The Talent Equation Podcast

Paul Eales is a professional golfer, coach and broadcaster. He has spent his life in the pursuit of excellence in his chosen field. His journey as a play shaped him as a coach as his experiences as a performer challenged him to look for answers to help him find a way to improve. In so doing he found an approach to learning that took him on a journey that he now uses in his coaching with aspiring players. His story is illuminating...I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Daniel Coyle is one of my favourite writers. Not only is he an amazing story teller but he has a knack of zooming in on the things that aren't obvious and bringing it to life. He studies human nature and then delves into the science in order to work out what is going on. He shot to prominence with 'The Talent Code' which was a complete game changer for me. It resonated so closely with so many of my experiences and helped me make sense of so much about talent development and coaching. In his latest book 'The Culture Code' he answers so many of the questions that were left unanswered by the Talent Code when he delves into: - What makes a great team environment great? - How do we shape a culture to allow people to thrive? - What are the characteristics and abilities of great leaders that make this all work? Nick Levett is asking the questions with me so you get 3 for the price of 1. Enjoy

Ben Galloway runs 'Opposite Direction, a YouTube channel that has taken the world of constraints led coaching by storm. His short videos have helped to demystify the concepts within ecological dynamics and make them accessible to coaches that are exploring working using 'non-traditional methods'. In this conversation we explore some of the ways that Ben thinks about the 'ecological approach' and his passion for helping young people experience 'backyard games' as well as sharing how he is currently researching how he can use constraints to create 'adaptive dribblers'. Enjoy https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsVkH7793RMAhYqKLXle_vQ

Peter Arnott is a golf coach that has broken away from the traditional models of golf coaching by embracing non-linear, ecological and constraints led pedagogical approaches. In this absorbing conversation we explore the various challenges that he has faced when adopting this approach, we delve into his methods for helping golfers to become better performers by coaching on the golf course and the issues he faces when he isn't coaching in this environment. We also dig into some of his research into the lives of elite tour players and uncover some fascinating insights about the way elite players approach performance. We are talking golf...but there are applications across the sporting landscape in this fascinating discussion. Enjoy------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you enjoy these conversations and they are helping you to improve then please consider supporting the podcast. Supporters are provided with bonus material and content that wo

Mark Bennett is back by popular demand!!This is a bit of a bonus episode where Mark and I sat down for a cup of coffee and I decided to hit record to see where the conversation took us. We really got in deep as to how we as coaches can measure our effectiveness and also how someone developing a coach should look to guide their development. We are in a cafe so there is quite a bit of background noise but I think you will agree that it is worth persevering!!You can support these podcasts and buy me a cup of coffee by going to the website at www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking on the 'become a patron' button at the top of the homescreen. All the best Stuart

Born Barikor is an inspiration....He is the charismatic leader of www.ourparks.co.uk a social movement in the UK that has a mission to help people who are inactive to take their first steps into the world of physical activity through the provision of free fitness activities provided in Parks throughout London. Born's infectious personality is transmitted through the episode where he explains the ingredients that go into the phenomenal success of OurParks which has seen over 60,000 people taking part in exercise classes staffed by a 300 strong team of coaches. In this episode we discuss....- How the Our Parks and Disney share the same ethos around the customer experience- The way the the OurParks coaches create connection that lasts beyond the session- How OurParks is finding coaches that have the natural empathy with their target audienceThis is a different context than is usual for The Talent Equation but there are so many takeaways that are important for anyone trying to build a motivational climate for peo

Dr Edward Coughlan is a researcher, lecturer and coach at the Cork Institute of Technology in Ireland. He has spent his career studying skill acquisition and applying what he is learning on the training field. In this fantastic discussion we explore a whole world of topics including: - How he works to make coaching have a strong representation to the game- The difference between the 'practice effect and the 'performance effect' and why so many coaches get seduced by it. - Using consequences to improve performance - How he improved his coaching by paying attention to the 'decision load' in his sessions- Why failure is so important for learningThis is an episode that is extremely dense in information...I recommend a notepad for this one!Enjoy!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The costs of the running the podcast in time and money are quite considerable. If you would like so support the podcast and help to keep it going then please conside

Kendal McWade from Instinctive Golf is back. Recently, he dropped by for a visit for 2 days. He came to watch me coaching my regular Wednesday night group and then he coached a friend of mine as well as working me on my game and also coaching my son. After dinner, we recorded some reflections of our experiences and shared our thoughts on our respective approaches and methods. Some themes in this conversation are: - How to praise without giving praise- The difference and similarity of approach between team games and individual games - The nature of feedback and how most coaches and players are 'outsourcing feedback' - Our different approach to questioning- Why coaching sessions should make the player's head hurt....and a lot moreEnjoy------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you enjoy these podcasts and you would like to support it then please head over to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click on the 'become a patron' button at the top of the

Shaun Larkin is a player development specialist working in professional baseball with the LA Dodgers. His role involves helping players to enhance their skills and a big part of that role is to challenge coaching practice to maximise the impact that they can have to prepare players for performance. In this episode we explore: - How professional baseball recruits and develops talent- Some of the limitations of the talent development system in baseball- The crazy competition schedule and the constraints in puts on coaching - The challenges he faces trying to shift away from 'traditional coaching methods'Shaun can be found on Twitter at @slarkin04

This podcast is a bit different...in this episode the tables are turned...and I am doing most of the talking ("how is that different?" I hear you cry!). In this episode Mark Peters interviews me about Creativity for a research project he is undertaking. In the episode we cover a lot of ground including....Why most people misunderstand what creativity is and limit the development of creativity in players as a result. How Pep Guardiola thinks about creativity (probably) and the strange reasons why that is deemed to be so unique and abnormalThe biggest mistake coaches make when working to develop creativity and the simple tip that can help to navigate it. What evolutionary biology can teach us about developing more creative players. How an ecological approach to creativity and problem solving should be used to create team cohesion. Why methods adopted in a high performance context shouldn't be adopted in a talent environment if we are passionate about developing creative players. I hope you enjoyStuart

Happy New Year everyone!! Ron Smith has a lifetime of experience in coaching and player development. He started coaching full time at the age of 24 and has held positions with the Australian Institute of Sport and as the National Coaching Director for football in Malaysia. In this discussion we dig into his approach to coaching and debate the applicability of various coaching methodologies. Ron has questions about the games based approach to coaching and wanted to challenge some of the common beliefs that seem to have infiltrated the world of coaching and player development. What a great way to set up the New Year!!Enjoy!

Dan Abrahams is a coach that specialises in a different kind of skill acquisition...Dan specialises in the acquisition of mental skills. He is a consultant to England Rugby, AFC Bournemouth as well as several elite athletes from around the sporting world. He is the author of a series of books such as 'Golf Tough', 'Soccer Tough', 'Soccer Tough 2' and he is extremely active on social media, etc. In this highly informative conversation Dan and I discuss...- Why he thinks the FA's Four Corners Model is flawed- How to get players into the 'Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning' (IZOF)- Why most athletes are susceptible to 'Paradoxical Thinking' about the way they train and prepare for competition- His method of 'stretch and support' to help human growth- How he uses mataphor and analogy to help players get a 'Game Face' ready for competition- His approach to establishing goals with athletesThere is a lot in here that is essential listening to anyone serious about helping young people to unleash their potentialE

Loren Anderson of Rise Volleyball makes a welcome return to the podcast. In this episode you will hear Loren and I get deep as we question our efficacy as coaches and also explore the ways that we manage ourselves so that we can get into the optimal state to make sure that we are coaching at our best. We also discuss the often quoted term "Talent needs trauma' and explain why we think that it is a flawed concept and explain how this idea should be considered. I really enjoyed this conversation...I hope you do too.

This is a great chat with FA Coach Development Manager, Jack Walton. Jack has a wealth of experience in coaching and working with coaches so he has seen and experienced many of the challenges that most coaches face...In this episode we discuss:- How Jack challenged me when he was listening to one of my workshops- How he helps coaches to develop coaching philosophy- His clubs approach to developing players - His thoughts on Nurture v Nature - Why decision making is so difficult to develop in players and loads more....EnjoyStuart

Rus Smith is not your ordinary kind of coach...nor is he your ordinary kind of coach developer. Rus works to develop potential, Rus is a true developer of talent...but not in the way that many might think. The kind of talents that Rus develops are found in people that live in places that a lot of other people wouldn't go with people that a lot of other people wouldn't want to engage with. Not Rus...Rus has a talent for developing people...he has a passion to find the spark inside them and to ignite that spark. He is damn good at it too...In this conversation we cover a lot of ground including...- What FA Technical Director, Dan Ashworth taught Rus about working with people when he was the Academy Manager at West Bromwich Albion- How he trained police officers to become coaches and reduced crime in their neighbourhood by 70%- How he trained 'Helen the Belly Dancer' and how she wrote her session plan on a yoga mat- His key beliefs about people development including his mantra 'a person in sport...is a person ou

Calvin Betton has the life that would be the envy of many. He travels Europe coaching and helping young tennis players to strive to break into the professional ranks. It's a tough life but somebody's got to do it...right? Not necessarily...In this episode we get an inside picture of the life of a tennis coach working at the cliff edge of the talent space...the key transition zone from promising junior to top level adult. In the episode we cover...- The big gap in coach education that meant that skill acquisition was only covered at level 5!- The questions he asked a tennis legend about the advice he was giving to aspiring players to use drills to become better tennis players- Why people don't understand what good coaching looks like- How he creates intensity using 'pressure training' - His innovative method of giving feedback called 'bandwidth feedback' - His approach to 'challenge point theory' called 'training on the edge'There is a wealth of insight in here that we were able to benefit from because of a ra

Craig 'Gunny' Gunn is an Australian Rules Football Coach based in Brisbane Australia. He has been practising his own brand of games based, constraints led, coaching which has been affectionately nicknamed 'Gunny Madness' or 'Gunny Chaos'. Two terms which should be treated as the highest form of praise which you will see in this episode. In this episode with go on a magical conversational journey that covers..- Why some parents made an official complaint about his coaching not teaching technical skills - His way of using the constraints led approach - The challenges of coaching in this way and the challenges of educating other coaches to work in this way- Using the Whitmore's GROW model as a way to provide feedback- Why decision making, perception and technique must always we developed together- Why indigenous populations in Australia are over represented in professional Aussie Rules and Rugby League (Hint- it's the chaotic unstructured bush games that they play!!)As Gunny would say...this one's a ripper!!Enjo

Nick Winkelman is the Head of Athletic Development at the Irish Rugby Football Union. He is a man on a mission to change the way that athletes are developed to be able to move and perform more effectively in sporting contexts. You will struggle to find someone more committed to his craft and dedicated to enhancing human performance. In this conversation with cover a range of subjects including: - Why the NFL Combine is not a talent ID process- His secret formula for athlete development (now called the '4 P + 2' approach)- Why he thinks that players are developed in the wrong way - Why 'perception-action coupling is the 'hard problem' of skill acquisition- Why 'sometimes what is best for the athlete is not giving them your best'There is a lot in this discussion so sit back and enjoy!

Jonathan Henderson is the Academy Manager at Bristol Rovers FC. He is someone that takes the process of talent development very seriously. After all it is his profession and also his livelihood. In this context you might expect it to be all about winning and results and the training methodology to be all about structure and organisation...Far from it......if anything Jonathan's academy goes in the opposite direction...the focus is on player development it is an environment that tries to live and breathe the philosophy of 'player centredness'. This is someone who is right at the coaclface of talent development and understands that the best way to develop players is to foster a playful, creative environment where players are free to explore and stretch themselves without fear of failure. In this conversation we discuss: - Why he refers to his academy environment as 'The performance playground' and what that means- How the research for his Masters qualification saw him focus on self directed activity as a source

Russell 'Rusty' Earnshaw is on a mission...His mission is to develop coaches. No, his mission is to develop 'coaching wizards'!! And he is a Grand Wizard! 'Rusty's' coaching sessions are nothing short of magical...so much so that he created a community on Edufii called 'The Magic Academy' where a committed following of disciples come together to cast their spells and concoct new potions. In this fantastic conversation we discuss...- Why we should avoid limiting the athlete's future by "putting the software of today on their hardware" - Why some of his coach development sessions have coaches looking like "they have seen fire for the first time"- His definition of what makes a coaching wizard- How England Rugby are transforming coaching by using CARDS- How a night club doorman's clicker could be the most powerful behavioural regulator for adults ever invented - How to use consequences in coaching by the coach doing the press ups "kids love coaches doing press ups"- Creating games within the game to challenge an