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High Performance Business

High Performance

You know the score, but what happens on the pitch is only half the story .

Soaring ticket prices. Endless subscription fees. Baffling rule changes. Even the most diehard fans are left wondering: why?

Award-winning sports journalists Natalie Pirks & Colin Murray step back from a busy news cycle to deliver the business playbook.

Armed with razor-sharp wit and genuine curiosity, they bridge the gap between the sports business and the sport itself, unpacking the power plays shaping global games and decoding what they really mean for people in the stands.

From FIFA and F1 to the Premier League and major US sports, High Performance Business delivers top-down clarity straight from the pitch-side, court-side, and paddock.

Because when you understand the mechanics behind the machine, you're no longer sitting on the sidelines.

No business degree required.

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

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32 episodes
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Avg 42 min
English

Episodes 32

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Yesterday · 33 min
Will Everton’s Sale Cost Fans Another Transfer Window?
Colin and Natalie are joined by football finance expert Paul Quinn and The Blue Room's Matt Jones to tackle the big questions facing Everton. Is the new stadium a springboard for success – or is debt swallowing the extra income? Has owning Roma left The Friedkin Group with divided priorities? And do football’s financial rules stop ambitious owners from breaking into the elite? With transfer frustrations mounting, they explore what ownership limbo means on the pitch – and whether the next buyer can offer more than Premier League survival. IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_AU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 21 · 35 min
Is Your Football Club at Risk? The Crisis Facing English Football
English football is a £9bn industry. So why are so many clubs struggling to make money? Former Footballer & Executive Mark Palios joins Colin Murray and Natalie Pirks to examine a financial model that rewards ambition but often punishes sustainability. From spiralling wages and owners willing to gamble millions to the clubs that have already disappeared, they explore what happens when the pursuit of success puts the future of a club, and its community, at risk. With a new football regulator promising change, the question is whether it can make the game financially sustainable without driving away investment. And if money is going to flow down the pyramid, can anything change unless wages are brought under control? IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_AU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 14 · 16 min
How Much Does ONE Bad VAR Decision Really Cost?!
When one refereeing decision can be worth millions, what price is football really paying for VAR? Colin and Natalie examine the business behind football’s most divisive technology, from the millions riding on a single league position to the companies cashing in on the systems designed to get decisions right. But with three-quarters of surveyed fans opposing VAR, the bigger question is whether football is fixing mistakes at the cost of the matchday experience. Because in a sport chasing perfection, getting the decision right might not be the only thing that matters. IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_AU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 7 · 16 min
What Is a Premier League Fan Actually Worth?
Are football clubs becoming too focused on tourists at the expense of loyal fans? Colin Murray and Natalie Pirks explore the battle between football's biggest commercial opportunity and the supporters who make the matchday experience worth selling, and ask how clubs can grow globally without losing what makes them special. With international visitors generating more than £1 billion for the UK economy in 2024, the stakes are clear. But how much is a club willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of more revenue? IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_AU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 1 · 42 min
Ex Premier League Exec Chairman on Man City & Football's Soaring Wages
What does the man who spent almost 20 years running the Premier League make of the biggest issues facing English football today? Richard Scudamore talks Manchester City’s long-running charges, the pressure facing current Premier League chief Richard Masters, and what happens behind the scenes when the league faces a challenge of this scale. They get into football’s new financial rules, the extraordinary sums being spent on players, and the arrival of the Independent Football Regulator. Are the rules making the game fairer, or making it harder for clubs to challenge at the top? This episode goes inside the decisions shaping the future of English football, from money and regulation to the Super League, FIFA and VAR and asks: who should really have the power to change the game? IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_AU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 29 · 48 min
Man City Guilty of Premier League Charges: Former Chairman Speaks Out
Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League. But this story is far from over. There’s no punishment yet, City maintain the process is ongoing, and an appeal is expected. So the biggest question now is: what happens next? Natalie Pirks and Colin Murray are joined by former Manchester City and FA chairman David Bernstein and football finance expert Kieran Maguire to wargame what could come next. Could Manchester City face a points deduction, relegation or even expulsion from the Premier League? Could previous titles be affected? What happens if City appeal? And what could this case mean for the Premier League and the future of how football regulates its most powerful clubs? David also reflects on the Manchester City he helped rebuild from the third tier, and what this moment means for a club he knows from the inside. This is a special Game-changer episode of High Performance Business, in proud partnership with IFS. _____ You know the score, but what happens on he pitch is only half the story . Soaring ticket prices. Endless subscription fees. Baffling rule changes. Even the most diehard fans are left wondering: why? Award-winning sports journalists Natalie Pirks & Colin Murray step back from a busy news cycle to deliver the business playbook. Armed with razor-sharp wit and genuine curiosity, they bridge the gap between the business of sport and the sport itself - unpacking the power plays shaping global games and decoding what they really mean for people in the stands. From FIFA and F1 to the Premier League and major US sports, High Performance Business delivers top-down clarity - straight from the pitchside, courtside, and paddock. Because when you understand the mechanics behind the machine, you're no longer sitting on the sidelines. No business degree required. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/IFS-yt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 23 · 43 min
How American Owners Could Change The Premier League Forever
11 of the 20 Premier League clubs are now majority American owned, up from five a decade ago. This episode asks why the money's coming now, why English clubs look so cheap next to the NFL, and what the new owners actually want to change: ticketing, the matchday experience, and whether promotion and relegation survive. Also a proper defence of American sport, from why closed leagues have produced seven different World Series winners in ten years to what Wrexham got right. IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_AU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 16 · 37 min
How Much Does an F1 Crash ACTUALLY Cost? | Otmar Szafnauer
When an F1 car crashes, the repair bill is only the beginning. Colin Murray and Natalie Pirks explore the hidden cost of crashes in Formula 1, from lost upgrades and valuable data to the millions at stake in the Constructors’ Championship. They look at why a mistake can hit smaller teams like Haas far harder than the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull, and what happens when teammates become each other’s biggest rivals. With former F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer bringing a view from inside the paddock, they reveal how crashes can affect far more than the car, costing teams time, development and potentially their position on the grid. IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_AU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 9 · 39 min
David Ornstein Breaks Down Biggest PL Transfers: Enzo Fernandez, Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola
The Premier League has just come through another record-breaking transfer window, with billions spent and some of the biggest fees football has ever seen. But who actually got it right? Natalie Perks and Colin Murray break down the winners, losers, bargains and biggest gambles of the window, from Chelsea’s profitable summer and Everton’s deadline-day panic to the growing number of £100m+ deals across the league. They’re joined by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, one of football’s leading transfer reporters, to explain why prices have exploded, how the Premier League’s new financial rules are changing the market, why clubs are trading with each other more than ever — and whether football’s spending boom can actually continue. Plus, David reveals what transfer deadline day is really like behind the scenes, Colin revisits one of football’s strangest ever signings, and the episode ends with a transfer-record pub quiz. IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_AU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 25 · 33 min
Are The New Premier League Finance Rules Fair?
PSR is gone... Here comes SCR and SSR to take it's place. Colin and Nat go through what the new rules cover, what they leave untouched, and what it means for clubs already punished under the old system. Then, 14 years on from Lance Armstrong's ban, cycling writer William Fotheringham joins them on why cycling has slipped off terrestrial TV in the UK, and how a sport that can't sell tickets runs on sponsorship. IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_AU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 19 · 43 min
The Truth About WSL Wages, Sponsorship & the Lionesses
Being a Lioness may make you financially comfortable. Being anyone else in the WSL is a very different reality. Colin and Nat pull apart the numbers behind English women's football — from minimum wage rules for 18-20-year-olds to what happens when a league's biggest stars retire in their mid-30s with no fallback plan. They're joined by Beth Fisher, senior advisor to UEFA Vice President and Mary Earps, for an inside look at sponsorship, fandom, and why the WSL still has work to do outside its Lioness elite. Plus: with Gianni Infantino's grip on FIFA under fire, Colin and Nat pick who they'd install as the next president of world football — from real-world contenders to a full-blown fantasy draft, Star Wars comparisons included. IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_YT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 12 · 45 min
The Hidden Business Behind Premier League Shirt Sponsorship & The NBA’s £3 BILLION Bet on Europe
Why are brands willing to pay £60 million to put their name on a football shirt? Colin Murray and Natalie Pirks explore what makes sports sponsorship so valuable. From a financial services company using a Premier League star to reach new markets to Crystal Palace's unexpected FA Cup sponsorship return, they unpack how brands measure the value of being part of the game. They also look at the Premier League's gambling sponsorship restrictions, why basketball generates less than 1% of Europe's sports revenue, and the billions the NBA is prepared to invest in building its presence across the continent. High Performance Business are also privileged to be joined by sports journalist & special guest Stuart Hodge. IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at https://highpfrmc.com/IFS_HPB_YT We'd love to answer your questions! Send them to @highperformance.business on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 5 · 1 hr 1 min
The Failed FIFA World Cup Sale & Is EPL Viewing Changing Forever?
Colin Murray and Natalie Pirks are joined by football finance expert Kieran Maguire to unpack a week that shook the game. FIFA President Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup to private investors has met fierce opposition from UEFA and football associations around the world. So what happens next, and what could it mean for the future of the tournament? Plus, the Premier League is quietly building its own direct-to-consumer streaming service. Colin and Natalie debate how soon it could change the way fans watch football, while Kieran breaks down the financial realities behind broadcast rights, club revenues and what's really at stake for the future of the game. We'd love to answer your questions! Send them to @highperformance.business on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 29 · 42 sec
Introducing High Performance Business, with Colin Murray & Natalie Pirks
First episode out Tuesday 4th August! Behind every transfer, takeover, sponsorship and sporting controversy is a business story. High Performance Business takes you beyond the headlines and inside the boardrooms, negotiations and decisions shaping the world's biggest sports. Every week, sports host Colin Murray and award-winning journalist Natalie Pirks explore the money, power and strategy driving football, Formula 1 and the global sports industry. Through expert insight, in-depth analysis and conversations with the people closest to the action, they uncover the stories behind the biggest headlines, from club ownership and player contracts to media rights, sponsorships and the business empires built by sport's biggest names. Because the sport is only half the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 21 · 42 min
World Cup Payouts, Space Industry & AI Bubbles: Jake’s Top Moments
A special episode where Jake sits with the show’s Producer to discuss some of the most impactful moments and guests from the show so far, before revealing some big news on what is coming soon. XTB 👉 To find out more and make your money work, use code RWIH at: https://highpfrmc.com/xtb-rwih-au IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/ifs-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 14 · 41 min
"Flat White Or F*** Off": Rory Sutherland's Marketing Masterclass (Re-Release)
What if the biggest breakthroughs in business don’t come from logic, but from noticing what others overlook? In this episode, Rory Sutherland unpacks the moment a late-night scroll through economics blogs led him to Nudge, sparking a fascination with behavioral science that would quietly transform global brands. From saving a snack brand with a single word to helping an airline generate millions through a subtle design change, Rory shares the twists, experiments, and happy accidents that redefined how companies speak to their customers. It’s a masterclass in innovation, risk, and the power of seeing things differently, straight from the man who helped transform marketing with his unconventional insights. XTB 👉 To find out more and make your money work, use code RWIH at: https://highpfrmc.com/xtb-rwih-au IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/ifs-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 7 · 45 min
What's Really Happening Inside OpenAI? | Karen Hao (Re-Release)
Who is Sam Altman, and what is the real story behind OpenAI? Award-winning journalist Karen Hao takes us inside one of the most secretive companies in the world, drawing on the reporting behind her book to explore the growing influence of OpenAI over governments, the environmental cost of the race for artificial intelligence, and what some former colleagues revealed about Sam Altman's leadership and mysterious personality. XTB 👉 To find out more and make your money work, use code RWIH at: https://highpfrmc.com/xtb-rwih-au IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/ifs-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 30 · 33 min
Clarkson's Farm, The End Of Top Gear & More With Andy Wilman (Re-Release)
From Top Gear to The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s Farm, Andy Wilman has spent decades redefining what car television can be, and learning a few hard lessons along the way. In this episode, Andy opens up about the high-stakes Amazon deal that launched The Grand Tour, the legal and creative gymnastics of building something “like Top Gear, but not Top Gear,” and the spontaneous tent idea that became the show’s trademark. He reflects on the behind-the-scenes chaos, the unexpected magic of Clarkson’s Farm, and the times they got it wrong, and what those moments taught him about humility, persistence, and trusting your instincts. It’s a candid look at creativity under pressure, the fine line between chaos and genius, and how taking risks (and a few punches) can lead to something unforgettable. IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/ifs-au XTB 👉 To find out more and make your money work, use code RWIH at: https://highpfrmc.com/xtb-rwih-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 23 · 59 min
West Ham's Financial Crisis, Tottenham's Disaster, & World Cup Prize Money | Kieran Maguire
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire exposes the volatile economics of the modern game, where Premier League revenue has risen 3,100% since 1992, yet spending has climbed even faster, leaving the sport structurally loss-making. He unpacks the 2025/26 season's biggest financial shockwaves, from Arsenal’s £200m+ Champions League windfall to how Spurs’ brush with relegation rattled multi-billion-dollar investors. Kieran also exposes football's strangest paradoxes: why playing in Europe can lose clubs money, and how the Club World Cup now outpays the actual World Cup. Looking ahead to the new 2026/27 campaign, Kieran breaks down the impact of the new Squad Cost Rules, the bleak future facing relegated West Ham, and why Arsenal are so well positioned to dominate both on and off the pitch. IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/ifs-au XTB 👉 To find out more and make your money work, use code RWIH at: https://highpfrmc.com/xtb-rwih-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 16 · 44 min
SpaceX IPO, Broadcom Crash & Anthropic Vs. OpenAI: The AI Bubble Explained | Andrew Ross Sorkin
Journalist and founder of DealBook Andrew Ross Sorkin cuts through the hype to expose the high-stakes reality of the AI boom and how a single technology is currently holding up the entire US economy. Drawing parallels to 1929, the dot-com era, and 2008, he unpacks a dangerous paradox: for AI's massive valuations to make sense, it must replace human labour, but if everyone loses their jobs, who's left to buy the products? Andrew also makes a compelling case that history's greatest leaps in progress, from railways to Tesla and SpaceX, were born out of destructive, speculative frenzies. He shares what separates elite entrepreneurs: a healthy insecurity that drives relentless execution, paired with a lifelong curiosity that success usually kills. Andrew Ross Sorkin's book: '1929: The Inside Story of The Greatest Crash in Wall Street' is available in paperback now: https://amzn.eu/d/05LJS2F0 IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software 👉 Reimagine your operations at: https://highpfrmc.com/rwih-ifs-yt XTB 👉 To find out more and make your money work, use code RWIH at: https://highpfrmc.com/xtb-rwih-yt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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