The High Performance Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Has the Social Media Ban Come Too Late for Our Kids? Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

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/2a4563

Johann Hari https://pod.fo/e/267393

Alex Greenwood https://pod.fo/e/30cbd0

Thanks to our partners:

Revolut Business 👉 High-performing businesses need powerful financial tools. Get a £200 welcome bonus with Revolut Business when you sign up at https://revolutbusiness.onelink.me/jLOt/hp-ep3-aud and add money to your account by 30/09/2026. Fees, promotion terms and T&Cs apply.

Do Health 👉 Get ahead of your health, don't react to it. Head to https://highpfrmc.com/dohealth-hpp-au to sign up now

Better Help 👉 Join Jake in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-betterhelp-au

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AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

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David Seaman: Ronaldinho’s Goal, Gazza’s Pain & Wenger’s Genius (E416) Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

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.

As patron of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, David Seaman supports bowel cancer research and awareness. The Fund has raised over £31 million for research across the UK.

Support the cause by visiting the Bobby Moore Fund website and joining challenges like Run 66 Miles or 100 Keepy Uppies. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/bobby-moore-fund

Do Health 👉 Get ahead of your health, don't react to it. Head to https://highpfrmc.com/dohealth-hpp-au to sign up now

Better Help 👉 Join Jake in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-betterhelp-au

Postcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-postcode-au

AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

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Joe Hart: The Truth About England, Guardiola and Losing His Place at Man City Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

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.

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The 4 Questions That Will Change Your Perspective on Life Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

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/10bc10

Aitch https://pod.fo/e/27ae56

Shaun Wane https://pod.fo/e/259c4

Dr Rangan Chatterjee https://pod.fo/e/115f19

Revolut Business 👉 High-performing businesses need powerful financial tools. Get a £200 welcome bonus with Revolut Business when you sign up at https://revolutbusiness.onelink.me/jLOt/hp-ep2-aud and add money to your account by 30/09/2026. Fees, promotion terms and T&Cs apply.

Better Help 👉 Join Jake in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-betterhelp-au

Postcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-postcode-au

AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

Eight Sleep 👉If you want to discover deeper sleep. Use code HPP to get £360 off your Pod 5 Ultra here: https://highpfrmc.com/eightsleep_au

Do Health 👉 Get ahead of your health, don't react to it. Head to https://highpfrmc.com/dohealth-hpp-au to sign up now

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Andy Wilman RETURNS: Clarkson's Farm Secrets & Top Gear Reunion? (E415) Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

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_failed

Clarkson's Farm 5 is available to watch on Prime Video now.

Revolut Business 👉 High-performing businesses need powerful financial tools. Get a £200 welcome bonus with Revolut Business when you sign up at https://revolutbusiness.onelink.me/jLOt/hp-ep2-aud and add money to your account by 30/09/2026. Fees, promotion terms and T&Cs apply.

Better Help 👉 Join Jake in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-betterhelp-au

Postcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-postcode-au

Eight Sleep 👉 If you want to discover deeper sleep. Use code HPP to get £360 off your Pod 5 Ultra here: https://highpfrmc.com/eightsleep_au

Do Health 👉 Get ahead of your health, don't react to it. Head to https://highpfrmc.com/dohealth-hpp-au to sign up now

AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

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

Why England's Golden Generation Never Won a Trophy: Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole & Peter Crouch Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

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 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-postcode-au

Better Help 👉 Join Jake in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-betterhelp-au

AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

Do Health 👉 Get ahead of your health, don't react to it. Head to https://highpfrmc.com/dohealth-hpp-au to sign up now

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

What 24 Years of Consistency Actually Looks Like | James Milner Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

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/20a01e

Thanks to our partners:

Postcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-postcode-au

Better Help 👉 Join Jake in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-betterhelp-au

AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

Do Health 👉 Get ahead of your health, don't react to it. Head to https://highpfrmc.com/dohealth-hpp-au to sign up now

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

How Dame Ellen MacArthur is Fuelling Purpose for Young Cancer Survivors (E413) May 29, 2026

Show notes

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 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-postcode-au

Postcode Lottery manages lotteries for 20 charities, a minimum of 30% of each ticket price goes to charity. 18 plus, conditions apply, not available in Northern Ireland

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What Are You Actually Afraid Of? | The Truth About Fear & Self-Doubt May 27, 2026

Show notes

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/225b9e

Scott McTominay https://pod.fo/e/2154f0

Phil Heath https://pod.fo/e/2313e6

Robin Van Persie https://pod.fo/e/18789

Ronda Rousey https://pod.fo/e/23ec96

Postcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-postcode-au

Better Help 👉 Join Jake in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-betterhelp-au

XTB 👉To find out more and make your money work, use code HPP at: https://highpfrmc.com/XTB-hpp-au

AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

Next week on High Performance: Nico Rosberg — Formula 1 World Champion. Hit subscribe so you don't miss it.

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Steve McClaren: Inside England’s Golden Generation & Sir Alex’s Man United (E412) May 25, 2026

Show notes

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 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-postcode-au

Better Help 👉 Join Jake in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-betterhelp-au

XTB 👉To find out more and make your money work, use code HPP at: https://highpfrmc.com/XTB-hpp-au

AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

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

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