Episode notes
In this episode of VALDCAST, high‑performance leader Dave Hamilton shares insights from over 25 years across Olympic sport, collegiate athletics and the NFL. From his early days at the UK Institute of Sport to leading performance units in elite team environments, Dave breaks down how he cut's through complexity and builds performance models that genuinely move the needle. Dave explains why simplicity beats dashboards full of noise, how objective testing like jump metrics can reveal readiness ...
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VALDCAST
Welcome to VALDCAST, where health, performance and technology intersect. Join hosts Dylan Carmody and Ryan McLaughlin as they bring you exclusive insights from the world's most influential voices, exploring the data, technology and trends transforming the high-performance and health industries.
More from VALDCAST All episodes →
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S3 · E10 · 18 Jun 2026 · 34 min
Trevor Short: Why Great Performance Starts With Better Systems
How do you build a performance system that actually improves decision-making? In this episode of VALDCAST, Trevor Short shares his approach to high-performance leadership, discussing how sport science, sports medicine, strength & conditioning, nutrition and mental health can work together to improve athlete outcomes. Drawing on his experience overseeing multidisciplinary performance teams, Trevor explains why the goal isn't simply collecting more data — it's creating systems that increase...
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S3 · E9 · 11 Jun 2026 · 33 min
Dawn Scott: Building World Champions - The Evolution of Athlete Monitoring in Women's Sport
In this episode of VALDCAST, Dawn Scott reflects on her journey from introducing sport science to England's Women's National Football (Soccer) Team in the early 2000s to helping drive performance innovation with the U.S. Women's National Soccer (Football) Team during an era that included multiple World Cup and Olympic successes. The conversation explores: • How women's football has evolved over the last 25 years • Building sport science programs when resources and technology were limited • Th...
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S3 · E8 · 4 Jun 2026 · 39 min
Anna Cruse: Building Collaborative Sport Science Systems
What does effective sport science actually look like in practice? In this episode of VALDCAST, host Dylan chats to Anna Cruse, Assistant Athletic Director for Applied Health and Performance Science at the University of Utah. They delve into the systems, relationships and decision-making processes that underpin successful sport science programs — explaining why collaboration, data quality and athlete-centered thinking are essential for turning information into meaningful action. The conversati...
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S3 · E7 · 28 May 2026 · 18 min
Braylon Tatum: Athlete Profiling, Objective Data & Working in Elite Sport
What does it actually take to work in elite sport environments? In this episode of VALDCAST, Braylon Tatum discusses athlete profiling, objective data and the realities of operating in high performance sport. From managing elite athletes to building systems that support performance decision-making, this conversation dives into how modern practitioners approach performance, monitoring and development at the highest level. The conversation explores: Athlete profiling in elite sportUsing o...
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S3 · E6 · 21 May 2026 · 33 min
Ziad Dahdul: Inside Modern ACL Rehab
What does elite ACL rehab actually look like in 2026? In this episode of the VALDCAST, Ziad from Ignite Phyzio breaks down how objective data, athletic development and clinician education are reshaping modern rehab. From using ForceDecks and ForceFrame testing to guide decision-making, to integrating sport-specific drills early in the rehab process, this conversation explores what it really takes to return athletes to performance — not just participation. The discussion also dives...
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S3 · E4 · 7 May 2026 · 38 min
Jarrod Antflick: Why Loading Beats Quick Fixes in Tendinopathy
In this episode, clinician and researcher Jarrod Antflick breaks down the real drivers of tendinopathy across the Achilles tendon and patellar tendon. From systemic influences like metabolic and hormonal factors to the impact of high load sport, Jarrod explains why diagnosis is everything and why not all tendinopathies are created equal. He dives into the key differences between Achilles and patellar tendinopathy, how tendon structure and length influence performance and what the key f...
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S3 · E3 · 30 Apr 2026 · 24 min
Mark Fitzgerald: Coaching Intuition vs Data — Why the Best Coaches Use Both
What’s really changed in high performance over the last 20 years? In this episode of VALDCAST, Mark Fitzgerald shares lessons from decades in elite sport — from early days with minimal data to today’s tech-driven environments. He dives into: Why coaching intuition still matters (and how tech should support it)Managing athlete relationships and “owning the room”Making better decisions with both objective and subjective dataBuilding trust so athletes actually buy inWhy your real value as a coac...
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S3 · E2 · 23 Apr 2026 · 32 min
Jess Elis: Rehab Isn’t a Protocol
In this episode of #VALDCAST, host Dylan sits down with Jess Ellis — founder of Rehab Code and former NBA health and performance director — to challenge some of the most common assumptions in modern rehab. From structure and function in elite athletes, jump testing and pathomechanics, Jess discusses the topics in rehab and performance that many often shy away from. In this conversation, Jess reflects on mentorship, the dangers of rigid systems and how clinicians can avoid getting trappe...
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S3 · E1 · 16 Apr 2026 · 40 min
Marc Lewis: Building Athlete Monitoring Systems That Actually Work
In this episode of #VALDCAST, our host Ryan sits down with Dr. Marc Lewis — Director of Applied Sports Science for the Houston Texans and co‑founder of the Sport Science Network — to unpack what it really takes to build and run a high-performance system in the NFL. Shaped by his military background, Marc shares how systems based thinking underpins everything from in‑season decision‑making to long‑term performance strategy in the NFL. Together they explore how to manage the chaos of a season, ...
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S2 · E12 · 9 Apr 2026 · 48 min
Chris Bramah: Preparing and Profiling HYROX Athletes
In this BONUS episode of VALDCAST, Ryan sits down with physio, biomechanist and researcher Dr. Chris Bramah to explore how practitioners can better profile and prepare athletes for HYROX. Chris breaks down the unique demands of the sport, highlighting why running remains the central performance driver and how factors like plantar flexor strength, tendon stiffness and reactive qualities underpin performance and recovery between stations. He shares practical insights into profiling the HYROX at...
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