The PAADS Athlete Development Podcast

Jeremy Kelly, director of legends affairs for the Carolina Panthers, discusses his journey from a journeyman professional football player to an athlete development professional on a podcast episode. He details how establishing relationships with mentors like Art Hightower and David Thornton inspired him to enter the player engagement space after a multi-league playing career. Kelly explains how he built the alumni relations department from the ground up with the Buffalo Bills before implementing a comprehensive player affairs ecosystem for the Panthers. This holistic approach centers on supporting athletes through career transition, crisis management, and long-term business integration. Ultimately, Kelly emphasizes that utilizing his own experiences allows him to build culture and community, serving as a relatable and dedicated resource for retired athletes.

This podcast transcript features Alexander Martin, a manager of player engagement at the National Football League, discussing his professional journey and the evolution of athlete development. Martin explains his transition from higher education to sports, emphasizing that strategic skill diversification and trust-building are essential for navigating the complex dynamics of the locker room and the front office. The conversation highlights how NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) has shifted the focus toward helping athletes build sustainable brands and identities while they are still active in their sport. Martin advocates for a growth mindset, suggesting that player engagement should be a core business function rather than a secondary program. He concludes by stressing the importance of collaborative pipelines between collegiate and professional levels to better prepare athletes for life after competition. Ultimately, the source provides a deep look at the multidimensional expertise required to support modern athletes as both performers and professionals.

This podcast transcript features an interview with Stephanie Thorburn, the current Executive Director of PADS, as she discusses her extensive career in athlete development. Her journey began at Florida State University, where a personal injury shifted her focus from competing as an athlete to pursuing sports psychology. Thorburn details her professional progression through elite organizations, including the New York Yankees, the NFL, the NBA, and the NCAA. Throughout the conversation, she highlights the importance of authentic relationships and the need for practitioners to adapt to a holistic approach to player welfare. She also reflects on the evolution of the field and the value of cross-sport networking at professional summits. Ultimately, Thorburn emphasizes that while technology and AI are useful tools, the core of successful athlete support remains the human connection.

This podcast episode features an interview with Felipe Martins, a former professional soccer player who reflects on the intense discipline and personal sacrifices required to sustain a high-level athletic career. Having left home at age ten to pursue his dream, Martins explores the psychological toll of elite sports, specifically the emotional disconnect and loss of a normal childhood. He highlights his transition into retirement, describing the mental health challenges and isolation athletes often face once they leave the spotlight. Martins also shares his perspective on the evolution of Major League Soccer, emphasizing the necessity of robust player development and support systems for off-field logistics. Currently serving as a coach and development head, he advocates for a coaching philosophy rooted in trust, high standards, and total transparency about the professional world's demands. Ultimately, the source serves as a deep meditation on the resilience needed to succeed and the importance of supporting athletes during their professional exit.

This podcast transcript features Jen Cross, Carmen Teepen, and Tommy Vera from the Gold Coast Titans discussing their roles in athlete development and well-being within professional rugby. The staff outlines the unique challenges of managing young athletes, such as balancing high salaries with the need for career education and long-term identity outside of sport. They highlight the differences between the men’s and women's leagues, noting that female players often juggle motherhood and full-time jobs alongside their athletic commitments. The team emphasizes the importance of head coach support and proximity to players in fostering a culture of trust and holistic growth. By integrating mental health specialists and cultural workshops, they aim to prepare athletes for success both during and after their playing careers. Their collaborative approach serves as a model for how modern sports organizations can prioritize the human element of high-performance competition.

This podcast episode features an interview with Riley Poduje, a former intern at Professional Association ofAthlete Development Specialists (PAADS) who now works professionally in the sports industry. The discussion highlights Poduje’s career trajectory, from managing a collegiate basketball team to handling player engagement and operations for a Major League Soccer club. She emphasizes that successful athlete development requires building trust and supporting the whole person rather than just the performer. Poduje also outlines her vision for the field, advocating for tailored education, personal branding resources, and mental health support for players. Ultimately, the conversation underscores the importance of interpersonal relationships and the behind-the-scenes work necessary to help athletes transition through different stages of their lives.

In this episode, hosts Duncan Fletcher and Stephanie Thorburn sit down with Tom Livengood from the WTA Player Development team to explore his remarkable career journey—from international exchange work to shaping athlete development in professional tennis. Livengood shares how his global perspective has influenced his approach within the internationally driven WTA. The conversation dives into the WTA’s holistic model for athlete support, focusing on individualized development, transferable skills, and data-driven strategies that promote long-term success both on and off the court. The hosts also compare the WTA’s player development approach to other sports, unpacking the unique challenges of supporting athletes in a global, individual sport where professional careers can start at any age.

The source is an excerpt from a podcast featuring an interview with two doctors from the University of Florida, Dr. Molly Harry and Dr. Emily Plunkett, who discuss their research on athlete development and the rapidly changing landscape of collegiate sports. The conversation focuses heavily on NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) policies, the potential for athletes to be reclassified as employees, and the resulting confusion and lack of education among student-athletes navigating these seismic shifts. The researchers also detail a collaborative study they conducted on baseball and softball athletes' use of LinkedIn to showcase their transferable skills, noting low-profile development and differences in self-presentation between male and female athletes. Finally, they discuss the need for standardization and customization in athlete development programming to effectively support student-athletes during and after their college careers.

In an episode of the PAADS Podcast, hosts Duncan Fletcher and Stephanie Thorburn interview JP van Wyke, the Player Services Manager for the South African Cricketers Association. The discussion centers on Funve's 20-year career in athlete development and player well-being, particularly within the evolving global cricket landscape. Van Wyke details the Player Plus program, which offers mental health, financial wellness, and educational support to players, highlighting the shift towards a dual-career mindset for athletes. He also addresses the challenges of supporting younger players entering professional leagues and the importance of collaboration with agents to ensure player welfare. The conversation further explores the critical work in mental health pioneered by cricket organizations, the impact of the Athlete Development Summit, and future initiatives focused on financial literacy and leveraging the expertise of past players for mentorship.

This discussion centers on the NBA's Coaching Development Program (CDP), featuring insights from Duncan Fletcher of PADS, along with Erjaam Hayes, Director of Player Development at the NBA, and Anisha Curry, Head Coach of the NBA Coaching Development Program. They highlight the program's evolution from event-based training to a comprehensive eight-month curriculum that focuses on technology, core coaching competencies, and professional development for both current and former players. The conversation also addresses the challenges and successes of transitioning from player to coach, emphasizing the importance of a lifelong learner mindset, managing unseen hours, and the value of relationships. Furthermore, it touches upon the program's selection process, the opportunities for practical experience, and the NBA's commitment to inclusivity by providing access for women in coaching.