Performance Intelligence

Andrew May
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The show that unlocks potential for everyday life. Mental Skills and Leadership Coach, Andrew May, talks to an all-star guest list of experts to unlock every edge of performance.

  1. 11h ago

    The Science of Sleep High Performers Swear By, From Special Forces To CEOs | Dr Jemma King

    The best performers in the world have found a competitive edge that's completely free. You can use it too, and it starts tonight. When Dr Jemma King put wearables on Australia's Special Forces in 2017, the culture was "sleep when I'm dead". Within months, those same soldiers were showing off their recovery scores and competing over who slept the most. Not because they went soft. Because the data showed sleep was making them faster, sharper and safer, and elite performers chase anything that does that. Jemma has spent a decade measuring what great sleep unlocks in people whose decisions matter: Special Operations Command, Olympic swimmers, CEOs. Her conclusion is genuinely exciting. Sharp is recoverable at any age, and it doesn't take supplements or gadgets. It takes a handful of deliberate habits the world's best are already using. Jemma introduces you to the midnight librarian who explains your 3am wake-ups (and how to give her the night off), the express bus that takes you straight to deep sleep, and how to build your own Sleep First formula around your biology and your life. Your upgrade is waiting. 00:00 It's 3am. You're awake again.02:05 Two experts, one room at last04:20 Meet your midnight librarian: why you wake at 3am07:55 The other 3am suspects: temperature, gut bugs, sugar and alcohol12:22 The welcome practice: making peace with 3am15:04 "Mother nature is like the mafia"16:36 Why the pub sometimes beats the pillow19:01 Wearables: who should buy one, who should bin one20:57 The traders who made more money reading their own heartbeat22:39 The five metrics worth tracking25:17 Catch the express bus: the case for sleep consistency29:26 The DEC2 gene and the ruthlessly selfish habits of the world's best32:19 How Special Forces went from "sleep when I'm dead" to sleep competitions36:35 The pattern that made a stress scientist write a sleep book38:14 Your Sleep First formula40:20 Burnout, insecurity and the six whys44:27 Kids, dogs and the family bed50:53 The spoon test: are you sleep deprived?52:24 Bed temperature, Eight Sleep and why the news wrecks your night55:37 Why tired brains see threats everywhere57:23 Testosterone, saunas and protecting the crown jewels1:02:14 Sleep First and where to find Dr Jemma King Learn more about Dr Jemma: https://jemmakingbio-pa.com.au/ Buy a copy of Dr Jemma's new book: https://shorturl.at/v3Mt7Listen to the previous episode with Dr Jemma: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/44-dr-jemma-king-getting-kidnapped-in-russia-working-as-a-stunt-double-and-performing-under-pressure Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/ Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/ Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

  2. 3d ago

    Bite Size: Why Being Underestimated Might Be Your Greatest Asset | Nic White & James Slipper

    Nic White played 77 test matches for the Wallabies. For most of that career, he felt like he was one bad game away from being dropped, one coach away from being told he was not in the plans. He was told exactly that in 2015. So he left. What he did next, and why he came back, says a great deal about what actually drives elite performance over the long haul. This is a conversation about the difference between proving people wrong and knowing your own worth, and why both matter more than most leaders admit. Follow Nic on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/white_nic/?hl=enFollow Slips on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesslipper/?hl=en Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/ Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/ Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

  3. Jul 8

    Bite Size: Mental Rehearsal Is Not Mindset, It's Neuroscience | Andrew May

    Jim Carrey wrote a cheque to himself for ten million dollars when he was a broke, unknown actor. Sara Blakely visualised a billion-dollar business and an Oprah appearance before either was remotely plausible. Easy to dismiss as coincidence. Harder to dismiss once you understand what an fMRI shows when a person runs a scenario in their mind.  Andrew May breaks down the neuroscience behind why mental rehearsal works, and why leaders who ignore it are leaving a genuine performance edge on the table. Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/ Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/ Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

  4. Jul 5

    Bite Size: ADHD It's Not Laziness, It's Low Dopamine | Lindy Hadges

    Since the 1700s we have described this condition in the language of character. Lazy. Undisciplined. Careless. As recently as 2023, an Australian parliamentary inquiry heard the same words still follow people through their lives. Lindy Hadges explains why a condition that sits in the brain attracts shame that an identical shortfall in the pancreas never would, and what happens the moment someone stops believing the story they were told about themselves. View the ADHD Cake model: https://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ADHD-Cake-of-Understanding.pngFind out more about the ADHD Foundation: https://adhdfoundation.org.au/about-usConnect with Lindy: https://ccaa.net.au/practitioner/200102-14/ Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/ Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/ Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

  5. Jul 1

    Bite Size: He Ran His Recovery Like a Pre-Season | Jason McCartney

    The first thing Jason McCartney asked for wasn't a doctor. It was a whiteboard. Badly injured and facing months in hospital, he didn't ask "why me?!". He set a goal, picked a deadline, and started working backwards, the same way he had for every season of his AFL career. What he learned about handling the moments that flatten everyone else is something most leaders never have to discover until it's forced on them. You can find Jason at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-mccartney-oam-b10a39217/ Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/ Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/ Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

  6. Jun 28

    Bite Size: You've Accepted a Lie About Getting Older | Craig Harper

    There's a moment in your 50s when you start planning for decline instead of planning for growth. Craig Harper never had that moment. At 60+, he's more committed to his physical and mental performance than most 35-year-olds.  This isn't about genetics or obsession. It's about asking a different question: what would I have to do differently to stay in the game? His answer might surprise you. Craig Harper is a high-performance coach, author, and speaker specialising in sustainable performance and behaviour change.  You can find Craig at his website:https://craigharper.net/At his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craiganthonyharper/Listen to The You Project:https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-you-project/id1342430567 Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/ Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/ Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

  7. Jun 24

    How to Access Flow State & Significantly Boost Performance | Dr Sue Jackson

    Have you ever finished a presentation, race, meeting or performance and someone asked, "How did it go?" only to realise you can barely remember it? Not because you failed but because you were completely immersed. Dr Sue Jackson is one of the world's leading researchers on flow and co-authored the defining book on the subject alongside the man who first named it, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Sue takes you inside one of the most sought-after and least understood states in human performance. Why do some moments feel effortless while others feel like a grind? Why can pressure elevate performance one day and destroy it the next? And why do some of our best performances seem to happen when we stop trying so hard to force them? Using examples ranging from Olympic athletes to Wallabies captain Harry Wilson's match-winning moment against Argentina, Sue explores why some performances feel effortless, why pressure can either sharpen or derail us, and why trying harder isn't always the answer. This is about attention, confidence, pressure, preparation and the hidden conditions behind extraordinary performance. Because flow isn't something you find. It's something you allow. 00:00 Why your best performances can be the hardest to explain 02:14 The psychological state that fascinates elite performers 05:58 What athletes mean when they say "everything just clicked" 10:08 Flow vs clutch: two very different ways to perform under pressure 13:09 Harry Wilson's match-winning Wallabies moment, and what it reveals about performance 19:27 The letter that changed Sue Jackson's career 26:51 The hidden ingredients behind a flow state 28:00 The challenge-skill balance that can make or break performance 32:00 Why anxiety might be closer to flow than you think 39:03 The attention crisis nobody is talking about 42:18 Are we losing our ability to focus? 45:40 The coaching habit that can pull athletes out of the moment 48:53 Why flow feels energising instead of exhausting 50:32 Can you perform brilliantly without being in flow? 52:18 The mistake people make when they try to force flow 54:31 What extreme athletes understand about being fully present 57:19 The surprising connection between deliberate practice and effortless performance 59:00 How to experience more flow in everyday life Dr Sue Jackson Website: www.drsuejackson.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drsuejackson Instagram: @suejackson_flow Facebook: drsuejacksonflowView the 8 channel flow model: https://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/8-Channel-Flow-Model_Jackson-scaled.jpg Books: Flow in Sports (with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, 1999): drsuejackson.com/flow-in-sports-book Experiencing Flow: Life Beyond Boredom and Anxiety (2024): drsuejackson.com/new-book-experiencing-flow Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/ Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/ Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

    How to Access Flow State & Significantly Boost Performance | Dr Sue Jackson

  8. Jun 21

    Bite Size: Why a Psychophysiologist Thinks We're Treating Depression Wrong | Dr Paul Taylor

    Most conversations about depression treatment start and end with medication. But what if that starting point is too narrow? Paul Taylor challenges a widely accepted assumption in mental health care that antidepressants are the primary or most effective solution for depression. What he argues is not simplistic and not anti-medication. It’s more uncomfortable than that: that for many people, medication alone may not be enough to meaningfully address the deeper drivers of depression. That raises a harder question most people never get asked: if medication isn’t the full answer, what is? This is a conversation that sits in the tension between science, treatment norms, and lived experience. And it may change how you think about the way depression is actually treated in practice. You can find Dr Paul at his website: https://www.paultaylor.biz/or at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultaylor1971/Buy a copy of Dr Paul's new book: https://www.paultaylor.biz/books Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/ Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/ Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The show that unlocks potential for everyday life. Mental Skills and Leadership Coach, Andrew May, talks to an all-star guest list of experts to unlock every edge of performance.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrew May
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    435
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Performance Intelligence
  • Show Website
    Performance Intelligence

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