Exceed High Performance Podcast

What does it really take to create high performing teams? In this episode, of the Exceed High Performance Podcast, performance psychologist Dr Tom Bates and Emma Lawson are joined by former Spain International, and FC Barcelona Femeni captain - Vicky Losada. Drawing on a wide range of experiences from Barcelona, to Manchester City, and more recently Bristol City, Vicky shares how accountability, t...

In this episode of the Exceed High Performance Podcast, I sit down with Paralympian and British record holder Brice Dee, to explore the mindset behind elite performance. Bruce reflects on his journey to Paris Olympics, the importance of self belief, and why trusting the process is more important than chasing outcomes. A thoughtful conversation on what it takes to performance at your best and why....

Elite performance begins long before the moment itself. When we caught up with British Champion Lauren Cox at the GB Aquatics Championships, we discussed: The importance of visualisation beforehand. The inner dialogue under pressure. The discipline to keep showing up. And the ability to turn setbacks into motivation. Lauren reflects openly on missing out on the Olympics, and how that experience ul...

What does it really take to get to the top, and stay at the top? In this episode of the Exceed High Performance Podcast, Olympic and World champions Matt Richards and James Guy share the mindset behind one of the most successful relay teams in British swimming. Together with performance psychologist Tom Bates, this conversation goes beyond the podium to explore the habits, standards and culture re...

In this episode, we dive into the idea that high performance is deeply personal, not a universal formula. Jake Woolmore of the Bristol Bears joins us to share a powerful and refreshingly honest perspective on what alternative high performance really looks like inside a top rugby environment. Jake opens up about showing up for the team without ego, understanding his role, and building a mindset roo...

Regina Kuzmina, former Head of Beauty and Wellbeing for Unilever, shares deeply personal stories about her own career transitions, and how she's learned to harness mindset to navigate change at the highest levels of business. It's a powerful reminder, that high performance isn't just about pushing harder, or climbing higher - it's about knowing when to evolve, how to stay true to y...

Getting kicked out of Oxford Uni was a turning point that pushed RAF fighter pilot Luke Wilkinson to strive for elite performance. Here Luke opens up about the mental tactics he's developed to perform under incredible speed under intense pressure. From training his brain for split-second decision making, to using visualisation to limit the potential for error. This is a story about resilience,...

In this episode of the Exceed High Performance Podcast, English Super Lightweight Boxing Champion Yaser Al Ghena offers a powerful exploration into the mindset behind elite performance. Yaser reveals how boxing evolved from a passion into a calling, and how he cultivated the mental resilience required to perform under the intense pressure of competition. He reflects on transforming his underdog st...

Exceed High Performance and Cyrus Christie "Strength grows in the moments you think you can't go on - but keep going anyway." In this powerful episode, Cyrus Christie shares the mindset behind 500+ appearances across the Premier League, Championship, and International Football. What stands out is not just Cyrus' skill - but his resilience, adaptability and self-belief. From Fulha...

Double Olympian Hannah Macleod shares the remarkable journey of the GB women’s hockey team — from heartbreak and unravelling after the World Cup in 2014, to rebuilding belief, redefining culture, and achieving Olympic gold in Rio 2016 . Hannah reveals how small behaviours can make or break performance, why mindset and connection sit at the heart of winning teams, and how legacy goes beyond medals...

Resilience, perseverance and self-improvement: lessons from Steve Roest. What does it take to build something remarkable in the face of failure? In this episode, we speak with Steve Roest , co-founder and CEO of PocDoc , about the perseverance, resilience, and courage required to step up when the odds are stacked against you. Steve shares how early setbacks became fuel for growth, the mindset shif...

In this episode of Exceed High Performance , Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan joins Emma Lawson and Dr Tom Bates to explore what true leadership and belief look like under pressure. In May 2023, Wednesday faced a 4–0 first-leg deficit against Peterborough United in the League One play-off semi-final — a position no team had ever recovered from. Yet, against all odds, they produced one of t...

Chris Lemons was stranded 90 metres under the North Sea with only minutes of air. In this episode, he shares the mindset and resilience that made survival possible. Chris Lemons is a former saturation diver and the subject of the Netflix documentary The Last Breath and a Hollywood film of the same name. His survival story is one of the most extraordinary ever told. While working 90 metres beneath...

Join Dr Tom Bates and Emma Lawson as they launch Exceed High Performance — a podcast decoding the mindset and behaviours that unlock human potential. Welcome to the first episode of the Exceed High Performance Podcast with Dr Tom Bates and Emma Lawson. Dr Tom Bates is one of the UK’s leading performance psychologists, working at the highest level of elite sport — from Premier League football and i...

What does it take to lead with authenticity — and disrupt an entire industry in the process? Esi Bracey Eggleston, recognised by Forbes as one of the world’s most influential marketers, is the Chief Growth and Marketing Officer at Unilever. A pioneer of positive beauty and a champion of authentic leadership, she has reshaped how global brands connect with people. In this conversation with Dr Tom B...