UR Podcast #016: Richard Shanahan, Sport Psychologist

Hailing from Cork, Richard Shanahan is a Dublin/Meath based sport psychology practitioner.

By the age of 21, 'Rich' was a 2nd dan tae kwon-do black belt, eventually running his own club in Cork (now run by his cousin). He's had a nine-year stint in army life, has completed over 800 jumps as a skydiver but more importantly - as it relates to this edition of UR Podcast - he's an extremely qualified sports psychologist who has worked across Gaelic games, tennis, show jumping, athletics, golf, swimming, boxing, soccer and martial arts.

That's where he met Andy, or more like Andy met Rich, while his professional MMA career was taking off, with Rich on board with Team Ryano for their professional athletes to avail of Rich's skillset.

In sport and in life, you may be the keyholder, but Richard Shanahan is the man who helps you unlock the door to your potential.

Over the course of 90 minutes, we dive into Rich's background and what brought him to the world of sport psychology, before going down the yellow brick road of Rich and Andy's working relationship, going back to a visual construction of Andy's first pro-MMA win under the BAMMA banner.

From cornering pro-boxing fights in Juarez, Mexico, to pressing his nose up against the cage with future UFC Hall of Famers, to helping athletes at all levels see past themselves, Rich's approach to sport, his grá to assist people his own personal journey - unfolding as we record - are all part of the conversation.

If you have ever experienced any level of self-doubt, if you question what you're doing with your sport or training, or if you're wondering how you can go to the next level, carve out that mental edge and unlock your own potential, then this is the listen for you.

You can find out more about Richard Shanahan by visiting inspiresportperformance.ie, or you can take 90 minutes from your week and listen on as stories are swapped, lessons are learned and tales recapped in this edition of UR Podcast.

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