🎙 Host: Carolyn Kent 🎙 Guest: Ivi Casagrande – Performance Coach, Former Brazil Women’s National Team and Orlando Pride Coach, FIFA & UEFA Technical Expert

In this episode of Women's Football Hub, Carolyn Kent sits down with Ivi Casagrande, a performance coach with an impressive career spanning multiple continents. From playing football in Brazil to coaching at the highest levels with FIFA, UEFA, and the Football Association of Ireland, Ivi shares her unique journey in sports science, coaching, and leadership.

✅ Ivi's Journey in Football & Coaching

• Growing up playing futsal in Brazil and her early football career
• Moving to the U.S. to play college football and study exercise physiology
• Transitioning from player to coach and her rise in elite performance coaching

✅ Coaching at the Highest Level

• Working with the Brazilian Women’s National Team and Orlando Pride
• Coaching world-class players like Marta and Alex Morgan
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and growing as a professional

✅ Building a High-Performance Culture in Football

• The importance of listening, adapting, and understanding different team environments
• The role of intuition in coaching and player development
• How to foster autonomy in athletes to enhance decision-making on the field

✅ Collaborating with Coaches & Managing Team Dynamics

• Finding common ground with coaches who may not fully buy into sports science
• The importance of negotiation, relationship-building, and understanding the pressures coaches face
• How to create a strong team culture by aligning staff roles and priorities

✅ Mental Health & Work-Life Balance for Athletes

• Strategies to help players disconnect from football and recharge
• The impact of social media and 24/7 football culture on player well-being
• Breathing techniques, mindfulness, and creative recovery methods for athletes

✅ The Future of Women's Football & Brazil Hosting the World Cup

• How hosting the Women's World Cup could impact football development in Brazil
• The importance of investing in grassroots football and legacy programs
• Ivi’s hopes for the future of women's football globally

🌐 Website: CasagrandeCoaching.org 📸 Instagram: @IviCasagrande

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Women's Football Hub Podcast Episode Title: Understanding Menopause in Female Athletes with Dr. Nicky Keay

Episode Summary: In this episode of Women's Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent speaks with Dr. Nicky Keay, a leading expert in female athlete health, honorary clinical lecturer at University College London, and author of Hormones, Health and Human Potential and The Myths of Menopause. They discuss the impact of menopause on female footballers, the physiological and psychological challenges it presents, and strategies for coaches, clubs, and players to manage training and recovery effectively.

Key Topics Discussed:

🔹 What is Menopause? – Understanding the physiological changes when the ovaries retire and hormone production stops.

🔹 Physical & Mental Effects – Common symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disturbances, mood fluctuations, and anxiety.

🔹 Training Adaptations – How players and coaches can modify training and recovery to accommodate hormonal changes.

🔹 Coach Education – Encouraging male coaches to become comfortable discussing menopause and supporting players effectively.

🔹 Exercise & Menopause – Why strength training is crucial, but not the only form of exercise needed for menopausal athletes.

🔹 Fitting Exercise into a Busy Life – Practical tips for women juggling work, family, and training.

🔹 Psychological Wellbeing – How cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and journaling can help manage symptoms.

🔹 HRT: Myths & Facts – Common misconceptions about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and how it can help manage symptoms.

🔹 Red-S & Menopause – The crossover between low energy availability (LEA), underfueling, and perimenopause in active women.

Resources & Further Reading:

📚 Hormones, Health and Human Potential – Dr. Nicky Keay

📚 The Myths of Menopause – Dr. Nicky Keay

🌍 Visit Dr. Keay’s Website for research, resources, and advisory consultations www.nickykeayfitness.com

Final Message: If you or someone you know is struggling with menopause and its impact on sports and daily life, reach out for support. Follow the latest evidence-based guidance and adapt training and recovery to fit individual needs.

🎧 Subscribe & Tune In Next Time Follow Women's Football Hub for more expert insights into women's football, health, and performance.

Episode Summary: Host Carolyn Kent speaks with Siobhan O’Donovan, physiotherapist and founder of Posture Fitting, about the vital role of breast health and posture in women’s performance. Siobhan, known as "The Boobie Physio," shares practical insights on managing breast weight, finding the right bra, and building internal support through posture and muscle activation.

Key Points: Breast Weight & Posture: How breast weight affects alignment and the importance of resisting gravity.

Support Systems: Combining internal activation (muscle strength) with properly fitted bras for optimal support.

Bra Fitting Tips: Common fitting mistakes, the importance of proper sizing, and differences between daywear and sports bras.

Impact on Sports: Breast-related discomfort as a barrier to participation and the role of education in keeping girls in sport.

Educational Initiatives: Siobhan’s Posture Fitting service and Gals Against Gravity course to raise awareness and provide practical solutions.

Connect with Siobhan O’Donovan:

Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn: @Posture.Fitting Email: Siobhan@PostureFittingPhysio.com

Phone: +353 87 POSTURE

Takeaway: Breast health is essential for performance, confidence, and posture. Proper support allows female athletes to reach their full potential.