In Episode 13, Liz talks with Michelle Davidson, a longtime swim coach, lifeguard, teacher, and mentor whose life in the water stretches from the Jersey Shore to the English Channel. Michelle shares her background as a scholarship swimmer, longtime lifeguard, and coach who has spent decades teaching, training, and competing across swimming and lifesaving. She reflects on the difference between teaching swim lessons and truly coaching, how science and experience shaped her approach to stroke technique, and why coach learning does not come from certification alone. The conversation also explores open-water swimming, the Gertrude Ederle swim, Australian lifeguarding, Monmouth County lifeguard competition, rookie training, and the sport of lifesaving. Along the way, Michelle makes a strong case for the value of experience, mentoring, and judgment in coach development.

In Episode 12, Liz talks mountain bike coaching with Stephanie Beritsky, a certified mountain bike instructor, NICA coach, and former REI instructor, to compare three common training pathways: PMBIA, BICP, and NICA’s in-house coach training. They unpack the real differences in how each system prepares instructors/coaches, especially the tradeoff between classroom/testing vs. on-trail learning, and why teaching skills in a grassy field doesn’t always translate to confident trail riding. You’ll also hear a practical deep-dive on what’s missing from many coach trainings: learning how to notice errors in real time and correct them effectively, plus how attention, fear, and muscle memory shape what young riders can actually apply on the bike.

In Episode 11, Liz talks with Marshall Milbrath—former cross country coach, teacher, exercise physiology grad, and PhD-trained coach educator—about what actually drives athlete improvement and coach development. Marshall shares how he chased every learning opportunity he could find (including USA Track & Field coach education), why buy-in and consistency often beat the “perfect plan,” and his simple coaching litmus test: athletes should be happy, healthy, and improving. They also dig into coaching semantics (effective vs. expert), how to prepare athletes for their next coach, what it looks like to assess real coaching behaviors (not just buzzwords like “athlete-centered”), and why coach education works best when it’s practical, structured, and built around reflection and feedback

In Episode 10, Liz talks with Dr. Peter McGahey (West Virginia University and U.S. Soccer coach development) for a big-picture conversation on learning, growth, and what makes coaching truly transformative. Peter breaks down the U.S. Soccer licensing pathway, what it means to develop coach educators (not just coaches), and why the next frontier is learning science, communication, and relationships that can’t be replaced by technology. They also challenge the myth that great coaches and athletes are simply “naturals,” explore why willingness to learn matters more than perceived deficits, and unpack Peter’s unforgettable idea that “the magic of coaching happens in the gap” between where you are and where you want to be.

In Episode 9, Liz talks with Gregory Rubendall—a lifelong soccer coach, former physical education teacher, and soccer coach educator—about what it really means to build better learning environments in the sport. They dig into how coaches can create sessions that keep players engaged, how communication and culture shape development, and why coach education has to be practical (especially for volunteer coaches). Greg also shares what he looks for when mentoring other coaches and how community- and school-based programs can help make sport more accessible.

In this conversation, Kyla Lupo, a USA Triathlon Level 2 coach, about how she’s built a truly welcoming team (www.gobig.life) for beginners—and for athletes who often don’t feel safe or seen in traditional endurance spaces. We talk community-first coaching (including a race-day “tailgate” vibe), body acceptance, coaching trans and para athletes, and why mental health and reflective practice belong in every coach’s toolkit.

In episode seven, Liz sits down with Eric “Doc” Brand—her middle school teacher from the 1990s—who has spent 37 years in public education and about 40 years coaching athletes across sports. Eric shares how his coaching has evolved into a more intentional, player-centered approach: starting practice with quotes and intentions, experimenting with a constraint-led approach, and asking athletes to name what they’re seeing instead of just being told. They also get into the real-world stuff that makes or breaks teams—parents “putting holes in the boat,” the dreaded car ride home, keeping sport fun (yes, ice cream after a tough loss), why so much “coach education” turns into risk management, and a fascinating look at how USA Soccer’s licensing system evaluates coaches.

In episode 6, Liz catches up with longtime friend and former Reebok NYC colleague Rick Prince, founder of United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy (UESCA). Rick shares his journey from junior national team cyclist and collegiate runner to personal trainer, corporate fitness director, and ultimately creator of a science-based education company for endurance coaches. Together they dig into how UESCA brings in top global experts to design its courses, why he thinks national governing bodies should probably get out of the coach education business, and what a truly professional coaching credential might include. They also talk youth sport, unpaid volunteer coaches, and how much we undervalue the people trusted with kids’ development.

Learn more about UESCA at uesca.com and check out Rick’s own podcast for more on endurance coaching and coach education.