Four years into pro boxing 🥊 career, Adam Harper from Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire won the English Super Welterweight title in September 2018. The big time beckoned. But an adverse brain scan in January brought an abrupt end to his fighting career. He’s now training as a boxing referee and transitioning into a new career. Also talk about the mentors and discipline boxing has given Adam - he’s never met his real dad and left home at 16. Powerful chat and an inspirational character.

Michael Duff’s story is a corker - the only man ( we think) to play in all of the top eight football ⚽️ leagues in England. A journey that began with Carterton Town and reached the dizzying heights of the Premier League with Burnley. He’s now manager of the club where his career really kicked off as a player - Cheltenham Town. Talks about what he’s learnt from the managers he played for - particularly, Sean Dyche, who rang while I was with Michael and has been a consistent mentor. Really enjoyed this chat about life, ambitions, levels, the ego versus team unity, money and its effects and much, much more. Let me know what you think @eddraper81 on Twitter. Cheltenham Town is my local club so hoping it’s a good year ahead for Michael.

The Cheltenham Wellbeing Festival is coming to town in September! Great time talking exercise, health & technology with Lottie & Alex who are incredibly passionate about spreading helpful knowledge. cheltenhamwellbeingfestival.com for all the details. Love to know your feedback and appreciate you rating the podcast on iTunes etc.

Really enjoyed this chat with former Cheltenham captain & Bradford defender Shane Duff. We talk about his switch of mindset that allowed him to become a professional footballer and the same mindset that allowed him to pivot when injury curtailed his career at 28. Fascinating to hear how the life skills learned in football have allowed him to prosper in the world of property development. Also talk about the psychological experience of being compared to his older brother former PL player Michael Duff - now manager of Cheltenham. @eddraper81 for your feedback - hope you enjoy it. Pls review and share, if so. Thanks, Ed

Issac Chamberlain is a talented 25 yo Cruiserweight boxer, rebuilding after his first career loss. He’s also wise beyond his years. His mother cajoled him into boxing 🥊 after his cousin was stabbed to death. Isaac suspects gang life may have been his future were it not for the sport. From a tough neighbourhood in south London, he talks realistically and inspirationally about how kids in similar situations can avoid getting embroiled in street violence. He also talks candidly about a family member stealing money from him and how he dealt with it. We also go into the mental challenges of boxing politics and uncertainty over the next opponent. Let me know what you think @eddraper81

Fascinating chat with Racing car 🏎 driver Clayton Kingman - a man who made it from self promotion on twitter to race some of the world’s best cars on some of the most illustrious tracks in the world. From the almighty challenge of getting sponsorship and a car in the first place to the huge psychological and physical toll of competing at high speed. Good talk on nutrition & visualisation too. Hope you like it - let me know what you think on social media.

Great fun taking fitness and health with boxing 🥊 strength and conditioning coach Dan Lawrence. As Head Of Performance at Matchroom Boxing gym, Dan’s worked with elite boxers John Ryder, Conor Benn and many more. He’s also helped NFL Super Bowl winner Jay Ajayi and England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 & Southampton footballer ⚽️ Ryan Bertrand. We cover the challenges of working with elite athletes and also health and fitness tips for the general public. Also talk about the connection between physical and mental health and current issues facing Uk 🇬🇧 society. Let me know what you think!

Great career/football chat with ‘Finners.’ Covering his time as a youth player at Nottingham Forest to Lincoln, to Cheltenham Town and his transition into a new career - he’s now commercial manager at the club. Let me know your thoughts. Loved this conversation.

Really fun and candid chat with pro rugby union player Gareth Evans. The uncertainty of the career, the injuries, the highs, the business side. Fascinating on the psychology of pro sport and also the consideration of the career to come.

Long chat with John about his potential world title shot in 2019 after eight years in professional boxing 🥊 - cover the ups and downs of his career and how he deals with the uncertainty as he awaits the magic phone call to say the World title shot - potentially against David Lemieux is on. Talk about life lessons of boxing too and how the lifestyle style and its pressures work (or don’t) with fatherhood. Touch a little on judgement from social media critics and the general health of Boxing 🥊- and why its popularity is on the rise. Let me know how you like it guys.