #191 - Designing Better Learning Environments w/ Sean-Paul Murray

    17 Feb

    #191 - Designing Better Learning Environments w/ Sean-Paul Murray

    In this episode, we sit down with Sean Paul Murray from the Irish Football Association (IFA) for a deep dive into the evolution of coach education, leadership, and the power of intentional learning design. Sean shares his journey from his earliest memories in football to shaping coach development structures that prioritize people over PowerPoints. This conversation explores what great environments look like, how emotional intelligence influences leadership, and what the future holds for coach education. Listen to find out more including; - How we should rethink coach education structures? - What learner centered and not content centered education looks like? - How environments shape behavior and decision making? - Self-awareness as a leadership foundation. - Advice for coaches and coach developers seeking long-term impact. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

    43 min
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About

The Lowdown is a football podcast giving listeners unprecedented access to the minds shaping the modern game. Each week, we sit down with the people driving football forward — from club owners and technical directors to academy heads, coaches, and broadcasters — to uncover the lessons, challenges, and stories behind their journeys. Whether you’re a young coach, a player chasing the next step, or simply fascinated by what happens behind the scenes, The Lowdown offers honest insights to inspire the next generation of football professionals. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/conor-walsh-847b08127/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Information

  • Creator
    Conor Walsh
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    199
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Conor Walsh 2019
  • Show Website
    The Lowdown

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