The Art of Performance Podcast

Dean Hammond & Acos Ashioti
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  • Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Weekly interviews and talks on fitness, self-improvement, marketing, business and well-being topics with exciting and influential guests.

  1. Ep 84: The Health Industry Has Lost the Plot

    2d ago

    Ep 84: The Health Industry Has Lost the Plot

    Wearables. Ice baths. Red light therapy. Mouth taping. Morning routines that take longer than a full workout. Somewhere along the way, being healthy stopped being simple. In this episode, we dive head first into the growing culture of over-optimisation and ask a simple question: are we actually becoming healthier, or are we just becoming better consumers? We discuss why so many people are chasing the latest health hacks while ignoring the fundamentals that genuinely move the needle. From wearables and recovery gadgets to supplements, social media gurus and the business of biohacking, we separate what has evidence behind it from what has become marketing dressed up as science. We also talk about why men are becoming increasingly disconnected despite having more technology than ever, how health anxiety is being fuelled by constant optimisation, and why the basics—sleep, movement, strength, aerobic fitness, nutrition and meaningful relationships—still outperform almost every shiny new trend. If you've ever felt like you're falling behind because you don't own an ice bath, track every metric or follow a three-hour morning routine, this episode is for you. Sometimes the biggest upgrade to your health isn't doing more. It's getting really good at the things that have always worked.

    1h 16m
  2. Ep 83: Strong BUT Unfit

    Jun 19

    Ep 83: Strong BUT Unfit

    People think conditioning is about running further, suffering a lot or preparing for endurance events. They're wrong! In this episode of The Art of Performance, Dean, Marco and Acos dive into the science of VO₂ max, aerobic development and conditioning to explore why cardiorespiratory fitness may be one of the most important health and performance metrics we have. The conversation covers: What VO₂ max actually is and why it matters Why low cardiorespiratory fitness is linked to increased mortality risk The biggest mistakes people make with conditioning Zone 2, threshold training and high-intensity intervals The "grey zone" where most people get stuck How conditioning affects recovery, performance and resilience Why strength athletes should care about aerobic development Conditioning for HYROX, ATHX, combat sports and team sports The role of aerobic fitness in longevity, cognition and metabolic health Whether you're an athlete, coach, military professional, parent or simply someone who wants to stay capable for life, this episode will change the way you think about conditioning. Because the goal isn't just to live longer. It's to maintain the physical capacity to actually enjoy the years you've got.

    1h 17m
  3. Ep 82: Your Sperm Is Listening To You

    Jun 12

    Ep 82: Your Sperm Is Listening To You

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a05e87f-f904-83ea-94e7-9ff998b81ad5-0" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a05e87f-f904-83ea-94e7-9ff998b81ad5-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-10" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> What if your lifestyle was influencing more than just your own health? In this episode, we dive into the fascinating and controversial world of epigenetics, exploring whether exercise, nutrition, stress, sleep, obesity, and overall lifestyle can leave biological signals that may influence future generations. Before anyone panics, no we're not suggesting your sperm has ears. But emerging research suggests that the environment you create within your body may alter how genes are expressed, potentially affecting offspring through mechanisms such as DNA methylation, RNA signalling, mitochondrial function, and metabolic regulation. We break down: What epigenetics actually is (without the PhD lecture) The difference between genetics and gene expression How exercise may influence biological signals passed to offspring Why paternal health before conception may matter more than people realise The role of sperm RNA, DNA methylation, and mitochondrial health Whether obesity, inactivity, poor sleep, and chronic stress can create downstream consequences The fascinating studies looking at exercise and offspring metabolism Why this area of science is both exciting and heavily misunderstood The dangers of biohacking gurus overselling preliminary research What this really means for parents, future parents, coaches, and everyday people Along the way, we discuss responsibility, legacy, modern lifestyle, and whether health is about more than just looking good in the mirror. This isn't an episode about creating super babies or chasing the latest optimisation trend. It's a conversation about how the life you live today may be shaping far more than you think. Because maybe the most important question isn't: "What genes did I inherit?" It's: "What signals am I teaching my biology every single day?" 🧬💪🏻 Tune in for one of the most thought-provoking conversations we've had on the podcast.

    57 min
  4. Ep 81: Is Soft Tissue a SCAM?

    May 16

    Ep 81: Is Soft Tissue a SCAM?

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="384aec3f-a214-4d43-82c0-62bee5cf7486" data-turn-id-container="384aec3f-a214-4d43-82c0-62bee5cf7486" data-testid="conversation-turn-8" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="assistant"> Most people think they're tight. Tight hips. Tight hamstrings. "Toxic" fascia. Bad posture. Pelvis out of alignment. A weak glute that apparently "doesn't fire." So they stretch more. Foam roll more. Book another massage. Another adjustment. Another treatment session. But what if the problem isn't actually what they think it is? In this episode, we dive deep into the world of soft tissue therapy, mobility culture, chiropractic claims, sports massage, dry needling, cupping, scraping tools, and the modern obsession with being "fixed." We unpack: What soft tissue work is ACTUALLY doing physiologically Nervous system modulation & mechanoreceptors explained simply Why relief does not equal adaptation The difference between symptom reduction and solving root causes How fear-based narratives keep people dependent on treatment Why many movement restrictions are actually protection responses The role of stress, deconditioning & inactivity in "tightness" When manual therapy genuinely helps When it becomes theatre, reassurance, or expensive dependency Why intelligent strength & conditioning often solves what passive treatment cannot This isn't an anti-treatment episode. It's a conversation about nuance, evidence, critical thinking, and helping people stop outsourcing responsibility for their body. Because the goal shouldn't be becoming dependent on treatment forever. The goal should be becoming more capable.

    1h 5m

  5. Apr 3

    Ep 80: Gym Culture - What's Changed, What's Broken and What Still Matters

    In this episode we unpack our own experiences of gym culture, how it has evolved over time, what has genuinely improved, what has become worse and what still matters if a training environment is actually supposed to help people change. We discuss the good, the bad and the absolute nonsense of the modern gym world - from community, standards, coaching and belonging, through to phones on equipment, performative fitness, poor etiquette, influencer culture, gym anxiety and why so many people still feel lost when they walk through the door We also explore: what makes a gym feel alive vs dead why some spaces help people grow and others keep them stuck what should and shouldn't be acceptable in a gym why gym anxiety matters where gym culture is heading and what a genuinely great gym culture should actually look like now A straight-talking conversation on effort, confidence, identity, behaviour, belonging, standards and why environment still matters far more than most people realise.

    1h 30m

  6. Mar 27

    Ep 79: Raising Strong Resilient Kids Through Training

    What does it actually take to raise strong, capable and resilient kids in today's world? In this episode, we break down the biggest myths around youth training from the fear that strength training "stunts growth" to the idea that kids should just play sport and avoid the gym altogether. The reality? Kids aren't fragile. They're highly adaptable and when we get training right, they become more robust, more confident and better equipped for both sport and life. We dive into what actually matters when it comes to developing young athletes: Why strength training doesn't stunt growth (and what actually causes issues) The problem with early specialisation and sport overload Why "just playing sport" isn't enough to build a well-rounded athlete How to introduce load safely, effectively, and progressively The importance of movement literacy, coordination, and exposure to speed Where bodyweight training fits and where it falls short How to build aerobic fitness, speed, and repeatability without burning kids out We also go deeper into the real-world challenges: From football academies chasing short-term performance… Youth athletes juggling multiple sports… To high-skill environments like cheerleading and dance where physical preparation is often overlooked! And for coaches and parents who want to go further, we touch on how to actually monitor young athletes without needing fancy tech and what to look for when managing fatigue, readiness, and performance. This isn't about turning kids into elite athletes overnight. It's about giving them the foundations to stay in the game, avoid injury, and actually enjoy training for years to come. Because if we get this wrong early…we limit them later.

    1h 29m

  7. Mar 20

    Ep 78: "Peptides" - The Shortcut You Haven't Earned Yet!

    Peptides are everywhere right now. BPC-157… TB-500… Tesamorelin… Everyone's talking about healing faster, getting leaner, recovering like a pro. But here's the truth no one really wants to hear: Most of you don't need them. Not because they don't work - but because you haven't even nailed the basics that actually drive results. In this episode, we strip it right back. We break down what peptides actually are (without the b******t), the different types you've probably seen all over social media, and where they might have a place. But more importantly - we talk about what actually moves the needle: Your sleep Your nutrition Your training quality Your ability to actually apply progressive load and recover properly Because if those things are off… no injection, no protocol, no "advanced" tool is going to save you. We also get into: Why peptides aren't magic (and never will be) Where people completely misuse them How they should fit into injury rehab (if at all) And why most people are chasing Level 4 solutions for Level 1 problems This isn't anti-peptides. It's just real coaching. If you've built the foundations - they might help. If you haven't - you're just looking for a shortcut. And shortcuts don't build athletes.

    1h 7m

  8. Mar 13

    Ep 77: Theres No New Vegetables!

    In this episode of The Art of Performance Podcast, we dive into a growing concern in elite sport the modern injury epidemic. Despite the rise of sports science, load monitoring systems, GPS tracking, and advanced performance departments, injury rates across elite competitions continue to climb. From the Premier League to the National Basketball Association, soft-tissue injuries and player unavailability remain persistent problems, raising an important question: Have modern strength and conditioning practices drifted away from actually preparing athletes for the demands of sport? In this episode, we explore the tension between monitoring and preparation, breaking down how concepts like load management, GPS tracking, and injury prevention strategies may sometimes be creating unintended consequences. We discuss the rise of highly complex "functional" gym exercises, the potential overreliance on data-driven decision making, and why some athletes may be entering competition underprepared for the forces and speeds their sport demands. The conversation also examines one of the most important findings in modern sports science the role of max velocity sprint exposure in reducing hamstring injuries and why limiting high-speed running in training may actually increase injury risk. Throughout the episode we break down what good strength and conditioning actually looks like, and why building robust, resilient athletes still comes down to developing the fundamental qualities of performance: maximal strength eccentric strength and tissue resilience sprint speed and exposure to high velocities deceleration capacity and force absorption repeat sprint ability and aerobic conditioning Rather than simply managing fatigue, the role of a great strength and conditioning coach is to prepare athletes for the chaos and physical demands of competition. If you're a coach, athlete, or someone interested in the science behind performance and injury prevention, this episode offers a thought-provoking discussion on where modern performance training may be going wrong and what we can do to get it right.

    1h 7m
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Weekly interviews and talks on fitness, self-improvement, marketing, business and well-being topics with exciting and influential guests.

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