About.

almost pro - sport podcast.

Hosted by: Frances Cayley & Laura Spellacy.

The Almost pro - sport podcast was created to tell the untold stories of athletes and their support team.

We share two streams of stories:

01. Athletes.

Athletes who dedicated years to their sport, reached incredible heights, but for reasons often beyond their control didn’t quite reach the pinnacle of “pro” or the definition of “pro” we’ve all come to believe in - where money & fame are attached.

02. Experts.

Experts, coaches, and leaders who wrap around athletes, helping them navigate transition, resilience, identity, and performance.

We also explore how the idea of “professional” sport isn’t always simple - many athletes are elite, yet not financially sustainable in their careers. Their journeys are no less inspiring.

Why.

We believe that sport is more than money, medals and pro contracts. Behind every champion you’ll find countless athletes whose journeys are just as inspiring, full of lessons about growth, transition, identity, and community.

Almost Pro shines a light on those stories, reminding us that the value of sport isn’t only in the 1% who “make it” but in the lived experiences of everyone who tries.

Who.

  • Athletes who reached elite levels but didn’t quite hit the pro ranks (or chose a different path)

  • Transitioning athletes who’ve stepped into new careers, studies, or leadership roles

  • Experts and mentors who support athletes: coaches, psychologists, high-performance staff, and industry professionals

Each episode blends storytelling, insights, and humour, showing the human side of sport.

Key themes we explore.

  • The athlete’s journey from grassroots to elite

  • The reality of setbacks, injury, or missed selections

  • Identity and transition beyond sport

  • Lessons in resilience, leadership, and reinvention

  • The voices of those working “around the athlete”

  • The mental game - beyond the physical

  • The art of storytelling, especially when you’ve been told the story isn’t worth telling

Meet your hosts.

Frances Cayley.

Frances Cayley is endlessly curious about what makes people tick, and especially what drives those who find meaning and identity through sport. As co-founder and co-host of Almost Pro, she relishes in the stories behind the stats, diving into the mindset, purpose and identity that shape athletes’ journeys both on and off the field.

Equipped with a Master of Business (Sport Management), Frances blends academic insight with lived experience. She has played representative-level football, studied sport governance in Paris, and represented Deakin University in Boston. She has also worked with several national sporting bodies and, through her consultancy More Than Our Game, helps organisations and individuals empower athletes and create environments where everyone can thrive. Her service in both Board and Committee roles gives her a unique perspective of sport, having experienced it as a leader, volunteer, player and parent.

Before sport became her full-time focus, Frances spent more than 20 years in executive project and property leadership roles, delivering major civic and community projects and leading large, multidisciplinary teams. An award-winning businesswoman, keynote speaker and mother of six in her blended family, she brings honesty, empathy and a sharp sense of humour to every conversation.

Whether unpacking an athlete’s turning point or reflecting on the courage to quit and rebuild, Frances believes sport is one of the most powerful teachers of resilience, identity and connection. Through Almost Pro, alongside Laura, she is on a mission to uncover the untold stories that remind us that who we become through sport is often more important than how far we go.

Laura Spellacy.

Laura Spellacy has lived and breathed sport her entire life. Identified at age 12 by past Wimbledon champions through a tennis talent program, she earned a full-time scholarship for elite training and player development. It was the beginning of a lifelong journey in tennis that would take her from local courts in Australia to a college scholarship in the United States. Competing at an elite level across both countries shaped her belief that sport does more than build skills; it builds character, instills a unique level of resilience, and provides a lifelong community through commonality.

A qualified Tennis Australia coach with over 15 years of experience, Laura has coached players of all ages and abilities while leading programs that bring communities together through sport. Off the court, she has spent more than a decade in sport management, growing participation, merging racquet sport disciplines, and designing innovative programs and systems that open new pathways for players to reach their goals. One of the things that fuels her most is removing barriers to entry and creating equality in access, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience the benefits and belonging that sport can offer.

Holding a Graduate Certificate in Business (Sport Management), Laura blends hands-on experience with strategic insight. She has represented Deakin at the National Sports Forum in Boston, completed the ASC and Tennis Australia Women Leaders in Sport programs, contributed to market research projects, and worked across international sporting events. As co-founder and co-host of Almost Pro, Laura brings a grounded, people-first approach to every conversation, finding meaning in the moments that define character long after the scoreboard fades.

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