In this Stumbles episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I sit down with Stephanie Grubbs, Major League Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Houston Astros, to explore the early mistakes and leadership lessons that shaped her career.

Steph reflects on getting overly focused on outcome goals, the challenges of transitioning into leadership roles, and the importance of emotional awareness, communication, and mentorship in high-performance environments. We discuss why listening matters, how to navigate difficult conversations, and why building a strong support network is critical for long-term development.

A big thanks to our sponsor, The IUSCA, for this episode; they are also hosting the International Conference on Strength and Conditioning 2026, taking place at Leeds Beckett University on Friday, 5th June 2026. Get your tickets HERE

If this episode has prompted you to think more intentionally about your development, our Collaborate Sports performance mentorship programmes are open.

For the next week, you can receive 15% off any programme using the code: POD15 - check out our programs HERE

Enjoy the episode!

In this strategy episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I’m joined by Stephanie Grubbs, Major League Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Houston Astros, to explore how microdosing strength training can be used effectively in elite team sport environments.

Steph shares practical frameworks for dividing volume into shorter, more frequent exposures, adapting training around travel and competition demands, and applying what she calls fluid microdosing to remain agile while maintaining structure. We discuss dose-response relationships, communication with athletes, and how to align strength training with the realities of modern sport.

You can also download a presentation resource she has shared with us (see the bottom of the show notes)!

This episode is sponsored by the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA). The IUSCA is hosting the International Conference on Strength and Conditioning 2026 at Leeds Beckett University on Friday 5th June 2026, featuring keynote presentations, practical sessions, and networking opportunities within the Carnegie School of Sport. You can join by buying tickets HERE.

Our group mentorships are currently open for enrolment too - use the code 'pod15" for 15% off in the next 14days - see what we do HERE

Lastly, here's that presentation from Stephanie - download HERE

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, do share it in your community.

Dan and the Collaborate Sports Team

In this Stumbles episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I’m joined again by Michael Gerhardy to explore the mistakes that have shaped his practice as a sports scientist working in applied performance environments.

Michael reflects on early errors made in coaching, research, and sports science, including relying too heavily on statistical significance, misinterpreting data, and trying to analyse too many metrics at once. We discuss why concepts like P-values can be misleading without proper context, and why a “non-significant” finding can still provide valuable insight.

We also talk about the importance of quality over quantity in both training and monitoring, how data overload can undermine good decision-making, and why coaches and sports scientists must work closely to ensure analysis actually supports performance.

This episode is an honest conversation about learning through mistakes, developing better judgement, and focusing on meaningful metrics that inform real-world decisions.

Check out https://runupperformance.com.au/ and also join our webinar next week by registering here if you liked what you heard!

In this episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I’m joined by Michael Gerhardy, a sports scientist specialising in neuromuscular fatigue and applied workload monitoring.

Michael holds a PhD in Applied Sport Science, where his research focused on neuromuscular fatigue and concurrent training. It was during this PhD work that a key idea emerged — the value of running-specific testing to better understand fatigue and workload, rather than relying on generic or non-specific measures.

Michael is also the creator of RunUp Performance, a fatigue monitoring tool that uses raw IMU and GPS data to assess changes in running strategy associated with neuromuscular fatigue. His work helps teams move beyond simple workload totals and towards monitoring approaches that are task-specific, individualised, and practically meaningful.

In our conversation, we discuss the challenges of workload monitoring in sport, why population norms can be misleading, and how metrics such as ground contact time can help inform smarter training decisions. We also explore how excessive neuromuscular demand or poorly managed high-speed running can interfere with training adaptations.

This episode is about moving from data collection to better decision-making, and designing monitoring strategies that actually reflect the demands of running-based sports.

Dont forget we have the webinar with Michael that you can join by registering HERE to join us on the 10th February.

I am also holding 2x free mentoring sessions for anyone who hasn't experienced that type of work before, you can join us using links below:

Thursday 29th January - register HERE

Tuesday 3rd February - register HERE

Hope to see you there

Dan Howells

In this Stumbles episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I’m joined by Warren Bradley, founder of Hytro, to explore the mistakes and lessons that shaped his journey from working in professional sport to becoming an entrepreneur.

Warren reflects on his early career as a performance nutritionist, where not fully understanding hierarchy and environment led to avoidable challenges. He shares how saying yes too often, consulting across multiple teams, and constant travel resulted in overextension and burnout.

We then move into Warren’s transition into entrepreneurship — discussing early failures, the importance of market research, and how solving real problems in sport led to the creation of Hytro. Warren also speaks candidly about the role of self-care, delegation, and building a supportive team to create a sustainable working environment.

This is an honest conversation about ambition, resilience, and learning from mistakes — offering valuable insight for practitioners in sport and anyone considering a move into entrepreneurship.

Don't forget this is your last chance to apply for 6months of free mentorship. Submit your name HERE

Please continue to share the pod if you like what you hear!

In this strategy-focused episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I am joined by Dr Warren Bradley, founder of Hytro and a leading specialist in Blood Flow Restriction (BFR).

Warren has worked across professional sport, including roles with England teams, Munster Rugby, and football clubs such as Hull City and Derby County, and now combines applied practice with research and innovation through the company he founded, called Hytro.

Together, we explore BFR as a performance strategy. The conversation breaks down how BFR can be used across preparation, training, and recovery, and why it remains an underutilised method in many high-performance environments.

We dive into the physiological mechanisms underpinning BFR, including hypoxia and reactive hyperaemia, and discuss how wearable BFR technology has improved accessibility, safety, and real-world application. Warren also shares practical insights on progressive overload through pressure, effective protocols for performance and rehab, and how practitioners can apply BFR with greater intent.

This episode is ideal for coaches, sport scientists, and practitioners looking to better understand what’s under the hood of BFR and how to use it responsibly and effectively.

We also have a huge giveaway right now where you can win 6months mentorship on one of our Performance Group Mentorship programmes. Apply HERE if that is something you are interested in!

Dan

In this Stumbles episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, Dan sits down once again with Pete McKnight, one of the most respected performance consultants and strategists in elite sport.

This time, the conversation shifts from strategy to the mistakes that have shaped Pete’s leadership journey — the moments that taught him the most about people, communication, and team culture.

Dan and Pete explore the often-overlooked topic of leadership stumbles, particularly around onboarding new staff and managing relationships with key stakeholders. Pete shares honest reflections on early-career missteps, including how power dynamics can unintentionally undermine new hires, why young practitioners can remain “the newbie” far too long, and the consequences of assuming alignment rather than building it.

Together they break down why leaders must empower new staff from day one, communicate more deliberately, and create team environments where expectations, roles, and responsibilities are clear and shared.

Don't forget if you're an emerging coach looking for career support, or know coaches who could benefit from our employability mentorship support. then do look to see what we offer HERE where you can apply for sponsored support from TeamBuildr (apply HERE)

Enjoying the podcast? Please share across socials to help spread the word about the work we are doing!

In this strategy-focused episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, Dan sits down with Pete McKnight - one of the most respected performance consultants and strategists in elite sport. With nearly 25 years of experience across Olympic programmes, football, rugby, and motorsport, Pete is known for transforming how organisations structure their performance systems.

Together, Dan and Pete explore the strategy behind developing sport science and medical teams, especially in emerging or developing club environments. They break down the auditing process, how to prioritise what’s essential versus what’s merely desirable, and how to build integrated systems that connect people, processes, and facilities.

Pete introduces the principles behind his Performance Interplay framework and discusses the pivotal moments where strategic decisions shape long-term success - including cultural transitions, new ownership, major investment, and infrastructure upgrades.

The conversation also touches on the realities of consultancy: understanding budgets, interviewing key staff, identifying gaps, and creating alignment across stakeholders.

This episode is packed with practical insight for anyone working in performance systems, leadership, or sport science.

Don't forget to apply for employability mentorship HERE if that is something you could benefit from, and our emails go out weekly offering performance advice that you are free to sign up for too, HERE!

In this episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, we are again joined by Liam Connor, Head of Performance at Newcastle United Women’s Football Team. Together, we explore the importance of answering performance questions deliberately and accurately int his performance strategy episode.

When we recorded this episode, Liam. was working with England Badminton. From his time there, he breaks down the common errors practitioners make — such as retrospectively trying to answer questions without the right data, overlooking critical variables, or jumping to conclusions that aren’t supported by evidence. We discuss why the process should always begin with the question, not the data, and how to identify exactly what information is needed to answer it properly.

The conversation also highlights the importance of involving coaches and key stakeholders to ensure alignment, clarity, and practical relevance. Liam shares a powerful example from a project investigating how travel and extended periods away from the training environment influence physical markers and performance — including a noticeable drop after three weeks away.

This episode is ultimately about intentionality, collaboration, and being proactive rather than reactive when tackling performance questions.

Before diving in, listen to the details we share on our Future Ready Employability Mentorship, proudly sponsored by TeamBuildr — a 12-week FREE employability mentorship for 15 coaches, designed to help emerging coaches bridge the gap between education and employment through practical learning, self-awareness, and industry insights. Applications are now open by visiting: www.collaboratesports.com/sponsored

We hope you are enjoying the return of the show!

Are you signed up to our newsletter? If not, join us by clicking HERE - each week we send out advice for performance practitioners and share up and coming events!

Welcome back to the podcast!

In this episode, Paul Talty joins us again and shares his experiences and reflections on the mistakes he has made throughout his coaching career. He emphasises the importance of balancing strength and conditioning training, the necessity of reflective practice, and the value of communication in program design. Paul discusses recent stumbles in his coaching, particularly in managing training loads for athletes, and offers advice for young practitioners to embrace their mistakes as learning opportunities.

We hope you enjoy the episode!