by Stuart Armstrong
The Talent Equation podcast is an 'exploration in human advancement'... mostly (but not exclusively) through the lens of sport and physical activity. <br /><br />Each episode is an 'emergent conversation' with practitioners, parents, researchers, authors (or some combination of all three) taking a deep dive into the ways that people can help others to enhance their developmental journey in whatever field they are committed to. <br /><br />These conversations are not mainstream - you will not hear ideas that are provided on standard education courses - they often fly in the face of convention - they will sometimes be controversial and provocative - the show is about doing things differently and doing different things. <br /><br />The people who come on the show are innovators - they are trying to break new ground or swim against the tide of what they see as a broken culture or an ineffective system - what they say will prompt new thinking or new ideas. <br /><br />All that is asked of the listener is to embrace the conversation with an open mind.<br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support</a>.
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April 18, 2025
I had a fascinating conversation with Bren Veziroglu about ecological dynamics and how it's transforming coaching and movement practice. Bren's journey from a self-described "skinny, unathletic" teen to becoming an influential voice in movement education reveals powerful insights about skill development and learning. <br /><br />Three key takeaways from our conversation:<ol><li>Traditional drilling approaches develop technique but not true skill. By understanding that skill emerges from the dynamic interaction between the person and their environment, we can design more effective practice methods.</li><li>The ecological approach creates more joy and engagement in learning, making practice not only more effective but inherently rewarding. When activities are task-led rather than drill-led, both coaches and athletes experience more flow.</li><li>Developing physiological capabilities is important, but these should be built through functional movements aligned with the actual demands of the activity, rather than isolated exercises with questionable transfer.</li></ol>To continue exploring these ideas with like-minded coaches and practitioners, join my learning group 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' by heading to <a href="http://www.thetalentequation.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.thetalentequation.co.uk</a> and clicking the 'join a learning group' button.<br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support</a>.
April 5, 2025
I recently had the absolute pleasure of recording a conversation with Dr. Julia Blau and Dr. Jeffrey Wagman, authors of "An Introduction to Ecological Psychology: A Lawful Approach to Perceiving, Acting, and Cognising." Our conversation explored how humans actually perceive and interact with the world around them and question the traditional assumptions about psychology which suggests that we need to create mental representations of the world before we can act. <br /><br />Julia and Jeff shared insights on how the ecological approach transforms our understanding of human movement, and we contextualise this to enpack how we might better provide opportunities for young people to develop their abilities in sport and physical activity. We discussed how creating rich, varied environments allows people to develop their own solutions to movement problems. This approach promotes agency, enjoyment, and ultimately better performance across many fields from sports coaching to education. <br /><br />Key Takeaways:<br /><ol><li>Ecological psychology views perception and action as directly connected - we don't need to build internal models of the world to interact with it effectively.</li><li>Variability in practice isn't something to eliminate; it's actually essential for developing adaptable skills that work in changing environments.</li><li>When teaching movement skills, focus on helping people recognise when something feels right rather than precisely dictating the movements they should make.</li></ol>If you're interested in joining a community where we explore these concepts further, join our learning group 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' by heading to <a href="http://www.thetalentequation.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.thetalentequation.co.uk</a> and clicking on the 'join a learning group' button.<br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support</a>.
March 22, 2025
I recently had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Paddy McQueen from Swansea University to discuss a fascinating paper he had authored exploring the ethical dilemmas of supporting talented children. Our conversation explored the philosophical questions about childhood, talent development, and the responsibilities we have as parents, coaches and policy makers. <br /><br />Paddy introduced me to three different views of childhood - 'the sapling view' (seeing childhood merely as preparation for adulthood), 'the fruit view' (seeing childhood as superior to adulthood), and 'the caterpillar view' (seeing childhood and adulthood as distinctly valuable stages). These perspectives create different frameworks for thinking about how we should approach the sport experience for children.<br /><br />We discussed the tension between prioritising intrinsic childhood goods like free play, fun and social connection, versus instrumental goods that prepare children for adult success. The conversation revealed how deeply our cultural mindset about childhood affects the decisions we make in youth sports—often leading to an industrialised approach that sacrifices childhood experiences for potential future achievements that statistically few will attain. <br /><br />My three key takeaways from the conversation:<ol><li>How we view childhood fundamentally shapes our approach to talent development—each perspective (sapling, fruit, or caterpillar) leads to different choices.<br /><br /></li><li>The sacrifices required for "talent maximisation" often undermine intrinsic childhood goods that cannot be recovered later in life.<br /><br /></li><li>Playful, enjoyable sporting experiences may actually be more effective for skill development than highly structured, adult-centric training methods.</li></ol>If you found these ideas thought-provoking, I invite you to join my learning group called 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' by heading to <a href="http://www.thetalentequation.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.thetalentequation.co.uk</a> and clicking on the 'join a learning group' button. There you'll connect with others who are exploring these connections between philosophy, psychology, and sports development<br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support</a>.
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