Nate Baker is a former pro football player, current coach, and the founder of The Developer’s Way coach education. Nate believes the best coaches, teachers, and leaders aren’t defined by weekend results. Instead, they are guided by something greater—the growth and development of their people. In this conversation, Nate shares stories that show how early experiences in sport can shape whether kids stay in the game or walk away from it altogether. We also explore the bigger shifts in football ...

Every week, I sit with young athletes and help them paint a clear picture of who they want to become. We close our eyes and imagine an exciting future. What does their best self look like? How does it feel? What are the words that define it? And what actions prove it true? It’s a powerful experience... --- 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.co...

Ellie Hulsebosch (@elliehulsebosch) is one of the most exciting young athletes on the international downhill mountain biking circuit riding for the legendary Santa Cruz Syndicate. But behind the results sheet is a story of rapid growth, powerful self-discovery, and an unwavering commitment to both performance and personal wellbeing. In this conversation, Ellie opens up about her journey — from walking her very first DH race track in 2020 to standing on World Cup podiums in Europe just a few y...

When a young child sits down to do a puzzle, they often begin by matching patterns. They notice colours and shapes that seem to go together and start forming.... --- 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

This episode is a rebroadcast of episode #25 of The Crafted Conversation with Marcus Sharrad. Enjoy. --- In this expansive conversation, Dr Craig Harrison invites us to rethink the purpose and practice of youth development. It’s not about designing perfect athletes, but about crafting safe, playful, expressive environments where young people can explore who they are, not just what they can do. Marcus and Craig explore the ecological complexity of performance, the importance of le...

Professor Holly Thorpe, a leading voice in the sociology of sport from the University of Waikato, is an action sports advocate and someone who’s spent years studying the social dynamics of movement and play. In this episode, Holly shares her journey growing up in Gisborne’s tight-knit windsurfing and skateboarding community, where the learning came from peers, not coaches, and where the natural environment played as big a role as the people did. We discuss the idea of “stoke” — that deep sens...

Josh Wall is the Director of Performance and Athletic Wellbeing at Wycombe Abbey in the UK, and lead S&C coach for England Women’s Lacrosse. Josh brings a wealth of experience from across the school landscape — from boarding to day schools — and is currently completing a Doctorate in Professional Practice at Leeds Beckett University, where his research focuses on supporting student-athletes in independent girls’ schools. In this episode, we explore Josh’s journey from football-mad Manches...

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

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. ...

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. --- For more on creating game changing environments that unlock meaningful progress, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here. Connect with Craig on Social: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Twitter Support the show