Podcast
The Great Coaches: Leadership & Life
Hosted by Paul Barnett & Jim Woolfrey · EN
We explore leadership through the lens of high performance sport, by interviewing great coaches from around the world, to try and find ideas to help all of us be better leaders.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Staffan Olsson
6d ago00:53:45Tap to summarizeOur Great Coach on this episode is Handball coach Staffan Olsson.Staffan played 357 times for the Swedish national team and won a silver medal three times at the Olympic Games. In 2005 he transitioned into coaching and over the next 5 years lead Hammarby to 3 Swedish National championships.In 2008 he became the Swedish National Mens coach and led them to the silver medal at the 2012 olympics. He then went on to coach at French club Paris Saint-Germain from 2015 to 2018 where he helped them win the National Championship and place twice in the Champions League. He was inducted into the EHF Hall of Fame in 2024. He is presently the Head Coach of the Dutch National Mens team.1. Am I leading in a way that is genuinely authentic to me, or am I copying a style that doesn’t fit who I am?2. How do I respond to mistakes — do I treat them as failures to avoid, or as necessary moments for growth and learning?3. Do I spend enough time understanding the people I lead as individuals, not just focusing on performance and outcomes?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at thegreatcoachespodcast@gmail.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Joe Montemurro
2w ago00:48:02Tap to summarizeJoe Montemurro is a Football, or as it is called in some places, Soccer coach. Joe started coaching in his late 20’s in the early 2000’s in Australia. He progressed steadily through state league teams before achieving his first international position in Papua New Guinea. He was then appointed to lead Melbourne Victory in 2014 and Melbourne City in 2015 leading them to back to back championships. In 2017, he was appointed Coach of Arsenal Women, and in his first season, he led them to the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the League title in his second season. He then joined Juventus and led them to the treble winning the Supercoppa, The Italian Cup and Serie A. In later years he also won Coppa Italia and Supercoppa. In 2024 he then joined Lyon in France and they won the Premier League.The in 2025 he was announced as the new coach of the Australian National team, the Matildas.What are the few core principles that define how I want to lead or work, and are they clear enough for others to act on without constant direction?How well do I understand the culture of the environment I’m working in, and where might I need to adapt my approach?Which values truly guide my behaviour each day, and how visible are they to the people around me? If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jeroen Delmee
3w ago00:53:27Tap to summarizeOur great coach on this episode is Jeroen Delmee. Jeroen is a field hockey coach who first represented his country in 1994. He retired in 2008 with 401 International caps and a 2 time Olympic champion. He then transitioned into coaching working with the Dutch National womens team, the Belgium mens team and then 4 years leading the Frech National team.In 2021 he was appointed as the Head Coach of the Dutch men and led them to gold at the 2023 Men's EuroHockey Championship and the 2024 Summer Olympics. He is the only Dutch sportsperson in history to win Olympic gold both as a player and as a coach. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On Game Day Part 2
May 1400:38:13Tap to summarizeTodays episode is On Game Day and to explore the topic I am joined by Eamon Devlin. Eamon is the founder of Minute9, a consultancy that works with some of the world’s elite teams and coaches in helping them improve their half time talks and preparation. This discussion is so rick in information, and useful to any of us that are leading sporting teams or work teams that have split into 2 parts. You will walk away with ideas on how to improve the way you speak at half time, what people need to get the most out of team talks and how you can present information in a way that will actually change behavior. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On Game Day Part 1
May 1400:44:30Tap to summarizeTodays episode is On Game Day and to explore the topic I am joined by Eamon Devlin. Eamon is the founder of Minute9, a consultancy that works with some of the world’s elite teams and coaches in helping them improve their half time talks and preparation. This discussion is so rick in information, and useful to any of us that are leading sporting teams or work teams that have split into 2 parts. You will walk away with ideas on how to improve the way you speak at half time, what people need to get the most out of team talks and how you can present information in a way that will actually change behavior. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mike Cron
May 700:44:01Tap to summarizeOur great coach on this episode is Mike Cron. Mike Cron was a coach with the New Zealand All Blacks for 2017 Games. This includes a stretch where they won 2 Rugby World Cups. He was also part of the team that led the NZ Women’s team to the world cup in 2022. In addition he has worked with the Welsh and Japanese teams and is presently coaching the Australian Wallabies alongside Joe Scmidt.1. Where am I being “firm” when I actually need to adapt—and what feedback would I need to hear (and accept) to make that change?2. When I lead or coach, do I rely more on a script or on observation—and what would improve if I became more comfortable with silence and listening?3. In my team (or work group), where might social loafing be showing up subtly, and what specific commitment can I make so that “it will not be me”?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Book Club: World's Best by Ric Charlesworth
Apr 3000:43:05Tap to summarize This episode is a recording of our book club. The book we discuss is World’s Best by Ric Charlesworth, the iconic Australian Field Hockey Coach Ric Charlesworth. Ric led both the Australian and Men's Hockey teams to World Cup victories. He also ed the women to an An Olympic Gold. He has also worked in Cricket, Australian Rules Football, is a medical Dr and spent 10 tears as a federal politican. Our discussion is led by Dr David Turner, a Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, If you enjoy todays discussion and would like to join us for a future book club you can contact me on paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Bob Shillinglaw
Apr 2300:42:56Tap to summarizeOur great coach on this episode is Bob Shillinglaw. Bob is an American Lacrosse coach. Bob spent 42 years as a college coach, 39 of them leading the University of Delaware Mens Lacrosse team . He has coached 654 games, more than any other lacrosse coach in history, and is one of only 2 to win over 300 games. . Along the way his teams went to the NCAA tournament on 6 occasions and made the final four in 2007. He also led Team USA when they defeated Canada to win the 1999 World Cup of Lacrosse. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On Burnout
Apr 900:48:44Tap to summarizeTodays episode is on the topic of Burnout and I am joined for the discussion by Dr Gavin Weeks. Gavin is a Doctor of Psychology and Associate Fellow at Oxford Sayyid Business School and director of innovation and development at the consultancy Thompson Harrison.And Dr Brendan Meany. Brendan Meany is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and His work focuses on implementing high-performance skills to optimize human potential in both sport and the corporate space. He is also the Chief Performance Officer of LiveFirstAI.com, he applies sportpsychology principles that manage burnout and elevate functioning. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Eddie O'Sullivan
Apr 200:47:03Tap to summarizeOur great coach on this episode is Eddie O’Sullivan Eddie played Rugby at provincial level in Ireland and started coaching after becoming a PE teacher. He would go on to coach Rugby for 35 years and counting across the USA, France and Ireland. This journey has led his to coach at 5 Rugby World Cups and to win three triple crowns leading Ireland. That Irish team won 50 tests under his leadership and climbed to the #3 world ranking. In recent years he has been Technical Advisor to Brown University and Notre Dame in recent years and currently consulting with a number of Major League Rugby franchises in the US. Q: What role does leading innovation play in my leadership?Q: Am I too unemotional as a leader?Q: Is the idea of one voice at a time, the right idea for my organization?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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