Experts in Sport

E110: Half a Century of Sport Science - Reflections from Loughborough Pioneers

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:30:00 +0100

In this special episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Professors Wendy Brown and Stuart Biddle to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Loughborough University.

Recording from Australia, the guests reflect on their early careers at Loughborough, the evolution of sport and exercise science, and the lasting impact of the “Loughborough family” across research, teaching and practice worldwide. The conversation spans women’s physiology, physical activity and public health, psychology, applied practice, and the changing pathways for students and researchers over the past five decades.

This episode offers a rich, personal perspective on how Loughborough helped shape global sport science-past, present and future-as the university marks 50 years of excellence in sport, exercise and health.

Intros 0:00

At Loughborough 6:47

Wendy in Australia 17:29

Stuart's evolution 31:04

Quickfire 41:19

Setting goals 52:09

Fitness testing children 54:04

Advice 56:44

E109: The Power of Events - Bidding, Impact & Long‑Term Legacy

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0100

Join Experts in Sport as Mega Event Advisor Richard Watton (UK Sport) and Dr. Verity Postlethwaite (Loughborough University) talk to host Martin Foster and unpack why cities host major, mega and giga sporting events. From bidding processes and global collaboration to economic impact, social legacy and the future of event delivery, this episode reveals how well‑planned events can shape communities for decades.

E108: Measuring the True Value of Sport - Social Return on Investment Explained

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:30:00 +0100

In this episode of Experts in Sport, Professors Paul Downward, Larissa Davies and Simon Shibli speak with host Martin Foster, unpacking the real value of sport and physical activity beyond pounds and pence. From wellbeing gains to NHS savings, community cohesion to volunteering, the panel explores how Social Return on Investment (SROI) evidence is reshaping policy, funding, and local decision‑making across the UK.

Measuring SROI 3:55

Negative impacts 21:52

Wider health value 26:18

Examples in communities 35:59

Quantifying data 49:09

The future 57:08

E107: Effort Over Everything - MyZone Founder Dave Wright on Entrepreneurship in Fitness

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:30:00 +0100

In this episode of Experts in Sport, host Martin Foster sits down with fitness industry innovator and MyZone founder, Dave Wright. From growing up in the Australian bush to building global businesses, Dave shares the extraordinary, winding path that led him to become one of the sector’s most influential entrepreneurs.

He opens up about the origins of MyZone, the challenges and failures behind early prototypes, and the bold decisions that helped the company grow to a valuation of over $100 million

The start 1:26

MyZone 15:53

Failures 36:00

The purpose of MyZone 41:14

Journey as an entrepreneur 53:09

Stepping back 1:01:56

Background reading 1:10:56

For future entrepreneurs 1:16:44

E106: From Bushy Park to a Global Phenomenon - How parkrun Became the World’s Biggest Health Movement

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0100

This episode features an in‑depth conversation with Paul Sinton‑Hewitt, founder of parkrun, the world’s largest free physical activity initiative. We trace parkrun’s evolution from a small local time trial to a global public health phenomenon spanning more than 20 countries. Paul discusses community building, volunteer mobilisation, international expansion, social prescribing, and the role of parkrun in driving long‑term health and wellbeing outcomes.

Intro 0:00

The start 3:14

The growth 9:55

The evolution 22:15

Mission 29:03

Going international 30:16

Volunteering 37:14

Most memorable 45:09

Different directions 47:52

Social prescription 54:27

Lessons learnt and the future 59:46

E105: Wearables and Healthcare - Inside the NHS 10-Year-Plan

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:30:00 +0100

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast Dr James Sanders joins host Martin Foster to explore the NHS 10‑Year Plan and the growing role of digital health tools. Together, we unpack how wearables could support prevention, personalise care, and empower individuals to take control of their wellbeing.

Learn more about CLiMB: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/climb/

NHS 10 year plan 2:09

Wearables 11:58

Improvements in health 19:01

Weightloss drugs 26:44

Whats next? 30:53

The research 40:26

E104: Unlock Your Marathon Potential - Inside Loughborough Sport’s Physiology Lab

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:30:00 +0100

In this episode of Experts in Sport, we go behind the scenes at Loughborough Sport’s world-class Physiology Lab with Rhona Pearce, Physiology Lead. Discover how cutting-edge testing can transform your marathon preparation, from VO₂ max and lactate thresholds to personalised pacing strategies. Whether you’re chasing a PB or tackling your first 26.2 miles, learn why understanding your physiology is the ultimate game-changer.

Learn more about Loughborough Sport's physiology testing: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/support-services/physiology/physiology-assessments/

Intro 0:00

Marathon training plan 1:47

Training to distance 4:25

Doing better 10:05

Physiological perspective 14:54

Wearables 21:24

Physiology testing 24:18

Understanding the data 30:36

Physiology lab at Loughborough Sport 37:01

E103: Best Of 2025

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0100

In this episode we take a look back at some of our hightlights from 2025 including big milestones and a fantastic summer of women's sport.

Thank you for all your support this year, lets hope next year is even bigger and better! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Experts in Sport team!

#loughborough #university #loughboroughuniversity #education #student #Expertsinsport #podcast #experts #sport #research #expertsinhealth #fitness

E102: Behind the Wheel - Unseen Health Challenges of the UK Workforce

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0100

In this episode Martin talks to Professor Stacy Clemes and Dr. Grant Charlesworth-Jones to explore the pressing health challenges facing the UK workforce. From rising rates of long-term illness and sedentary lifestyles to the overlooked health crisis among truck drivers, the conversation dives deep into the systemic issues and potential solutions. Drawing on over a decade of research, the guests share insights into the SHIFT programme—Structured Health Intervention for Transport—and discuss how employers, policymakers, and individuals can take proactive steps to improve wellbeing, productivity, and safety across the nation

Learn more about the SHIFT programme here: https://www.ncsem-em.org.uk/research/optimising-health-wellbeing/impact/the-shift-study/

State of the nation 2:01

GP health 7:18

Driver health 14:48

SHIFT 17:54

The issue with truck driving 33:41

What are we doing about it? 35:52

Driving better health 44:30

Changes 47:35

Future research 54:19

Further information 57:10

#loughborough #university #loughboroughuniversity #education #student #Expertsinsport #podcast #experts #sport #research #expertsinhealth #fitness #history

E101: Beyond the Track - Lord Coe on Loughborough, Leadership, and the Future of Sport

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:45:00 +0100

Lord Sebastian Coe joins the Experts in Sport podcast for a wide-ranging conversation tracing his journey from Loughborough student-athlete to one of the most influential figures in global sport.

In this compelling episode, he reflects on the lessons learned from his legendary athletics career, shares untold stories and the immense pressure behind delivering London 2012, and offers his vision for the future of athletics in an increasingly complex world. With candid advice for the next generation of sports leaders, this is a rare and inspiring insight into the mind of a true sporting icon.

Arriving at Loughborugh 1:06

Chancellor 11:16

Life after athletics 16:10

London 2012 23:33

Spirit of 2012 37:08

Navigating challenges 41:55

Opportunity in athletics 49:13

#loughborough #university #loughborough university #education #student #Expertsinsport #podcast #experts #sport #research #expertsinhealth #fitness #history #sebcoe

E100: Where History Begins - Loughborough's Journey Through Sport

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:57:00 +0100

In this episode of Experts in Sport, we discuss Where History Begins-Loughborough's Journey Through Sport. Learn about Loughborough's early beginnings in Sport and how we grew into the number 1 university in the world for sport!

Where did history begin?: 1:46

Where are we now?: 5:11

The World Wars: 8:28

Military connections: 10:49

Sport Performance: 12:22

Sport education and research: 20:00

Best in the world: 24:53

Olympics and Paralympics: 28:18

The future: 35:04

#loughborough #university #loughborough university #education #student #Expertsinsport #podcast #experts #sport #research #expertsinhealth #fitness #history #100

E99: Smarter Sport - Using Athlete Data to Drive Innovation in Women's Sport

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:45:00 +0100

Every athlete faces performance challenges, but could the answers lie in their data? In this episode, we explore how data-driven innovation is uncovering hidden performance patterns and offering deeper insights into what happens beyond training hours. We also discuss where technology still has room to grow, as we continue unlocking new ways to help athletes get the very best out of themselves.

In this episode Dr Samantha Rowland discusses athelte driven data with Liverpool John Moores University's Dr Kelsie Johnson and Loughborough Sport's Olivia Murphy.

Data driven innovation: 2:42

Athlete voices: 10:38

Academic barriers: 18:14

Hormonal changes: 23:46

Encouraging participation: 29:40

Data transformation: 33:19

The next generation: 39:20

Next steps: 45:16

E98: Home Advantage - How the Women’s Rugby World Cup Impacts Local Communities

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:13:00 +0100

The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England has broken records both on and off the pitch — from advancing gender equity to achieving unprecedented broadcasting figures and ticket sales. But what do these successes mean for host councils and local communities once the tournament ends?

In this episode, we speak with Cllr James Petter, Deputy Leader of West Northamptonshire Council, whose portfolio spans the local economy, culture, and leisure, and Dr Becca Leopkey from the University of Georgia, a world-leading expert on the visible and invisible impacts of hosting major events.

Our vibrant conversation centres on Northampton, an official host town that staged tournament games across three weekends and delivered a range of community activations. These engaged local residents, sports clubs, businesses, and universities throughout the Rugby World Cup. Cllr Petter and Dr Leopkey share insights on the importance of involving diverse local groups, capturing both planned and unexpected successes, and addressing the crucial question: what’s next?

Together, they explore how Northampton can build on the momentum of the tournament to deliver long-term regional benefits. This episode forms part of the Summer of Women’s Sport mini-series supported by the Institute of Advanced Studies and Spirit of 2012, who champion inclusive knowledge exchange and partnership building.

Want to know more? Make sure to check out the Loughborough University Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub, plus the Loughborough Lightning rugby franchise who kick off their PWR season with Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens this autumn.

What does hosting mean?: 4:00

Harnessing the hosting: 8:45

Yarn bombing: 10:07

Maintaining the momentum: 13:19

The Fanzone: 17:36

Next steps: 23:03

Collaboration: 35:10

E97: Are we setting women up to fail in fitness?

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:24:00 +0100

For millions of women, the journey to fitness can be a frustrating one, filled with confusing advice that doesn't seem to fit their bodies. But what if the problem isn't with them, but with the industry itself? In this episode of Loughborough University's Experts in Sport podcast, we explore that very question as part of our Women in Sport series.

In this episode we are joined by Baz Moffat, a former Team GB athlete and CEO of The Well HQ. She argues that a critical lack of female-specific education is failing both trainers and their clients. We discuss the current landscape of personal training qualifications and how, through better educating people working in the fitness industry, we can improve health and fitness outcomes for women around the world.

Intro: 0:00

How hard should we be pushing?: 7:03

The menstrual cycle: 10:54

Women's health: 15:32

Current education: 18:07

The problems: 28:00

Future education: 31:36

Quick fixes: 39:17

Where to learn more: 44:35

E96: Strength in Numbers - Researching Gender Equity in Wheelchair Rugby

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:10:00 +0100

What does gender equity really mean in a sport as physically demanding and strategically complex as wheelchair rugby? In this episode, we dive into a groundbreaking research project that’s challenging assumptions and driving change for women in para-sport. Through personal reflections and expert insights, we explore why representation matters, how performance is measured, and what it takes to build inclusive pathways for female athletes.

Joining the conversation are Dr Thomas Rietveld from the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University, Richard Allcroft, President of World Wheelchair Rugby, Lauren Templeton, Regional General Manager for Europe at World Wheelchair Rugby, and Jason Brisbane, Chief Executive Officer of Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby. Together, they share personal insights, strategic goals, and reflections on the Women’s Cup in Paris — a key testing ground for inclusive rule changes like the 0.5-point classification for female athletes. Whether you're a coach, policymaker, athlete, or simply curious about the future of inclusive sport, this episode offers a compelling look at how data, collaboration, and lived experience are shaping the next phase of wheelchair rugby.

Intros: 0:00

Gender Equity: 4:19

The research: 11:11

The rule change: 15:56

The athlete voice: 21:44

Collaboration: 28:42

Research call to action: 34:33

Takeaways: 36:46

#loughborough #university #education #student #Experts in sport #podcast #sport #research #experts in health #fitness #women #women's health #women in sport #women's hub #world cup #rugby #women's rugby #wheelchair #wheelchair rugby #gender #equity

E95: Networks of Change - Women's Sport Governance in Action

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:03:00 +0100

In this episode of the Women in Sport Summer Series, we explore how governance, marketing, and collaboration are driving transformation in women’s sport—both in the UK and globally.

Featuring Alex Teasdale, Executive Director of Women’s Rugby at the RFU, and Dr Dana Lee Ellis, a leading academic in sport marketing and event governance, we unpack the strategic role of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the power of inclusive networks, and the importance of visionary innovation initiatives.

This conversation is part of the Women in Sport Summit, supported by the Institute for Advanced Studies, Spirit of 2012, and the Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub at Loughborough University.

Intros 0:00

Leadership and collaboration: 3:50

The eve of the Rugby World Cup: 8:14

Amplification: 11:57

Focus on women's sport: 14:08

Sport beyond the event: 16:23

Global and private examples: 23:51

Inclusive leadership: 32:01

Looking ahead: 38:27

Key takeaway: 45:25

#LoughboroughUniversity #ExpertsInSport #SportsInnovation

#FemaleAthletes #Podcast #Rugby #rugbyworldcup #womensports

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E94: Supporting Performance - The Critical Role of Sports Bras in Women’s Sport

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:44:00 +0100

Welcome to a special episode of the Experts in Sport Podcast, brought to you by the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University.

In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked yet essential topics in women’s sport: breast health and the science of sports bras.

Exploring why most sports bras don’t offer enough support, the impact on performance and injury risk, innovations in design, fit, and education, and how research is driving real change for athletes.

Intro 0:00

Health implications 3:31

Research 5:13

Why has it been overlooked? 7:34

Awareness 14:45

Female anthropometry 20:59

What to look for in a bra 28:32

What’s next? 37:36

Listeners of the podcast can subscribe and download the latest episode by visiting iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn. All subscribers will receive an alert once new episodes are published. 

The Experts in Sport podcast is a regular series that brings together experts from across Loughborough University with external thought leaders to discuss the latest research and hot topics in sport and academia with new episodes launched regularly.

#LoughboroughUniversity #ExpertsInSport #BreastHealth #SportsInnovation

#FemaleAthletes #Podcast #SportsApparel #Rugby #Lionesses #SportsBraEducation

E93: Beyond the Baseline - Why Women’s Sport Needs More Research & Innovation

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:04:00 +0100

In this episode of Experts in Sport, host Dr Hannah Fox Dugdale is joined by Dr Verity Postlethwaite to explore the groundbreaking launch of Loughborough University’s Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub. Discover how this initiative is set to transform women’s sport from grassroots to elite, tackling real-world challenges with cutting-edge research.

We also hear from special guest and former England international, Karen Carney OBE, as she shares powerful insights on athlete health, equity in sport, and what this hub means for the future.

A must-listen in the build-up to the 2025 Summer of Women in Sport!

Intro: 0:00

Karen Carney: 8:07

Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub: 8:47

The research gap: 10:50

Women focused research: 14:39

The media: 20:41

Leadership: 23:26

The hub contribution: 25:23

Women’s sport in action: 27:09

Karen Carney OBE is also an ambassador for the new hub - https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2024/september/karen-carney-sport-health-wellbeing-ambassador/

For more information visit:

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2025/march/women-in-sport-hub-launch/

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/women-in-sport-hub/

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/ias/programmes/women-in-sport/

https://www.ncsem-em.org.uk/events/tackling-the-gap/

E92: Leadership in Sport - the impact of AI on decision-making and leadership

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 10:40:00 +0100

As the England v India Test Matches get into full swing, Experts in Sport podcast host Martin Foster sits down with Ed Smith, former National Selector for England Cricket and soon-to-be President of the MCC.

In this episode, they explore Leadership in Sport and discuss the growing impact of AI on decision-making and leadership at the highest level. Drawing from Ed’s experience in elite cricket, this conversation offers unique insights into how modern leaders balance data, intuition, and performance in a rapidly evolving sporting world.

Intro: 00:00

Leadership in Sport: 1:55

Student impact: 15:38

President of the MCC: 25:33

AI in sport: 35:46

Embracing AI: 51:34

#LeadershipInSport #EdSmith #EnglandVsIndia #Cricket #AIinSport #ExpertsInSportPodcast #lborograd #lborofamily

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E91: Time Hacks - The psychology of time and how to spend it

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0100

In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by world-leading expert in the science of the human mind, Dr Ian Taylor, to discuss his new book Time Hacks.

Together, they draw on the latest psychological research to explore how we can develop a healthier relationship with time—one that helps us break free from the cycle of boredom and mania, boosts our productivity, and brings greater balance to all areas of our lives.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with practical tips and science-backed strategies to help you take control of your time.

📚 Time Hacks – Available now!

Intro: 00:00

Overview: 2:34

Time warps: 6:55

The idea of time: 11:40

Practical solutions: 15:54

Why do mousetraps work: 18:32

Mind the gap: 23:16

S is for effort: 27:19

Benefits of solitude: 36:03

Bouncebackability: 45:58

Top 5 hacks: 48:08

#ExpertsInSport #TimeHacks #Psychology #Productivity #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #LboroGrad #LboroFamily

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Website: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/

E90: Pain killer use in sport - Short term gain for long term pain!

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 06:20:00 +0100

In today’s podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Daniel Read, Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Sport Business at Loughborough University, to discuss the use of painkillers in sport.

Painkiller use in sport is more widespread than many people realise. In this episode, we uncover some shocking statistics and explore the reasons why athletes turn to pain relief—sometimes at great personal risk. Using real-world examples from across the sporting world, we examine the pressures, motivations, and implications behind this growing issue.

Painkiller use in sport: 2:14

Examples: 6:54

Frequency: 11:54

Classifications: 16:01

Recreational use: 19:14

Why?: 20:44

Capital: 23:41

Problems: 26:58

What needs to change?: 30:25

Youth football: 48:06

Further research: 51:09

Listeners of the podcast can subscribe and download the latest episode by visiting iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn. All subscribers will receive an alert once new episodes are published. 

Follow Loughborough University:

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#LboroGrad #LboroFamily #ExpertsinSport

E89: How sport works - From Government funding to participation, a comparison of Sweden and the UK

Mon, 19 May 2025 14:00:00 +0100

Today, I’m joined by Professor Josef Fahlén, Professor Paul Downward, and Dr. Mat Dowling to explore how sport functions in different contexts. We often hear about sport and physical activity in Scandinavia—but what can we actually learn from their approach?

In this podcast, we compare the Swedish and UK sport systems, discussing a wide range of topics including government funding, sports clubs, schools, facilities, and cultural influences. We also delve into the challenges of trying to implement ideas from one country into another.

Intros: 00:00

Swedish sport: 3:07

UK sport: 5:43

Comparison: 12:41

Swedish sport again: 15:51

UK sport again: 22:26

Cultural differences: 27:04

What is sport for?: 42:31

The future: 46:56

Listeners of the podcast can subscribe and download the latest episode by visiting iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn. All subscribers will receive an alert once new episodes are published. 

Follow Loughborough University:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lborouniversity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lborouniversity/

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#LboroGrad #LboroFamily #ExpertsinSport

E88: The Myth of Systems Change - Why Your Efforts Are Futile (And What to Do Instead)

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:00:00 +0100

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Luke Roberts, author of Leading Schools and Sustaining Innovation: How to Think Big and Differently in Complex Systems, joins host Martin Foster to discuss systems change.

If you’ve been involved in the sport, physical activity, health, education, business, or any other sector, you’ll likely have heard people talk about systems change. You may have seen attempts to create change, but more often than not, the outcomes don’t match expectations.

In today’s podcast, we explore what systems change really means. We begin by defining the concept and discussing the common challenges people face when trying to bring about meaningful change, using real-world examples. We then shift focus to what is required to create and sustain systems change over time.

We hope this episode inspires anyone looking to make a positive impact and become a systems change leader of the future.

Intros: 0:00

What is Systems Change?: 3:42

Purpose of the system: 10:32

Examples: 15:45

Systems Mapping: 29:32

Getting the system ready for change: 36:00

Maintain and Sustain: 42:23

Changing the icing not the cake: 45:35

What's next?: 52:24

E87: Human trafficking in the global sports ecosystem

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0100

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Serhat Yilmaz and Lerina Bright (Mission 89) join host Martin Foster to discuss Human trafficking in the global sports ecosystem.

Loughborough University, in partnership with Mission 89 and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch of the British Parliament, has released the first-ever comprehensive global thematic report on sport trafficking.

Listeners of the podcast can subscribe and download the latest episode by visiting iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn. All subscribers will receive an alert once new episodes are published. 

https://mission89.org/

Intro 00:00

The issue 6:21

Definitions 11:06

In and through sport 22:42

Around sport 34:47

Recommendations 43:20

Summary 53:18

Outros 1:06:31

E86: How Elite Athletes Are Made

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:00:00 +0100

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Professor Mark Williams joins host Martin Foster to discuss How Elite Athletes Are Made.

Professor Mark Williams has researched Sports Science for over 30 years, he has published hundreds of academic articles, written, and edited over 20 books and has worked at leading organisations around the world. In this podcast we focus on his book "The Best. How Elite Athletes are Made." We discuss a wide range of topics from how siblings and the environment we live in can impact our sporting success, the truth about the 10 000 hour rule, the power of coaching and much more. If you want to learn more about how elite athletes are made, then this podcast is a great place to start.

Intro 00:00

How Elite Athletes Are Made 3:25

Most important aspects 6:12

Siblings 7:32

Helicopter parenting 9:24

Location 10:39

Age and academies 20:24

Early specialisation and 10000 hours 31:23

Born or made? 35:31

Practice 38:50

What makes the best coaches? 48:01

Next steps 1:03:48

Outros 1:06:09

E85: Equal Play - Improving physical education for everyone

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0100

In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, Dr Janine Coates (expert in inclusive PE and school sport), Tammy and her mum Lynn (stars from the 'Equal Play' documentary), and Helen Derby (Strategic Lead, Programmes, Activity Alliance) join host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) to discuss how physical education can be improved to make it inclusive for everyone who takes part.

Intros 00:00

The research 2:51

Tammy's experience 5:55

Activity Alliance 10:17

Examples 18:40

The future 21:17

Wheelchair tennis 29:14

Outros 33:51

E84: Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion in Sports Leadership

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0100

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Steven Bradbury joins host Martin Foster to discuss Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion in Sports Leadership.

Intro 00:00

Equality and equity 1:49

Leading the way: the background 3:19

Levels of representation 6:52

Benefits of a diverse workforce 9:55

Challenges 14:27

Barriers 23:15

Examples of good practice 26:02

Recommendations 34:12

Next steps 41:27

Outro 46:17

E83: How Physical Education in schools can be improved through Models-based practice

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:00:00 +0100

Physical activity levels of children in England and around the world remain stubbornly low.

Research has shown that Physical Education can inspire children to embrace physical activity and sport, yet the curriculum that is delivered nationwide remains narrow with a heavy focus on skill development for sport.

In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, Professor David Kirk and Professor Ash Casey discuss Models-based practice with host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead). The trio cover what models-based practice is, the potential benefits and the best way to apply Models-based practice within schools.

Professor Ash Casey is the Programme Director for the MSc and PGCE in Education with QTS (Physical Education) at Loughborough University. Ash maintains an active presence on X (formerly Twitter) (@DrAshCasey) and operates a blog (www.PEPRN.com), dedicated to translating research into practical applications Physical Education and Pedagogy. His research explores pedagogical models, teacher development through social media, and pedagogies of technology.

Professor David Kirk is an educational researcher with teaching and research interests in educational innovation, curriculum history, and physical education and sport pedagogy. He is the founding editor of the peer reviewed journal Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy (Routledge) and editor of Routledge Studies in Physical Education and Youth Sport. He has held academic appointments previously in universities in England, Australia, Ireland and Belgium and is currently Honorary Professor of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland.

Intro 00:00

Background of P.E 3:04

What is the purpose of P.E.? 12:59

Models based practise 22:30

An Activist Approach 34:53

In practise 36:49

What’s next? 48:39

E82: Safeguarding and interpersonal abuse in sport – the development and potential impact of the IOC consensus statement

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0100

Safeguarding and interpersonal abuse in sport – the development and potential impact of the IOC consensus statement.

Last month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirmed its commitment to safe sport by announcing the release of its third consensus statement on safeguarding and interpersonal violence in sport.

In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, hosted Martin Foster is joined by those involved in delivering this initiative.

The panel, featuring Prof Daniel Rhind (Loughborough University), Prof Yetsa Adebodunde Tuakli-Wosornu, (Stanford University), and Kirsty Burrows (Head of the IOC's Safe Sport Unit), discuss the background to the consensus statement, its development, the overarching recommendations and what this means for wider stakeholders. 

Intro 00:00

Consensus statement importance 2:52

Research rationale 7:42

Definitions 9:14

Methodology 16:31

Findings 18:06

Sport and society 28:27

Intentional interpersonal violence 34:43

Recommendations 41:28

What changes do you want to see? 52:02

Outros 56:01

E81: The long-term problems of sports participation and how to solve them

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0100

In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Professor Paul Downward to discuss the UK’s low levels of sport participation.

The podcast includes discussions on government policy and its impact on participation rates, and what needs to change to encourage more people to become active.

Intro 00:00

Participation rates 7:10

History of monitoring 12:19

How have things changed? 17:27

General trends 22:46

Specific trends 25:57

Fitness industry 30:27

Biggest impact 37:18

Future of policy 39:29

What are we trying to achieve? 50:06

The future 55:04

E80: Cycling hour record: science behind a successful attempt

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0100

Axel Dopfer, Professor Duncan Walker, Dr Richard Ferguson, and Josh Cresswell join us to discussHow Loughborough University's world-class sports ecosystem helped alumnus Axel Dopfer break the German hour record.

Intros 0:00

University approach 6:55

Training as a Loughborough student 11:20

Memorable moments 14:26

Interdisciplinary aspect 16:37

Heat acclimation 27:52

Training smart 32:02

Build up to the day 39:34

Methodology 48:29

The Event 52:24

What next? 56:47

How to find out more 1:03:22

E79: Testing the World's Strongest Man - Eddie Hall

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0100

Professor Jonathan Folland and Dr Tom Balshaw join host Stuart McErlain-Naylor to break down the anatomy of Strongman Champion Eddie Hall and highlight the key characteristics that enabled him to break world records in the deadlift.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intros

1:04 An evening with Eddie Hall

5:16 Scope of research

10:13 Why Eddie Hall?

11:55 Preparation

16:50 What did the day entail?

22:19 Main findings of the case study

26:24 Under or over developed?

28:43 Tendon adaptation

34:44 Injury risk

37:07 Inherited characteristics

42:11 Limiting factors in human performance

43:43 What else is there to know about Eddie?

45:58 Current and future research

49:27 Where to find out more

50:55 Outros

Journal: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00342.2024

Paris Bonus Show: Professor Vicky Tolfrey - the future of para sport

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Professor Vicky Tolfrey chats to host Dan Trussell to discuss the Paralympics in Paris, wheelchair sport and what's to come after the Games.

Intros 0:00

Wheelchair configuration in tennis 0:43

Competitive edge 4:28

Athlete collaboration 5:26

What to expect from wheelchair sport 7:10

Wheelchair basketball at Loughborough 8:11

The future of parasport 9:41

Parasport and society 14:11

Outros 19:29

E78: Loughborough's role in inspiring change within Para sport

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster, discusses research within Para sport at Loughborough and its potential across the landscape of sport with guests, Vladyslava Kravchenko, Alasdair Donaldson, and Jennifer Wong, of Loughborough University.

Time stamps:

0.00-4.03 - Introduction

4.04- 8.31 - Why Loughborough?

8.32- 10.49 - Development of Para sport at Loughborough

10.50-12.32 - Examples of Para sport development

12.33-17.32 - Developing the workforce

17.33-24.05 - Opportunity at Loughborough

24.06- 28.34 - International relations

28.35-34.04 - Para sport against stigma

34.05-42.37 - London 2012 Legacy

42.38-45.53 - Barriers and stigma

45.54-48.25 - Making noise toolkit

48.26-49.54 - Diplomacy and international governance PhD

49.55-51.25 - Outros

E77: Paula Radcliffe MBE: Student athlete to world champion

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0100

Loughborough University alumna, Paula Radcliffe MBE, joins host, Martin Foster, in this episode of the Experts in Sport Podcast to discuss her experience as a student athlete at Loughborough and her successful career within athletics.

Timestamps:

0.00-1.23 - Intro

1.24-7.14 - Experience as a student at Loughborough University

7.14-9.57 - Combining academia and sport

9.58-12.34 - Student life

12.35-15.22 - Partnered running

15.23-17.51 - Loughborough traditions

17.52-25.06 - Preparation for competition as a student

25.07-31.22 - Changes in practice and training

31.23-34.57 - Menstrual cycle

34.58-42.52 - Androcentrism vs women in sport & training during pregnancy

42.53-47.08 - Further work

47.09-51.02 - Getting into running

51.03-51.47 - Outro

Paris Bonus Show: Dr Verity Postlethwaite

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0100

Dr Verity Postlethwaite, from the School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, joins host, Dan Trussell, to discuss Spirit of 2012 and the importance of legacy that exists within major sporting competitions.

Paris Bonus Show: Jonathan Folland

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0100

A Loughborough University study found that top sprinters, whilst being generally more muscular, had a very specific pattern to their muscularity, with some muscles far bigger. Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, talks to Professor Jonathan Folland, from the School of Sport Exercise, and Health Sciences, to discuss research findings in the area.

Paris Bonus Show: Sophia Jowett

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0100

Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, is joined by Professor of Psychology Sophia Jowett to break down coach-athlete relationships and their benefits in athletes having the edge on the biggest stage, seen in the relationship between Mel Marshall and Adam Peaty.

Paris Bonus Show: Liam Heaney

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0100

Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, is joined by Professor Liam Heaney, who provides an insight into how athletes are tested on the biggest stage and the work that Loughborough University is carrying out in the area.

E76: Elite cycling and performance research

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster, is joined by guests, Dr Richard Ferguson and Dr Dave Nichols, to discuss research around elite cycling and performance.

Timestamps:

0.00-2.23 - Intro

2.24-8.59 - Competing at an elite level and training

9.00-12.29 - Individual or team sport and hierarchy

12.30-17.14 - Research to understand level of performance

17.15-21.38 - Interdisciplinary research at Loughborough University

21.39-24.47 - Real-life applications of cycling

24.48-27.19 - Potential use of online tools in elite training

27.20-33.51 - Beneficial research at Loughborough

33.52-42.16 - Loughborough Lightning

42.17-48.29 - Issues around androcentric research

48.30-54.24 - Upcoming research

54.25-57.11 - Outro

E75: Performance analysis, AI, and penalties

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 14:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Donald Barron (Loughborough University), Austin Fuller (Product Director of Football and Rugby business at Hudl, former FA insights and analysis) and Robin Jackson to discuss performance analysis, artificial intelligence, and football penalties.

Timestamps:

0.00-2.23 - Intro

2.24-6.40 - Performance analysis and development

6.41-11.07 - Advent of AI

11.08-17.36 - Analyst’s job before game

17.37-20.30 - Coach comparison between team and their opposition

20.31-27.25 - Preparation prior to competition

27.26-36.59 - Use of data and metrics in decision-making

37.00-53.32 Penalties and analysis of Euros

53.33-1.00.12 - Lack of top corner saves

1.00.13-1.01.14 - Outro

E74: Performance Analysis and Coaching in Tennis

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 08:00:00 +0100

0.00-2.59 - Intro and performance analysis overview

3.00-8.53 - Constraints-led approach within sport

8.54-15.18 - Tailoring training for elite athletes

15.19-18.57 - Performance analyst, coach, and athlete relationships

18.58-20.57 - Technological advancements informing data collection

20.58-30.29 - Research and metric development

30.30-37.22 - Unexpected findings within research

37.23-46.45 - Real-life applications of findings

46.46-59.23 - Encouraging development in younger players

59.24-1.04.52 - Further research

1.04.53-1.05.39 - Outro

E73: Misconceptions in Sports Injury Research

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Stuart McErlain-Naylor is joined by guest Judd Kalkhoven, from Western Sydney University, to discuss common misconceptions within the scope of sports injury research.

Timestamps:

0.00-4.50 - Intro

4.51-13.34 - Research and inspiration - causal models

13.35-22.53 - Implications for research findings

22.54-26.14 - Exploratory research to show statistical relationships

26.15-28.18 - Transitioning research from the lab to the field

28.19-30.11 - Do intended applications influence lab work?

30.12-33.55 - Including practitioners in research

33.56-45.44 - Need for research prior to practical application

45.45-54.10 - Prediction vs. causation

54.11-56.44 - Outro and further work

E72: Challenges within sports officiating

Wed, 29 May 2024 08:00:00 +0100

Dr Tom Webb, Associate Professor in the Centre for Business in Society at Coventry University, joins Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor to discuss officiating within sports and the challenges that face referees and other officials across the landscape.

Throughout the episode, conversations around the role and purpose of a sports official are centred, alongside the perception of sports officials as athletes, embracing the introduction of technologies such as VAR, and debating what constitutes a successful outcome.

Timestamps:

0.00-4.30 - Introduction and background

4.31-7.49 - How does lack of research affect the representation of sports officials

7.50-13.45 - Referee and Sports Official Research Network and further projects

13.46-23.50 - Role and purpose of a sports official

23.51-27.15 - Embracing and working with technology to officiate

27.16-33.00 - Perception of the official as an athlete

33.01-36.02 - What does a successful outcome look like?

36.03-40.40 - Errors, re-refereeing and the introduction of VAR

40.41-47.47 - Issue of recruitment and retention within sports and solutions

47.48-50.53 - Examples outside of sport to improve experience

50.54-54.04 - Outro and further work

E71: Spirit of 2012: Legacy of events within sports

Fri, 10 May 2024 10:00:00 +0100

Dr Verity Postlethwaite, a doctoral prize fellow at Loughborough University, Ruth Hollis, and Amy Finch join Experts in Sport host Martin Foster to discuss Spirit of 2012 and the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on UK populations.

Timestamps:

0.00-5.04 - Introduction

5.05-8.14 - Formation of Spirit of 2012

8.15-10.43 - Providing opportunities for societal change

10.44-14.42 - Catering to different demographics during the event

14.43-21.38 - Achievements since 2012 and convening people from different sectors

21.39-29.04 - Biggest challenges within the landscape

29.05-32.00 - Lasting legacy on the UK population

32.01-37.00 - Should every event attempt to achieve societal change

37.01-45.35 - Partnerships including Loughborough University and others

45.36-47.49 - Advice for future event organiser

47.50-49.55 - Conclusion and outros

E70: Racism in Sport: History, culture, and the role of the media

Wed, 01 May 2024 16:00:00 +0100

Racism is an integral issue in the arena of sport, but how can its history and mediated culture assist in breaking down barriers for athletes moving forward?

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, hosted by Martin Foster, Dr Nik Dickerson, from Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, features as a guest to discuss the wider issues surrounding racism and its entwinement with masculinity in sport media.

Highly contested issues within sport are decoded, including Colin Kaepernick’s explicit protest (taking the knee during the national anthem at an NFL game) to highlight racial injustices facing African American men, as well as incidences of police brutality.

E69: Instrumented mouth-guards and concussion in Rugby Union

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Dr Enora Le Flao (Postdoctoral Scholar, The Ohio State University), Dr Lizzy Williams (Senior Lecturer, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University) and David Powell (PhD student, Swansea University) discuss concussions in Rugby Union and instrumented mouth-guards, which have embedded sensors to measure linear and angular kinematics of the head.

Time Stamps:

0:00-4:20 Intros

4:20-5:09 What is the rationale behind all this?

5:09-11:23 How has this been previously done and where are we now?

11:23-12:59 Is the mouthguard a replacement for visual monitoring – medical threshold?

12:59-14:44 False positives and negatives

14:44-17:59 What causes concussion?

17:59-22:58 How do the mouth guards work? What are they monitoring?

22:58-26:17 Training and workload

26:17-30:25 Sex differences

30:25-32:03 Misconceptions and eventual aims

32:03-40:00 Further research

40:00-42:52 Other sports

42:53-46:20 Further information

46:20-47:28 Outro and goodbyes

E68: The sports apparel waste problem

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0100

Joanna Czutkowna, a Doctoral Researcher at Loughborough University, joins Experts in Sport host Martin Foster to discuss sustainability of the fashion and sport industries and the big problems that future generations will potentially face as a result of waste.

Timestamps:

0.00-2.30 – Introduction to guest & work

2.31-5.32 – Overview of sustainability

5.33-6.54 – Issues within the fashion industry

6.55-8.54 – Charity shops, markets and clothing waste

8.55-13.20 – Sports industry’s contribution

13.21-16.51 – UEFA leading the way

16.52-21.45 – Scope 3 emissions

21.46-24.09 – What are the most sustainable materials?

24.10-26.15 – Circular business models

26.16-28.28 – Grassroots sport

28.29-33.50 – Culture of repair & the modern education system

33.51-37.00 – Neurodiversity’s part in sustainability

37.01-39.26 – Cricket kitting out

39.27-44.52 – Fans & participants facilitating change

44.53-45.28 – Outro & goodbyes

E67: Coaching, skill acquisition and virtual reality in sport

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0100

Dr Rob Gray (Associate Professor in Human Systems Engineering at Arizona State University) talks about coaching in sport as well as skill acquisition in baseball and the future of virtual reality in sport

Timestamps

00:00 - 03:41 - Introduction to guest, background and topic

03:42 - 09:49 - What is skill acquisition?

09:50 - 14:08 - Consistency vs improvement

14:09 - 20:39 - The role of the coach in skill acquisition

20:40 - 24:19 - What would a typical study consist of?

24:20 - 35:10 - Virtual reality in coaching and skill acquisition

35:11 - 41:15 - The variability of the virtual world compared to the real world

41:16 - 48:35 - Where is research and coaching going in the next few years

48:36 - 51:42 - Where to find out more about the topic in the episode

E66: NFL, the Super Bowl and the future of American football in the UK

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0100

Jo Maher (Pro Vice-chancellor for Sport), Lamonte Winston (Head of NFL Academy at Loughborough) and Steve Hagan (Head Coach at the NFL Academy at Loughborough) talk about the NFL Academy, Super Bowl and the future of American football in the UK.

Timestamps

00:00 - 02:24 - Introductions to guests, topic and backgrounds

02:25 - 09:25 - How did the partnership between Loughborough and the NFL Academy start?

09:26 - 12:21 - The transferable skills from other sports

12:22 - 24:33 - Where are we today with the standard of the NFL Academy?

24:34 - 28:59 - When will we see a Loughborough student at the Super Bowl?

29:00 - 41:19 - How is the partnership going and what can be achieved in the future? 41:20 - 42:27 - Final thoughts, thank you and goodbyes.

E65: Sport for climate action and nature

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 11:00:00 +0100

Dr Mark Doidge (Reader in Sociology of Sport), Katie Cross (Founder of Pledgeball) and Jenny Amann (PhD student at Loughborough University talk about the impact of climate change on sport.

Timestamps

00:00 - 06:03 - Introduction to guests, background and topic of the episode

06:04 - 09:02 - What is Pledgeball now and how do people get involved?

09:03 - 15:06 - Loughborough University's involvement in this topic

15:07 - 17:00 - Personal appreciation of the sport and reasons for involvement

17:01 - 20:39 - How does Pledgeball attempt to mobilise fans into making climate-related changes?

20:40 - 39:54 - What are common pledges and types of pledges

39:55 - 51:47 - “I hadn’t realised change is NOT a difficult thing, mobilising football fans on climate change”

51:48 - 54:32 - Cultural change in football

54:33 - 58:28 - Where is research regarding climate action and nature?

58:29 - 01:01:09 - The power of sport to be agents of change, Thank you to the guests and final thoughts

E64: AFCON and football development in Africa

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0100

Abdul Faisal Chibsah (FIFA High Performance Specialist) talks about the Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) and the importance of the development of football in Africa.

Timestamps

00:00 - 07:52 - Introduction to guest, background, and the topic of the episode

07:53 - 16:46 - Africa Cup of Nations and issues of football in Africa

16:47 - 22:34 - Talent development in Africa

22:35 - 26:17 – Women’s game in Africa

26:18 - 41:48 - What infrastructure is being put in place?

41:48 - 48:36 - Player pathways

48:37 - 52:50 - What does the future of football in Africa look like and which nations are the driving force behind this development?

52:51 - 54:40 - Predictions for AFCON

54:41 - 55:53 - First African nation to win the World Cup

55:54 - 57:55 - Final comments, thank you and goodbyes

E63: Deception in Rugby: The psychology and biomechanics

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0100

Dr Laurence Warren-Westgate (Assistant Professor in Sport, Exercise and Health Psychology at the University of Nottingham talks about deception, anticipation, psychology and biomechanics in rugby with host Stuart McErlain-Naylor.

Timestamps

00:00 - 04:23 - Introduction to guest, background and the topic of the episode

04:24 - 08:33 - Anticipation in sport: Why is it important?

08:33 - 13:59 - How have anticipation and deception been studied before?

14:00 - 19:40 - How do we recreate this in realistic scenarios?

19:41 - 28:58 - Why are the successful players looking at certain areas?

28:59 - 35:11 - Can you create context-specific actions to lure opponents into traps?

35:12 - 41:36 - Are professionals actually better at deception than amateurs?

41:36 - 43:06 - Are visual elements the same in both phases of play?

43:07- 45:26 - How does bias come into play with deception and interception?

45:27 - 47:47 - What is next?

47:48 - 49:48 - Links, thank yous and goodbyes from the guest.

E62: Climate change and sport: The situation and changes needed for the future.

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0100

Dr Russell Seymour (Senior Enterprise Fellow for the Institute for Sports Business) and Elliott Brown (Sustainability Project Manager at Loughborough University) talk with host Martin Foster about Climate change and its impact on sport and what Loughborough University is doing to help.

Timestamps

00:00 - 03:14 - Introductions, Background and context of the episode

03:15 - 16:49 - Climate change and its impact of sport

16:50 - 30:16 - What strategies are in place and how can sports fans help?

30:17 - 40:05 - What has Loughborough done to help this?

40:06 - 49:52 - Changing kits every season, Car sharing and how you can help

49:53 - 51:49 - experience of sustainability in sport

51:50 - 55:17 - Thank you, links, final comments and goodbyes

E61: Anastrozole: What role can diet and exercise play in NHS drug treatment?

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0100

Dr Mhairi Morris (Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry at Loughborough University) talks about the new NHS-approved breast cancer drug Anastrozole with Host Martin Foster. They also discuss how exercise and diet can help in preventing breast cancer alongside other topics.

Timestamps

00:00 - 07:20 - Introductions to the guest, background and current projects

07:21 - 11:29 - Breast cancer: how common is it?

11:30 - 16:42 - Prevention: health, exercise and diet

16:43 - 21:40 - Anastrozole: the new NHS-approved drug

21:41 - 29:51 - How big is the effect of physical activity?

29:52 - 34:27 - Round up, thank you to guest and links for further learning

E60: Optimising athletic performance - lessons from the animal kingdom

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0100

Dr Mark Burnley (Senior lecturer at Loughborough University) talks to host Stuart McErlain-Naylor about how the study of animals can aid athlete endurance training alongside other performance parameters.

Timestamps

00:00 - 07:49 - Introduction to guest and background in field and research of the subject

07:50 - 14:34 - What is the speed duration relationship?

14:35 - 18:55 - Why can we benefit from knowledge from the Animal Kingdom?

18:56 - 30:01 - How do we control and measure what animals do?

30:02 - 34:13 - How does motivation become an issue when measuring animals?

34:14 - 43:31 - General trends that have emerged from this research

43:32 - 45:19 - Mythbusting on the accumulation of lactate

45:20 - 48:33 - How can Animals affect the future of Athletes?

48:34 - 51:41 - “Lions don’t warm up in the jungle” - Is there truth behind the saying?

51:42 - 53:41 - Final thoughts, Thank you, links and Goodbyes

E59: Weight loss drugs, behaviour change and weight management strategies

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0100

Dr Claire Madigan (Senior research associate with CLIMB: The Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour) talks to host Martin Foster about weight loss, the new ‘magic pill’, exercise, what can be done to help people lose weight effectively and healthily without doing more harm than good as well as what needs to be put in place to help lower obesity rates in the UK

Timestamps

00:00 - 02:30 - Introductions to guest, background in weight management, PHD and previous work

02:31 - 11:23 - The weight loss ‘magic pill’ has it finally arrived?

11:24 - 15:28 - Tier 1,2,3,4 and how behaviour change is important to each tier

15:29 - 19:57 - Is there a standard model for behaviour change or is it individualised?

19:58 - 23:41 - Nutrition, social support and diet, but is exercise the missing ingredient?

23:42 - 25:14 - What does the drug actually do?

25:15 - 27:12 - The starting point of weight loss is nutrition

27:13 - 35:40 - How do we stop this becoming an issue?

35:41 - 39:10 - What can we do to assist with treatment and prevention of obesity?

39:11 - 41:57 - How can we change readily available food to assist with children’s nutrition

41:58 - 45:33 - Recap on episode

45:34 - 47:04 - Thank you, links and goodbyes

E58: Golf equipment and how manufacturers and researchers can benefit players

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Jonathan ‘Jono’ Shepherd (Head of Performance Research at PING golf) and Doctor Aimee Mears (Senior Lecturer in Sports Technology at Loughborough University) discuss golf equipment, and how manufactures and research can work together to benefit players both expert and amateur with host Stuart McErlain-Naylor.

Timestamps

00:00 - 04:19 - Introductions to guests, background in golf and sports technology

04:20 - 11:18 - What is the performance research centre and what does it do?

11:19 - 21:12 - The interaction between the player and the equipment

21:13 - 28:32 - What technology are being used and how that helps achieve the aims of the industry?

28:33 - 30:26 - Variability of human movement or maximum performance

30:27 - 34:56 - Should you based equipment decisions off what the pros use?

34:57 - 37:57 - Speed, accuracy and the sweet spot in golf

37:58 - 44:36 - Would golf clubs be different between men and women?

44:37 - 46:18 - How good are people at judging golf equipment for themselves

46:19 - 49:14 - Conclusion, links and goodbyes from guests

E57: 'Choking' and performance under pressure in golf

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0100

Professor Karl Steptoe (Sport and Performance Psychology Lead) and Professor Denise Hill (Associate Professor in Sport Psychology, Sport and Exercise Sciences) discuss 'choking' and performance under pressure in golf with host Martin Foster.

The trio discuss the psychology behind choking as well as ways to manage and prepare for big moments.

Timestamps

00:00 - 09:19 - Introductions to Guests, background in Golf and Handicaps

09:20 - 13:56 - “The psychology of golf performance under pressure”

13:57 - 24:17 - What is Choking?

24:18 - 32:32 - How many people experience choking and is there a way to know?

32:33 - 36:53 - Two pathways to choking

36:54 - 55:10 - How do we prepare and counter choking?

55:11 - 1:00:00 - Final conclusions, thank yous and goodbyes

E56: Training load monitoring in elite sport: Limitations and lessons from medicine

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 14:00:00 +0100

Stuart McErlain-Naylor and Franco Impellizzeri (Sports Coach in Clinical Science and Professor of Sports, Exercise and Science in Medicine at the University of Technology Sydney) talk about the training load training load monitoring in elite sports, the limitations of this as well as the lessons that can be taken from medicine to assist the development of knowledge in this area.

Timestamps:

00:00 - 04:23 - Introductions and career background of our guest

04:24 - 14:10 - What is training load?

14:11 - 19:47 - How is this currently being applied in elite sports settings?

19:48 - 25:42 - Will coaches use this in real time to advance training sessions?

25:43 - 29:11 - What are the current limitations with how load limitations are being used now?

29:12 - 34:50 - What should future studies do differently?

34:51 - 42:25 - How would this research be done in other fields and what can be learnt from that?

42:26 - 45:15- How can we improve the dialogue between academic and practise of sport science?

45:16 - 53:00 - Where do you see train load monitoring in the next 5 years?

53:01 - 53:44 - Outro

E55: Sport in the Metaverse

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Aaron Smith (Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Loughborough University) and Ben Shields (Senior Lecturer in Managerial Communication at MIT Sloan School of Management) sit down with host Martin Foster to discuss the Metaverse, as well as its impact on the future of sport.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 04:01 Introduction and career background on our guests

04:02 – 12:54 What is the Metaverse?

12:55 – 23:41 The evolution of the Metaverse

23:42 – 29:26 Development opportunities for "Sportiverse"

29:27 – 46:46 How it may impact the business, performance and fan experience

46:47 – 50:45 Potential issues & how they should be tackled

50:46 – 99:99 Episode recap and conclusion

E54: The future of women's sport

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 15:00:00 +0100

Sue Anstiss (alumna, founder and CEO of Fearless Women) sits down with host Martin Foster to discuss the future of women’s sport, putting great emphasis on women’s football. She tackles the prevalent exclusion and inequality women may face within the field and argues for the increase of equity before reflecting on how it may evolve in the next 10 years.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 03:54 Introduction and career background on our guest

03:55 – 10:24 The driving factors of women’s sport

10:25 – 19:44 The impact of primary school PE programs

19:45 – 29:36 Female exclusion and inequality in sport environments

29:37 – 36:47 Necessary elements towards the further growth of women’s sport

36:48 – 42:13 The future of women’s sport – equality vs equity

42:14 – 44:49 Episode recap and conclusion

E53: Injury prevention and management in women's football

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Dr Katrine Kryger (medical researcher at FIFA) sits down with host Martin Foster and co-host Rebecca Sawiuk to discuss the occurrence and prevalence of injuries in women’s football, tackling all factors that may affect the risk level, as well as how facilities and equipment impact performance.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 01:26 Introduction & background into our guest

01:27 – 10:42 The prevalence of women’s injuries in sport

10:43 – 21:42 Factors that affect the level of injury risk

21:43 – 39:43 The impact of facilities and football boots

39:44 – 42:23 Adapting the design and size of the football

42:24 – 47:40 Injury prevention and future research

47:41 – 50:15 Episode recap and conclusion

E52: The rise of diversity in women's football

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Aditi Chauhan, professional footballer and Loughborough alumna, sits down with host Martin Foster to discuss her experience and career journey, her time at Loughborough University, as well as diving into the evolution of women’s football and the rise of diversity in sport in recent years.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 07:38 Introduction & background on our guest

07:39 – 11:47 Aditi’s time at Loughborough

11:48 – 23:40 The evolution of women’s football & the contrast between the UK and India

23:41 – 31:45 Inequality within women’s football

31:46 – 39:24 The future of women’s sport in India

39:25 – 45:54 The rise of diversity in sport

45:55 – 48:24 Episode recap and conclusion

E51: Building a positive coach-athlete relationship

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Sophia Jowett (Professor in Psychology) and Rebecca Sawiuk (Former Director of Football) sit down with host Martin Foster to discuss the importance of building a positive coach-athlete relationship, as well as its impact on performance.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 04:43 Introduction and background information on our guests

04:44 – 14:18 The evolution of coaching

14:19 – 23:42 The dynamic difference between men’s and women’s football

23:43 – 27:44 Women in football “breaking the concrete ceiling”

27:45 – 39:42 The main traits of a good coach-athlete relationship

39:43 – 43:08 What coaches can do to improve the relationship

43:09 – 53:38 Psychological safety within coaching

53:39 – 56:00 Episode recap and conclusion

E50: 19 years of biomechanics research into elite cricket bowling

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Mark King (Loughborough Professor of Sports Biomechanics) sits down with host Stuart McErlain-Naylor to discuss his 19 years of elite Cricket Bowling Biomechanics research.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 03:39 Intro & background information on our guest

03:40 – 09:30 Attributes of fast bowling

09:31 – 17:26 Biomechanics testing sessions & beginners vs elite athletes

17:27 – 23:21 Putting research findings into practice

23:22 – 28:53 Techniques & avoiding injury

28:54 – 33:15 “Chucking” in fast bowling

33:16 – 35:29 AI & the future of elite cricket biomechanics

35:30 – 38:23 Episode recap & conclusion

E49: National Rehabilitation Centre: Enhancing prosthesis using 3D printing

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Dr Anna Lion (Research Fellow of Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham) and Professor Richard Bibb (Professor of Medical Applications of Design) sit down with host Martin Foster to discuss the Rehabilitation Technologies Network, as well as the development of technology to enhance rehabilitation devices using 3D printing and how it fits within the NRC.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 01:39 Introduction & career background information on our guests

01:40 – 13:27 The Rehabilitation Technologies Network & Research benefits of the NRC

13:28 – 18:26 Network workshops and projects

18:27 – 29:43 Obstacles, collaboration, and 3D-printed prosthetics

29:44 – 47:49 The potential and future of enhancing prosthesis using 3D printing

47:50 – 53:06 Episode recap and conclusion

E48: National Rehabilitation Centre: Exoskeletons and rehabilitation technology

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Dr Michael Craven (Principal Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham) sits down with host Martin Foster to discuss his research into rehabilitation technology, diving into the use of exoskeletons in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, as well as sharing future development plans for the NRC.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 01:58 Introduction & career background information on our guest

01:59 – 09:46 Access to Communication and Technology (ACT)

09:47 – 18:16 Musculoskeletal rehabilitation technology

18:17 – 27:18 The use of exoskeletons in rehabilitation

27:19 – 33:54 Future NRC development and research

33:55 – 37:40 Episode recap and conclusion

E47: National Rehabilitation Centre: The development of the NRC

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Professor Mark Lewis (Dean of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences), Pip Logan (Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange – University of Nottingham), and Miriam Duffy (NRC Programme Director) sit down with host Martin Foster to discuss the development of the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), detailing its clinical benefits, facilities, as well as its long-term impact in the world of rehabilitation.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 01:04 Introduction & career background information on our guests

01:05 – 11:05 NRC & its development

11:06 – 25:16 Collaboration, research and innovation

25:17 – 30:16 The clinical benefits

30:17 – 38:10 NRC facilities

38:11 – 42:05 The long-term impact of the centre

42:06 – 46:04 Episode recap and conclusion

E46: Improving global child health and nutrition

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Paula Griffiths (Professor of Population Health) and Emily Rousham (Professor of Global Public Health) sit down with host Martin Foster to discuss their research, focusing on the health and nutrition challenges that lower and middle-income countries experience. Alongside their international research partners – Dr Elizabeth Kimani-Murage and Rossina Pareja-, they tackle two recent projects in Kenya and Peru, detailing the impact of their work with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Timestamps

00:00 – 07:25 Intro & research background on our guests

07:26 – 22:44 Research project in Kenya – Paula and Elizabeth

22:45 – 41:53 Research project in Peru – Emily and Rossina

41:54 – 47:14 Future research plans

47:15 – 49:56 Episode recap and conclusion

E45: Making decisions in sport: Ashes special

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 14:00:00 +0100

Ed Smith, the former England international batter and ex-National Selector for England cricket, sits down with Host Martin Foster to discuss his knowledge on what it takes to compete at the very highest level of cricket.

Now in a role of Co-Founder of the Institute of Sports Humanities (ISH), Ed talks about his time with England cricket, detailing how change was delivered within the culture of the sport. Additionally, he dissects his decision-making process when selecting candidates for the England team.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 02:29 Introduction & career background information on our guest

02:30 – 09:00 Ed's experiences with the Ashes

09:01 – 20:11 Insight into his former role of Chief Selector

20:12 – 26:09 Coaching, cricket culture and making improvements

26:10 – 41:34 Process/Anti-process & decision-making

41:35 – 46:20 ISH and developing the Leadership in Sport course

46:21 – 47:56 Episode recap and conclusion

E44: Performance analysis in the Netball Super League

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Stuart McErlain-Naylor sits down with Dr Andrew Butterworth, Head of Performance Analysis for the Loughborough Lightning Netball Super League team. They discuss his usual routine as a performance analyst - dissecting his role before, during, and after a match - also detailing the process of communicating findings and feedback to both coaches and players.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 08:57 Introduction & background information on our guest

08:58 – 26:02 Andrew’s role and typical routine

26:02 – 34:26 The evolution of technology – from a Performance Analyst’s perspective

34:27 – 41:20 How the venue and equipment impact Performance Analysis

41:21 – 45:36 Performance analysis through GPS tracking

45:37 – 53:39 Communicating findings and post-match feedback

53:40 – 55:19 Advice on pursuing a career in Performance Analysis

55:20 – 56:18 Episode recap and conclusion

E43: Testing Cristiano Ronaldo's free kick

Wed, 24 May 2023 09:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Stuart McErlain-Naylor sits down with Dr Neal Smith, reader in Biomechanics at Chichester University. They discuss his research on football kicking, his experiences of testing elite athletes, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, and finally, how his findings can be translated into improvement in performance for everyday players.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 03:31 Introduction & career background information on our guest

03:32 – 11:08 The basics of football kicking research

11:09 – 25:40 What goes into a good technique

25:41 – 30:17 Tackling unexpected results

30:18 – 33:12 Communicating the findings

33:13 – 38:32 Testing Cristiano Ronaldo’s free kick

38:33 – 41:35 More information on Neal’s research

41:36 – 42:15 Episode recap and conclusion

E42: Encouraging children's healthy eating through the 3Rs

Wed, 10 May 2023 13:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Martin Foster sits down with Psychology Lecturer Dr Clare Holley, Research Associate Dr Lucy Porter, and Dan Parker, Chief Executive of VegPower. They discuss Dr Holley and Dr Porter’s research into child eating behaviors and temperament, as well as encouraging children to eat their vegetables, highlighting three methods known as “the 3Rs” – Role-modelling, Re-offering, and Rewarding.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 01:08 Introduction & career background information on our guests

01:09 – 03:35 The 3Rs and their importance

03:36 – 18:55 Research findings on the 3Rs and child temperament

18:56 – 31:30 Obstacles parents may encounter + recommended tactics

31:31 – 35:04 VegStars – Development process and features

35:05 – 46:23 Introduction to VegPower + final thoughts and advice on the 3Rs

46:24 – 47:49 Episode recap and conclusion

E41: Representing minors as a football agent

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 14:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Martin Foster sits down with Sports Law lecturer Dr Serhat Yilmaz for a second time. They discuss his research on the topic of football agents representing minors, tackling the elements of good practice, as well as how to combat the malpractice and exploitation that may occur in these situations.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 08:55 Introduction to Serhat’s research on the topic

08:56 – 17:43 Example of football agent malpractice

17:44 – 21:35 Parents as key stakeholders

21:36 – 30:04 The three dimensions of an agent’s practice

30:05 – 34:28 FIFA’s age restrictions for young athletes

34:29 – 35:56 Episode recap and conclusion

E40: Building psychological strength through the 5Cs

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 15:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Martin Foster sits down with Chris Harwood, Sport Psychology professor, and Karl Steptoe, Sport & Performance Psychology Lead. They discuss the development and research behind the 5Cs framework, which aims to make sports psychology more accessible and targeted at helping young people.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 02:04 Introduction & career background information on our guests

02:05 – 08:39 The meaning and purpose of the 5Cs

08:40 – 16:33 The development process

16:34 – 35:03 Implementing the 5Cs in clubs and coaching

35:04 – 42:04 Measuring of the framework

42:05 – 46:32 Quickfire questions

46:33 – 50:07 Future plans for the 5Cs

50:08 – 51:07 Episode recap and conclusion

E39: Overcoming fussy eating

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Martin Foster sits down with Professor Emma Haycraft and Dr Gemma Witcomb, co-creators of the Child Feeding Guide, to discuss their research into how to combat children’s fussy eating.

In Conversation with Matt Rogan: How to disrupt the market with innovation

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Martin Foster sits down with Matt Rogan, author and co-founder of the Two Circles sports agency, to discuss his transition from entrepreneur to leader, as well as the process of creating, developing, and eventually selling the business.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 09:59 Introduction & career background information on our guest

10:00 – 17:27 The inspiration behind Two Circles

17:28 – 23:00 The purpose and management of a sports agency

23:01 – 28:39 The swift and challenging growth of Two Circles

28:40 – 32:28 The proudest moments within the agency

32:29 – 35:29 Selling the business

35:30 – 42:33 Reflecting on Two Circles’ journey

42:34 – 47:56 Keeping busy, writing “All to Play For”

47:57 – 51:24 What’s next for Matt Rogan

51:25 – 52:34 Episode recap and conclusion

E38: FIFA’s new licensing model for football agents

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Martin Foster sits down with Sports Agent and Sports Law lecturer Dr Serhat Yilmaz. They discuss FIFA’s recent regulation changes on licensing sports agents, as well as the consequences and reasoning behind them.

Time Stamps:

00:00 – 02:04 Introduction & career background information on our guest

02:05 – 17:01 The changes and regulations of FIFA licensing agents

17:02 – 22:17 The new licensing model

22:18 – 28:09 Key changes of the new framework

28:10 – 35:05 Becoming a licenced agent

35:06 – 38:48 Serhat’s Sports Agent course

38:49 – 39:50 Episode recap and conclusion

E37: The role of sport in human evolution

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 09:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Martin Foster sits down with ultra-endurance athlete and multiple world-record holder Dr Danny Longman. They discuss his experience, as well as his research on the role of sport in understanding human evolution, adaptation, and function in challenging environments.

Time Stamps:

00:00 – 01:00 Introduction & career background information on our guest

01:01 – 11:57 Longman’s world records & competition experiences

11:58 – 17:38 Longman’s research into human evolution

17:39 – 28:21 An athlete’s distribution of energy & the “Life History” theory

28:22 – 31:07 The balance between physical and cognitive performance & the “Selfish Brain” hypothesis

31:08 – 39:45 The relationship between endurance, sport, and human adaptation

39:46 – 43:15 The benefits of Longman’s research

43:16 – 47:09 Future research plans

47:10 – 48:02 Episode recap and conclusion

E36: The psychology of becoming an elite athlete

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Martin Foster sits down with Paul Wylleman, clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Brussels, to discuss the transition from junior to senior level that athletes undergo as part of their career.

Time Stamps:

00:00 – 02:57 Introduction & career background information on our guest

02:58 – 06:28 Overview of an athlete’s transition from junior to senior level

06:29 – 13:16 How the Holistic Athlete Career model (HAC) was developed

13:17 – 18:34 Detailing the diverse transition experiences of junior elite athletes

18:35 – 25:17 The psychosocial impact of transitioning

25:18 – 31:06 The athlete identity

31:07 – 39:17 The importance and diversity of coach-athlete dynamics

37:18 – 45:06 Athletes in higher education

45:07 – 47:38 Preparing athletes for the transition (https://www.dualcareertools.com/)

47:39 – 55:26 The financial and legal aspects of the HAC model

55:27 – 59:34 Struggling vs. coping with the transition

59:35 – 1:01:59 The future of this branch of research

1:02:00 – 1:03:30 Episode recap and conclusion

E35: How to stay motivated on your new year fitness journey

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0100

In a new season of Experts in Sport, host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) is joined in the studio by Dr Ian Taylor (Senior Lecturer in Psychology) to discuss how to keep our gym wear from gathering dust.

Time Stamps:

00:00 – 00:59 Introduction & career background information on our guest and host

01:00 – 05:52 Goal-setting in order to stay motivated to exercise

05:53 – 09:04 The balance between reducing effort and increasing motivation

09:05 – 12:58 Using enjoyment and short-term benefits to motivate oneself

12:59 – 16:19 Identity as an aspect of motivation

16:20 – 18:13 Exercising as early in the day as possible

18:14 – 22:34 Finding an activity that balances both movement and personal enjoyment

22:35 – 30:30 Gradually increasing the intensity in a new type of exercise

30:31 – 33:55 Episode recap and conclusion

E34: Wellbeing in professional sport

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0100

Steve Johnson, Chief Executive Officer at the Wellbeing Science Institute discusses psychology and wellbeing to enhance sporting success both on and off the pitch.

00:00 – 03:38 Introduction & career background information on our guest

03:39 – 05:18 The beginning of the wellbeing science institute and the collaboration with Loughborough University

05:19 – 10:05 The win-win Leadership scenario – How to make both the organisation and its people succeed

10:06 – 13:58 Transformational & female leadership within the sporting industry – the importance of diversity

13:59 – 15:32 Defining Well-being and its importance on individual’s potential, and life quality

15:33 – 17:42 Usage of evidence-based approach within the Wellbeing science Institute

17:43 – 20:13 A practical model to enhance athletes’ wellbeing

20:14 – 26:49 Wellbeing as a performance enabler tool & 3 organisational approaches towards it

26:50 – 31:50 Bridge the gap between professional and personal level in a professional sporting environment

31:51 – 36:04 Benefits of multi-dimensional approach towards professional sport and the importance of a varied disciplinary education

36:03 – 38:09 How to measure short and long term success of a wellbeing program

38:10 – 43:47 The development of an organisational wellbeing strategy with the Australian NRL

43:48 – 47:45 The collaboration with Loughborough University and its impact of the wellbeing course on the university’s performance lifestyle teams.

47:46 – 49:04 Episode conclusion

E33: Commonwealth Games special

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0100

Experts in Sport welcomes guests involved in the Commonwealth games with a range of practitioners from Loughborough University and beyond.

Time Stamps -

0:00:00 Welcome

0:00:20 Professor Vicky Tolfrey, Professor of Applied Disability Sport and Director of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport

0:07:03 Jonathon Riall, Team England Triathlon Team Leader and Head of Performance Services at the British Paralympic Association

0:17:23 Ben Stephenson, Research Assistant in Sports Performance at Loughborough University

0:23:53 Dr Chris McLeod, an expert in eating behaviour at Loughborough University

0:43:35 Dr David Fletcher, Sport Psychologist at Loughborough University

0:50:25 Professor Mike Caine, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Sport and Professor of Sport Technology and Innovation at Loughborough University

E32: Leadership secrets that drive high performing teams

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 16:00:00 +0100

Experts in Sport podcast host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) sits down with John Steele, Loughborough Sport’s Executive Director of Sport, to unearth leadership secrets that drive high performing teams.

Time Stamps -

00:00 – 1:35 Introduction & background information on the episode’s guests

1:36 – 3:35 Career beginning and the passion for leadership

3:36 – 6:00 “Serve to lead” - modern leadership with heart and mind

6:01 – 9:06 The difference between management and leadership

9:07 – 12:24 Culture and leadership behaviour to enhance high performance environment

12:15 – 17:39 Personal development - the process of leading through emotional connection

17:40 – 22:43 Transition from player to Director of Rugby and different styles of leadership

22:44 – 25:22 The importance of leading through others and multi-dimensional behaviour

25:23 – 29:52 Discussing what makes an excellent team and the significance of a varied recruitment of leaders

29:53 – 32:07 Advice for students and future development in the field of leadership

32:08 – 34:51 Self-reflection and significant career learning points

34:52 – 37:18 Create your personal leadership model in your style

37:19 – 38:12 Episode conclusion

E31: Sustainability and climate change impacts on sport

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0100

In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, guests Dr Maddie Orr and Dr Russell Seymour, provide an informative discussion on sport, climate change and sustainability.

During the episode, host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) and the researchers, both of whom have vast scientific experience in environmental studies, explain how climate change can affect current sporting events.

E30: From intern to chairman: Former chairman of IMG Media, Michel Masquelier

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 11:00:00 +0100

Michel Masquelier, former chairman of IMG Media, covers 35 years in sports business and how he went from an intern to chairman as part of the largest sports management agency in the world. He discusses working with famous athletes and bluechip companies along his career path.

E29: Former Financial Controller at City Football Group tells his story

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:00:00 +0100

The latest Experts in Sport podcast sees Loughborough University alumnus Neill Wood explain how he became Financial Controller at City Football Group (CFG).

During the first episode of 2022, Neill speaks with host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) to talk about how his career at global business giants EY (formerly known as Ernst & Young) and Microsoft helped him climb the ladder and land one of sports’ most coveted roles.

Tokyo Talk: Evidence-based classification in Paralympic sport

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 11:00:00 +0100

In the latest episode of the ‘Experts in Sport’ podcast Loughborough University’s Head of Para Sport Nik Diaper looks into evidence-based classification in Paralympic sport and the role that research can play in achieving it.

The group, brought together by Professor Vicky Tolfrey, sees Nik joined by Emma Wiggs MBE, a Paracanoe athlete and 2016 Rio Paralympic Gold Medallist, Iain Gowans, Classification Manager for the British Paralympic Association and Dr Barry Mason, a Senior Research Associate at the University’s Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport – who has since moved to Head of GB Wheelchair Rugby’s Performance team.

The panel discuss some of their own experiences with Classification and evidence-based classification research, highlighting the importance of Classification within Paralympic sport.

Tokyo Talk: Para-sports against Stigma

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0100

Para-athlete and research associate Sam Ruddock discusses the Paralympic Games, stigma and changing attitudes around the worlds with a range of guests.

Tokyo Talk: Dysfunctional breathing, asthma and athletes

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 15:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Sam Winter, Senior Lecturer from Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, and Professor John Dickinson, an established international expert for applied practice and research into athlete respiratory care.

Sam, John and Martin discuss a range of topics around respiratory physiology, including the basics of breathing and breathing techniques, the implications of asthma and asthma treatment in elite sport and how research is helping to diagnose and help dysfunctional breathing.

Tokyo Talk: Doping in sport

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 11:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by Professor James Skinner, Dr Daniel Read and Professor Barry Houlihan to discuss drug testing athletes, why they dope and much more...

Tokyo Talk: Biomechanics of endurance running and the effects of new generation running shoes

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 11:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster looks into the biomechanics of endurance running with Dr Sam Allen, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, and Dr Steph Forrester, Reader in Sports Engineering and Biomechanics at the Sports Technology Institute.

Tokyo Talk: Reducing injury risk in endurance runners

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 11:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Richard Blagrove and Dr Max Paquette to discuss one of the biggest issues facing elite endurance runners: injury, which can derail training programmes and can prevent runners reaching major championships and achieving success.

Tokyo Talk: Athlete psychology at a Covid-threatened Olympics

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0100

Sport psychologist Dr David Fletcher discusses athlete preparations for an Olympics that may not have taken place due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Tokyo Talk: Maximising sleep patterns for performing in different time zones

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0100

Sleep expert Professor Kevin Morgan discusses the impacts of competing in a different time zone and how athletes can prepare to ensure that their performance isn't hindered.

Tokyo Talk: How athletes prepare to compete in extreme heat

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0100

Heat expert Dr Lee Taylor discusses how top athletes can best prepare to compete in hot weather conditions such as those expected at the Tokyo Olympics.

E27: The power of performance analysis

Mon, 17 May 2021 03:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by performance analysis (PA) expert Mike Hughes and Donald Barron, Applied Performance Analysis Lead at Loughborough University to delve a little deeper into the subject and discover how performance analysis has grown immensely in sport with data now playing a key role in influencing decisions both on and off the field of play.

E26: The importance of recovery in elite-level sport

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 16:00:00 +0100

Within sport, it is well known that recovery plays an important part of any training schedule, but how exactly does this impact team sports?

Host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) is joined by Dr Tom Clifford, from the University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Lauren Delany, Loughborough University alumna, and Performance Nutritionist for Leeds Rhinos, and Dr Will Abbott, Academy Performance Manager at Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.

E25: Does stronger = faster?

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 01:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by Professor JB Morin from Université Jean Monnet and Dr Bill Horg, Strength and Conditioning Lead at Loughborough University, to discuss measuring force, velocity and power in jumping and sprinting.

E24: Exercise, immune system and cancer

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Mhairi Morris, Lecturer in Biochemistry from Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.

Mhairi and Martin discuss a whole host of topics around cancer, including how the immune system responds to the disease, the potential preventative benefits of exercise, and further advice on physical activity to improve the effectiveness of treatment.

E23: Beating the Heat

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 03:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Lee Taylor, Reader in Exercise & Environmental Physiology, where they discuss the challenges posed by next summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Japan, which are widely anticipated to be the hottest and potentially most humid to-date.

E22: Strength Training for Endurance Athletes

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 08:00:00 +0100

Loughborough University's School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences’ Dr Richard Blagrove sits down in conversation with elite level ultrarunner and Red Bull athlete, Tom Evans.

E21: Disordered eating - just how common is it in elite level sport?

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0100

Former England cricketer Freddie Flintoff’s recent BBC documentary ‘Living with Bulimia’ sparked conversations regarding eating disorders, particularly amongst elite level athletes. But how commonplace are such health challenges?

Dr Carolyn Plateau, Senior Lecturer in Psychology explains that eating disorders may well be more common in athletes than initially thought and touches on the role that coaches and parents can play in spotting the early signs of negative eating issues.

E20: The truth about exercise and weight management

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr James King, Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences to take a closer look at the relationship between exercise and weight management.

E19: Para sport special: What does it take to become successful on the world stage?

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0100

As the clock counts down to next summer’s postponed Paralympics Games, this week’s ‘Experts in Sport’ podcast takes a timely look at what it takes to create an optimum performance environment for ParalympicsGB.

In this special episode, host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) is joined by Penny Briscoe, Director of Sport at the British Paralympic Association and Loughborough University’s Head of Para Sport, Nik Diaper.

E18: Race, ethnicity, and racism in sports coaching

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 10:00:00 +0100

In this week’s special edition of the Experts in Sport Podcast, host Martin Foster introduces an international online forum featuring leading academics looking at the key themes in race, ethnicity, and racism in sports coaching.

Organised by Loughborough University’s Dr Steven Bradbury in collaboration with Dr Jim Lusted (Open University) and Dr Jacco Van Sterkenburg (Erasmus University) the forum features contributions from leading ‘race’ and sport scholars in the US, Europe and Australia.

E17: ‘Support, develop, empower’ - the dual-career journey of an athlete

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 11:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Emily Cartigny (research associate for the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) and Simon Wombwell (Education and Development Manager at Loughborough University) to discuss the pros and cons within a dual-career, how the delivery of educational tools have had to be adapted during the lockdown period, and the importance of providing on-going support to the individual, with a particular focus on psychology and lifestyle.

E16: Why the best players sometimes don't make it...

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 15:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) is joined by Loughborough University’s Richard Allen (Director of Football) and Jamie Taylor (Performance Rugby Coach) to discuss talent identification in sport and how professional clubs can do better to support player development.

E15: As athletes begin to return to training – what should practitioners be doing?

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 15:00:00 +0100

Regular hosts Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) and Dr Martin Lindley (Senior Lecturer and Director of Biosciences) are joined by Loughborough University’s Head of Strength and Conditioning Chris Wright, and fellow coaches Adam Whitney and Stephen Breisner to discuss how support teams now have the difficult task of managing workloads and helping ensure the transition back to the ‘norm’ runs as smoothly as possible.

E14: How can dietary nitrates improve elite level athlete performance?

Thu, 28 May 2020 15:00:00 +0100

Guest host Dr Martin Lindley, Senior Lecturer and Director of Biosciences, is joined by Dr Stephen Bailey, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Nutrition and Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead), as a number of topics, including the potential benefits of supplementation, are discussed.

E13: What role does community sport play in tackling serious youth violence?

Fri, 15 May 2020 08:00:00 +0100

With youth violence continuing to be a serious issue in UK society, this week’s Experts in Sport’ podcast looks at the role sport can play in supporting those at risk.

Host Martin Foster is joined by Loughborough University’s Dr Carolynne Mason, Lecturer in Sport Management, from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences and Graham Helm, National Doorstep Sport Advisor for StreetGames, a national charity that helps bring sport to disadvantaged communities.

E12: Can supplements boost your immune system?

Tue, 05 May 2020 10:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by regular contributor Dr Martin Lindley, Senior Lecturer and Director of Biosciences within the University’s School of Sport, Health and Exercises Sciences, and Mike Gleeson, Professor of Exercise Biochemistry, to discuss what role – if any – supplements can play for both the general population and elite level athletes.

E11: Exercise, immune defence and illness in elite athletes

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 11:00:00 +0100

With competition across the globe currently on pause, attention within sport has turned to maintaining athlete health and well-being.

In this week’s Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) is joined by the University’s Lettie Bishop, Professor of Exercise Immunology, and Dr Martin Lindley, Senior Lecturer and Director of Biosciences within the School of Sport, Health and Exercises Sciences.

The panel discuss exercise, immune defence and illness in elite athletes, training volume and intensity and its potential impact on immune function, with the experts concluding with advice to elite athletes regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic.

E10: Has concussion in sport hit crisis point?

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 13:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Dominic Malcolm, Reader in Sociology of Sport, and Kerry Glendon, a physiotherapist for Loughborough Sport to discuss concussions in sport.

E9: What is Strength?

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0100

Host Martin Foster is joined by Professor Jonathan Folland and Dr Richard Blagrove to discuss strength, how you build it and what methods are best for your fitness goals.

E8: Does sponsorship in sport have an unhealthy relationship with junk food?

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:00:00 +0100

To kick off 2020, host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) is joined by Joe Piggin, senior lecturer in Sport Management, to discuss junk food sponsorship in sport and its potential impact on wider society.

E7: Athlete development and injuries

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:00:00 +0100

Loughborough University’s Al Stewart, Head of Performance Support / Strength & Conditioning Lead at the new National Tennis Academy, is joined by Enda King, Head of Performance Rehabilitation at SSC Sports Medicine, Dublin, to talk about the importance of athlete development and how to work with individuals going through injury.

E6: Corruption in Sport (Part 2)

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 08:00:00 +0100

In the second of a two-part series, Dr Argyro Elisavet Manoli, of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, is joined by co-hosts Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) and producer Siddhanth D’Souza to delve a little deeper into the murky world of gaining an unfair advantage.

E5: Corruption in Sport (Part 1)

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 15:00:00 +0100

In the first of a two-part series, Dr Argyro Elisavet Manoli, of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, is joined by co-hosts Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) and producer Siddhanth D’Souza to delve a little deeper into the murky world of gaining an unfair advantage.

During the episode, Dr Manoli discusses the origins of corruption in sport, detailing how it has been around “for as long as humans have been alive…with the first documented cases in the second or the third century BC during the Olympic Games in Greece.”

E4: How to become one of the world’s best coaches

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 14:00:00 +0100

Matt Little, Andy Murray’s Strength and Conditioning Coach of the past 10 years, talks through his first steps in the industry, the skills he’s developed and how young coaches can stand out from the crowd.

E3: Female athletes and the menstrual cycle

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0100

Dr Richard Blagrove, Lecturer in Physiology, meets with Dr Georgie Bruinvels, Research Scientist at Orreco and co-creator of FitrWoman discuss how performance can be affected by the menstrual cycle and the methods coaches and managers can use to approach the subject without fear of embarrassment.

E2: How will Brexit impact the Premier League?

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 06:00:00 +0100

As Britain braces itself to leave the European Union on October 31st, question marks remain over the true lasting impact, if any at all, that this will have on UK businesses and its assets.

Sport is of course no different and the Premier League - with its record revenue of £4.5bn - could seriously feel the pinch according to Loughborough University’s Senior Lecturer in Sport Management and Policy, Dr Borja Garcia.

E1: Sports Psychology at an Elite Level

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0100

The Experts in Sport series begins with a discussion on sports psychology with Professor Paul Wylleman from the University of Brussels, alongside Loughborough University’s Dr Karl Steptoe.

Here, the role Sport Psychologists play at an elite level is discussed, as is the development of the discipline, and the importance of adopting an interdisciplinary approach.

An introduction to Experts in Sport

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 11:00:00 +0100

Find out why you should listen to Experts in Sport: The Loughborough University Sportcast, a podcast which brings together sporting excellence and academic knowledge.