Push Your Peak

In our final episode of the series, we're delighted to invite Track Cycling World Champion, Dan Bigham to the podcast. Dan most recently won gold in the Team Pursuit at the 2022 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and silver at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. In August this year, Dan also broke the UCI indoor hour record covering a distance of 55.548km. Outside of his achievements on the track, Dan is currently a race engineer with Ineos Grenadiers. Everything about Dan and his successes are a testament to the marginal gains he looks for in his physical and technical performance.

Our penultimate episode of the series is with US cyclist and the ‘Queen of Gravel’, Alison Tetrick. She describes herself as a cowgirl, scientist, storyteller and professional cyclist! Her journey has taken her from growing up on a ranch in California to representing the USA national cycling team.  In a career that almost ended her life, she was ranked in the top 10 professional racers in the world, before a sequence of serious crashes which led her to explore different adventures on her bike. Listen to this fascinating episode to learn how you can push your peak performance no matter what challenges get in your way.“Pushing your peak will mean a different thing to everyone. For me, it's not always about winning races, it’s about how you track your training, your performance and how you feel in those moments, to be the best you can be.”

Louise chats to endurance athlete, John McAvoyHis story begins way before his professional athletic endeavours. From a very young age, John was drawn into crime and at 18 years old he was convicted for armed robbery, getting locked away at one of Britain’s most secure prisons for 10 years.During his time in confinement, John found his way out through sport - from doing cell circuits to holding three world records and seven British records on an indoor rowing machine.Tune in to this empowering conversation about his time in prison, the mental and physical struggles, and the incredible work he is now doing to support young offenders through the power of sport and performance.

In S2: Episode 2, Louise is joined by Black Ferns Culture and Leadership Manager for the New Zealand Women’s Rugby team, Allan Bunting.Allan’s credentials are world class, having been involved with the Black Ferns Sevens for up to a decade overseeing their success at every international tournament, and now he is a part of the Black Ferns Senior Rugby Union team, [who are currently competing in the Rugby World Cup.]His on-field achievements are well documented but one of his great strengths is growing and supporting an authentic and inclusive high performing environment that empower those within.Tune into this inspirational episode to learn the values and beliefs that drive Allan to be the leader he is, and what it would mean to win a home World Cup. 

One of Britain’s most successful NFL players, Efe currently plays as a Defensive End for the Washington Commanders. He was born in Nigeria, raised in the Netherlands and moved to England at the age of 10. He was the first player to go straight from a European Football League to the NFL, starting his career at the London Warriors in 2014. From there, Efe has played for the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, the Buffalo Bills and most recently signed with the Washington Commanders this season. Efe is having a huge impact on the growth of NFL in the UK and is an ambassador of the NFL UK Academy.Listen to this fascinating episode where Efe talks about how he got into the NFL, the physical demands of the game and what his ambitions are for the season ahead.

In a trophy-laden professional rugby league career spanning 18 years, Kevin Sinfield made more than 500 appearances for Leeds Rhinos, represented England and Great Britain on more than 40 occasions, and is notably the most decorated professional league player in English history. Kevin has most recently changed careers joining leading Premiership Club, Leicester Tigers as Defence Coach. Off the field, Kevin is known as “Super Kev” for his heroic fundraising efforts to raise awareness for Motor Neurone Disease and was awarded an OBE in January 2022. Tune in to our final episode of the series where Kevin discusses changing his career from the world of rugby league to rugby union, amongst raising incredible sums of money for MND.

A role model in women’s football, Steph Houghton is captain for England and Manchester City as Defender. She is a true leader on and off the field, and has represented her country at every level, totalling more than 120 caps for England. Tune in to this fascinating chat where Steph opens up about her career, the pressures of becoming a captain at such a young age, and her recent ankle rehabilitation ahead of the Women’s Euros this summer.

The psychology behind one of the world’s greatest rugby teams, the New Zealand All Blacks. Gilbert Enoka is the All Blacks Manager for Leadership and has had a long history of success as a mental skills coach for over 22 years. He supports the players and staff to develop the skills needed to perform under pressure by creating effective systems and structures for the team to deliver results time and time again. In this episode, Louise understands what it takes to lead one of the most reputable rugby teams through the highs and lows of competition, and how the mental wellbeing of players is at the fore of everything they do.