142 | Josh Beaumont Talks Navigating Career Transitions From Pro Sports to Sports Science

About the Guest


Dr. Josh Beaumont is a seasoned athletic trainer and sports scientist with a vast experience in professional sports, particularly in soccer. Over his career, Josh has transitioned from being a competitive soccer player and athletic trainer in Major League Soccer (MLS) to working as a sports scientist specializing in performance analytics. Dr. Beaumont holds a Ph.D. in a related field and has a strong interest in recovery science and data-driven performance enhancement, working at Proactive Sports Performance.


Episode Summary


In this episode of Becoming UnDone, host Toby Brooks engages in an enlightening conversation with Dr. Josh Beaumont, a professional who has successfully pivoted from athletic training in Major League Soccer to a fulfilling career in sports science. Josh shares candid insights into his personal and professional journey, highlighting the challenges of identity loss after leaving his dream job in pro sports and how he found a new path in data-driven athletic performance.


Beaumont delves into the intrinsic connection between athletic training and sports science, emphasizing the critical importance of recovery and recognizing actionable patterns rather than relying solely on data. The discussion touches on Josh's ability to adapt amidst transitions, the invaluable role of gut instinct alongside scientific metrics, and the evolving landscape of both athletic training and sports science, particularly with the integration of AI and advanced performance analytics. His journey offers a compelling narrative for those at the crossroads of their careers, illustrating the power of resilience and reinvention.


Key Takeaways

• Transitioning out of professional sports allowed Josh to realign his identity and rediscover his passion through sports science.
• Recovery is paramount in achieving peak athletic performance, and data should be used to guide, not decide, actions.
• The dynamics of athletic training have evolved, with current trends emphasizing the integration of digital analytics tools and performance science.
• Staying strategic and prepared when contemplating a career move can help minimize the risks associated with leaving a dream job.
• Understanding and adapting to the intersection of AI within sports science represents the next frontier in the industry.

Notable Quotes

1. "Whatever is good for health is good for performance." – Dr. Josh Beaumont
2. "Recovery has always been massive. Sometimes the most powerful performance metric isn't in your spreadsheets; it's in your gut." – Dr. Josh Beaumont
3. "It's easy to sit and complain, but you have to look within yourself and ask if you're doing what you need to do." – Dr. Josh Beaumont
4. "Data should guide, not decide." – Dr. Josh Beaumont
5. "Being strategic in purpose means not moving before we develop a plan and then not quitting until we execute on the plan." – Toby Brooks

Resources

• Josh Beaumont on LinkedIn: Josh Beaumont (https://www.linkedin.com/)
• Proactive Sports Performance: Proactive Sports Performance (https://proactivesp.com/)
• Contact

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Becoming UnDone® is a NiTROHype Creative production. Written and produced by me, Toby Brooks. If you or someone you know has a story of resilience and victory to share for Becoming Undone, contact me at undonepodcast.com. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at becomingundonepod and follow me at TobyBrooksPhD. Listen, subscribe, and leave us a review Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.