Performance People
All Episodes

Inside Team GB’s Winter Olympic Master Plan | Pat Sharples
32:38|On this episode of Performance People, Georgie Ainslie sits down with Pat Sharples, Head Coach of GB Snowsport, for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Olympic teams are built.Pat reveals what really happens inside a Winter Olympic campaign, from the moment the previous Games end to the final weeks before competition in Milan-Cortina. He explains how Team GB manages 12 very different snow sport disciplines, balancing creativity in freestyle athletes with the intensity of alpine racing, all while keeping athletes confident, healthy and competition-ready.The conversation dives into mindset, risk and preparation in extreme sports, where athletes rehearse dangerous tricks hundreds of times before executing them under Olympic pressure. Pat also discusses how confidence, fear management and decision-making can be the difference between medals and missed opportunities.Away from the slopes, Pat shares how recovery, sleep, nutrition and smart performance planning have become critical, especially when competing against nations with far larger budgets. Despite those challenges, he explains why British Snowsport is entering these Winter Olympic Games with optimism, and highlights the athletes to watch as Team GB targets its strongest Winter Games yet.________________________________The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.________________________________ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com________________________________Connect with Performance PeopleHit subscribe today for the latest. 🎧 Spotify/Apple Musichttp://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/________________________________The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Dylan Fletcher | Dropped from SailGP: The Moment That Changed Everything
32:54|In this episode of Performance People, we’re joined by Emirates GBR champion driver and newly appointed America’s Cup GB1 helm, Dylan Fletcher, to explore the defining moment behind one of British sailing’s most remarkable career arcs.Dylan reflects on the tough reality of being dropped from the SailGP circuit early in his career, describing the moment the “rug was pulled” and how losing control of his future forced a complete reset. What followed was an uncompromising focus on what he could control, a mindset shift that reshaped his approach to performance and decision-making.The conversation dives deep into pressure, resilience and life inside elite sport. Dylan shares what it’s really like to operate under extreme expectation, how he manages nerves, recovery and self-doubt before racing, and why failure, rather than success, has often been his greatest motivation.We also explore the inner workings of sailing’s biggest environments, from SailGP to the America’s Cup. Dylan opens up on helming alongside Sir Ben Ainslie, adapting to the demands of a 150 person team, and learning how to win both on and off the water.Further into the conversation, Dylan reflects on the Olympic campaign that culminated in gold medal success, and why committing fully to winning gold, rather than simply chasing a medal, changed everything.The episode comes at a landmark moment. Emirates GBR were crowned SailGP champions in 2025, and Dylan has just been appointed helm of GB1, the British challenger for the next America’s Cup; placing him at the centre of British sailing’s next chapter.________________________________The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.________________________________ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com________________________________Connect with Performance PeopleHit subscribe today for the latest. 🎧 Spotify/Apple Musichttp://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/________________________________The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
David Howden | The Underdog Mindset Behind a Global British Powerhouse
40:17|How do you turn three people and a dog into a 23,000-strong global business? For David Howden, Founder and Group CEO of Howden, the answer begins not in a boardroom but in childhood adversity. David lost his father aged seven and watched his family lose their home overnight - a moment that forged lifelong resilience and a hunger to build something of his own.That experience would power a career in insurance defined by imagination, not paperwork. David explains how he came to see insurance not as a grudge purchase, but as the oil in the engine - or, in his words, the Tesla battery - that enables societies, businesses and individuals to take risks, innovate and grow. Today Howden operates in 56 countries, fuelled by a culture that has employee ownership at the heart of it, puts people first, and which welcomes mistakes as lessons rather than failures.From empowering teams to build their own businesses to shaping grassroots change through ambitious partnerships across rugby, equine sports and Emirates GBR in SailGP. David talks culture, leadership, risk, global growth and why being the underdog matters. This is the story of an entrepreneur building a business to be proud of, and inviting others to build it with him.________________________________The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com________________________________Connect with Performance PeopleHit subscribe today for the latest. 🎧 Spotify/Apple Musichttp://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/________________________________Show notesThe views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.________________________________
Aimee Fuller | Pressure, Injury and Walking Away from the Olympics
45:40|Former Winter Olympian turned broadcaster, Aimee Fuller joins Performance People to reflect on a career defined by courage, creativity and confronting fear.Aimee competed for Team GB at the Winter Olympics in Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018, specialising in slopestyle and big air, and becoming the first woman to land a double backflip in competition. In this conversation, she opens up about the defining moment that shaped her journey; the extraordinary pressure of qualifying for her first Olympic Games, having to deliver career-best results in the final two events after sitting 72nd in the world rankings.She speaks candidly about injury, recovery and the psychological toll of elite sport, including how fear of injury began to outweigh performance ahead of her second Winter Olympics, a realisation that ultimately led to her retirement. Aimee also reflects on identity beyond competition, the challenge of letting go, and how running and broadcasting have helped her rediscover purpose and joy in performance.Insightful, honest and full of energy, this episode explores resilience, pressure and what it really takes to step away from the thing that once defined you, and move forward stronger.________________________________The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com________________________________Connect with Performance PeopleHit subscribe today for the latest. 🎧 Spotify/Apple Musichttp://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/________________________________The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.________________________________
Iain ‘Goobs’ Jensen | Resilience, Recovery and Returning Home
33:33|Iain ‘Goobs’ Jensen reflects on elite performance, pressure and resilience in SailGP. This episode of Performance People, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, was recorded in Abu Dhabi, just ahead of the SailGP Grand Final, at a moment of real intensity, both for the championship and for Goobs personally. From Olympic gold, via a 2025 Emirates GBR treble to a new chapter with Australian Flying Roos, this is a remarkable story of high-performance sailing.A double Olympic gold medallist and one of the most respected figures in high-performance sailing, Goobs reflects on a career that has spanned the Olympic pathway, the America’s Cup and SailGP, all during a period of extraordinary technological change in the sport. From foiling breakthroughs to life inside prototype racing machines, he offers rare insight into what it takes to perform when the margins are vanishingly small.The conversation also goes far beyond racing. Iain speaks with honesty about setbacks, pressure and perspective, including the health challenges that interrupted his career and reshaped his outlook on performance, ambition and team culture. Throughout, he returns to the importance of trust, shared purpose and doing the basics well under extreme pressure.The timing of this episode marks a significant transition. After years with Emirates GBR SailGP Team, Goobs discusses his decision to return home to Australia and join the Bonds Flying Roos, ahead of the start of the 2026 SailGP Championship in Perth.This is a thoughtful, deeply human conversation about resilience, elite performance and knowing when it’s time for the next chapter.________________________________The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.________________________________ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com________________________________Connect with Performance PeopleHit subscribe today for the latest.🎧 Spotify/Apple Musichttp://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/________________________________The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Performance People 2025 Wrapped | Insights, Lessons & Funnies from Elite Sport
19:30|From defining moments to peak performance, recovery, leadership and everything in between, this special end-of-year episode brings together the very best of Performance People.Across the past year, we’ve sat down with world-class athletes, coaches and thinkers to understand what really drives performance, not just on the biggest stages, but in the moments that shape careers and lives. This highlights episode captures the essence of those conversations.You’ll hear candid reflections on defining moments from the likes of Mike Tindall, Ed Chamberlin, Matthew Syed, Jimmy Anderson, George North and Geraint Thomas. There are deep dives into peak performance and strategy with Ben Ainslie, Alistair Brownlee, James Vowles, Tammy Beaumont and Ben Ryan, alongside powerful insights into recovery, resilience and mindset from athletes including Katie Boulter, Sarah Storey, Fin Smith and Abi Burton.And because performance isn’t always serious, we’ve also included some of our favourite off-script moments, interruptions and giggles from guests such as Gabby Logan, Natalie Pinkham, Mike Tindall and Ted Kravitz.Whether you’re an athlete, leader or simply curious about what it takes to perform under pressure, this episode is a celebration of the conversations that defined our year.________________________________The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.________________________________ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com________________________________Connect with Performance PeopleHit subscribe today for the latest. 🎧 Spotify/Apple Musichttp://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/________________________________The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.© Gameface Limited 2025. All rights reserved.________________________________
Ben Ryan | Inside Brentford FC’s Data-Centric Performance Approach
56:15|Ben Ryan is one of the most distinctive performance leaders in elite sport.Now Performance Director at Brentford Football Club, Ben is helping shape one of the Premier League’s most progressive, data-driven environments, where alignment, culture and marginal gains matter as much as talent.In this conversation with Georgie Ainslie, Ben explains how Brentford’s performance model works in practice: from decision-making rooted in data, to creating psychological safety in a ruthless industry, to managing player availability, recovery and long-term development in a congested football calendar. He shares how Brentford balance innovation with consistency, and why being “boringly sensible” can be a competitive advantage.Ben’s thinking, however, is forged well beyond football. He reflects on his extraordinary journey in rugby, including his time as head coach of Fiji Sevens, where he led the team to their first ever Olympic gold medal. That experience, built on cultural understanding, autonomy and belief, continues to shape his approach to leadership today.This is a wide-ranging discussion about performance under pressure, learning from failure, and building environments where people can do the best work of their careers, whatever the sport.This episode of Performance People is brought to you by J.P. Morgan Private Bank.________________________________The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.________________________________ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com________________________________Connect with Performance PeopleHit subscribe today for the latest.🎧 Spotify/Apple Musichttp://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/________________________________The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.© Gameface Limited 2025. All rights reserved.________________________________
AI and the Future of Human Performance with Pete McKnight
27:33|In this episode, Georgie sits down again with human performance coach Pete McKnight, a man with nearly 25 years’ experience shaping Olympians, F1 drivers and world-class performers. Pete breaks down what “human performance” really is: a multi-dimensional blend of physiology, psychology, cognition and nutrition, and why the days of thinking fitness alone defines performance are long gone.He explains how the rise of specialist performance teams has transformed elite sport, moving from a lone strength coach to integrated units of physios, psychologists, nutritionists and data experts all pulling in the same direction. But the real magic, Pete says, isn’t in assembling the biggest team; it’s in getting them to collaborate, individualise and adapt around the athlete.Georgie and Pete dig into what the rest of us can learn from elite environments: clarity of goals, proper planning and, above all, relentless consistency. No shortcuts. No silver bullets. Just smart, sustained work.They also explore how technology and AI are reshaping training, from affordable diagnostics to data-driven programmes, and how the future hinges on understanding the athlete as much as the algorithm. Plus: fascinating insights from Pete’s work across Formula One, defence and space on how humans and machines can truly perform together.________________________________The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com________________________________Connect with Performance PeopleHit subscribe today for the latest. 🎧 Spotify/Apple Musichttp://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/________________________________The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.© Gameface Limited 2025. All rights reserved.
Ben Ainslie | The Future of the America’s Cup & A Treble for Emirates GBR
38:14|Fresh from a history-making weekend in Abu Dhabi, Ben Ainslie joins Georgie at home to reflect on Emirates GBR’s extraordinary treble; the season title, the Grand Final and the Impact League win and why this victory mattered more than most after a turbulent year for the team. Ben breaks down the decisive moments of the Grand Final race, highlighting Dylan Fletcher’s leadership and charting the journey that took him from being dropped earlier in SailGP to returning as a champion.The conversation then turns to the biggest shift in modern sailing: the new America’s Cup partnership agreement. Ben explains why the Cup had to evolve, the challenges of uniting rival teams, and how this unprecedented structure aims to secure the event’s long-term future. He lifts the lid on difficult negotiations, commercial pressures, and what this transformation means for athletes, teams, and fans.Finally, Georgie asks the question everyone wants answered: will Ben sail in the next America’s Cup? He reflects on legacy, leadership, and whether stepping back, or stepping on, is the right call. A candid, insightful episode offering a rare inside look at elite sport, big decisions, and the future of high-performance sailing.________________________________The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com________________________________Connect with Performance PeopleHit subscribe today for the latest. 🎧 Spotify/Apple Musichttp://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/________________________________The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.© Gameface Limited 2025. All rights reserved.
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