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High Performance

Welcome to High Performance. Through fascinating conversations with remarkable guests, Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes uncover the secrets behind High Performance and explore how we can all become the best version of ourselves.

We focus on uncovering the learnings from top performers in every field, from sport to entertainment, business, health and wellness.​ No matter where our guests have excelled, they all have first-hand experiences and lessons to share.

On High Performance we find out what non-negotiable behaviours they employed to get them to the top and keep them there.

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Want to get the most from High Performance? Download the new High Performance app for FREE to access every episode, enjoy exclusive documentary and masterclass content. 

You’ll get instant access to insights from the world’s best, will receive daily motivational boosts and can create your own personalised High Performance playlists.

Simply click here or search High Performance in the App store to get started.

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

The High Performance Podcast

At the height of global stardom, Rick Astley made the decision to step away from fame. In this deeply honest conversation, he opens up about the anxiety and fear that came with constant travel, the unhealthy coping mechanisms it triggered, and why leaving the spotlight was the only way to reconnect with himself.

Rick reflects on the drive for financial security that fuelled his career, the realisation that fame is ultimately “a lovely nonsense,” and why the true reward has always been the joy of connecting with people through music, not public recognition. He also shares how therapy and emotional honesty helped him process those experiences and build a more authentic life.

This is a rare glimpse behind the curtain of fame, and a powerful reminder of what really matters when the noise fades.

🚨 Partners

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: 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

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

Rick Astley's Story: The Trauma That Forced Me On Stage (E373)

Matt Fitzpatrick reflects on the mindset and methods that have made him one of golf’s most meticulous competitors. A major champion and relentless learner, Matt has tracked every shot since he was 15, turning numbers into a powerful advantage.

In this episode, he shares how he finds an edge when others have more natural power, what winning the U.S. Open and featuring in a Netflix documentary taught him, and why surrounding himself with honest people has been crucial to his success. Plus, hear the advice he received from none other than Michael Jordan.

This is a fascinating look at the discipline, detail, and mindset behind one of golf’s modern greats.

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights20

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

Matt Fitzpatrick: How Tracking Every Shot Since 15 Built a Ryder Cup Winner

Richard Osman is known for his wit, his bestselling novels, and his sharp eye for detail. But behind it all is a simple guiding habit: tip generously.

For Richard, it’s never just about money. Growing up tall and often feeling different gave him a deep sense of empathy, and over time he realised that generosity, whether through money, time, kindness, or attention, isn’t an extra, it’s essential. It’s how we connect, build trust, and shape the kind of people we want to be.

In this episode, we explore what Richard’s philosophy of generosity can teach us about leadership, empathy, and happiness. Together, we explore:

 • Why empathy often comes from our differences
 • How generosity builds trust and connection
 • The science of giving and why it makes us happier
 • Why small, everyday acts can shape who we become
 • How leaders and teams can practise “tipping generously”

Because high performance isn’t only about discipline and drive, it’s also about compassion, empathy, and the quiet strength of lifting others as we go.

Here is more information on the studies referenced: 

Spending money on others promotes happiness 1. (Dunn, Aknin & Norton, 2008)
What we get when we give 2. (Harvard Medicine, 2023)
Self-Determination Theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being 3. (Deci & Ryan, 2000)
Influencing value priorities and increasing well-being: The effects of reflecting on intrinsic values 4. (Lekes, Hope, Gouveia, Koestner & Philippe, 2012)

Listen to the full episode with Richard Osman: https://pod.fo/e/26ea40

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

Why Giving Is Actually Good For Your Health, with Richard Osman

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, yet the stigma around mental health still keeps too many silent. In this episode, Roman Kemp opens up to Jake and Damian about his own battles with depression, the devastating loss of his best friend, and why talking openly about suicidal thoughts can save lives.

Motivated by personal tragedy, Roman has turned his pain into action. He discusses the new initiative he’s designed alongside Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham for the Premier League – Together Against Suicide, connecting football clubs with local charities, creating spaces where men feel safe enough to speak. 

He also reflects on the strength of family support, and the role both football and community can play in changing the conversation.

This episode is a raw, heartfelt call to break the silence, challenge the stereotypes, and create real, accessible help for those who need it most.

Need Support?

Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org

Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk

Shout: https:giveusashout.org

IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies

🚨 Partners

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights1

Tide 👉 Free £50? Just spend £100 on your Tide card to get it when you use code HP50: https://highpfrmc.com/tidehp50

FORA 👉 Claim a free day pass at any Fora workspace and find the perfect home for your business here: https://highpfrmc.com/fora-free-au

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

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

Roman Kemp: Football’s Role in the Fight for Men’s Mental Health (E372)

The Ryder Cup is one of the greatest events in sport, where Europe and the United States put aside individual achievement for national pride in one of the fiercest rivalries anywhere.

In this episode, European captain Luke Donald joins former captains Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance to share what it really takes to lead under the highest pressure, how to build a winning team culture in just days, and the unforgettable moments that defined their battles against the USA.

This isn’t just a chat about golf, it’s about leadership, unity, and inspiring people to perform when it matters most.

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights20

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

Ryder Cup Rivalry: Through the Eyes of the Winning Captains

When most people think of Usain Bolt, they see the medals, the world records, the effortless dominance. But his journey wasn’t built on winning, it was built on losing.

At the Athens Olympics in 2004, Bolt crashed out in the first round. It was a painful wake-up call, but also the turning point of his career. With the guidance of coach Glen Mills, he learned the habit that would define his legacy: “you have to learn how to lose before you can learn how to win.” 

In this episode, I share what I took from Bolt’s story about truth, resilience, and growth.

Together, we explore:

 • Why losing reveals more than winning ever can
 • How honest self-reflection accelerates progress
 • The role of setbacks in building resilience
 • Why Glen Mills’s philosophy shaped Bolt’s career
 • How to turn failure into the raw material for success

Here is more information on the studies referenced: 

Winning Isn’t Everything: Mood and Testosterone Regulate the Cortisol Response in Competition 1. (Zilioli, S., Watson, N.V., 2013)
Mindset, The New Psychology of Success 2. (Carol Dweck, 2019)

Listen to the full episode with Usain Bolt: https://pod.fo/e/279623

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

The Defining Moment That Changed Usain Bolt's Approach to Failure

Boris Becker is one of tennis’s most iconic figures, a prodigy who won Wimbledon at just 17, a champion who reached the sport’s highest peaks, and a man who has faced extraordinary highs and devastating lows both on and off the court.

In this episode, Boris reflects on the mindset that drove him to success so early in life, the pressure of living in the global spotlight, and the personal challenges that tested his resilience. He speaks candidly about the sacrifices behind sporting greatness, the mental and emotional toll of fame, and what it takes to rebuild after public setbacks.

Boris also shares how he’s learned to balance ambition with perspective, why health and discipline remain central to his daily life, and what he now understands about passion, identity, and purpose beyond winning.

This is an intimate, thought-provoking conversation with a sporting legend who has lived at the very edge of triumph and adversity. 

🚨 Partners

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights1

Tide 👉 Free £50? Just spend £100 on your Tide card to get it when you use code HP50:

Audio: https://highpfrmc.com/tidehp50

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

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

Boris Becker: Surviving Prison, My Truth & Rebuilding Life (E371)

Have you ever found yourself saying yes when you really wanted to say no? 

In this solo episode, Jake and Damian tackle a challenge many of us face, being “too nice” at the expense of ourselves. They unpack the difference between being nice and being kind, showing why true kindness sometimes means honesty, boundaries, and even uncomfortable conversations.

Drawing on insights from guests like Martin Lewis, Sara Davies, Adam Grant, and Jameela Jamil, they explore radical candor, the power of disagreeable givers, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who truly lift you up.

Packed with practical takeaways, this episode is a guide to moving from people-pleasing to authentic kindness, where self-respect and compassion go hand in hand.

Listen to the episodes mentioned: 

Martin Lewis: https://pod.fo/e/22a519

Sara Davies: https://pod.fo/e/2a13a3

Adam Grant: https://pod.fo/e/1546d4

Jameela Jamil: https://pod.fo/e/225b9e

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights20

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

How to Stop Being Too Nice to People

Before he was a Formula One driver, Lando Norris was the kid in the McLaren garage packing boxes, dismantling equipment, and working side by side with the mechanics. No glamour, no headlines, just long hours in the background, doing the kind of jobs nobody sees. What struck me most is that he didn’t see it as grunt work. He saw it as belonging. As trust-building, as part of something bigger than himself, and that small shift is the difference between viewing work as a job, a career, or a calling.

In this episode, we explore what it really means to treat your work as a calling, not just a set of tasks. We look at psychologist Dr. Amy Wrzesniewski’s research on how we find meaning in the everyday, and how something as simple as reframing a task can transform the way we show up.

Together, we explore:

 • Why Lando’s early garage work laid the foundation for his career
 • The psychology of job, career, and calling
 • How 
job crafting • turns small tasks into meaningful ones
 • What leaders can learn about trust from Formula One teamwork
 • How to reframe your own work so it matters more

Because high performance isn’t only about winning under the lights, it’s about the way you approach the work nobody else notices.

Here is more information on the studies referenced: 

Jobs, Careers, and Callings: People’s Relations to Their Work 1. (Amy Wrzesniewski, Clark McCauley, Paul Rozin, Barry Schwartz, 1997)
Jobs, Identities, and Work: How Job Crafting Relates to Meaningful Work and Work Identity 2. (Justin M. Berg, Jane E. Dutton, Amy Wrzesniewski, 2013)
Positive Emotions Broaden the Scope of Attention and Thought-Action Repertoires 3. , (Barbara Fredrickson, 2001)

Listen to the full episode with Lando Norris: https://pod.fo/e/112cbb

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

How Lando Norris Found Purpose Long Before F1

Amanda Staveley is one of the most influential figures in modern football, best known for helping steer the takeover that transformed Newcastle United.

 

In this episode, Amanda opens up about what it takes to build something lasting in football and in life. From being underestimated in high finance to proving herself in one of the toughest industries, she reflects on the quiet power of persistence and the importance of surrounding yourself with people you can trust. 

She talks candidly about what it means to keep going in the face of uncertainty, how her Huntington’s disease has sharpened her priorities, and why empathy and vulnerability have become such central parts of her journey.

This episode is about more than football, it’s about life, hope, and the meaning of legacy.

🚨 Partners

Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights1

Tide 👉 Free £50? Just spend £100 on your Tide card to get it when you use code HP50: https://highpfrmc.com/tidehp50

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

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

Amanda Staveley: The Untold Story Behind Newcastle's £300M Takeover (E370)

Former journalist and political strategist, Andy Coulson, joins Jake and Damian for an insightful conversation about his experiences with public scandal, failure, and personal growth. He opens up about his belief in the usefulness of failure and how it can be a catalyst for positive change, even when it's difficult to see in the moment.

In this episode, Andy reflects on how failure reshapes your life, relationships, and perspective. He also shares the powerful lessons he's learned from navigating public scrutiny and personal challenges, offering advice on how to appreciate what really matters in life, even before a crisis hits.

Through his story, this episode explores the importance of gratitude, self-reflection, and the need to find peace amid chaos.

Andy is the host of podcast 'Crisis, What Crisis?'

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

What Going to Prison Taught Andy Coulson About Failure

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