The High Performance Podcast

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 from:Steve Peters on the "chimp" that hijacks you in traffic, and why recognising it isn't you is the first step to managing it.Ash Dykes on preparing for the worst before it happens, so it arrives as something expected rather than something that ambushes you.Shane Parrish on why you don't need the confidence to reach the destination — just the confidence to take the next step.Ali Abdaal on the five-minute rule, and the three-quid hourglass that got him moving on the days motivation didn't show up.James Clear on the two-minute rule, and the heaviest weight in the gym: the front door.Jameela Jamil on the power of small, unglamorous no's.Alistair Brownlee on breaking an impossible-feeling task down into the next five-minute reason to keep going.By the end, Jake and Damian give you a ten-minute reset for the next time life all feels like too much because the goal was never to shame yourself into trying harder. It's to rebalance the equation.Thanks to our partners:AG1 👉 head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance and get a free Morning Person Hat to help start your AG1 daily habit - plus a free D3 and K2, and five travel packs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 competitive gene to explain where his came from.Fernando is disarmingly honest about the cost of that competitiveness: the two championships with Ferrari he came agonisingly close to and still can't fully explain losing; the two titles he did win, in 2005 and 2006, that he now barely remembers because he was already thinking about the next race before the champagne had dried; and the moment, at 13 years old, a mechanic pulled him aside after his best result yet and told him, "second is the first loser." It's a line that shaped the next three decades of his career.Moments that will stay with you:Why his own parents still can't explain where his will to win came fromThe 20% of every race weekend spent planning not for victory, but for everything that could go wrongWhat changed when he left Formula 1 for two years and heard, for the first time, how much people actually missed himThe advice his father gave him before his first ever Grand Prix, in case it turned out to be his lastHe's unflinching about what elite performance actually costs: that you can spend twenty years being told to fear enjoying it, that humility has to be actively protected once fame tries to take it from you, and that self-confidence isn't the absence of doubt it's simply deciding, in advance, what you're capable of, and then closing the visor.AG1 👉 head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance and get a free Morning Person Hat to help start your AG1 daily habit - plus a free D3 and K2, and five travel packsGo Henry 👉 Grow their skills and their money at gohenry.com/highperformance with £5 FREE to get started! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-year gap between the player he believed he was and what his body could still deliver. He also opens up about retiring at 33, losing his sense of purpose, the strain it placed on his marriage, and how he eventually found a new competitive outlet beyond football.This is an honest exploration of self-belief, identity, and what happens when the mindset that drives success becomes difficult to switch off.Meet the Owens, a six-part docuseries in the UK and Ireland, is available on Prime Video from the 28th August.AG1 👉 head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance and get a free Morning Person Hat to help start your AG1 daily habit - plus a free D3 and K2, and five travel packsGo Henry 👉 Grow their skills and their money at gohenry.com/highperformance with £5 FREE to get started!Vitality 👉 We've partnered with Vitality because our philosophies align perfectly: healthy habits build high performance and can lead to a healthier, longer life. Find out more about health and life insurance with Vitality: https://highpfrmc.com/vitality-hpp-au  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 reframing nerves as readiness rather than fear, and self-determination theory — why being doubted by others can become the most durable fuel there is.Along the way you'll hear Rugby League legend Jamie Peacock on the day he stayed on the bus and rode past his trial at Bradford Bulls, and the mantra he repeated the second time to get off; Karl Lokko on where he found the confidence to walk into rooms that weren't built for him and Mel Robbins on the morning in her bathroom that changed how she talks to herself.Plus, Jake and Damian are joined by High Performance listener Claire, who spent 31 years in policing, to hear what all this means from the other side of the microphone.The belief doesn't have to come first. The action does — and the evidence follows.Vitality 👉 We've partnered with Vitality because our philosophies align perfectly: healthy habits build high performance and can lead to a healthier, longer life. Find out more about health and life insurance with Vitality: https://highpfrmc.com/vitality-hpp-au Listen to the full episodes:Jamie Peacock:Mel Robbins:Karl Locco: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 certain the whole world was going to hear it. Understanding the real odds, he says, would have taken the wind out of his sails entirely.James tells Jake and Damian why you keep your powder dry until you're genuinely equipped, because you only get one shot with the people who matter. Why he never answers criticism on the day it lands — the sting always comes out overnight. Why the only opinions worth weighing come from the people who'll take the mickey out of you to your face. And the three things he carried out of commanding soldiers in Kosovo and into running the same band for twenty years: a good team, real respect for that team, and the conviction to make the call.Then there's what it cost him... the orchestrated press campaign that turned James into a national punchline and how he dealt with it. Being held back in a dressing room so that Damon Albarn didn't have to stand near him. The hug from Keith Flint he never forgot. And the night in Carrie Fisher's bathroom that produced Goodbye My Lover in a single, unrepeatable take.AG1 👉 head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance and get a free Morning Person Hat to help start your AG1 daily habit - plus a free D3 and K2, and five travel packsGo Henry 👉 Grow their skills and their money at gohenry.com/highperformance with £5 FREE to get started!Vitality 👉 We've partnered with Vitality because our philosophies align perfectly: healthy habits build high performance and can lead to a healthier, longer life. Find out more about health and life insurance with Vitality: https://highpfrmc.com/vitality-hpp-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Conte's brutal pre-season at Inter Milan to winning Serie A at 35 and feeling fitter at 37 than at 27.He also breaks down what it means to know your value in high-stakes environments, his return to the England squad for a World Cup semi-final, walking away from Manchester United on his own terms, and playing over 750 games at the highest level.This is an essential conversation about resilience, self-worth, and proving that nobody gets to define your limits except you.Revolut Business 👉 High-performing businesses need powerful financial tools. Get a £200 welcome bonus with Revolut Business when you sign up at https://revolutbusiness.onelink.me/jLOt/hp-ep9-aud and add money to your account by 30/09/2026. Fees, promotion terms and T&Cs apply. AG1 👉 head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance and get a free Morning Person Hat to help start your AG1 daily habit - plus a free D3 and K2, and five travel packsGo Henry 👉 Grow their skills and their money at gohenry.com/highperformance with £5 FREE to get started!Vitality 👉 We've partnered with Vitality because our philosophies align perfectly: healthy habits build high performance and can lead to a healthier, longer life. Find out more about health and life insurance with Vitality: https://highpfrmc.com/vitality-hpp-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 tribute episode, Jake and Damian revisit the lessons that left a lasting impact on them:Why hope is the greatest source of strength.How to reframe adversity into opportunity.The importance of living for something bigger than yourself.Why excuses never create extraordinary lives.The mindset behind proving that "nothing is impossible."Nims' energy, humility and optimism changed the way we think about life and performance. This episode celebrates the remarkable legacy he leaves behind and the lessons that will continue to inspire millionsListen to our full episode with Nims: https://pod.fo/e/ac5aa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, revealing why optimism is a discipline, why ambitious goals matter, and how embracing discomfort creates meaningful change.This is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, behaviour, and unlocking long-term performance.Vitality 👉 We've partnered with Vitality because our philosophies align perfectly: healthy habits build high performance and can lead to a healthier, longer life. Find out more about health and life insurance with Vitality: https://highpfrmc.com/vitality-hpp-auGet your copy of 'The Four Principles' by Adrian Gore here: https://highpfrmc.com/Vitality_BookAdrian Gore LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/in/adrian-gore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 environment that allows them to perform at their best, and why the modern game is placing unprecedented demands on footballers. She also shares why setting boundaries, championing player welfare, and investing in women's football are essential to the future of the sport.This is a masterclass in modern leadership, high performance, and the ultimate responsibility of putting people before profit.Revolut Business 👉 High-performing businesses need powerful financial tools. Get a £200 welcome bonus with Revolut Business when you sign up at https://revolutbusiness.onelink.me/jLOt/hp-ep9-aud and add money to your account by 30/09/2026. Fees, promotion terms and T&Cs apply.AG1 👉 Head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packsPostcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-postcode-au Eight Sleep 👉 If you want to discover deeper sleep. Use code HPP to get £360 off your Pod 5 Ultra here: https://highpfrmc.com/eightsleep_au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 great leadership starts with trust, and the lessons he learned from working alongside icons like Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt. Mattia also shares how partnering with Revolut helps the team move faster globally, and why he believes young talent and long-term thinking are the foundations of sustained success. This is a conversation about leadership, culture, and building an organisation that's designed to win.Revolut Business High-performing businesses need powerful financial tools. Get a £200 welcome bonus with Revolut Business when you sign up at revolutbusiness.onelink.me/jLOt/mattiabinottoyt and add money to your account by 30/09/2026. Fees, promotion terms and T&Cs apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.