Almost Pro Podcast

Almost Pro
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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. 1d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  6. Aug 7

    Next Play Mindset. | Chris Eversley

    Professional basketball. Retirement. The unexpected. What comes next? Chris Eversley achieved the dream that so many athletes spend their lives chasing. After becoming the first Division I athlete from his high school, he built a professional basketball career overseas before retiring on his own terms. Then, life threw him something he never saw coming. A routine game of basketball resulted in a devastating injury that nearly cost Chris his leg... and his life. Instead of asking, "Why me?", Chris asked a different question: "What's the next play?" In this episode of Almost Pro, Chris shares the mindset that helped him navigate retirement, survive a life-changing injury, rebuild his identity, and create Overtime Solutions - a human enablement company helping athletes, leaders, and organisations prepare for whatever comes next. Together, we explore why athletes should start thinking about life beyond sport before retirement arrives, how to develop a "counter move" when life changes the game, and why your identity should never be tied to just one chapter of your life. Whether you're an athlete navigating transition, a leader supporting others, or simply someone facing an unexpected change, this conversation is filled with practical insights on resilience, purpose, and embracing your next chapter. In this episode, we discuss: Chris' journey from Division I basketball to playing professionally overseasPreparing for life after sport before your career endsThe devastating injury that changed everythingThe philosophy behind the Next Play MindsetBuilding Overtime Solutions and enabling people through transitionWhy everyone needs a "counter move" when life doesn't go to planIf you enjoyed this episode, join the Almost Pro community and followed us on Spotify, and share this conversation with someone who could benefit from it. Follow Almost Pro:📸 Instagram & Facebook: @almostpropodcast🎵 TikTok: @almostpropodcast🌐 Website: www.almostpropodcast.com Get in touch or apply to be a guest: hello@almostpropodcast.com Guest: Chris Eversley

  7. Jul 31

    Is Superstition Performance Enhancing? | AP Bites

    We've all seen them. The lucky socks. The pre-game playlist. The water bottles that have to be lined up just right. The teammate who refuses to mention a winning streak because they don't want to "jinx it." But do sporting superstitions actually improve performance? In this episode of Almost Pro Bites, we dive into the psychology behind superstition in sport. We explore why so many athletes rely on rituals, whether they really make a difference, and where the line is between a confidence-boosting routine and something that starts controlling your performance. Along the way, we also confess a few of our own sporting superstitions (some more embarrassing than others) and take a look at one of the greatest sporting ritualists of all time: Rafael Nadal. If you've ever had a lucky item, a pre-game routine, or refused to change something because "it's been working," this one's for you. 💬 We'd love to hear from you! What's the strangest sporting superstition you've ever had (or witnessed)? Let us know in the comments, and follow the show so you never miss an episode of Almost Pro Bites. 🌐 Website: https://www.almostpropodcast.com📸 Instagram, TikTok, Facebook: @almostpropodcast💼 LinkedIn: Almost Pro Podcast

  8. Jul 23

    Football Queensland: The Future Of Sportsmanship | Jordie Gerbes

    Last week on Almost Pro Bites, we asked a big question: Is Unsportsmanlike Behaviour Sport's Biggest Opponent? We explored whether winning has started to come at the expense of sportsmanship, discussing declining respect for officials, poor sideline behaviour, and whether we're losing sight of the values that make community sport special. The response was overwhelming. We heard from coaches, committee members, parents, players and officials. Some agreed completely, while others challenged parts of the conversation. But almost everyone agreed on one thing: We all want community sport to be somewhere people actually want to be. So rather than just talking about the problem, we wanted to speak with someone working every day to help solve it. Joining us is Jordie Gerbes, General Manager at Football Queensland, to discuss what they're seeing across grassroots football, why respect for officials matters, and the initiatives they're implementing to build a stronger sporting culture. In this episode we discuss: The reality of officiating in community football Football Queensland's Protect Our Game initiative Recruiting and retaining referees The role parents, coaches and spectators play in shaping culture Why clubs need to embrace officials as part of their community What the future of sportsmanship could look like One message stood out throughout this conversation: The future of sportsmanship doesn't belong to one organisation. It belongs to all of us. Whether you're a player, coach, parent, volunteer or official, this episode is a reminder that every interaction helps shape the sporting experience for someone else. Special Guest: Jordie Gerbes Football Queensland Resources Protect Our Gamehttps://footballqueensland.com.au/protect-our-game/Football Queensland Club Referee Modelhttps://footballqueensland.com.au/2026/06/02/football-queensland-launches-new-club-referee-module-and-framework-to-transform-officiating-in-queensland/Football Queensland Referee Strategyhttps://footballqueensland.com.au/2025/12/11/football-queensland-to-roll-out-10-point-transformational-plan-delivering-generational-reforms-and-record-investment-to-queensland-match-officials/Football Queenslandhttps://footballqueensland.com.au/ 🎙️ Want to be a guest on Almost Pro? We'd love to hear your story. 📧 hello@almostpropodcast.com🌐 www.almostpropodcast.com Follow Almost Pro: Instagram & Facebook: @almostpropodcast LinkedIn: Almost Pro Podcast

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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
    58
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Almost Pro
  • Show Website
    Almost Pro Podcast