Athlete Transition Accelerator

Justin Fitzpatrick, former Irish international, Heineken Cup winner with Ulster, and seasoned professional with London Irish and Castres, joined us on Athlete to Athlete: Lessons for Life Beyond the Game to talk through the mindset shifts, missteps, and lessons learned from life after elite rugby.Despite preparing for the inevitable, Justin still felt the shock of stepping away. The loss of purpose, the shift in identity, and the looming question: What now? In this powerful episode, Justin offers a clear, experienced voice for any current athlete navigating that same question. Whether you're nearing the end or just getting started, his advice is essential listening. Key Takeaways:Know where you're headed: Start with the end in mind, then build a path toward it.Preparation matters: You can’t delay the conversation just because you're still playing.Ask for help: There are people who want to support you, but they won’t know unless you ask.You’ve already got what it takes: Your mindset, adaptability, and resilience are deeply valuable beyond sport.Take ownership: Seasons can fly by, make sure each one moves you forward, not just in rugby or sport, but in life.About the hostsJames Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.Connect and ContactWebsite:www.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn:Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail:support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

We’re joined by Freddie Woodward, Olympian, European and Commonwealth medallist, and former Team GB diver.From standing on the board at Rio 2016 to stepping away from the sport that shaped him, Freddie shares what it really feels like to walk away from elite competition, and the work it takes to redefine yourself after it.This conversation explores the mental shift from dreaming to doing, the lingering questions around identity, and the power of reflection in shaping what comes next. It's a raw, thoughtful, and energising chat packed with honest insight and practical takeaways.Key Takeaways:Transfer your strengths - the skills that took you to the top are exactly what you need to succeed in life after sport.You’re not done - your best, most meaningful work might still be ahead of you, don’t limit your story to past performances.Take a step back - pause, reflect, understand your values, skills, and what you still want to learn.Action beats intention - dreaming big is only half the equation, progress comes when you start doing the work.That quiet voice matters - if you’re already wondering what’s next, listen to it, explore it.Reinvention is necessary - it’s not enough to stop, you have to let go and reshape who you are beyond the jersey.About the hostsJames Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.Connect and ContactWebsite:www.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn:Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail:support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

We sit down with Flip van der Merwe, former South African international and professional rugby player, to explore what true transition looks like when your playing career ends, and real life begins.Known for his physicality on the pitch, Flip opens up about the internal strength it takes to move into the unknown and start over. From redefining identity to surrounding yourself with the right people, Flip’s journey is one of intentional action, humility, and clarity.He reminds us that the drive, discipline, and adaptability that get you to the top of sport are exactly the tools you need to succeed after it, if you’re willing to get to work.Key Takeaways:·       Transition isn’t about knowing it all, it’s about staying adaptable, just like you did in sport.·       The same work ethic that got you to the elite level is what will carry you forward.·       Get curious, ask questions, explore industries.·       Surround yourself with people who have your best interests at heart.·       Don’t just chase opportunity, take the time to understand what fulfils you.·       Rugby was what Flip did, not who he was, his transition wasn’t an ending, but a continuation.About the hostsJames Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.Connect and ContactWebsite:www.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn:Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail:support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

We sit down with James Hildreth, former first-class cricketer and Somerset legend, who spent over 20 years at one club, an increasingly rare feat in modern sport.James’ transition wasn’t an afterthought, it was something he planned, built towards, and ultimately took control of. From financial literacy to self-awareness, James shares what he got right, what he’s still figuring out, and why no conversation or exploration is ever wasted.Key Takeaways:Be curious. There’s no such thing as a bad conversation, explore, ask, shadow.Start learning about money, understand your income, build a long-term view, and seek out financial education early.The traits you’ve sharpened in sport, discipline, resilience, communication, they’re gold in any industry.Detach and explore, finding time to switch off from sport and learn elsewhere helps shape your next step.Know your 'why', reflect deeply. What are you connected to beyond performance?Don’t wait for the game to tell you it’s time, prepare so that you decide when to step away.Now working in wealth management, James supports individuals and families in planning for their financial futures with the same discipline and long-term thinking that defined his cricket career. You can learn more about his work here: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/partner/jameshildrethAbout the hostsJames Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter Connect and ContactWebsite:www.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn:Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail:support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

We sit down with Kristine Sommer, former USA Rugby international and professional athlete, passionate advocate for athlete wellbeing and transition support now a co-founder of the Global Rugby Players Foundation and the XV foundation. Kristine’s story is a powerful reflection of the emotional, practical, and identity-driven challenges athletes face when stepping away from sport, and how owning that journey, rather than avoiding it, can unlock a whole new chapter of growth. From the internal identity struggles of retirement, to the external work of building a new network and purpose, Kristine shares honest, experience-rich lessons that every athlete needs to hear. Key Takeaways • The next chapter is coming, whether you’re ready or not. Initiate the conversation with yourself and others. • Transition is inevitable. Embracing it with intention allows you to shape it. • It’s easy to look backwards. But your attention belongs to the now and the path ahead. • Leadership, resilience, pressure management… athletes bring serious value to industry. • Get curious about who you know and how they can help shape your direction. • Leaving the game means figuring out who you are without the jersey - it takes time and patience. • You’ll ask if you made the right decision. You’re not alone. • You’re not starting over, you’re evolving.  About the hostsJames Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.Connect and ContactWebsite:www.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn:Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail:support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

What athletes wish they knew sooner.What do elite athletes wish they’d done before hanging up the boots, taking of their pads for the last time or laying down their ore? What conversations do they look back on and wish they’d had? What preparation really counts? This week, we take a different approach.Instead of a guest, Karl and James dive into the biggest lessons, recurring themes, and behind-the-scenes insights that have emerged from hundreds of conversations with elite athletes who’ve made the leap from sport to life beyond the game.From Olympians to international rugby players, cricketers and footballers, these are the truths we’ve heard time and time again, and the practical takeaways we want every current athlete to hear before the lights go out.Key Takeaways:Curiosity leads to clarity.Conversations change careers.Your network is your edge.Reframe rejection and injury as opportunity.Your mindset is a superpower. If you’re an athlete thinking about what’s next, or someone who supports them, this episode is packed with the insight, honesty, and actionable advice you’ve come to expect from Athlete to Athlete.About the HostsJames Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.Connect and ContactWebsite:www.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn:Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail:support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

We sit down with Jenny Casson, two-time Olympic rower for Team Canada and Co-Founder of Daylilie, to explore what it means to evolve beyond elite sport.From competing on the world stage in Tokyo and Paris to launching a business built around purpose and impact, Jenny shares her own transition story, the challenges, the mindset shifts, and the importance of having the right people in your corner.As one of ATA’s ambassadors, Jenny brings both lived experience and a refreshing honesty to what the process of preparing for life beyond sport really looks like.Key Takeaways:You don’t need to solve it all in one day.Build your team. Seek out people doing what you want to do and start the conversation.This next chapter isn’t a loss; it’s growth.Don’t let athlete be your only identity.Take time to explore, reflect, and understand yourself. Whether you're still competing or just starting to plan for what comes next, this episode offers real, actionable insight from someone who’s walking the path ,and doing it on her terms.Jenny Casson:LinkedIn – Jennifer Joan CassonInstagram – jenny_joan_cassonDaylilie - Everyday Bras for Athletic Silhouettes | DaylilieInstagram – daylilie_brasAbout the hostsJames Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter Connect and ContactWebsite:www.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn:Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail:support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

We sit down with Joe Jacobi, Olympic gold medallist and former USA Canoe/Kayak CEO, to explore his journey beyond elite sport.After reaching the pinnacle of performance at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona with his teammate, Scott Strausbaugh, Joe faced the same questions that confront every retiring athlete: What now? What does the world want from me? Who am I without the sport?Joe shares how he navigated uncertainty, embraced reflection, and rebuilt a life of purpose and impact. From leading a national sports body to creating Thinking in Waves, a weekly performance and mindset newsletter, Joe has made it his mission to help others move through transition with clarity and intention.Key Takeaways:You'll finish your career and ask a lot of questions, that’s normal.Reflect often, what would you tell your younger self?Find the people doing what you want to do and learn from them.Get clear on what brings you joy.Diversify your interests, each experience teaches you something.Reframe your journey, your story has power beyond the podium. Learn more about Joe, explore his book - Slalom and subscribe to his newsletter – Thinking in Waves at www.joejacobi.comAbout the hostsJames Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter Connect and ContactWebsite:www.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn:Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail:support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

We sit down with Conor Gilsenan, former professional rugby player whose promising career was cut short by concussion.What followed was a bold leap into the unknown, competing on The Apprentice, diving into tech sales, and redefining what success looks like beyond the game.Key Takeaways from Conor’s Journey:You have to become an expert in something else – talent and reputation open doors, but learning a new craft is key to long-term success.The best is yet to come – use the platform of professional sport to create new opportunities and build your next chapter.Let go of perfection – mistakes and pivots are part of the process, embrace the uncertainty, it’s where the growth happens.Nothing fully prepares you for retirement – even when you think you’re ready, the moment the lights go out, it’s still tough.Conor shares openly about the emotional toll of early retirement, the pressure to succeed quickly, and the mindset shift needed to thrive after elite sport. His story is honest, relatable, and full of wisdom for any athlete facing the unknown.About the hostsJames Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter Connect and ContactWebsite:www.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn:Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail:support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com