On the show this week, Dave Wright rejoins me for another episode of The Curious Mind. Our conversation focuses on the skills you need to develop great young leaders.

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Suzie Muirhead is the creator of Raise My Game, a tool designed to help athletes and their coaches navigate performance planning, personal growth, and decision-making. Suzie’s journey—from New Zealand hockey player to mentor and innovator—has shaped her belief that true development starts with ownership, trust, and the right conversations.

Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this episode is packed with insights to help you level up. Enjoy!

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There are two ways to affect learning and development. Direct contact with the individuals and teams in front of you, or by influencing the system of which they are part of. My guest on today’s show has spent time doing both, first as a youth team coach at Sydney Football Club and then as Academy Manager. His name is Nick Susko and he played a pivotal role in shaping one of the most successful talent development programs in Australian sport, with over 60 graduates signing professional contracts and dozens representing Australia at every level of the game.

In this conversation, we explore the evolving landscape of youth football, including how systems thinking revolutionised Nick’s coaching philosophy and transformed the way he nurtured talent.

Together, Nick and I dig deeper into:

• How collaboration with local schools reshaped player support networks at Sydney FC
• Building sustainable success through quality coaching practices
• Creating psychological safety within the academy environment
• The complexities and challenges of player selection
• Breaking away from traditional youth sport narratives
• Understanding the key elements that help players reach their potential
• The growing role of technology and AI in football development
• Finding balance in youth development
• Making the learning process both meaningful and enjoyable

I love the way Nick thinks about development and I’m super excited to share it with you.

Enjoy!

For more on creating EPIC learning environments that bring out the best in your athletes and yourself, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.

Connect with Craig on Social:

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Support the show