We sit down with Oliver Soames, former first-class cricketer, to explore how life on the field shaped his approach to planning, networking, and building a purposeful career beyond sport.

Oliver reflects on the reality that not every career ends with a fairytale finish, and why that makes preparation and honest conversations so important. He shares how opening up to other athletes and leaning into your network can provide unexpected opportunities, valuable perspective, and even peace of mind.

From handling the emotional side of transition to understanding the power of using your platform while you still have it, Oliver’s story is a grounded and inspiring reminder that you’re not alone, and you’re more prepared than you think.

Key Takeaways:

• Use your time and network wisely
• Preparation brings peace
• You’re not alone
• Find your bubble
• There’s life beyond the scoreboard

About the hosts

James 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 organizations, 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.

Check out these powerful conversations:

Jonny Kennedy

Jess Roper

Connect and Contact

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

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/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We sit down with Jonny Kennedy, a former professional rugby player whose promising career was cut short at just 21 due to repeated concussions. Reluctantly stepping away from the game, Jonny made the difficult but correct decision to prioritise his health, reminding us all that the brain is our most important organ.

Jonny’s journey since rugby has been anything but linear. He initially transitioned into the family business, leading a new renewables project, but something was missing. That unshakable drive, the itch for something meaningful, pushed him to co-found Neubria, a brain health company, alongside his wife.

Jonny opens up about the emotional and mental health challenges that followed his retirement. Despite having a support system and something to fall back on, the struggle was real. Jonny unpacks the shift from control in sport, where performance can be improved with extra reps, to the unpredictable nature of injury and forced transition.

Key Takeaways:

• "I begrudgingly stopped playing."
• Mental health matters.
• You can’t control everything.
• Have a growth mindset.
• Start planning now.
• Know yourself.
• Have humility.

About the hosts

James 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 organizations, 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 Contact

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

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/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We sit down with Jess Roper, two-time English kickboxing champion, to explore her evolution from elite athlete to motivational speaker, mindset coach, and, most significantly, mother. Jess opens up about her biggest transition yet: becoming a mum, and how that life shift shaped her clarity, purpose, and ambition.

Through her personal growth journey, Jess highlights how working on yourself isn’t just powerful, it’s essential. She shares the importance of identifying the tools you want to carry with you for life, and how self-awareness helped her gain direction and vision beyond her sporting career.

From the ring to the world of personal development, Jess talks about how sport instilled a mindset for success and why thinking big, and thinking early, can open doors you didn’t know existed. She encourages athletes and non-athletes alike to ask for help, seek out mentors, and never let fear dictate their decisions.

Key Takeaways:

• Your biggest transitions may happen outside of sport.
• Invest in your growth.
• Harness the mindset sport gave you.
• Start early, dream big.
• Get support.
• Don’t let fear stop you.

About the hosts

James 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 organizations, 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.

If Jess’s insights resonated with you, here are a few more episodes you won’t want to miss:

Don Armand

Nick De Luca

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

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/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.