The Mind Game Podcast

Former dancer turned psychotherapist Cai Tomos joins The Mind Game to explore resilience you can actually feel in your body. We dig into somatic tools for anxiety, how to “befriend” difficult sensations, why true rest is more than a day off, and the power of imagination to prime performance. Cai shares hospital-based work, community healing, and the small practices—like noticing your outbreath or...

In this episode of The Mind Game , I’m joined by ultramarathon coach Giles Penfold , who’s redefining what it takes to go the distance. We dive into how athletes can perform better by training smarter — not harder — and why your beliefs, mindset, and self-talk are often the real finish line. Giles shares how he went from injury and burnout to building a coaching method focused on strength, recover...

In this episode of The Mind Game , I speak with Dr. Jess Piasecki , Olympian marathon runner and Associate Professor of Female Physiology. Jess takes us through her incredible journey from playing hockey as a child to representing Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics, and balancing elite sport with an academic career. We dive into her mental strategies for coping with the pressures of elite competition,...

In this inspiring episode of The Mind Game, I sit down with endurance coach and elite ultra-runner Tim Pigott, just days before he takes on the legendary Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). Tim’s story is extraordinary: 25 years ago, he was told he would never walk again after a devastating car crash left him with multiple fractures and a 10% chance of survival. Against all odds, Tim not only relear...

In this episode of The Mind Game , I’m joined by Dean Hall — all the way from Oregon, USA — author of The Wild Cure and a man whose story will inspire you to rethink what’s possible. After being diagnosed with two forms of cancer and told there was no cure, Dean turned to open-water swimming and nature as a way to heal, both physically and mentally. His journey took him from hospital beds to recor...

In this episode of The Mind Game , I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Tom Randall — one of the world’s leading crack climbers and co-founder of Lattice Training. Tom’s known for pushing himself to the edge physically and mentally, whether that’s hanging upside down on a horizontal roof crack or dreaming up wild endurance challenges that most of us wouldn’t dare attempt. But what stru...

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, I sit down with Abigail Douglas , a holistic life coach and founder of The Wellbeing Garden , to explore her powerful journey from burnout and chronic eczema to self-healing and a life of purpose. Abigail shares how a life-changing yoga retreat in Italy opened her eyes to the importance of tuning inwards, and how simple but consistent tools like journ...

This episode was recorded a few weeks before the 2025 London Marathon with the inspiring Naz Khan – also known as @naztheblindrunner on Instagram. Naz is a visually impaired runner who has made it her mission to normalise disabled running and show what's possible with the right mindset and support. We talk about her experience training through Ramadan, the unique role guide runners play in her jou...

In this inspiring episode of The Mind Game , I sit down with Master Paul Summer, 5th Dan Black Belt and head of Tang Soo Do Neath Dojo. We dive into his personal journey—from a spirited child to a disciplined martial artist—and how the values of Tang Soo Do shaped his path through life’s biggest challenges. Paul opens up about his back injury and the mental resilience it took to keep going when th...

In this inspiring episode of The Mind Game , I sit down with Kellie Lambert – a mum on a mission. From a life-changing cancer diagnosis to the daily demands of raising two autistic children, Kellie knows what it means to keep going when life throws everything at you. We talk about how she stays mentally and physically strong, why movement is her medicine, and how her “glass half full” outlook keep...

In this raw and inspiring episode, downhill mountain biking star Mikayla Parton opens up about her unexpected entry into the sport, growing up next to Fort William’s iconic track, and what it really takes to race at the elite level without team support. We dive into the mental side of competition—from using hypnotherapy and meditation to manage nerves, to learning how to handle setbacks like injur...

In this episode, I chat with Rhodd Hughes – personal trainer, physiotherapist, and entrepreneur – about the pressure to be 'perfect' when it comes to training, time management, and running a business. Rhodd shares her ‘something over nothing’ philosophy – a kinder, more realistic approach to health and life goals. We talk about self-sabotage, learning to say no, and why small steps can make a big...