The Olympic Mindset Podcast

Is financial freedom really as simple as spending less, investing wisely, and shifting your mindset? Alan and Katie Donegan proved it is. By 40, they’d retired from the 9–5, become millionaires, and built a life of freedom, travel, and passion projects. In this episode, we unpick the exact steps and mindset that made it possible. Alan and Katie are the founders of the Rebel Finance School, a free global programme that’s helped over 22,000 people learn to invest and take control of their money. Their story shows why financial literacy matters—not just for wealth, but for choice, independence, and the freedom to live life on your terms.They explain: ⬛ How to create a gap between what you earn and what you spend ⬛ Why investing in simple global index funds beats most strategies ⬛ The practical steps to reach financial independence ⬛ Why financial freedom is about time not just money ⬛ How tracking your spending can transform your wealth mindset ⬛ The discipline shift athletes (and all of us) need to master our financesEpisode Guide00:00 Introduction to Financial Freedom 03:04 The Importance of Financial Literacy 05:52 The Journey of an Athlete’s Finances 08:40 Understanding Investments and Retirement 11:35 The Power of Self-Development 14:35 Building a Partnership in Financial Goals 17:39 The Concept of Financial Independence 20:34 The Role of Discipline in Financial Success 23:49 Investing in Global Index Funds 26:27 The Risks and Rewards of Investing 29:35 Practical Steps to Start Investing 32:34 The Importance of Tracking Spending 35:47 Overcoming Financial Barriers 38:37 The Mindset Shift Towards Wealth 41:32 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysKey Soundbites💬 “You can only spend it once.” 💬 “It’s about saving, then spending.” 💬 “You are buying back your time.”

In this conversation, Francesca Gino discusses the concept of 'rebels' in the context of leadership and innovation, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, perspective, and authenticity. She addresses common challenges such as imposter syndrome and decision-making fatigue, while also highlighting the value of constructive debate and learning from both successes and failures. The discussion draws on her experiences at Harvard Business School and offers practical advice for leaders navigating change and striving for personal growth.TakeawaysRebels are individuals who take in different perspectives.Imposter syndrome is a common experience and can be normalized.Disagreements can be productive if approached correctly.Curiosity is a key trait of constructive rebels.Authenticity in leadership is crucial for effectiveness.Learning from each other's perspectives enhances growth.Decision-making fatigue can impact the quality of decisions.It's important to reflect on successes as well as failures.Constructive debate can lead to better outcomes in disagreements.Finding your values helps maintain focus and direction.Sound Bites"The focus on progress is a valuable lesson.""Choose the hills that you want to die on.""Reframe negative feedback into opportunities."Chapters00:00 Understanding Rebels and Imposter Syndrome02:30 Navigating Change and Staying Centered09:14 The Fine Line Between Rebellion and Sabotage15:31 Characteristics of Constructive Rebels21:18 The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership27:58 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome31:33 Learning from Perspectives at Harvard34:12 The Power of Constructive Debate38:59 Decision-Making Fatigue and Learning from SuccessKeywordsrebels, imposter syndrome, leadership, authenticity, constructive debate, decision-making, curiosity, education, change management, Harvard Business School

In this episode of The Olympic Mindset Podcast, Dominic Broad sits down with David Harkin, CEO of 8billionideas, to talk about what it really means to be brilliantly busy. David opens up about his leadership philosophy, how marginal gains can transform performance, and why being world-class starts with how you manage your time.He shares stories from his early working life that shaped his entrepreneurial drive, the lessons he’s learned scaling a global education company, and why vulnerability and self-improvement should be part of every leader’s toolkit. From parenting and personal growth to purpose and productivity—this is a must-listen for anyone seeking high performance with heart.Keywords: leadership, marginal gains, self-improvement, education, entrepreneurship, work-life balance, parenting, world-class mentality, time management, personal developmentTakeaways:"Brilliantly busy" means doing what I love with purpose.Marginal gains are foundational to leadership success.Self-improvement is ongoing, not optional.Early work experiences can forge lifelong values.Parents play a key role in shaping future leaders.A world-class mindset applies to every part of life.Passion and clarity drive better time management.Value minutes—not just hours.If you love what you do, every day matters.Being selfish with time allows us to serve others better.Sound Bites: "I am brilliantly busy." "Pressure is a privilege." "Marginal gains matter."Chapters: 00:00 – Brilliantly Busy: The Art of Balancing Life03:07 – The Power of Marginal Gains in Leadership06:13 – The Importance of Self-Improvement and Perspective09:05 – Lessons from Early Work Experiences12:04 – The Role of Parents in Education15:00 – Creating a World-Class Mentality18:01 – Marginal Gains: Applying Sports Principles to Life20:44 – The Ripple Effect: Making Your Mark23:53 – The Importance of Passion in Time Management26:46 – Finding Balance: Being Selfish to Be Selfless#OlympicMindsetPodcast #DavidHarkin #8BillionIdeas #BrilliantlyBusy #MarginalGains #Leadership #WorldClassMindset #EducationLeadership #TimeManagement #HighPerformance

How do you balance elite performance with parenting, pressure with vulnerability, and toughness with emotional intelligence?In this powerful episode of The Olympic Mindset Podcast, Dominic Broad sits down with rugby league legend Jamie Peacock MBE to explore the deep, personal lessons learned from a life in sport—and beyond. This is more than a conversation about rugby; it's about resilience, transformation, and living life with purpose.Jamie opens up about the evolution of leadership, the role of feedback, and how becoming a father has reshaped his approach to masculinity, strength, and self-discipline. With reflections on the profound impact of Rob Burrow’s journey, Jamie also shares practical advice on creating resilient children, navigating life after professional sport, and saying yes to growth.Listen if you want to:Redefine what masculinity means in the 21st centuryLearn leadership lessons from elite sportUnderstand the mental health challenges of life after performanceBecome a more emotionally intelligent parent, leader or teammateTimestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Structure03:07 Balancing Family and Career05:47 Rugby Career Highlights and Hall of Fame Induction09:05 Leadership and Team Dynamics11:49 The Importance of Feedback14:56 Early Life Lessons and Values20:01 Creating Challenges for Children23:09 Masculinity and Vulnerability in Modern Society35:09 Transformation of Masculinity in Leadership38:17 The Impact of Rob Burrow's Journey42:09 Adapting Leadership Styles Across Teams47:38 Navigating Life After Professional Sports51:00 Resilience and Learning from Failure56:08 Embracing Challenges for Growth01:01:09 Parenting Wisdom and Life Balance01:04:06 Living Life to the FullestSound Bites: "Spending time with my children is really important." "Masculinity is about being mentally tough." "I think it's important to be vulnerable." "Context is king, isn’t it?" "Resilience is one of my skills in life." "Life’s for living, so say yes to something."#JamiePeacock #OlympicMindsetPodcast #Rugby #Leadership #Masculinity #Parenting #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #RobBurrow #Sports #MentalHealth #HighPerformance

What if standing differently could change your life?Dr. Amy Cuddy is a world-renowned social psychologist, bestselling author of Presence, and the mind behind one of the most-watched TED Talks of all time. Her research on body language, personal power, and self-efficacy has transformed how people show up in high-stakes moments—from job interviews to leadership roles.In this raw and insightful conversation with Dominic Broad, Amy reveals how nonverbal behaviour can shape how we think, feel, and connect with others.She discusses:Why confidence is about presence, not pretendingThe power of self-affirmation to reduce stress and improve performanceThe dangerous collapse in confidence many girls experience in adolescenceHow we can help kids—and ourselves—take up more spaceWhy kindness and trust matter more than strength in leadershipHer journey through bullying, Harvard, and parentingTimestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Personal Insights03:04 The Power of Body Language05:56 Stereotypes and Gender Dynamics08:48 Encouraging Empowerment in Children11:58 Self-Efficacy vs. Self-Confidence15:02 The Role of Body Language in Relationships17:52 The Impact of Power Poses20:53 Cultural Perceptions of Power24:11 The Importance of Personal Networks26:55 Psychology in Everyday Life29:59 Leadership and Personal Power33:00 Navigating Relationships and Kindness36:01 Reflections on Bullying and Support38:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts45:24 Teaching Excellence at HBS47:35 Building Trust as a Leader52:02 Understanding Trust Cues57:03 Embracing Opportunities and Risks01:01:40 The Journey of Leadership01:06:08 Overcoming Procrastination01:11:39 Finding Purpose and Passion01:14:23 Advice for Young Leaders01:17:00 Nurturing Children's AgencySound Bites: "You're not a noun, you're a verb." "Girls start to collapse." "Trust before strength." "Personal power activates the approach system." "You can't please everyone."dyLanguage #Confidence #SelfEfficacy #Presence #Leadership #Trust #PowerPoses #Kindness #Mindset #Empowerment

Who would play you in a Hollywood movie about your life? Darren Cox is one of few living people to have his life and achievements taken to the silver screen.In Season 4, Episode 33 of The Olympic Mindset Podcast, Dominic sits down with motorsport visionary Darren Cox—the driving force behind the ground-breaking Gran Turismo Academy and the real-life inspiration for the Gran Turismo film starring Orlando Bloom Darren shares:How he turned a PlayStation game into a global racing phenomenonWhy rule-breaking can breed innovation, whether in sport, business, or life.Lessons learned from navigating high-pressure environments, building performance cultures and scaling real-world businesses from virtual ideas.The mindset shifts behind his next moves, including setting the stage for future endeavours beyond motorsport.🔍 Listen If You Want To:Discover how to turn unconventional ideas into mainstream success.Learn why disruption and creativity beat traditional routes.Get inspired by someone who’s brought a Hollywood moment to real life.Understand how to lead with vision—and leave a legacy.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Rule‑breaking and racing dreams02:00 – Turning a game into a global motorsport movement06:00 – The mindset behind playing by no rules11:00 – Crafting the GT Academy success story18:00 – Orlando Bloom, the film—and real impact22:00 – Leading high‑pressure teams and innovation30:00 – What’s next? Racing, media and beyond💬 Sound Bites:“Rip up the rule book—that’s where the innovation lives.”“I created a real racing path out of a PlayStation.”“Pressure isn’t the enemy—it’s your fuel.”

What if your greatest challenges were actually your edge?This week on The Olympic Mindset Podcast, Dominic sits down with Kavitta Ghai, co-founder and CEO of Nectir, to talk about what it really means to lead with difference. Diagnosed with autism and ADHD later in life, Kavitta opens up about turning her deepest struggles into superpowers—and building one of the most exciting edtech companies in the US.Kavitta shares how being neurodivergent shaped her creativity, her pitch deck, and her purpose—and what it actually takes to raise $6.3 million as a young female founder in a VC world that still doesn’t get it.From mindset shifts to boardroom truths, this is one of our most powerful episodes yet.This episode is for you if:You’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit in—but knew you had something to offerYou want to build something meaningful but don’t know where to startYou’re curious what it really takes to raise millions in VC fundingYou lead, teach, or parent someone who is neurodivergentTopics Covered: 00:00 – Intro: Meet Kavitta 01:12 – Autism, ADHD & finding out late 04:45 – School systems & the myth of fitting in 08:20 – Turning difference into direction 11:00 – The Nectir story: how it started 15:55 – Raising millions in a system not made for her 20:20 – Breaking VC stereotypes 24:00 – Neurodiversity as a superpower 28:00 – What founders get wrong about mindset 38:10 – The future of edtech: trust, access, inclusion 46:40 – Advice for anyone feeling ‘too different’ 50:00 – Closing reflections

In this compelling hour on The Olympic Mindset Podcast, Dominic Broad welcomes world-renowned psychiatrist and bestselling author Professor Steve Peters (author of The Chimp Paradox). Dr Peters uncovers the mechanics of our mindset, giving you the tools to control your emotions, sharpen your focus, and operate at your highest level.With clients ranging from Sir Chris Hoy and Steven Gerrard to Fortune 500 CEO's, and the England Men's National squad, his "Chimp framework" helps anyone—from elite athletes to top CEOs—understand the primal parts of their brain and redirect emotional chaos into peak performanceWhat You’ll Learn:How to spot your inner Chimp and calm it before it sabotages decisionsThe secret to building mental resilience under pressureWhy understanding three subconscious systems (Human, Chimp, Computer) can transform habitsHow elite performers train their minds, not just their bodies🧭 You’ll Hear:“Do you control your emotions—or do your emotions control you?” “Psychological mindedness: Success begins when you understand your own mind.” “Commitment, not motivation: Do it even when you don’t feel like it.” Topics & Timestamps:00:00 Intro – Who is Professor Steve Peters?05:00 Identifying your inner Chimp12:00 The Human‑Chimp‑Computer model20:00 Emotional hijack – how to regain control30:00 Mental training in elite sport40:00 Building resilience under pressure50:00 Habit hacking: from commitment to change60:00 Applying chimp-management beyond sport75:00 Final reflections – mastering your mind🎧 Why Listen?If you’re navigating stress, racing deadlines, or big ambitions, this episode delivers clinically proven mindset tools to help you stay calm, think clearly, and perform consistently—no matter what life throws your way.The man behind the success of Steven Gerrard, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Sir Chris Hoy!