The High Performance Podcast

This episode is all about something we don’t talk about enough in high performance, not just how we deliver, but how we’re remembered. 

When I sat down with Gary Barlow, he talked me through something he calls the Show Graph, a way of shaping emotion and energy through a performance. It’s not about perfection. It’s about creating moments that connect, and leaving people with something that lasts. 

And what struck me...

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has seen it all, from Champions League finals to handling the world’s biggest football stars under immense pressure. But behind the badge is a story shaped by survival, scrutiny, and sacrifice.

In this episode, Mark opens up about the mental toll of refereeing, the loneliness that comes with the job, and the weight of every decision made under the glare of millions. He reflects on h...

Avoiding tough conversations might feel easier, but it often holds us back.

In this episode, Jake and Damian unpack why leaning into difficult conversations is essential for growth, connection, and real leadership. With insights from guests like James Vowles, Emily Maitlis, Charles Duhigg, and Joleon Lescott, they reveal how feedback, when delivered and received with clarity and care, can transform relationships.

From reframi...

What if the thing that makes you extraordinary isn’t something you’re born with, but something you choose?

In this episode, Jason Fox, former Special Forces operator, bestselling author, and host of SAS: Who Dares Wins, shares the habits that helped him move from feeling unremarkable to performing under extreme pressure. Not because he believed he was destined for greatness, but because he learned how to respond when it mattered...

Graeme Lowdon is a seasoned motorsport executive best known for co-founding the Marussia F1 Team. 

In this episode, Graeme dives into the heartbeat of Formula One as the ultimate team game. He shares how success isn’t just about speed or strategy, but about having a diverse group of talented individuals united by a common purpose. 

Graeme also opens up about the difficult moments that come with the sport, especially...

Who are you when the job title drops away? This episode digs deep into the question we often avoid but desperately need to ask ourselves.

Jake and Damian dive into the importance of knowing who you are beyond your role, sharing honest and powerful insights from guests like Simon Sinek, Phil Heath, Ali Abdaal, and John McAvoy. They unpack how easy it is to confuse identity with achievement, and why that can leave us lost when the...

When you think of Gordon Ramsay, you probably think of shouting, sarcasm, and one-liners hot enough to sear a steak. But behind the fire is a habit that’s far more important than the volume: He takes feedback professionally, not personally.

In this episode, we go beyond the reputation and dig into the mindset that helped Gordon rise, not just to fame, but to genuine mastery. From his early football dreams to Michelin-starred kit...

Mark Cuban is a billionaire entrepreneur, Shark Tank investor, and the outspoken former owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

In this episode, he shares how transforming the Mavericks wasn’t just about stats, it was about building a culture. From upgrading hotels to investing in skill development, Cuban shows how leadership and empathy can shape winning teams. 

He also dives into the AI revolution, offering sharp advice for you...

Think pro tennis is all glamour? Think again. In this episode, Jake and Damian sit down with former Irish Tennis pro Conor Niland, who reached a high of No 129 in the world, to explore the untold reality of life on the tour for the 99% of players who never make the headlines. Conor got within one set of playing Federer at Wimbledon and faced Djokovic at the US Open. Learn why most pros can lose more than they win—yet still keep swi...

Triple H didn’t just dominate in the ring, he learned how to read a room, shift direction in real time, and lead an entire industry by listening closely.

In this episode, we unpack the surprising psychology behind his success and explore how the powerful mental model known as the OODA loop (Observe. Orient. Decide. Act.) can help anyone make faster, smarter decisions under pressure.

We also explore how great leaders don’t cha...

Premier League Defender Dan Burn opens up about the impact of Eddie Howe’s leadership, how genuine communication and taking the time to connect with players makes a difference beyond just tactics. He reflects on the rollercoaster journey from near relegation to competing in the Champions League, and how winning the League Cup wasn’t just about the trophy itself, but the collective grit and unity that got them there.

The conversa...

Pressure shows up at the front door in broad daylight, stress lurks in the shadows of your own mind. One is the world’s expectation. The other is your own resistance to it.

In this episode, Jake and Damian unpack the crucial difference between pressure and stress, and why understanding it can transform how you handle challenges. Drawing insights from guests like Tom Aspinall, Steve Hansen, Barry Hearn, and Alistair Campbell, the...

Mo lost his son, Ali, in a tragic and avoidable surgery. It’s the kind of grief that could break anyone. But instead of shutting down, he turned toward the pain, with honesty, logic, and a question that changed everything: Can we train ourselves to be happy, even after heartbreak?

One insight stood out: the 90-second rule. According to Mo (and backed by neuroscience), our emotions only physically last 90 seconds. What happens af...

Sam Allardyce is one of English football’s most seasoned and straight-talking managers, known as much for his no-nonsense attitude as for his deep understanding of the game. With a career spanning decades, he’s led clubs like Bolton, West Ham, and Everton, and even had a brief but infamous spell as England manager.

In this episode, Big Sam opens up about what it really takes to build a football club from the ground up. From keep...

You don’t have to be who the world tells you to be, and sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is step outside the box others have put you in.

In this episode, Jake and Damian dive into the idea of breaking free from the labels others place on us, and the ones we place on ourselves. Through compelling reflections and lessons from guests like Rio Ferdinand, Fearne Cotton, Tom Kerridge, and Lee Child, they unpack how we can...

Undefeated boxing champion and entrepreneur Laila Ali takes us ringside, then into the heart of what it means to belong. 

In this episode of Essential Habits, we uncover the deceptively simple practice her father, Muhammad Ali, modeled again and again: looking after the person no one else notices.

Through Laila’s stories, from waiting in queues of adoring fans to earning her father’s reluctant blessing to box, we learn h...

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a Premier League striker known for his athleticism, drive, and key role at Everton FC. But beyond the goals and headlines, he’s also faced a tough road of injuries, personal setbacks, and intense pressure. 

In this episode, Dominic opens up about some of his lowest moments, times when injury left him feeling broken and lost. He talks candidly about the pressure to bounce back quickly, the mental tol...

In this episode, we revisit a powerful conversation with Chris Voss, former FBI lead hostage negotiator and bestselling author of Never Split the Difference.

In this insightful discussion with Jake and Damian, Chris shares his unique approach to communication, showing how the skills he used in life-or-death negotiations can transform the way we handle everyday conversations. From business meetings to family dynamics, Chris expla...

This new Essential Habits series breaks down the key habits behind high performance, one episode at a time. This week’s habit is deceptively simple: asking better questions.

Philosopher Alain de Botton joins us to explore how a single, uncomfortable question, “How have I annoyed you?” can deepen trust, defuse tension, and create stronger connections in every part of life.

Whether it’s at home, at work, or with close friends, ...