How to Strive - with Nick Adkins

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to Strive for better? And what can we learn from the experiences, challenges and decisions that shape our journeys? In this episode of How to Strive , I’m joined by Alex Burns for a conversation about Aspirations, Awareness, Alignment, Adversity and Action. Five areas that can help us better understand ourselves, learn from our experiences and move towards the ex...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive , I’m joined by Dr Perry Walters to explore the adolescent brain, the science of human development, and how we can create environments that help people thrive. Drawing on his ASPIRE model, Perry offers a fascinating perspective on six key dimensions of adolescent development: Autonomy, Self, Purpose, Inquiry, Relationships and Emotions.   Each prov...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to help someone discover their potential, and build a future on their own terms? If you feel inspired to understand the great work happening at Brit you can visit the website www. BRIT.school  You can also email info@brit.school and follow the School on instagram @thebritschool  In this episode of How to Strive , I’m joined by Dan Clark from the BRIT School, the...

Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest opportunity to improve your coaching isn't another qualification, another session plan or another coaching course? What if it's learning to understand yourself? In this episode of How to Strive, I'm joined by Tom Hartley, an experienced coach, coach developer and leader who has spent more than 20 years working across football, professional sport...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How To Strive , I’m joined by Dr Jamie Taylor , a leading coach developer, researcher and educator whose work sits at the intersection of coaching, skill acquisition, talent development and expertise. Jamie has coached at the highest levels of sport, worked extensively in coach development and now researches what actually makes expert coaches different. His work...

Send us Fan Mail In a world where we are constantly moving, achieving, reacting and rushing into the next challenge, one of the most powerful skills we can develop is the ability to pause, reflect and intentionally choose our next step. Welcome to the Sunday Strive, a guided weekly practice designed to help you look back with curiosity, learn from your experiences and create intentional action for...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive , I sit down with Nigel Adkins to explore the leadership, culture and human behaviours behind sustained success in elite sport. Nigel shares the lessons and principles that helped him guide Southampton FC from League One to the Premier League with back-to-back promotions, stabilise Hull City after relegation, and achieve promotions and play-off suc...

Send us Fan Mail Why do some people grow through challenge… while others shrink from it? In this episode of How to Strive , we explore the powerful concept of mindset, inspired by the work of Dr Carol Dweck, and how it quietly shapes your performance, progress and potential. We break down the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset , and more importantly, how both show up in your e...

Send us Fan Mail How to Strive: Aligning Your Behaviours to the Outcome Most people know what they want. Very few align how they live to get there. In this episode of How to Strive , we explore the powerful connection between outcomes, identity and daily behaviours and why this is the missing link for so many people striving for more. Drawing on the work of James Clear and Simon Sinek , this episo...

Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest barrier to progress isn’t effort… but direction? In this episode of How to Strive , we explore why clarity is the foundation of meaningful progress and how aligning your actions with your purpose allows your effort to truly matter. Using the simple equation Direction + Alignment + Maximum Effort = Striving , this episode breaks down how you can move beyond bein...

Send us Fan Mail Why do we forget so much of what we learn… and what actually makes something stick? In this episode of How to Strive , we explore the science behind learning, memory, and behaviour change, so you can move from simply consuming information to truly becoming better. Drawing on research from Hermann Ebbinghaus, we break down why repetition, emotion and environment play a crucial role...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to develop elite coaches? In this episode of How to Strive , we explore the challenge and opportunity of working with expert and master practitioners. When someone already performs at a high level, traditional coaching approaches often fall short. So how do you add value? This episode dives into the shift from teaching to refining, from giving answers to d...

Send us Fan Mail Are you truly maximising the support around you? In this episode of How to Strive , we turn the lens onto the coach. Having access to a mentor or coach developer is a privilege, however the real impact comes from how you show up to that relationship. We explore how to move from being a passive recipient to an active driver of your own development. From setting clear intentions, in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive , Nick is joined by Anthony Limbrick, who is a highly respected football coach with experience leading professional teams and developing elite footballers internationally. Anthony brings an methodical coaching identity shaped by years in high-performance environments, from working in the academies of Southampton and West Ham United and with England...

Send us Fan Mail As a new year begins, this episode of How to Strive invites you to maintain your progress and align intentions heading as we move into 2026.  Using the Striver Table concept, Nick guides you through a powerful process to define a meaningful title for your year and build the habits, behaviours and routines needed to support it.  You’ll identify four key areas of life that which act...

Send us Fan Mail Nick is joined by Paul Holder AKA Noddy who has supported the development of many players and coaches through his energetic coaching style.  This insightful episodes will be fantastic for people Striving to be better at supporting the development of people in sport and life by seeking to understand them and building trust to then create growth.  Start Striving at  www.strive25.co....

Send us Fan Mail In this final episode of How to Strive’s mini-series on Neil Mullarkey’s Seven Steps to Improve Your People Skills , Nick explores the essential and often overlooked skill of leaving well. Drawing on Neil’s insights from the stage, business, and psychology, we unpack why endings matter, how the final moments of an interaction, meeting, or relationship shape how it’s remembered. Fr...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of How to Strive, Nick is joined by the brilliant Neil Mullarkey; actor, author, comedian and co-founder of The Comedy Store Players, Europe’s longest-running improv troupe. Neil shares insights from his book Seven Steps to Improve Your People Skills, exploring how the principles of improv, Learn, Look, Listen, Let, Link, Lighten and Leave Well  can transfo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive , Nick explores Step Six of Neil Mullarkey’s Seven Steps to Improve Your People Skills  'Lighten'. Humour, as Neil reminds us, is about connection. It’s a leadership tool that builds trust, creativity and resilience. A leader who can laugh at themselves invites others to do the same, creating a culture where people feel safe to grow, fail...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive , Nick explores the next step in Neil Mullarkey’s Seven Steps to Improve Your People Skills 'Link' Link is the step that connects all the others where learning, looking, listening, and letting come together to create genuine connection. Neil reminds us that “The seven Ls are not distinct, discrete ploys, they are overlapping aspects of ge...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive , Nick explores the third step in Neil Mullarkey’s Seven Steps to Improve Your People Skills, Listen . Neil reminds us that hearing is automatic, but listening is a skill,  one that requires attention, presence, and empathy. We look at the difference between hearing and truly listening, how to tune into both content and emotion, and why giving some...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive , Nick explores one of his favourite chapters from Neil Mullarkey’s Seven Steps to Improve Your People Skills, Let . We dive into the quiet power of pausing, creating space in conversations, and the skill of bringing out the best in others. Neil’s insights remind us that real connection often happens between the words, when we slow down, let people...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive , Nick explores the second step in Neil Mullarkey’s Seven Steps to Improve Your People Skills Look . We dive into the power of presence and the art of seeing what isn’t said, the body language, energy, and nonverbal cues that shape every interaction. By learning to truly look at others (and ourselves), we can build deeper trust, stronger connection...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive , Nick dives into the first step of Neil Mullarkey’s Seven Steps to Improve Your People Skills Learn . We explore how real learning happens through doing, reflecting, and applying , and why a growth mindset is essential to becoming the person you want to be. Featuring powerful insights from Neil’s book, this episode will help you pause, reflect, an...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive , Nick guides you through a powerful weekly reflection practice designed to help you pause, reflect, and realign before stepping into a new week. Together, we: Celebrate last week’s wins and moments of pride. Acknowledge adversity and the lessons it brings without judgment. Revisit intentions using the Striver Table framework,  focusing on the area...