Supporting Champions

🎙️ From Olympic Marathoner to Physiology Researcher: Jess Piasecki on Female Health and Performance In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jess Piasecki — Olympic marathon runner and associate professor specialising in female physiology. Jess shares her unique journey from elite athlete to academic, reflecting on the transition from shorter races to the marathon distance, overcoming injury setbacks,...

In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m joined by the brilliant Kate Spilsbury—a former colleague, friend, and leading performance physiologist. Kate's journey from nutrition to physiology is both inspiring and instructive, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her to the show. We explore the critical moments in athlete preparation—particularly tapering and peaking—and why ge...

In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham is joined by Tim Stevenson – a seasoned strength and conditioning coach – to explore the complex mechanics of the shoulder, injury prevention, and how to build resilient, high-performing athletes. Drawing from over 16 years of experience and his work with elite performers like Charlotte Henshaw, Tim shares a philosophy that moves be...

In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m joined by Lisa Trainor – a former varsity athlete turned researcher – to explore the evolving landscape of athlete well-being. Drawing from her own experiences and her academic work, Lisa discusses how injury and major disruptions like the postponement of the Tokyo Games can influence an athlete’s psychological state. She offers insight into...

In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Richard Ferguson to the show. Richard is one of the leading figures in exercise physiology, and today we’re diving deep into the fascinating world of blood flow restriction (BFR) training. We explore the science behind BFR, how restricting blood flow can stimulate remarkable strength and endurance adaptations, even w...

In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m joined by author, journalist, and endurance expert Alex Hutchinson to discuss his latest book, The Explorer’s Gene. This conversation dives into the why behind human exploration — what drives us to seek the unknown, how our genetics shape our urge to push boundaries, and what this means for athletes, adventurers, and everyday decision-makers...

🎙️In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham welcomes Kate Hays, a leading sports psychologist and author of How to Win: Lessons in Success from the Frontline of Performance Psychology. Kate shares her expertise on high performance psychology, exploring the essential building blocks of team success, the significance of team identity and purpose, and how pressure training pre...

🎙️ What training model improves VO2max and time trial performance for recreational and competitive endurance athletes? In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham is joined by Michael Rosenblat, an expert in exercise science with a fascinating journey from triathlon coaching to physiotherapy. Michael shares his insights into training intensity distribution models, drawing fro...

🎙️ Using play to improve performance with Richard Cheetham   In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham is joined by Richard Cheetham, a senior fellow in sports coaching, to explore the evolving landscape of coaching. From learner empathy and innovative coaching methods to the critical role of play in athlete development, Richard shares his insights on what truly makes coach...

🎙️ Parenting Talent | Supporting Champions Podcast In this episode, Dr. Steve Ingham welcomes Valeria Eckardt to explore the vital yet complex role of parents in youth sports. Parents are more than just supporters—they shape a child's sporting experience as role models, interpreters, and motivators. But where’s the line between support and pressure? How can parents communicate effectively with you...

In this episode, Steve Ingham sits down with Liam to dive into the cutting-edge science behind athletic performance. From strength training and speed development to the critical role of muscle temperature, this conversation covers everything you need to know about optimising performance for elite athletes. Discover how post activation potentiation (PAP) can prime athletes for competition, why reco...

🎙️ Welcome to the Supporting Champions Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Steve Ingham is joined by Professor Graeme Close, a leading expert in sports nutrition and human physiology. From his early days as a professional rugby league player to becoming a trusted advisor for England Rugby, Graeme shares his incredible journey and offers valuable insights into the science behind elite performance. We div...

🎙️ Welcome to the Supporting Champions Podcast!   In this episode, Dr. Steve Ingham sits down with Sue Jackson, a renowned psychologist and expert in the field of flow and optimal performance. Sue shares her incredible journey in sports psychology, including her collaboration with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the pioneer behind the flow concept.   Together, we explore the fascinating world of flow—an...

In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Dr Ali Sanders, whose journey seamlessly bridges two worlds of extreme performance: Olympic rowing and emergency medicine. Ali’s story is one of grit, adaptability, and relentless dedication. From discovering rowing by chance at university to competing at the Olympic Games, Ali has always embraced high-pressure cha...

In this episode, I'm joined by David Bishop, a leading researcher specializing in exercise physiology at the University of Western Australia. David takes us through his unexpected journey from a physical education teacher to becoming a renowned expert in muscle metabolism and exercise physiology. During our conversation, David delves into how training at various intensities impacts mitochondrial a...

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast. Today, I am thrilled to be joined by Troy Taylor, Senior Director of Performance at Tonal and a distinguished leader in the field of sports performance. With a career spanning elite sports organizations, including his role as the former High-Performance Director for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Troy brings a wealth of experience...

Today I’m delighted to welcome a legend in the world of sports psychology, Chris Shambrook. With over two decades of experience in high-performance psychology, Chris has worked with elite athletes, including the GB Rowing Team, where he’s been pivotal in helping athletes achieve their peak performance on the world stage. In this episode, we dive into Chris’s unique approaches to mental resilience,...

This week, I’m thrilled to have the brilliant Dr. Shona Halson join me. Shona is an expert in athlete recovery and a former Senior Physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where she spent over 15 years researching and shaping the field of athlete recovery. She has worked with elite athletes, including the Australian Olympic team, to optimize their performance through evidence-based...

In this episode of The Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Olympic gold medallist and trampolining sensation, Bryony Page! Bryony's journey from overcoming self-doubt to standing atop the podium in Tokyo is nothing short of extraordinary. We dive deep into her mindset, training approaches, and the resilience it took to become a record breaker in her sport. Join me as we explore h...

In this week’s instalment I speak with Dr Ben Rosenblatt, founder of 292 performance and former S&C coach for England men’s football and GB women’s hockey. 292 performance is a multidisciplinary performance consultancy that offers support to elite athletes across a range of facets such as S&C, nutrition and psychology. Through his career, Ben has consulted and imparted his knowledge on ind...

This week on the podcast I sit down with Paolo Menaspa. Paolo is the Chief Science Officer at the Australian Institute of Sport, where he has led teams responsible for research & development, quality assurance, athlete performance health, and REST.    Palo has a vast experience in the world of sport, supporting athletes through multiple Olympic cycles across multiple events. With a focus on cy...

In this week's episode I speak with Jo Harrison, the Head of Performance Lifestyle Services at the UK Sports Institute and Founder of WinWell.org Jo plays a pivotal role in athlete welfare and life beyond sport, and has been a key influence in this shift of focus over recent years. Jo possesses over 20 years worth of experience at the elite level of British sport and has consistently championed th...

On this week’s podcast I speak to Stafford Murray Stafford is the former Head of Performance Analysis at the English Institute of Sport, Director of Innovation at High Performance Sport New Zealand and now Head of Analysis at England and Wales Cricket Board. Stafford is a true pioneer in the world of performance analysis and innovation, having been at the forefront of evolving the discipline from...

In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, we sit down with Mark England, Director of Sport Services at the British Olympic Association and Chef de Mission for Team GB across multiple Olympic Games. With a storied career that includes leading Britain to historic successes at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, Mark shares his extensive experience in Olympic leadership and team preparation...

Today, I’m joined by Geir Jordet, the world's leading expert on the psychology of penalties and author of "Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shootout." Geir brings an extensive background in sports psychology, with a focus on high-pressure performances in football. He has studied and published analyses on every major penalty shootout in soccer since 1976, so is ideally placed to...