This is a rebroadcast of episode #2 of The Game Changer podcast, featuring Dr Craig Harrison.

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"What does it really take for young athletes to succeed? In this episode of The Game Changer podcast, we sit down with Dr. Craig Harrison, expert in youth athlete development, founder of the Athlete Development Project, and host of The Athlete Development Show to challenge common beliefs about training, success, and the role of parents in sports.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Youth Athlete Development – The biggest misconceptions parents & coaches have.
• What Separates Elite Athletes – The key qualities needed for long-term success.
• The Parent’s Role in Sports – How to support without adding pressure.
• The Power of Environment – How the right setting shapes an athlete’s future.
• Goal Setting & Motivation – Habits that drive young athletes to achieve success.

Whether you're a parent, coach, or young athlete, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice to help navigate the complex world of youth sports development."

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What if talent development wasn’t just about creating better athletes but better people?

In this conversation, I sit down with Barnaby Sargent Megicks, a researcher who spent weeks inside a cricket academy, not just watching but truly understanding what makes a talent system work. His focus isn’t just on performance but on how young athletes grow as people, how they balance their sport with school and life, and how the environments they’re in shape their future, both in and out of the game.

We dig into the tension between chasing peak performance and developing life skills, the power of relationships in coaching, and what it really takes to create a system that prepares athletes for success - not just on the field, but in life.

Barnaby’s insights are built on real experiences, deep research, and countless hours spent with young cricketers navigating the demands of elite sport.

Enjoy!

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On the show this week, Dave Wright rejoins me for another episode of The Curious Mind. Our conversation focuses on the skills you need to develop great young leaders.

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For more on creating game changing environments that unlock meaningful progress, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.

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Suzie Muirhead is the creator of Raise My Game, a tool designed to help athletes and their coaches navigate performance planning, personal growth, and decision-making. Suzie’s journey—from New Zealand hockey player to mentor and innovator—has shaped her belief that true development starts with ownership, trust, and the right conversations.

Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this episode is packed with insights to help you level up. Enjoy!

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For more on creating EPIC learning environments that bring out the best in your athletes, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.

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There are two ways to affect learning and development. Direct contact with the individuals and teams in front of you, or by influencing the system of which they are part of. My guest on today’s show has spent time doing both, first as a youth team coach at Sydney Football Club and then as Academy Manager. His name is Nick Susko and he played a pivotal role in shaping one of the most successful talent development programs in Australian sport, with over 60 graduates signing professional contracts and dozens representing Australia at every level of the game.

In this conversation, we explore the evolving landscape of youth football, including how systems thinking revolutionised Nick’s coaching philosophy and transformed the way he nurtured talent.

Together, Nick and I dig deeper into:

• How collaboration with local schools reshaped player support networks at Sydney FC
• Building sustainable success through quality coaching practices
• Creating psychological safety within the academy environment
• The complexities and challenges of player selection
• Breaking away from traditional youth sport narratives
• Understanding the key elements that help players reach their potential
• The growing role of technology and AI in football development
• Finding balance in youth development
• Making the learning process both meaningful and enjoyable

I love the way Nick thinks about development and I’m super excited to share it with you.

Enjoy!

For more on creating EPIC learning environments that bring out the best in your athletes and yourself, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.

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In the ‘Best of’ collection for 2024, I’ve pulled together some of the most insightful moments from your favourite guests this year to help you revisit some powerful lessons.

In part two of this 3-part series, we hear from Head of Physical Development at West Ham United Football Academy, Dr David Johnson, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Queen Ethelburga’s School, Dr Ffion Thompson, and Lecturer in Strength and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Dr John Radnor.

All 3 guests can be heard in full in their respective episodes linked below:

• ADS 163 Dr David Johnson
• ADS 170 Dr Ffion Thompson
• ADS 174 Dr John Radnor

We kick off this anthology episode hearing from John about the holistic impact a great S&C coach can have on their athletes.

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In the Best Of 2024 collection, I’ve pulled together some of the most insightful moments from your favourite guests to help you revisit some powerful lessons.

In part one of this 3-part series, we hear from Founder of the Atua Matua, Dr Ihirangi Heke, People Developer, Rusty Earnshaw, and Performance Breakthrough Specialist, Dr Richard Young.

All 3 guests can be heard in full in their respective episodes linked below:

• ADS 163 Dr Ihirangi Heke
• ADS 170 Rusty Earnshaw
• ADS 174 Dr Richard Young

We kick off this anthology episode hearing from Richard about the powerful idea he calls the ‘busy middle’.

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Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at http://www.drcraigharrison.com/

Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.

Connect with Craig:

Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/
Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrison
Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrison

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At the age of 17, my guest on today’s show received advice from her ski coach that led to her drop out. Although well intended, is was advice lacking in awareness of female physiology.

Dr Julia Casadio is a sport physiologist and applied researcher with over 15 years of experience in elite sport. She has spent most of her career in the Performance Physiology team at High Performance Sport New Zealand.

Julia and I connected around her latest project, Her Strength, a science-based digital platform designed to educate on the unique needs of the young female athlete.

In this conversation, we learn all about Her Strength, including who’s it for, what it covers, and why Julia is so passionate about making an impact. We start off hearing about the lessons Julia is learning running her own business .

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Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at http://www.drcraigharrison.com/

Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.

Connect with Craig:

Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/
Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrison
Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrison

Support the show