The High Performance Podcast

Conversations about the strange emptiness after victory and why winning can feel hollow. Stories from elite athletes who struggled with identity when sport lost meaning. A deep dive into motivation, self-determination, and how to plan life beyond peak achievement. Practical ideas on valuing steady purpose over fleeting highs and asking better questions about meaning and wellbeing.

Paul Wight, the 7'0" former wrestling titan known as The Big Show, now actor and coach, shares candid stories from a 30-year career. He talks about living with acromegaly and multiple surgeries. He discusses transitioning from ring persona to real self, mentoring young talent, performing for stadiums, and an emotional breakthrough that changed his path.

Spencer Matthews, media personality and mental health advocate who speaks openly about recovery and masculinity. He discusses reframing therapy as mental maintenance. Short takes cover why men hide struggles, the value of a “mental adult,” balancing high performance with wellbeing, and practical daily tools like Yoga Nidra and exercise.

James Witts, sports journalist and author of Dope, digs into the hidden culture around doping in elite sport. He discusses the huge gap between self-reported use and positive tests. Short takes cover the Enhanced Games concept, how testing and funding differ across sports, and why doping in contact sports raises unique safety concerns.

Bjørn Mannsverk, a former F-16 pilot turned performance coach who rebuilt Bodø/Glimt, shares how military mindsets reshaped a tiny club. He describes awareness training, friction meetings, the on-pitch 'Ring' refocus, distributed leadership and how ditching results-talk fueled extraordinary European upsets. Short, startling stories of culture, rituals and radical clarity.

Mel Marshall, former elite swimmer turned coach who led Adam Peaty to Olympic golds with a people-first approach. She discusses why people come before performance. She explains building commitment culture, giving feedback that actually changes behaviour, and creating pressure-ready training. Short, practical stories about leadership, balance and measuring success beyond medals.

They dig into how elite performers handle pressure in real time. Clips cover embracing imperfection, rehearsing obstacles, and admitting fear instead of denying it. Stories show reframing pressure as excitement, leaning on routines and past evidence, and leaders setting an emotional tone to regroup after big losses.

Oscar Piastri, a calm Australian F1 driver who rose rapidly through the junior ranks and races for McLaren, discusses his mental framework and career choices. He talks about measuring success by control, the moment winning felt inevitable, paddock relationships, teamwork at McLaren, and practical mental tools he uses to handle pressure and recover from setbacks.

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.

Otmar Szafnauer, former F1 team principal with deep paddock experience, and Rob Smedley, ex-race engineer known for clear technical breakdowns. They discuss cancelled grands prix and how disruptions hit team development. They unpack why new teams struggle with simulation and tooling. They debate Mercedes’ future, midseason breaks, overtaking, and whether recent rule changes have harmed the sport.