The High Performance Podcast

Johann Hari has spent years doing what most of us don't have time to do — travelling the world, interviewing the world's leading neuroscientists, psychiatrists, and Silicon Valley insiders to find out why depression, anxiety, and loneliness are rising every single year. What he found will change how you see your phone, your mind, and your daily life.Today we re-visit this impactful conversation with Johann, but it's not all doom and gloom! Johann is one of the most solution-focused thinkers we've had on the show, and he leaves you with concrete, practical steps you can take today.You'll hear Johann on: what the people who built Instagram and TikTok privately think about what they've created; the three things every parent should do right now about their child's phone use; and the leaded petrol analogy that explains exactly how we fix the attention crisis.Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au3

Jake and Damian go inside the 2026 Australian Grand Prix — not with lap times and race analysis, but with something rarer: direct messages from the people who were actually there.Jake shares a WhatsApp from Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu on leading through complete uncertainty. A message from Fernando Alonso's number one mechanic on why culture beats performance when nothing is certain. And a voice note from former Williams team principal Claire Williams on what COVID taught her about navigating the unknown.With cars failing on the grid, drivers feeling mixed emotions in the cockpit, and an entirely new era of Formula One rewriting the rulebook overnight, Jake and Damian use the chaos of Australia to ask a question that matters well beyond the paddock: how do you lead, perform and stay steady when everything changes at once?Listen to our full episodes with guests mentioned in this episode: Adrian Newey: https://pod.fo/e/267f99Ayao Komatsu: https://pod.fo/e/37b872Ollie Bearman: https://pod.fo/e/39acadClaire Williams: https://pod.fo/e/2b956bGeorge Russell: https://pod.fo/e/1527c9Fernando Alonso: https://pod.fo/e/1e5849Thanks to our partners:Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au2Randox 👉 Book a test today and save 20% on all health checks with the code HP20 at: https://highpfrmc.com/HPP_Randoxhealth_au  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

David Dein is one of the most influential figures in modern football, the visionary former vice-chairman of Arsenal F.C. who helped reshape the English game. In this episode, David sits down with Jake to reveal the decisions, relationships, and moments that defined one of football’s most transformative eras.He tells the inside story of discovering Arsène Wenger, a seven-year belief that would eventually change Arsenal forever. From quiet dinners and long conversations to fighting a sceptical board, David explains how that partnership built a culture capable of producing legendary teams, a squad bonded not just by talent, but by rituals and belief.David also shares the human side of football leadership: convincing Sol Campbell to make one of the bravest transfers in Premier League history, the painful loss of Ashley Cole, and the emotional shock of being suddenly dismissed from the club after 24 years of service.This episode explores the leadership, belief, and defining moments that helped shape one of football’s most successful eras.To find out more information about the Twinning Project, visit: https://www.twinningproject.orgHeights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au2Randox 👉 Book a test today and save 20% on all health checks with the code HP20 at: https://highpfrmc.com/HPP_Randoxhealth_au  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

Mo Gawdat rose to become Chief Business Officer of Google X, the moonshot factory tasked with solving the world's biggest problems. He had 16 cars in his garage, a nine-bedroom house, and by every conventional measure, had won. And then, in four hours, a preventable surgical mistake took his 21-year-old son Ali. What happened next changed everything.In this episode, Mo shares the promise he made to Ali, to make him "everywhere and part of everyone", and how that mission became the foundation of his life's real work: making a billion people happy.This is not a conversation about toxic positivity or blind optimism. It's a masterclass in what happiness actually is (and isn't), why it's your duty — not your reward — and the practical tools Mo uses to bounce back from pain in under seven seconds.You'll hear Mo on: the 90-second anger rule that will change how you handle every difficult moment; his three-question flowchart for navigating anything life throws at you; why success doesn't lead to happiness — but happiness almost always leads to success; what his son Ali taught him about fixing the world by fixing yourself first; and why the most high-performance path through life is learning to play.Whether you're chasing the next milestone or questioning whether the chase is even worth it — this one will stay with you.Our partners in this episode: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal 👉 https://nordvpn.com/highperformance Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guaranteeVisit 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

Alex Iwobi is one of the Premier League's most creative midfielders, known for his flair, expressiveness and ability to unlock defences. After coming through the Arsenal academy under Arsène Wenger, he has gone on to represent Everton, Fulham and Nigeria at the highest level, becoming one of football's most distinctive personalities both on and off the pitch.In this episode, Alex sits down with Jake and Damian for a candid and revealing conversation about his journey from nearly being released at 16 to becoming an established Premier League player. He opens up about the loneliness of leaving Arsenal, the moment the club sent his medical documents to Everton while he was on holiday without asking him, and how Frank Lampard's trust quite literally resurrected his career.Alex also shares rare insight into the aura of Arsène Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti — the only two managers he's ever seen silence a room just by walking in — and what that taught him about elite leadership. He discusses how being given the freedom to be himself, both on the pitch and through his music, has unlocked the best version of his performance.This episode offers a fascinating look at the mindset, identity and trust required to perform at the highest level in professional football.Alex's new EP More to Life is out on April 9th.Our Partners: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal 👉 https://nordvpn.com/highperformance Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guaranteeVisit 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

Ollie Bearman is one of Formula 1’s most exciting young talents, known for his fierce drive, impressive performances, and rising star power within the sport. As a member of Haas F1 Team, Ollie is carving out a path to greatness in F1, where every race brings new challenges and opportunities to prove himself.In this episode, Ollie sits down with Jake and Damian for a raw and honest conversation about his journey from F2 to F1. He opens up about the pressure of racing at the highest level, the self-doubt he faced early in his F1 career, and the breakthrough moment that changed everything for him, realising that mental preparation and structure were just as important as raw speed.Ollie also shares the importance of learning from seasoned drivers like Fernando Alonso, acknowledging his rival’s experience and commitment to the sport. He discusses how their competition has pushed him to grow and become a more self-aware and focused driver.This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the mindset and emotional challenges required to compete in Formula 1.Our Partners:EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal 👉 https://nordvpn.com/highperformance Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guaranteeVisit 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

We revisit our chat with Olympic legend Michael Johnson, a man who has more medals, world records, and gold standards than almost anyone who has ever laced up a pair of spikes. But this conversation isn't really about the glory, it's about everything that happened in the shadows of it.Jake sits down with one of the greatest athletes in history to uncover the mindset that drove him to become the only man to win gold in the 200m and 400m at the same Olympic Games. What emerges is a masterclass in evidence-based belief, brutal self-honesty, and the relentless pursuit of sustained excellence.Michael opens up about the food poisoning that robbed him of his greatest chance at Olympic glory in Barcelona, and the quiet, ruthless logic he used to pull himself back from the brink. He talks about the teammate who admitted to doping and the medal Michael willingly handed back. And he reveals the stroke that paralysed his left side almost entirely, and the remarkable clarity he found in the hospital bed when everyone around him was asking why.Along the way, you'll hear the truth behind his famous upright running style, how he mentally rehearsed a race up to ten times in the twenty minutes before the gun fired, and why the most important question he ever asked himself was simply - why me?This is one of the most candid, no-nonsense conversations in High Performance history!Our partners for this episode: 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

What does a Formula One World Champion packing up a garage have in common with an Olympic swimmer crying into his goggles at the end of a training session? More than you might think.In this exclusive preview, Jake and Damian read two of their favourite chapters from the Micro Habits audiobook, distilling some of the most powerful lessons from six years and 400+ conversations with the world's highest performers.First, Lando Norris reveals the mindset shift that separates people who merely have a job from those who have found a calling, and the surprisingly simple reframe that can unlock it for anyone, whatever they do for a living.Then, Adam Peaty opens up about the breakdown that almost ended his Olympic dream, the ancient Greek myth that helped him find his way back, and the brutally honest advice Michael Phelps gave him in a 20-minute conversation that changed everything.These aren't dramatic, headline-grabbing moments. They're quiet, private, and almost invisible — and they're exactly the kind of micro habits that make everything else possible.Micro-Habits: Tiny Changes That Supercharge High Performance is available now.

Sleep expert Stephanie Romiszewski has always taken an unconventional approach to rest, and in this episode, she reveals why overthinking sleep is the real culprit behind poor rest. Stephanie explains why obsessing over sleep only makes it worse, and how we can fix our sleep problems by addressing our daytime habits instead of focusing on the night itself.She dives into the dangers of sleep trackers, sharing how even false data can increase anxiety and disrupt your performance. Stephanie also introduces her game-changing advice on the importance of a consistent morning routine, wake-up times, light exposure, and movement, and why these factors are far more influential than any bedtime ritual.She also shares her AWAKE acronym, a practical guide to improving sleep by embracing variation, avoiding the chase for perfect rest, and keeping a strong, balanced day.This episode offers a refreshing, honest perspective on sleep, revealing how our mindset and routines during the day play a bigger role in getting quality rest and maintaining peak performance.Stephanie's new book 'Think Less, Sleep More' is out now and published by Atlantic Books, RRP £14.99Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp_heights_au2Visit 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