Career Clarity with Athletes: A 2ndwind Podcast with Ryan Gonsalves

Hosted by Ryan Gonsalves

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Episodes

200

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Former professional footballer Ryan Gonsalves dives deep into the unique challenges and triumphs of transitioning from elite sports to fulfilling careers. Through candid conversations with athletes, the Career Clarity Podcast explores their inspiring journeys, uncovering lessons on identity, resilience, and reinvention. Whether you're an athlete or simply seeking inspiration for your next chapter, this podcast will empower you to unleash your second wind. Ryan Gonsalves transitioned from professional football with Huddersfield Town in the English Footbaal League, to a career in financial services by leveraging his adaptability, transferable skills, and willingness to embrace new opportunities. While playing semi-professional football, he pursued education and began working at GE Money Capital Bank, where he gained global experience and developed expertise in Lean Six Sigma and process improvement. His sports background often helped him stand out during interviews, creating memorable connections with hiring managers. Later, Ryan joined HSBC in Hong Kong, where he worked for nearly a decade in consumer banking, focusing on global projects such as researching homeownership behaviors. His ability to understand consumer insights and behavior became a cornerstone of his success in the financial sector. After over 20 years in banking (including back in Australia at AMP, Westpac, COmmenwealth Bank and NSW Treasury, Ryan transitioned into career coaching, inspired by helping fellow athletes navigate their post-sports careers. Ready to take the next step? Connect with Ryan at letschat@2ndwind.io.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 20, 202638 min

200: Desleigh Owusu & Finn Alexander - The Career Question Most Athletes Avoid

Send us Fan Mail Ryan sits down with triple jumper Desleigh Owusu and former Australian sailing team athlete Finn Alexander to explore two different stages of that journey. Desleigh is still competing while balancing around 20 to 25 hours of training with 25 hours of work each week, while Finn has recently transitioned out of elite sailing and into project management and consulting. They talk about balancing sport with work and study, making better use of athlete well-being support, recognising the skills built through elite sport, and why having something outside sport can make the eventual transition easier. What You’ll Hear: How Desleigh balances elite athletics with a 25-hour working week Why Finn studied alongside his sailing career The role well-being support can play beyond an athlete's performance The financial and logistical reality of funding an Olympic campaign How Desleigh has built meaningful work alongside her sporting career Why Finn started having coffee conversations when he didn't know what career he wanted Learning to recognise and communicate transferable skills from sport Why having an identity outside sport can make retirement less daunting Golden Nugget “I actually really now understand that I'm a person before I'm an athlete.” Want to go deeper? If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a consult.

October 13, 2026Episode 19949 min

199: Ronald Clark: Leaving Pro Basketball and Why I Started Planning My Exit 4 Years Early

Send us Fan Mail Ronald spent 12 years playing professional basketball across Europe, but he knew the game couldn't last forever. Rather than waiting until retirement to figure out what came next, he started preparing four years before his final season. While still playing professionally in Finland, he went back to university, earned another degree, built his technology skills and began developing a network outside basketball. In this episode, Ronald shares how that preparation helped him move from professional sport into technology and eventually cybersecurity, where he now works as a Chief Information Security Officer. What You’ll Hear: How Ronald went from college basketball to a 12-year professional career in Europe Why he always knew basketball would only be one part of his life How he continued learning while playing professionally Why he started preparing for retirement four years before he stopped playing Going back to university while still competing Building credibility outside of his identity as a basketball player Why networking became an important part of his transition Adjusting his communication style to build a career in Finland Golden Nugget “A lot of guys will wait until it's over and then start thinking about, okay, hey, what am I going to do now? But, you know, I intentionally planned my departure.” Want to go deeper? If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a consult.

October 6, 2026Episode 19851 min

198: Dr Misia Gervis - “Football Is What You Do. It’s Not Who You Are”

Send us Fan Mail What happens when an athlete has spent most of their life being valued for one thing, and suddenly they can’t do it anymore? In this episode, Ryan speaks with sports psychologist Dr Misia Gervis about the psychological side of elite sport, from the environments athletes grow up in to the identity challenges that can surface when their careers end. They discuss why some coaching practices can do more harm than good, how athletes can learn to see themselves beyond their performance, and why preparing for retirement needs to begin long before the final game. What You’ll Hear: Why performance is about the mind as much as the body When “mental toughness” can cross the line into harmful coaching How sporting environments shape an athlete’s identity Why losing that identity can make retirement so difficult The personal qualities athletes often fail to recognise in themselves Why coaches and families have an important role in preparing athletes for transition Why conversations about life after sport need to start early Golden Nugget “Football is what you do. It’s not who you are.” Want to go deeper? If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a consult.

September 29, 2026Episode 19743 min

197: Cathleen Santoso: Being Good Enough to Go Pro, But Choosing Something Else

Send us Fan Mail For years, Cathleen Santoso had a clear goal: play professional golf. She represented New South Wales and Australia, played college golf at the University of Oregon and had the funding and support to pursue the LPGA Tour. But when the opportunity finally arrived, Cathleen realized she wasn't excited by it anymore. In this episode, Cathleen shares why she chose not to turn pro, despite everyone around her expecting her to, and how an internship helped her discover that she could enjoy something outside of golf. She and Ryan also talk about identity after sport, learning to trust your own decisions, building a career through curiosity and conversations, and why figuring out what you want next sometimes starts with knowing what you don't want now. What You’ll Hear Why Cathleen chose golf at just 11 years old Playing for Australia and competing at the University of Oregon The phone call that made her realize she didn't want to turn pro Why telling her dad was one of the hardest parts of the decision How her Nike internship opened her eyes to a career outside golf Adjusting to life without competition, coaches and a structured training schedule Using coffee conversations to explore new career opportunities Why knowing your values can make difficult career decisions easier How she approached her latest career transition Golden Nugget “It doesn't mean you have to know what's next. It just means you know what is right now.” Want to go deeper? If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a consult.

September 22, 2026Episode 19657 min

196: Dr. Halaina Winter - From Australian Ballet To Doctor Of Psychology

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Halaina Winter spent eight years with the Australian Ballet after leaving school at 15 to pursue the career she had trained for most of her life. But even after achieving that dream, part of her knew she wanted something different. In this episode, Halaina shares what it was like to walk away from ballet without a clear plan, spend several years figuring out who she was outside of dance, and eventually rebuild her career as a clinical psychologist and business owner. She and Ryan also explore the pressure of starting again, the discipline she carried from ballet into her studies, and why the different chapters of a career don't always make sense until much later. What You’ll Hear Why Halaina walked away from ballet despite achieving her childhood dream Starting again in Germany without a clear career plan Going from professional dancer to clinical psychologist The pressure of working while completing multiple degrees How ballet shaped the way she approaches work and high performance Why career transitions don't need to follow a straight line Golden Nugget “Your whole story is so much greater than that instant, than that moment.” Want to go deeper? If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a consult.

September 15, 202650 min

195: Ambika Pande: From Professional Tennis Dreams to Finding a New Identity

Send us Fan Mail For most of her life, Ambika Pande knew exactly how to introduce herself. She was a tennis player. She represented India internationally, competed on the junior circuit, won tournaments overseas and eventually moved to the US on a full scholarship to play Division I tennis. The plan was to use those years to develop her game and then turn professional. Then injuries started changing the plan. A torn rotator cuff and labrum led to surgery, rehab and eventually another shoulder injury. As the possibility of playing professionally began slipping away, Ambika realized she wasn’t only losing tennis. She was losing the way she had defined herself since she was 10 years old. In this episode, Ryan sits down with Ambika to talk about that period, the three difficult years that followed, and how she eventually found her way into a completely different world of startups, fintech, investing and product. What You’ll Hear in This Episode How Ambika went from winning junior tournaments to representing India internationally Why she chose Division I college tennis as her route towards going pro How a serious shoulder injury changed the direction of her career The moment she realized the tennis dream was getting away from her Why losing sport also felt like losing her identity The anger and resentment she carried after returning home Why working in sport wasn’t the answer she expected it to be How rediscovering music, reading and other interests helped her find parts of herself outside tennis Why an MBA gave her permission to try things she had never considered before How an opportunity in venture capital eventually led her into fintech, strategy, investing and product The skills from tennis she still uses when making decisions in uncertain environments Why she now believes athletes need to build an identity beyond their sport GOLDEN NUGGET: “You’re more than just the sport you play. You’re more than just the athlete.” Want to go deeper? If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a consult.

September 9, 2026Episode 19452 min

194: Tyler Edwards - Life After Sport and Letting Go of Perfection Without Losing Your Drive.

Send us Fan Mail What separates great athletes when physical ability alone is no longer enough? In this episode of 2nd Wind, Ryan speaks with sport and exercise psychologist Tyler about the mental side of performance, from managing negative self-talk and perfectionism to handling mistakes, pressure and the uncertainty of career transition. In this episode, we discuss: Why the mental side of performance is often overlooked in sport Tyler’s experience of burnout and the impact of athletic identity How thoughts, feelings and behaviours influence performance Why perfectionism and fear of mistakes can work against athletes Managing negative self-talk with the Three C’s: Catch, Check and Change How these mental performance tools can help athletes navigate career transition and life beyond sport Golden Nugget “Perfection doesn’t exist. It’s not physically possible to achieve that. But do we try to aspire to reach those levels? Yeah, of course we do.” Want to go deeper? If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a consult.

May 26, 2026Episode 1931 hr 2 min

193: Neil Mann - From Electrician Apprentice To Football Pro: and How to Give Back

Send us Fan Mail Neil Mann didn’t have the perfect path into professional football. He didn’t get the scholarship. He didn’t get picked when it mattered most. And at one point… he was working as an electrician while chasing the same dream everyone else was chasing full-time. But he didn’t stop. In this episode, Ryan sits down with Neil to walk through what it really looks like when your journey isn’t straightforward and why that doesn’t mean it’s over. What You’ll Hear in This Episode - Playing semi-pro while working a full-time job - The pressure of trying to prove yourself when your dad is the coach - How rejection can either stop you… or sharpen you - The moment Hull City noticed him and everything changed - Making his debut before even becoming a full-time pro - Why talent alone isn’t enough (and never was) - The things he wishes he did differently during his career - How injuries forced him to step away from the game - The reality of transitioning when you’re not fully prepared Golden Nugget: “You just never know who’s watching… so play like somebody’s watching you. You don’t know who’s in the crowd.” Want to go deeper? If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a consult.

May 12, 2026Episode 19254 min

192: Matthew Hodgson - From Pro Basketball To People Performance Advisor

Send us Fan Mail Matthew Hodgson spent his entire career knowing he had the ability and never quite trusting it. The moment basketball was gone, so was everything he thought he knew about himself. He made the Boomers. Had a stint with the Dallas Mavericks. Won championships. And still felt like a loser. When the phone stopped ringing, he was sitting on a beach in Hawaii with an 18-month-old daughter and no plan. What came next was messy. In this episode, Ryan sits down with Matthew Hodgson, former NBL pro and founder of People Performance Advisors, to talk about what it actually looks like to rebuild an identity from scratch. What We Get Into: - Why making the Boomers and having a stint with the Dallas Mavericks still wasn't enough to make him feel good enough - The injury that ended his career and the free agency that confirmed it was over - Sitting on a beach in Hawaii and realising the phone wasn't going to ring - Turning down a masters degree the day after getting accepted and why it was the right call - The job he took that he knew he'd hate and what it taught him anyway - The $100,000 he spent trying to fix his own head while he was still playing - Why he was punishing himself and calling it discipline - How a kid who wanted basketball coaching accidentally opened the door to his entire career - What he actually does now and why it finally feels like using his strengths - Why he threw out the AI content and started recording straight after training when the feeling hit Want to go deeper? If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a consult.

April 28, 2026Episode 19149 min

191: Jack Oujo - How A Released Umpire Built Financial Independence Through A Written Plan

Send us Fan Mail Jack’s career didn’t end on his terms. It ended with a letter. No warning. No backup plan. No income. Just a moment where everything he had built… stopped. In this episode, Ryan sits down with Jack to unpack what it really takes to rebuild your life after sport when you’re forced to start again. From surviving the brutal, cutthroat world of professional umpiring to being released with nothing, Jack shares how he turned one of the hardest moments of his life into the foundation for a multimillion-dollar business. What You’ll Hear in This Episode - The reality of chasing a professional sports career (and how few make it) - What it feels like to be cut without warning - How Jack turned frustration into a clear plan - Why writing things down changed everything - The simple math behind building a successful business - Why athletes must stop expecting to “start at the top” - The importance of starting from zero and earning your way up - How discipline from sport translates into business success - Why most people don’t prepare for worst-case scenarios - The mindset shift from athlete to business owner This episode is about ownership. Not of a business… but of your next move. Jack didn’t wait for someone to show him what to do next. He sat down, faced reality, and built a plan. Even when he didn’t know exactly where it would lead. And that’s the difference. Because most people stay stuck in the moment. He used it. Want to go deeper? If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a consult.