The High Performance Podcast

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...

Some conversations change lives. Others change the way we think about how we have them.

In this episode, I share the lesson I took from Dr. Rahul Jandial, world-renowned brain surgeon, neuroscientist, and author, about the quiet power of the pause.

Rahul has delivered some of the hardest news anyone can hear. And what he’s learned is that it’s not just the words that matter, it’s what happens after them. In those seconds of s...

Steve Backshall is no stranger to the edge. As a BAFTA-winning naturalist, adventurer, and presenter of Deadly 60, he’s spent his life in some of the world’s most extreme environments, from dense jungles to deep caves. In this raw and gripping episode, Steve opens up about what really happens when you face death head-on.

He takes us through one of his most terrifying moments: being trapped underwater in Bhutan for over four minu...

Alex Greenwood opens up like never before, sharing the moments that shaped her, from missing a high-stakes penalty to becoming a leader who others can lean on. It’s raw, honest, and packed with the kind of self-reflection most people avoid but every top athlete needs.

She talks about sticking to your process when the pressure hits, and how moving abroad changed her not just as a player, but as a person. Alex also doesn’t shy awa...

There’s a moment in this conversation with 4x Olympic Champion Michael Johnson that stopped me in my tracks. He said, “Success doesn’t care what you believe you deserve.”

That line sums up what this episode is really about, the difference between wishing for results and doing the work required to earn them.

Michael didn’t become one of the most dominant athletes in history by chasing comfort. He became great by facing the har...

David Coulthard is a 13-time Grand Prix winner and former F1 driver for Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. Known for his sharp insights and calm exterior, he’s lived through some of the sport’s most intense moments, on and off the track.

In this episode, David opens up about that life-altering day before the Spanish Grand Prix, walking away from wreckage, losing two pilots, and the brutal clarity that followed. He speaks candidly ...

James Milner is set to feature in his 24th different Premier League season and has the chance to break the appearance record. In this conversation, he reveals what it really takes to stay at the top.

From his decision to not drink alcohol, to the pain of being left out of finals, James shares the mindset and standards that have shaped his legendary career. He explains how he earned the respect of the biggest names in the game, a...

We make thousands of decisions every day, but under pressure, those choices become harder, and more important.

When I first came across Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton’s story, what struck me wasn’t just what she’s achieved, it’s how she thinks under pressure.

In this episode, I unpack a habit I took from her years on the frontline of the fire service, one that has helped her make life-or-death decisions and one we can all use in ou...

Ryan Yates is a Premier League midfielder and captain at Nottingham Forest, but his journey started far from the spotlight. From battling for minutes in the National League to walking out at the City Ground as skipper, Ryan’s rise has been built on resilience, hard work, and an unshakable belief in his own potential.

In this episode, Ryan reflects on the mindset that carried him through tough loan spells, positional switches, an...

What if the most valuable people in your team are the ones no one’s paying attention to?

Michael Lewis, author of acclaimed sports book Moneyball, The Big Short, and his new book Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service — joins Jake to explore how data can reveal hidden talent, challenge gut instinct, and reshape the way we build teams.

They discuss:

• How Moneyball rewrote the rules on spotting overlooked talen...

When you think of Alun Wyn Jones, you probably think of leadership, loyalty, and a rugby career built on sheer will. But behind the caps, the tackles, and the intensity, there’s a habit that mattered more than any stat: He built what he believed in, and he protected it like it was his.

In this episode, we go beyond the legend to explore the mindset that made Alun Wyn Jones not just a great player, but a builder of culture. We ta...

Formula One driver Carlos Sainz has always made bold choices, but none bolder than betting on Williams. In this episode, the F1 star opens up about turning down easier options to join a long-term project led by James Vowles, and why trust, people, and honesty mattered more than numbers or hype.

He also addresses the Red Bull rumours head-on, sharing his real thoughts on Max Verstappen, why he never made that call, and the realit...

As UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 builds momentum, here is a powerful conversation with England Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman, who led the Lionesses to victory at Euro 2022.

In this episode, Sarina shares with Jake and Damian the leadership principles that shaped a Euros-winning team, highlighting the power of connection, clarity, and trust. From her personal grief in the days leading up to EURO 2022 to guiding England to glory, t...

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...