The Perfect Athlete Podcast Chris Billam-Smith

Uneven ground, blinding sunlight, blistering heat and an unspoken bond between two prime athletes - it could only be the intense sport of beach volleyball that brings all these elements together. 
Two of England’s finest volleyball players, Jess Grimson and Daisy Mumby, have been playing together since just before the pandemic, and in that time done the groundwork for their shot at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. 
Speaking on the unique physical challenges posed by a sport where the average rally is less than 14 seconds, Jess and Daisy share their rigorous training regime, the sport’s growing focus on strength & conditioning, how to form the best partnerships, and the creativity that keeps volleyball players on their toes.

This episode of Perfect Athlete is sponsored by Precision Hydration who help athletes personalise their hydration strategy using their sweat tests and electrolyte supplements. 
Get 15% off first orders with discount code PERFECT15 or book a 1-2-1 call with one of the sweat experts here: https://www.precisionhydration.com/book-a-sweat-expert-call/
This episode is also sponsored by Forest Fit Clubs who run outdoor fitness classes as an alternative to indoor gyms. Catering for all fitness levels and abilities from beginners to advanced. Get a free 2 week trial with no contract or obligation to sign up afterwards: www.forestfitclubs.com/2weekfreetrial

In this episode we cover:
The key differences between indoor and beach volleyball, and their unique physical challengesStrength & Conditioning and nutrition’s impact on the sportRevolutionary ‘K-laser’ tech for injury management Tailoring training and fitness to the short, rapid bursts that come with volleyball ralliesImportance of having reliable equipmentForming a strong bond with your volleyball partner, and keeping a positive mentality together

Welcome back to The Perfect Athlete, and to a new series of incredible conversations and tips for performing at your peak.
With 34 successful caps for England, a Premier League title and Champions League medal to his name, Adam Lallana has proven himself an invaluable midfield talent at Southampton, Liverpool, and now Brighton & Hove Albion.   
He’s played with, and against, some of the world’s most talented footballers, picking up on the physical and mental training regimes that kept Jurgen Klopp’s squad on top of their game for one of the team’s best seasons in years.
Adam joins me for series 2 of The Perfect Athlete as we learn how his parents applied the perfect amount of pressure & unconditional support in his early years, how massively a game is affected by individual & team mentality, and what the future holds for Adam with his move to Brighton.
This episode of Perfect Athlete is sponsored by Precision Hydration who help athletes personalise their hydration strategy using their sweat tests and electrolyte supplements. 
Get 15% off first orders with discount code PERFECT15 or book a 1-2-1 call with one of the sweat experts here: https://www.precisionhydration.com/book-a-sweat-expert-call/

This episode is also sponsored by Forest Fit Clubs who run outdoor fitness classes as an alternative to indoor gyms. Catering for all fitness levels and abilities from beginners to advanced. Get a free 2 week trial with no contract or obligation to sign up afterwards: www.forestfitclubs.com/2weekfreetrial
In this episode we cover:
How parental pressure affects kids’ early years in sportDifferences between working with Alan Pardew, Mauricio Pochettino & Jurgen Klopp as managersCoping with the pressure of the captain’s armbandHow data & technology has advanced strength and conditioning in the gameUsing sports psychologists to improve mental resilience

With a wealth of championship titles to his name, George Groves has experienced the pain of having to rebuild, and exhibited physical, mental, and emotional strength throughout his illustrious boxing career. 

For episode 11 of The Perfect Athlete we finally hear from a world champion in my own profession. This feature-length deep dive covers every step of George’s journey - every trainer, every injury, the landmark bouts, right through to the motivations for calling time on his boxing career. 
George also shares his 7 pillars - a series of ideas which form a cyclical ethos that can be applied to sport, work, and life in general - and the experiences that taught him the importance of each pillar. 
This episode of Perfect Athlete is sponsored by Precision Hydration who help athletes personalise their hydration strategy using their sweat tests and electrolyte supplements. 
Get 15% off first orders with discount code PERFECT15 or book a 1-2-1 call with one of the sweat experts here: https://www.precisionhydration.com/book-a-sweat-expert-call/
In this episode we cover:
George’s transition from kickboxing to boxingHis support network and parental pressureCoping with losses and feeling self-assuredAdapting his boxing style with different coachesThe 7 traits/pillars of a championPhysical, mental and emotional abilityDealing with various injuriesGeorge’s exit plan from boxing

One of the greatest performance enhancers we can control is an action we all do around 20,000 times a day without a second thought - breathing. Respiration is a key factor in developing physical fitness, and influencing our mind and our sleep, so to perform at our best on any level, we should understand and improve how we breathe.
Sharing his decades of experience researching, teaching and experimenting with breathwork on this episode, Patrick McKeown explains the best techniques for mastering oxygen intake, the benefits of nasal breathing for our sleep and alertness, and how reducing chemosensitivity can improve our fitness even before we take a single step.
This episode of Perfect Athlete is sponsored by Precision Hydration who help athletes personalise their hydration strategy using their sweat tests and electrolyte supplements. 
Get 15% off first orders with discount code PERFECT15 or book a 1-2-1 call with one of the sweat experts here: https://www.precisionhydration.com/book-a-sweat-expert-call/
In this episode we cover:
The effects of asthma on breathing habitsMouth vs nasal breathingBOLT scores and breath tests to indicate fitnessReducing CO2 chemosensitivityThe role of nasal breathing in trainingBreathing with masks on - both generally and as a training methodA breathing exercise to clear a congested nose

*TRIGGER WARNING* - This episode does include a mention on attempted suicide at 44:38.

Get 15% off at https://www.precisionhydration.com/ with discount code PERFECTATHLETE 

We all know that we need water to survive, but beyond the classic rule of thumb to drink 8 glasses a day, there’s a world of science behind hydration that most of us don’t realise affects everything we do. With experience in maximising performance from elite Formula 1 drivers like Mark Webber and Jenson Button, Precision Hydration’s Founder Andy Blow understands the power of proper hydration. 
This fact-packed episode of The Perfect Athlete sees myths debunked and popular hydration solutions challenged, from the early days of isotonic drinks such as Gatorade, to the potentially critical health risks that come from an often-underlooked scenario - overhydration.
In this episode we cover:
The dangers of overhydration and hypernatremiaSafely making weight for sports with weigh-insWhen and for whom isotonic drinks work bestF1’s focus on hydrationThe myths surrounding urine colour and water consumptionCalculating how much you should drinkMauro Prosperi’s 9-day survival in the Sahara DesertRelationship between sleep and hydrationPerfect Athlete is sponsored by Podcast Labs, full-service podcast production and marketing agency. Find out more at https://podcastlabs.co.uk/

Related articles:
How to start hydrated and why that's so important
What is hyponatremia and how can you avoid it?

Links and references at: https://perfectathletepodcast.com/

Extracting every ounce of performance from our bodies takes a measured approach to nutrition. Working with data, analysis, and an understanding of both good and bad habits all form the basis of understanding how best to fuel the body.
As a professional performance nutritionist who’s worked with me for a number of years now, NutritionX’s Dr James Morehen has observed first-hand the need for a personal approach to nutrition. He weighs in on making gradual changes to habits as opposed to imposing sudden ‘diets’, and the risk that comes with top athletes relying on CBD products.
In this episode we cover:
The personal approach to nutritionSustainable dietsGradual shifts in habitsHow traditionally ‘unhealthy’ foods can actually be healthyAdapting the nutritional approach to the demands of different sportsCalculating how best to lose weight and increase muscle massThe best supplements to take right nowPotential pitfalls for CBD productsPerfect Athlete is sponsored by Podcast Labs, full-service podcast production and marketing agency. Find out more at https://podcastlabs.co.uk/

Links and references at: https://perfectathletepodcast.com/