The Sport Psych Show Dan Abrahams

I am excited to be joined by Brad Stulberg in this episode. Brad researches, writes, and coaches on mental health, well-being, and sustainable excellence.
 Brad is the author of the best-selling books Master of Change and The Practice of Groundedness and co-author of the books Peak Performance and The Passion Paradox. These books explore the art, science, and practice of motivation, values-driven excellence, and maximising one’s potential - all the while realising a more fulfilling and sustainable kind of success. His latest book, Master of Change, became an instant national bestseller. All told, his books have sold more than 500,000 copies and have been translated into more than 20 languages.
Brad is a regular contributor at The New York Times, and his work has also been featured in The Wall Street Journal, TIME, and The Washington Post, among other publications.
He regularly speaks to large organisations on topics related to excellence, resilience, performance, and overall well-being.
​​Brad is co-creator of The Growth Equation, an online platform dedicated to defining and realizing a more fulfilling, genuine kind of excellence and sustainable success.
In his coaching practice, Brad works with executives, entrepreneurs, physicians, and athletes on their mental skills and overall well-being.
Brad is also on faculty at the University of Michigan’s graduate school of public health, where he focuses on health, human potential, and excellence.

I’m delighted to speak with coach developer and coach, Stephen Maxwell this week. Stephen is the Coach Education Manager at Cricket Ireland, where he supports coaches and coach developers.
Stephen has been coaching for approximately 22 years. He is currently the Senior Men's Football Manager at Thomas Davis GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) Club. Previously, he coached the Dublin Senior GAA Team – helping them win the All-Ireland Championship in 2023.
Stephen is the founder and creator of No Other Game Around which specialises in coach development, team training and the technical and personal development of individual athletes.

I am honoured to be joined again by high-performance consultant, Lisa Alexander, in this episode. Lisa works with coaches, teams and organisations to create winning and success-driven environments.
Lisa is one of the most successful coaches in Australian sport. As the Head Coach of the Australian Diamonds, the Australian National Netball Team, Lisa lead the team to multiple wins including a Commonwealth Gold Medal. 
 In 2021 Lisa received the Order of Australia, the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service in the Australian honours system, for her significant service to netball at the elite level.
We speak about Lisa’s long career as Head Coach of the Diamonds. How she went about establishing a true person-centred environment; the parallels between teaching and coaching; getting to know your team and directive vs non-directive coaching.  
 

I’m delighted to speak with Jonathan Pendlebury this week. Jonathan is the U18 Head Coach and Pathway Development Coach at the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the national governing body for rugby union in England. 
Jonathan oversees player development for the U17 and U18 year old (men) in the programmes and pathways of the RFU and the Premiership Rugby (PRL) Regional Academies in England.
Jonathan is qualified to RFU Level 4 coaching award. He has experience coaching and working with all age groups and abilities from junior to senior.
Prior to his position at the RFU, Jonathan worked at Wasps Rugby and with Yorkshire Carnegie as Academy Manager, building upon the experience he gained as a professional rugby player of ten years, having represented Premiership and Championship clubs until 2012.
Jonathan has also completed a BSc (Hon) degree in Sport Coaching with Leeds Beckett, achieving first class honours. He also has a MSc in Sport Coaching.

I’m delighted to speak with Patrick “Paddy” Ryan this week. Paddy is Chief Coach of Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) for the women’s programme. 
Paddy has a wealth of rowing experience, having first started as a rower himself in his native Australia. After a move to the UK, he joined the Thames Rowing Club. Paddy also spent six years at London Youth Rowing (LYR) helping the small charity grow to a London-wide group, supporting thousands of teenagers every year.
Paddy began his career at CUBC in 2013 as assistant coach of the women’s programme, bringing his considerable knowledge from his rowing experiences, and most importantly, his recipe for ‘knowing how to win’. In 2021 Paddy became the CUBC chief coach for the Women’s programme.
His career highlights include, as an athlete, winning Wyfold Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, winning the first Blondie Race in 2016 as Assistant Coach and then as Chief Coach, working with the winning 2022, 2023, and 2024 Blue Boat. 
Paddy and I speak in depth about the culture he has created at CUBC.

I’m delighted to speak with basketball coach and qualified teacher, Alan Keane this week.
Alan is a performance basketball coach with a focus on meeting the needs of the people he works with. He is the Great Britain U20 National Team Basketball Head Coach.
Alan is also co-founder of MVMT sports, a mission-driven business for people who believe sport should be a movement for good (not bad). MVMT provides training, support and tools for coaches who want to be difference-makers. The MVMT brand champions coaches who put people before winning.
Alan is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Coaching Science. He researches current strategies, motivations and evaluator approaches used by coaches, and intervention strategies to develop self-regulated learners.
Alan has won numerous coaching and teaching awards including: Great Britain National Team Coach, England Commonwealth Games Coach, Sky Sports Living for Sport Outstanding Contribution by a Teacher Award Nominee, Chris Morgan Coach of The Year Winner, and Sky Sports Teacher of The Year Finalist.