The Petey Performance Podcast Peter Wright

This week I’m joined on the podcast by Fermanagh Senior Footballer and online S&C coach, Brenda Bannon.



We begin with a conversation around her current hamstring tendinopathy and what she has been doing to address it and get back to full fitness! Brenda opens up about the challenges and triumphs of her rehabilitation so far. She shares the nitty-gritty of her current tailored rehab regimen, what she’s learned through the injury and the nuances of her hamstring rig sessions provided by the GPA.



We follow that by going into the intricate balance of maintaining her athletic performance while juggling her commitment to helping others as an online coach. We delve into the mental side of performance and leadership. With the wisdom of someone who has navigated the peaks and valleys of a long competitive career so far, she speaks to the power of maintaining a growth mindset. 



Her transition from radiography to strength and conditioning coaching illustrates a bold leap, guided by passion and a desire to impact the lives of athletes more profoundly. This is a particularly individual journey and one that Brenda is proud to speak about candidly.



Tackling personal challenges like social anxiety and professional pressures, Brenda offers an unflinchingly honest look at the hurdles of building a personal brand and the emotional toll of a public persona. This episode peels back the layers on how she manages these aspects and the importance of her use of therapy and sports psychology in the past. Brenda speaks about the ebbs and flows of personal development and finding gratitude amid adversity. 



We finish off with a discussion about her burgeoning career in S&C coaching, providing a beacon of inspiration for those navigating their paths in sports, leadership, or any field driven by a quest for excellence.



Time-Stamps



0:00 - Hamstring Rehab and Performance Strategies

9:57 - Growth Mindset in Sports and Leadership

15:39 - Transitioning to S&C & Career Pressures

27:48 - Social Anxiety and Personal Development

38:47 - Journey of Growth and Gratitude

45:42 - Passion for Strength and Conditioning Coaching

1:00:26 - Personal Growth and Coaching Journey

How does an elite athlete in one sport, that’s just won the ultimate prize of the All-Ireland Final, transition into a completely new sport, as a beginner, in just under a week?



How does that athlete then go on to not only develop new skills and earn a position in the starting team, but go on to win a Premiership with her new club in her first season?



Jennifer Dunne is a trailblazer, a first of her kind and an incredibly open conversationalist, which is why this conversation is a must not miss for any athlete or fan in Ireland or Australia.



Join us as Jennifer, the primary school teacher and All-Ireland winning Dublin-midfielder, shares her extraordinary journey of triumph in Ireland followed by an adventurous chapter and ultimately successful first season in Australia in the AFLW. 



From the whirlwind of her All-Ireland victory celebrations to the subsequent plunge into the Australian lifestyle and the Aussie Rules fields, she paints a picture of 2023 that would make any athlete jealous. However, her heartfelt reflections on the challenges and exhilaration of the transitions are as inspiring as they are insightful.



Navigating the world of elite sports requires more than just physical prowess; it's a mental game that champions like Jennifer find balance in with grace and resilience. In our conversation, we unpack the complexities of adapting to different team cultures, the art of compartmentalising emotions for peak performance, and the humility needed to approach each new season as a fresh start. 



Jennifer's perspective on the Irish influence in the AFLW, coupled with the debate over capping international talent, offers a thoughtful look at the cultural and professional enticements of playing abroad versus the innate passion for representing your club and county in the amateur world of Gaelic games.



Jennifer gives us a glimpse into the significant role off-field relationships play in on-field success with both Dublin and Brisbane Lions. Playing with your teammates is one thing, playing with your best friends is something entirely different and more powerful.



Through her experiences, we touch on broader themes of travel, emigration, and striking a balance between life as an athlete and the necessity for breaks and self-care. As Jennifer expresses her pride in promoting Ladies Gaelic Football and her hopes to inspire the next generation, listeners will find themselves moved by a story that transcends sports, embodying the universal values of adaptation, connection, and resilience.



Time-Stamps



0:00 - Moving Overseas

7:32 - Transitioning Between Gaelic Football and Aussie Rules

17:38 - Irish Players in AFLW

23:20 - Parallels between Brisbane Lions & Dublin GAA

30:01 - Building Team Bonds for Success

41:40 - Time Off and Traveling Abroad

44:25 - Irish Athlete's Experience in Australia

51:24 - Promoting Ladies Gaelic Football

56:56 - Achievements, Lessons, and Role Models

Caught off guard by a health scare on my journey back to the Ireland, I share some insight into what lessons I have learned from navigating that particular challenge. I also share some of my plans for the coming months at home and talk about what excites me about being back on Erin’s isle.

However, the focus of this episode is not on myself, it’s on the challenges of athlete rehabilitation in the online space, where the blend of quality and consistency sets the tone for how quickly they can recover and return to competition.

There are many nuances to effective coaching and one of the most important is how we communicate. It’s power is underestimated and the skill of communication is often under-trained and not focused on by coaches and practitioners alike.

Every word, every gesture carries weight, and finding the right balance is both an art and a science.

I also explore the coach-athlete relationship, delving into the psychological factors and resilience needed in the face of injury and the skills of listening, empathy and trust that help the athlete to succeed in their struggles against adversity.



Time Stamps

0:00 - Health Scare Traveling Home

7:00 - Quality and Consistency in Rehabilitation

16:52 - Athlete Training and Coaching Dynamics

31:06 - Optimism, Resilience, and Athlete Recovery

36:37 - Effective Communication Strategies in Coaching

40:08 - Mentorship

47:24 - Athlete Recovery and Coaching Opportunities

This week I share my extraordinary experiences with two of the world’s most successful rugby 7s teams, the All Blacks Sevens and the Black Ferns Sevens, and the profound professional and personal insights gained from my couple of days spent shadowing with them in Mount Maunganui.



My adventures this month didn't stop there; the lessons learned from the GWS Giants and the dynamics in AFL teams like Collingwood Magpies and NRL’s finest, Wests Tigers have profoundly influenced my approach to teamwork and leadership. 

With valuable contributions from Peter Hughes in NZ and other experts in Oz, we delve into the critical balance of collaboration and privacy in the workplace, helping athletes to fulfil their potential while maintaining a focus on connecting with them on a personal level as well.



Within this episode, I unravel the art of fostering a family-first culture that aligns with the team’s and community’s values. I share my experiences from two very different professional setups and hopefully impart some wisdom that I have been so lucky to garner on my travels around Australasia. 



Hopefully you’ll learn the importance of fostering athlete autonomy and the necessity for coaches to build trust with their athletes first before imparting their wisdom and seeking to help.



Join me for these stories and strategies that might just change the game for you too.

Time-Stamps

00:00 - Professional Development and Cultural Insights

13:45 - Key Lessons From GWS Giants

18:44 - Effective Communication and Leadership in Sports

30:40 - Developing Positive Habits in Athletes

38:08 - Leadership, Culture, and Skill Development

45:15 - Life Updates

When life hurls a curveball, some of us catch it and change the game. That's exactly what Ian Reeves, formerly of the Gaelic Players Association and now with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, did when he joined the world of Australia’s National Rugby League.



Join us for an intimate conversation where Ian gets candid about the highs and lows of his international leap in coaching psychology, and the unexpected conversations that catapulted him from Ireland to Australia. 



Discover the day-to-day grind that powers a top NRL team and the personal anecdotes that map Ian's incredible journey of adaptability and learning on the fly.



Ian goes into detail on the multifaceted role of a psychologist working with elite athletes and walks us through the evolution of athlete support, detailing the fine balance between enhancing mental skills for peak performance and providing therapeutic aid. 



Ian offers insights into how he fosters an environment that encourages athletes to be open, how he builds and maintains strong relationships and offers his playbook for maintaining mental well-being amidst the pressures of professional sports.



Wrapping things up with robust insights, Ian Reeves emphasises the importance of nurturing a life beyond the field. 



He spotlights NRL star Latrell Mitchell's approach to dual career development, illustrating the power of having diverse interests and preparing for life after sports. 



Tune in to this episode for a blend of heartfelt storytelling and actionable advice that's sure to provide you with some actionable insights for the long game ahead.



Time-stamps

0:07 - Transition From GPA to NRL

8:11 - Supporting Athletes Through Mental Skills

19:05 - Building Relationships and Communication

32:14 - Personal Development and Relationships Abroad

36:34 - Setting Boundaries in Conversations With Athletes

47:24 - Professional vs Amateur Approach

52:39 - Athletic Identity and Dual Career Development

This week I sit down with All-Ireland winner and new GWS Giant recruit Éilish O’Dowd.



Éilish’s story is an interesting one as she is the only All-Ireland winner to have transferred to her adopted county of Dublin and won the championship in the same-season!



Following a stellar year last year, she’s swapped the Gaelic football field for the Australian Rules oval and has just begun her journey with the Giants in the AFLW.



Éilish provides us with unprecedented insights into the complexities of adapting to new teammates year after year as she fills us in on her journey.



Éilish discusses the challenges of mastering a new sport and how her Gaelic prowess gives her an edge in some aspects of AFLW.



Having just beaten the Giant’s previous record in the 1.6km time trial, she goes into depth on why she enjoys the aspects of the game that allow her to run in open field.



Her anecdotes paint a vivid picture how she aims to grasp the sport's intricacies and the parallels between the elite athleticism demanded in both AFLW and Gaelic football. 



Advice from fellow Irish players who've navigated this path into Aussie rules has had a profound impact on Éilish. With the standout message being the journey is as much about patience and joy as it is about skill and strategy.



Transitioning isn't just about learning the sports tactics; it's a full-on emotional rollercoaster. 



Uprooting from Dublin to Sydney is no easy decision and Éilish goes into detail on the many variables that she had to consider before taking her next step.



We also touch on her beginnings in Leitrim, her love of her home county and her initial concerns with transferring club from Ballinamore to Na Fianna. Her candid insights into the realities of burnout in sport paint a real picture of why many athletes have chosen to change clubs in recent years and highlight the dangers of pursuing a route that doesn’t serve you for too long.



This podcast provides fantastic insights for any young athletes that are struggling with similar issues or are venturing on similar journeys.



Time-Stamps



0:00 - Transitioning into the GWS Giants

7:26 - Learning a New Sport

19:15 - From Dublin to Sydney

28:32 - Club Transfer & Culture Shock

43:10 - Community, Athletics, and Family