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. 5D AGO

    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

  2. FEB 20

    Ep 76: Why Your Peak Is At 35!

    Most people think decline starts in their 50s. They're wrong. In this episode of The Art of Performance, we break down a 47-year longitudinal study tracking physical capacity from age 16 to 63 and the findings are confronting. Peak aerobic capacity? Mid 30s. Peak muscular endurance? Mid 30s. Peak explosive power? Often before 30. Decline begins before 40 and accelerates after that. But here's the real story... Aging doesn't just reduce performance. It separates people. By 63 the gap between the strongest and weakest individuals is enormous and lifestyle plays a defining role in how steep your slope becomes. We dive into: • Why decline starts earlier than you think • What's actually changing physiologically • Why power is the first casualty • How physical activity alters the trajectory • What coaches and everyday athletes should do in their 30s, 40s and beyond This isn't a fear based conversation about aging. It's a strategic one that will give you a fresh persepctive. Because you are already on the curve. The only question is whether you're steering the slope to be shallow or sliding down it rapidly &  unconsciously. If you care about performance, longevity and building a body that can still do things decades from now…this episode is essential listening.

    53 min

  3. FEB 13

    Ep 75: Resilience is a Lie - The Dark Side of "Get Hard" Culture

    Resilience has become a badge of honour. Cold plunges. 4am alarms. No days off. "Stay hard." But what if most of what we call resilience is actually emotional suppression, chronic stress exposure and identity armour masquerading as strength? In this deep psychological dive, Dean & Acos dismantle the modern narrative of resilience and rebuild it properly through the lens of neuroscience, stress physiology, emotional processing and high-performance culture. We explore: • The difference between acute stress and chronic nervous system dysregulation • Why suppression is not strength • How sympathetic dominance quietly erodes performance • When resilience becomes ego-driven self-destruction • The hidden cost of "unfuckablewith" culture • Why high performers burn out silently • The role of psychological flexibility in real toughness • How to build durable humans without breaking them This is not a motivational episode. It's a clinical, uncomfortable and evidence-based conversation about what resilience actually is and what it isn't. If you pride yourself on being tough… this one might challenge you.

    56 min

  4. 11/28/2025

    Ep 74: Under-Fuelled, Overwhelmed & Misled - The Silent Nutrition Crisis Breaking Modern Humans

    In this episode Dean and Acos rip apart one of the biggest and most damaging myths in modern health and performance... The belief that people are overeating! Most high performers, tactical & hybrid athletes and everyday humans are actually chronically under fuelled because modern life has created the perfect storm of: The Under-Eating Paradox Stress, caffeine intake, dopamine addiction, poor sleep and chaotic schedules blunting hunger signals, suppressing appetite and literally tricking people into believing they "don't need much food" The Death of Satiety Hyper-processed food, poor meal structure, speed eating culture, digital overstimulation and disrupted gut–brain signalling have destroyed our ability to feel full, satisfied and substantially fuelled Nutrition Fatigue People don't fail because of willpower. They fail because the decision load of modern life has become unbearable. Too much choice. Too much noise. Zero routine. No defaults. No system. This episode is a deep dive into the physiology, the behavioural psychology and the social realities behind why modern humans struggle with nutrition and why it has doesn't have as much to do with fads, trends or dietary tribes as many think. You'll learn: Why "not feeling hungry in the morning" is a red flag How stress and caffeine quietly shut down appetite Why everyday athletes under-eat more than sedentary people How hyper-palatable food hijacks reward circuitry Why satiety signals lag behind eating speed How decision fatigue destroys consistency The real reason you snack at night Why structure beats motivation in every environment And what a reliable, athlete-ready nutrition system actually looks like This is not another surface-level nutrition chat. This is proper, evidence-based human performance coaching. If you train hard, think you're eating "enough" or feel like you underperform despite putting the work in this episode is about to give you answers you won't hear anywhere else.

    1h 9m

  5. 10/17/2025

    Ep 73: Placebo Power - Why Your Mind Is the Strongest Supplement You'll Ever Take

    In this episode, Dean and Acos unpack one of the most fascinating — and misunderstood - forces in human performance: the placebo effect. From fake supplements that still trigger weight loss to rituals that enhance focus, pain tolerance, and recovery, the science is clear - your beliefs change your biology. We break down the new research on open-label placebos (where people know they're taking something fake but still get results), how belief alters RPE, HRV, digestion, and sleep and why coaches must learn to remove b******t without removing belief. No magic pills. No pseudoscience. Just evidence based insight into how your mind drives performance. "Where the mind goes, the body follows."

    51 min

  6. 10/10/2025

    Ep 72: Ultra-Processed Foods, Fear Marketing and the Real Science Behind Joe Wicks Killer Bar

    Joe Wicks says his new "Killer Protein Bar" proves how dangerous ultra-processed foods really are. The media says it's a wake-up call. We say it's an epic opportunity to discuss the real issue in fear marketing dressed up as health education. In this episode, Dean and Acos cut through the hysteria to expose what's really going on: • The truth about ultra-processed foods and what the science actually shows • Why blaming a single protein bar misses the entire systemic picture • How the fitness industry weaponises fear for clicks, clout and cash • The hidden ingredients Joe Wicks "forgot" to mention and where you already eat them daily • The real health risks that matter: behaviour, context and lifestyle patterns Expect sarcasm, science, and straight talk - no influencer filters, no sensational headlines. Because the real killer isn't the protein bar. EPIt's the b******t we keep swallowing.

    1 hr

  7. 10/03/2025

    Ep 71: Why You'll NEVER Lift The Same As Everyone Else

    Not all Lifts are created equal and neither are you. In this episode we break down why your lever lengths, hip structure, and joint mechanics decide how you move under the bar. Forget copy and paste form cues and Instagram 'perfect' squats this is about biomechanics, not bad form. We'll cover: Why bone length and torso ratios change mechanics Anthropometry How hip morphology and tendon moment arms put hard limits on range of motion A coach's framework to individualise big lifts without wrecking joints Backed by research, stripped of shite and made relatable for athletes and coaches alike - this is your blueprint for programming around anatomy not against it.

    46 min

  8. 09/26/2025

    Ep 70: Mega-Dosing Creatine - Science, Scam or Shitshow?

    Creatine works...it's the most researched supplement in sport, proven to boost strength, power, recovery and even brain health. But somewhere along the way, people started asking: if 5 grams a day works… what about 20? 30? 50? That's where mega-dosing was born. In this episode, I break down: The truth about muscle saturation and why more isn't better Where the "mega-dose" idea came from (and how supplement companies spun it) The side effects and wasted money nobody talks about What the latest 2024-2025 research actually shows Exactly how much creatine you need to perform at your best Spoiler: once your muscles are full, they're full. Mega-dosing is just expensive diarrhoea. Key Takeaways: 3-5 g/day works. That's all you need. Loading is optional (20 g/day x 5-7 days → then 3-5 g/day). Mega-dosing has no added benefit for size, strength, or recovery in healthy athletes. Side effects go up as the dose goes up (bloating, cramps, GI distress). Creatine monohydrate wins - no need for fancy "new" versions.

    36 min
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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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