The Average Not Average Podcast

In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, CK Yew and Viktor Axelsen sit down with Sports Psychologist, Muhammad Deen, who shares insights on high performance psychology, mental resilience, and applying sports psychology principles to everyday life and leadership. They discuss mental resilience, cultural differences, and practical strategies for managing pressure, developing self-awareness, raising young athletes, and building trust within teams.
To learn more about Muhammad’s work, check out his website here: https://www.mdperformpsych.com/

Chapter Timestamps:
00:39 Introduction to Muhammad Deen
03:47 How Muhammad & Viktor Met
05:58 Journey to Sports Psychology
10:30 Cultural Differences & Emotional Openness
16:30 Parents, Pressure & Junior Athlete Development
26:47 Coping With Sensitive Situations As A Sports Psychologist
31:33 Communication Between Athletes, Coaches & Psychologists
33:23 Trust & Athlete’s Inner Circle
38:40 Handling Pressure & Performance Nerves
47:39 Building Mental Resilience Through Training
49:17 Self-Awareness, Self-Belief & Reflection
59:54 Why Sports Psychology Needs Greater Investment
1:07:47 Where To Find Muhammad
Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage

Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/

You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw

*A quick heads up! From around 55:00 onwards, Selena's audio occasionally falls out of sync with the video. We apologise for the technical issue and appreciate your understanding!

In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, CK Yew sits down with three-time Olympian, Selena Piek. Selena shares her journey of being an elite badminton player to being recently retired from elite sport. Discussions include insights on financial management, career transition, the business side of badminton and how we can grow the sport globally.
Photo Credit For Thumbnail: @badminton.21 (Instagram)

Chapter Timestamps:
00:32 Introduction to Selena Piek & Transitioning Out of Professional Sport
05:50 Financial Realities of Elite Athletes
12:28 Income as an Elite Athlete
19:31 Lessons Learned from Experience
28:55 Negotiating Contracts & Sponsorships
37:00 Growing the Pie: A Better Approach to Negotiation
40:47 The Commercial Landscape of Badminton
45:41 Viktor’s Transparency & Professionalism
51:46 Characteristics of Top Athletes
56:36 Engaging New Audiences in Badminton & Learning From World Cup
1:05:39 Collaborative Efforts for Growth
1:13:30 Commentating Badminton

Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage

Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/

You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw

In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, Viktor Axelsen and CK Yew are joined by Sean Casey - registered dietitian, physical preparation coach, proactive health specialist, and someone who has played a huge role throughout Viktor’s career over many years working together at the highest level of sport.
Together, they dive into performance optimisation, recovery, nutrition, injury prevention, holistic health, and what it really takes to consistently perform at an elite level. Sean also shares stories from his journey working alongside Viktor, lessons learned from decades in the performance space, advice for everyday athletes, and the realities of balancing health, business, travel, and high performance all at once.

Chapter Timestamps:
00:36 Introduction To Sean Casey
01:42 How Viktor & Sean Met
05:44 Sean’s Initial Role & First Assessments
08:46 Why Viktor Knew Sean Was The Right Fit
10:26 Sean’s Decision To Focus On Viktor
12:28 Living Together in Copenhagen
16:10 How Badminton Has Evolved
20:35 Viktor’s Physical Transformation
24:36 What To Look For in A Performance Expert
27:30 Setbacks & Trusting The Process
29:29 Measurements Of Progress
35:55 Viktor & Sean’s Working Dynamic
39:51 How Sean Built His Skill Set
46:16 Sean’s Brand
51:54 Thoughts On Wearable Tech
01:00:26 What Brings Joy Outside Of Work
Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage

Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/

You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw

In this episode, Tanisha Crasto shares her inspiring journey from growing up in Dubai to becoming an Olympic badminton player for India. She discusses the challenges of moving countries, the mental resilience required at the highest level, and her experiences on the road to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Tanisha shares her inspiring journey through challenges like alopecia, injuries and family health scares, exploring topics including mental toughness, the business side of sport, and the behind-the-scenes of professional badminton.Chapter Timestamps:
00:40 Introduction To Tanisha Crasto
03:05 Growing up in Dubai & Transition to India
06:52 Challenges of Being an Outsider
11:16 Journey to the Olympics with Ashwini Ponnappa
18:39 Challenges during Olympic Qualification
28:30 Importance of Family Support
29:17 Doubles Partnerships & Team Dynamics
36:42 Memorable Matches & Achievements
41:36 Overcoming Bad Days & Self Doubt
47:12 Alopecia & Resilience
52:20 Playing Doubles with PV Sindhu
54:56 The Evolution of the Badminton Game
58:41 Equipment Choices & Sponsor Agreements
01:04:13 Getting Involved in Content Creation
01:08:44 The Business Side of Sport
01:14:40 Empowering the Next Generation
01:16:31 A Love For Adventure & Trying New ThingsFollow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverageKeep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw

In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, Viktor Axelsen and CK Yew sit down with Tamara Geeraerts, Tournament Director of the Yonex German Open, to explore what really goes on behind the scenes of a professional BWF World Tour tournament.
From sponsorships, logistics, volunteers and broadcast production, to the pressure of the tournament week itself, Tamara shares the realities of organising one of Europe’s biggest badminton events and the countless moving parts fans never get to see.

Chapter Timestamps:
00:35 Introduction to Tamara Geeraerts
04:26 The Role of a BWF Tournament Director
06:20 How BWF Tournament Organisation Works
08:29 The Importance of Volunteers
11:41 People Needed to Run a BWF Tournament
14:03 Financial Aspects of Tournament Management
17:54 Sponsorship and Marketing Challenges
20:29 The Transition to Higher-Level Tournaments
27:05 The Future of Badminton Tournaments
29:06 The Challenges of Funding & Sponsorship
34:41 Understanding Tournament Costs & Budgets
36:56 The Complexity of Venue Management
42:37 Financial Realities of Tournament Organisation
44:32 The Unique Structure of Tournament Management in Germany
45:54 Insurance & Risk Management in Events
50:50 Navigating Sponsorship Categories & Restrictions
57:22 The Rewards and Challenges of Organising Tournaments
1:01:41 The Importance of Collaboration Among Tournament Directors

Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage

Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/

You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw