The price of high performance

This episode encourages us to explore a deeper understanding of ourselves, our relationships, and why we should be seeking fulfilment not happiness.Alain de Botton is an author and philosopher, known for co-founding The School of Life in 2008. The School of Life was created to fill a void in our current education systems with the teaching of emotional intelligence. Alain’s work also focuses on love, parenthood, mental health and the meaning of success. During this episode, Jake, Damian and Alain dive deep into each of these subjects, exploring what a life filled with the constant search for knowledge could look like. Alain shares what we can learn from our mental health struggles and how they can be revealing a deeper truth. This conversation highlights how important it is to lean into uncomfortable emotions to truly understand ourselves. Alain challenges Jake and Damian’s perceptions of what high performance really looks like, debating whether the fight for success actually leads to a good life, and why we should be embracing averageness. Within this conversation they discuss why we’re obsessed with fame, how to be a better parent, the benefits of a breakdown and how we can improve our relationships. Find Alain’s new book ‘A Therapeutic Journey’ here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/a-therapeutic-journey-lessons-from-the-school-of-life-alain-de-botton/7388674?ean=9780241642559 Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPP https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/app-link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Loka 20231h 11min

One of Damian’s all-time favourite episodes is the conversation they had with professional boxer, Josh Warrington.Damian reflects out his key take aways from the episode and shares them with Jake. This includes, Josh sharing the techniques he uses to keep his anxieties and fear in control just before going into the ring. And in the event of a mistake, he ensures to take full responsibility, rather than making excuses and blaming others. Jake and Damian also discuss one of the most powerful moments in all of the 200+ episodes that have been recorded; Josh states the power of friendship and the positive impact keeping those relationships strong has. Listen to Josh’s full episode here: https://pod.fo/e/b5aaf Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPP https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/app-link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Loka 202311min

This is a conversation about science, philosophy, the meaning of life, and the unfathomable size of the universe. Professor Brian Cox is a physicist, known for his astronomy and cosmology series’, including The Universe and Stargazing Live. He has performed on several sell-out arena tours, setting the Guinness World Record for the biggest selling science tour. Before his career in science, at age 18 Brian embarked on a musical career, forming a band with the ex-keyboarder from Thin Lizzy. Brian shares stories of his 5 years as a professional musician; as a keyboard player in the bands Dare and D:Ream. Having achieved in D in Maths A-level, Brian discusses with Jake and Damain how this experience taught him his greatest lesson: the importance of practice.In this episode, Brian imparts invaluable wisdom on the pursuit of greatness and knowledge, and his belief that “very few people are naturally great”. He shares his secrets on summoning the courage to ask difficult questions and the importance of saying “I don’t know”. They discuss the greatest threat to humanity: human stupidity, and Brian offers insights on creating global cooperation in a world with the power to destroy itself.Jake, Damian and Brian tackle life's biggest questions, whilst exploring life's more personal subjects: self-doubt, fear and finding confidence.See Brian on his live tour ‘Horizons’: https://briancoxlive.co.uk/ Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Loka 20231h 9min

In September Jake and Damian chatted to a number of sports guests, but the conversations were far from sport centred. Each guest offered great learnings from their lives, including creating culture, what makes a great leader and how to be more present everyday.They reflect on the conversation they had with Ryder Cup legends Luke Donald, Sam Torrance and Paul McGinley about their leadership styles and why Paul and Sam didn’t pick Luke to be in their team in 2014. Jake and Damian discuss Will Still’s open and authentic leadership style. Jake and Damian had an honest and emotional conversation with Steve Hansen, the previous All Blacks' coach, on the hidden cost of high performance. Another vulnerable discussion was had with Paralympian David Smith MBE, who is currently dealing with the effects of a rare and invasive tumour. With David they consider the true importance of life. The conversations that took place this month were reminders to take a pause and try to stay present. Listen to the episodes mentioned: Will Still: https://pod.fo/e/1ea4ea Steve Hansen: https://pod.fo/e/1ecdda David Smith MBE: https://pod.fo/e/1ef288 Ryder Cup Roundtable: https://pod.fo/e/1f190f Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Syys 202322min

This is an open discussion about leadership, creating culture and what makes a winning team.To mark the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy, Jake and Damian host a roundtable discussion with current European captain, Luke Donald, and legends, Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance. As Team Europe Ryder Cup captains past and present, they offer a unique perspective on leadership, team culture, and the winning formula that defines this prestigious event. They debate what makes a good Ryder Cup captain and the ways they get the best attributes from their players.Luke Donald shares his experiences under different captains and how this has now influenced the way he interacts with his players. He shares his key lessons from his first 13 months as captain, including battling imposter syndrome. Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance consider how they change the way they create a sense of comradery in the current digital age, in contrast to team meetings taking place in their captain’s bedroom back in 2004.Paul and Sam reflect on their choice to not include Luke in their 2014 team. They share what went into this decision and what elements need to come together to create a winning team.This Ryder Cup roundtable is a deep dive into the art of cultivating an open and communicative team, finding the delicate balance between talent and performing under pressure, and defining the legacy that extends beyond the competition itself. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a leader, or simply seeking inspiration, this episode offers valuable lessons on what it means to lead, build culture, and win as a team at sport’s highest level.Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPPhttps://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/app-link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Syys 20231h 4min

“Paralysis taught me how to live”This emotional conversation is an honest and vulnerable discussion about life, death and understanding our purpose.In 2010, David Smith was given a life changing diagnosis: a rare, cancerous tumour was found in his neck. A focused athlete, previously competing in karate, running and bobsled, David aimed to put all of his energy into competing in the 2012 Paralympic games as a rower; “I didn’t have time for a tumour”. But, after having surgery on the tumour, David suffered a stroke. This was the start of a new life for David.After multiple surgeries and a number of complications, David is now fully paralysed on his left side. Despite winning gold for Rowing with Team GB at the 2012 Paralympics, what really stands out is David’s appreciation for every moment, his resilience, and his deep understanding of what it means to really live. In the face of battling cancer and living with paralysis, David's unwavering commitment to his purpose and daily philosophy shines through. He shares the importance of embracing vulnerability and the preciousness of time. A total of 6 major life-threatening spinal surgeries in 13 years, 6 weeks of radiotherapy and learning to walk after each operation meant his sporting career became more about staying alive than winning medals. David shares his profound wisdom with Jake and Damian, exploring how he is attempting to come to terms with death and how he finds strength in vulnerability. We’re left with the core of David’s message: “I’m not scared of dying, I’m scared of not living.”This was recorded in front of a live audience at Happy Place Festival, there may be some background noise. Follow David's journey here: https://www.instagram.com/davidsmithmbe/?hl=en Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 Syys 202348min

Barry Hearn joined the podcast in 2022 to share his 10 life lessons. In this episode, Damian shares with Jake the top 3 lessons he learnt from Barry; the ones he still uses in his everyday life. These 3 lessons include, "it’s better to be lucky than good looking", "life is not changed by sitting on the sofa" and "life is going to end in tears, so you might as well make the most of it".Jake and Damian reflect on these lessons and the way Barry’s version of high performance can be utilised in our daily lives. Episodes mentioned:Barry Hearn: https://pod.fo/e/157c60 Books mentioned:The Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-luck-factor-the-scientific-study-of-the-lucky-mind-richard-wiseman/11145449?ean=9781511376839 Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 Syys 202313min