The High Performance Podcast

Avoiding tough conversations might feel easier, but it often holds us back. In this episode, Jake and Damian unpack why leaning into difficult conversations is essential for growth, connection, and real leadership. With insights from guests like James Vowles, Emily Maitlis, Charles Duhigg, and Joleon Lescott, they reveal how feedback, when delivered and received with clarity and care, can transform relationships. From reframing criticism to preparing with empathy, they explore practical ways to handle emotional discussions, without defensiveness or blame. Whether it’s shifting from accusation to curiosity or learning to speak with respectful candor, the episode is full of tools you can use right now. Listen in as Jake and Damian explore how mastering hard conversations can unlock trust, growth, and stronger human connection. Listen to the episodes mentioned: Charles Duhigg: https://pod.fo/e/22db6c Joleon Lescott: https://pod.fo/e/25003c Les Ferdinand: https://pod.fo/e/2c5bda Gary Lineker: https://pod.fo/e/12b34c Emily Maitlis: https://pod.fo/e/19028a James Vowles: https://pod.fo/e/21794f Rene Meulensteen: https://pod.fo/e/2bd0c6

What if the thing that makes you extraordinary isn’t something you’re born with, but something you choose? In this episode, Jason Fox, former Special Forces operator, bestselling author, and host of SAS: Who Dares Wins, shares the habits that helped him move from feeling unremarkable to performing under extreme pressure. Not because he believed he was destined for greatness, but because he learned how to respond when it mattered most. We explore what it means to stay calm in chaos, how to build resilience when life doesn’t go to plan, and the mindset shift that can turn self-doubt into strength. Jason talks about identity, trauma, his daughter’s quiet courage, and the power of asking better questions in difficult moments. Questions like: * What would the best version of me do right now? * What if I’m more capable than I think? * What would courage look like here? This is a conversation about finding your footing when the world tilts, and discovering that the superpower you’re searching for might already be in you. Listen to the full episode with Jason Fox: https://pod.fo/e/24412f [https://pod.fo/e/24412f] Here is more information on the studies referenced:  The Batman Effect: Improving Perseverance in Young Children [https://www.bbc.co.uk/worklife/article/20200817-the-batman-effect-how-having-an-alter-ego-empowers-you], Published In: Child Development, 2016 Rachel White et al (University of Michigan)

Graeme Lowdon is a seasoned motorsport executive best known for co-founding the Marussia F1 Team.  In this episode, Graeme dives into the heartbeat of Formula One as the ultimate team game. He shares how success isn’t just about speed or strategy, but about having a diverse group of talented individuals united by a common purpose.  Graeme also opens up about the difficult moments that come with the sport, especially handling loss and uncertainty. He talks candidly about the emotional impact when a team member is hurt and the importance of resilience and trust during those times. This episode offers a rare, honest look at what it takes to build and lead in one of the toughest environments in sport. 🚨 Partners Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights1 [https://highpfrmc.com/heights1] HP Foundation 👉Do you want to kick-start an evolution that will change the lives of millions of children? Find out more about the High Performance Foundation: https://hppod.co/foundation HP Corporate Events 👉Click here to book High Performance Events: https://hppod.co/corporate-events Explore offers and discounts through our other partners: https://hppod.co/partners

Who are you when the job title drops away? This episode digs deep into the question we often avoid but desperately need to ask ourselves. Jake and Damian dive into the importance of knowing who you are beyond your role, sharing honest and powerful insights from guests like Simon Sinek, Phil Heath, Ali Abdaal, and John McAvoy. They unpack how easy it is to confuse identity with achievement, and why that can leave us lost when the spotlight fades. From writing your own obituary to asking a friend what truly makes you you, this episode offers simple yet profound ways to reconnect with your real self, beyond the job, the status, or the performance. It’s a grounding reminder to live with purpose, let go of regret, and define success on your own terms. Listen to the episodes mentioned: Simon Sinek: https://pod.fo/e/18ee0e [https://pod.fo/e/18ee0e] Phill Heath: https://pod.fo/e/2313e6 [https://pod.fo/e/2313e6] Ali Abdaal: https://pod.fo/e/213471 [https://pod.fo/e/213471] John McAvoy: https://pod.fo/e/f0815 [https://pod.fo/e/f0815]

When you think of Gordon Ramsay, you probably think of shouting, sarcasm, and one-liners hot enough to sear a steak. But behind the fire is a habit that’s far more important than the volume: He takes feedback professionally, not personally. In this episode, we go beyond the reputation and dig into the mindset that helped Gordon rise, not just to fame, but to genuine mastery. From his early football dreams to Michelin-starred kitchens, Ramsay shares how embracing criticism, and choosing to learn from it instead of defending against it, changed everything. We explore: * Why your first reaction to feedback is rarely your best * What neuroscience tells us about why feedback feels so threatening * The “three-beat” rule that can shift how you respond * A better way to give feedback: the feedforward method * How humility, not ego, fuels real growth Whether you're leading a team, learning a craft, or just trying to handle tough conversations better, this episode is for you. Because growth isn’t about never being wrong. It’s about what you do when someone tells you you are. Listen to the full episode with Gordon Ramsay: https://pod.fo/e/1fa614 [https://pod.fo/e/1fa614] Here is more information on the studies referenced:  1. The effects of feedback interventions on performance [https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0033-2909.119.2.254], published in Psychological Bulletin: Avraham N. Kluger & Angelo DeNisi (1996)  2. Feedforward approach [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234727011_Author's_personal_copy_The_feedforward_interview] Avraham N. Kluger & Dina Nir (2010)