The Coach's Backpack

Hosted by David Lowe

Business Science Education

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Oct 2026

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About the show

The Coach’s Backpack podcast asks a variety of coaches (from sports to comedy) what they consider to be the most important tools of their trade, physically and/or mentally. They are only allowed to take limited items on a hypothetical new engagement: one book, one tool/technique/approach/framework, one other item of their choice … and a person to accompany them.

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43 recent

October 27, 202628 min

Liam Burnell (performance coach)

This week, Liam Burnell, sports psychologist at Mindflick, tells us: Why 10 out of 10 is the wrong target Whether introverts or extroverts make better gold medallists Why the England cricket team kept a cat (sort of) How seven seconds could change the outcome of a game Why his travel companion depends entirely on you ... and much more (including the pig that might be hiding in his backpack) Find out more about Liam at https://mindflick.co.uk/ Want more? Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more. Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.com More about Mindflick At Mindflick, we combine our experience in high-performance sport with cutting-edge research, design thinking, and the latest technology to help you and your people to manage and succeed in an increasingly complex modern world. From healthcare to banking, and sport to education, our experience has taught us that psychological adaptability is crucial to success across contexts, helping us to develop meaningful relationships, effective leadership, and higher levels of collaboration - all of which ultimately lead to higher levels of performance and wellbeing across individuals, teams, and organisations. So we don't cheat the craft, my research hones in on this concept of psychological adaptability and what it can do for us in a whole host of different contexts. What is it? How might me benefit from it? How can we go about developing it? What can it do? By taking the answers to these questions, we then distil them down into frameworks and tools for you and your team to apply to your everyday. With the values of humility, curiosity, and tolerance at their heart, our simple tools and messages, combined with individual and team coaching, help you and your team to develop the characteristics needed to consistently perform and thrive in an increasingly messy world as you work towards both your individual and collective goals. Specialties: Sport, Psychology, Sport Psychology, Performance Psychology, Personal Development, Coaching, Public Speaking, Quantitative Research, Qualitative Research, Team Sport, Individual Sport, Business, Healthcare, Adaptability, Sports Coaching, Small Business, Mentoring, Report Writing, Critical Analysis, Retail, International Projects, Voluntary Work, Volunteering, Teamwork, Cultural Awareness, Counselling, Active Listening

October 20, 202631 min

Nicky Perfect (negotiation and crisis coach)

This week, Nicky Perfect, former hostage and crisis negotiator turned trainer, tells us: Why your inner chimp is no excuse for bad behaviour How to make the most of 90 seconds when tempers rise Why Friday nights can turn into a competition nobody wins Why she'd finally answer a question she kept dodging Whether David needs a negotiator of his own ... and much more (including what would turn her backpack blue) Find out more about Nicky at Nicky Perfect BEM - The Communication Coach and Nicky Perfect BEM-Author, Trainer, Speaker, | LinkedIn . Want more? Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more. Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.com More about Nicky Nicky Perfect B.E.M is a former Hostage and Crisis Negotiator with 31 years’ service in policing, including a decade on the elite New Scotland Yard Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit. She later became the UK Director of National Negotiator Training, responsible for developing negotiators nationwide. Awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for meritorious service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicky is now a sought-after keynote speaker, communication coach and media commentator. She is the author of the bestselling book Crisis: True Stories from My Life as a Hostage & Crisis Negotiator , where she shares powerful lessons from the front line of life-and-death negotiations. Nicky speaks on high-stakes communication, leadership under pressure, managing conflict, emotional intelligence, negotiation in parenting and family life, negotiating salaries and professional influence, and supporting women in high-powered roles. She translates crisis negotiation principles into practical tools that help individuals and organisations turn conflict into collaboration. She has appeared on Saturday Live and Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4, Good Morning Britain, Australia’s Weekend Sunrise, the US radio programme Here & Now, as well as BBC Three Counties Radio and Crimewatch, and has been featured in Woman's Own, Good Housekeeping, and Chat. Her message is simple: communication is not a soft skill — it is a life-changing skill.

October 13, 202625 min

Albert Bramante (Actor coach)

This week, Albert Bramante, talent agent and mindset coach for actors, tells us: Why the glamorous life of a talent agent is mostly a myth (95% of it, anyway) How a little make-believe paid off three times in a single week Why a three-letter word could change your career Why starving artists might want to change their menu How to make the most of two minutes, and then let it go ... and much more (including who would need a very large suitcase) Find out more about Albert Bramante at bramanteartists.com Want more? Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more. Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.com More about Albert With deep roots in the film festival circuit and casting, Albert’s transition to talent management in 2004 and subsequent evolution to agency ownership in 2008 has been driven by a passion for the craft and a commitment to excellence. The establishment of Bramante Artists in 2024 reflects a strategic refocusing, uniting Albert's legacy with a vision for the future.

May 27, 202529 min

Harleen Grover (Menopause coach)

This week, Harleen Grover, a menopause coach, tells us: What the most powerful thing in the world is that can raise or bury you How to do the deceptively simple three-step pause practice Where wisdom lives and burnout ends Which beautiful soul she would take with her ... and much more. Find out more about Harleen at www.thespacehq.com and LinkedIn . Want more? Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more. Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.com More about Harleen Harleen is The Clarity Coach. She empowers leaders to find clarity in change and purpose in progress. As a an ICF Credentialed ACC coach specialising in menopause-in-the-workplace and leadership, Harleen brings extensive corporate experience from working with global giants like Barclays Capital (now Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank), WorldCom (now Verizon), and SAP amongst others. Harleen has led international Learning & Development initiatives and shaped future leaders as a university lecturer in Business Studies. Her unique combination of corporate expertise, academic insight, and creative communication skills honed through professional acting training in London and New York allows Harleen to connect deeply, inspire action, and deliver real, lasting change. Website: www.thespacehq.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harleen-grover/ Email: harleen@thespacehq.com

May 20, 202524 min

Dr Benita Mayhead (Duty of care in coaching)

This week, Dr Benita Mayhead, executive coach, coaching supervisor and facilitator of leadership development initiatives, tells us: How to improve your mood, recall and creativity The one thing that could make the biggest difference to clients Why she is a fan of old school tools What she would feel uncomfortable not having with her What duty of care means Who she would take to bring calmness Why this episode could be renamed the coach's carrier bag Her one-for-one practice How she missed out on taking much more with her ... and much more (including her shoe size!) Pre-order Benita's upcoming book now. Find out more about Benita on LinkedIn . Want more? Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more. Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.com More about Benita Dr Benita Mayhead is an experienced executive coach, coaching supervisor, and facilitator of leadership development initiatives. She holds a Doctorate in Coaching and Mentoring and lectures on ethics and duty of care in postgraduate programmes. She is a Global Master Practitioner coach with EMCC and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD). With over 30 years’ experience and a background in learning and development, Benita has built a strong reputation through her expertise and impact. Alongside her private practice, Benita services as a Board Director for EMCC U.K. and is actively involved in helping shape and develop coaching, mentoring, and coaching supervision in today’s world. Her first book, 'Duty of Care in Coaching: A Comprehensive Approach to Navigating the Complexities of Contemporary Practice' will be released in September 2025. Pre-order now !

May 13, 202530 min

Julia Geber (Brilliance coach)

This week, Julia Geber, talks about Brilliance coaching and tells us: Which story about magic is both educational and entertaining The creative approach that helps you get in touch with your truth Why we should focus on our please and thank yous The three pillars of brilliance coaching that make you grow beyond what you imagined Why Storyland is no longer on TV ... and much more. Find out more about Julia at www.brilliancecoaching.co . Want more? Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more. Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.com More about Julia Julia Geber is a certified coach and former finance professional who helps high-achieving women create career results that feel aligned, impactful, and sustainable — without the overwhelm. With a corporate background, she understands the pressure of always having to perform. Julia founded Brilliance Coaching to offer a smarter, more fulfilling path to success. Her coaching goes deeper than surface-level strategies—blending ICF-accredited methods with mindset science, Positive Intelligence®, and a systems-based approach that uncovers the deeper structures shaping behavior. This empowers clients to gain clarity, communicate with authenticity, and shift from overworking to operating from their natural strengths — creating lasting change that feels both strategic and soul-aligned. Julia supports professionals to break through performance ceilings, make confident decisions, and lead from within — so they can thrive, not just survive. www.brilliancecoaching.co

May 13, 20251 min

Julia Geber (bonus track)

Julia and David had such a great time recording the podcast but some content had to be cut. This short aside discusses who Julia would like to show love and appreciation to.

May 7, 202536 min

Daniel Susser (Intelligent Teams)

This week, Daniel Susser talk about intelligent teams. He tells us: How he hopes to bring cognitive science to the team level Why our body is a group of "agents" vying for control Whether teams are just evolved Paramecium Why Plato could have written inside out About his brand new idea Why the Goldilocks scales will help get to the root of problems Why he'd take an annoying person with him ... and much more (including when David proved he wasn't as stupid as he thought!) Find out more about Daniel's ideas at Substack . Want more? Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more. Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.com More about Daniel Daniel is a Delivery Coach based in London. He writes and podcasts about Intelligent Teams, which brings together the sciences of mind and practical wisdom from his decade-long career helping teams move faster and deliver more value. To find out more, go to intelligentteams.substack.com , or find out about how Daniel can help your team or organisation at embodiedagility.co.uk .

May 6, 20252 min

Daniel Susser (bonus track)

Daniel and David had such a great time recording the podcast but some content had to be cut. This short aside discusses parameciums a little bit more and David shares his "ground-breaking" ideas on spoonameciums.

April 29, 202536 min

Helen Garcia (Outdoor coach)

This week, Helen Garcia, an outdoor coach, tells us: How she enjoys the buzz of a hoverfly over the buzz of her phone Why she misses big talk in conversations Whether outdoor coaching can be done over Zoom Why Helen thinks one-day wellbeing sessions are rubbish Why she sees coaching as like a bridge made of imagination, connecting two distant islands of thought (my words, not her's) ... and much more (including her magical backpack) Find out more about Helen at https://www.helen-garcia.com/ and LinkedIn . Want more? Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more. Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.com More about Helen ADHD & Life Coach | Outdoor Coaching Advocate | Champion of Neurodivergent Minds Helen Garcia is an Accredited Coach specialising in ADHD and Cognitive Behavioural Coaching who’s passionate about helping people break free from the "shoulds" and start living with purpose, clarity, and confidence. With years of experience working with teams and individuals, Helen brings a fresh, down-to-earth approach to coaching that’s equal parts fun as it is based on evidence-based approaches. What makes her coaching unique? Nature. Helen blends traditional coaching techniques with the grounding, energising power of the outdoors — whether it's walking, nature-based reflections, or simply helping coachees reconnect with their natural environment (and themselves). Helen works with individuals who think differently, feel deeply, and often feel stuck in systems that weren’t designed for them. Her mission is to create space for growth, self-compassion, and real momentum. When she’s not coaching, you’ll find her in the chicken coop, by the bees, herding cats or simply enjoying the sunshine down her local. 🌐 www.helen-garcia.com 📅 Book a Session 🔗 LinkedIn

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