Life After the Whistle with Amber Daines

In this episode of Life After the Whistle, Amber Daines explores the complex relationship between success and failure, particularly for athletes transitioning out of their sports careers. She discusses how the definition of failure evolves after achieving significant success and the challenges of redefining one's identity and purpose post-retirement. The conversation divers into the importance of embracing average days and finding ...

Jamie Young is a newly retired professional soccer player with a storied career of 25 years. He left home at the age of 15 to play soccer in England, which is considered as one of the most elite countries in world soccer. After 13 years, he decided to return home and play in the A-League which is the highest level of soccer in Australia. Overall, he played close to 600 professional games, was voted the best Goalkeeper in Australia ...

Ben Lucas is the co-founder of Sydney’s leading fitness and yoga studio Flow Athletic and is a former NRL player for the Cronulla Sharks. Ben is one of Australia’s leading personal trainers, with a client list that includes Erin Holland, Sammy Robinson, and Elton John. Ben is also an ambassador for the Sydney Marathon and a member of Athletes for Life. Ben has also been named the head coach at Sydney Marathon. 

In ...

Bronwen Knox is a four-time Olympian and one of Australia’s most decorated water polo players, with 399 international appearances and two Olympic bronze medals to her name. After nearly two decades in elite sport, she has built a parallel career as a lawyer and a governance and integrity leader.

She is the National Integrity Manager for Australian Taekwondo and Judo Australia, overseeing complaints, disputes, and safeguarding...

Emma Franklin Bell is a writer and coach who was born and raised on the sunny Central Coast of NSW. At 16 years old she moved interstate to pursue who passion for dance and performance. This led to a career in dance studio ownership, teaching, studio coaching, assessing and adjudicating.

In her late twenties Emma broadened her skills out into business, marketing, podcasting and writing. She has led writing courses for hundreds of p...

Gracie Elvin is a two-time Australian national road cycling champion and former Olympian and the first Australian woman to podium at the iconic Tour of Flanders, amongst other things. But Gracie’s greatest legacy may lie off the bike. In 2017, she co-founded The Cyclists’ Alliance, the first-ever women’s cycling union.

Gracie is more than a decorated athlete - she’s a leader, a changemaker, and a voice for t...

Tom Harvey is the co-founder of TH7, Australia’s leading wellness and recovery destination designed to help people live better, longer. A former professional rugby 7s player for the Queensland Reds and Australian 7s, Tom’s journey into performance and recovery began with a career-halting injury — and a Theragun. What followed was a deep personal dive into science-backed tools, heat and cold therapy, and the power ...

Hailing from the Barrington Coast of NSW, Chris was born into an independently owned Stock andStation Agency family where his passion for livestock, the agricultural community and sport originated. He attended boarding school for secondary education in Sydney and then to the University of Queensland Gatton College to study Property Valuation to pursue his interest in real estate and all that came with the rural indus...

Billy Pedden is a former professional rugby league player best known for his time with the Newcastle Knights during the foundation years of the NRL club. A tough competitor on the field, Billy built his career around hard work, resilience, and loyalty to his team and community.

Since hanging up his boots, Billy has taken those same values into life after football. He’s carved out a new path away from the stadium lights, navig...

In this special bonus episode, Life After the Whistle host Amber Daines steps behind the mic solo to reflect on some of the most powerful themes from her conversations with elite athletes. From letting go of a lifelong identity to rediscovering purpose through structure, Amber unpacks the hidden emotional journeys behind every athlete’s second act. She explores what it means to borrow new identities, to heal through routine, ...

Jure Koščak spent over a decade chasing perfection as an elite table tennis athlete. From national titles to international competitions, his life was built on precision, discipline, and the pursuit of results. But behind the podiums was a deeper disconnect—burnout, physical pain, and a growing sense that performance without presence was no longer enough.

In this episode, Jure sits down with Amber Daines to reflect on w...

From the rugby grounds of Jedburgh to boardrooms across the globe, Neil Tunnah’s career has been shaped by connection, clarity, and consistency. Neil is an accredited University of Queensland & Rugby Australia Level 4 High-Performance Coach, and a World Rugby Accredited High-Performance Trainer & Educator. Neil transitioned into leadership consulting—bringing with him a rare mix of lived sporting grit and strate...

In this conversation, Olympic rower Nick Lavery shares his unique journey from discovering rowing to competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of elite performance, the importance of teamwork and communication in rowing, and the personal reflections that led him to transition from sports to a career in marketing. Nick has learnt that the mindset is key and also that many of his skills like resil...

As a competitive rower for 17 years, Dr. Lise Janelle knows firsthand the grit, precision, and pain that define elite sport. But it’s what came after the races—when the training stopped and identity shifted—that truly reshaped her path.

Now a world-renowned performance coach, author, and creator of the Heart Freedom Method, Lise helps high-achieving athletes and entrepreneurs clear the subconscious blocks holding ...

With a 15-season career and 424 games in the NBL, Jason Cadee has lived the dream many athletes chase. But what happens when the final whistle blows?

In this episode, Amber Daines sits down with Jason just months into his new life off the court. From his early days as a towel boy in Bankstown to representing Australia and winning NBL’s Sixth Man of the Year, Jason shares the highs, the heartbreaks—including a life-alter...

Olympic silver medallist Rach Taylor once defined success by the medals she chased in elite rowing. But after stepping away from the water, she discovered the real challenge wasn’t on the podium—it was navigating life after sport.

In this episode, Rach sits down with Amber Daines to share her extraordinary journey from Olympic glory to surf lifesaving, corporate leadership, and now, coaching and tech innovation. With ra...

A gymnast who was told she was too tall. An Olympian labeled too old. A Ninja Warrior who shattered expectations and outperformed every man on the course. Olivia Vivian has made a career out of rewriting the rules.

From surviving a life-threatening birth condition to becoming a seven-time national gymnastics champion and Beijing 2008 Olympian, Olivia’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this candid conversation with Amber D...

With over 15 years of experience shaping some of Australia’s most high-profile sporting moments, Mark Falvo knows how to build legacy from the ground up. From leading the charge on the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup bid to now spearheading the 2027 Netball World Cup as Chief Operating Officer, Mark has mastered the balance between operational excellence and long-term impact.

In this episode, Amber Daines speaks with Mark a...

Greg Brownlow began his sporting journey with a racquet in hand, rising through Australia’s tennis ranks before earning a scholarship to play Division 1 college tennis in the U.S. at Austin Peay State University. After completing a degree in Business Administration, Greg launched into a pro tennis career—until injury cut it short. That moment became a turning point, leading him into elite coaching roles on both the ATP ...