The High Performance Podcast

High Performance

Welcome to High Performance. Through fascinating conversations with remarkable guests, Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes uncover the secrets behind High Performance and explore how we can all become the best version of ourselves.

We focus on uncovering the learnings from top performers in every field, from sport to entertainment, business, health and wellness. No matter where our guests have excelled, they all have first-hand experiences and lessons to share.

On High Performance we find out what non-negotiable behaviours they employed to get them to the top and keep them there.

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

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743 episodes
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Episodes743

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May 1 · 43 min
The Coach Who Puts People Before Medals | Adam Peaty's Olympic Coach, Mel Marshall
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 👉 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 29 · 51 min
What Elite Performers Do When The Pressure Hits
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 27 · 50 min
Oscar Piastri Exclusive: The Mindset Secrets of F1's Calmest Driver (E406)
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 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 24 · 40 min
Stephen Hendry: I Put Snooker Before Everything, Even Family
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.
April 22 · 51 min
High Performance Racing is here! With Jake, Rob Smedley & Otmar Szafnauer
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 Follow 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.
April 20 · 57 min
105-Year-Old WW2 Bomber Pilot Shares a Century of Wisdom | Colin Bell (E405)
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 17 · 1 hr 3 min
Gary Lineker: How Feeling Like a Fraud Made Me One of England's Greatest
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.
April 15 · 45 min
400 Episodes: The Conversations That Changed Us
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 13 · 1 hr 16 min
Peter Kenyon: How He Transformed Man Utd & Chelsea to Dominate World Football (E404)
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/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 10 · 48 min
Jean Todt: The Mastermind Behind Ferrari and Schumacher’s Dominant Era (E403)
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.
April 8 · 30 min
What Olympian David Smith Taught Us About Living Whilst Facing Death
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/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 6 · 1 hr 15 min
Yaya Touré: The Dressing Room Standards That Turned Man City Into Champions (E402)
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 👉 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.
April 3 · 52 min
Martin Lewis: How I Built Britain's Most Trusted Brand — and the Price I Paid
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.
April 1 · 29 min
How You Leave Says Everything — Salah, Trent, and the Art of the Exit
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.
March 30 · 1 hr 17 min
Brené Brown: Why The Bravest Leaders Are Afraid All the Time (E401)
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/178504320X Links referenced in podcast: The lethality of loneliness: John Cacioppo TED TALK Our partners in this episode: 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 Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 27 · 59 min
Shane Parrish: How to Think Clearly When It Matters Most (E223)
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.
March 25 · 46 min
What Does Healthy Masculinity Look Like?
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 Rugby LeBron 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 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au3 Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 23 · 55 min
Ex-NATO Commander: Why Britain Isn't Ready for the Unthinkable (E400)
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 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au3 Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 20 · 46 min
Mark Webber: The Truth About Vettel, Red Bull and Why I Was Never Their Number One
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 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au3 Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 18 · 53 min
When a Team Stops Believing: Inside Tottenham's Freefall (ft. Tim Krul)
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 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au3 Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.