The High Performance Podcast

Welcome to High Performance. Through fascinating conversations with remarkable guests, Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes uncover the secrets behind High Performance and explore how we can all become the best version of ourselves. We focus on uncovering the learnings from top performers in every field, from sport to entertainment, business, health and wellness.​ No matter where our guests have excelled, they all have first-hand experiences and lessons to share. On High Performance we find out what non-negotiable behaviours they employed to get them to the top and keep them there. ** Want to get the most from High Performance? Download the new High Performance app for FREE to access every episode, enjoy exclusive documentary and masterclass content.  You’ll get instant access to insights from the world’s best, will receive daily motivational boosts and can create your own personalised High Performance playlists. Simply click here or search High Performance in the App store to get started. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Mo Gawdat: How Losing My Son Led Me To A Formula for Happiness

    14 HR AGO

    Mo Gawdat: How Losing My Son Led Me To A Formula for Happiness

    Mo Gawdat rose to become Chief Business Officer of Google X, the moonshot factory tasked with solving the world's biggest problems. He had 16 cars in his garage, a nine-bedroom house, and by every conventional measure, had won. And then, in four hours, a preventable surgical mistake took his 21-year-old son Ali. What happened next changed everything. In this episode, Mo shares the promise he made to Ali, to make him "everywhere and part of everyone", and how that mission became the foundation of his life's real work: making a billion people happy. This is not a conversation about toxic positivity or blind optimism. It's a masterclass in what happiness actually is (and isn't), why it's your duty — not your reward — and the practical tools Mo uses to bounce back from pain in under seven seconds. You'll hear Mo on: the 90-second anger rule that will change how you handle every difficult moment; his three-question flowchart for navigating anything life throws at you; why success doesn't lead to happiness — but happiness almost always leads to success; what his son Ali taught him about fixing the world by fixing yourself first; and why the most high-performance path through life is learning to play. Whether you're chasing the next milestone or questioning whether the chase is even worth it — this one will stay with you. Our partners in this episode:  EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal 👉 https://nordvpn.com/highperformance Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  2. Alex Iwobi: Wenger's Aura, Lampard's Trust & the Hard Truth About Being Yourself in Elite Football (E397)

    1 DAY AGO

    Alex Iwobi: Wenger's Aura, Lampard's Trust & the Hard Truth About Being Yourself in Elite Football (E397)

    Alex Iwobi is one of the Premier League's most creative midfielders, known for his flair, expressiveness and ability to unlock defences. After coming through the Arsenal academy under Arsène Wenger, he has gone on to represent Everton, Fulham and Nigeria at the highest level, becoming one of football's most distinctive personalities both on and off the pitch. In this episode, Alex sits down with Jake and Damian for a candid and revealing conversation about his journey from nearly being released at 16 to becoming an established Premier League player. He opens up about the loneliness of leaving Arsenal, the moment the club sent his medical documents to Everton while he was on holiday without asking him, and how Frank Lampard's trust quite literally resurrected his career. Alex also shares rare insight into the aura of Arsène Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti — the only two managers he's ever seen silence a room just by walking in — and what that taught him about elite leadership. He discusses how being given the freedom to be himself, both on the pitch and through his music, has unlocked the best version of his performance. This episode offers a fascinating look at the mindset, identity and trust required to perform at the highest level in professional football. Alex's new EP More to Life is out on April 9th. Our Partners:  EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal 👉 https://nordvpn.com/highperformance Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Ollie Bearman: The 10 Minute Change That Saved My F1 Career (E396)

    4 DAYS AGO

    Ollie Bearman: The 10 Minute Change That Saved My F1 Career (E396)

    Ollie Bearman is one of Formula 1’s most exciting young talents, known for his fierce drive, impressive performances, and rising star power within the sport. As a member of Haas F1 Team, Ollie is carving out a path to greatness in F1, where every race brings new challenges and opportunities to prove himself. In this episode, Ollie sits down with Jake and Damian for a raw and honest conversation about his journey from F2 to F1. He opens up about the pressure of racing at the highest level, the self-doubt he faced early in his F1 career, and the breakthrough moment that changed everything for him, realising that mental preparation and structure were just as important as raw speed. Ollie also shares the importance of learning from seasoned drivers like Fernando Alonso, acknowledging his rival’s experience and commitment to the sport. He discusses how their competition has pushed him to grow and become a more self-aware and focused driver. This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the mindset and emotional challenges required to compete in Formula 1. Our Partners: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal 👉 https://nordvpn.com/highperformance Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min
  4. Michael Johnson: The Mind That Never Settled For Second

    27 FEB

    Michael Johnson: The Mind That Never Settled For Second

    We revisit our chat with Olympic legend Michael Johnson, a man who has more medals, world records, and gold standards than almost anyone who has ever laced up a pair of spikes. But this conversation isn't really about the glory, it's about everything that happened in the shadows of it. Jake sits down with one of the greatest athletes in history to uncover the mindset that drove him to become the only man to win gold in the 200m and 400m at the same Olympic Games. What emerges is a masterclass in evidence-based belief, brutal self-honesty, and the relentless pursuit of sustained excellence. Michael opens up about the food poisoning that robbed him of his greatest chance at Olympic glory in Barcelona, and the quiet, ruthless logic he used to pull himself back from the brink. He talks about the teammate who admitted to doping and the medal Michael willingly handed back. And he reveals the stroke that paralysed his left side almost entirely, and the remarkable clarity he found in the hospital bed when everyone around him was asking why. Along the way, you'll hear the truth behind his famous upright running style, how he mentally rehearsed a race up to ten times in the twenty minutes before the gun fired, and why the most important question he ever asked himself was simply - why me? This is one of the most candid, no-nonsense conversations in High Performance history! Our partners for this episode:  Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au2  Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min
  5. Stop Obsessing Over Sleep: Why Your Morning Routine Beats Bedtime  | Sleep Expert Reveals (E395)

    23 FEB

    Stop Obsessing Over Sleep: Why Your Morning Routine Beats Bedtime | Sleep Expert Reveals (E395)

    Sleep expert Stephanie Romiszewski has always taken an unconventional approach to rest, and in this episode, she reveals why overthinking sleep is the real culprit behind poor rest. Stephanie explains why obsessing over sleep only makes it worse, and how we can fix our sleep problems by addressing our daytime habits instead of focusing on the night itself. She dives into the dangers of sleep trackers, sharing how even false data can increase anxiety and disrupt your performance. Stephanie also introduces her game-changing advice on the importance of a consistent morning routine, wake-up times, light exposure, and movement, and why these factors are far more influential than any bedtime ritual. She also shares her AWAKE acronym, a practical guide to improving sleep by embracing variation, avoiding the chase for perfect rest, and keeping a strong, balanced day. This episode offers a refreshing, honest perspective on sleep, revealing how our mindset and routines during the day play a bigger role in getting quality rest and maintaining peak performance. Stephanie's new book 'Think Less, Sleep More' is out now and published by Atlantic Books, RRP £14.99 Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au2 Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  6. Jonny Wilkinson: How Perfection Nearly Broke Me

    20 FEB

    Jonny Wilkinson: How Perfection Nearly Broke Me

    We're revisiting one of the most profound conversations we've ever had on High Performance - a discussion that fundamentally changed the way we think about performance on this show. Jonny Wilkinson is one of rugby's greatest ever players. The drop goal that won England the 2003 Rugby World Cup is etched into sporting history. But behind the perfection, the trophies, and the records, Jonny was fighting a battle most people never saw. In this deeply philosophical and remarkably honest conversation, Jonny reveals the mental health struggles that plagued his career - the games where he could barely leave his hotel room, the 14 consecutive injuries that forced him to look inward, and the obsession with perfection that began at just four years old when he became consumed by a fear of death. Jake and Damian explore what true high performance really means. Not outcomes, not stats, not being the best in the world - but absolute presence. Living fully in every moment, whether that's a World Cup final or doing the washing up. Jonny explains why self-belief is actually fragility in disguise, why the "super version" of you already exists, and why the only thing stopping you from being extraordinary is what you're holding onto, not what you're missing. This isn't a conversation about rugby. It's a conversation about identity, choice, mortality, and what it means to truly live rather than just exist. Jonny challenges every assumption about success, performance, and self-worth - and offers a radically different way of seeing the world. If you've ever felt the weight of pressure, the fear of failure, or the exhaustion of trying to be perfect, this episode will change how you see yourself. Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au2  Visit Seattle 👉 Start planning your perfect summer of football by searching Visit Seattle on social media, or discover more at: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-visitseattle-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min

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About

Welcome to High Performance. Through fascinating conversations with remarkable guests, Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes uncover the secrets behind High Performance and explore how we can all become the best version of ourselves. We focus on uncovering the learnings from top performers in every field, from sport to entertainment, business, health and wellness.​ No matter where our guests have excelled, they all have first-hand experiences and lessons to share. On High Performance we find out what non-negotiable behaviours they employed to get them to the top and keep them there. ** Want to get the most from High Performance? Download the new High Performance app for FREE to access every episode, enjoy exclusive documentary and masterclass content.  You’ll get instant access to insights from the world’s best, will receive daily motivational boosts and can create your own personalised High Performance playlists. Simply click here or search High Performance in the App store to get started. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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