Performance Intelligence

Michael McQueen helps the world’s top brands navigate uncertainty—and tackles one of the most common fears: public speaking. In this conversation, he shares practical strategies, pre-performance routines, and mindset shifts to turn fear into flow, plus insights from his best-selling book Mindstuck on persuasion and changing stubborn minds. Michael blends science, storytelling, and performance stra...

In this Bite Size from episode #71 Dr Jodie Lowinger gives us some valuable parenting tips that may come in handy if your children are having trouble dealing with their mental health and things like anxiety. Dr Jodie brings her own experience to the table in dealing with children, especially teenagers, when they have a “condition off” and try to one up each other on having real or imagined mental...

Captain Brenda Youse initially dreamed of joining the Army as a wild 15-year-old, but her family wasn't enthusiastic about this pursuit. Fast forward to age 31, after seeing ads on TV, Brenda decided to go after her dream. She became a Reserve Army Private and worked hard juggling family life, a business, and Army service, to eventually become an Officer. When Brenda experienced challenges in her...

In this Bite Size from episode #56 Jeremy Snape talks about where he thinks performance psychology will be heading in the future. Jeremy starts by drawing a line between mental health intervention and performance psychology and why it is important to differentiate the two and then goes on to explain why he thinks performance psychologists should be working with sporting teams full time. Jeremy als...

Dr Amantha Imber is an organisational psychologist and founder of behaviour change consultancy Inventium, which helps organisations all over the world reinvent the way they approach work, be more productive, and grow through innovation.   Amantha hosts the top-ranking podcast How I Work, which has had over 5 million downloads from interviews with global experts including Adam Grant, Liane Moriarty...

In this Bite Size from episode #36 breathing expert Deano Gladstone talks about upregulating and how his need of a way to fire himself up led him to the Wim Hoff method of breathing and the myriad of benefits that has provided him. Deano also gives us a quick tutorial on how to do a basic breathing exercise and explains the science behind how it works with your physiology to change your state almo...

Tribes around the world have been implementing variations of cold water therapy (CWT) for centuries. And recently cold showers, swimming in chilly water, ice baths, and cryotherapy have exploded in popularity. Andrew and Dr Tom do a deep dive on the research (in some cases the lack of) about all things cold. Learn about different types of cold exposure, experimentation swimming in cold, the scienc...

In this Bite Size from episode #43 Australian cricket Legend Simon Katich gives his thoughts on the changes in professional cricket in Australia in the last 30 years. Simon talks about his experiences coming through the system in the 90’s which required him to work and study in addition to training and playing professionally. Simon notes that while it is good that players are able to make a living...

When he was 37 years old, Richard Burton woke up at 5am to the sound of a garbage truck reversing and in that very moment, decided to walk away from a very well paid 17-year career in property. With two young children and a third soon on the way, his colleagues, friends and family thought he was having an early mid-life crisis.  Richard knew there had to be a better way. A better way to live; and...

In this bite size from episode #69 Carol Cooke talks about how she is training to go to the Paris Paralympics at the age of 63 and how although she hasn’t been able to keep up with some of the younger competitors recently she is still training the hardest she ever has. Carol also gives some of her insight into her thoughts on longevity and how she doesn’t really think of her age or the age of othe...

Andrew and Dr Tom have been working together for 19 years under 5 different business iterations, with a mutual interest and desire to bridge the gap between the science of human performance and the reality of the human experience. They have discovered a fine dance between pushing the body’s physical and psychological resources to bend and not break, to stretch and not snap. The 5 factors to become...

In this Bite Size from episode #67 mental skills coach John Quinn talks about training mental skills like you would train in a gym, it doesn’t always have to be something fancy, you always need those basic reps and sets to fall back on and you need to work on them consistently. John also gives an example of going over to Japan and working with a rugby team and starting with the basics to get them...

Tadhg Kennelly won both an AFL Premiership with the Sydney Swans (2005) and a Senior All-Ireland Championship medal for Kerry (2009). An Academy Coach at the GWS Giants, he is driven to help men challenge toxic masculinity.  David Eccles is a doting father and is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle, music, and sport.  Together, these two Irish lads founded WNOW (When No One’s Watching), an...

In this Bite Size from episode #41 Jake Bailey makes the bold claim that between having stage 4 cancer and having to go through the lockdowns and effects of COVID again he would choose the cancer. Jake and Andrew also talk about their experiences with cancer and how they dealt with the stress on both their bodies from the mix of medication and disease and the mental stress of being in a very real...

Nick Jones has devoted 33 years of his life to the art and science of body building and is known as one of Australia's best every bodybuilding athletes. He has won titles in the Mr Australia, Mr Australasia, Mr World, and was runner-up in the prestigious Mr Universe competition.  Nick's goal is to improve quality of life and enhance performance through superior nutrition, exercise and specific sup...

In This Bite Size from episode #71 Dr Jodie Lowinger talks about her latest book “The Mind Strength Method” and the 4 steps she has come up with to help people reduce and control their anxieties. Dr Jodie uses her clinical knowledge and experience to create a method that doesn’t fight the bodies natural responses to stress and danger but rather allows you to flow with them and turn them to a more...

Andrew and the Wizard look back on 2023 and the top 5 podcasts from the year and a short reflection on each episode. Over the Christmas break we will be re-publishing the top 5 episodes with a new introduction from the guests featured in them so stay tuned!   In this episode you can find: 8:00 The #5 podcast For 2023 12:00 The #4 podcast For 2023 19:45 The #3 podcast For 2023 25:55 The #2 podcast...

In this bite size from episode #64 Manly Sea Eagles star Tom Trbojevic shares his secret to dealing with the fallout from season ending injuries and how he manages to keep his mind sharp and not dwell on the negatives. Tom describes how he was able to focus on his purpose of being the best that he can be and apply that to recovering from his injury which kept him sane during the long recovery proc...

Setting goals is a lot like driving a car. Most of the time is future-focused, looking ahead out the front windscreen. Goal setting research shows it is also important to periodically check the rear view mirror and remind ourselves of progress made and achievements along the way. As we inch agonisingly closer towards the end of another big year, Andrew and Angela Poon from StriveStronger discuss t...

In this bite size from episode #68 Dr Paul Batman explains why he has swapped out a lot of his high intensity exercises for picking up the vacuum cleaner and the mop. Dr Paul talks about how he trained for a long walking trek using almost nothing but housework to make sure he got enough active minutes to increase his fitness. Dr Paul also tells us about his concept of the active couch potato, some...

Dom Price is Atlassian's resident work futurist. His experience across the fields of technology, finance and gaming, combined with extensive travel through over fifty countries has informed a unique perspective on the future of work, valuing interconnectedness and a people-centric approach. Dom’s TedX Talk about rediscovering a happier, more purpose-driven (and less productivity-obsessed) self, ha...

In this bite size from episode #66 Andrew and Michael Bungay-Stanier talk about Michael’s 7 essential coaching questions – a must listen for anyone who has ever thought about doing coaching. Michael explains that while the questions may seem simple – and they are, that doesn’t mean that they are easy to use.  These 7 questions form the basis of Michael’s book The Coaching Habit which has sold well...

Dr. Jodie Lowinger is founder of The Anxiety Clinic and her best-selling book “ The Mind Strength Method ” offers practical, hands-on guidance to help people effectively manage anxiety in their daily lives. Jodie’s work has had a profound impact on organisations, businesses, hospitals and communities. She is on the advisory board of Gotcha4Life, a not for profit passionately dedicated to building...

In this bite size from episode #49 Rugby Legend Wayne Pearce answers my 13 questions in Performance Uncovered where we find out a little bit more about what makes Wayne tick and where he draws inspiration. Wayne gives some truly unique answers that involve a toothbrush, a highlighter and Bruce Springsteen and while some of his answers may seem obvious or simple there is a depth and a meaning behin...

This live interview at the Indo-Pacific Sea Power Conference in Sydney is with Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm, Commander Dean Thompson and Staff Officer MAS Executive Sam Tickle – three Navy personnel who have been integral in sponsoring, amplifying and delivering the Social Mastery program, which has grown to encompass One Defence (Navy, Army, Air Force and Australian Public Sector). We talk openly a...