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Kim is an Australian high performance coach and physiotherapist who has spent the last 8 years at the pinnacle of world motorsport. Kim has worked for the likes of Hass F1 team, Alpine Racing and one of the most famous teams in the history of F1, McLaren Racing. Kim has also worked exclusively as a personal physiotherapist and performance coach for F1 drivers Romain Grosjean and Oscar Piastri. If you are fan of the Netflix series "Drive to Survive" or have ever wondered what's involved with working as a practitioner at the highest level of motorsport in the world, Kim shares an unprecedented view of the pressures, volatility, year round travel and the glitz and glamour of what is Formula 1 racing.

Highlights from the episode…

• How the opportunities in the sport of AFL and Netball early in his career laid the foundations for skills he would later use in motorsport.
• With a desire to work in the AFL and currently working with the feeder team to North Melbourne FC, why Kim decided to give it all up and move to the UK with no job.
• How Kim secured a role with the University of Leeds working with a newly developed athletic program covering 13 different sports and athlete profiles.
• How Kim was able to get his foot in the door of Formula 1 with Hinsta having no prior experience in motorsport.
• Kim shares his time with the Hass F1 team and the steps he took to implement a performance model for the team.
• Kim describes his transition from team physio to working exclusively with F1 driver Romain Grosjean and what is entailed being directly responsible for the health and wellbeing of 1 of only 20 F1 drivers in the world.
• The risks and rewards of working exclusively with an individual athlete as oppose to working as part of a team/organisation.
• Having worked closely with 2 different F1 drivers in his career he shares the differences in the working relationship and how he had to be adaptable and bespoke in the management of the different drivers.
• Kim shares the physical demands of a F1 driver, the level of G force each driver has to endure and how they prepare drivers for these demands.
• What other sports can learn from the F1 drivers when it comes to mental preparation, state control, rapid decision making and focus that drivers need when racing F1.
• The relationship of F1 drivers and ACL injuries. How F1 drivers improve reactiveness to stimulus and what other sports could learn to improve their response to an unanticipatory event.
• Having a resume that many would dream of, what has been the cost of having such career?
• After close to a decade at the pinnacle of world motorsport why Kim chose to step away from F1 and pursue the next chapter of his career.

People mentioned:

• Callum Repper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callum-repper/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Peter Lion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterlion/
• Clare Lion: https://www.onephysiotherapy.co.uk/team-bio/clare-lion
• Dr. Luke Bennett: https://www.hintsa.com/insights/blogs/story-of-luke-bennett/
• Mark Young: https://open.spotify.com/episode/17aAXmr5EdiTtxfqs1D1Zn
• Dave O’Neil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-o-neill-60229442/
• Dr. Stuart McGill: https://www.backfitpro.com/about-us/

Kim Keedle contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimkeedle/

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

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Paul Devlin is a world renowned high performance manager who has been able to successfully transition from working with high performance teams in the sports world to now working with high performance teams in the corporate world. Paul has led various teams in the world of Rugby and Rugby League having worked with the likes of the Cornish Pirates, Doncaster Knights, Hull F.C., Melbourne Storm, Paramatta Eels, South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Brisbane Broncos. This is an amazing conversation where Paul shares what he's learnt over the years working at the pinnacle of professional sport and then go on to recreate himself time and time again initially as a professional player, to a high performance manger in sport and now as a leader in the corporate setting with one of the biggest companies in the world, Amazon.

Highlights from the episode…

• What led to Paul being asked to be the nutritionist and rehab coach at a professional rugby club whilst he was a player.
• Paul and I discuss the thin line between having a “growth mindset” and becoming an “insecure overachiever”.
• How Paul made the decision to leave the UK and join the Melbourne Storm in the NRL.
• After decades filled with the highs and lows of professional sport, how Paul is navigating the change of working in the corporate world.
• “You need to be able to step on their toes without taking the shine off their shoes”. The differences of coaching in sport and the corporate world.
• Making the big move from the UK to Aus. What conversations and considerations did Paul have to make to ensure this was the best decision for him and his family.
• In an industry that is not always inducive to a strong family network how Paul has worked at the pinnacle of sport and corporate and have a remarkable 18 year marriage and family life.
• How do you instil an S&C/high performance culture in an organisation or a sport that has historically not had this culture?
• “The outcomes don’t justify the means”. When successful how does one look to improve a program, know what to improve and how best to improve it?
• There is no lack of robust evidence, well structured programs or exceptional practitioners in the youth athletic development, so where are we getting it wrong when it comes to developing young athletes?
• In an industry evaluated through the use of statistics, metrics, KPIs…what are the KPIs for High Performance Managers. What should High Performance Managers be evaluated against?
• Dealing with scrutiny during a challenging season. Paul shares his time at the Broncos and how he dealt with the unprecedented publicity, scrutiny and judgement that came during that period.
• What is Paul's "Why", when it comes to his journey as a high performance leader through various roles.

People mentioned:

• Kelvin Giles: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2g1eUNqD0zQXRsKWno93Ce
• Alex Natera: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-natera-035a7765/
• Frank Dick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-dick-0b559630/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Dean Benton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vtkbUw2IWpdvKLOzI7wVQ
• Phil Coles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-coles-8945803a/
• Dawn Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-scott-83000820/

Paul Devlin contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldevlin81/
• X: https://x.com/pauldevs?lang=en

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

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Tim is an Australian Sports Physiotherapist currently working in arguably the most competitive, physical and high pressure leagues in the world. Before joining the NFL he worked as Head Physiotherapist for the Canberra Raiders (NRL), ACT Brumbies (Super Rugby), Australian Rugby Men’s 7s team, Port Adelaide Power (AFL) and has provided consultancy to other clubs such as the St George Illawarra Dragons and Cronulla Sharks (NRL). In addition to working directly in professional sport he has also owned his own private practice and is the director of “Pitch Ready” that provides data driven return-to-sport and injury prevention strategies to professional teams and athletes across the globe. In this conversation we leave no stone unturn diving into all aspects of professional sport, to running a business, to family and how he navigated it all to become one of the most sought after practitioners in world sport.

Highlights from the episode…

• The decisions around completing a PhD, and where others may make the mistake when choosing what they should study next.
• Only 2 years since graduating, how Tim’s was able to secure a head physio role in the NRL with the Canberra Raiders.
• Most of Tim’s roles have NOT come from a formal hiring process. Tim shares how practitioners usually get appointed to professional sports teams.
• Although now having a flourishing career in professional sport, why Tim chose to go into business and take the risk of opening a private practice?
• Tim shares the challenges in the early days of business including not being paid for 6 months, acquiring patients, needing to learn business skills etc.
• After persisting through the challenging years and now having a thriving practice, why Tim chose to move to Adelaide to take on the Head Physio role at the Port Adelaide FC.
• How Tim remotely managed running a private practice and maintaining stability with his family, while he was working interstate with Port Adelaide (AFL).
• With no prior experience in the NFL, how Tim was able to secure a senior role with the Washington Commanders.
• The genesis of “Pitch Ready”, what it does and how it can help performance teams and athletes in RTS decision making.
• When anlaysing data how do you know what metrics to pay attention too and in turn what and how to correct what you determine is fundamental?
• Does movement efficiency matter? Or does the body just compensate for inefficiencies and in turn this is what actually builds robustness?
• If an athlete has poor movement (Eg. Cutting) is this a skill issue or a capacity issue?

People mentioned:

• Ed Hollis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-hollis-66a16732/
• Darren Burgess: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6RtvVQHvNNU4eRjJNQ7Mrz
• Tim Parham: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4W9EViwgEvNRwnRYqQjtyD
• Ian McKeown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-mckeown-a5551625/
• Mark Young: https://open.spotify.com/episode/17aAXmr5EdiTtxfqs1D1Zn
• Simon Rice: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NOUezYUtUXFUk53Ky4ZOK

Tim McGrath contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mcg/
• Pitch Ready: https://www.pitch-ready.com/about-us/
• X: https://x.com/_timmcgrath?lang=en

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

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The Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) space is an ever growing space in sport and there is no one better than Nathan who has worked in the space across multiple high performance school youth programs including Westfields Sports High School, St Augustine’s College Sydney and Brisbane Grammar. In addition, he’s also worked in professional sport with the Paramatta Eels (NRL) and Australia Women’s Rugby 7s team. Nathan shares the experience and lessons he has learnt in his career and having written the book on being a sporting parent titled “The Sporting Parent” he provides a comprehensive dive into how other practitioners can really excel in the field of LTAD.

Highlights from the episode…

• Nathan started his S&C career being inspired and training his brother in competitive Muy Thai fighting.
• How Nathan and I both discovered later in life what we wanted to do eventually enrolling in university as mature aged students.
• How a chance encounter with Darren Burgess as his lecturer at uni led to his first role in sport as a S&C coach with Parramatta Power FC.
• In a world where society rewards status, income, hierarchy etc. Nathan shares some of the financial challenges that many experience in the S&C industry and how he personally navigated this challenging period of his career.
• When do you give up on your dream? The tension for many in the industry between loving what you do and navigating at times low pay, long hours, volatility, the high competitiveness in the market etc.
• Nathan disuses the concept of “finite windows of opportunities” when periodising your career in professional sport.
• In today's society there is an emphasis on fulfillment in ones career. Is being fulfilled in your role that important?
• After financial challenges, working multiple years across semi professional sport, countless knock-backs, Nathan shares how he finally acquired his first professional full time role with the Parramatta Eels (NRL).
• Nathan shares his transition from the NRL to Rugby Australia with the national women’s Rugby 7s team.
• How Nathan used the COVID period to his advantage and how others can use periods of being out of the industry to really propelled them to the next level.
• Nathan is an expert in the LTAD space and we discuss how coaches can find a balance of being respectful of the challenges of youths these days yet pushing them beyond these challenges to build resilience.
• What my Asian mother and wife taught me about coaching.
• Dose winning matter and if not what is winning LTAD? The difference between “Infinite” and “Finite” games.
• The LTAD space is becoming a real avenue for many S&C coaches. Nathan shares the highlights and challenges of working in the LTAD industry.

People mentioned:

• Darren Burgess: https://podcasts.apple.com/np/podcast/darren-burgess-high-performance-manager-adelaide-crows/id1665811558?i=1000652813202
• Lachlan Wilmot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lachlan-wilmot-21165460/
• David Joyce: https://podcasts.apple.com/np/podcast/david-joyce-world-renowned-high-performance-sports/id1665811558?i=1000658845031
• Simon Harries: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6AlZDezoETn9dEdVLiGNn4

Nathan Parnham contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-parnham-19238022/
• X: https://x.com/NathanParnham
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1VrSyA2N1DmuUFqXfbQ8De
• Book

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

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Paula Peralta is a one of few Specialist Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist in the world who has worked in over a dozen World Cups, Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic games collectively over her career. Not only has she worked across multiple sports and various athletes within all these major tournaments, but she has also worked with both the Men’s (Boomers) and Women’s (Opals) Australian national basketball team and was part of the special group who went on to win an historic bronze medal with both teams. Paula takes us into the inner sanctum of those incredible moments as well as shares both the technical skills and personal attributes that have allowed her to excel in the world of high performance sport for over 20 years.

Highlights from the episode…

• Little may you know, Paula was an AIS netball scholarship holder and after suffering an early ACL injury this led to her being exposed to the cream of the crop of sports physios in Australia at the time.
• Having held lead positions in various teams that has involved regular travel, a lot of pressure and long hours…How did you not burn out?
• Although she has had a career filled with many highlights, there are often many “costs” that accompany working in sport. How Paula re-frames these.
• How Paula secured her first role at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and shares insight of what it’s like to work at multiple Commonwealth, Paralympic and Olympic games.
• Paula provides unprecedented access to what it was like being part of both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball team Bronze medal winning Olympic games.
• What support services are available to those countries who attend the games who don’t have medical/physio support?
• Paula provides a rundown of the services, personnel and the logistics of being able to provide 24 hour support for over 450 Australian athletes over the 16 day period at the Olympics games.
• How Paula manages her Opals players remotely when they are situated across the globe playing for their respective teams.
• Who gets final say? The decision making process when the national team and their respective clubs may have differences in opinion in the management of a player.
• What screening/monitoring metrics Paula uses with the Opals to evaluate injury risk, player availability,periodising training/game minutes etc.
• Is there a risk of being “institutionalised” when spending years working in high performance sport and not knowing any other way?
• Paula shares her excitement about the future of Para and Women’s sport and the opportunities for practitioners and athletes in this space.

People mentioned:

• Peter Blanch: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3FHpOBIanMmbQRkx9YjkUx
• Keren Faulkner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keren-faulkner-b56b0296/
• Kate Mahony: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5TthNoykn5kz4El5jjZxjL
• Andrea Mosler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-mosler-40872a37/

Paula Peralta contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-peralta-b49bbb73/
• X: https://x.com/peralta_pj

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

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Alex Calder is an Australian Sports Scientist and S&C coach who has spent the last 6 years with one of the leading MLS franchises in the US. In addition to his work with Houston Dynamo FC he has worked in the college system across various sports as well as worked at Orlando SC (MLS) where he was responsible for the strength and conditioning of the playing squad that included Brazilian World Cup winner, Champions League winner and 2007 worlds best player (Ballon d'or) winner Kaka. In this conversation we chat about how a boy from Melbourne with no prior experience in professional sport, no contacts and the courage to buy a one way ticket to Boston was then able to build career most would envy in the top tier of football (Soccer) in the US.

Highlights from the episode…

• Alex pursued S&C initially wanting to improve his own strength and conditioning as a footballer.
• After retiring, Alex went all in and bought a one-way ticket to Boston with no job and no connections at the chance of establishing a career in high performance sport.
• He describes the first year in the US as “not for the feint hearted” and the lessons he learnt trying to get his foot into the door of sport.
• We discuss how the leaps in one’s development often are a product of being a little naive/ignorant and the value of engineering some naivety into ones decision making.
• Alex provides a step by step process of how he acquired a role as S&C coach in the US college system.
• Alex shares common pathways in the US for practitioners working in professional sporting roles and what sporting clubs look for in potential hires.
• Being an S&C Coach in the college system, day-to-day, facilities, remuneration, personnel, departments etc.
• Aside from the highlights, we discuss the costs of working in high performance sport and why he still does it?
• What it was like to work in his first MLS role with Orlando City SC, including highlights, challenges, lessons etc.
• We chat about being tested by athletes and how Alex navigated challenging situations with players and coaches and how being a chameleon in one’s approach is crucial.
• Ashley Jones “degrees of freedom” when it comes to programming athletes.
• How do you navigate a culture that may not resonate with S&C and get athletes to buy into doing gym work.
• Athletes currently are more intuitive and want to know “why” more than ever.
• When it comes to "Return To Play" what metrics Alex uses, who is involved and how the decision are made when it comes to progressing players at Houston Dynamo FC.
• When is it ok to push through pain and when we shouldn’t push through pain when it comes to progressing RTP.
• Alex speaks of the move to a new club and the past 6 years at Houston Dynamo FC.

People mentioned:

• Darren Burgess: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6RtvVQHvNNU4eRjJNQ7Mrz
• Adam Centofanti: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-centofanti-04224790/
• Ashley Jones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K58qwDLia2A
• Paul Caffery: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ireland11/

Alex Calder contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-calder-aa432480/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calder_05/
• Website: http://www.aussiecoachabroad.com/about
• Book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Peak-Performance-Soccer-Coaching-Training/dp/103206031X

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

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Tim Gabbett is one of the prominent leaders having spent over 3 decades in high performance sport where both his research and expertise has impacted many around the globe in the area of load management and injury prevention. What some may not know is that he started his career struggling to find any job in sport and eventually went on to work with the Tasmanian Institute of Sport, Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) and the Brisbane Broncos (NRL). This is a story of someone who now spends his time consulting, training and presenting to some of the biggest names in world sport and through a lot of setbacks, uncertainty, perseverance and an unrivalled work ethic has gone on to be named in the top 25 most impactful sport scientist of all time.

Highlights from the episode…

• What inspired Tim to pursue a career in sport science during a time where there were no sports scientist jobs in the industry.
• Tim shares the number one thing early practitioners are missing when it comes to working in high performance sport.
• Even though he was degree qualified, Tim shares some of the struggles early in his career trying to get any job in sport and even having to be a labourer for a period just to support his wife and 3 kids.
• How Tim has dealt with pressure, setbacks, occasional doubt and uncertainty during his 30-year career.
• Having transitioned from QAS to the Brisbane Broncos Tim discusses the differences between “public sports” (institutes, academies of sport) and “Private sports” (professional sporting organisations).
• Tim shares why he chose to have a side hustle of consulting while working full time in sport and how it developed into full time consulting for various clubs around the world.
• With many looking to utilise their expertise and start up their own business, Tim shares some advice and cautionary tales around his transition into consultancy.
• We discuss the Acute:Chronic load research and chat about whether we actually know specifically why an athlete becomes more robust to injury? Is it the physical adaptations or mental adaptations?
• What moderators Tim has found that can help athletes cope with acute spikes in loads and if addressed could actually effect the outcome of injury.
• An effective way to avoid spikes in load is to avoid the preceding trough in training. Off-season and are we inevitably creating a trough leading into a spike a load?
• Do we put too much emphasis on reducing injuries in sport?
• “Do you want your athlete back quickly or do you want them back permanently?” What you might need to consider when returning a player back to play post injuries.
• Tim shares a special and funny story of his Dad’s response to years of work that went into finally publishing his research and what Tim learnt from that moment.
• As a sports scientist what percentage do you lean currently on data/statistics/measures versus intuition/gut feel/instinct when it comes to decision making in sport? His answer will surprise you!

People mentioned:

• Peter Blanch: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3FHpOBIanMmbQRkx9YjkUx

Tim Gabbett contact details:

• Website: https://gabbettperformance.com.au/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-gabbett-82466899/

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

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Ebonie is a clinical researcher and her work has made her one of the leaders in the management of tendon injuries in the world. What people may not know is that she is also a sports physiotherapist who has worked for the Australian (AIS) and Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) and has serviced team Australia at multiple Commonwealth, Winter Olympic, Summer Olympic and Paralympic games. Ebonie has also worked in the performing arts with the Australian Ballet as well as spending 18 months touring with Disney’s Lion King stage production. In this conversation we take a rare deep dive into her personal and professional journey of how she's become one of the go to people for many of the worlds high performance teams when it comes to the treatment of tendons.

Highlights from the episode…

• What motivated Ebonie to pursue a career in sport after initially not being accepted to do physio at university.
• Having spent now over 15 years with the VIS, Ebonie describes what qualities they look for when hiring an exceptional practitioner.
• It’s not exercise prescription, massage, injury assessment that physios are most skilled in…its “physio CSI".
• We discuss the art of listening and the power of words. Why this is fundamental in athlete care.
• After several failed attempts to secure a role at the AIS. How Ebonie finally got a job with the AIS and what it was like to be mentored by some of Australia’s pioneers in sports medicine.
• We discuss volunteering and the challenge of not getting paid and how one can obtain experience and skills that others may not get when willing to do work for less.
• Although a well established leader in the field why Ebonie still volunteers and the benefits both her and the industry receive by her doing so.
• Ebonie provides an insight into her recent involvement in 2024 Paris Olympic Games including recruitment, HQ set up, day-to-day running, highlights etc.
• The power of developing your EQ (emotional intelligence) alongside your IQ when it comes to injury management.
• “If you listen hard enough your patient will tell you what’s wrong with them. If you really listen they will tell you how to fix them”.
• How Ebonie manages an acute tendon problem under the pressure, stress, time sensitivity and gravity of an athlete competing in an Olympic Games.
• “Tendons love load, what they hate is unmanageable load!”
• The biggest impact you have on your athletes symptoms is to get them to stop doing the provocative load…the problem is athletes are often mistaken what the provocative load is!
• How Ebonie has been able to stay at the pinnacle of sport while also being an incredible mother and partner.
• “Be evidence informed but not recipe driven”. The advantages and disadvantages of using research.

People mentioned:

• Steve Hawkins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-hawkins-06b195186/?originalSubdomain=au
• Peter Blanch: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3FHpOBIanMmbQRkx9YjkUx
• Sue Mayes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-mayes-am-19ab8861/
• Jill Cook: https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/jlcook

Ebonie Rio contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebonie-rio-436474224/?originalSubdomain=au
• La Trobe University: https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/erio

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.