

The Talent Equation Podcast
Stuart Armstrong
The Talent Equation podcast is an 'exploration in human advancement'... mostly (but not exclusively) through the lens of sport and physical activity. Each episode is an 'emergent conversation' with practitioners, parents, researchers, authors (or some combination of all three) taking a deep dive into the ways that people can help others to enhance their developmental journey in whatever field they are committed to. These conversations are not mainstream - you will not hear ideas that are provided on standard education courses - they often fly in the face of convention - they will sometimes be controversial and provocative - the show is about doing things differently and doing different things. The people who come on the show are innovators - they are trying to break new ground or swim against the tide of what they see as a broken culture or an ineffective system - what they say will prompt new thinking or new ideas. All that is asked of the listener is to embrace the conversation with an open mind.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 13, 2021 • 1h 45min
"We can create a sort of turbo as coaches if we design a proper small sided game" - a conversation Andreu Enrich
Andreu Enrich is a Field Hockey Coach, Author and Coach Educator from Terrassa in Northern Spain. As a player he won eight Spanish national titles in 11 years with his home club Atlètic Terrassa – four of them as captain. He was also part of the Spanish National team that won the Champions Trophy for the first time in 2004.He has held trainer and assistant coach positions since 2013 with Pinoké (Netherlands), Atlètic Terrassa, the Spanish Hockey Association, Hamburger Polo Club, Leuven and he is now the Head Coach at Mannheimer HC in Germany. In this conversation we discuss why Andreu is a 'radical' when it comes to rejecting drills in his practice and his devotion to the use of small sided games that can create a 'heatmap of affordances' for players to create a genuine understanding of the way that the interact in the complexity of a game. We also delve into his ideas around the ways that players experience moments of flow in sport through their immersion in representative learning environments so that 'direct perception becomes a habit'. Hope you enjoy. Links to Andreu's excellent books can be found here (these are affiliate links which help to support the show). https://amzn.to/3b7p6cE (UK)https://amzn.to/353fk7t (UK)https://amzn.to/3b17uiu (UK)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation

Jan 6, 2021 • 1h 29min
"Resilience is a dynamic process that is an interaction between the individual and the environment" - a conversation with Mustafa Sarkar
Dr Mustafa Sarkar is an Associate Professor of Sport and Performance Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. His research focuses on the psychology of sporting excellence and its application to other high performance domains. His work addresses how high achievers thrive on pressure and deliver sustained success with a particular focus on team, and organisational resilienceas well as personal and team growth and thriving. In this conversation we explore Mustafa's own experiences as an aspiring athlete and his own challenges with responding to performance pressures. We also explore the nature of resilience and discuss to working models to help coaches to design environments that stimulate growth while maintaining athlete wellbeing. It is a really interesting conversation...hope you enjoy...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation

Dec 19, 2020 • 53min
"A coach's guide to teaching" - a conversation with Doug Lemov
The best-selling author of 'Teach Like a Champion' and 'Practice Perfect' makes a welcome return to the podcast and has a new book out called 'A Coach's Guide to Teaching' https://amzn.to/2LMYKlnDoug brings his considerable knowledge about the science of classroom teaching to the sports coaching world to support coaches on the court and field. The book is written brilliantly and makes core scientific concepts accessible and practical.... it prepared to explore ideas from a range of theoretical perspectives to open discussion about some key areas that are still hotly debated today. You will hear me exploring some of this with Doug as some of the ideas don't necessarily map on to my perspective on coaching but we show how these things can be accessed by coaches. https://amzn.to/2LMYKlnThis is a great Christmas present to yourself so go ahead and get stuck in.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation

Dec 11, 2020 • 1h 39min
Improving "impoverished practice environments" - a conversation Ian Renshaw, Peter Arnott and Graeme McDowell
Peter Arnott and Greame McDowell run 'Golf on the Edge of Chaos' a unique coach development programme that allows golf coaches to learn and explore the applications of non linear pedagogy and the constraints led approach in golf. Ian Renshaw is a regular podcast guest and is a researcher and renowned author specialising in the constraints led approach based at QUT in Australia. They have just published a new book to demonstrate how their practice is driven and inspired by their alignment to a CLA, @A Constraints-Led Approach to Golf Coaching' includes case studies and examples of how constraints are manipulated to induce adaption in the technical, tactical (or put in golf terms, course management), physiological, and psychological development mechanisms needed to improve at golf. In this conversation we discuss how they apply the principles and seek to support golfers on their journey. We explore some of the the approaches that they use with young players, elite amateurs and also aspiring professionals. It is a fascinating conversation. The book can be purchased here https://amzn.to/34s5ETQ (This is an affiliate link...using it helps to support the show)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation

Nov 28, 2020 • 1h 38min
"Does the 'PGA swing' still exist" - a conversation with David Colclough
David Colclough is the Head of Member Education at the Professional Golfers Association in the UK. David is a PGA Advanced Fellow Professional. Following 14 years of coaching golfers of all abilities, at home and abroad, As Head of Member Education his main objective is to support PGA Members with their own personal & professional development, providing relevant training and education opportunities which are reflective of the knowledge and skills required from the various roles they have throughout the golf industry.In this discussion we explore: - How coach education in golf has moved away from prescriptive approaches. - Some of the great innovations of golf coaches and their brilliant methods - How the professional coach 'form of life' affects the way that they coach (but why this could change for the better for them)- The difference between 'surface level' learners and 'deeper level' learners - and the methods that tend to be used with themHope you enjoyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation

Nov 18, 2020 • 1h 33min
A 'Purple Peril' for Rob Gray AKA 'The Conclave Field Trip'
Here is the link to support the fundraising effort for Kiran...any help would be greatly appreciated - https://uk.gofundme.com/f/a-chance-for-kiranThis week's podcast is a bit of a different one...the Talent Equation Learning Community (we call it 'The Conclave') went on a field trip. We joined up with Rob Gray from the Perception and Action Podcast (the brainy older cousin of TTE!) and had a 'livestreamed conclave meeting' where we discussed Rob's recent video series exploring the difference between Ecological theory and Information Processing theory. Here is a link to the original video which I would recommend checking out before listening to this..https://www.thetalentequation.co.uk/single-post/why-drills-don-t-work-in-an-ecological-approach-to-skill-developmentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation

Nov 5, 2020 • 1h 55min
"I am much happier being a student of the right way than an expert in the wrong way" - a conversation with Luke Regan
Luke Regan is an LTA Level 4 coach with a real passion for exploring the applications of the constraints led approach in tennis. Luke is a member of the Talent Equation Learning Group 'The Conclave' and has been actively engaged in sharing his learning journey with others. In this episode we discuss: - Why Luke feels that he gets on much better with the people he coaches when he stops trying to coach them. - Why the technique led model of coaching is bad for business and bad for tennis- The ways that he applies the approach with different clients - How Luke has really helped me with my tennis (he even gives me a verbal coaching session as we explore some of my challenges with the game!)Hope you enjoyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation

Oct 28, 2020 • 1h 57min
The journey beyond being an 'auto correct coach' - a conversation with Craig Morris
Craig Morris is a canoe slalom coach working within the elite performance pathway of British Canoeing. He has recently been shortlisted as a finalist in the Elite Performance Coach Category of the UK Coaching Awards. Craig's journey into coaching is not a typical one but what comes across in this conversation is an individual who is thirsty for information and learning, willing to be vulnerable in approaching the application of ideas and completely committed to the needs of their athletes. Key topics discussed include: - Why you need to be meticulously planned to enable fluid (no pun intended) transitions in practice- Whether planning fits an ecological approach to coaching- The importance of leaving things open to challenge by the athlete- Why coaching is like improvised comedyI hope you enjoyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation

Oct 21, 2020 • 1h 28min
Exploring direct instruction in the 'rainforest of learning' - a conversation with Ed Cope
Dr Ed Cope is a Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Loughborough University in the UK. He has had lecturing positions in Sports Coaching at Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Hull. Ed has also worked at the English Football Association, where he was responsible for the design and development of their education courses.In this conversation Ed and I unpack an article that he has recently written with Prof Chris Cushion about 'Direct Instruction' which leads to some surprising conclusions about how we might think about instruction (hint: it's not instruction at all). Link to the article - https://impact.chartered.college/article/a-move-towards-reconceptualising-direct-instruction-sport-coaching-pedagogy/Link to an article about the principles of direct instruction - https://teacherhead.com/2018/06/10/exploring-barak-rosenshines-seminal-principles-of-instruction-why-it-is-the-must-read-for-all-teachers/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation

Oct 15, 2020 • 1h 38min
"Technical information is like crack to people" - a conversation with Adam Young
Adam Young is a golf coach and someone who defies easy categorisation. He is one of the most knowledgable people about the technical aspects of golf and has a real in depth understanding of physics, bio-mechanics and physiology but he eschews all of that in favour of a coaching approach which has very little of that information present in the learning environment for the participant. He works in an extremely 'task led' way and uses constraints as a way to support a golfer to learn how to become more proficient in the game. His approach has built a significant following online and his book 'The Practice Manual' https://www.adamyounggolf.com/book/ is a fantastic companion to anyone wanting to learn the game. I hope you enjoy our conversation about coaching...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation


