Career Clarity with Athletes: A 2ndwind Podcast with Ryan Gonsalves

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Jamie Soward opens up about chasing the footy dream without a clear pathway, losing it all twice, and what it really took to reinvent himself. From writing résumés at 16 to training while on the dole, to playing in front of 60,000 fans and then selling toilets, Jamie's journey is as humbling as it is honest.

He’s played State of Origin, won a grand final, coached at the top level — and then had it all fall apart. But what came next? A traineeship. In water regulation. At 40.

If you've ever found yourself starting again or afraid to, this conversation will speak to you.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why Jamie sent a résumé with his highlight tape and why it worked
• How working full-time while chasing a dream taught him discipline
• Why being dropped to part-time felt scarier than losing games
• What it felt like to sell toilets after a career in the spotlight
• Why a rookie mindset helped him succeed in a completely new field
• How he’s using his story to create job pathways for Indigenous athletes
• Why being judged only on Sunday is dangerous and what it means to win during the week

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:

 “In sport, you’re judged on Sunday. But in life, you can win on Monday. On Wednesday. On Friday. You just have to be willing to start over and redefine what a win looks like.” 

This episode isn’t just about one man’s career. It’s about how we find clarity in chaos, humility after status, and build a legacy through service, not spotlight.

If you’re navigating a transition, whether from sport, from identity, or from what you thought your life was going to be, let Jamie’s story remind you that starting again might be the beginning you never expected but always needed.

Need Career Clarity or Transition Support? 

If you are navigating what is next in sport or beyond, visit www.2ndwind.io
to learn more or book a consult.

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Rach Taylor knows what it means to sacrifice everything for one goal. She was Rach the Rower, a girl from rural Australia who made it all the way to the Olympic podium. But after winning silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she found herself couch surfing, broke and questioning her worth outside of sport.

In this episode, Rach opens up about what it was really like to go from the high of Olympic glory to the uncertainty of starting over. She talks about clawing her way up Maslow’s hierarchy, how she stumbled into HR, and the healing journey that led her to coaching, investing and living a meaningful portfolio life.

If you have ever felt lost after the thing you built your identity around ends, this conversation is full of truth, courage and practical wisdom.

What You’ll Hear

• Why her Olympic silver medal brought conflicting emotions
• The painful crash after the circus of the Sydney Games ended
• How she fell into HR by accident and built a career from the ground up
• The burnout that pushed her to walk away from corporate life
• What a “portfolio life” really looks like and how she designed hers
• Why she is using her story to advocate for athlete transition reform
• The advice she gives every athlete and career changer she coaches

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:

 "I was willing to mortgage my future for the present. And at the time, that felt like a fair trade."

Tune in for a masterclass on rebuilding identity, embracing reinvention and finding meaning beyond the podium.

💼 Want Career Clarity for Your Next Step?

Visit www.2ndwind.io  to book a consultation and explore resources for career transitions.

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Dr. Lamia Zafrani saw firsthand what the system lacked and built a new way forward. A powerlifter, an OB-GYN, and a passionate advocate for female athletes, Lamia sits at the intersection of performance and pregnancy, challenging outdated norms that have sidelined women for far too long.

In this episode, we go deep into her journey. From being the one who gets called when nobody else knows what to do, to creating a model of care that truly supports elite female athletes through pregnancy and postpartum. She does not just talk about the science. She brings the nuance, the humanity, and the stories of women who have felt unseen and unheard in medical spaces.

If you are an athlete thinking about family planning, a coach supporting women, or someone navigating your own physical transitions, this conversation is the permission slip, the blueprint, and the fire you did not know you needed.

What You'll Hear:

• Why elite athletes are still being told to “just stop training” when pregnant
• The emotional and identity shifts women face during pregnancy and after birth
• Why preconception care is more than a checklist and when to start thinking about it
• How Lamia is helping build policy changes for female athletes, not just temporary fixes
• The real stories behind training while pregnant, including PBs that shocked everyone
• How Lamia blends strength coaching with clinical expertise to support recovery
• Why postpartum plans need to be built around the athlete, not the average woman
• How high performance women are redefining what is possible after motherhood

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:

This episode will challenge you to think differently about strength, identity, and the seasons of life. 

Need Career Clarity or Transition Support? 

If you are navigating what is next in sport or beyond, visit www.2ndwind.io
to learn more or book a consult.

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When the final whistle blew on her decade-long professional basketball career, Abiola Wabara wasn’t just facing retirement. She was starting over, from scratch.

In this raw and candid episode, Abi sits down with host Ryan to share the untold side of life after sport. From playing across Europe and representing Italy’s national team, to working in a call centre, driving Uber, and experiencing panic attacks, Abi reveals what it really took to rebuild her identity and why she created GloBall Life, a platform designed to support other athletes through the transition she had to figure out alone.

This isn’t just about sport. It’s about ego, burnout, identity loss, and the uncomfortable process of starting again. But it’s also about strategy, courage, and how small choices, like carrying a resume in your Uber, can change everything.

If you’re approaching a career pivot, feeling behind, or wondering how to turn chaos into clarity, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Hear

• The hidden cost of leaving sport without a plan
• How Abi went from elite basketball to interpreting, Uber, and PT work
• Why she turned down money in her final season for a master’s degree
• The ego battles of saying no to second division offers
• Experiencing burnout, anxiety, and identity crisis after retiring
• The life-changing Uber ride that led to a job at Accenture
• How being an athlete became her superpower in corporate life
• The early struggles of launching GloBall Life solo
• What it took to build a founding team and stay focused without funding
• Advice for athletes preparing for life after sports

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:

"I was willing to hustle for a short amount of time so the long-term would be something I’d be proud of. I knew what I wanted for myself. I just didn’t know how to get there yet."

 — Abiola Wabara

💼 Want Career Clarity for Your Next Step?

Visit www.2ndwind.io  to book a consultation and explore resources for career transitions.

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Theo Brown opens up about the messy, uncertain path from elite academy footballer to non-league player, to juggling ten different jobs in five years, before finally stepping into his purpose as a social entrepreneur.

He was once chasing football dreams at Leicester City. But after injury setbacks and getting released, life after sport hit hard. No plan. No clear identity. Just odd jobs, quiet doubts, and the feeling that everyone else had it figured out.

But somewhere in the chaos, something powerful emerged.

Theo found purpose not in a straight path, but in the stumble. In mentoring young athletes. In community work. In learning how to turn pain into purpose and experience into impact.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re late to your own life, like you’re playing catch-up while everyone else is sprinting ahead, this conversation will hit home.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Theo’s early dreams of becoming a professional footballer and the shock of being released
• How he navigated uncertainty, working ten different jobs while figuring out who he was outside of sport
• The mindset shift that helped him stop comparing his journey to others
• How a moment of rock bottom led to a turning point in how he viewed his identity and purpose
• His path to becoming a mentor and launching a social enterprise focused on youth
• Why taking action before having full clarity is sometimes the only way forward
• The importance of vulnerability, community, and redefining what success looks like
• Lessons on self-worth, delayed timelines, and why there’s no such thing as “too late”

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:

This raw and honest conversation with Theo is not just about athletes — it’s about anyone who's ever questioned their direction, battled with identity, or felt like they missed their moment.

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step? For more information or to book a consultancy, visit www.2ndwind.io

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Gerrit-Jan van Velze spent nearly two decades in professional rugby, captaining clubs like Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors. But in this conversation, it's not just the matches or medals that stand out — it's what came after, and everything he had to figure out along the way.

In this episode, GJ opens up about moving from South Africa to England with no backup plan, how leadership has shaped his career, and why his wife’s passion for medicine inspired him to explore life beyond the pitch. He talks through the injury that changed everything, the slow fog of concussion recovery, and how a trip with a friend and some tough questions sparked his transition into entrepreneurship.

You’ll hear about sheep farming, leather boots, and what it's like to go from team huddles to running solo. GJ doesn’t sugarcoat the process, but he also doesn’t buy into the doom-and-gloom narrative around athlete retirement. His story is honest, thoughtful, and proof that life after sport isn’t the end — it’s a reset.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why GJ was “all in” on rugby with no fallback plan
• How seeing his wife’s dedication to her medical career shifted his mindset
• What made him leave South Africa and start over in the UK
• The difference between leadership on paper and actual influence
• Why concussion was a turning point, not just physically but mentally
• How a business idea involving leather boots became his next chapter
• Why community and curiosity kept him grounded during transition
• How he now chooses projects, time, and the people he works with
• His advice for current athletes on financial discipline, exploration, and making space to reflect

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:
“If rugby ended tomorrow, what would you do? That question stuck with me. I didn’t have the answer then, but it made me start looking for one.”

If you’re curious about what it means to lead, to pivot, or to rebuild when the game stops, this episode is worth your time.

Connect with Ryan and Second Wind Academy:

• Website: https://www.2ndwind.io/
• Instagram: @2ndwind.academy
  
  

Credits:

• Editing: Nancy at Savvy Podcast Solutions
• Design: Claire at Betty Book Design
• Show Notes: Cerise from Copy & Content by Lola

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Emmanuel spent years chasing a dream that so many young athletes grow up holding: making it in the NFL. But behind the highlight reels and ambition was a quieter story. One of internal pressure, identity struggle, and eventually, the courage to say, this isn't who I am anymore.

In this episode, Ryan talks with Emmanuel about what it really takes to walk away from the game, and what happens when you do. From his early years creating "The Brotherhood" in high school to reaching the highest levels of competition, Emmanuel was seen as a leader. But inside, the weight of expectation and a growing disconnection from himself took a toll.

He opens up about reaching a breaking point, experiencing suicidal thoughts, and how faith, mentorship, and deep reflection helped him rebuild a new sense of identity beyond sport. One key idea that shaped his journey was the concept of “Edging God Out,” a mindset he now works hard to avoid, both personally and in his work with other athletes.

What You’ll Learn:

• How chasing the NFL dream became part of Emmanuel’s identity
• Why creating “The Brotherhood” gave him a sense of purpose early on
• What it's like to carry leadership on the outside while struggling on the inside
• The quiet crisis many athletes face when their sport no longer fits
• His experience with suicidal thoughts and how he got help
• How the idea of “Edging God Out” changed the way he saw his path
• What helped him redefine success after stepping away
• The mindset shift that now guides how he supports players in transition

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:
“There was a point where I felt like I had nothing to offer. Like everything that made me valuable was tied to my sport. But that wasn’t true. I just had to find my way back to it.”

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when an athlete lets go of the only identity they’ve known, this is that story. It’s raw, reflective, and ultimately hopeful.

Connect with Ryan and Second Wind Academy:

• Website: https://www.2ndwind.io/
• Instagram: @2ndwind.academy
  
  

Credits:

• Editing: Nancy at Savvy Podcast Solutions
• Design: Claire at Betty Book Design
• Show Notes: Cerise from Copy & Content by Lola

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Kayla spent years chasing the dream of playing basketball overseas. She trained, sacrificed, and pushed through setbacks with the goal of turning pro. But after college, that dream didn’t happen.

What followed was a quiet but difficult shift. One where she had to face the question that many athletes avoid until it’s too late: What now?

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Kayla about the realities of life after sport—when you’ve put your whole identity into your game, and suddenly it’s not there anymore. Kayla’s story is honest, emotional, and deeply relatable for anyone who’s felt lost after walking away from the thing they’ve worked toward their whole life.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Kayla’s relationship with basketball shaped her life from a young age
• What it felt like to give everything to a sport, only to end up without a contract
• The impact of injury, lack of play time, and how that affected her confidence
• Why “floating” after graduation is more common than most people admit
• How Kayla found purpose by returning to serve athletes at her alma mater
• The role faith played in helping her rebuild her identity
• What helped her move from regret to gratitude
• How she’s using her story to support the next generation of athletes through transition
• The power of letting go of what you thought your life should look like, and owning what it is

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:
“Basketball gave me so much, but it also took a lot from me. Learning how to move forward meant accepting both.”

If you’re in the middle of a career shift or trying to figure out what’s next after sport, Kayla’s story will remind you that it’s ok to start again—and that you’re not alone.

Connect with Ryan and Second Wind Academy:

• Website: https://www.2ndwind.io/
• Instagram: @secondwindacademy
  
  

Credits:

• Editing: Nancy at Savvy Podcast Solutions
• Design: Claire at Betty Book Design
• Show Notes: Cerise from Copy & Content by Lola

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Chris Platts spent over a decade tracking the careers of 303 young footballers. The result? A raw, honest look at what actually happens in the world of professional sport. Some players made it to the Premier League. Others left with nothing. Many fell somewhere in between.

Chris is a career coach and academic whose work focuses on helping athletes and their families plan for the long game. He works directly with clubs, players, and parents to map out possible futures, reduce pressure, and help athletes stay grounded in who they are, even as the industry pushes them to become something else.

In this conversation, Ryan and Chris unpack the highs and lows of football careers and what it takes to move forward once the playing days slow down or stop completely. If you're transitioning out of sport or supporting someone who is, this episode is packed with insight you won’t hear inside most locker rooms.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why most athletes and families never ask, “What do we actually want from sport?”
• The hidden risks of chasing success without a plan
• How under-21 contracts can leave players stuck with no proof they’re ready for the next level
• Why it’s smart to plan for both success and failure
• How to reduce emotional and financial stress by building a personal “career playbook”
• What clubs want vs. what players need
• What it really means to be prepared for life after sport
• Why “hope” isn’t enough when you’re trying to build a stable future

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:
“Hope is not a strategy. But planning helps young players stay present, stay ready, and remember who they are, no matter what happens next.”

If you're at any point of your post-sport career journey, this conversation will help you ask better questions, make clearer decisions, and feel more in control of what’s next.

Connect with Ryan and Second Wind Academy:

• Website: https://www.2ndwind.io/
• Instagram: @secondwindacademy
  
  

Credits:

• Editing: Nancy at Savvy Podcast Solutions
• Design: Claire at Betty Book Design
• Show Notes: Cerise from Copy & Content by Lola

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Stewart McCully has spent his life around high performers, from elite athletes to engineers, from corporate execs to sheep shearers.

In this episode, he joins Ryan to talk about what it means to guide people through high-pressure environments and major transitions. A former SANFL footballer and teacher, Stewart now helps athletes and professionals develop the mental skills they often don’t get taught: managing overthinking, building self-awareness, recovering from mistakes, and finding clarity on what’s next.

He also shares what led him to start his own mentoring business, how sponsorships should be a two-way street, and what the shearing world has taught him about mindset, focus, and preparation.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why overthinking is the most common barrier for elite performers
• How mentoring athletes goes beyond sport and why trust is everything
• What routines and reset tools help in sport, business, and life
• How confidence and curiosity beat fear and perfectionism
• The mindset behind a good sponsor relationship (for both sides)
• Why shearers are some of the most focused performers Stewart has worked with
• How self-talk and focus are the keys to confidence under pressure
• Why "imagine if" is one of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself
• The value of experimentation when figuring out life after sport

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:
"They’re not coming to me because I played footy at Glenelg. They’re coming because I listen, and I help them see what they couldn’t before."

 Resources & Links: 

• Book: The “What If” Trap: Free Your Mind From Overthinking
• Website: https://www.nextlevelelite.com.au/

Connect with Ryan and Second Wind Academy:

• Website: https://www.2ndwind.io/
• Instagram: @secondwindacademy