The High Performance Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Why Giving Is Actually Good For Your Health, with Richard Osman Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Richard Osman is known for his wit, his bestselling novels, and his sharp eye for detail. But behind it all is a simple guiding habit: tip generously.

For Richard, it’s never just about money. Growing up tall and often feeling different gave him a deep sense of empathy, and over time he realised that generosity, whether through money, time, kindness, or attention, isn’t an extra, it’s essential. It’s how we connect, build trust, and shape the kind of people we want to be.

In this episode, we explore what Richard’s philosophy of generosity can teach us about leadership, empathy, and happiness. Together, we explore:

Why empathy often comes from our differences
How generosity builds trust and connection
The science of giving and why it makes us happier
Why small, everyday acts can shape who we become
How leaders and teams can practise “tipping generously”

Because high performance isn’t only about discipline and drive, it’s also about compassion, empathy, and the quiet strength of lifting others as we go.

Here is more information on the studies referenced:

Spending money on others promotes happiness (Dunn, Aknin & Norton, 2008)
What we get when we give (Harvard Medicine, 2023)
Self-Determination Theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being (Deci & Ryan, 2000)
Influencing value priorities and increasing well-being: The effects of reflecting on intrinsic values (Lekes, Hope, Gouveia, Koestner & Philippe, 2012)

Listen to the full episode with Richard Osman: https://pod.fo/e/26ea40

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roman Kemp: Football’s Role in the Fight for Men’s Mental Health (E372) Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, yet the stigma around mental health still keeps too many silent. In this episode, Roman Kemp opens up to Jake and Damian about his own battles with depression, the devastating loss of his best friend, and why talking openly about suicidal thoughts can save lives.

Motivated by personal tragedy, Roman has turned his pain into action. He discusses the new initiative he’s designed alongside Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham for the Premier League – Together Against Suicide, connecting football clubs with local charities, creating spaces where men feel safe enough to speak.

He also reflects on the strength of family support, and the role both football and community can play in changing the conversation.

This episode is a raw, heartfelt call to break the silence, challenge the stereotypes, and create real, accessible help for those who need it most.

Need Support?

Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org

Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk

Shout: https:giveusashout.org

IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies

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Ryder Cup Rivalry: Through the Eyes of the Winning Captains Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

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 that defined their battles against the USA.

This isn’t just a chat about golf, it’s about leadership, unity, and inspiring people to perform when it matters most.

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights20

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The Defining Moment That Changed Usain Bolt's Approach to Failure Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

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 before you can learn how to win.”

In this episode, I share what I took from Bolt’s story about truth, resilience, and growth.

Together, we explore:

Why losing reveals more than winning ever can
How honest self-reflection accelerates progress
The role of setbacks in building resilience
Why Glen Mills’s philosophy shaped Bolt’s career
How to turn failure into the raw material for success

Here is more information on the studies referenced:

Winning Isn’t Everything: Mood and Testosterone Regulate the Cortisol Response in Competition(Zilioli, S., Watson, N.V., 2013)
Mindset, The New Psychology of Success (Carol Dweck, 2019)

Listen to the full episode with Usain Bolt: https://pod.fo/e/279623

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Stop Being Too Nice to People Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

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, Adam Grant, and Jameela Jamil, they explore radical candor, the power of disagreeable givers, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who truly lift you up.

Packed with practical takeaways, this episode is a guide to moving from people-pleasing to authentic kindness, where self-respect and compassion go hand in hand.

Listen to the episodes mentioned:

Martin Lewis: https://pod.fo/e/22a519

Sara Davies: https://pod.fo/e/2a13a3

Adam Grant: https://pod.fo/e/1546d4

Jameela Jamil: https://pod.fo/e/225b9e

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights20

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How Lando Norris Found Purpose Long Before F1 Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

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 difference between viewing work as a job, a career, or a calling.

In this episode, we explore what it really means to treat your work as a calling, not just a set of tasks. We look at psychologist Dr. Amy Wrzesniewski’s research on how we find meaning in the everyday, and how something as simple as reframing a task can transform the way we show up.

Together, we explore:

Why Lando’s early garage work laid the foundation for his career
The psychology of job, career, and calling
How job crafting turns small tasks into meaningful ones
What leaders can learn about trust from Formula One teamwork
How to reframe your own work so it matters more

Because high performance isn’t only about winning under the lights, it’s about the way you approach the work nobody else notices.

Here is more information on the studies referenced:

Jobs, Careers, and Callings: People’s Relations to Their Work (Amy Wrzesniewski, Clark McCauley, Paul Rozin, Barry Schwartz, 1997)
Jobs, Identities, and Work: How Job Crafting Relates to Meaningful Work and Work Identity (Justin M. Berg, Jane E. Dutton, Amy Wrzesniewski, 2013)
Positive Emotions Broaden the Scope of Attention and Thought-Action Repertoires, (Barbara Fredrickson, 2001)

Listen to the full episode with Lando Norris: https://pod.fo/e/112cbb

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda Staveley: The Untold Story Behind Newcastle's £300M Takeover (E370) Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

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 surrounding yourself with people you can trust.

She talks candidly about what it means to keep going in the face of uncertainty, how her Huntington’s disease has sharpened her priorities, and why empathy and vulnerability have become such central parts of her journey.

This episode is about more than football, it’s about life, hope, and the meaning of legacy.

🚨 Partners

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights1

Tide 👉 Free £50? Just spend £100 on your Tide card to get it when you use code HP50: https://highpfrmc.com/tidehp50

HP Foundation 👉Do you want to kick-start an evolution that will change the lives of millions of children? Find out more about the High Performance Foundation: https://hppod.co/foundation

HP Corporate Events 👉Click here to book High Performance Events: https://hppod.co/corporate-events

Explore offers and discounts through our other partners:

https://hppod.co/partners

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Sports Psychologist, Dr. Pippa Grange: How to Overcome the Fear of Not Being Good Enough Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

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 of failure shows up in sport, business, and everyday life. She explains how it quietly controls decisions, holds back potential, and fuels the constant chase for perfection.

Through powerful stories and examples, Pippa shows that success isn’t just about talent or hard work, it’s about learning to loosen fear’s grip. She offers clear, practical tools to help you face fear differently and create space for courage, connection, and fulfillment.

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights20

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Are You Living a Life You’d Want to Be Remembered For? Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

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 world’s most-followed productivity voices, he’s learned that the real danger isn’t burnout from overwork, but “misalignment fatigue”, the exhaustion that comes when your daily actions don’t reflect the life you actually want.

In this episode, I share what I’ve taken from Ali’s approach and how you can use it as a compass too. We explore:

Why writing your obituary is really about living, not dying
How to spot “misalignment fatigue” before it derails you
The science of mortality awareness and why it makes us kinder
Small steps to bring your daily choices closer to your true story

If you’ve ever felt stuck, drifting, or unsure where your energy should go, this episode is a reminder that high performance isn’t about squeezing more into the day.

Here is more information on the studies referenced:

The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life (Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, and Tom Pyszczynski, 2015)
Evidence That Reminders of Mortality Increase Generosity ( Ilan Dar-Nimrod, Tom Pyszczynski, Jamie Arndt, et al. 2008)
Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want, (Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy 2016)

Listen to the full episode with Ali Abdaal: https://pod.fo/e/213471

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicolas Hamilton: Beyond Being Lewis' Brother & My Fight to Be Seen For Who I am (E369) Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

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 to explore the unseen struggles that shaped him, from feeling isolated at school to dealing with the pressure of growing up in the shadow of a world champion. Nicolas talks openly about the influence of Lewis’s mindset, the inspiration it gave him, and the unique bond they share as brothers.

He also discusses the battles many never see: the mask of happiness he wore while struggling with mental health, the expectations that weighed heavily on him, and the process of learning to be honest about his own story. Alongside this, Nicolas shares the physical demands of competing in racing and the determination that helped him achieve what once seemed impossible.

This episode offers an inspiring conversation about family, ambition, and the importance of owning your truth.

Need Support?

Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org

Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk

Shout: https:giveusashout.org

IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies

🚨 Partners

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights1

Vestiaire Collective 👉 Buy and sell pre-loved Fashion now: https://highpfrmc.com/vestiaire-au

Tide 👉 Free £50? Just spend £100 on your Tide card to get it when you use code HP50: https://highpfrmc.com/tidehp50

HP Foundation 👉Do you want to kick-start an evolution that will change the lives of millions of children? Find out more about the High Performance Foundation: https://hppod.co/foundation

HP Corporate Events 👉Click here to book High Performance Events: https://hppod.co/corporate-events

Explore offers and discounts through our other partners:

https://hppod.co/partners

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.