The High Performance Podcast

Latest Episodes:

What Elite Performers Do When The Pressure Hits Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

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/103df1

Tom Aspinall https://pod.fo/e/2d3d2e

Dan Carter https://pod.fo/e/f5fc4

James Milner https://pod.fo/e/20a01e

Yaya Touré https://pod.fo/e/3f55a1

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Oscar Piastri Exclusive: The Mindset Secrets of F1's Calmest Driver (E406) Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

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 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au3

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Stephen Hendry: I Put Snooker Before Everything, Even Family Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

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.

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High Performance Racing is here! With Jake, Rob Smedley & Otmar Szafnauer Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

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/42lcqYN

Subscibe & Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/3Qz9ogX

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/48NuT3T

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105-Year-Old WW2 Bomber Pilot Shares a Century of Wisdom | Colin Bell (E405) Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

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/0349148996

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au3

Randox 👉 Book a test today and save 20% on all health checks with the code HP20 at : https://highpfrmc.com/HPP_Randoxhealth_au

Go Henry 👉 Grow their skills and their money at gohenry.com/highperformance with £5 FREE to get started!

Visit CLIF at www.eu.clifbar.com or www.instagram.com/clifeurope to learn more and shop your favourite flavours on www.amazon.co.uk/clif

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Gary Lineker: How Feeling Like a Fraud Made Me One of England's Greatest Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

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.

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400 Episodes: The Conversations That Changed Us Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

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/9cca4
Dame Stephanie Shirley https://pod.fo/e/16a443
Danny Gray https://pod.fo/e/145c8a
Paul Gascoigne https://pod.fo/e/3917fd
Claire Williams https://pod.fo/e/2b956b
Dr Chris Van Tulleken https://pod.fo/e/24d790

If 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.

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Peter Kenyon: How He Transformed Man Utd & Chelsea to Dominate World Football (E404) Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

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 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au3

Go Henry 👉 Grow their skills and their money at gohenry.com/highperformance with £5 FREE to get started!

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

Randox 👉 Book a test today and save 20% on all health checks with the code HP20 at : https://highpfrmc.com/HPP_Randoxhealth_au

Visit CLIF at www.eu.clifbar.com or www.instagram.com/clifeurope to learn more and shop your favourite flavours on www.amazon.co.uk/clif

Find out more about Williams F1: https://www.williamsf1.com/

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Jean Todt: The Mastermind Behind Ferrari and Schumacher’s Dominant Era (E403) Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

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 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au3

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal 👉 https://nordvpn.com/highperformance Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Randox 👉 Book a test today and save 20% on all health checks with the code HP20 at : https://highpfrmc.com/HPP_Randoxhealth_au

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

Visit CLIF at www.eu.clifbar.com or www.instagram.com/clifeurope to learn more and shop your favourite flavours on www.amazon.co.uk/clif

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

What Olympian David Smith Taught Us About Living Whilst Facing Death Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

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.

Please donate to Ed Jackson’s Go fund me for David Smith here .It is raising money to help fund the treatment, care, equipment, rehabilitation and wider support Dave needs, while also helping to ease some of the pressure on him and his family.

Find David on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidsmithmbe/

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