The High Performance Podcast

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.

Paul Gascoigne is one of the most gifted footballers Britain has ever produced. But behind the goals, the tears, and the headlines, who is the real man beneath the Gazza legend?

In this raw and deeply moving conversation, Jake and Damian sit down with Paul in his home in Bournemouth for one of the most honest interviews he has ever given. From growing up in Gateshead and witnessing a childhood tragedy that would shape him forever, to becoming the most famous man in Britain overnight, Paul opens up about the price of fame, the battle with addiction, and why humour has always been both his greatest gift and his greatest shield.

They talk about the moments that defined him - Italia 90, Euro 96, the tears, the goals, the missed chances - and the managers and teammates who believed in him when others had written him off. But more than football, this is a conversation about a man still standing. Still finding joy in the small things and the people around him who genuinely care.

As Paul himself says, people know Paul. But very few people know Gazza, including himself.

This conversation was recorded at Paul's house in 2024.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Smedley is one of Formula 1’s most respected engineers, known for his work with drivers like Felipe Massa and his time at Ferrari. In this episode, Rob sits down with Jake to share what it really takes to perform at the highest level, from the intense pressure of F1 to the human connections that make success possible.

Rob reflects on his first meeting with Felipe Massa, explaining how belief, structure, and brutal honesty helped Felipe find his first podium. He shares why driver and engineer relationships thrive on trust and transparency, and how tough conversations, done right, can transform performance.

He also opens up about the emotional side of F1, from the heartbreak of Felipe’s 2009 Hungary crash to personal losses that gave him perspective on life and sport. These moments show the human cost of high performance and why managing emotion is as important as managing the car.

Beyond the track, Rob talks about giving back through the FAT Karting League, making motorsport more accessible for thousands of young drivers. This episode is a rare look at leadership, resilience, and the balance between pressure and care at the very top of sport.

Find out more about FAT Karting League: https://fat-international.shop/en-ng/pages/karting-league

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au3

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.

Forty years ago, in Sarajevo, 24 million people watched Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean achieve the impossible, Olympic Gold that redefined their sport forever. But while the world remembers those four minutes of 'Bolero,' the true story of high performance started a decade earlier in a cold, dank rink in Nottingham.

In this episode, Jayne and Chris take us inside the bubble of an elite partnership that has survived and thrived for over 50 years.

In this episode, we explore:

* The Creative Engineering of 'Bolero': How they pushed the boundaries of the rules by starting on their knees for 18 seconds to fit an 18-minute masterpiece into a four-minute limit .
* The Discipline of the "Smallest Team": Insights into their 6-hour training days and their rule of never missing a session, even when sick or injured, to prove to their minds that they could perform under any adversity .
* The Mechanics of Partnership: How they established clear roles, Chris as the "bossy" visionary and Jayne as the grounding force who made the visions possible, and why "talking with their eyes" became their ultimate competitive advantage.
This is a masterclass in mutual respect, meticulous preparation, and the courage to be different when the stakes are at their highest. Whether you’re part of a business duo or looking to master your own craft, Jayne and Chris’s journey offers timeless lessons on what it takes to stay at the top for half a century.

Our partners:

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

Simba 👉 Jake believes better performance starts with better sleep. Discover Simba, start your 200-night trial today now:
https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-simba-au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Peet is one of the most decorated coaches in British sport. In just three years as Wigan Warriors head coach, he's won seven major trophies including back-to-back Super League titles, the World Club Challenge, and a historic clean sweep in 2024 - all before turning 42. And he never played professional rugby league.

Rising from coaching 12-year-olds on muddy fields to leading Britain's most successful club, Matt has built a dynasty through an uncompromising philosophy: culture comes first, trophies follow. At Wigan, that means aligning vision, attitude, and behaviour, and building a team where learning, honesty, and care matter as much as winning.

In this episode, Matt sits down with Damian to reveal how that culture is lived every day. He shares why his most important question is always "What did we learn?" - even after victories - and how creating psychological safety allows players to challenge coaches, coaches to apologise, and everyone to grow.

Matt also opens up about ownership, vulnerability, and connection. From taking full responsibility for every error on the field, to sharing his own struggles with the group - he explains how shared responsibility and mateship show up when pressure is highest.

This is a masterclass in leadership beyond tactics. From a philosophy graduate who never made it as a player to the coach Sir Kevin Sinfield says he'd have "loved to play for”.

Our partners:

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

Simba 👉 Jake believes better performance starts with better sleep. Discover Simba, start your 200-night trial today now:
https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-simba-au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.