What happens when tennis breaks free from tradition?

The Australian Open is back, and this year it is doing things a little differently. From record crowds to bold entertainment ideas, the Happy Slam continues to shape its own identity within the Grand Slam landscape.

In this episode of Almost Pro, we step off the court and into the heart of modern sport to explore what makes the Australian Open unique, and why its approach to innovation matters far beyond Melbourne Park.

We talk about:

• Why the Australian Open has leaned into innovation while respecting tradition

• Naomi Osaka’s iconic centre-court fashion moment

• The new million-dollar shot format and what it reveals about fan engagement

• How elite-level innovation flows down to kids, clubs, volunteers, and communities

• What this shift could mean for the future of tennis and sport more broadly

  
  

This conversation is not about results or scorelines. It is about identity, expression, entertainment, and permission, and how elite sport quietly tells us who belongs and how we are allowed to show up.

🎧 Hit play and join the conversation.

We’re kicking off our first guest episode of 2026 with a story that captures everything Almost Pro is about: family, community, commitment, and the people behind high performance sport.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dave Jones, who shares his family’s journey through shooting, from discovering the sport to becoming deeply involved at club level, and ultimately supporting his daughters through the pathway to elite competition. Along the way, Dave found himself wearing many hats as a parent, coach, referee, fundraiser, chauffeur, and constant supporter.

This conversation goes beyond results. It explores the long drives, the tough calls, moments of burnout, the role of community clubs, and what it really means to show up for your kids in sport year after year.

If you’ve ever been part of a sporting family or wondered what happens behind the scenes of elite pathways, this episode will resonate.

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🌐 Website: almostpropodcast.com

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This week, before we kick off the stories of 2026, we wanted to take a moment with you to look back on the year that was and launch the first episode in our Best Of series — celebrating our 2025 most streamed episode.

In August 2025, we released our first-ever guest episode with Phil Stewart — an episode that quickly became our most streamed of the year and our end-of-year chart topper.

Phil’s story is the definition of Almost Pro: the moments that shape you, the pressure you don’t always see, and the reality of chasing something at the highest level.

In this conversation, Phil reflects on elite gymnastics, the challenges that come with it, and the moments that changed everything — both in sport and beyond it.

Whether you’re listening for the first time or returning to a favourite, we hope this episode lands just as strongly as it did the first time.

In this special New Year’s episode of Almost Pro, we explore what New Year’s resolutions really look like in sport.

For many athletes and those working behind the scenes, seasons don’t pause at midnight and expectations don’t reset with a new calendar year. Decisions about pushing on, slowing down, or letting go are often shaped by much more than January 1.

This conversation is an invitation to reflect, rather than rush into change. Whether this year is about another season, an honest reset, or a new chapter, your reset doesn’t have to happen on New Year’s Day.

Happy New Year. Here’s to 2026, with or without resolutions.

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🌐 Website: almostpropodcast.com
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🎄 Christmas Day Sport: The Reality Behind The Tradition

While most people switch off over Christmas, for some sports it’s one of the biggest times of the year.

Do athletes actually get Christmas off?
Who’s working behind the scenes while the rest of us rest?
And what does tradition really cost the people delivering it?

In this Christmas special of Almost Pro, we pull back the curtain on Christmas Day sport — from the athletes on the field to the invisible workforce making it all happen.

Whether you’re watching, working, or training through the holidays, this episode opens an honest conversation about a side of Christmas sport we rarely stop to consider.

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🌐 Website: almostpropodcast.com
📲 Follow us on socials: @almostpropodcast

An inside look at what it takes to become an elite figure skater, from 5am rink mornings to international competition.

Toni Cooke began skating at two years old and went on to represent Great Britain for seven years, competing internationally and medalling at the British Championships. From early mornings on the ice to navigating rankings, testing, funding and judging systems, Toni shares what elite figure skating truly demands.

As the pressure and culture surrounding the sport began to outweigh the joy, Toni made the decision to step away, first into professional ice shows, and eventually into an entirely new chapter in sport.

Today, Toni leads the Women & Girls portfolio for Tennis Australia (QLD), working across gender equity, inclusion and leadership pathways. Her story is one of endurance, adaptability and finding purpose beyond performance.

We explore:
• What training and competition actually look like in elite figure skating
• Why competition is the best form of practice, and why nerves can’t be replicated
• Rankings, testing and international judging systems
• Funding realities and self funded elite pathways
• Culture, comparison and loss of passion in high performance sport
• Turning professional, and walking away
• Building a meaningful career after elite sport

If you’ve ever loved a sport deeply, questioned your place within it, or wondered what comes next when the ice clears, this conversation will resonate.

💙🧡 Stay connected with Almost Pro – Sport Podcast

Weekly episodes sharing the real, untold stories of sport and life beyond performance.
Website: almostpropodcast.com
Socials: @almostpropodcast

Most people see the medals and PBs. Almost no one sees what it costs.

By 14, Renee Fox was training in high-performance squads alongside fully developed male athletes. She was fast, talented and driven — but the workload, expectations and intensity pushed her body to breaking point.

A fractured spine.
Spinal surgery during lockdown.
A hopeful comeback.
And eventually, chronic fatigue that forced her out of the sport she loved.

In this powerful conversation, Renee opens up about the hidden pressures of performance swimming — and what it takes to rebuild your identity when you’re no longer “the swimmer.”

This episode is for athletes, former athletes, parents and coaches who want to understand the real impact of high-performance environments.

We explore:
• Early sport specialisation
• Overtraining and overlooked injuries in female athletes
• Pain being dismissed in youth sport
• The emotional and physical reality of spinal surgery
• Burnout, chronic fatigue and knowing when to step back
• Identity loss after sport
• Learning to find movement and joy again

If you’ve ever pushed your body too far, questioned your worth in sport, or struggled with transition, this episode will speak directly to you.

Featuring:
Renee Fox — former performance swimmer and host of the Perfectly Flawed Podcast
IG: @perfectly_flawed_podcast

💙🧡 Stay connected with Almost Pro – Sport Podcast
Weekly episodes sharing the real, untold stories of sport and life beyond performance.
Website: almostpropodcast.com
Socials: @almostpropodcast

Part 2 of The Athlete’s Sponsorship Playbook takes us from mindset to execution.

Last week, Richard Thompson shared the foundation of his approach to sponsorship — from the mindset that shaped his rise to two-time Ultraman world champion, to understanding your value and crafting a story that stands out.

In Part 2, we shift into the practical tools athletes need to secure meaningful sponsorships. Richard breaks down the biggest mistakes athletes make, how to get in the room with the right decision makers, how to identify businesses worth approaching, and what it takes to build partnerships that last.

We explore:
• Avoiding common sponsorship mistakes

• How to access real decision makers

• Choosing the right businesses to approach

• Creating partnerships that deliver genuine value

• Maintaining long-term sponsor relationships

• Why transparency and consistency matter more than follower count

You can also hear more from Richard on his podcast Success x Happiness (@sxhpod).

Share this episode with a teammate, coach, or athlete who’s ready to take their next step in sponsorship.

Find us on social media at @almostpropodcast or at almostpropodcast.com.