Best Simon Smyth Podcasts (2026)

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178: Emily Huston - The Cliff Effect in Sport 57:30

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24d ago57:30

57:30

Send us a text What happens when the only life you’ve known as an athlete suddenly stops? For many, the answer is silence, confusion, and a deep sense of loss. Emily Huston, a former USA volleyball player and founder of Home Team, joins Ryan for a real, thoughtful conversation about life after sport. From discovering her love for the outdoors to na…

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177 - Lloyd Ashley: I Fell Through a Ceiling And Landed a Career 1:00:29

29d ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Send us a text Lloyd Ashley spent years on the pitch as a professional rugby player. But what came after is just as powerful. In this episode, we sit down with Lloyd to talk about what it really means to transition from sport, how identity shifts when the structure fades, and how building a career in player support gave him purpose off the field. F…

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176: Dr Zak Zafrani - Low Testosterone in Athletes: The Hidden Cost 48:45

1M ago48:45

48:45

Send us a text Dr. Zak Zafrani joins us for a conversation that breaks open a topic rarely discussed in sport: testosterone deficiency in men, especially in aging athletes. If you're feeling tired, low on drive, or like you're losing your edge long before you should, this episode will make you rethink what's “normal.” Zak is a UK-based doctor with …

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175: Simon Cox: A Striker’s Full Circle: Football Lessons Fueling A Fitness Business 44:30

2M ago44:30

44:30

Send us a text Simon Cox dreamed of playing for Reading FC. That was the goal. And while he wore the badge early in his career, it took almost 10 years and hundreds of games across leagues and countries before he finally earned his first start. In this episode, Simon opens up about the full-circle journey from youth academy to international footbal…

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174: Jabari Smith - How He Thought Sport Was the Destination, It Turned Out to Be the Launchpad. 1:19:05

2M ago1:19:05

1:19:05

Send us a text Jabari K. Smith grew up believing sport would be his ticket out. He had the talent, the drive, and the stats to back it up. But when the NFL didn’t come calling, he was forced to reckon with something much harder: the silence after the final game. In this episode, Jabari shares his extraordinary journey from gang-affected childhood, …

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173 - Charlie Hartley: How A Former Pro Cricketer Turned Frustration Into Fan-Tech Innovation 42:57

2M ago42:57

42:57

Send us a text Charlie Hartley was living the dream. A professional cricketer who’d taken out top international players. Then, just weeks later, he was released. No warning, no time to prepare. Just a crash course in letting go of the identity he had built his life around. In this episode, Charlie opens up about the highs of pro sport, the brutal b…

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172 - Nekoda Smythe-Davis: Leaving Sport Broke Me, But It Also Brought Me Home to Myself 1:03:01

2M ago1:03:01

1:03:01

Send us a text Nekoda Smythe-Davis didn’t grow up dreaming of Olympic medals. She was just a girl from a London council estate who found her way onto the mat, fell in love with judo, and kept showing up through wins, losses, injuries, and identity shifts. In this conversation, she opens up about the weight of expectations, the complexity of walking…

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171 - Laura Sidall Gave Up a Corporate Career to Chase Sport at 34, and Built a 10-Year Career in Triathlon 1:07:46

3M ago1:07:46

1:07:46

Send us a text Laura Sidall didn’t grow up dreaming of world championship podiums. In fact, by the time she started triathlon, she was already deep into a corporate career as an engineer. But something inside her kept whispering, what if you gave sport your all? How good could you be? So at 34, she left the comfort of her steady salary, moved count…

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170: Jamie Soward - From NRL Premierships to Ego and Finding Purpose in Government (and $6,000 toilets) 46:25

3M ago46:25

46:25

Send us a text Jamie Soward opens up about chasing the footy dream without a clear pathway, losing it all twice, and what it really took to reinvent himself. From writing résumés at 16 to training while on the dole, to playing in front of 60,000 fans and then selling toilets, Jamie's journey is as humbling as it is honest. He’s played State of Orig…

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169: Rach Taylor - From Chasing Olympic Gold to Building a Life Beyond the Boat 1:06:59

3M ago1:06:59

1:06:59

Send us a text Rach Taylor knows what it means to sacrifice everything for one goal. She was Rach the Rower, a girl from rural Australia who made it all the way to the Olympic podium. But after winning silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she found herself couch surfing, broke and questioning her worth outside of sport. In this episode, Rach opens u…

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168: Dr Lamia Zafrani - What No One Tells Women in Sport About Pregnancy, Performance, and Recovery 51:56

3M ago51:56

51:56

By Ryan Gonsalves

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167: Abiola Wabara - GloBall Life: Building Bridges for Athletes' Second Wind 48:10

3M ago48:10

48:10

Send us a text When the final whistle blew on her decade-long professional basketball career, Abiola Wabara wasn’t just facing retirement. She was starting over, from scratch. In this raw and candid episode, Abi sits down with host Ryan to share the untold side of life after sport. From playing across Europe and representing Italy’s national team, …

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166: Theo Brown - From Footballer to 10 Jobs in 5 Years 1:05:18

3M ago1:05:18

1:05:18

Send us a text Theo Brown opens up about the messy, uncertain path from elite academy footballer to non-league player, to juggling ten different jobs in five years, before finally stepping into his purpose as a social entrepreneur. He was once chasing football dreams at Leicester City. But after injury setbacks and getting released, life after spor…

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165: Gerrit-Jan van Velze - Life Beyond the Final Whistle: Sheep, Shoes and Secondwind 49:37

4M ago49:37

49:37

Send us a text Gerrit-Jan van Velze spent nearly two decades in professional rugby, captaining clubs like Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors. But in this conversation, it's not just the matches or medals that stand out — it's what came after, and everything he had to figure out along the way. In this episode, GJ opens up about moving from So…

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164: Emmanuel Smith - From Superbowl LIV winner to Sales winner - You are more than your jersey number 1:11:37

4M ago1:11:37

1:11:37

Send us a text Emmanuel spent years chasing a dream that so many young athletes grow up holding: making it in the NFL. But behind the highlight reels and ambition was a quieter story. One of internal pressure, identity struggle, and eventually, the courage to say, this isn't who I am anymore. In this episode, Ryan talks with Emmanuel about what it …

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163: Kayla Byrne - The Art of Pivot: Basketball Dreams to Giving Back to her Alma Mater 59:06

4M ago59:06

59:06

Send us a text Kayla spent years chasing the dream of playing basketball overseas. She trained, sacrificed, and pushed through setbacks with the goal of turning pro. But after college, that dream didn’t happen. What followed was a quiet but difficult shift. One where she had to face the question that many athletes avoid until it’s too late: What no…

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162: Dr Chris Platts - A Better Way to Navigate Your Career After Sport 1:16:11

5M ago1:16:11

1:16:11

Send us a text Chris Platts spent over a decade tracking the careers of 303 young footballers. The result? A raw, honest look at what actually happens in the world of professional sport. Some players made it to the Premier League. Others left with nothing. Many fell somewhere in between. Chris is a career coach and academic whose work focuses on he…

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161: The Truth About Life After Sport That No One Tells You, with Stewart McCully 59:22

5M ago59:22

59:22

Send us a text Stewart McCully has spent his life around high performers, from elite athletes to engineers, from corporate execs to sheep shearers. In this episode, he joins Ryan to talk about what it means to guide people through high-pressure environments and major transitions. A former SANFL footballer and teacher, Stewart now helps athletes and…

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160: Tara Arthur on Letting Go of the Athlete Identity 44:14

5M ago44:14

44:14

Send us a text Tara was known for one thing: martial arts. It shaped how she moved through the world. It gave her discipline, confidence, community, and a sense of direction. But somewhere along the way, the structure that once supported her started to feel like a box she no longer fit inside. Leaving wasn’t easy. It wasn’t a dramatic moment. It wa…

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159: Sophia Parvizi-Wayne: Finding Balance When You Want to Be the Best at Everything 57:21

5M ago57:21

57:21

Send us a text What do you do when the one thing you thought you were meant to do doesn’t work out? In this episode, we meet Sophia, a former academy footballer who faced the heartbreak of being released before ever turning pro. But instead of letting it define her, she turned the page and built something even more powerful. From navigating identit…

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158: Sandile's Journey from Football to Software 44:50

6M ago44:50

44:50

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Sandile, a former football academy player whose journey took an unexpected turn when the pandemic paused everything. What started as a pursuit of pro football has now evolved into a career in tech, mentorship, and agri-business. His story is about staying ready, reinventing with intention, and findin…

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157: Ed Jones II - The Big 5 Mentorship Structures & Solving Real Problems 52:13

6M ago52:13

52:13

Send us a text What happens when a former athlete takes his love for sports and turns it into a movement? In this episode, Ryan sits down with Ed Jones II, founder of Beyond the Field, to unpack how a childhood filled with competition, community, and coaching evolved into a career centered around impact. Ed shares his journey from fast-footed kid i…

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156: John Tarnoff - How to embrace the beginner’s mindset, mid-career navigation tips for career strategy 43:29

6M ago43:29

43:29

Send us a text What if your career isn’t over, it just needs a reset? In this episode, we’re joined by John Tarnoff, career coach and author of Boomer Reinvention, who shares how he completely pivoted after being laid off at 50. From Hollywood executive to helping thousands navigate second and third careers, John’s story is real, relatable, and pac…

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155: Jeff "The Hornet" Horn - WBO Welterweight Champion to Teaching Respect through Bullyproof 39:52

6M ago39:52

39:52

Send us a text When Jeff Horn stepped into the ring against Manny Pacquiao in 2017, few believed the former schoolteacher could defeat a boxing legend. His stunning victory to become world champion capped an unlikely journey that began when he was a bullied teenager searching for confidence. Unlike most elite boxers, Horn discovered the sport at 18…

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154: Freddie Woodword - The Quiet Identity Crisis of an Olympian 1:12:08

6M ago1:12:08

1:12:08

Send us a text What do you do when your biggest career milestone happens at 23 and you're not even sure how you got there? For Freddie Woodword, representing Team GB in diving at the Olympics was both the dream and the beginning of a much deeper journey. In this episode, we dive into Freddie’s fascinating transition from elite athlete to cruise shi…

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153: Kate Bailey PLY - From Paralympic Medals to the Classroom 55:27

7M ago55:27

55:27

Send us a text Kate takes us back to her early swimming days, competing in the Sydney and Athens Paralympics, and what it felt like to walk away from the pool after years of intense training. She opens up about facing subtle (and not-so-subtle) discrimination as a para-athlete, the identity crisis that followed retirement, and how she unexpectedly …

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152: Tom Morton: A Tweet That Ended It All, Redefining Success After Pro Rugby 1:04:51

7M ago1:04:51

1:04:51

Send us a text What happens when your pro sports career ends with a tweet? Tom Morton found out the hard way. While playing rugby in New Zealand, he saw on social media that his contract with Sale Sharks wasn’t being renewed. No phone call. No meeting. Just a public post that blindsided him completely. From training with England’s under-20s to waki…

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151: Josh Katz on Finding Balance: An Olympian’s Quest for Purpose Beyond Sport 1:04:17

7M ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Send us a text Josh Katz shares his journey as an Olympic judo athlete and the challenges of transitioning between career phases while balancing training, education, and business ventures. He discusses how early family influence and prioritizing education alongside sport created a foundation for success beyond the mat. In a nutshell, we talk about:…

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150: Matthew Lloyd - From Olympic Cyclist to Recovery Mentor 1:25:10

7M ago1:25:10

1:25:10

Send us a text Matthew Lloyd, former Australian Olympic cyclist and King of Mountains winner at the Giro d'Italia, shares his powerful journey of transition after career-ending injuries led to addiction and ultimately transformation. In this episode, we chat about how he: • Found freedom and joy in cycling from childhood, exploring nature with his …

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149: Danielle Jordan-Taft - The Power of Proving Yourself and Success Redefined 1:17:50

8M ago1:17:50

1:17:50

Send us a text From hiding handwritten goals under her mattress at age 12 to representing England in netball and later Jamaica in rugby, Danielle shares the defining moments that shaped her unique approach to achievement. She vividly recounts the emotional journey of childhood trials that became her catalyst for success—a painful rejection that tra…

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148: Jimmy Gavin - When the Ball Stops Bouncing: Navigating Life After Seven Years in European Basketball 54:06

8M ago54:06

54:06

Send us a text Jimmy Gavin’s path took him from crushing self-doubt and a life-changing health diagnosis in high school to seven seasons of pro basketball across Europe, through a humbling tech-sales gig, and now into a leadership role directing sports initiatives. Along the way, he discovered that raw honesty, relentless hustle, and a tight-knit s…

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147: Lexi Chambers - Defying Limits: From Amputee to World Record Holder 45:31

8M ago45:31

45:31

Send us a text In this episode Ryan sits down with Lexi Chambers, an adaptive athlete who has shattered expectations and set multiple world records—all while using a standard NHS wheelchair. After a below-the-knee amputation due to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Lexi refused to let disability define her. Instead, she turned to endurance spo…

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146: Jess Borg - How the Olympic dream led to unexpected career paths and a mission to help other athletes 1:01:15

8M ago1:01:15

1:01:15

Send us a text What happens when an 8-year-old’s Olympic dream doesn’t pan out? For Jess, a former elite taekwondo and boxing athlete, it meant reinventing herself—twice—while battling concussions, identity crises, and the harsh realities of transitioning out of sports. In this episode, you’ll hear: - How a diagnosis of low muscle tone led her to t…

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145: Gavin Freeman: How Elite Athletes (and You) Can Master Decision-Making and Career Transition 59:23

9M ago59:23

59:23

Send us a text In today's episode, we dive deep into the real psychology behind career transitions, decision-making, and finding your true path after sport — and why it’s way less logical and way more emotional than you think. We are joined by Gavin Freeman, a sports psychologist, MBA lecturer, and corporate strategist who shares fascinating storie…

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144: Greg Philips - Your Attitude Decides Your Altitude – The Relentless Mindset of a Champion Swimmer 1:09:29

9M ago1:09:29

1:09:29

Send us a text Greg's journey isn't your typical athlete-to-executive story. This is about what happens when you walk away from elite sport cold turkey (for 10 years), then suddenly find yourself pulled back in – while building a career, starting a family, and even stepping into a boxing ring. In this episode, we get raw about: That moment a 24-hou…

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143: Aleisha McCall: Building a Business - Lessons from an Athlete Entrepreneur 52:05

9M ago52:05

52:05

Send us a text Aleisha’s journey from elite synchronized figure skating to founding a rockstar media company is inspiring, and a masterclass in translating athletic discipline into business success. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, we dive into the gritty reality of career transition: the identity crises, the $35,000 gamble that changed everyt…

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142: Rachel Lewis: "Why Can’t We Dream Bigger?" – Olympic Sacrifice, Identity, and Life After Sport 59:55

9M ago59:55

59:55

Send us a text What happens when the roar of the crowd fades and the Olympic dream becomes a memory? For Rachel Lewis, the transition from elite athlete to "what’s next?" wasn’t just a career shift—it was an identity crisis, a financial struggle, and ultimately, a mission to change the game for future athletes. In this raw and inspiring conversatio…

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141: Marnie Wills: Sport, Business, and AI: You Never Lose, You Only Learn 46:11

10M ago46:11

46:11

Send us a text In today's episode, Ryan sits down with Marnie—a former dual international athlete (representing England in both netball and touch rugby), mum of two, and entrepreneur who’s revolutionizing early-years sports education and AI adoption in business. Marnie’s story is one of relentless determination, adaptability, and learning to thrive…

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140: Kuhoo Garg: Blinded By Sporting Excellence - From World #34 to Indian Police Service 53:02

10M ago53:02

53:02

Send us a text When Kuhoo Garg tore her ACL during her comeback tournament after COVID, little did she know this injury would redirect her life's purpose. As a former world #34 badminton player representing India, Kuhoo had dedicated everything to her sport—sacrificing normal college experiences, social connections, and career exploration in pursui…

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139: Tarek Moustafa - Who Are You When the Game Ends? 59:59

10M ago59:59

59:59

Send us a text In today's episode, Ryan sits down with Tarek Moustafa, a passionate advocate for personal development and athlete well-being. Tarek shares his unique journey from being a young boy diagnosed with autism to becoming a mentor, educator, and podcast host. Through his work in schools and his podcast Life in Sport, Tarek is dedicated to …

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138: Andrew Farley - How Chance Conversations Lead To Great Things: From Rugby to Corporate 1:11:41

10M ago1:11:41

1:11:41

Send us a text In this episode, Ryan sits down with Andrew, a former elite rugby player who carved out a 15-year career across Australia, Wales, Ireland, and France. From captaining teams in Europe to managing operations for a global engineering company, Andrew shares how the lessons learned in rugby—discipline, teamwork, and resilience—translated …

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137: Mikel Thomas: How I Overcame Injuries and Adversity to Find Purpose 1:10:10

10M ago1:10:10

1:10:10

Send us a text In today's episode, we sit down with Mikel Thomas, a three-time Olympian whose journey is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. From his humble beginnings in Trinidad and Tobago to the global stage of the Olympics, Mikel's story is one of triumph over adversity, both on and off the track.…

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136: Christine Ngeve - From College Athlete to Mental Health Advocate and Career Coach 49:25

11M ago49:25

49:25

Send us a text In today's episode, Ryan sits down with Christine Ngeve, a former multi-sport college athlete turned mental health advocate and career coach for athletes. Christine’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and the importance of preparing for life beyond sport. From her days as a three-sport athlete at univer…

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135: Mithula Umakanth - From International Badminton Star to Finance Scholar 55:18

11M ago55:18

55:18

Send us a text Transitioning out of a professional sports career is never easy, and for former international badminton player Mithula Umakanth, it was a journey of loss, self-discovery, and reinvention. In this episode, Mithula shares her raw and inspiring story - moving from the highs of elite sports to the uncertainty of finding a new career path…

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134: Mack Horton - Creative Advertising and Embracing Life Beyond Swimming Gold 50:20

11M ago50:20

50:20

Send us a text What happens when an Olympic gold medalist swaps the pool for the office? On this episode, we dive into the incredible journey of former world-class swimmer Mack Horton as he transitions from elite athlete to corporate professional. Mack opens up about the surreal experience of announcing his retirement from professional swimming and…

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133: Rachel Howard - What is a Dual Career: International Goalkeeper and Adidas Leader 1:03:32

11M ago1:03:32

1:03:32

Send us a text What do you do when life throws 25 shots your way? If you’re Rachel Howard, you save them, earn MVP, and rewrite the playbook for success on and off the pitch. From New Zealand’s national goalkeeper to General Manager of the Pacific Region at Adidas, Rachel has mastered the art of rising to the challenge and leaving a lasting impact …

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132: Evan Bush and Julian Gonzalez on Reinventing Careers After Sports 58:17

12M ago58:17

58:17

Send us a text What happens when your career in sports—or any field you’ve poured your soul into—comes to an end? How do you prepare for life after the spotlight? In this episode, we’re exploring these pivotal questions with Evan Bush, a 16-year Major League Soccer veteran and one of the league’s oldest active players, and Julian Gonzalez, a former…

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131: Lewis Paris - How to Build a Fitness Brand From the Ground Up: Community, Exploration and Leadership 1:01:54

12M ago1:01:54

1:01:54

Send us a text What if you let life’s twists guide you instead of forcing the next step? For Lewis Paris, this mindset turned an ACL injury into the foundation of a thriving fitness empire. From dreams of a football career to spinning records as a DJ in Greece, Lewis’s journey is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the power of following li…

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130: Shreya Saksena - Rifle Shooting and Sports Psych: finding dual career balance 50:33

12M ago50:33

50:33

Send us a text Imagine standing perfectly still, focusing on a target 50 meters away as your heartbeat slows to match the rhythm of your breath. Now, picture doing this while navigating the chaos of moving continents, mastering a new language, and building a life with your partner—all while staying true to your identity as an elite athlete. What do…

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129: Karen Brown - Revolutionising Athlete Safety and Sports Pharmacy 51:44

1y ago51:44

51:44

Send us a text What happens when elite sports and cutting-edge medicine intersect? Ryan invites Karen Brown, to the show. Karen Brown is an award-winning pharmacist and former Queensland Firebirds netball star transforming how athletes approach health, performance, and safety. Through Batch Tested, Australia’s leading platform for rigorously tested…