The High Performance Podcast

The Ryder Cup is one of the greatest events in sport, where Europe and the United States put aside individual achievement for national pride in one of the fiercest rivalries anywhere.

In this episode, European captain Luke Donald joins former captains Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance to share what it really takes to lead under the highest pressure, how to build a winning team culture in just days, and the unforgettable moments tha...

When most people think of Usain Bolt, they see the medals, the world records, the effortless dominance. But his journey wasn’t built on winning, it was built on losing.

At the Athens Olympics in 2004, Bolt crashed out in the first round. It was a painful wake-up call, but also the turning point of his career. With the guidance of coach Glen Mills, he learned the habit that would define his legacy: “you have to learn how to lose ...

Boris Becker is one of tennis’s most iconic figures, a prodigy who won Wimbledon at just 17, a champion who reached the sport’s highest peaks, and a man who has faced extraordinary highs and devastating lows both on and off the court.

In this episode, Boris reflects on the mindset that drove him to success so early in life, the pressure of living in the global spotlight, and the personal challenges that tested his resilience. He...

Have you ever found yourself saying yes when you really wanted to say no? 

In this solo episode, Jake and Damian tackle a challenge many of us face, being “too nice” at the expense of ourselves. They unpack the difference between being nice and being kind, showing why true kindness sometimes means honesty, boundaries, and even uncomfortable conversations.

Drawing on insights from guests like Martin Lewis, Sara Davies, Ad...

Before he was a Formula One driver, Lando Norris was the kid in the McLaren garage packing boxes, dismantling equipment, and working side by side with the mechanics. No glamour, no headlines, just long hours in the background, doing the kind of jobs nobody sees. What struck me most is that he didn’t see it as grunt work. He saw it as belonging. As trust-building, as part of something bigger than himself, and that small shift is the...

Amanda Staveley is one of the most influential figures in modern football, best known for helping steer the takeover that transformed Newcastle United.

In this episode, Amanda opens up about what it takes to build something lasting in football and in life. From being underestimated in high finance to proving herself in one of the toughest industries, she reflects on the quiet power of persistence and the importance of surround...

Pippa Grange has spent years working behind the scenes in elite sport, guiding some of the biggest names and teams to perform at their best when it matters most. As a sports psychologist and culture coach, she’s best known for helping shift the mentality of the England national football team, but her work stretches far beyond the pitch.

In this episode, Pippa unpacks the core ideas from her book Fear Less, exploring how the fear...

Sometimes the biggest reset doesn’t come from doing more, but from zooming out far enough to see what really matters.

That’s exactly what productivity expert Ali Abdaal does every year, with a practice that at first sounds unusual, he writes his own obituary. Not to dwell on the end, but to remind himself how he wants to live.

Ali’s story is a powerful reminder that alignment beats hustle. A former doctor turned one of the wo...

Nicolas Hamilton is a British racing driver who has defied the odds to make his mark in motorsport while living with cerebral palsy. As the younger brother of Lewis Hamilton, the most successful F1 driver of all time, Nicolas has grown up around elite performance, but his own journey has been filled with challenges, setbacks, and powerful lessons about determination and self-belief.

In this episode, Jake sits down with Nicolas t...

If you could choose just one conversation for your kids to listen to, what wisdom would you want them to take away? 

In this powerful episode, Jake and Damian explore the timeless lessons that go beyond sport, success, or achievement, lessons designed to shape character, purpose, and resilience for the next generation.

From Sam Tomkins’ belief in the power of “1% actions,” to Hector Garcia’s introduction of Ikigai and li...

Trust is one of those things we all rely on, yet rarely stop to examine. We know when it’s there, we know when it’s broken, but how is it built, and how do you keep it when the pressure is at its highest?

Martin Lewis has become one of the most trusted figures in Britain, not by being popular, but by being useful. He’s challenged politicians in Downing Street, taken on corporations, and given millions of people advice when they ...

Former Premier League star and manager of the Welsh national team Craig Bellamy is known for his fiery temper and relentless energy on the pitch. Once defined by chaos and controversy, he’s stepped into one of the most important roles in his country’s football history, carrying both pride and pressure as he leads Wales into a new era.

In this episode, Bellamy pulls back the curtain on his journey from volatile forward to thought...

In this episode, we’re joined by Mark Manson, bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***. We start at the exact moment his book became a global bestseller.
Mark says that when it blew up he was the most depressed he’d been since his teens and explains why success did not fix him.

Mark unpacks the hedonic treadmill and the cost of constant chasing and how your identity can get tangled with performance, sharing raw ...

In high-performance sport, pressure is constant. In Formula 1, it’s relentless.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, has led his team to record-breaking success. But what stands out most isn’t the trophies, it’s the clarity that drives him.

In this episode, I share the lesson I’ve taken from Toto’s approach to leadership: walk in line with your why. When the world moves fast, when ...

Bradley Scanes isn’t just a fitness coach, he’s the guy who makes sure Max Verstappen steps into every race weekend as the most prepared driver on the grid, physically and mentally. As Max’s performance coach, he’s been in the trenches for every lap, every mind game, and every championship push.

In this episode, Bradley lifts the lid on what makes Max almost impossible to beat. From the instant “switch” focus that kicks in the s...

In this episode, we're joined by renowned journalist and former BBC newsreader, Emily Maitlis, who takes us behind the scenes of her iconic interview with Prince Andrew, sharing how she prepared for the encounter, the tension in the room, and the aftermath of a moment that became a defining chapter in British journalism. 

She reflects on the teamwork, editorial precision, and personal focus required to deliver an interview ...

Standing on stage with nothing but a microphone, Sara Pascoe knows instantly if she’s succeeded or failed. Comedy doesn’t let you hide, if the joke doesn’t land, the silence tells you.

But what makes Sara remarkable isn’t just her success as a writer, actor, and stand-up. It’s the habit she’s built to handle failure and keep showing up: Unconditional Positive Regard. The belief that your worth isn’t defined by a single mistake, ...

James Collins isn’t just your average nutritionist, he’s the behind-the-scenes expert trusted by the likes of Premier League stars, global artists like Stormzy, and even Olympic athletes. With a career built around peak performance, he’s helped shape what some of the world’s top names eat, how they train, and how they recover, all in the name of performing at their absolute best.

In this episode, James breaks down how smart, pro...

As Atomic Habits author James Clear reminds us, the person you become is shaped not by one big decision, but by the small choices you make every single day.

In this episode, we revisit our insightful conversation with James as he explores how tiny, consistent actions compound into extraordinary results. He explains how every habit is a vote for the identity you want to build, and why aligning daily behaviours with your values is...