The High Performance Podcast

What does high performance really demand from the human mind? In this conversation, world-leading organisational psychologist Adam Grant explores how the best performers think, learn, and lead. Adam unpacks why great leaders build challenge networks instead of echo chambers, how to recognise when ego is driving your decisions instead of growth, and why real loyalty means speaking up, not staying s...

Pre-order our brand new book Micro-Habits and use code MICROHABITS26 for 25% off before the launch on 1st January. https://hppod.co/472Og7q What makes great communicators stand out isn’t confidence, charisma, or talent, it’s clarity. In this episode, cognitive scientist and Harvard professor Steven Pinker joins Damian to explore the hidden psychology behind how we speak, listen, and understand one...

In a sport long dominated by men, Susie Wolff has carved her own path, turning barriers into breakthroughs and setbacks into strength. From proving her place on the grid to leading a complete transformation of F1 Academy, Susie’s story is one of belief, vision, and resilience. In this episode, she opens up about being dismissed as a “token gesture,” the determination it took to be taken seriously,...

In high performance, we often celebrate success, the awards, the headlines, the restaurants, the fame. But for Gordon Ramsay, the real story lies in the struggle behind the spotlight. In this episode, Gordon Ramsay explores the true meaning of high performance, and the price of perfection. From growing up in a council house and losing his dream football career to standing beside culinary lege...

Pre-order our brand new book Micro-Habits and use code MICROHABITS26 for 25% off before the launch on 1st January. https://hppod.co/472Og7q Step inside the mind of one of rugby's most respected figures, Bath Head of Rugby Johann van Graan . In this special deep dive into his Essential Habits, Johann reveals the unique system he uses to stay grounded, lead with clarity, and achieve world-class resu...

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson returns to High Performance to share the honest reality of life after success, the highs of global recognition, the setbacks of injury, and the emotional toll that comes with chasing greatness. She opens up to Jake and Damian about resetting after disappointment, learning to process frustration without losing focus, and her drive to push the limits as she targets...

Philosopher and bestselling author Alain de Botton invites us to completely rethink what success really means. This profound and therapeutic conversation explores how true high performance isn’t about external achievement, but about realising your unique potential and finding peace within yourself. Alain challenges the obsession with being “special,” explaining why accepting our ordinariness can b...

Pre-order our brand new book Micro-Habits and use code MICROHABITS26 for 25% off before the launch on 1st January.  https://hppod.co/472Og7q The pressure, the noise, the meaning of the occasion, it had all become too much. Two years later, he returned to the same stadium, the same stage, and this time everything was different. He scored one of the biggest goals of his career, not because his...

The real secret to longevity isn’t found in trendy diets or extreme hacks, it’s in mastering the basics. In this episode, human biologist Gary Brecka shares why the world’s longest-living populations thrive not through keto, paleo, or vegan plans, but by avoiding processed foods altogether. Gary also debunks popular health myths around fasting, carbs, and supplements, explaining why biology, not t...

The greatest regrets in life rarely come from failure, they come from never trying. In this episode, Jake and Damian explore the courage to act, joined by insights from Siya Kolisi, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Fraser, and Lee Child. Together, they reveal why preparation, consistency, and self-reliance are the real keys to success. This episode challenges the myth of “the perfect moment,” showing tha...

We often imagine depression as something visible, but what if it doesn’t look like sadness at all? What if it looks like success? If you look successful but feel flat, this episode is for you. Psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Judith Joseph calls it high-functioning depression, the kind that hides behind achievement. It’s the quiet loss of joy that can go unnoticed, even in the most accomplished peo...

At the height of global stardom, Rick Astley made the decision to step away from fame. In this deeply honest conversation, he opens up about the anxiety and fear that came with constant travel, the unhealthy coping mechanisms it triggered, and why leaving the spotlight was the only way to reconnect with himself. Rick reflects on the drive for financial security that fuelled his career, the realisa...

Matt Fitzpatrick reflects on the mindset and methods that have made him one of golf’s most meticulous competitors. A major champion and relentless learner, Matt has tracked every shot since he was 15, turning numbers into a powerful advantage. In this episode, he shares how he finds an edge when others have more natural power, what winning the U.S. Open and featuring in a Netflix documentary taugh...

Richard Osman is known for his wit, his bestselling novels, and his sharp eye for detail. But behind it all is a simple guiding habit: tip generously. For Richard, it’s never just about money. Growing up tall and often feeling different gave him a deep sense of empathy, and over time he realised that generosity, whether through money, time, kindness, or attention, isn’t an extra, it’s essential. I...

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, yet the stigma around mental health still keeps too many silent. In this episode, Roman Kemp opens up to Jake and Damian about his own battles with depression, the devastating loss of his best friend, and why talking openly about suicidal thoughts can save lives. Motivated by personal tragedy, Roman has turned his pain into action. He discusses the ne...

The Ryder Cup is one of the greatest events in sport, where Europe and the United States put aside individual achievement for national pride in one of the fiercest rivalries anywhere. In this episode, European captain Luke Donald joins former captains Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance to share what it really takes to lead under the highest pressure, how to build a winning team culture in just days, a...

When most people think of Usain Bolt, they see the medals, the world records, the effortless dominance. But his journey wasn’t built on winning, it was built on losing. At the Athens Olympics in 2004, Bolt crashed out in the first round. It was a painful wake-up call, but also the turning point of his career. With the guidance of coach Glen Mills, he learned the habit that would define his legacy:...

Boris Becker is one of tennis’s most iconic figures, a prodigy who won Wimbledon at just 17, a champion who reached the sport’s highest peaks, and a man who has faced extraordinary highs and devastating lows both on and off the court. In this episode, Boris reflects on the mindset that drove him to success so early in life, the pressure of living in the global spotlight, and the personal challenge...

Have you ever found yourself saying yes when you really wanted to say no?  In this solo episode, Jake and Damian tackle a challenge many of us face, being “too nice” at the expense of ourselves. They unpack the difference between being nice and being kind, showing why true kindness sometimes means honesty, boundaries, and even uncomfortable conversations. Drawing on insights from guests like...

Before he was a Formula One driver, Lando Norris was the kid in the McLaren garage packing boxes, dismantling equipment, and working side by side with the mechanics. No glamour, no headlines, just long hours in the background, doing the kind of jobs nobody sees. What struck me most is that he didn’t see it as grunt work. He saw it as belonging. As trust-building, as part of something bigger than h...

Amanda Staveley is one of the most influential figures in modern football, best known for helping steer the takeover that transformed Newcastle United.   In this episode, Amanda opens up about what it takes to build something lasting in football and in life. From being underestimated in high finance to proving herself in one of the toughest industries, she reflects on the quiet power of persi...

Pippa Grange has spent years working behind the scenes in elite sport, guiding some of the biggest names and teams to perform at their best when it matters most. As a sports psychologist and culture coach, she’s best known for helping shift the mentality of the England national football team, but her work stretches far beyond the pitch. In this episode, Pippa unpacks the core ideas from her book F...

Sometimes the biggest reset doesn’t come from doing more, but from zooming out far enough to see what really matters. That’s exactly what productivity expert Ali Abdaal does every year, with a practice that at first sounds unusual, he writes his own obituary. Not to dwell on the end, but to remind himself how he wants to live. Ali’s story is a powerful reminder that alignment beats hustle. A forme...

Nicolas Hamilton is a British racing driver who has defied the odds to make his mark in motorsport while living with cerebral palsy. As the younger brother of Lewis Hamilton, the most successful F1 driver of all time, Nicolas has grown up around elite performance, but his own journey has been filled with challenges, setbacks, and powerful lessons about determination and self-belief. In this episod...

If you could choose just one conversation for your kids to listen to, what wisdom would you want them to take away?  In this powerful episode, Jake and Damian explore the timeless lessons that go beyond sport, success, or achievement, lessons designed to shape character, purpose, and resilience for the next generation. From Sam Tomkins’ belief in the power of “1% actions,” to Hector Garcia’s...