This week on The High Performers Platform, we’re joined by Stefan Colakovski.

A-Leagues forward and creative force with a story rooted in resilience.

From academy dreams to grand final pressure, Stefan shares the mindset shifts, sacrifices, and silent battles behind the scenes of pro football.

Inside:

⚽ Breaking through as a young pro

⚽ Navigating injuries, contracts, and identity

⚽ What it really takes to keep chasing the dream

For athletes going all in, this one’s for you. Tune in now!

Making it as a pro is tough, but staying there? That’s the real challenge. We’re joined by Sydney Oxidate Pro Head Coach Nicholas Olsen for an exclusive deep dive into football development, resilience, and the mindset required to not just reach the top—but to stay there. If you’re serious about your game, this is one episode you can’t afford to miss!

Introducing Mike Byard from Pretty Little.

Pretty little is a communal dining project conceived from Mike Byard’s love of entertaining, meeting and engaging with fellow humans. Mike believes that everyone has a story to tell and Pretty Little aims to connect people with a shared love of food via unique dining experience. 

Pretty Little: https://www.prettylittle.com.au/
Pretty Little Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettylittle3183/
Mike Byard Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebyard/

Oxidate’s Website: https://www.oxidate.com.au
Oxidate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxidate_performance/
Oxidate Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iQXkX28ZiZHbHSV-91eLQ/

Australia’s newest IFBB professional bodybuilder Brad Dwight

Brad earned his pro status by winning the overall at this years IFBB national titles in Brisbane in February 

Age-27

From- Queanbeyan NSW Australia/ Canberra 

Occupation- full time tradesman (concreter) and for the last 12 months been learning the refrigeration trade. And I guess now I can add professional bodybuilder to the list haha

Sporting history/ background- club rugby league age 10-16, athletics (100m sprint mostly) ran for ACT/Aus at pacific school games in 2008, started training with some weights in my last couple of years of foot ball (just a home weight set) started training in a real gym when I started at Erindale college in 2010 didn’t start training with the intention to compete until I was out of school around 2012

Bodybuilding history:

- Inba ACT titles (teen division)September 2013 (4th) 
- Inba NSW titles (teen division) October 2013 (4th)
- Ifbb Australasian titles (junior division) March 2015 (? Not well) 
- Ifbb NSW & AUS titles (novice division) October 2017 (1st nsw, 3rd national) 
- Ifbb NSW Titles (u100/heavyweight) September 2018 (3rd) 
- Ifbb AUS titles (u100/ heavyweight) October 2018 (7th-8th) 
- Ifbb Nsw Arnold classic qualifier (u100/heavyweight) March 2020 (1st) 
- Ifbb Arnold Classic Australia (u100/heavyweight) March 2020 (1st)- then 2nd in the overall for the pro card 
- Ifbb NSW titles (u100/heavyweight) February 2021 (2nd)
- Ifbb AUS titles (u100/heavyweight) March 2021 (1st) and (1st overall to win the pro card) 

Years competing: 7

Brads Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bathroomrave/
Brads Coaches: https://www.instagram.com/aussie_transformation_coach/
https://www.instagram.com/schembript/

Oxidate’s Website: https://www.oxidate.com.au
Oxidate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxidate_performance/
Oxidate Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iQXkX28ZiZHbHSV-91eLQ/

Part 2 is out now! We were fortunate enough to sit down with Kaine Sheppard and discuss all things football and opportunities.

Kaine shared a lot during this interview, starting with his back story, where football began for him, sacrifices made, the impact it had on his family and how he progressed whilst making sure he took every opportunity.

Great insight from semi professional football to professional football.

Many take homes for young aspiring players and parents.

Kaines website & Information: https://linktr.ee/kainesheppard14
Kaine's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kainesheppard/

Oxidate’s Website: https://www.oxidate.com.au
Oxidate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxidate_performance/
Oxidate Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iQXkX28ZiZHbHSV-91eLQ/

We were fortunate enough to sit down with Kaine Sheppard and discuss all things football and opportunities.

Kaine shared a lot during this interview, starting with his back story, where football began for him, sacrifices made, the impact it had on his family and how he progressed whilst making sure he took every opportunity.

Great insight from semi professional football to professional football.

Many take homes for young aspiring players and parents.

Kaines website & Information: https://linktr.ee/kainesheppard14
Kaine's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kainesheppard/

Oxidate’s Website: https://www.oxidate.com.au
Oxidate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxidate_performance/
Oxidate Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iQXkX28ZiZHbHSV-91eLQ/

This was a very insightful conversation on all things coaching. Revealing some big truths in the industry towards work placement, internships and what makes a good coach.

We love real world people, coaches who're committed to sharing truth and factual information without branded endorsement or jaded views. We need more coaches like Lincoln, humble humans committed to their craft and proper athlete development (without all the noise).

On today's episode we welcome Lincoln Shrubb, Director of Nexor Sports Performance.

Nexor is a Canberra based coaching company,  specialising in athlete development, strength & conditioning and injury rehabilitation. Check Lincoln and his team out below

Nexor Website: https://www.nexorsportsperformance.com/
Nexor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nexor_sp/

Oxidate’s Website: https://www.oxidate.com.au
Oxidate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxidate_performance/
Oxidate Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iQXkX28ZiZHbHSV-91eLQ/

A great insight towards the back story of our head coach, Steph.

Not many people know what it’s like to come through uni, be promised jobs in elite/professional sport, then graduate and find out that we haven’t learnt any where near enough. Or that the industry/field is already over saturated with hundreds of students graduating each year and minimal paid positions available.

Listen to find out what we go through to earn our stripes. Countless work placement hours to "learn our craft" and the lack of what we both consider knowledge or real world experience and application.

Great conversation, following this weeks theme as we introduce a special partnership with Sterling Institute of Australia. Working closely with their students to help bridge the gap between theory and application.

Watch this space as we set out to create opportunities for students, like Steph, to enter the work force confident and able to deliver #bridgingthegap

Steph Website: https://myostrengthperformance.com/
Steph Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myostrengthperformance/

Oxidate’s Website: https://www.oxidate.com.au
Oxidate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxidate_performance/
Oxidate Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iQXkX28ZiZHbHSV-91eLQ/

Tom Young,  performance psychologist and director of Cognite.
A specialist in team Dynamics and leadership. Tom has worked at the highest level in professional sport.

We discuss the book in detail, such an interesting read composed from interviews with 7 leaders and experts in their field. The likes of Stuart Lancaster, Sean Dyche, Gary Kirsten, Ashley Giles, Michael Maguire, Roberto Martinez and Dan Quinn.

Unpacking leadership, values, beliefs and experiences with some of the best sports coaches

Tom is the Director of Cognite, where he specialises in performance psychology,  team dynamics and leadership. Such an awesome conversation, to be able to sit down with someone who has worked at the highest level of professional sport.

Great book, great episode and great person.

Cognite: https://cognite.uk.com/
Tom Young Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tom_cognite/
Purchase The Making of A Leader: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-making-of-a-leader-tom-young/book/9781472145079.html

Oxidate’s Website: https://www.oxidate.com.au
Oxidate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxidate_performance/
Oxidate Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iQXkX28ZiZHbHSV-91eLQ/

A deeper discussion towards podiatry.

Learning from an expert in the field, and pioneer for human health and performance.
20 year+ journey of experience and understanding towards a very natural approach in health and functionality.

Tune in to learn from our favourite podiatrist in Melbourne, a father, creator, visionary and pioneer in the filed towards helping people achieve their optimum level of health & performance.

Who would have thought that changing your foot wear decisions could change your life? Perhaps there's a reason I've become a barefoot activist and spend as much time as possible without shoes on? (Jacob - host)

Andy Bryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andybryant_podiatrist/
Mount Waverly Podiatry: https://www.mountwaverleypodiatry.com.au/

Oxidate’s Website: https://www.oxidate.com.au
Oxidate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxidate_performance/
Oxidate Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iQXkX28ZiZHbHSV-91eLQ/