Ceara Larson didn’t just play college softball.

At the same time, she was building a path in science.

In this episode, we unpack what it looks like to balance both, and what happens when those two worlds don’t unfold the way you expected.

From navigating college softball through COVID, injury, and uncertainty, to working in sports science with the Toronto Blue Jays, Ceara shares what it actually takes to build a career in sport beyond being an athlete.

But along the way, things didn’t quite unfold as expected.

What she thought sports science would be… wasn’t quite right. And that led to a new direction, moving to Australia to pursue a PhD in skill acquisition and finding a different way to stay connected to the game.

A conversation about identity, change, and finding your place in sport again.

Why is everyone talking about load management in sport?

From athletes being rested to minutes being managed, it’s one of the biggest conversations across sport right now. But while it might protect performance and extend careers, it’s also raising questions for fans, teams, and athletes at every level.

In this episode of AP Bites, we unpack what load management actually is, why it’s become so common, and whether it’s changing the way we experience sport.

💬 What’s your take on load management?

🎙️ Follow Almost Pro for more conversations on the biggest topics in sport. New episodes available every week.

What happens when your sports dream changes?

In this episode of Almost Pro, Ashley Ljesevic shares her experience of chasing Division 1 college basketball — and what it feels like when that path doesn’t unfold the way you thought it would.

This is a conversation about the space that follows.When the structure is gone.When the identity shifts.When you’re left asking — what now?

From basketball to running, endurance becomes something more than physical — it’s what carries you through uncertainty, change, and the process of figuring out who you are beyond the game.

If you’re a past athlete — or someone who’s ever had to let go of a version of your life you thought was certain — this one will stay with you.

Connect with Ashley:
Endurance Diaries: https://www.endurancediaries.com/
The Beginning Of Endless Discovery blog: https://www.endurancediaries.com/blog/the-beginning-of-endless-discovery
Ashley’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyljesevic/

Explore Almost Pro:
Website: https://www.almostpropodcast.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/almost-pro-podcast/

Social Media: @almostpropodcast

Subscribe to Almost Pro and join a community of past athletes and industry experts sharing the raw, real, untold stories from within sport.

Welcome to the very first episode of AP BITES.

Short conversations on the BIGGEST questions in sport.

Today we’re tackling a question that sits right at the heart of junior sport: Do we overvalue winning?

Because what we say matters… but what we celebrate matters more.

Join us for a short conversation on an issue shaping youth sport participation around the globe.

We’d love to hear your thoughts — do you think we overvalue winning in junior sport? Let us know in the comments.

If this got you thinking, make sure you click 'follow' — more AP Bites coming.

As part of Podcasthon 2026 — a global movement where podcasters dedicate one episode to a charity they believe in — we’re proud to spotlight an organisation creating meaningful impact in Australian sport.

In this episode of Almost Pro, we sit down with Rachel Condos-Fields, Founder and CEO of The WattleNest, a purpose-driven organisation bridging the gap between talent and opportunity.

Because while talent is everywhere, opportunity isn’t.

Rachel shares the story behind The WattleNest and the realities many athletes face behind the scenes — from financial pressure and limited access to resources, to the sacrifices made in pursuit of representing Australia. These are the stories we don’t often hear, but they’re happening every day.

The WattleNest is building a community that supports athletes not just in competition, but in life — ensuring talent doesn’t fall through the cracks.

Be part of the movement:

The WattleNest has launched the “One in 2032” campaign — inviting 2032 Australians to become part of the official cheer squad backing our athletes on the road to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Choose your number and stand alongside these athletes — from $1 to $2032, making it accessible for everyone to be involved.

This isn’t just a donation.It’s a chance to be part of an athlete’s journey.

👉 Join the team and secure your number now
https://team.wattlenest.com.au/

👉 Learn more about The WattleNest
www.wattlenest.com.au

What Every Coach Should Know | Emily Kile

In this episode of Almost Pro, we welcome back Emily Kile for a powerful conversation about coaching and the human behind the athlete.

After our first episode with Emily, we found ourselves diving deeper into a conversation about equipping coaches with the knowledge and tools to develop not just great players, but great humans too. Then an email landed in our inbox from Emily titled “10 Things I Wish Every Coach Knew,” and we immediately recognised the importance of sharing it.

In this episode, we explore some of the ideas behind that list, including:

• Shiny Object Syndrome
• training for pressure
• psychological safety
• the dangers of over-relying on data
• and why great coaching is ultimately about stewarding humans, not just producing results.

This conversation is packed with insight for coaches, athletes, parents, and anyone working in sport.

You can also find Emily’s full “10 Things Every Coach Should Know” on our website alongside this episode.

Learn more:
https://www.almostpropodcast.com

Follow Almost Pro:Instagram / Facebook / TikTok: @almostpropodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/almost-pro-podcast/

More from Emily Kile:
https://www.workzbe.com/
https://www.yournerdyfriend.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilykile/

How Athlete Skills Transfer into the Workplace

Sport is often said to prepare us for life — building discipline, resilience, and work ethic. But when the jersey comes off, the reality can feel very different.

In this episode of Almost Pro, we unpack one of the biggest questions athletes face after sport: what skills actually transfer into the workplace — and what doesn’t?

After years spent training, competing, and operating in highly structured environments, stepping into the workplace can feel like entering a completely different world. There’s no playbook, no coach on the sideline, and often no clear path forward.

So how do the skills developed through sport translate into professional environments?

In this conversation, we explore the mindset shift athletes often face when leaving sport, the challenge of identifying transferable skills, and why traits like adaptability, communication, feedback, and determination can become powerful tools in the workplace.

We also ask a bigger question: if sport disappeared tomorrow, what skills would you still carry with you?

If you enjoy the episode, follow Almost Pro to stay up to date with all our latest conversations.

You can also connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok — @almostpropodcast.

Have your own Almost Pro story? Apply to be a guest on the show at almostpropodcast.com

Some athletes follow one path. Angus Yeates has followed several and made each one count.

From state field hockey in Tasmania to competing overseas in Germany, from seriously pursuing the PGA pathway in golf to building a career with Adidas, Angus has navigated change with a calm confidence that defines this conversation.

This episode is about adaptability. About leaning into opportunity. About carrying the discipline, resilience and perspective that sport builds into whatever comes next.

We explore the shift between team and individual performance, life overseas, balancing ambition with study and work, and what it means to redefine success as your life expands.

Field hockey, golf, and beyond — this is a story about staying open to what’s next.

In sport we talk about mindset, discipline and resilience. But what happens when stress and trauma are shaping performance beneath the surface?

In this episode, we’re joined by Emily Kile, physiologist, PhD candidate in psychology, founder of Workzbe and author of Bitter to Better. Together, we explore how the brain and nervous system respond under pressure, why coping can quietly become a performance strategy, and what post-traumatic growth really looks like.

We unpack how trauma shows up in high-performing environments, how identity can become fused with performance, and how meaning-making and neuroplasticity allow us to revisit memories and move forward differently.

Whether you’re competing, coaching, leading or navigating life after sport, this conversation sits at the heart of what Almost Pro is about. Understanding the human behind the performance.

CHAPTERS

1. Understanding Trauma

2. Band-Aid Strategies in Sport

3. Post-Traumatic Growth

4. This or That

   
   

Learn more from Emily:
Website: https://www.workzbe.com/
Book: Bitter to Better

Almost Pro isn’t about what you didn’t become.
It’s about who you’re still becoming.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr Damien Taylor, we continue unpacking the six-part infrastructure that underpins sustainable high performance.

Following Part 1’s focus on sleep, nutrition, and exercise, this episode turns to the remaining pillars: quiet time and rest, environment, and community.

These elements shape how we regulate ourselves, make decisions, maintain standards, and sustain performance over time — particularly under pressure and through transition.

Drawing on decades of experience across elite sport and high-pressure leadership environments, Damien explains how strengthening your internal operating system determines how consistently you show up when it matters most.

This is Front-End Leadership™ in action. No shortcuts. No hype. Just practical, evidence-informed principles for those committed to building resilience and real excellence over the long haul.

Connect with Dr Damien Taylor:
Website: https://www.betheleader.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-damien-taylor-phd-adjunct-professor-founder-director-732b90168/