The High Performance Podcast
The High Performance Podcast, hosted by Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, features in-depth conversations with remarkable guests from various fields including sport, entertainment, business, and health. The show uncovers the secrets behind high performance and explores how listeners can become the best versions of themselves. Guests share their non-negotiable behaviors and lessons learned on their journey to the top.
Episodes
Richard Hammond: Life After Top Gear & Turning Down the BBC (E444)
When Jeremy Clarkson was sacked from Top Gear, Richard Hammond was offered something most presenters could only dream of: the chance to take control of the show. He said no. For Richard, Top Gear was never about one person, it was about the three of them, and he wasn’t prepared to step into Clarkson’s place alone.Richard reflects on 26 years on the road and the personal cost of a life spent consta
Why You Can't Stop Comparing Yourself
Dina Asher-Smith, Alex Albon, Nick Cox, Richard Osman and Phil Heath help Jake and Damian take on the struggle we hear about from you more than almost any other: comparing your real life to everyone else's highlight reel.Even the people at the very top aren't immune. Dina explains why she deliberately avoids watching what her rivals do in training. Alex Albon opens up on how measuring hims
Christian Horner: Red Bull Betrayal, Geri’s WARNING & Unfinished Business in F1 (E443)
Former Red Bull Racing team principal and one of Formula 1’s most recognisable figures, Christian Horner spent 23 years building a life around winning. So when he lost the job he had done for two decades, his first feeling wasn’t anger. It was relief.Christian opens up about the pressure of leading Red Bull through its most successful era, the emotional armour he built to protect his team, and the
TOP RATED | Andy Wilman: Top Gear Boss On Show's Meteoric Rise, BBC Exit & Clarkson Sacking (E382)
Andy Wilman is the legendary executive producer behind Top Gear and The Grand Tour, the creative force who helped turn a small, ageing motoring show into one of the most-watched programmes on the planet.In this revealing conversation, Andy sits down with Jake to open up about the chaotic, brilliant, and often bruising journey behind the scenes. From the early days when Top Gear was “held together
TOP RATED | Boris Becker: Surviving Prison, My Truth & Rebuilding Life (E371)
Boris Becker is one of tennis’s most iconic figures, a prodigy who won Wimbledon at just 17, a champion who reached the sport’s highest peaks, and a man who has faced extraordinary highs and devastating lows both on and off the court.In this episode, Boris reflects on the mindset that drove him to success so early in life, the pressure of living in the global spotlight, and the personal challenges
TOP RATED | Gordon Ramsay: The Golden Rule That Made the World's Most Iconic Chef
In high performance, we often celebrate success, the awards, the headlines, the restaurants, the fame. But for Gordon Ramsay, the real story lies in the struggle behind the spotlight.In this episode, Gordon Ramsay explores the true meaning of high performance, and the price of perfection. From growing up in a council house and losing his dream football career to standing beside culinary legen
TOP RATED | Nico Rosberg: The F1 Champion Who Disappeared (E414)
Nico Rosberg spent 31 years building his identity around a single goal to become Formula 1 World Champion. In this episode Nico reveals the stark reality of achieving his ultimate dream, explaining why his 2016 triumph brought relief rather than euphoria and why he walked away from a £100m+ fortune at his absolute peak.He strips back the curtain on his legendary, fierce rivalry with childhood frie
TOP RATED | Usain Bolt: The Failure That Changed Everything
We're revisiting this extraordinary conversation with one of our most-requested conversations - Usain Bolt.Usain reveals the failures that changed the way he thought about performance, including the Olympics in Athens where he failed to make it out of the first round. He shares the moment his coach told him he simply wasn’t working hard enough, and the painful realisation that followed.Usain o
TOP RATED | Simon Sinek: ‘Start with why’ when searching for High Performance (E206)
Simon Sinek is an author and inspirational speaker. Simon is known for his books ‘Start with Why’ and ‘Find Your Why’, both of which focus on how to find your purpose and help those in your life find it too. Finding your Why, is the idea that “everyone knows what we do, some of us know how we do it, but very few of us can articulate why we do what we do.” Great leaders think, act and communicate i
Dr Chris van Tulleken: The Food Industry Wants to Buy My Silence
Dr Chris van Tulleken is a doctor, scientist and one of the UK’s leading voices on ultra-processed food. An associate professor at UCL, an NHS doctor, World Health Organisation adviser and author of the bestselling Ultra-Processed People, he has spent years investigating what the food industry is really putting on our plates.But the truth about what we eat is far more unsettling than most of us re
Are We Part of the ‘Optimisation Podcast’ Problem?
After hundreds of conversations with extraordinary people, Jake and Damian stop and ask a question they've been circling for a while prompted by a recent social media post from Rob Beckett: how has High Performance changed since it started and are we part of the 'grindset' problem?When the show began, they were fascinated by winning: routine, sacrifice, discipline, marginal gains. Jake
How a Clothing Brand Dominated F1's Greatest Teams: Alessandro Benetton (E442)
Alessandro Benetton knows what it means to challenge an established order. When the Benetton family entered Formula 1 from the world of fashion, the paddock laughed. But rather than trying to fit in, they rewrote the rules, and went on to win world championships.Alessandro joins us to reflect on the decisions that changed everything, from recognising Michael Schumacher’s extraordinary talent befor
Jess Ennis-Hill: What Nobody Saw Behind Her Olympic Gold
Dame Jess Ennis-Hill is one of Britain’s greatest athletes. A triple world heptathlon champion, European champion and Olympic gold medallist, she reached the absolute peak of her sport.But behind the medals was a very different story....We revisit this incredible conversation where Jess reveals what it was like to become Britain’s “Golden girl” ahead of London 2012, carrying the weight of huge pub
The 5 Things High Performers NEVER Say
We've sat down with hundreds of high performers. These are five sentences we've never heard a single one of them say..."I'll start when I'm ready." "That's just the way I am." "It's not fair." "I've done enough." "I did it on my own." None of them is a character flaw, but each one quietly pulls you away from where you wa
Linford Christie: The Real Story Of Olympic Gold, The Doping Ban & Walking Away (E441)
Linford Christie didn't just race his opponents, he tried to beat them before the gun even fired. The Olympic champion reveals the psychology behind his ruthless approach to the 100m, and the mindset that allowed him to keep pushing when most would have stopped.Linford reflects on the hunger that drove him to the top despite starting his international career later than most, and why winning Ol
Robin van Persie: The Truth I Had to Admit to Become World-Class
Robin van Persie captained Arsenal and won the league with Manchester United, but for years he says his hardest opponent was himself.We re-visit our classic episode with Robin where he talks about the letter he wrote to himself that he didn't believe when he read it back, the childhood friends he let go at 24, the Arsenal exit he'd handle differently and the advice to his son that Jake cal
The Permission You're Waiting For Doesn't Exist
Most of us are waiting for someone to tell us we're ready. This week, Jake and Damian argue that moment never comes, and that the people we admire most simply stopped waiting.You'll hear from George Russell on the email to Toto Wolff that started his Mercedes journey, Robin Sharma on why it pays to be "a bit of a pirate", Alain de Botton on why the world is built by humans, not g
Kevin Sinfield: The Day He Said Goodbye to Rob Burrow (E440)
Donate 👉 Sir Kevin Sinfield's 7 in 7: The Grand Finale https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/7-in-7-the-grand-finaleEngland Rugby coach and MND campaigner Kevin Sinfield has spent years running into pain, not away from it. In memory of his friend Rob Burrow, he has pushed his body to its limits, finding in the suffering a way to carry some of the emotional weight of the families he meet
Is Alcohol Permission To Stop Performing in Sport?
Why is sport still drinking? For decades, alcohol has been part of sporting culture. Team nights out, beers after games and stories of legendary drinking sessions have become part of the mythology of elite sport.But is that culture changing? And if it is, what are we replacing it with?Jake and Damian explore why alcohol has played such a powerful role in sport, from helping teammates bond and brea
Why Diets Always Fail: Harvard Professor Exposes Food Myths | Daniel Lieberman (E439)
Evolutionary biologist Daniel Lieberman challenges one of our most persistent beliefs about weight loss: that if you can’t stick to a diet, you simply need more discipline.He explains why our bodies evolved to hold onto fat, why willpower can only take us so far, and how diet culture has turned eating into a cycle of guilt and shame.Daniel also shares the story of his own mother, whose obsession w
Toto Wolff: The Brutal Truth Behind My Success, Self-Doubt & Leadership
This is a revisit of the conversation we previously had with Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ Team Principal and CEO, and it remains one of the most revealing interviews we’ve ever recorded.Toto opens up about the childhood experiences that shaped him, losing his father at 15, being forced to grow up quickly and the financial hardship his family faced.He also speaks candidly about periods of depression from
Why High Performers Wish They'd Enjoyed It More
What do you actually feel when you win? Jake and Damian explore one of the strangest patterns they've noticed across more than 400 High Performance conversations: so many people reach the top of their mountain, only to wish they'd enjoyed the climb a little more.Damian unpacks the hedonic treadmill and arrival fallacy, and asks what we're actually optimising our lives for when every achievement si
How I Rebuilt After Losing Three Limbs: Army Veteran Josh Boggi (E438)
Former British Army paratrooper Josh Boggi’s life changed in 47 minutes when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan, losing both legs and his right arm. But surviving was only the beginning of learning who he was going to become.Josh opens up about the five-minute conversation with a fellow triple amputee that gave him a new roadmap for life, and how sport helped rebuild his confidence, identity, and
The Accidental Cancer Discovery That Saved Anastacia (E437)
Global music icon Anastacia has faced breast cancer twice, first diagnosed at just 34 at the height of her career and again ten years later. In this special episode, created in partnership with Postcode Lottery, she joins Jake to share how those experiences shaped her outlook on life.Anastacia opens up about taking back control, the optimism that has carried her through difficult moments, and why
9/11 - 25 Years Later: The Company That Lost 700 People and How They Rebuilt
On the morning of 11 September 2001, Sean Windeatt was a 28-year-old in Cantor Fitzgerald's London finance department, fifteen minutes into his usual morning call with a colleague in New York, when the line went dead. That colleague was inside the North Tower. By the end of the day the firm had lost 658 people alongside 61 Euro Brokers employees— around two thirds of its New York workforce, and mo
My Life Fell Apart After 50: Lawrence Dallaglio Gets Brutally Honest (E436)
England Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio built his career on an extraordinary ability to create belief under pressure. But behind that drive was a deeply personal source of motivation: the loss of his sister Francesca when he was just 16.Lawrence opens up about turning grief into fuel, finding the family he needed through rugby, and why the mental and emotional side of performance is so o
Steve Hansen: Building The Greatest Team In History
Sir Steve Hansen won 93 of 107 Tests as All Blacks head coach — the most successful run in the history of professional rugby. We re-visit our chat with Steve where he takes it apart: why "culture" is the most overused word on the planet, why he hates rules, why nobody would admit the All Blacks were World Cup chokers, and the two times he got it badly wrong and had to apologise to a whole squad. P
Why You Attack Monday And Crumble By Friday
Why does a weekly to-do list feel so overwhelming on a Sunday night? Jake and Damian argue it's not because of your workload, it's because your capacity . Sleep, energy, confidence, clarity, control: when any of these drop, the same list of tasks stops looking like separate, manageable jobs and starts looking like one overwhelming message — everything, now.In this episode, Jake and Damian hear fro
Dina Asher-Smith: Why Britain's Fastest Woman Feels Unaware of Her Achievements (E435)
Dina Asher-Smith has just made history as the most decorated athlete in European Championships history. An MBE, multiple major titles and four Olympic Games within reach, but at 30, one of Britain's greatest ever sprinters is still asking how much better she can become.In this episode, Dina opens up about the realities behind those 10 seconds on the track, from how her menstrual cycle affected her
Fernando Alonso: The Real Pain of Losing
We revisit our conversation with Fernando Alonso - two-time Formula 1 World Champion, 437 Grand Prix starts, 32 wins - recorded in a rare moment where the visor comes off completely. Jake and Damian get behind the "robot" Alonso becomes the second his helmet goes on, and into the boy who started racing a homemade go-kart at three years old, in a family with no money, no expectations, and no compet
Why Fewer Options Make Better Ideas
What do you do when every option is on the table and you still end up with the same idea you always have? Jake and Damian tackle one of the quiet traps of creative work, and land somewhere counterintuitive: freedom doesn't make ideas bolder. Constraints do.Damian unpacks David Epstein's Inside the Box and the psychology behind why unlimited time, unlimited method and unlimited scope send the brain
Michael Owen: Ballon d'Or at 22, Retired at 33 - The Mentality That Nearly Broke Him
Ballon d'Or winner Michael Owen became one of the world's best footballers by developing an extraordinary ability to turn doubt, mistakes, and setbacks into self-belief. He joins Jake and Damian to reveal how that mindset was built, and why it eventually became one of his greatest challenges.Michael reflects on the injuries that took away the explosive pace that defined him, and the painful eight-
Bradley Wiggins: The Trauma Behind My Greatest Successes & Finding New Purpose
We re-visit one of the most emotional and gripping conversations we have ever recorded. Eight Olympic medals, five of them gold, and the first Briton ever to win the Tour de France. For one summer in 2012, Sir Bradley Wiggins was the most famous man in Britain — sideburns, gold medal, sat on a throne at Hampton Court. He couldn't bring himself to put the medal on.Bradley takes us right back to the
How to Deal With People Who Don’t Believe in You
What do you do when the people around you don't believe you can do it? Jake and Damian tackle one of the things listeners struggle with most — being doubted — and land somewhere they didn't expect: the doubt that really holds you back is usually your own.Damian unpacks Albert Bandura's self-efficacy theory and why the two ways to build belief are evidence and self-talk, Alison Brooks' research on
Getting Fired Was a RELIEF: Guenther Steiner on the Truth About His Haas Exit (E433)
Guenther Steiner is one of Formula 1’s most recognisable team bosses, building Haas from nothing and becoming known for his straight-talking approach to leadership. He joins us to reflect on ambition, pressure, and knowing when it’s time to walk away, as well as discuss his new position as CEO of MotoGP team Red Bull KTM Tech3.Guenther opens up about his final years at Haas, admitting he stayed ar
James Blunt: Criticism, Confidence & What Success Took From Me
We're revisiting this conversation with James Blunt because it's among the most disarming things we've recorded about belief, ridicule, and where confidence actually comes from.James made his first album on nothing but belief. He'd burnt his bridges with every record label in Britain and was playing to about twenty people on the twentieth floor of a Ramada hotel — and he was still completely certa
The 5 Habits Behind Every High Performer We've Met
Jake and Damian tackle the question underneath almost every High Performance conversation: what do the best actually do differently, day to day?Not the big moments. The small, repeatable ones. Because across hundreds of conversations on this show, the pattern is rarely talent or luck. It's that high performers have built a handful of habits they hold onto when nobody is watching, and they keep doi
Playing Until 40 Comes at a COST: Ashley Young on the Brutal Reality of Football (432)
Premier League icon Ashley Young joins us for a masterclass in longevity, self-belief, and turning rejection into an unstoppable competitive edge.At 15, Watford told Ashley he was too small for a scholarship, a disappointment that became the operational system for his entire 20-year career. He explains why every manager's doubt or dropped selection became fuel to prove them wrong, from Antonio Con
Eddie Howe: How His Newcastle Exit Echoes Leaving Bournemouth
Eddie Howe has stepped away from Newcastle United after nearly five years in charge — his own decision, following what he called "a period of personal reflection." He leaves having delivered the club's first major trophy in 70 years and two Champions League campaigns.So we're going back to the conversation we had with him in 2022, right as that chapter began. Eddie had just taken the Newcastle job
Remembering Nims Purja: The Lessons We'll Never Forget
Following the heartbreaking death of Nims Purja... Jake and Damian reflect on one of the most inspiring conversations in High Performance history.Before 14 Peaks made him a global icon, Nims joined High Performance to share the mindset that took him from a childhood of poverty in Nepal, to the Gurkhas, the British Special Forces, and ultimately to rewriting mountaineering history.In this special t
90% of Footballers Are Just Surviving: Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien Gets Brutally Honest (E431)
Sunderland captain Luke O'Nien has built his career on resilience, determination, and an unwavering belief that hard work can outlast natural talent.. He joins Jake and Damian to reflect on the setbacks that shaped him, from being overlooked early in his career to leading his club back to the Premier League.Luke explains why he no longer relies on confidence to perform, how embracing discomfort be
You Only Have 20% of Your Life to Make an Impact - Here's How To Make It Count | Adrian Gore (E430)
For more than 30 years, Adrian Gore has been challenging conventional thinking about health, leadership, and human behaviour. As the founder of Discovery and CEO of Vitality, he's built a global business by asking a simple question: what if we designed systems that helped people become the best version of themselves?Adrian joins Jake to share the leadership principles behind that philosophy, revea
Como’s Football Revolution: From Serie D to the Champions League (E429)
Como 1907 has become one of Europe's fastest-rising football clubs, transformed by bold leadership and long-term thinking. In partnership with Revolut Business, Chief Business Officer Ryan Shelton joins Jake to reveal how the club has redefined what's possible on and off the pitch.Ryan shares how Cesc Fàbregas has helped shape a high-performance culture, why the club embraces unconventional thinki
Rafaela Pimenta: The Super Agent Negotiating Deals for Haaland, Foden & Mora (E428)
Rafaela Pimenta is one of football's most influential agents, representing some of the biggest names in the game, including Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Gilberto Mora. She joins Damian to reveal what it really takes to protect, develop, and lead elite athletes at the very highest level.Rafaela explains why players should be treated as people; not assets, how elite players have built an environme
James Timpson: The Leadership Formula Where Kindness Drives Profit (E427)
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Aviva.The former UK Minister for Prisons and CEO of the Timpson Group, Lord Timpson (James Timpson) believes there's a direct link between happy colleagues and business success. He joins Jake and Damian to explain why putting trust before control has shaped both his people and his company.Lord Timpson shares the leadership philosophy behind his "u
Audi Revolut F1 Team Boss Talks Schumacher, Alonso and World Championship Plan | Mattia Binotto (E426)
Mattia Binotto has spent almost three decades at the heart of Formula One, helping shape Ferrari before taking on his biggest challenge yet as CEO and Team Principal of the Audi Revolut F1 Team. In partnership with Revolut Business, Mattia joins Jake ahead of Silverstone, to share what it really takes to build a winning team. He explains how you create a winning culture from the ground up, why gre
Ian Machado Garry: From Window Cleaner to UFC World Title Contender (E425)
Ian Machado Garry is one of the UFC's brightest stars, and on 15th August he'll face Islam Makhachev for the UFC Welterweight World Title. Ahead of the biggest fight of his career, Ian joins us to reflect on the journey from window cleaner to fighting for UFC gold, and the unwavering belief that has driven him every step of the way.He shares the letter his mum wrote after he dropped out of college
Gary Player at 90: Golf Legend Takes You Inside His ICONIC Career (E424)
What does it take to build a championship mindset and sustain it for a lifetime? In this special episode, recorded live at Gleneagles in partnership with IFS, Jake Humphrey sits down with golfing legend Gary Player for a remarkable conversation to explore the habits, mindset and discipline behind lasting success.From overcoming childhood adversity to becoming one of golf's most decorated champions
Why Audi Revolut F1 Team WILL Become F1 World Champions | Allan McNish (E423)
What does it take to build a Formula One team from the ground up? In this special episode with Revolut Business, Jake Humphrey speaks to three-time Le Mans winner and Audi Revolut F1 Racing Director Allan McNish about building a winning culture from the ground up. He explains how partnering with Revolut helps the team embrace innovation, move quickly and make bold decisions in one of the world's m
Sergio Pérez: What Red Bull Never Revealed About My Shock Exit (E422)
Over 15 seasons, Cadillac F1 driver Sergio 'Checo' Pérez has established himself as one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, earning 6 Grand Prix victories and finishing 2nd in the 2023 World Championship.Sergio walked into Red Bull Racing in 2021 knowing the team was built around Max Verstappen, and was told early on that they operated with a clear number one driver structure. He spent fo
Professor Green on Childhood Struggles, ADHD & Finding Community at Youth Zones (E421)
In this special episode, Jake Humphrey visits Future Youth Zone in Dagenham, part of the OnSide network, where he sits down with Professor Green for one of his most personal conversations yet. Reflecting on his difficult childhood, Professor Green reveals how youth clubs gave him a sense of belonging when he needed it most and why spaces like this can change the course of a young person's life. Ja
How To Know When To Walk Away
Jake and Damian tackle the question nobody prepares you for: how do you actually know when it's time to walk away?Whether it's a job, a career, a relationship, or a version of yourself you've been fighting to hold onto, leaving is one of the hardest decisions any of us will ever make. But across nearly 450 conversations on High Performance, one thing keeps coming up: the people who walk away well
What Brawn GP Never Revealed About Their F1 Miracle: Ex-CEO Nick Fry (E420)
Nick Fry bought an underperforming Formula 1 team for £1 and went on to win the World Championship. But before the historic 2009 fairy tale with Brawn GP, Nick and his wife had to face the ultimate risk: agreeing that if they lost everything, they would be perfectly content living on tinned tuna for the rest of their lives.In this episode, the former CEO of Brawn and Mercedes strips away the glamo
Stuart Broad: Ben Stokes, Bazball & The Mindset That Changed English Cricket
Ben Stokes has just announced his retirement from international cricket. And the person who can best explain what that decision truly costs — and what Stokes has meant as a captain and a human being — is Stuart Broad.Stuart retired in 2023 on his own terms: last ball, The Oval, England versus Australia. In this conversation, he tells the full story of the night he walked down the hotel corridor an
Why Saying No Is The Most Powerful Thing You Can Do
Jake and Damian go deep on one of the most universal struggles in high performance: why so many of us find it almost impossible to say no, and what it's actually costing us when we can't.Drawing on conversations with promoter Barry Hearn, who walked away from a £30 million deal because he didn't like the people behind it, comedian Katherine Ryan, who voluntarily gave up a career-defining TV slot s
Are England Now the BEST Penalty Takers? World Leading Penalty Expert Explains | Geir Jordet (E419)
Professor Geir Jordet flips everything you think you know about high-stakes performance on its head, revealing that a penalty shootout is won or lost long before the foot ever hits the ball.In this episode, the world’s leading football psychologist breaks down the meticulous psychological warfare of the 2022 World Cup Final and explains how England transformed from the world’s worst shootout team
The 'Hardest Geezer' On Finding Direction When You're Lost | Russ Cook (E418)
Russ Cook, better known as the Hardest Geezer, became famous for running the length of Africa. 352 days. 10,000 miles. The first person ever to do it. But before all of that, he was a teenager scrubbing a Waitrose toilet at 4am, opening a cupboard to find a single tin of new potatoes, and hiding a gambling debt from his girlfriend.In this conversation, Jake goes back to before Africa - to the year
The Mindset Shift That Won Ash Barty Wimbledon | ft. Performance Coach Ben Crowe
Boris Becker burned out at 25. Former British No1 Jo Konta carried her family's sacrifice onto court every match and Irish tennise pr Conor Niland described a tennis player's self-worth as entirely tied to winning and losing — nothing else. Three players, the same problem: identity wrapped around results, the sport becoming something to survive.This week, in the run-up to Wimbledon, Jake and Damia
Liam Lawson: The Part of My Red Bull Story Nobody Knows (E417)
Racing Bulls Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson has lived through the highest stakes and the ruthless politics of motorsport.In this episode, Liam opens up about the reality of his Red Bull exit, revealing how he was blindsided, unfairly judged and left carrying the blame for a radical car setup experiment. He also shares where his self belief comes from, from finishing last in go karting to ignoring th
Gareth Southgate: The Truth About Managing England
Sir Gareth Southgate is England's most successful manager since 1966. Two finals, four tournaments and by the end, fans were throwing beer at him in the stadium.Today, as England embark on another World Cup journey, we revisit one of the most candid leadership conversations we've ever recorded. Gareth explains why he knew it was time to leave before the final was even played, what he said to his p
Has the Social Media Ban Come Too Late for Our Kids?
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 sel
David Seaman: Ronaldinho’s Goal, Gazza’s Pain & Wenger’s Genius (E416)
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 st
Joe Hart: The Truth About England, Guardiola and Losing His Place at Man City
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 u
The 4 Questions That Will Change Your Perspective on Life
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 big
Andy Wilman RETURNS: Clarkson's Farm Secrets & Top Gear Reunion? (E415)
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 make
Why England's Golden Generation Never Won a Trophy: Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole & Peter Crouch
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
What 24 Years of Consistency Actually Looks Like | James Milner
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
How Dame Ellen MacArthur is Fuelling Purpose for Young Cancer Survivors (E413)
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 Can
What Are You Actually Afraid Of? | The Truth About Fear & Self-Doubt
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-do
Steve McClaren: Inside England’s Golden Generation & Sir Alex’s Man United (E412)
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 peop
Inside The Secret Struggles of a Running Superstar | Georgia Hunter Bell (E411)
We packed up the studio in the Vauxhall Combo electric van and travelled to the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre for a deeply reflective conversation with Team GB athlete Georgia Hunter-Bell.Away from the heat of competition, Georgia opens up for the first time about a chapter of her life she has never publicly revealed before. She shares her experience going through dark times after wal
What Happens When Trust Breaks Down?
Trust is the single most important currency in sport, business, and life - and in the age of AI, it's becoming scarcer by the day. This week Jake Humphrey is joined by producer Will to dig into why.Drawing on some of the most powerful conversations in the High Performance archive, they explore what trust really is, how it breaks down, and whether it can ever truly be rebuilt.Featuring:Rachel Botsm
The England Coach Carrying Heartbreak Into World Cup ’26 | Justin Cochrane (E410)
Justin Cochrane is one of elite football’s most respected coaches and a vital part of the England Men's backroom team. Justin’s leadership focuses on reading a squad’s emotional temperature and providing players the freedom to be themselves.In this episode, Justin shares the moving story of losing his wife Leeanne to cancer and how her selfless approach to her final days redefined his perspective.
The “F*ck You” Mindset That Made Me Champion | Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey is back in the spotlight on Netflix this weekend — and it felt like the perfect moment to revisit this conversation we had with her in Hollywood - one of the most funny and honest conversations we've ever had on this show.Sitting down with Jake and Damian in Hollywood, Ronda reveals the secret she hid from everyone: that she fought the final chapter of her UFC career already concussed
What Do You Do The Day After You Win? (ft. Yaya Touré, Ben Ainslie & Ian Thorpe)
Everyone talks about what it takes to win. Nobody talks about what comes the morning after. In this episode, Jake and Damian go deep into the HPP archive to explore one of the most uncomfortable truths in high performance: why the moment of victory so often leaves elite performers feeling empty, lost, and at a total loss for what comes next.Featuring conversations with Yaya Touré on the strange em
7ft Tall and Fighting To Survive: WWE & AEW Athlete Paul Wight's Incredible Story (E409)
Paul Wight, known to millions as “The Big Show,” is one of the most recognisable figures in sports entertainment history. In this episode, Paul reveals the stark reality of a life lived under a terminal diagnosis, opening up about the decades he spent assuming he wouldn't grow old and the grueling work he is now doing to rebuild a body he never expected to still be using at 53.He discusses the rad
Things Men Don't Say Out Loud (E408)
This special roundtable episode explores the vital role of mental fitness in reaching and sustaining peak performance. In this special roundtable episode, in partnership with BetterHelp, hosts Jake Humphrey, Spencer Matthews, and Matt Willis reframe therapy as an essential "performance tool." By comparing mental maintenance to physical training, the trio highlights how proactive support is ke
When Sport Crosses the Line (ft. James Witts, Author of DOPE)
What separates the athlete who cheats from the one who doesn't? And is the answer as simple as character — or is something else going on entirely?This week, Damian sits down with sports journalist James Witts, author of Dope, a book that goes deep into the culture surrounding elite sport and the forces that push athletes across the line.They get into the Enhanced Games arriving in Las Vegas, the s
The Man Behind Bodø/Glimt's Champions League Miracle | Bjørn Mannsverk (E407)
Bjørn Mannsverk is the former F-16 fighter pilot who swapped combat missions for football kits to lead Bodø/Glimt on a historic rise. Under his guidance, the small Norwegian club achieved the impossible, dismantling giants like Manchester City, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid despite a stadium capacity of just 8,200.In this episode, Bjørn explains how he transformed the team by strictly banning t
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 buil
