Athlete Transition Accelerator

What happens when the pressure lifts, but the drive doesn’t? In this episode of Athlete to Athlete: Lessons for Life Beyond the Game, we sit down with Shea McAleese - Olympian, Commonwealth Games medallist, Olympic coach, and one of New Zealand hockey’s most respected high-performance leaders. Across more than 20 years in elite sport, Shea has lived every angle of performance: athlete, coach, mentor, and now leader beyond the game. What he shares in this conversation is something many athletes struggle to give themselves permission to explore:Stepping away doesn’t mean stepping down. Shea opens up about the importance of creating space from your sport, not to lose connection with it, but to rediscover joy, perspective, and balance. He explains why athletes who stay too close for too long often burn out, why doing something different can make you better at who you are, and how pressure-free environments are often where the biggest learning happens. This episode challenges the idea that athletes must cling tightly to one identity. Instead, Shea reframes transition as a natural evolution of performance, one that rewards curiosity, self-awareness, and courage. Whether you’re still competing, approaching the back end of your career, or quietly wondering “what else could I do?” this conversation will resonate. Key Takeaways from Shea McAleeseStepping away from your sport can reignite love, not weaken itBurnout often comes from staying in high-pressure environments too longIf something makes you unhappy, it eventually affects everythingEntrepreneurship demands passion - perseverance only comes if you care deeplyYou do have time - athletes just need to use it intentionallyYou don’t know what you don’t like until you’ve given it a fair runOrganisations want athletes - don’t undersell yourselfAthletes persevere, execute fast, and finish what they startResilience is a transferable superpowerFeedback is not personal - it’s performance informationUnderstand when athletes typically transition - awareness mattersMentors accelerate growth where you have blind spotsAbout 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 Contactwww.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail: support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Dara Alizadeh - Two Olympic Cycles, One Hard Stop: Navigating Life After Elite Sport For most athletes, retirement isn’t a single moment.It’s a psychological shift, a loss of structure, and a quiet question that lingers long before the final race. In this episode of Athlete to Athlete: Lessons for Life Beyond the Game, we sit down with Dara Alizadeh - two-time Olympian, Cambridge Boat Race President, Bermuda flagbearer, and now Infrastructure Transformation Specialist at Accenture. Dara represents something many elite athletes feel but rarely articulate:“Rowing was my world, and then, suddenly, it wasn’t.” Having competed at the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, Dara speaks openly about the reality of finishing in August 2024, the emotional challenge of stepping away, the importance of having something lined up immediately, and why uncertainty is often the most dangerous part of transition. This conversation goes beyond job titles. Dara unpacks:Why structure matters more after sport than during itHow exposure to industries while still competing reduces fearWhy athletes must stop outsourcing responsibility for their futureWhy ignoring what’s coming doesn’t delay it, it just removes choice This is not a story about “moving on.”It’s a conversation about owning the next chapter with intent. Key Takeaways:“Rowing was my world, and it changed overnight.” - Transition is emotional, even when you’re prepared.Having something lined up matters - Athletes without a runway often struggle most.Explore without pressure - Side projects, courses, teaching, all clarity compounds.Familiar language reduces fear - Exposure builds confidence before you ever step in.Athletes need structure - If it’s gone, you must recreate it.You are the main stakeholder - No one will build your next environment for you.Put yourself in rooms where you’re challenged again - Growth doesn’t stop with sport.Thinking about what’s next doesn’t distract from performance - it enhances it.You always have time - Excuses didn’t get you to elite level, they won’t help now. If you’re still competing and telling yourself “I’ll deal with it later”, this episode is for you. 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 Contactwww.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail: support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Michael Wells played Super Rugby for nearly every major Australian franchise, the Brumbies, Waratahs, Rebels, and Western Force, and represented his country in Sevens. But the story he shares in this episode isn’t about tackles or caps, it’s about the mindset that allowed him to step into retirement with confidence instead of fear. While many athletes reach the end of their careers unsure of what comes next, Wells took a different approach. He started planning early, building networks, seeking guidance, testing industries, and understanding the reality of working life long before he needed to. In this conversation, Michael breaks down the exact steps he took to avoid the transition cliff so many athletes talk about: Key Themes & Athlete TakeawaysCertainty reduces fear - knowing what you want to do next makes the transition exponentially easierYour network is bigger than you think - people are far more willing to help athletes than you realiseLeverage your platform while you have it - curiosity now opens doors laterExperience matters - part-time work gave him exposure, structure, and clarity earlyTime is a choice - most athletes underestimate how much time they actually haveHaving a plan enhances performance - when you know what comes after, you can commit fully to the presentFeedback is a superpower - especially when entering a new industry where you’re the novice, not the expertDon’t wait until the end - exploring options early gives you a runway, not a cliff edgeEnjoy the now - the future matters, but not at the cost of losing joy in the sport you love Michael’s journey is a powerful example of ownership. It shows athletes that transition doesn’t have to be chaotic, it can be structured, intentional, and empowering, if you start early and stay curious.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 Contactwww.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail: support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Shelley Dowling-Holroyd lived a career most athletes only dream of. The sixth British woman ever to throw over 60 metres, English Schools record-holder, A World Championships competitor at 19, An Olympian before she turned 23, and then, in an instant, it was gone. Two major accidents, a broken elbow, and years of fighting to keep her career alive eventually forced, Shelley out of the only life she had ever known. Not on her terms, not on her timeline, and not in a way she felt remotely ready for. In this deeply honest conversation, Shelley opens up about the emotional crater that follows an involuntary retirement, the depression, the identity loss, the silence that comes when the structure disappears, and the moment she realised she no longer recognised herself. But she also shares something even more powerful:How she rebuilt her identity, rediscovered her purpose, and found belonging again through coaching and helping athletes with disabilities. This episode is a masterclass in honesty, transition, resilience, and using your sporting past as a foundation, not a definition, for what comes next. Key Themes & Lessons for Current Athletes:• When retirement comes suddenly, the identity impact is real, and ignoring it only makes the fall harder• Lost confidence, lost structure, lost purpose… these are normal, human responses, not personal failures• Belonging matters, coaching and connection helped Shelley find herself again• The discipline, resilience and emotional strength you gain in sport are transferable, you just need to recognise them• Listen to older athletes, the warnings, the wisdom, the preparation they wish they’d done• Funding doesn’t last forever, education and backup planning matter more than you think• Your network is already huge, ask questions, be curious, use the doors your sport has opened This is a powerful conversation for any athlete trying to understand who they are beyond their sport, and how to start building the next chapter with intention, not fear.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 Contactwww.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail: support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

This week, the podcast takes a different turn, because we’re announcing something that changes the landscape for athlete transition.After speaking to hundreds of former elite athletes, a message became impossible to ignore:“I wish I had explored options earlier.”“I felt I had no time, no structure, no flexible opportunities while competing.”“I didn’t have the confidence or the commercial skills to build something for my future.”“If something like this had existed when I was playing… everything would have been different.” This episode is the story of that problem, and the launch of the solution. For the first time, ATA has partnered with Associate Yopa, one of the UK’s leading estate agencies, to create a truly athlete-led entrepreneurship pathway. A model designed by athletes, for athletes, built entirely around the realities of high-performance sport. No jargon, no theory, and no pressure. Just a structured, supported, flexible opportunity to build your own estate agency business while you compete. Why We Built ThisBased on years of conversations with athletes from rugby, football, Olympic sport, cricket, hockey and more, the pain points were consistent:• No early preparation• No flexible opportunities• No commercial experience• No confidence using networks• No clarity about what careers fit• And transition always hitting too late, too hard. This partnership is a direct response, the first athlete-built pathway of its kind in the UK. Why Associate Yopa?We partnered with Associate Yopa because:• They already run a proven associate model for self-employed agents• Their infrastructure mirrors athletic learning, reps, feedback, performance• They see athlete traits as advantages, not barriers• They want athletes in their ecosystem• Together we designed a system that complements performance, not competes with it  The OpportunityAthletes can now:• Start and run their own estate agency• Build it around training & competition• Create a secondary income stream• Leverage their network & personal brand• Build something small, steady or scalable - their choice• Learn real commercial skills while still playing Why It MattersAthletes gain:• Identity beyond their sport• Confidence and control over their future• Reduced pressure on performance• A mental reset and sense of purpose• Clarity in a space where most athletes feel lost• The ability to build life after sport before they need it This is how we change athlete transition in the UK.Connect and Contactwww.athletetransitionaccelerator.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/Instagram:@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/atacceleratorEmail: support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Few athletes have conquered the sporting world like Joyce Sombroek. Olympic gold and silver medallist, double World Goalkeeper of the Year, and Dutch field hockey legend, Joyce has stood at the pinnacle of elite sport, and faced the difficult reality of what comes next. In this powerful and honest conversation, Joyce opens up about the injury that ended her career, the emotional challenges of stepping away from something she’d given her life to, and the deliberate, structured approach that helped her move forward. She shares how developing her identity beyond hockey, through medicine, study, and purpose, gave her a smoother transition, and why athletes must never wait until it’s too late to start thinking about life beyond the game. Key takeaways:Plan your transition before you live it, don’t wait for injury or circumstance to force it.Your sport is part of who you are, but it isn’t all you are.Taking control of your transition in steps allows you to move forward with clarity, not crisis.Balance performance with preparation, discipline off the field can extend and enrich your career.If you don’t know what’s next, talk to people, try new things, and stay curious, exploration leads to clarity. 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

Three-time Olympian and one of Britain’s most decorated divers, Tonia Couch knows what it means to live life on the edge, literally and figuratively. After nearly two decades competing at the highest level, Tonia opens up about what happens when the roar fades, the funding stops, and you have to rebuild life outside the pool. In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode, Tonia shares:Why every athlete must understand their funding and future early, because when it ends, it ends fast.How stepping outside your comfort zone and trying new things builds the confidence you’ll need after sport.The importance of being brave enough to fail forward, and why curiosity always wins.Her real experience of falling into the deep end of life beyond the sport, and how she found her way back to purpose and joy.A reminder that the same courage that took you to the Olympics will take you through transition, if you’re willing to trust it. This episode is raw, emotional, and packed with insight for any athlete preparing for their next chapter, a reminder that there’s a whole world waiting beyond the game.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

After 15 years in professional rugby, former England international Tommy Taylor knows what it means to prepare for what’s next. With over 200 Premiership appearances for Sale Sharks and Wasps, and a reputation built on hard work and humility, Tommy’s story is one of curiosity, reflection, and quiet preparation for life beyond the game. In this episode, Tommy opens up about how injury gave him time to think, to step back, explore, and get ready for his next chapter before the final whistle blew. From testing out accounting exams and surveying to dog training and leadership coaching, his journey is a powerful reminder that exploration is progress, even when it leads you away from what you thought you’d do next. He shares the importance of utilising your platform while you’re still playing, giving yourself space to decompress when the boots come off, and surrounding yourself with a support network that keeps you grounded.Key takeaways:Start early - Explore and educate yourself before your career ends, opportunity fades quickly once the lights go out.Experiment and eliminate - Every “no” gets you closer to what fits.Take a breath - Give yourself grace and time to process before diving into the next chapter.Lean on others - Connection and conversation are powerful antidotes to isolation. 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