In this episode, we speak to Nathan Howarth, Executive Director of Concussion Legacy Foundation UK (CLF). Nathan has spent more than 5 years researching the impact of concussion on long term brain health and is committed to advancing understanding and research in the field. Alongside his role at CLF, he is also a research fellow at the University of Exeter, Co-Director of the concussion legacy project at the University of Oxford Brain Bank and in his spare time, rugby referee. We explore the benefits and limitations of emerging technology – such as smart mouthguards – that are becoming increasingly common in rugby. Nathan also shares insights into the research and education initiatives led by CLF and the changes needed across sport to better protect athletes from the long-term effects of brain injuries.

In this episode, we sit down with Jordan Albert and Fraser Singleton, co founders of Forseti Race, to explore Jordan’s entry into motorsport and the financial and practical barriers he faced at grassroots level. With costs including cars and fuel to track fees – and with a single set of tyres costing up to £1,000 and often needing to be replaced multiple times per session – the sport remains inaccessible to most aspiring drivers. Recognising how strongly family wealth influences progression, Jordan and Fraser founded Forseti. By developing technology that bridges the gap between esports and real world racing, their mission is to reduce the financial burden of pursuing a motorsport career. In this episode, we discuss Forseti’s technology and the future role of e-sports, AI and technology in talent development, to create a more accessible and inclusive future for motorsport.

In this episode we are joined by Luke Middleton, Head of advisory board, Global Tech Advocates – SportsTech, where he plays a key role in driving innovation and collaboration across the global sportstech ecosystem. Combining his passion for AI and rugby, Luke is undertaking a PhD focused on the application of artificial intelligence in rugby union, while also building an injury prediction AI model. With a focus on injury prevention, this episode explores how AI could reshape the global sports industry; the challenges and opportunities it presents; and critically, the ethical considerations surrounding athlete’s data rights. We also delve into how Luke’s model could uncover injury patterns and identify what injuries an athlete is at high, medium and low risk of based on thousands of data points. As AI continues to evolve, will we see it making sports smarter and safer?