The High Performance Podcast

Russ Cook, better known as the Hardest Geezer, became famous for running the length of Africa. 352 days. 10,000 miles. The first person ever to do it. But before all of that, he was a teenager scrubbing a Waitrose toilet at 4am, opening a cupboard to find a single tin of new potatoes, and hiding a gambling debt from his girlfriend.In this conversation, Jake goes back to before Africa - to the years of directionlessness, the arrogance that masked insecurity, the run home from a nightclub in Brighton, and the chance encounter with a cyclist in Kenya that changed everything.They also get into the question that sits beneath all of it: is Russ running towards something great, or away from something painful? And now he's a new father - how does that shift what he's willing to risk?Plus: why he won't take the Leeds Ironman lightly despite barely managing three lengths of a pool.Bulldog

Boris Becker burned out at 25. Former British No1 Jo Konta carried her family's sacrifice onto court every match and Irish tennise pr Conor Niland described a tennis player's self-worth as entirely tied to winning and losing — nothing else. Three players, the same problem: identity wrapped around results, the sport becoming something to survive.This week, in the run-up to Wimbledon, Jake and Damian go back into the archive to hear from all three — then hand over to leading performance coach, Ben Crowe, who has spent 30 years helping the world's best athletes solve exactly that problem.Ben has worked with athletes Ash Barty and Steph Gilmore coached NBA teams and the Australian Cricket Team, and comes personally recommended by Andre Agassi. You'll hear the full story of Ash Barty's French Open semifinal — 5-0 up and tightening, 3-0 down and laughing — and what shifted in her mind to turn it around. Plus Ben's central idea: the opposite of play is not work. It's fear. And most people, most of the time, are in the fear state without knowing it.Where the Light Gets In by Ben Crowe is available now.Revolut Business

Racing Bulls Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson has lived through the highest stakes and the ruthless politics of motorsport.In this episode, Liam opens up about the reality of his Red Bull exit, revealing how he was blindsided, unfairly judged and left carrying the blame for a radical car setup experiment. He also shares where his self belief comes from, from finishing last in go karting to ignoring the people who said Formula 1 was impossible.Liam also reveals the unexpected habit that helps him handle the noise of race weekend, taking a guitar to every Grand Prix to switch off and reset. This is a raw and honest conversation about pressure, resilience and protecting who you are in one of the most unforgiving sports in the world.Official website of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team involved in the most exciting car championship in the world. Discover what's new: https://www.visacashapprb.com/int-en/teamBetter Help

Sir Gareth Southgate is England's most successful manager since 1966. Two finals, four tournaments and by the end, fans were throwing beer at him in the stadium.Today, as England embark on another World Cup journey, we revisit one of the most candid leadership conversations we've ever recorded. Gareth explains why he knew it was time to leave before the final was even played, what he said to his players before England's penalty shootouts, and how it took him 52 years to silence the voice in his head — the same voice that froze him in 1996.He also gets into the unglamorous reality of leading a high-profile team: how to protect players from outside noise when you can't protect yourself from it, why he banned himself from speaking first in staff meetings, and what it actually felt like to walk through the door as England manager and realise culture, not tactics, was the problem.Thanks to our partners: Revolut Business

The UK has announced a ban on under-16s using social media. Jake and Damian's reaction is immediate: the ban is right, but it cannot do the job alone. In this episode they go back into the archive to hear from the people who saw this coming.Jonathan Haidt on the phone-based childhood we built without realising what we were dismantling. Johann Hari on the 10,000 engineers paid to undermine your self-control. Alex Greenwood on the body image spiral that started at 15. And the guys talk Liam Lawson, whose episode drops Monday, on what happens when your phone explodes and the world turns on you overnight.Jake shares the Ofcom data that should stop every parent in their tracks and Damian reads a message from Daisy Greenwell, co-founder of Smartphone Free Childhood, the grassroots movement that helped make today's law happen.Listen to the full episodes:Jonathan Haidt https://pod.fo/e/2a4563Johann Hari https://pod.fo/e/267393 Alex Greenwood https://pod.fo/e/30cbd0Thanks to our partners:Revolut Business

David Seaman is one of England's greatest ever goalkeepers, with 75 caps and multiple trophies with Arsenal. In this episode he shares the moments that shaped him, many of which have never been told like this before.David takes us from being released by Leeds United at 19 to walking out for England at the World Cup, opening up about the fear he felt after the Ronaldinho free kick and the untold story of packing Gazza's bags after he was left out of the 98 squad.He also shares his three non-negotiables for any winning culture and a definition of high performance that traces all the way back to a nine year old kid in Rotherham being told to go in goal and never wanting to leave.This is an honest, emotional and powerful conversation about resilience, loyalty and what it really means to love what you do.Revolut Business

Joe Hart was England's number one for over a decade, won two Premier Leagues at Manchester City, and was one of the most recognisable goalkeepers of his generation. Then Pep Guardiola arrived - and everything changed.In this conversation with Jake and Damian, Joe speaks with remarkable honesty about the mental block that nearly ended his City career before it peaked, the moment he felt genuinely unbeatable and how quickly that unravelled, and what it was really like inside England's tournament camps when the pressure was at its highest. He also gives his most direct assessment of why England kept falling short at major tournaments - and it's not the answer most people expect.Then comes the harder chapter. The loans, the exits, the moment he genuinely thought professional football was done with him. And finally Celtic, Ange Postecoglou, and an ending so good he admits it scared him.Two sides to Joe Hart: the warrior who needed to be the last line of defence, and the kid from Shrewsbury who never stopped being amazed he got to play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake and Damian take stock and draw on five years of conversations with some of the world's highest performers. This episode strips everything back to four questions — the ones that, according to existential psychologist Tatiana Schnell, sit at the foundation of a meaningful life.Does your life add up? Do you feel you matter? Do you have a sense of purpose? And do you truly belong to something bigger than yourself?With clips from Dr Pippa Grange on vulnerability and team culture, rapper Aitch on the person who inspires him most, England Rugby League head coach Shaun Wane on finding purpose through adversity, and Dr Rangan Chatterjee on the hidden epidemic of loneliness, Jake and Damian don't just examine the questions — they answer them honestly.Jake opens up about growing up without a clear sense of purpose, the quiet loneliness of chasing success across jobs, and the moment he realised he had no one to call. Damian reflects on what it means for your life to genuinely cohere.Listen to the full episodes of guests featured:Dr Pippa Grange https://pod.fo/e/10bc10Aitch https://pod.fo/e/27ae56Shaun Wane https://pod.fo/e/259c4Dr Rangan Chatterjee https://pod.fo/e/115f19Revolut Business

Andy Wilman is back for round two, bringing his signature blunt honesty as the creative force behind Top Gear, The Grand Tour and Clarkson's Farm. Few people in television have built more iconic shows or stayed more allergic to nonsense while doing it.In this episode, Andy dives straight into the chaos of creation, explaining why building something from scratch forges an unbreakable bond that makes walking away almost impossible. He shares his philosophy on embracing the happy accidents of television and why great content must always start with purpose rather than chasing clicks.Andy also opens up about his personal approach to mental health, arguing that therapy should be treated as routine maintenance rather than crisis management. He tackles authenticity and current affairs too, breaking down how Jeremy Clarkson earned the genuine trust of the farming community and why precision was desperately needed in the recent inheritance tax debate.This is a conversation about the creative process, the power of unfiltered honesty and the hidden structures behind some of the biggest shows in the world.The paperback version of Andy's book: 'Mr Wilman's Motoring Adventure' is available to purchase now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Wilmans-Motoring-Adventure-Clarkson/dp/0241788951?ref_=d6k_applink_bb_dls_failedClarkson's Farm 5 is available to watch on Prime Video now.Revolut Business

Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, and Peter Crouch between them have won Champions League titles, Premier League medals, over 200 England caps. And yet not one of them ever lifted a major trophy for their country.In this roundtable, three men who were inside the 'Golden Generation' dressing room finally say what went wrong. The media that made players scared to perform. The manager who wouldn't listen. The moment the England coach was asking Beckham for a signed shirt. And why, for most of them, playing for England never felt free.But this isn't just a post-mortem. It's highlights what culture, leadership, and environment actually do to elite performers — and why getting those things wrong can waste a golden generation of talent.Thanks to our partners on this episode:Postcode Lottery

James Milner retired this week as the Premier League's all-time appearance record holder. 658 games. 24 years. Never once dropped his standards.This week Jake and Damian sit down to ask the question that nobody else is asking — not what he achieved, but how someone holds their standards every single day for that long. What does it cost? What does it give you? And what can the rest of us learn from a man who never once let it slip?Listen to the full episode with James here: https://pod.fo/e/20a01eThanks to our partners:Postcode Lottery

Nico Rosberg spent 31 years building his identity around a single goal to become Formula 1 World Champion. In this episode Nico reveals the stark reality of achieving his ultimate dream, explaining why his 2016 triumph brought relief rather than euphoria and why he walked away from a £100m+ fortune at his absolute peak.He strips back the curtain on his legendary, fierce rivalry with childhood friend Lewis Hamilton, describing the psychological warfare of their title fights and the conscious rewiring required to stop yielding in wheel-to-wheel battles.Nico also opens up about his secret mental training regime at a time when psychology was viewed as a weakness. From his foot violently shaking on the accelerator in Abu Dhabi to reframing failure in a locked hotel room, he shares a masterclass on how to train your reaction to fear.This episode offers a raw, gripping look at the psychological cost of winning at all costs and what it truly takes to conquer your inner critic. Postcode Lottery

What happens when the medical system tells you you're clear, but the hardest part of your recovery is actually just beginning? In this special roundtable episode, brought to you in partnership with Postcode Lottery, we explore the unseen side of living through and beyond cancer.Joining Jake in the studio are legendary solo sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur, Frank Fletcher (CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust), and Josh Rands, a young survivor who rebuilt his life after a rare cancer diagnosis at just 19. Together, they share a raw, open conversation about why true bravery isn't always something you choose, the reality of life when treatment structures suddenly fall away, and how reclaiming independence on the open sea can give young people their futures back. It's a powerful look at resilience, the daily grind of running a purpose-driven charity, and why finding a genuine sense of belonging is often the ultimate medicine.Postcode Lottery

Fear doesn't disappear when you become successful. It just changes shape.In this episode, Jake and Damian go into the archive to ask a question most of us avoid: what are you actually afraid of — and what's it costing you?They're joined by clips from some of High Performance's most memorable conversations: Phil Heath on navigating darkness to find your highest level, Scott McTominay on the self-doubt that never left him through 21 years at Manchester United, Jameela Jamil on 15 years of saying yes to everything and no to herself, and Robin Van Persie on the moment he realised he was the one making it heavy.Plus: why imposter syndrome isn't a syndrome, the difference between overthinking and thinking deeply, and what actually happens when you stop fighting a feeling and just name it.Listen to the full conversations:Jameela Jamil https://pod.fo/e/225b9eScott McTominay https://pod.fo/e/2154f0Phil Heath https://pod.fo/e/2313e6Robin Van Persie https://pod.fo/e/18789Ronda Rousey https://pod.fo/e/23ec96Next week on High Performance: Nico Rosberg — Formula 1 World Champion. Hit subscribe so you don't miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve McClaren has lived the full arc of elite football, from the immense pressure of managing England to lifting trophies in Europe and standing alongside Sir Alex Ferguson during Manchester United's historic Treble campaign.In this episode, Steve takes us inside the uniquely brutal world of the England job and World Cup expectation, describing the psychological weight of carrying 70 million people on your shoulders and breaking down the volatile mix of camp chemistry, player fitness, and sheer luck required to win the 2026 World Cup.The conversation shifts to the blueprint of a modern rebuild, analysing the early signs of structural alignment at Manchester United under INEOS. Drawing from a lifetime of experience, Steve explains why tactics and staff are fundamentally useless unless the entire hierarchy of a football club is pulling in the exact same direction.He also shares what he learned inside Ferguson's machine, from total trust in his staff to a relentless hunger that reset the standard the morning after the Treble. This is a conversation about pressure, standards and what it really takes to build sustained success at the very top of the game.Steve McClaren has joined Rotherham FC as Head of Football https://www.themillers.co.uk/Postcode Lottery

We left the studio behind and traveled to the Crystal Palace National Sports Center for a deeply reflective conversation with Team GB athlete Georgia Hunter Bell. Away from the heat of competition, Georgia opens up for the first time about a chapter of her life she has never publicly revealed before. She shares her battle with depression after walking away from the sport that had defined her identity for so many years.Georgia also explains how navigating that dark period allowed her to return as "version 2.0," armed with a powerful new perspective on what it truly takes to be an elite athlete as she looks ahead to the LA 2028 Olympic Games.This episode explores the mental battles of elite performance, reflecting on Georgia's resilience through her darkest chapter and how she rebuilt her identity.In Partnership With Vauxhall

Trust is the single most important currency in sport, business, and life - and in the age of AI, it's becoming scarcer by the day. This week Jake Humphrey is joined by producer Will to dig into why.Drawing on some of the most powerful conversations in the High Performance archive, they explore what trust really is, how it breaks down, and whether it can ever truly be rebuilt.Featuring:Rachel Botsman — Oxford lecturer and world expert on trust — on the three stages of how trust collapses.James Timpson on why the most successful culture he ever built ran on just two rules.Stuart Broad on the quiet act of leadership that holds a team together when everything falls apart.And Martin Lewis — widely regarded as the most trusted person in Britain — on why you cannot market trust: you can only earn it.Plus: why Southampton's Spygate is just the catalyst for a much bigger conversation, what the rise of AI means for human credibility, and the difference between performative trust and the real thing.

Justin Cochrane is one of elite football's most respected coaches and a vital part of the England Men's backroom team. Justin's leadership focuses on reading a squad's emotional temperature and providing players the freedom to be themselves.In this episode, Justin shares the moving story of losing his wife Leeanne to cancer and how her selfless approach to her final days redefined his perspective. He discusses the "medicine" of football, explaining how returning to coaching weeks after her death provided the stability needed to carry immense grief while operating at the highest level.Justin also speaks to Jake and Damian about how personal trauma made him a better leader by shortening the gap between disappointment and recovery. From raising his three sons alone to preparing for a World Cup, Justin offers a masterclass in resilience, guided by Leeanne's final gift: the reminder to always have "someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to."Postcode Lottery

Ronda Rousey is back in the spotlight on Netflix this weekend — and it felt like the perfect moment to revisit this conversation we had with her in Hollywood - one of the most funny and honest conversations we've ever had on this show.Sitting down with Jake and Damian in Hollywood, Ronda reveals the secret she hid from everyone: that she fought the final chapter of her UFC career already concussed, shutting herself in dark locker rooms between rounds to hide the damage. She talks about losing her dad at eight years old, the coaches who dislocated her jaw, the 14-second armbar she invented on the spot that's still the fastest title submission in UFC history, and the moment after her defeat to Holly Holm where she genuinely thought dying would be preferable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone talks about what it takes to win. Nobody talks about what comes the morning after. In this episode, Jake and Damian go deep into the HPP archive to explore one of the most uncomfortable truths in high performance: why the moment of victory so often leaves elite performers feeling empty, lost, and at a total loss for what comes next.Featuring conversations with Yaya Touré on the strange emptiness of retirement, Ben Ainslie on the post-Olympic blues that hit 24 hours after winning gold, Ian Thorpe on walking away from a sport that stopped feeling like his own, Héctor Bellerín on why your value should burn like a candle - steady, never spiking - and Billy Monger on finding purpose after having it stripped away entirely.Jake and Damian also get into the psychology of why we delay our happiness, what self-determination theory tells us about intrinsic motivation, and why the people who handle the end of peak achievement best are the ones who were never only defined by it.The question isn't really 'what do you do the day after you win?' It's 'who are you when the goal is gone?'Listen to the full episodes: Yaya Touré https://pod.fo/e/3f55a1Ben Ainslie https://pod.fo/e/661e6Ian Thorpe https://pod.fo/e/d9a3aHéctor Bellerín https://pod.fo/e/d3369Billy Monger https://pod.fo/e/a8d2c Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Wight, known to millions as “The Big Show,” is one of the most recognisable figures in sports entertainment history. In this episode, Paul reveals the stark reality of a life lived under a terminal diagnosis, opening up about the decades he spent assuming he wouldn't grow old and the grueling work he is now doing to rebuild a body he never expected to still be using at 53.He discusses the radical selflessness that defined his thirty-year career, where he viewed himself as the "wall" for others to break through rather than the destination. Paul shares his unique three-step formula for success and explores the hidden psychological weight of consistently prioritising his opponents' glory over his own world-title ambitions.Paul also reflects on a profound emotional breakthrough that arrived uninvited on a film set, shattering a lifetime of performed toughness.This is a rare, intimate look at a man finally pursuing a path entirely for himself, trading the wrestling ring for Shakespeare and discovering who he is when he no longer has to make someone else look good.Paul Wight will be returning to London for All Elite Wrestling's record breaking show AEW All In: London - taking place over the bank holiday weekend on Sunday 30th August, live from Wembley Stadium. https://www.livenation.co.uk/Widely regarded as one of professional wrestling's greatest “big men” of all time, the iconic Paul Wight has done it all in and out of the ring, holding 23 total championships, headlining the world's biggest shows and appearing in dozens of films and television shows over his 30-year career.Wight shocked the wrestling world in February 2021 by signing with All Elite Wrestling, and has since served as a coach, mentor, commentator and wrestler in AEW, as well as an on-screen authority figure for AEW's sister promotion, Ring of Honor. Standing in at 7'0”, Wight is one of the most recognisable figures in wrestling history and has brought decades of knowledge and experience to the blooming AEW roster.In limited AEW action, Wight has defeated QT Marshall at AEW All Out in 2021, and was a key figure in AEW's cross-branded Yakuza: Like a Dragon Street Fight in November 2023, where he took a body slam onto a car from Powerhouse Hobbs.On the silver screen, Wight is known for performances including the legendary Captain Insano in The Waterboy, as well as appearances in Jingle All The Way, episodes of Saturday Night Live, MADtv, Hollywood Squares, The Weakest Link, Psych, Conan and headlined Netflix's The Big Show Show.Postcode

This special roundtable episode explores the vital role of mental fitness in reaching and sustaining peak performance. In this special roundtable episode, in partnership with BetterHelp, hosts Jake Humphrey, Spencer Matthews, and Matt Willis reframe therapy as an essential "performance tool." By comparing mental maintenance to physical training, the trio highlights how proactive support is key to navigating the pressures of modern life and sustaining peak performance.This conversation explores personal breakthroughs, from Jake's experience with "Pure O" to Matt's discovery of the power in asking, "How do I feel?" They discuss the value of having a "mental adult" in the room, a confidential professional who allows you to offload internal noise without the fear of burdening friends or family.Whether you are facing a crisis or simply seeking self-understanding, this episode demonstrates that therapy provides the clarity needed to show up as your best self. It is a raw, unscripted reminder that seeking support is a proactive choice for anyone committed to long-term resilience and growth.Better Help

What separates the athlete who cheats from the one who doesn't? And is the answer as simple as character — or is something else going on entirely?This week, Damian sits down with sports journalist James Witts, author of Dope, a book that goes deep into the culture surrounding elite sport and the forces that push athletes across the line. They get into the Enhanced Games arriving in Las Vegas, the staggering gap between how many athletes self-report doping versus how many ever test positive, and why doping in a contact sport like boxing is a fundamentally different moral question to doping on a bike.Jake and Damian also bring in archive clips from legends Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson — two athletes who faced the question head-on, and answered it differently. Plus: your questions from the comments, what Jake and Damian have been watching and reading this week.Dope by James Witts is out now.Listen to full episodes:Usain Bolt https://pod.fo/e/279623Michael Johnson https://pod.fo/e/254ca8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bjørn Mannsverk is the former F-16 fighter pilot who swapped combat missions for football kits to lead Bodø/Glimt on a historic rise. Under his guidance, the small Norwegian club achieved the impossible, dismantling giants like Manchester City, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid despite a stadium capacity of just 8,200.In this episode, Bjørn explains how he transformed the team by strictly banning the word "winning" and replacing it with a performance-driven culture built on "awareness training." He breaks down his "Fighter Pilot Method," including high-pressure "friction meetings" and the on-pitch huddle known as "The Ring" that refocused his team after every goal. Bjørn also explores how treating a dressing room like a combat squadron drove the club's revenue from €4.2m to €80m and why letting go of ambition is the ultimate key to elite success.Better Help

This week we're revisiting one of the most beloved episodes in High Performance history — our conversation with Mel Marshall, former head coach to Adam Peaty and one of the most compelling thinkers on leadership, coaching and human development we've ever had on the show.Mel went to Athens in 2004 as the world's fastest swimmer in her event. She came home without a medal. From that moment, she built an entirely new philosophy — and went on to coach Adam Peaty to multiple Olympic gold medals from a club pool in Derby with dodgy lane ropes and no gym.In this episode, Mel talks about why people always come before performance. How she builds commitment culture. The art of giving feedback that actually changes behaviour. And the question she plans to ask Adam at the end of his career that has nothing to do with medals.One of the most complete conversations we've had on this show — and one that will stay with you long after it's finished.Heights

Pressure isn't coming... it's already here. This week Jake and Damian go deep into the High Performance archives to ask: what do the very best actually do when it arrives? Featuring Chrissie Wellington on racing imperfect races perfectly, Tom Aspinall on why admitting fear beats denying it, Dan Carter on the All Blacks' hardest lesson, James Milner on what Klopp did after losing two finals, and Yaya Touré on the video Pep showed Barcelona the night before the 2009 Champions League final.Listen to the full episodes: Chrissie Wellington https://pod.fo/e/103df1Tom Aspinall https://pod.fo/e/2d3d2eDan Carter https://pod.fo/e/f5fc4James Milner https://pod.fo/e/20a01eYaya Touré https://pod.fo/e/3f55a1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oscar Piastri is a name synonymous with composure, but beneath the calm exterior lies a driver with a quietly radical approach to the pinnacle of motorsport. Recorded at the heart of the McLaren Technology Centre, this episode takes us inside the clinical, high-performance world of the young Australian as he navigates his rise through the F1 ranks.In this episode, Oscar reveals the psychological framework behind his success, explaining why he measures performance by control rather than results. He discusses the "honest brutality" of his mental training and the exact moment his mindset shifted from hoping for wins to knowing they were inevitable.Beyond the data, Oscar also opens up about the complex social architecture of the paddock. He reflects on the unsentimental line between respect and friendship, and the fragile internal dynamic with Lando Norris that very nearly turned poisonous.This episode offers an unfiltered look at F1's future, from "refreshing" FIA collaborations to Oscar's blunt, five-word verdict on the 2026 cars. It is a deep dive into the mind of a driver who isn't just racing in F1, he's deconstructing it.Heights

Stephen Hendry won seven world snooker titles in nine years. He didn't just reach the top of snooker, he made the top his permanent address for almost a decade. But this conversation goes far beyond the trophies. We're revisiting this incredible chat with Stephen where he tells Jake and Damian what it actually felt like to be that dominant, why he deliberately kept himself cold and aloof from every rival, and what the relentless pursuit of winning ultimately cost him. And why if given the choice, he'd do it again.This is an unflinching portrait of what total dedication looks like from the inside — and one of the most honest conversations we've ever had on High Performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake and Damian discuss a BIG announcement this week... High Performance has a new show, and it's all about Formula One.Hosted by Jake Humphrey alongside former Aston Martin & Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and ex-Ferrari & Williams Race Engineer Rob Smedley, High Performance Racing breaks down F1's biggest stories through the eyes of people who actually lived it.Jake explains why the audience demanded it, and why no other F1 podcast is made quite like this one — front row seat to the paddock, from team analysis and technical breakdowns to the unfiltered conversations of the pit wall.You'll also hear a clip from Episode 1 — covering the cancelled races, the Mercedes era question, Kimi Antonelli's talent, and whether F1 2026 has broken its own sport. Plus...can Lewis Hamilton ever become an eight-time world champion? That conversation is waiting for you in the full episode!Subscibe & Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/42lcqYNSubscibe & Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/3Qz9ogXFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highperformance.racing/Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/48NuT3T Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At 105 years old, WWII Mosquito pilot Flt Lt Colin Bell, DFC, remains a masterclass in mental discipline and strategic focus. Having survived 50 high-stakes missions over Germany in one of the war's fastest and most dangerous aircraft, Colin breaks down the vital distinction between eliminating fear and controlling it, a survival mindset that translates directly from the cockpit to the highest-pressure environments of the modern world.In this episode, he delivers a sobering warning on the dangers of national and personal complacency, drawing sharp, uncomfortable parallels between the political climate of the 1930s and the world we live in today. Colin also shares the "Mosquito mindset" for living a full and meaningful life: a philosophy rooted in decisive action, ruthless preparation, and the unwavering emotional discipline required to navigate a crisis without losing one's sense of self.This conversation serves as a rare blueprint for building the courage and clarity needed to navigate an increasingly uncertain world.Flt Lt Colin Bell's book Bloody Dangerous: Fifty missions over Germany: The last first-hand account from WW2, is out now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bloody-Dangerous-missions-Germany-first-hand/dp/0349148996Heights

Gary Lineker needs no introduction. Golden Boot winner at the 1986 World Cup. Sixty-eight goals for England and one of only four players in history never to receive a yellow card. And for thirty years, the most recognisable face in British football broadcasting. And through almost all of it, a quiet persistent voice telling him he didn't quite belong — that sooner or later, someone was going to find him out.What's fascinating about this conversation is how honest Gary is about that feeling, and how completely he refuses to pretend it wasn't there. He talks about the terrifying manager who pinned him against a dressing room wall after he'd scored two goals in a half, and the life lesson that was buried somewhere inside that moment. He opens up about what it was really like at Barcelona — playing at the absolute peak of his powers and still running back to the halfway line thinking he'd just got lucky again. He tells the story of his dad, who said "I love you" for the first and only time as he lay dying, and what that did to Gary standing alone in a hospital lift. And he shares the lesson from Des Lynam that quietly shaped the way he approached thirty years of live television.You'll hear Gary talk on why luck matters more than most people admit. On what it means to go two marriages deep and still consider yourself blessed. On kindness as a non-negotiable. And on why his greatest asset was never his right foot... it was his mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

High Performance just passed 400 episodes. To mark it, producer Will puts Jake in the hot seat — not for a highlights reel, but to go deep on the conversations that actually changed him.Which guest challenged him most personally? Which episode stayed with him? What happened in the room with Jonny Wilkinson that nobody heard? Why did Dame Stephanie Shirley's words make him rethink the entire purpose of the show? And what was the episode that left him completely broken down on camera?Jake also reveals the show that High Performance almost was instead — and why that origin story still shapes every interview he walks into.Episodes mentioned in this conversation:Jonny Wilkinson https://pod.fo/e/9cca4Dame Stephanie Shirley https://pod.fo/e/16a443Danny Gray https://pod.fo/e/145c8aPaul Gascoigne https://pod.fo/e/3917fdClaire Williams https://pod.fo/e/2b956bDr Chris Van Tulleken https://pod.fo/e/24d790If you're new to High Performance, this is the best place to start. If you've been here since the beginning, this one's for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Kenyon is a global sports powerbroker and Williams F1 Board Advisor, famed for transforming Premier League giants and securing major partnerships with global brands.In this episode, Peter joins Damian to discuss the leadership principles that shaped his success and how his "Holy Trinity Framework", balancing the roles of owner, CEO, and manager, was key to building sustainable winning cultures at two of football's biggest clubs.He dives into his philosophy on culture, explaining how he made tough calls like rejecting Ronaldinho for his lifestyle and selling David Beckham despite his commercial value. He also reveals how he prioritised structure over short-term success, even when it meant making bold moves like replacing Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea.This episode is an insightful look at how maintaining a strong structure, ruthless execution, and cultural standards is essential for lasting achievement, both on and off the field.Heights

Jean Todt is one of the most influential figures in motorsport, with a career that spans decades of unparalleled success, from leading Ferrari to dominance in Formula 1 to his work with the United Nations on road safety.In this episode, Jean discusses his "life in chapters" philosophy and how his F1 success fueled a mission to tackle the "silent pandemic" of road deaths. He shares moving insights into his bond with Michael Schumacher, the importance of protecting those you lead, and why integrity matters more than trophies. With powerful stories of overcoming adversity and maintaining integrity, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the leadership that shaped one of the most successful eras in Formula 1 history.Heights

In 2024, Jake and Damian met the remarkable Olympian David Smith MBE at Fearne Cotton's Happy Place Festival and held an audience of 300 people spellbound. David had a terminal cancer diagnosis — and a message about how to live that neither of them has forgotten since.This week, they share a voice note David recorded from his hospital bed after becoming a full quadriplegic with recent news he has just months left to live, where he speaks about dancing with life, finding beauty in stillness, and why the journey — not the destination — is everything.Jake and Damian reflect on David's three guiding values of compassion, curiosity and courage and why so many of us wait for the worst news of our lives before we start truly living.If you've never heard the full episode with David Smith, it's Episode 215 — and this conversation is the perfect place to start.Find David on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidsmithmbe/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yaya Touré is one of football's most dominant midfielders, a key figure in transforming Manchester City into a title-winning force. In this episode, Yaya shares the unseen moments behind that success, from arriving at a club with a losing mentality to helping build a culture driven by focus, respect, dedication, and passion.He opens up about the turning point that changed everything, a heated halftime confrontation that sparked a shift in standards and turned City into “a machine.” Drawing on his time at Barcelona under Pep Guardiola, Yaya explains why winning teams are built on brotherhood, purpose, and an obsession with excellence, not just talent.Yaya also reflects on the managers who shaped him and the identity that defined his career: “I'm a winner.” This is a powerful insight into what it really takes to build a championship mentality and sustain success at the highest level.Our partners for this episode: Heights

Martin Lewis will tell you himself - he's not an entrepreneur, not a celebrity, not a website owner. He's a campaigning journalist. One who happened to build MoneySavingExpert into the most powerful consumer platform in the country, recover billions of pounds for ordinary people, and become the most trusted voice in Britain in the process.We're revisiting one of the most powerful conversations we've ever had on High Performance and we think it's more relevant now than when we first recorded it.This conversation is about what drives a person to dedicate their life to fighting for strangers. Where that fire comes from. What it costs to carry the weight of millions of people's trust. And what Martin Lewis has had to go through to get here.You'll hear Martin on why trust cannot be marketed, only earned. On the moment that shifted his entire philosophy from beating the system to protecting the people the system exploits. And on why success, however hard won, is never the whole story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mo Salah is leaving Liverpool as a legend. Trent Alexander-Arnold left to boos and a painted-over mural. What made the difference — and what does it tell us about legacy, loyalty, and how we all choose to move on?Jake and Damian dig into the psychology of the exit: why the ultimatum game explains fan reaction, how Salah's struggles at Chelsea made him a better player at Liverpool, and what Roy Hodgson returning to management at 78 says about purpose and passion.Plus: Georgia Hunter Bell's remarkable comeback from telesales to World Indoor champion, Kimi Antonelli's back-to-back Formula One wins and what one victory does to the mind, and Josh Kerr's pursuit of the world mile record. Damian's High Performer of the Week will stop you in your tracks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brené Brown is a world-renowned researcher and author, known for her work on vulnerability, courage, and what makes truly effective leaders. She has spent decades studying human behaviour, uncovering how fear, connection, and self-awareness shape performance at the highest level.In this episode, Brené sits down with Jake and Damian to explore the difference between safe and unsafe leadership, and how fear quietly drives decisions at work and at home. She explains why the best leaders don't avoid vulnerability, but use it to build trust, clarity, and stronger teams.They cover why your greatest strength might secretly be your armour, the formula every elite performer needs to understand (performance = potential minus interference), why organisational leaders are the only high-performers in the world where coaching isn't expected, and what England's penalty curse and Liverpool's current struggles really tell us about the psychology of winning.Plus — a special surprise message from Steven Gerrard leaves Brené lost for words!Subscribe to Brené's podcast ‘The Curiosity Shop' on YouTube or your favorite app for new episodes every Thursday.Brené's latest book ‘Strong Ground' is available now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strong-Ground-Leadership-Tenacity-Vermilion/dp/178504320XLinks referenced in podcast: The lethality of loneliness: John Cacioppo TED TALKOur partners in this episode: Heights

Shane Parrish is the founder of Farnam Street and one of the world's most respected voices on decision-making and clear thinking.In this episode we re-visit with Shane, he introduces the concept of positioning — the small daily choices that put you on easy mode or hard mode before a single big decision is made. He breaks down the four defaults that hijack your thinking (emotion, ego, social pressure, and inertia), explains why fear of success holds people back just as much as fear of failure, and shares the Kissinger test that reveals whether you're truly doing your best work.If you're tired of making life harder than it needs to be, this one's for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louis Theroux's Manosphere documentary has got everyone talking - but Jake and Damian think we might be asking the wrong questions. Is shining a light on extreme influencers actually making them more attractive? And is the phrase 'toxic masculinity' doing more harm than good to the young men it's supposed to help?Jake shares research from the Centre for Male Psychology suggesting the term may be damaging to boys, while Damian breaks down why labels drive identity, and why that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Also this week...The treatment of Liam Rosenior Head coach Johann van Graan's transformation of Bath RugbyLeBron James broke the NBA all-time games played record And Norwich is officially the best place to live in the UK (Jake has thoughts)Heights

When global instability dominates the headlines, it can be hard to know what to think...or how to lead. This week, Jake and Damian sit down with General Sir Richard Shirreff, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, to cut through the noise.With 37 years commanding British soldiers, Richard has led through some of the most complex and high-stakes environments imaginable - from the streets of Basra to the corridors of NATO headquarters. And his lessons aren't just for generals.In this episode, he breaks down the war-gaming mindset that every great leader needs, explains why the best decisions are built on intuition as much as information, and shares Field Marshal Slim's three components of morale — a framework as relevant in business as it is on the battlefield.Richard also makes the case for thinking the unthinkable - conscription, and challenges the narrative that younger generations lack resilience, and ends with a genuinely optimistic vision for what great leadership could unlock.This is a conversation about courage, preparation, and the kind of bold decision-making the world needs more of right now.Our partners on this episode: Heights

Mark Webber came from a small town in rural Australia with no money, no connections, and a body the wrong size for a Formula One car. He made it to the very top anyway, achieving nine Grand Prix wins, 42 podiums and World Endurance Champion - becoming one of the most respected drivers of his generation.We re-visit this conversation with Mark, where he opens up about the years at Red Bull when he believed his own team was favouring Sebastian Vettel at every turn. Engines allegedly turned down when he was catching his teammate. A new front wing arriving at the track and going to the other car. A World Championship slipping away in the final race of the season. It got so bad that Mark did something almost unheard of in Formula One — he wrote a private letter directly to the man who owned the entire operation.Our partners for this episode: Heights

What happens inside a dressing room when a team loses faith in itself? Jake and Damian go beyond the results and the headlines to examine the psychology of collective belief failure — using Tottenham's historic 12-game winless run as the defining case study.Joined by goalkeeper Tim Krul, who has experienced relegation with both Newcastle and Luton, they explore what fear actually looks like on a pitch, why managers can lose a dressing room in 10 minutes, and what the Kinski substitution really said about Tudor's state of mind.Damian draws on his work with West Brom during a similar crisis to explain why the answer is almost never about fitness or tactics — and Jake reveals what Norwich City's sporting director said to Philippe Clement that convinced a Premier League-level manager to take on a Championship relegation battle.Plus: why Kimi Antonelli could be this season's Formula One world champion, lessons from the Gordon Ramsay Netflix documentary on the cost of relentless high performance, and what Paul McCartney's decade after The Beatles teaches us about identity and reinvention.Our partners on this episode: Heights

Kumar Sangakkara is one of cricket's greatest legends, known for his unparalleled skill, leadership, and transformative philosophy. In this episode, Kumar joins Jake and Damian to share the key moments and philosophies that shaped his career both on and off the field, offering a profound perspective on performance, identity, and resilience.Kumar explains how this philosophy shaped his approach to coaching and his own career, emphasising that separating who you are from what you do allows for greater perspective, freedom, and calm. He also discusses the dark side of excellence, revealing the personal sacrifices athletes make and how maintaining balance and relationships outside of performance is crucial for staying human.He shares the powerful lessons he learned during the 2009 Lahore attack, where he witnessed violence firsthand but emerged with a newfound perspective on gratitude. Kumar also reflects on his country's unity through cricket, especially during the controversial Murali incident, and how that moment played a key role in shaping Sri Lanka's identity. This episode offers a rare and deeply personal look at what it truly means to be a world-class performer while remaining grounded in your humanity, showing how gratitude, balance, and perspective can guide us through even the toughest challenges.Heights

Johann Hari has spent years doing what most of us don't have time to do — travelling the world, interviewing the world's leading neuroscientists, psychiatrists, and Silicon Valley insiders to find out why depression, anxiety, and loneliness are rising every single year. What he found will change how you see your phone, your mind, and your daily life.Today we re-visit this impactful conversation with Johann, but it's not all doom and gloom! Johann is one of the most solution-focused thinkers we've had on the show, and he leaves you with concrete, practical steps you can take today.You'll hear Johann on: what the people who built Instagram and TikTok privately think about what they've created; the three things every parent should do right now about their child's phone use; and the leaded petrol analogy that explains exactly how we fix the attention crisis.Heights

Jake and Damian go inside the 2026 Australian Grand Prix — not with lap times and race analysis, but with something rarer: direct messages from the people who were actually there.Jake shares a WhatsApp from Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu on leading through complete uncertainty. A message from Fernando Alonso's number one mechanic on why culture beats performance when nothing is certain. And a voice note from former Williams team principal Claire Williams on what COVID taught her about navigating the unknown.With cars failing on the grid, drivers feeling mixed emotions in the cockpit, and an entirely new era of Formula One rewriting the rulebook overnight, Jake and Damian use the chaos of Australia to ask a question that matters well beyond the paddock: how do you lead, perform and stay steady when everything changes at once?Listen to our full episodes with guests mentioned in this episode: Adrian Newey: https://pod.fo/e/267f99Ayao Komatsu: https://pod.fo/e/37b872Ollie Bearman: https://pod.fo/e/39acadClaire Williams: https://pod.fo/e/2b956bGeorge Russell: https://pod.fo/e/1527c9Fernando Alonso: https://pod.fo/e/1e5849Thanks to our partners:Heights

Mo Gawdat rose to become Chief Business Officer of Google X, the moonshot factory tasked with solving the world's biggest problems. He had 16 cars in his garage, a nine-bedroom house, and by every conventional measure, had won. And then, in four hours, a preventable surgical mistake took his 21-year-old son Ali. What happened next changed everything.In this episode, Mo shares the promise he made to Ali, to make him "everywhere and part of everyone", and how that mission became the foundation of his life's real work: making a billion people happy.This is not a conversation about toxic positivity or blind optimism. It's a masterclass in what happiness actually is (and isn't), why it's your duty — not your reward — and the practical tools Mo uses to bounce back from pain in under seven seconds.You'll hear Mo on: the 90-second anger rule that will change how you handle every difficult moment; his three-question flowchart for navigating anything life throws at you; why success doesn't lead to happiness — but happiness almost always leads to success; what his son Ali taught him about fixing the world by fixing yourself first; and why the most high-performance path through life is learning to play.Whether you're chasing the next milestone or questioning whether the chase is even worth it — this one will stay with you.Our partners in this episode: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal

Alex Iwobi is one of the Premier League's most creative midfielders, known for his flair, expressiveness and ability to unlock defences. After coming through the Arsenal academy under Arsène Wenger, he has gone on to represent Everton, Fulham and Nigeria at the highest level, becoming one of football's most distinctive personalities both on and off the pitch.In this episode, Alex sits down with Jake and Damian for a candid and revealing conversation about his journey from nearly being released at 16 to becoming an established Premier League player. He opens up about the loneliness of leaving Arsenal, the moment the club sent his medical documents to Everton while he was on holiday without asking him, and how Frank Lampard's trust quite literally resurrected his career.Alex also shares rare insight into the aura of Arsène Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti — the only two managers he's ever seen silence a room just by walking in — and what that taught him about elite leadership. He discusses how being given the freedom to be himself, both on the pitch and through his music, has unlocked the best version of his performance.This episode offers a fascinating look at the mindset, identity and trust required to perform at the highest level in professional football.Alex's new EP More to Life is out on April 9th.Our Partners: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal

Ollie Bearman is one of Formula 1's most exciting young talents, known for his fierce drive, impressive performances, and rising star power within the sport. As a member of Haas F1 Team, Ollie is carving out a path to greatness in F1, where every race brings new challenges and opportunities to prove himself.In this episode, Ollie sits down with Jake and Damian for a raw and honest conversation about his journey from F2 to F1. He opens up about the pressure of racing at the highest level, the self-doubt he faced early in his F1 career, and the breakthrough moment that changed everything for him, realising that mental preparation and structure were just as important as raw speed.Ollie also shares the importance of learning from seasoned drivers like Fernando Alonso, acknowledging his rival's experience and commitment to the sport. He discusses how their competition has pushed him to grow and become a more self-aware and focused driver.This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the mindset and emotional challenges required to compete in Formula 1.Our Partners: Heights