{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Learning Bridge with Richard Gerver","title":"Simon Cusden — Professional Cricketer and Wellbeing Coach on Overcoming Alcohol Abuse and Mental Health Struggles","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2334,"description":"Simon Cusden is a former professional cricketer, who now helps high performing individuals and teams prevent and treat wellbeing and performance crisis.\nBorn in Thanet in Kent, Cusden played for Kent County Cricket Club between 2004 and 2006. After being released by Kent at the end of the 2006 season he joined Derbyshire but was in turn released by them after making only one first-class appearance during 2007. He played a total of seven first-class matches and six List A matches in his playing career. He represented England Under-19's touring Australia in 2002–2003. In the Under-19s test against Bangladesh in July 2004, Cusden claimed four wickets and was top wicket taker in the test and one day series.\nAfter playing for club cricket in Derbyshire for two seasons following his release by Derbyshire, Cusden moved to Australia. He set up his own cricket coaching company.\nCusden has spoken of the mental health issues he faced whilst playing and after leaving the professional game. For a time he abused alcohol and attempted to commit suicide on one occasion. The Professional Cricketers' Association Benevolent Fund provided assistance to him after the attempt and he was admitted to a rehabilitation centre to aid his recovery.\nNearly a decade later, Cusden now works as a private coach for senior leaders and high performers who are suffering silently from depression, addiction and suicidal ideation.\nIn this powerful and at times raw episode we talk about success and failure, addiction, suicide, mental health and resilience. Simon talks about coaching and leadership and what we need to consider as we prepare future generations for the complex world they will be inheriting.\nSubscribe to The Learning Bridge wherever you get your podcasts: https://thelearningbridge.bepodcast.network/subscribe \n\nAbout the host\nRichard Gerver is a sought-after speaker, world-renowned thinker, and bestselling author of books including Change and Simple Thinking. His career began in education,...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/A1lMqOdPJIBHCWmQp74ZO0-z-gk7ffPEhJ3odbRi9T8/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzQ3OTM2LzE3MDMx/MTI5OTUtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}