How did you get into sport?

David Clancy - How to get a job in pro sport...Literally! Co-founder & CEO of The Nxt Level Group.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110776/fan_mail/new] David is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Nxt Level Group, a company specialising in identifying and placing top talent across some of the world’s biggest sporting organisations, including the English Premier League, NFL, NBA, NWSL, and La Liga, to name a few. What makes David’s journey particularly unique is that he hasn’t just operated in recruitment he’s lived the world of high performance. With over 15 years’ experience as a sports physiotherapist working with elite teams and athletes, he brings a rare perspective to the industry. His experience extends even further, from working as a rehabilitation specialist with Isokinetic Medical Group, to co-founding multiple businesses, authoring a book, and hosting a podcast where he interviews high performers across sport, business, the arts, and the military. In this conversation, David shares practical insights on securing a role in high-performance sport, while also opening up about his own journey filled with extreme highs, setbacks, and the ongoing challenge of balancing family, purpose, and fulfilment. It’s this combination of lived experience and honest reflection that positions David to offer valuable insight into not just getting a role in sport, but also thriving within it. Highlights from the episode… * After an eclectic childhood and an initial interest in journalism, how David eventually fell into physiotherapy and built a career across some of the biggest organisations and teams in the world. * Where did David get this courage to feel confident in the various roles and  fields he's succeeded in?  * How David avoided being “institutionalised” and his ability to pivot away from a 15 year + career in sports physiotherapy and still thrive beyond his skill set as a physio. * His initial transition out of “conventional employment” to “entrepreneurship” was met with never-ending challenges and what David did to help him persevere through those tough times. * The common tension of building a career filled with personal fulfilment and purpose; and also doing what’s best for your family. * What do you want out of your career? A questions that often most don't ask and why it's important. * David is directly involved in the recruitment of top talent for some the most well respected sports organisation. He shares what separates the people who go on to secure roles to those who don’t. * The specific questions practitioners should ask when applying for roles in sport. * Once in the role, what David advises candidates and organisations to focus on in the first 30-90 days to maximise a successful transition. * What David advises sporting organisations to do to attract top talent to their teams. * Having achieved a lot across various domains what has been the cost of your ambition?  People mentioned: * Cameron Steel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-steele-1a719926/ * James Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-4627503b/ * Martin Seligman: https://positivepsychology.com/perma-model/   David Clancy contact details:  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmdclancy/ * Nxt Level website: https://thenxtlevelgroup.com * David Clancy website: https://davidclancy.com Host: Luis Resa Contact me on: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/ * Email: luis.resa@outlook.com Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Michael Davie - How to win an NBA Championship and optimise "Long Term Athletic Development".

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110776/fan_mail/new] Michael Davie is a Strength & Conditioning coach who has operated at the highest level of professional basketball, across both the college system and the NBA. He’s one of the few to have reached the pinnacle of the sport, winning an NBA Championship with the Milwaukee Bucks. His experience extends well beyond basketball and has worked across multiple Olympic sports at the Queensland Academy of Sport, including rowing, sailing, diving, triathlon, and soccer, and was part of the Australian Swim Team staff at the 2012 London Olympic Games. This diverse background has shaped his deep understanding of Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), which he applied in his work with 2x NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. In this conversation, Michael shares insights into athlete development, his unconventional journey into professional sport, and how belief, persistence, and consistency helped him achieve his dream role. Highlights from the episode… * Having entered the industry later than most, bouncing around various jobs why Michael eventually chose to do S&C? * After several years juggle part time S&C roles, family of 5 kids and working as a youth worker Michael was hit with a decision…take a $20,000/year role with the QAS or lean into a fulltime manager role youth working. * The QAS. Michael provides a day to day outline of what his job entailed, the calibre of practitioners he worked alongside, the array of sports and diversity in elite level athletes. * The relationship between “LTAD” and “vocabulary” and how the methodology of vocabulary can assist in coaching effective LTAD.  * We discuss the challenge of balancing “Long Term Athletic Development” and winning and how athlete development can often come at the cost of wining and Vice Versa…So how do we achieve both? * How universities attract top talent to their programs and the business of collegiate sport. * After close to 8 years at the QAS and no pro basketball experience how Michael received a chance phone call asking him if he wanted to join the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA. * Michael talks about what many don’t consider when transitioning into a new role outside of your own country including family considerations, VISAs, contracts, housing, schools, etc. * Working in the NBA. Michael shares what his role entailed and the gruelling schedule that many aren’t aware of when working in the NBA. * With 82 game season Michael discusses how the team managed load, periodised strength training and maximised recovery between games. * When monitoring players Michael has moved away from the traditional wellness questionnaires and what he currently uses at BYU to monitor overall player wellbeing.  People mentioned: * Kelvin Giles: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2g1eUNqD0zQXRsKWno93Ce * Suki Hobson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suki-hobson-588ba276/ * Troy Flanagan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-troy-flanagan-137a1b3/   Michael Davie contact details:  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldavie/ * BYU Website: https://byucougars.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/season/2025-2026/staff/michael-davie * X: https://x.com/MichaelDDavie Host: Luis Resa Contact me on: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/ * Email: luis.resa@outlook.com Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Wayne Diesel - From the Springboks, to the EPL, NFL and NBA...Sports Physiotherapist across various sports, eras and continents!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110776/fan_mail/new] Wayne is a highly regarded sports physiotherapist who has worked at the pinnacle of multiple sports and organisations across the globe for 40 years. He has worked in Olympic sports, with the South African National Rugby Team the Springboks, in the EPL with Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspurs, in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs to only name a few. Few practitioners can match the breadth and depth of his experience, having led medical departments across multiple sports, countries, and high-performance environments. This is a must-listen conversation for anyone established or is building a career in sport, as Wayne blends practical clinical insights with hard-earned wisdom on what it takes to thrive in elite performance settings. Highlights from the episode… * Wayne started physiotherapy during a period where there weren't an abundance of pro sport or high paying roles. So why did Wayne choose this career path? * Working with the South African national soccer team (Bafana Bafana) and the national rugby team (Springboks). * After a successful career in South Africa, why Wayne decided to sell everything and move the entire family to the UK to take a role with Gloucester Rugby. * What he learnt from a “Witch Doctor” while working in South Africa. How player “Belief” can have the biggest impact on the success of an athlete’s rehab. * The growing trend of athletes curating their own personal high performance support teams and how Wayne effectively collaborates with them from a clubs perspective. *  With endless wide spread scrutiny on performance, athlete health, injury rates etc. How do you deal with the added stress of media and opinion. * When evaluating risk in RTP decision making who is “Responsible” for the decisions and who is “Accountable” to the decision? * How do you work in a high performance sport where you are pushing the envelope but by doing so could be at risk of negative consequence and worse being sued? * How Wayne found himself leaving the EPL moving to the USA and working in an unfamiliar sport of NFL with the Miami Dolphins. * The unbelievable level of athletic potential he experienced and observed while working in the NFL. * NFL is commonly referred to “Not For Long” due to the length of time players stay in the game. When navigating a transient player roster how do you develop trust? * Having worked across different sports, organisations and countries. What do you do in the first 90 days to ensure the transition is a success? * Working in the NBA with one of the most decorated coaches in NBA history Gregg Popovich. * Wayne’s current mission to establish an open source platform for performance data that anyone working in high performance sport can access.  People mentioned: * Timothy Noakes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-noakes-294b048/ * Alan Curbishley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Curbishley * Michael Davidson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-davison-0568a720/ Wayne Diesel contact details:  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-diesel-3012122a/ * Opensport Website: https://www.opensport.io Host: Luis Resa Contact me on: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/ * Email: luis.resa@outlook.com Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Nick Poulos – Leading with vulnerability in the toughest sports in Australia. Coaching in the AFL, Rugby Australia, Aspire Academy and more…

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110776/fan_mail/new] Nick is one of the leading high-performance managers in Australian sport, having spent close to a decade leading performance programs in the AFL with the GWS Giants and Adelaide Crows. Before his time in the AFL, Nick’s career took him around the globe, from professional rugby in Japan with Toyota Rugby, to a senior S&C role with the Aspire Academy in Qatar, and leading athletic performance for Rugby Australia’s men’s 7s program. But what makes Nick’s story truly compelling is the journey behind the success. After being diagnosed with Leukaemia early in his career, Nick spent more than a decade battling financial and professional uncertainty while trying to break into elite sport and at one point, walking away from it all and becoming a firefighter. Today, he draws from both his professional and personal experiences consulting and assisting leaders build high performing teams from locker rooms and boardrooms alike. Highlights from the episode… * Nick decided to move to Sydney to pursue his burning desire to work in pro sport to eventually end up becoming a personal trainer and selling Foxtel cable television. * Nick speaks of a tough period of his career where opportunities in pro sport were scarce, had a newly born daughter, was diagnosed with Leukaemia, financial challenges, which all led to him becoming a firefighter. * After over a decade of pursuing a full time role in pro sport, Nick finally secure his first full time role sport in…Japan! * Nick shares the realities of moving overseas, the challenges and advantages of settling both himself and his family into a new culture, environment and way of living. * Challenges of having balancing a personal and pursuing a career in sport.  * Making the move to the middle east to the world renowned Aspire Academy. We chat about what is Aspire, his role and some of the leaders in sports science and S&C he was surrounded by. * How Nick secured a role in a sport he has never worked in before and his transition into the next chapter of his career in the biggest sport in Australia AFL. * Having been through a very challenging time with the Adeliade Crows we discuss how does Nick deal with loss, high pressure, stress, never-ending demands on his time and still provide a high level program.  * We chat about the importance of data and also what data DOESN’T show you and why it's important to “Read the room”. * One of the most important roles as a high performance manager is recruiting the right people. Nick shares what he looks for in people he hires, what mistakes he’s made and what he’s learnt.  People mentioned: * Andy Friend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-friend-rugby/ * Dean Benton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vtkbUw2IWpdvKLOzI7wVQ * Daniel Duvnjak-Zaknich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-duvnjak-zaknich-80a41231/ * Dan Howells: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wBAlzYR6InvdBZJ1lEPJB   Nick Poulos contact details:  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-poulos-phd/details/experience/ * Nick Poulos Website: https://www.nickpoulos.com.au/about * X: https://x.com/PoulosNick Host: Luis Resa Contact me on: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/ * Email: luis.resa@outlook.com Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Matt Smith – Becoming a pro late, winning championships with Ange Postecoglou and becoming an international football coach.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110776/fan_mail/new] Matt’s journey through professional football is anything but conventional. Released by Portsmouth in the UK at 17, he moved to Australia and traded his football boots for a suit, seemingly stepping away from the dream. But at 27, an age when many players are winding down, Matt reignited his career and signed as a professional, playing alongside Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler. He went on to play in three countries, captain and win championships under Ange Postecoglou at Brisbane Roar, and earn call-ups to the Australian national team. What makes his story even more compelling is that the same resilience, belief, and work ethic that defined his playing career now underpin his success in coaching, with experience across the top flights of Australia and Thailand, and currently serving as assistant coach of the Malaysian men’s national team. Highlights from the episode… * We start with an in depth discussion around the academy system in Australia and how it compares to the UK system. * Matt vulnerably shares the moment he was let go at the final hurdle by Portsmouth after 6 years with the club and how that moment has affected the decisions he makes to this day. * Matt shares how he took an unconventional route to professional football by exploring opportunities that allowed him to continue playing and progress gradually through the system.  * After moving to Australia and being rejected on 3 separate occasions by A-league clubs, Matt shares how eventually he secured a his first professional contract all while working full time as marketing manager for a finance company and staying fit in his lunch breaks.  * Joining the Brisbane Roar FC and what he learnt as a player and now a coach from his time working closely with Ange Postecoglou.  * How did Ange maintain conviction in his vision and message when things weren’t going well and what Matt learnt during that period that he uses in his coaching style.  * How Matt secured the head coach role with Asian powerhouse BG Pathum Utd. in the Thai Premier League and his experience working as a head coach in Asian football.  * Dealing with the uncertainty, stress and pressure of being a head coach and how Matt personally deals with this.  * How do you still deliver a compelling message when surrounded by constant uncertainty doubt and when there are no guarantees? * Both as a player and a coach what are the fundamentals characteristic you have observed and now look for in great performance support staff?  * Matt discusses his current role as Assistant Coach with the Malaysian men's national team and what it’s like coaching at a national team level.  People mentioned: * Stuart McLaren: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1v6BxDgkpbki2sUgGBVzdE * Ange Postecoglou: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ange_Postecoglou * Milo Micovic: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1svodLILdSKocJJjtA43Mc Matt Smith contact details:  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-smith-50012736/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattsmith_2/?hl=en Host: Luis Resa Contact me on: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/ * Email: luis.resa@outlook.com Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.