Episode 202: In this episode of the Athletic Shoulder Podcast, host Ben Ashworth is joined by Robbie Smyth, a Sports Physiotherapist currently working with the Sport Ireland Institute, where he serves as Lead Physiotherapist for the national swimming program.

Robbie has extensive experience across elite sport, having previously worked with Athletics Ireland, the Ireland National Team at the Paris Olympics, and as a Senior Physiotherapist with Meath GAA. His work focuses on bridging the gap between performance and rehabilitation for athletes competing at the highest level.

In this conversation, Robbie shares insights from his experience supporting world-class swimmers and discusses the nuanced demands of managing shoulder health in aquatic athletes.

Topics Discussed:

• Challenges in Olympic-level swimming
• Screening and assessment techniques
• Injury prevention strategies for swimmers
• Integrating dry-land and water-based training
• Managing shoulder pain and hypermobility
• Kinetic chain and force transfer in swimmers
• Surgical vs conservative management
• Future directions in swimmer rehabilitation

Where you can find Dr. Enda King:

• X

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

• Website

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

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Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth
• Alistair McKenzie
• Steve Barrett
• Pete McKnight

Episode 201: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we are joined by Jeremy Sheppard — an internationally respected performance coach, sport scientist, and leader in athlete development.

Jeremy has spent over two decades working at the highest levels of sport, from the Australian Institute of Sport to Canada Snowboard, where he currently serves as Performance Coach within the Slopestyle program. His work integrates movement, mindset, and medicine, creating high-performing environments where athletes thrive.

Across his career, Jeremy has held key roles with Surfing Australia, Australian Volleyball, and consulted with organisations including the New York Jets, Newcastle United FC, and Melbourne Storm. Having contributed to athlete success at eight Olympic Games, multiple X Games, and World Championships, his experience spans continents, cultures, and disciplines.

In this conversation, Jeremy offers deep reflections on leadership, authenticity, and performance — exploring how character, creativity, and relationships drive sustainable achievement in sport and beyond.

• Background & Career Journey — From athlete to sports scientist/coach, working at Australian Institute of Sport and Canada Snowboard
• Character as Leadership Foundation — Character drives behaviour and sustainable achievement; contrasting childhood influences shaped this philosophy
• Anti-Hierarchical Leadership — Dynamic team structures, circular decision-making, “captain in the dressing room” approach, leadership shifts based on context
• Personal Before Team Leadership — Self-development and authentic identity required before effectively leading others
• Team Development — Empowering autonomy, creating belonging, working with limited resources through creativity and relationships
• Redefining Success — Success as behaviours matching values rather than outcomes; process over results focus

Where you can find Jeremy:

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

• X

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

-

Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

-

Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth
• Alistair McKenzie
• Dylan Carmody
• Steve Barrett
• Pete McKnight

Episode 200: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Dr. Enda King PhD MSc, one of the world’s leading sports physiotherapists and rehabilitation experts.

Enda combines his roles as a sports physiotherapist, strength and conditioning coach, researcher, and educator, working with elite athletes and teams across the globe. As Head of Performance at the Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin, he led the development of pioneering ACL and Athletic Groin Pain pathways, as well as the Elite Athlete Program—supporting players from the Premier League, NBA, NFL, NHL, Premiership Rugby, European Tour Golf, National Hunt Racing, AFL, and UFC.

With over 40 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, Enda’s work continues to shape modern understanding of biomechanics, rehabilitation, and performance.

Topics Discussed:

• Understanding Athletic Hip & Groin Pain

• Challenges in Diagnosis and Management

• Functional Assessments & Key Considerations

• North Star Principles of Effective Rehabilitation

• Rehab Insights from the Sportsmith Conference

Where you can find Dr. Enda King:

• X

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

• Website

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

-

Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

-

Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth
• Alistair McKenzie
• Dylan Carmody
• Steve Barrett
• Pete McKnight