Supporting Champions
Steve Ingham, performance scientists, leader and author, explores the science, art, purpose and origins of high-performance. Steve interviews and discusses these concepts with the people who have been there and done it, whether it’s achieving at the highest level, been the driving force in making remarkable performance happen or those who have explored and researched aspects of human performance in real-depth.
Wed, April 16, 2025
164: The Explorer's Gene with Alex Hutchinson
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m joined by author, journalist, and endurance expert Alex Hutchinson to discuss his latest book, The Explorer’s Gene . This conversation dives into the why behind human exploration — what drives us to seek the unknown, how our genetics shape our urge to push boundaries, and what this means for athletes, adventurers, and everyday decision-makers alike. We explore the intersection of science, adventure, and personal growth, looking at everything from the dopamine receptor gene and novelty-seeking, to the hero’s journey and the paradox of effort. Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or someone curious about what makes humans tick, there’s something here for you. 🧠 Key Takeaways: Exploration is a deep-rooted human trait shaped by both genetics and environment The dopamine receptor gene is linked to novelty-seeking behaviour Endurance sports are a microcosm for understanding exploration and risk Balancing exploration (trying new things) and exploitation (refining skills) is vital The free energy principle helps explain our drive to minimize surprise and seek reward Effort and struggle add meaning to experience Exploration connects us more deeply to our environment and ourselves The hero’s journey offers a compelling metaphor for personal growth Ethical questions persist around doping and the boundaries of performance 📚 Buy Alex Hutchinson’s new book, The Explorer’s Gene : 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Explorers-Gene-Challenges-Flavors-Blank/dp/0063269767/ 🎓 Advance your performance career with Supporting Champions Courses: Use code SC10 for 10% off all online courses 👉 https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/#courses ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction to Alex Hutchinson 03:08 – Journey from Physics to Endurance Journalism 06:25 – The Intersection of Science and Endurance Sports 10:20 – Lessons from Journalism School 14:17 – The Importance of Audience in Science Communication 18:38 – Navigating Scientific Research and Its Implications 23:36 – Evolving Perspectives on Ergogenic Aids 29:43 – The Role of Context in Athletic Performance 32:33 – Exploring 'The Explorer's Gene' 36:05 – Personal Connections to Endurance 38:47 – The Complexity of Exploration 41:35 – The Hero's Journey in Endurance 44:47 – The Rhythm of Explore and Exploit 52:58 – Genetics of Exploration 56:18 – The Explorer's Gene: An Introduction 01:01:07 – Migration Patterns and Genetic Influence 01:08:20 – Risk-Taking and Elite Athletes 01:12:02 – The Free Energy Principle Explained 01:18:30 – Th
Wed, April 02, 2025
163: How to Win: A 4 part plan for success with Kate Hays
🎙️In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham welcomes Kate Hays, a leading sports psychologist and author of How to Win: Lessons in Success from the Frontline of Performance Psychology . Kate shares her expertise on high performance psychology, exploring the essential building blocks of team success, the significance of team identity and purpose, and how pressure training prepares individuals for high-stakes situations. She also discusses psychological safety, behavioural codes, and a strength-based approach to thriving in elite environments. 📖 Get Kate's new book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Win-performance-psychology-potential/dp/0008698287 Key Themes: ✅ Applying performance psychology beyond sport ✅ Balancing challenge and support in high-performance settings ✅ Why defining success goes beyond just winning ✅ The role of preparation, autonomy, and resilience in elite environments ✅ Ten principles for thriving in high-performance cultures Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction and Book Overview 03:05 – The Purpose of Writing the Book 05:48 – Building Blocks of Team Performance 09:00 – Understanding Team Identity and Purpose 12:00 – The Importance of Method and Goals 15:03 – Behavioural Codes and Team Dynamics 17:50 – The Role of Pressure Training 21:09 – Defining Success Beyond Winning 23:57 – The Balance of Challenge and Support 26:45 – The Importance of Autonomy in Performance 29:58 – The Pressure of Performance 35:23 – Understanding High Performance 39:32 – Principles of Thriving 41:17 – Creating Thriving Environments 46:11 – Ten Principles for Thriving 49:12 – Psychological Safety and Learning 01:01:06 – Final Thoughts on High Performance Use code 'SC10' for 10% off all Supporting Champions Courses. https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/#courses 🔔 Subscribe for more expert conversations on performance, psychology, and leadership! #SportsPsychology #HighPerformance #MentalHealth #Leadership #Thriving #TeamSuccess #PsychologicalSafety #SuccessBeyondWinning
Wed, March 19, 2025
162: What training model improves VO2max and time trial performance for recreational and competitive endurance athletes with Michael Rosenblat
🎙️ What training model improves VO2max and time trial performance for recreational and competitive endurance athletes? In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham is joined by Michael Rosenblat, an expert in exercise science with a fascinating journey from triathlon coaching to physiotherapy. Michael shares his insights into training intensity distribution models, drawing from his recent network meta-analysis on how different approaches impact endurance athletes. They discuss the complexities of polarized versus pyramidal training models, the methodological challenges of conducting meta-analyses, and the importance of considering individual variability when designing training programmes. Michael also highlights the significance of VO2 max outcomes, the role of network meta-analysis, and why consistency and recovery are fundamental to athletic performance. Throughout the conversation, Michael emphasizes the need for rigorous methods in sports science research and how understanding gender differences and training intensity thresholds can shape more individualised training approaches. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or researcher, this episode offers valuable insights into optimising training strategies and understanding the science behind performance improvement. 🔍 Key Takeaways: ✅ Training intensity models impact performance differently, with polarized training often benefiting competitive athletes and pyramidal training suiting recreational athletes. ✅ VO2 max outcomes showed no significant differences between training models, highlighting the importance of individual responses. ✅ Methodological rigor in exercise science research is crucial to producing reliable and applicable findings. ✅ Consistency and recovery are essential components of long-term athletic success. ✅ Future research should focus on individualised approaches to training intensity and performance. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Background 03:00 - Research Journey and Academic Affiliations 05:52 - Overview of the Meta-Analysis Paper 09:11 - Understanding Network Meta-Analysis 11:55 - Participant Characteristics and Sample Size 14:57 - Training Intensity Distribution Models 17:59 - Decoding Intention to Treat vs. Per Protocol Analysis 27:31 - Understanding Quasi-Experimental Designs 30:02 - Methodological Limitations in Training Studies 32:30 - Analyzing Gender Differences in Athletic Performance 34:08 - Exploring VO2 Max Results 39:14 - Individual Variability in Training Responses 47:01 - Comparing Training Models for Different Athlete Levels 55:44 - Practical Recommendations for Athletes 57:01 - Future Directions in Training Research 📖 Read more on Michael’s paper here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39888556/ <a href='https://sylvanadamsports-tau.org.
Wed, March 05, 2025
161: Using play to improve performance with Richard Cheetham
🎙️ Using play to improve performance with Richard Cheetham In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham is joined by Richard Cheetham, a senior fellow in sports coaching, to explore the evolving landscape of coaching. From learner empathy and innovative coaching methods to the critical role of play in athlete development, Richard shares his insights on what truly makes coaching effective. They discuss how early experiences in sport shape long-term engagement, why coaching should balance sports science with emotional connection, and how playfulness fosters creativity and performance. Richard also reflects on cross-sport learning, the challenges posed by AI in coaching, and why the best coaches are those who remain curious and adaptable. 🔍 Key Takeaways: ✅ Coaching is about understanding the struggle of the learner. ✅ Play should be integrated into coaching, not just used as a reward. ✅ Innovative coaching methods create engaging learning environments. ✅ Sports science should support, not dominate, the coaching process. ✅ Authentic engagement and creativity are crucial for athlete development. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Richard Cheetham and His Journey 03:11 Innovative Coaching Methods and Learner Empathy 05:45 The Evolution of Coaching: Expectations and Engagement 09:09 Balancing Sports Science and Coaching 11:58 The Role of Play in Coaching 24:04 Defining Play and Its Importance in Sports 28:57 The Influence of Early Experiences in Sports 34:24 Creating a Playful Environment for Learning 38:42 Innovative Approaches to Coaching 44:06 Divergent Thinking and Cross-Sport Learning 49:21 The Future of Coaching in an AI World 54:14 The Power of Playful Engagement 📖Read more on Richard here: Richard Cheetham - University of Winchester 🔗Connect with Richard here: (3) Richard Cheetham MBE | LinkedIn 👀 Whether you're a coach, athlete, or simply passionate about performance, this conversation will challenge the way you think about learning, engagement, and the true purpose of sport. 🔔 Subscribe, like, and share to stay updated with more insightful discussions on coaching, performance, and beyond! Use code 'SC10' for 10% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ #Coaching #SportsPsychology #LearnerEmpathy #InnovativeCoaching #PlayInSport #AthleteDevelopment #RichardCheetham #SupportingChampions
Mon, February 24, 2025
160: Parenting Talent with Valeria Eckardt
🎙️ Parenting Talent | Supporting Champions Podcast In this episode, Dr. Steve Ingham welcomes Valeria Eckardt to explore the vital yet complex role of parents in youth sports. Parents are more than just supporters—they shape a child's sporting experience as role models, interpreters, and motivators. But where’s the line between support and pressure? How can parents communicate effectively with young athletes? Valeria shares insights into emotional intelligence in sports parenting, the impact of social media on young athletes, and the evolving role of parents as children progress through their sporting journey. From early skill development to elite competition, this discussion highlights the challenges parents face and the strategies they can use to foster a healthy, supportive, and balanced sporting environment for their children 🔍 Key Takeaways: ✅ Parents play a crucial role in shaping a child's sports experience. ✅ The balance between support and pressure is complex and individualized. ✅ Emotional intelligence and adaptability are key to positive parental involvement. ✅ Communication between parents, coaches, and children is essential for reducing stress. ✅ Social media creates additional challenges and expectations for young athletes. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Parenting in Sport 01:09 The Role of Parents in Sports 06:29 Understanding Parental Involvement 11:14 The Balance of Support and Pressure 18:16 Navigating Support and Pressure 22:06 Effective Communication Strategies 30:17 The Complexity of Sports Parenting 31:08 Navigating Parental Involvement in Sports 39:24 The Impact of Social Media on Young Athletes 43:43 Supporting Parents in Competitive Sports 51:52 Evolving Parental Roles Through a Child’s Sports Journey 🔍 Find more on Valeria’s work: linktr.ee/valeria.eckardt Instagram: @eckardt_psychologie Bluesky: @valeriaeckardt.bsky.social Linkedin: @valeria-eckardt Additional resources on parenting in sports: SportParent EU: http://www.sportparent.eu/en/ Handbook for parents in youth football academies (German Football Association & German Soccer League): https://media.dfl.de/sites/2/2024/01/DFL_Info_Elternbroschuere_EN.pdf (English language!) Sport Parent Guide (Utah State University): https://youthsportsparenteducation.usu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Youth-Sport-Parent-Guide-v2.pdf Sport Parents Guide (Canadian Sport for Life): https://sportforlife.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/A-Sport-Parents-Guide.pdf 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert conversations on sports and performance! Use code 'SC10' for 10% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ #ParentingInSports #YouthSports #SportsPsychology #Ath
Wed, February 19, 2025
160: Parenting Talent with Valeria Eckardt
Use code 'SC10' for 10% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ 🎙️ Parenting Talent | Supporting Champions Podcast In this episode, Dr. Steve Ingham welcomes Valeria Eckardt to explore the vital yet complex role of parents in youth sports. Parents are more than just supporters—they shape a child's sporting experience as role models, interpreters, and motivators. But where’s the line between support and pressure? How can parents communicate effectively with young athletes? Valeria shares insights into emotional intelligence in sports parenting, the impact of social media on young athletes, and the evolving role of parents as children progress through their sporting journey. From early skill development to elite competition, this discussion highlights the challenges parents face and the strategies they can use to foster a healthy, supportive, and balanced sporting environment for their children 🔍 Key Takeaways: ✅ Parents play a crucial role in shaping a child's sports experience. ✅ The balance between support and pressure is complex and individualized. ✅ Emotional intelligence and adaptability are key to positive parental involvement. ✅ Communication between parents, coaches, and children is essential for reducing stress. ✅ Social media creates additional challenges and expectations for young athletes. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Parenting in Sport 01:09 The Role of Parents in Sports 06:29 Understanding Parental Involvement 11:14 The Balance of Support and Pressure 18:16 Navigating Support and Pressure 22:06 Effective Communication Strategies 30:17 The Complexity of Sports Parenting 31:08 Navigating Parental Involvement in Sports 39:24 The Impact of Social Media on Young Athletes 43:43 Supporting Parents in Competitive Sports 51:52 Evolving Parental Roles Through a Child’s Sports Journey 🔍 Find more on Valeria’s work: linktr.ee/valeria.eckardt Instagram: @eckardt_psychologie Bluesky: @valeriaeckardt.bsky.social Linkedin: @valeria-eckardt Additional resources on parenting in sports: SportParent EU: http://www.sportparent.eu/en/ Handbook for parents in youth football academies (German Football Association & German Soccer League): https://media.dfl.de/sites/2/2024/01/DFL_Info_Elternbroschuere_EN.pdf (English language!) Sport Parent Guide (Utah State University): https://youthsportsparenteducation.usu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Youth-Sport-Parent-Guide-v2.pdf Sport Parents Guide (Canadian Sport for Life): https://sportforlife.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/A-Sport-Parents-Guide.pdf 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert conversations on sports and performance! #ParentingInSports #YouthSports #SportsPsychology #Ath
Wed, February 05, 2025
159: How to train for, prime and preserve power in performance with Liam Kilduff
In this episode, Steve Ingham sits down with Liam to dive into the cutting-edge science behind athletic performance. From strength training and speed development to the critical role of muscle temperature, this conversation covers everything you need to know about optimising performance for elite athletes. Discover how post activation potentiation (PAP) can prime athletes for competition, why recovery is often underestimated, and how individualised training programs lead to better results. Liam also shares insights into future trends in sports science, particularly the use of data strategies to drive performance outcomes. 🔍 Key Takeaways: Maintaining muscle temperature during competition is crucial. Strength training is the foundation for developing speed and power. Recovery and hypertrophy phases are essential for maximising results. Athletes thrive when they have ownership over their training. Collaboration and data strategies are shaping the future of sports science. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Performance Science 04:02 Liam's Background in Sports Performance 06:48 The Importance of Applied Research 09:18 Measuring Speed and Power in Athletes 12:12 Developing Strength for Power Training 15:09 The Role of Recovery in Training 17:55 Hypertrophy and Its Impact on Performance 20:32 Recovery Strategies for Elite Athletes 23:18 Power Training Methods and Guidelines 27:22 Understanding Post Activation Potentiation (PAP) 39:34 The Importance of Muscle Temperature in Performance 47:48 Future Directions in Sports Data Science 🎧 Tune in to discover actionable strategies for enhancing athletic performance and get inspired by the future of sports science. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert insights! 📖 Read more on Liam here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/l.kilduff/ 🔗Or connect with Liam via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-kilduff-1b920745 Use code 'SC10' for 10% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ #SportsScience #PerformanceTraining #StrengthTraining #SpeedDevelopment #DataStrategy #PostActivationPotentiation #Recovery #AthleteTraining #SupportingChampions
Wed, January 22, 2025
158: Brilliant basics and innovative nutrition for endurance, strength and size with Prof Graeme Close
🎙️ Welcome to the Supporting Champions Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Steve Ingham is joined by Professor Graeme Close, a leading expert in sports nutrition and human physiology. From his early days as a professional rugby league player to becoming a trusted advisor for England Rugby, Graeme shares his incredible journey and offers valuable insights into the science behind elite performance. We dive deep into the fundamentals of sports nutrition, the role of mentorship in academic success, and the importance of building relationships with athletes to create tailored nutrition strategies. Graeme discusses key topics such as carbohydrate manipulation, protein intake, and the debate around low-carb high-fat diets, while also exploring the science behind supplements like creatine, beta-alanine, and CBD. 💡 Key Topics Covered: The journey from athlete to academic in sports science Why mentorship matters in the field of sports nutrition Carbohydrate’s critical role in elite performance Understanding and addressing athlete behavior for effective nutrition The importance of protein intake and timing for strength training Individualized nutrition strategies for optimal results Evidence-based insights into supplements like creatine and beta-alanine Emerging trends in sports nutrition, including CBD and functional mushrooms If you're passionate about sports nutrition, athlete performance, or the science behind optimizing elite athletes, this episode is packed with practical tips and expert insights! 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth discussions with experts in sports science and performance. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Graeme Close 06:08 - Inspiring the Next Generation of Sports Scientists 12:10 - Insights from Working with England Rugby 17:56 - Understanding Athlete Behavior and Nutrition 23:53 - Carbohydrate Manipulation in Endurance Sports 30:08 - Implementing Effective Nutrition Strategies 36:06 - Carbohydrate is King: Unpacking the Concept 43:00 - The Debate on Low Carb High Fat Diets 50:57 - The Importance of Individualization in Nutrition 56:54 - Navigating Supplements for Elite Performance 01:14:58 - Emerging Trends in Sports Nutrition Use code 'SC10' for 10% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ 📖 Read more on Graeme here: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/staff-profiles/faculty-of-science/sport-and-exercise-sciences/graeme-close https://www.nutritionx.co
Wed, January 08, 2025
157: How to be more productive using flow states with Dr Sue Jackson
🎙️ Welcome to the Supporting Champions Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Steve Ingham sits down with Sue Jackson, a renowned psychologist and expert in the field of flow and optimal performance. Sue shares her incredible journey in sports psychology, including her collaboration with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the pioneer behind the flow concept. Together, we explore the fascinating world of flow—an optimal psychological state where we are fully immersed in a task—and its impact on performance, personal growth, and fulfilment. Sue dives deep into the balance between challenge and skill, mindfulness practices for enhancing flow, and how to create the right environment to unlock your potential. 💡 Key Topics Covered: The psychology of flow and its role in peak performance How to differentiate between flow and clutch states The challenge-skill balance: a foundation for flow Practical tips to achieve flow in daily life How mindfulness and concentration enhance flow Overcoming boredom and distractions to stay engaged The mastery mindset and its role in personal growth Whether you're an athlete, performer, or someone striving for personal excellence, this episode offers practical insights and actionable advice to help you tap into your full potential. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring conversations about performance and personal development! Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Flow and Sue Jackson's Background 05:04 - Understanding Flow: The Optimal Psychological State 10:14 - Flow Across Different Disciplines 15:05 - Flow vs. Clutch States: A Comparative Analysis 19:58 - Factors Influencing Flow: Preparation and Environment 24:45 - Dimensions of Flow: Preconditions and Experiential Aspects 34:37 - The Importance of Concentration and Mindfulness 42:39 - Boredom and Its Impact on Flow 51:11 - Practical Tips for Achieving Flow Website: www.bodyandmindflow.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suejackson_flow/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bodyandmindflow LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/drsuejackson Use code 'SC10' for 10% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ #Flow #Psychology #Performance #Mindfulness #SueJackson #SportsPsychology #Mastery #Concentration #ChallengeSkillBalance #supportingchampions
Wed, December 18, 2024
156: Dr Ali Sanders on high performance in the helicopter emergency services
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Dr Ali Sanders, whose journey seamlessly bridges two worlds of extreme performance: Olympic rowing and emergency medicine. Ali’s story is one of grit, adaptability, and relentless dedication. From discovering rowing by chance at university to competing at the Olympic Games, Ali has always embraced high-pressure challenges. She shares how those experiences laid the foundation for her work as a consultant in emergency medicine, particularly in the high-stakes environment of air ambulance services. 🔍 Key Topics We Explore: Ali’s journey from elite sport to a leadership role in healthcare. The mental resilience and focus required for Olympic competition and emergency response. How experiences as an athlete shaped her approach to team dynamics and leadership. The challenges of quick decision-making and preparation in air ambulance services. The importance of developing emotional resilience in high-pressure medical environments. Ali’s mission to create better training and support for the next generation of clinical leaders. Ali brings a unique perspective, combining lessons from sports psychology, leadership, and healthcare, offering insights that anyone working in high-performance or demanding fields can learn from. 🔗 Connect with Dr Ali Sanders: (4) Ali Sanders | LinkedIn 📖 Read about some of Ali's work here: 'You can't go home and not think about it' - BBC News If you enjoy this episode, like, comment, and subscribe to the channel for more thought-provoking discussions with leaders and experts across sport, healthcare, and beyond. Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ #AliSanders #EmergencyMedicine #OlympicRowing #MentalResilience #AirAmbulance #Leadership #TeamDynamics #SportsPsychology #SupportingChampions #Podcast
Wed, December 04, 2024
155: David Bishop on interval training, mitochondria and training stressors
In this episode, I'm joined by David Bishop, a leading researcher specializing in exercise physiology at the University of Western Australia. David takes us through his unexpected journey from a physical education teacher to becoming a renowned expert in muscle metabolism and exercise physiology. During our conversation, David delves into how training at various intensities impacts mitochondrial adaptations, which are crucial for enhancing athletic performance. We explore the critical balance between training volume and intensity necessary for optimizing mitochondrial function and overall performance. David also shares insights into the future directions of exercise physiology research, including the potential for alternative training methods such as blood flow restriction and the importance of lactate measurements in assessing training intensity. Key Takeaways The Science of Mitochondria: Learn how these tiny powerhouses influence your athletic performance. Training Intensity and Adaptation: Discover the sweet spot between high-intensity and low-intensity training. The Role of Volume: Understand why consistent training is essential for long-term gains. Alternative Training Methods: Explore innovative techniques like blood flow restriction and the value of lactate monitoring. Future Directions in Exercise Science: Get a glimpse into the cutting-edge research shaping the future of training. Don't miss this fascinating conversation about the science of training. 🔗 Follow David Bishop: Twitter: (15) David J Bishop (He/Him) (@BlueSpotScience) / X Website: Institute for Health & Sport (IHES) | Victoria University Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ #SupportingChampions #Podcast #ExerciseScience #HIIT
Wed, November 20, 2024
154: Troy Taylor on the state of strength training and what it tells us about our habits
Welcome to another exciting episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast. Today, I am thrilled to be joined by Troy Taylor, Senior Director of Performance at Tonal and a distinguished leader in the field of sports performance. With a career spanning elite sports organizations, including his role as the former High-Performance Director for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Troy brings a wealth of experience and cutting-edge insights into optimizing athlete performance. In this episode, we dive deep into the evolving landscape of sports technology, including Troy’s innovative approach to strength training and personalized performance solutions. Troy shares his journey through the world of elite sports, offering invaluable lessons learned along the way. We explore how data-driven insights are transforming coaching practices, and what it takes to lead and inspire high-performing teams in a rapidly changing industry. Whether you're a sports scientist, coach, athlete, or simply passionate about human performance, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom, engaging stories, and a glimpse into the future of training and technology. Keep up to date with Troy via Social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-taylor-4577bb38/ Or check out Troy and his teams work at: http://www.tonal.com Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ #training #performance #ski #snow #tonal
Wed, November 06, 2024
153: Chris Shambrook on Lessons from Sport and Business
Today I’m delighted to welcome a legend in the world of sports psychology, Chris Shambrook. With over two decades of experience in high-performance psychology, Chris has worked with elite athletes, including the GB Rowing Team, where he’s been pivotal in helping athletes achieve their peak performance on the world stage. In this episode, we dive into Chris’s unique approaches to mental resilience, the subtle art of supporting champions through their highs and lows, and the practical tools he uses to help athletes maximize their potential. We explore how the mind can be a tool for excellence, rather than a barrier, and dig into Chris’s insights on the traits and habits of truly successful athletes. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, sports psychologist, or just fascinated by the psychology behind elite performance, this conversation will offer valuable perspectives to elevate your own journey. Find more on Chris' current work here: https://www.planetk2.com/team/chris-shambrook/ Keep up with Chris via Social Media here: https://www.instagram.com/drchrisshambrook/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisshambrook/ Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into the world of sports performance and support! #sports #psychology #business
Wed, October 23, 2024
152: Shona Halson on the Realities of Recovery
This week, I’m thrilled to have the brilliant Dr. Shona Halson join me. Shona is an expert in athlete recovery and a former Senior Physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where she spent over 15 years researching and shaping the field of athlete recovery. She has worked with elite athletes, including the Australian Olympic team, to optimize their performance through evidence-based recovery strategies. In this episode, we dive deep into the science of recovery—what actually works, the myths that still exist, and how the elite get it right (or wrong). Whether you're an athlete, coach, or sports science enthusiast, you'll want to hear Shona’s insights on sleep, fatigue management, and recovery technologies that are reshaping the way athletes train and perform. Join us as we explore the crucial role recovery plays in achieving success and what the latest research is telling us about how to help athletes recover smarter, not harder. Find more on Shona here: Shona Halson | ACU Researcher Read more on her current research here: SPRINT Research Centre (acu.edu.au) Find her on social media here (5) Shona Halson (@ShonaHalson) / X Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ #recovery #myths #olympics #podcast
Wed, October 09, 2024
151: Bryony Page on Olympic Gold
In this episode of The Supporting Champions Podcast , I’m thrilled to welcome Olympic gold medallist and trampolining sensation, Bryony Page! Bryony's journey from overcoming self-doubt to standing atop the podium in Tokyo is nothing short of extraordinary. We dive deep into her mindset, training approaches, and the resilience it took to become a record breaker in her sport. Join me as we explore how Bryony turned her dreams into reality, the highs and lows of elite competition, and what drives her to keep pushing boundaries. Whether you're an aspiring athlete, a coach, or simply fascinated by what it takes to reach the pinnacle of success, this episode is packed with insights that will leave you inspired. Watch Bryony's gold medal winning performance here: https://youtu.be/ky89WzzvRM8?feature=shared You can follow more of Bryony's Journey through her social media: https://www.instagram.com/bryony_page/?hl=en-gb If you're inspired to get into trampoline, take a look here; https://www.british-gymnastics.org/england/trampoline
Wed, September 25, 2024
150: Ben Rosenblatt on Elite Physical Performance
In this week’s instalment I speak with Dr Ben Rosenblatt, founder of 292 performance and former S&C coach for England men’s football and GB women’s hockey. 292 performance is a multidisciplinary performance consultancy that offers support to elite athletes across a range of facets such as S&C, nutrition and psychology. Through his career, Ben has consulted and imparted his knowledge on individuals and organisations such as the premier league, Olympic associations and international military services. Today we are fortunate to sit down with him and discuss his experiences and key philosophies surrounding physical performance. If you would like to to find more about Bens current work or get into contact to collaborate/work with Ben follow this link: 292 Performance – Elevate Your Game You can also find Ben via social media at: (9) Dr Ben Rosenblatt (@ben_rosenblatt) / X (1) Dr Benjamin Rosenblatt | LinkedIn Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ - Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links https://x.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions www.x.com/support_champs www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, September 11, 2024
149: Paolo Menaspa on Applied Research in Elite Sport
This week on the podcast I sit down with Paolo Menaspa. Paolo is the Chief Science Officer at the Australian Institute of Sport, where he has led teams responsible for research & development, quality assurance, athlete performance health, and REST. Palo has a vast experience in the world of sport, supporting athletes through multiple Olympic cycles across multiple events. With a focus on cycling, Paolo has supported the national coaches and the performance support team developing solutions across multiple disciplines This conversation will give you an insight across Paolo's career thus far, as well as the exciting research and developments he and his team continue to make. Links Current research agenda: https://www.sportaus.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1048268/National-High-Performance-Research-Agenda-2022.pdf And the HP 32+ strategy, with measures of success defined at page 12. https://www.winwell2032.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1083742/Australias-2032-High-Performance-Sport-Strategy.pdf Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/
Wed, August 21, 2024
148: Jo Harrison on performance lifestyle, transitions and well-being
In this week's episode I speak with Jo Harrison, the Head of Performance Lifestyle Services at the UK Sports Institute and Founder of WinWell.org Jo plays a pivotal role in athlete welfare and life beyond sport, and has been a key influence in this shift of focus over recent years. Jo possesses over 20 years worth of experience at the elite level of British sport and has consistently championed the holistic approach to athlete support. From her experiences within sport, Jo has co-founded 'WinWell', an organisation set out in the aim of applying the teachings from elite level sport into the world of business. - https://www.winwell.org.uk/ Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links https://x.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions www.x.com/support_champs www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, August 07, 2024
147: Stafford Murray on analysis and innovation
On this week’s podcast I speak to Stafford Murray Stafford is the former Head of Performance Analysis at the English Institute of Sport, Director of Innovation at High Performance Sport New Zealand and now Head of Analysis at England and Wales Cricket Board. Stafford is a true pioneer in the world of performance analysis and innovation, having been at the forefront of evolving the discipline from match analysis and notation analysis to carving out the discipline of performance analysis. He has successfully stayed at the cutting edge by not only using data and analytical techniques to gain insight and blend with innovation and now embracing data science teams, artificial intelligence and machine learning. What you’ll hear in this conversation is a heady mix of how world-class practitioner and leader is able to keep difficult concepts simple, balance the hardcore elements of mathematics but ground them in reality and someone who is able to balance the IQ elements with EQ - keeping the coach and the performer at the heart of everything he does.
Wed, July 24, 2024
146: Mark England on Leading at the Olympics
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, we sit down with Mark England, Director of Sport Services at the British Olympic Association and Chef de Mission for Team GB across multiple Olympic Games. With a storied career that includes leading Britain to historic successes at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, Mark shares his extensive experience in Olympic leadership and team preparation. Show Notes: Introduction to Mark England: Introduction to Mark’s role with the British Olympic Association and his impact on Team GB’s success over multiple Olympic cycles. Journey to the Olympics: Mark discusses how he first got involved with the Olympics and his initial roles within the organization. Evolution of Roles: An exploration of how Mark’s responsibilities have evolved over the years and how he has shaped his leadership style to meet the changing dynamics of Olympic competition. Impact of Hosting the Games: Insight into how hosting the Olympics in London 2012 changed the landscape of British sports and influenced Mark's work leading up to subsequent games. Leadership as Chef de Mission: Mark details his approach to leading Team GB, including how he supports the team and starts the preparation process for the Olympics. Leadership Observations: Reflections on the qualities of effective leaders during the Olympic cycle and the unique pressures of the Games. Coaching Insights: Mark shares his observations on what makes an outstanding Olympic coach and how the best coaches extract peak performances from their athletes. Future of the Olympics: Mark offers his thoughts on how the Olympics might evolve in the coming years and the potential impacts on how nations prepare for the Games. Mark England's leadership has been pivotal in navigating Team GB through the highs and lows of Olympic competition. His insights provide valuable lessons not just for those in sports but for anyone interested in leadership and team dynamics under pressure.
Fri, July 05, 2024
145: Geir Jordet on the pressure and performance of penalty shoot-outs
Today, I’m joined by Geir Jordet, the world's leading expert on the psychology of penalties and author of "Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shootout." Geir brings an extensive background in sports psychology, with a focus on high-pressure performances in football. He has studied and published analyses on every major penalty shootout in soccer since 1976, so is ideally placed to offer insights into the critical moments that define sports outcomes, and how these insights apply across different sports and high-stress professions. Show Notes: Introduction to Geir Jordet: Learn about Geir's extensive background in sports psychology, focusing on high-pressure performances in football, and how it applies across various high-stress fields. Euros Enthusiasm: Geir shares his thoughts on the ongoing Euros competition and his personal enjoyment of the games. Origin of Interest: Discover how Geir's fascination with penalty shootouts began and what drove him to focus his career on this niche. Understanding the Psychobiological Model: Geir explains the cognitive and emotional interactions that occur during high-pressure penalty shootouts and how these can affect performance. Research Revelations: Insights from analyzing over 700 penalty kicks, highlighting surprising patterns and findings from historical data. From Theory to Practice: How Geir’s research has been translated into practical strategies for coaches and athletes preparing for penalty shootouts. Historical Impacts: Discussion on instances where psychological factors have decisively influenced the outcomes of penalty shootouts. The Role of Mental Fatigue: An in-depth look at how mental fatigue can impair players during the crucial moments of a shootout. Addressing Critiques: Geir responds to critiques about the limitations of theorizing human behavior in unpredictable high-pressure situations. Future of Sports Psychology: Geir's perspective on the next advancements in sports psychology, especially concerning high-pressure scenarios. Technology in Training: How virtual reality and biometric monitoring could revolutionize training for high-pressure situations. Cultural Variations: Exploration of how athletes from different cultures perceive and manage the pressures of penalty shootouts. Anecdotal Evidence: Geir shares a personal story illustrating the significant impact that understanding psychological pressure can have on athletic performance. Misconceptions in Training: Geir discusses common misconceptions coaches and players have about preparing for high-pressure situations and what the research really says. Challenging Training Norms: A critical look at whether current training practices adequat
Wed, June 26, 2024
144: Tim Jones on performance coaching and leadership
In this insightful episode I speak to with Tim Jones, the Associate Performance Director at British Swimming. A former Olympic athlete in the grueling 200m butterfly, Tim has transitioned from elite swimming to coaching, and now to a leadership role that spans multiple sports disciplines. With extensive experience across swimming, athletics, and gymnastics, Tim discusses his journey and the critical elements of leading high-performance teams in today’s competitive sports environment. Show Notes: Introduction: Overview of Tim Jones’ background as an Olympic swimmer and his roles across various sports. Athlete to Leader Transition: Tim shares how his experiences as an athlete informed his approach to leadership and the motivations behind his career transition. Leadership across Disciplines: Insights into the universal leadership principles Tim has applied across different sports and the unique challenges of managing diverse teams. Philosophical Shifts: Discussion on how Tim’s personal philosophy has evolved from his time as an athlete to his current role. Programme Development: An exploration of the strategic changes Tim has implemented in British Swimming and how these align with both new trends and traditional practices. Key Performance Factors: Tim outlines the essential elements of a successful performance programme and his approach to balancing innovation with proven methodologies. Balancing Act: Strategies for managing the pressures of high-performance sports while supporting athlete well-being. Looking to Paris 2024: Tim’s focuses and goals for the upcoming Paris Olympics and the preparations underway to ensure peak performance and team resilience. Legacy and Impact: A look into the legacy Tim hopes to leave and the impact measures he values most. Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links https://x.com/ingham_steve <
Wed, June 12, 2024
143: Sam Marcora on the psychobiology of fatigue and perception of effort
Welcome to the Supporting Champions podcast, hosted by performance scientist Dr Steve Ingham. In this episode, Steve is joined by Professor Sam Marcora, a leading researcher whose psychobiological model has revolutionized our understanding of training and performance. Together, they delve into the fascinating intersection of psychology and physiology, focusing on how mental fatigue impacts physical performance. Sam shares groundbreaking insights into the role of perception of effort and how both physiological and psychological factors can alter it. The discussion explores innovative research, including the effects of subliminal cues on endurance and the importance of motivation, especially during training. The episode also pays tribute to Professor Roger Eston and his contributions to the field. In our discussions, Sam acknowledged the great influence of Professor Roger Eston and his work on the ratings of perceived exertion. Shortly after recording the episode we heard the sad news that Roger had passed away. We both want to send our best wishes to Roger’s family and dedicate this episode to him! For those interested in exploring Professor Marcora's work further, you can follow him on his social media and review his research on Google Scholar. https://x.com/SamueleMarcora https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=6xZXMqAAAAAJ&hl=en If you're interested in the science behind high performance and the subtle yet powerful ways the mind influences athletic output, this episode is a must-listen. Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform to stay updated with future episodes. Links Practitioners looking for a place to be found, sports and athletes looking for expert practitioners? Sign up to AthleteNow https://theathletenow.com/ Links https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions www.twitter.com/support_champs www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, May 29, 2024
142: Iñigo Mujika on peaking, tapering and working in different systems
In today’s episode I’m delighted host Iñigo Mujika. It is no exaggeration to say that Inigo is one of the World’s leading applied physiologists with a particular specialism in endurance training, tapering, and peaking strategies and has an extensive background working with elite athletes across various sports. In this episode, Iñigo shares insights from his career, discussing the characteristics of effective and less effective teams he's been a part of and his approach to balancing real-time data with in-depth monitoring and research. We'll also dive into his specialization in tapering and peaking, exploring how these practices vary across different sports and how teams prepare for pinnacle events like the upcoming Paris Olympics. Additionally, we'll discuss Iñigo's latest publication, 'Endurance Training - Science and Practice,' now in its second edition, and how his research informs practical strategies for athlete preparation. We'll wrap up by considering the future of sports science and what needs to be done to further develop the profession of performance staff. Whether you’re involved in sports professionally or simply passionate about athletic performance, this conversation is packed with valuable insights. SIGN UP TO OUR GRADUATE BUNDLE AND PRO COURSES 50% OFF USING CODE 'APPLIED' https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ Links https://www.inigomujika.com/en/books/endurance-training-science-and-practice-2-edicion/ https://x.com/inigomujika_en https://www.sportsoracle.com/course/ioc-diploma-in-strength-and-conditioning/ Practitioners looking for a place to be found, sports and athletes looking for expert practitioners? Sign up to Athlete now https://theathletenow.com/ Links https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions www.twitter.com/support_champs www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, May 15, 2024
141: Stephen Seiler on the future of sport science
Today, I’m joined by Stephen Seiler, a renowned expert in sports science, to explore the integration of technology in sports performance, education, and health. Stephen brings a wealth of knowledge from his extensive research into the physiological aspects of endurance training and his insights into the optimal use of technology in enhancing athlete performance. In our conversation, we discuss the double-edged sword of technological advancements in sports. We cover how wearable devices and artificial intelligence can profoundly impact training effectiveness and sleep efficiency, but also the risks they pose, such as overtraining and potential injuries. Stephen and I delve into the importance of maintaining a balance between high-tech solutions and traditional coaching methods to achieve the best outcomes for athletes. We also touch on broader topics, such as the implications of digital technology on learning and the critical role of understanding both physiology and technology to apply them effectively in sports. Stephen shares his perspective on the potential of AI to personalize training interventions and its integration with physiological data to enhance performance and prevent injuries. Links Follow Stephen on Twitter https://twitter.com/StephenSeiler Spotify Playlist mentioned by Steve Physiology https://open.spotify.com/playlist/38rCXTukPgm0OteNKn2UcK?si=57ae445ce6b04758 Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, May 01, 2024
140: Mehdi Kordi on focussing on what matters
In this episode, we spotlight the journey and insights of Mehdi Kordi. With a rich and varied background, from biomedical science, to aerospace physiology, to accountancy, to mice in the Andes (yes you heard me correctly), then ultimately into a career in sports science and eventually coaching at the elite end of cycling. First Mehdi was at British Cycling as the sports scientist and hen coach at British Cycling, working with the Para team to Tokyo Games. Then Mehdi moved onto the Dutch National Cycling Federation and is currently creating outstanding success, in his role success as Head Coach (Track Sprint). When I say outstanding success, Mehdi truly encapsulates getting bang for the buck, that is in sports like cycling a mix of technology and human performance, generally the more money yoo put in the better your results. Mehdi and his small team have created disproportionate success by focusing on what matters most. Think ‘Massive Gains’ rather than ‘Marginal Gains’. Mehdi's experiences offer a rare glimpse into the high-performance delivered with imagination, creativity, priority and constraints led innovation. So, irrespective of whether you like cycling or not, and if you do there is some juicy detail about riding a kilometer very fast, Mehdi’s insights are more about a way of thinking and working, that breaks the mould, of more is better, that could be applied to a range of systems, teams and pursuits.
Wed, April 17, 2024
139: Paul Z Jackson on solutions focus
Welcome back to the Supporting Champions Podcast. Today, we're exploring the transformative power of focusing on solutions, not problems, with the insightful Paul Z Jackson. From his early days as a comedy writer and improvisation teacher to becoming a pivotal figure in the world of applied improvisation, Paul's journey is as fascinating as it is varied. His work, especially the acclaimed book 'The Solutions Focus,' co-authored with Mark McKergow, has been a beacon for many, including myself, since its first impact on me back in 2011. Paul's approach is simple yet revolutionary: Don’t fix what isn’t broken, find what works and do more of it, and if something doesn’t work, try something else. It’s about making positive changes by identifying and amplifying useful change, recognizing that detailed problem analysis often doesn’t lead to solutions. This mindset shift from a problem focus to a solutions focus can stir optimism, hope, and ambition, changing the way we tackle challenges in sports, business, and life. In our discussion, Paul delves into how this approach applies across various contexts, from coaching athletes to enhancing team dynamics. He shares insights on how to help people improvise and adapt, drawing on his extensive background in comedy and improvisation. We also touch on the importance of recognizing the small changes that signal big progress and staying 'solutions focused' rather than 'solutions forced.' Paul's work with the Applied Improvisation Network and The Improvisation Academy further underscores his belief in the power of improvisation as a skill for life and business, teaching us to make use of what’s there and to embrace the possibilities of the past, present, and future. Follow Paul’s work; https://impro.org.uk/ Buy The Solutions Focus https://www.amazon.co.uk/Solutions-Focus-3rd-Transforming-consultants/dp/1399816527/ https://www.amazon.com/Solutions-Focus-3rd-Transforming-consultants/dp/1399816527/ If you like these episodes, you'll probably like these too; https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/127-mustafa-sarkar-on-resilience/ https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/047-josie-perry-on-the-psychology-of-communication/ https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/060-andrea-furst-on-change-and-uncertainty/ Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovat
Wed, April 03, 2024
138: Meike Bartels on Wellbeing
In this episode I speak to Meike Bartels, a renowned researcher in wellbeing and happiness. Meike's research work uncovers the layers that contribute to our sense of fulfilment, exploring how genetics, environment, and personal habits intertwine to shape our happiness. In our conversation, Meike highlights that wellbeing is an evolving state, influenced by positive surroundings and actions. We discuss the differences between eudemonic and hedonic wellbeing, the genetic basis of happiness, and the essential balance between work and life for maintaining our wellbeing. Meike provides intriguing insights into the genetic factors that account for about 40% of the variation in happiness across populations, opening up discussions about personalised approaches to enhancing wellbeing. We also cover the 'exposome' concept, illustrating how a wide range of external factors from birth affects our growth and happiness. A key focus of our discussion is the significance of acknowledging individual preferences in both life and work. Meike advocates for environments that cater to personal genetic makeup for better wellbeing and stresses the importance of adapting work settings to meet employees' unique needs. We also explore the role of physical activity in mental health, discussing the benefits of finding enjoyable physical activities and the concepts of 'effort forcing' and achieving a flow state for optimal performance and satisfaction. I really enjoyed the conversation. Meike is not surprisingly a sunny person, but at the same time straightforward in her advice about making active choices in our lives to enhance our happiness. Follow Meike on: X - https: //twitter.com/Meike_Bartels Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/meike-bartels/ - Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk... If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look a
Wed, March 20, 2024
137: Stuart Biddle on Exercise and Mental Health
In this episode, we're joined by Prof Stuart Biddle, a leading figure in the psychology of physical activity, based at the University of Southern Queensland. Stuart's extensive work in exercise science and psychology provides groundbreaking insights into how exercise impacts our wellbeing. Our discussion today spans Stuart's illustrious career, from his early days contributing to the foundational layers of exercise science to his current work, which includes a significant focus on the mental health benefits of physical activity. We delve into his latest collaborative research, which offers new insights into exercise as a potent intervention for depression, examining the effectiveness of various forms of physical activity and their impact on mental health. As we get into the research and the implications, we inevitably go off on a few important tangents What type of exercise is most effective for depressive states? Is one type of exercise more beneficial for men vs women? Is moderate or intense exercise more effective? How do you coach people to start and sustain exercise? And importantly how do you get children to eat more fruit and vegetables? Stuart’s knowledge of this landscape is vast, but it is clear, conditional, nuanced and specific. It is little wonder he advises the World health organisation on physical activity policy. But also listen in as we take this digression from our more traditional focus on performance, this discussion is littered with advice about how we encourage, coach and make an impact on others. The cherry on top of the cake is a just the best quote about physical activity ever from the one and only Per Olof Astrand! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10870815/ https://twitter.com/stuart_biddle https://staffprofile.unisq.edu.au/Profile/Stuart-Biddle https://www.routledge.com/Psychology-of-Physical-Activity-Determinants-Well-Being-and-Interventions/Biddle-Mutrie-Gorely-Faulkner/p/book/9781032172033
Tue, March 05, 2024
136: Andrew Rogers on Mental Health Development
Joining me this week is Andrew Rogers, a Chartered Consultant Clinical & Forensic Psychologist with over two decades of experience spanning elite sport, business, healthcare, prison services and more. As co-director of Changing Minds UK, Andrew brings a real wealth of knowledge on the psychological aspects of high performance, resilience, and emotional wellbeing. In our conversation, we focus on mental health for sports performers, exploring the unique challenges they face and how coaches and support staff can play a pivotal role in their wellbeing. Andrew is a guide for me as I attempt to ask pertinent questions, know that I don’t know enough in this area and that I am as liable to make a mis-step, due to a growing, evolving and increasingly conversant landscape of mental health. Andrew, fortunately is a leading expert and sheds light on how awareness, stigma, and literacy have changed over the years and what that mean for us all. We discuss the specific mental health challenges encountered in the high-pressure environment of sports, how these challenges shift with escalating competition, and strategies for acclimatising to stress. Andrew also shares insights on supporting young athletes and navigating the fine line between encouraging perseverance and recognising when to pull back. This episode is about understanding mental health in a sporting context, gaining literacy in this area, and reflecting on how we can all contribute to a healthier, more supportive environment for athletes. But whether you're a coach, a parent, or anyone interested in the intersection of psychology and performance, perhaps for your own performance, I’m sure this discussion with Andrew Rogers will be helpful as well as illuminating. Links: www.changingmindsuk.com www.linkedin.com/in/changingmindsuk
Wed, February 21, 2024
135: David Robson on The Intelligence Trap
In this episode I speak to David Robson, an award-winning science journalist. David's insightful exploration into the realms of cognitive psychology and human behaviour, particularly in his books 'The Intelligence Trap' and 'The Expectation Effect,' offers a fresh perspective on how our minds work, especially in high-performance environments. David's journey in science journalism has led him to uncover fascinating aspects of human intelligence and the surprising pitfalls that even the brightest minds can encounter. In this conversation we explore some of the many concepts that David surfaces in his books, such as 'dysrationalia,' a term that challenges our understanding of the expert mind, and explore the balance between evidence-based wisdom and the ever-present risk of misinformation. We'll also discuss David's approach to identifying and navigating the minefield of lies and misinformation, a skill increasingly crucial in our information-saturated world. His insights on the dichotomy of genius types and the controversial topic of multiple intelligences are thought-provoking to say the least. In 'The Expectation Effect,' David examines how our beliefs and expectations can shape our reality, a concept with profound implications in the world of sports and high performance. We'll discuss the nuances of this effect, including the power of the placebo, the importance of mindset, and the intriguing concept of eustress for longevity and performance. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-robson-5761791b/ Twitter: @d_a_robson Website: https://davidrobson.me/ Intelligence Trap Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intelligence-Trap-Revolutionise-Thinking-Decisions/dp/1473669855 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intelligence-Trap-Revolutionise-Thinking-Decisions/dp/1473669855 Expectation Effect Book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Expectation-Effect-Your-Mindset-Transform/dp/1838853308 - Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses an
Wed, February 07, 2024
134: Dr Alison Maitland & Jenna Ashford on Drop The Struggle
In this episode, we're exploring the themes of mindfulness, acceptance, and actionable confidence with authors Dr. Alison Maitland and Jenna Ashford, as they discuss their latest book, 'Drop the Struggle.' This thought-provoking work challenges readers to embrace discomfort, engage with the present, and focus on what truly matters. Alison and Jenna bring a wealth of experience to the table, and they start by sharing their backgrounds, providing context for the insights that follow. The book's central message encourages moving beyond the confines of positive thinking, advocating for a more nuanced approach to personal and professional challenges. The conversation delves into the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a framework that underpins the book's philosophy. Alison and Jenna address the natural human tendencies of nerves, comparison, and competition, reframing these as part of our survival mechanism. Key skills and perspectives from 'Drop the Struggle' are highlighted, including the concept that our thoughts are merely words and pictures, not dictates that we must follow. The authors also discuss the transformative power of acceptance and the importance of aligning actions with values, rather than solely seeking happiness or adherence to rules. What I really enjoyed about this discussion was the insights into changing habits, embracing setbacks, and the 'Do What Matters' matrix—a tool for identifying priorities and overcoming obstacles. I hope if you are struggling, wrangling and tussling with stresses and thoughts that are unhelpful that this discussion can help. Links Find Alison on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonmaitland001 Find Jenna on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-ashford-nee-woolven-b00b424a Find Drop The Struggle here (Drop the Struggle can also be found in other bookstores) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drop-Struggle-Transformative-Achieving-Potential/dp/1914110269 - Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to
Wed, January 24, 2024
133: James Collins on applied nutrition
In our latest episode of Supporting Champions, we had the opportunity to engage in a fascinating conversation with James Collins, recognised as a leading Sport & Exercise Nutritionist. In elite sport he has worked with Team GB Olympic teams and athletes over three Olympic Games. He joined Arsenal Football Club in 2010, where he spent seven seasons as the club’s first performance nutritionist. He has worked as a consultant with England Football, France Football (2018 World Cup winners), and is currently a consultant with Chelsea FC. He was a project lead of an international team of 31 authors to produce the ‘UEFA Expert Group Statement on Nutrition in Elite Football‘, the best practice guidelines within the sport, published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM). James is Managing Director of INTRA Performance Group working with talent from elite sport and entertainment from their Harley Street clinic. He was previously elected President of The Royal Society of Medicine’s Food and Health Forum and is author of the acclaimed book ‘The Energy Plan‘ (Penguin Random House). Throughout our discussion, James shares his journey into the world of sports nutrition, providing insights into his experiences and the lessons he's learned along the way. His unique perspective, shaped by years of working with both individual athletes and team sports, offered a deeper understanding of the diverse nutritional strategies required in different sporting contexts. James has in recent years begun to branch out and apply his nutritional advice to businesses and take on interesting individual cases including a musician taking to one of the main stages in Glastonbury last year, the parallels between athletes and musicians seemingly not too dissimilar. https://twitter.com/jamescollinspn?lang=en http://jamescollinsnutrition.com/ https://www.intraperformancegroup.com/ https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/439206/the-energy-plan-by-james-collins/9781785042294 Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want
Wed, January 10, 2024
132: Amy Edmondson on the right kind of wrong
In this episode of Supporting Champions, we're joined by Amy Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School and a leading authority on psychological safety. We delve into her new book, "The Right Kind of Wrong," a title that intriguingly challenges our perceptions of failure. Our conversation begins with Amy's sharing her expertise on creating environments that foster growth, development, and performance. Amy's perspective is particularly timely, as there's a growing appetite for understanding and skillfully nurturing psychologically safe spaces. Amy emphasizes that better teams don't necessarily make fewer mistakes but are more open to discussing them. This is exemplified in her NASA example, where tired teams, who had been working hard together, outperformed fresh teams. We explore whether psychologically safe teams take more interpersonal and task-based risks. Amy decodes sports contexts and consequences, addressing how results-focused environments can create fear-based decisions. We delve into the nuances of failure, error, and judgment in relation to goal setting, and how psychological safety, while promoting excellence, isn’t about comfort but about enabling intelligent risk-taking and learning from complex failures. We wrap up the conversation by discussing the best and worst examples of enhancing performance through psychological safety, the increasing embrace of interpersonal skills by coaches, and the predominant factors influencing psychological safety. Notes Follow Amy on Twitter https://twitter.com/AmyCEdmondson Order Amy's book here https://amycedmondson.com/ *** UNTIL 1st FEB - you can get 50% off our Setting up Your Own Consultancy Course *** https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/set-up-your-own-performance-consultancy/ use code CHAMPS50 Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingc
Tue, December 19, 2023
131: Cody Royle on coaching coaches
In this week's episode, I'm excited to welcome back Cody Royle, author of "A Second Set of Eyes," for an in-depth discussion about the need for coaches to have coaches. We explore the often-unspoken emotional and psychological challenges coaches face, delving into themes like masculinity, individualism, and the necessity of a strong support network. The conversation, as you'd expect from anything Cody communicates is rich with insight, exploring fascinating insights about the unique traits that define the coaches that coach expert coaches. We explore how it makes better business sense for teams to require or at least encourage, coaches to get support for their work, well being and performance. This episode goes beyond technical aspects, shedding light on the human elements crucial to effective coaching and leadership. Cody's book https://www.codyroyle.com/podcast Cody on twitter or X or whatever https://twitter.com/codyroyle Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, December 06, 2023
130: Athlete Now - Holly Calvert and Nicole Booth on developing a platform for athlete services
In this episode I speak with, Holly Calvert and Nicole Booth, the co-founders of Athlete Now. This innovative platform is revolutionising the way athletes access expert performance support, from nutritionists and physiologists to essential services like insurance and legal support. Simultaneously, it's a game-changer for practitioners, offering them a space to showcase their services and connect with athletes in need. Before we dive into our conversation, I want to share a personal note. I've joined Holly and Nicole as a director of Athlete Now, and I'm thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking project. Our discussion today will delve into the origins, mission, and future of Athlete Now, and I'm here not just as your host but as an active participant in this venture. Holly and Nicole bring a wealth of experience from their backgrounds in sports science and therapy. We'll explore their journey into this field, the serendipitous meeting that led to the birth of Athlete Now, and the unique perspectives they bring to this platform. Athlete Now addresses a critical gap in the market, providing a much-needed bridge between athletes and top-tier performance support practitioners. We'll discuss the platform's key features, the importance of creating a detailed profile for practitioners, and how Athlete Now is helping them overcome common challenges in marketing their services. Also, we'll touch on the community aspect of Athlete Now, the partnerships they've formed, and the success stories that have emerged. Quality assurance is paramount, and we'll delve into how Athlete Now ensures the highest standards for both practitioners and athletes. Finally, we'll look ahead to the future of Athlete Now and the exciting developments on the horizon. So, whether you're an athlete, a practitioner, or someone interested in the intersection of sports and entrepreneurship. Have a look around the website https://theathletenow.com/ Socials Instagram Athlete Now X (Twitter) https://twitter.com/theathletenow Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampi
Tue, November 21, 2023
129: Dan Abrahams on the psychology of team dynamics
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, we're joined by Dan Abrahams, a highly respected sports psychologist known for his insightful and practical approach to team dynamics and performance psychology. Our discussion offers a deep dive into the psychological elements that are crucial for team success, making this episode a valuable listen for coaches, athletes, and leaders alike. We explore a range of topics including the creation of environments that foster psychological development in teams, the intricate balance between focusing on individual players and the overall team, and the complexities of managing diverse personalities within a team setting. Additionally, we delve into tactical aspects such as strategies for maintaining a lead during a game or making adjustments when facing challenges. This conversation with Dan Abrahams is packed with insights and strategies for anyone looking to understand and improve team dynamics and performance. Enjoy! Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-abrahams-b72a306/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DanAbrahams77 Website: https://danabrahams.com/ ATHLETE NOW The Supporting Champions Podcast is sponsored by Athlete Now, the innovative platform transforming how athletes and sports performance experts connect. With Athlete Now, navigate the complex world of sports excellence with ease. It's your hub for finding top-tier, rigorously vetted sports science, medicine, and coaching professionals tailored to your ambitions. For professionals, Athlete Now is the beacon to highlight and harness your skills, directly linking you to those in need of your expertise. Say goodbye to obscurity and hello to impact. Join Athlete Now for free as an athlete, or take advantage of the half-price introductory offer for practitioners: only £10 for the Foundation tier or £50 for the Professional tier with advanced features. Dive into a community dedicated to sporting success at theathletenow.com . BLACK FRIDAY - 50% off Applied Courses Use code CHAMPS50 at checkout Offer ends 23rd November 2023 https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/#applied-pro-courses Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their
Wed, November 08, 2023
128: Ben Sporer on Output
In this episode, we're joined by Ben Sporer, a Canadian sports physiologist whose recent work challenges traditional notions of success in high-performance sports. His book introduces the concept of focusing on 'output'—the aspects of performance within our control—rather than 'outcome,' which is often subject to variables beyond our influence. Throughout our conversation, Ben breaks down the components of output, including physiological indicators, performance metrics, and psychological states, and discusses their relevance to both athletes and coaches. He also offers insights into how these principles can be applied in broader contexts, such as personal growth and professional development. Tune in for a thoughtful exploration of performance with Ben Sporer, where we discuss practical strategies for enhancing output and the implications of this approach for long-term success. Links Output book https://output-book.com/ Ben's Website https://resync.ca/ ATHLETE NOW The Supporting Champions Podcast is sponsored by Athlete Now, the innovative platform transforming how athletes and sports performance experts connect. With Athlete Now, navigate the complex world of sports excellence with ease. It's your hub for finding top-tier, rigorously vetted sports science, medicine, and coaching professionals tailored to your ambitions. For professionals, Athlete Now is the beacon to highlight and harness your skills, directly linking you to those in need of your expertise. Say goodbye to obscurity and hello to impact. Join Athlete Now for free as an athlete, or take advantage of the half-price introductory offer for practitioners: only £10 for the Foundation tier or £50 for the Professional tier with advanced features. Dive into a community dedicated to sporting success at theathletenow.com . BLACK FRIDAY - 50% off Applied Courses Use code CHAMPS50 at checkout Offer ends 23rd November 2023 https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/#applied-pro-courses Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports perfo
Wed, October 25, 2023
127: Mustafa Sarkar on resilience
Today we're diving deep into a topic that's not just timely but also timeless: resilience. Our guest is Mustafa Sarkar, an expert in the psychology of resilience, particularly in the context of sports and high-performance environments. Mustafa's work has been pivotal in helping us understand what resilience is—and perhaps just as importantly, what it isn't. Whether you're an athlete, a coach, or anyone striving for excellence, understanding the nuances of resilience can be a game-changer. In today's conversation, we'll explore the psychological elements that contribute to resilience, how these factors may vary among different roles within a sports setting, and the strategies that can be employed to build both individual and team resilience. We'll also discuss the role of environment, the importance of balancing support and challenge, and the future frontiers of resilience research. So, if you're interested in building a more resilient mindset, either for yourself or for your team, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss. Links Mus on Twitter https://twitter.com/MusSarkar Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, October 11, 2023
126: Brad Schoenfeld on muscle growth and challenging practice with evidence
Today, we're venturing into the ever-evolving world of strength, power, and muscle growth. I'm thrilled to introduce our guest, Brad Schoenfeld, who hails from Lehman College in New York and is a luminary in the field of strength and conditioning. Brad is not just an academic, he is an applied scientist and advisor. But in his work he is true to the principles of science in that while he advises people based on sound principles, as evidenced in the literature, if that evidence evolves his advice evolves. His research has done just that so much so that some find the findings to be disruptive or challenging. His groundbreaking research has been shaking up long-held beliefs and sparking animated debates among athletes, coaches, and scientists alike. If you've ever questioned the conventional wisdom around strength training, today's episode is your gateway to the latest evidence-based practices. We'll be navigating through the shifts that have occurred in strength and conditioning research over the past 15 years, the controversies that have emerged, and the practical implications for athletes across various disciplines. We'll also delve into the nitty-gritty of training mechanisms and session structures. I’m excited for you to benefit from this episode whether you are looking to adapt your training or tune into how a scientist is driving development in a field. Links Brad on twitter https://twitter.com/BradSchoenfeld Brad's website: https://www.lookgreatnaked.com/blog/ Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions
Wed, September 27, 2023
125: Sophia Jowett on the coach - athlete relationship
Please take the time to fill in our survey about performance staff skills https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/skills/ In today’s episode we’re exploring a topic that sits at the very heart of performance, yet is often overlooked: the coach-athlete relationship. And I couldn't think of anyone better to discuss this with than our guest, Sophia Jowett. Sophia is a leading expert in the field, known for her extensive research and innovative models that explore the dynamics between coaches and athletes. She's got a knack for breaking down complex ideas into memorable acronyms and alliterations, making the science not just accessible but also unforgettable. We'll be delving into how the landscape of coaching has evolved over the years, the psychological underpinnings of a successful coach-athlete relationship, and even the challenges and conflicts that can arise. We'll also touch on the broader implications of her work, including parallels in the business world and the evolving role of coaches. This is essential listening for anyone working with coaches and athletes! Follow Sophia on Twitter https://twitter.com/JowettSophia Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, September 13, 2023
124: David Slemen on recruiting staff into performance teams
"PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO FILL IN OUR SKILLS SURVEY" https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/skills/ Welcome back to the podcast proper! In this week's episode, we're tackling a subject that's crucial but often not given the attention it deserves: the recruitment process within high-performance teams. Our guest, David Slemen, is uniquely qualified to shed light on this topic. David is the founder of Elite Performance Partners, a consultancy that specializes in identifying and placing exceptional talent in performance-driven environments. With a rich background in professional rugby and a deep understanding of team dynamics, David has become a sought-after expert for organizations looking to build or enhance their performance teams. This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in sports, business, or any field where team performance is a key factor. We'll explore practical, real-world insights into how to identify the right talent, integrate them effectively into your team, and foster a culture that attracts and sustains excellence. Don't miss this invaluable conversation that could very well change the way you approach building your team for success. Links Elite Performance Partners: EPP https://eppglobal.com/ Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Thu, September 07, 2023
What it takes to work well in sport: I discuss our major new survey with Jamie Pringle
This week we're launching a major new survey. We've teamed up with Jamie Pringle to create one of the must comprehensive surveys about "what it takes to be successful as support practitioner". Please take 30 mins of your time to contribute to the survey. SURVEY *** Academics, Professionals and Students - WE NEED YOU TO HELP US HELP THE INDUSTRY!*** In this discussion, Jamie and I talk through what the survey is, why we are working on it, how we believe it will help create clarity for those recruiting, developing and training the next generation of performance professionals and likewise how it will help the students of today, who will become professionals and leaders of our industry tomorrow. Summary 🔍 A skills survey is being conducted to understand the qualifications and abilities valued by employers in the sport and exercise science industry, as well as the effectiveness of educational programs in preparing graduates for the workforce. Highlights 📚 The survey aims to capture insights from industry professionals, educators, and students to improve the development and readiness of graduates entering the workforce. 💼 Work-based learning and vocational skills were identified as crucial for successful employment in the industry. 🤝 Collaboration between industry and education is emphasized to ensure curriculum aligns with industry requirements. 🎯 The survey results will provide clarity on the skills and qualities sought by employers and help inform recruitment and curriculum planning. 👥 All industry professionals, educators, and students in the sport and exercise science field are encouraged to contribute to the survey to provide valuable insights for the future of the industry. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO FILL THE SURVEY IN All survey respondents will receive the headlines from the 2108 survey and have an option for the full report and follow up resources. We're also presenting the findings of the skills survey at the 2023 BASES conference The podcast returns to normal service next week!
Wed, May 10, 2023
123: Michael Johnson on serial winning, challenges and preparing to peak
This week’s guest is Michael Johnson. Michael will not need an introduction to many of you, but for those who are not aware of one of the greatest athletes of all time and for those who want a recap here are a few highlights. Michael has won gold medals in 200, 400m and 4 x 400 at the Goodwill games. He took gold medals at the 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 World Championships and golds the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics Games. Unforgettably, Michael broke the world 200m record in an astonishing time of 19.32 s at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, having a few days before won the 400m title. Michael also broke the world 400m record in the Seville World Championship final in a time of 43.18. Those records stood for 14 and 17 years respectively. Since Michael retired he is familiar to many as a commentator and pundit for athletics, where he offers great depth, perceptive insight, challenge and clarity of thought about performance. He is also an entrepreneur, running Michael Johnson Performance, providing speed, agility and injury prevention support to elite teams. In this discussion we of course talk about all of these things, Michael’s athletic career, as well as how he’s how cultured insights into how people perform, where he thinks athletics is going, and his work in business. As you’d expect Michael brings rich insight to all of these. I hope you enjoy the conversation! ***We're taking a short break from the podcast. I hope you're enjoyed the series*** Links https://www.mj-gold.com/ https://www.michaeljohnsonperformance.com/ Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Fri, April 28, 2023
122: Nigel Adkins on the demands on the modern football manager
This week's guest is Nigel Adkins. Nigel is a former professional football player, coach and manager. He's also trained as a physiotherapist, so not only does he have experience of playing coaching but also has been part of the backroom staff too. Nigel is sharing, describing, and supporting others through the demands placed upon modern managers. He is passionate about helping others realise that the managers identity, worth and health should not necessarily be impacted upon due to the role of coaching at the top end. However Nigel does describe the prevailing philosophy in football clubs being that if they don't win the manager is likely to get sacked. We get into this in the conversation and discuss what you can do and take ownership for, the right and wrongs of this approach and what might help you as a modern manager thrive in this world where you might not have much time to do your best work. Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, April 12, 2023
121: Brendan Cropley and Zoe Knowles on Reflective Practice
This week’s guests are Zoe Knowles and Brendan Cropley Zoe is a Professor of Engagement and Learning at Liverpool John Moores University and Brendan is Professor of Sport Coaching at University of South Wales; and both are sports psychologists by trade. They are also pioneers for reflective practice in sport and have been moving this field forward together with a band of researchers and applied scientists and they’ve recently released the 2nd Ed of Reflective Practice in the Sport and Exercise Sciences. In this discussion we get into the value that reflection brings, the evidence of whether reflecting enhances your performance, some potential downsides of reflection, whether personality type or biases effect how one engages with reflection, the potential effects of reflective practice on mental health. Of course we explore different models of reflection and Zoe and Brendan take you through a fuller reflective cycle and a shorter, snappier version - which gets us on how, when and under what circumstances you might reflect. Download the reflective practice worksheet and use for yourself. Links Zoe on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpExPsych Brendan on Twitter https://twitter.com/BrendanCropley Reflective Practice in the Sport and Exercise Sciences book https://www.routledge.com/Reflective-Practice-in-the-Sport-and-Exercise-Sciences-Critical-Perspectives/Cropley-Knowles-Miles-Huntley/p/book/9781032056944 If you want to develop your applied performance science impact take a look at our courses for S&C, psychology, nutrition, physiology (with me), performance analysis Use code APPLIED2023 for £50 off (limited number of discounts - only a few places left) Use the code for £50 off any Applied Pro courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/#appliedpro Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, March 29, 2023
120: Sian Allen on wearable technology
This week’s guest is Sian Allen. Sian is a vastly experienced performance scientist having worked at the English, Scottish and New Zealand Institute of Sports. Sian received her PhD in Statistical Modelling of Sports Performance from Aukland University of Technology, while working with British and New Zealand swimming teams. Sian headed up the performance intelligence work for the New Zealand Sorts system, carving out data informed insights into how, what, where, when and who new Zealand athletes and teams could gain an advantage. She is now at Lululemon – an athletic apparel company that designs, distributes, and retails athletic apparel and accessories. Beyond this Sian, has been creating some fascinating insights and sharing them on Twitter about wearable technology, with a blend of data-driven observations about herself, research based insights and questions and ideas about how us humans interact, benefit, misuse and get confused by the various devices that we purchased and stick on on ourselves in an attempt to measure various variables. Sian shares her motivations for developing content, the key insights she has gained which monitoring devices she has found to be the best for monitoring sleep, heart rate and activity; as well as a look into the future about where technology is headed and whether with the advent of AI, we’re going to be interacting with human support. I should also mention that Sian is our course tutor for the Supporting Champions Performance Analysis course - so if that is your thing and your interested in the course, it is just a superb digest of 10 lessons running you through how to take a data-informed approach to improving athlete performance! Sian shares a little bit about her motivations for the course and how it is helping practitioners from all fields harness the power of data. Sian on Twitter https://twitter.com/DrSianAllen Sian's Applied Pro Performance Analysis course https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/applied-performance-analysis/ Use code APPLIED2023 for £50 off (limited number of discounts - only 100 places) Use the code for £50 off any Applied Pro courses https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/#appliedpro Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, March 15, 2023
119: Jean Gomes leading self and others
This week’s guest is Jean Gomes. Jean is a New York best-selling author and a business consultant to 100s of CEOs and businesses. He is CEO and founder of Outside who utilise the latest research to support and develop wellbeing, leadership and organisational culture. His clients over the years include Google, Nike, Schneider, BMW, Tik Tok, but also includes the Lawn Tennis Association, UK Sport and Manchester City. In his new book ‘Leading in a Non-Linear World’ Jean delves into the latest research into mindset and how we’ve been limping along with an outdated definitions for years - making the case that it is more than just the beliefs and mental models that we carry. We get into this idea in our discussion and explore self-awareness, how we need to be more aware of how our emotions are formed, how to build a healthier, more agile mindset, the value of interoception and perspectives of resilient people. Ultimately this is a book about self-management - how we lead ourselves so that we’re better able to lead others. This is a concept that is central to everything we do at Supporting Champions. Jean brings a lucidity to the work that he does, he strives to be more human and connected in how he creates and supports others to high-performance and interestingly over the years he has evolved as a consultant and as a leader. You’ll get a sense of this is our discussion - how he’s stayed abreast of research, thought about what he’s seeing and observing and curated ideas to help others - kind of like the best applied scientists! ***Applied Pro Practitioner courses are now discounted USE CODE APPLIED2023 for £50 off until 7th April Sign up now to take advantage of live Q&As with tutors*** Go to https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse Links Leading in a non-linear world https://www.weareoutside.com/leading-in-a-non-linear-world Mindset monthly https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/mindset-monthly-7001265313933619201/ Evolving leader https://www.weareoutside.com/evolving-leader Links Hi, I’m Steve Ingham ... I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, <a href='http://www.linkedin.com/company/sup
Wed, March 01, 2023
118: Mark Burnley on training zones
This week’s guest is Dr Mark Burnley Mark is an exercise physiologist by trade, currently an academic at Loughborough University, having previously been at Brighton, Aberystwyth, Kent and Wolverhampton. Mark’s background is in oxygen uptake kinetics, having undertaken much of the pioneering work on priming - which I’ve used extensively in my work with athletes. Much of Mark’s work has centred around the concept of Critical Power and the physiological landmarks that distinguish different exercise intensities - essentially exploring ways in which we can distinguish the way our body responds differently in different domains of exercise. This is relevant because these landmarks offer us some logic to how we might go about setting training zones. And that is what we get into in this discussion. We delve into what the key landmarks are, what happens when you exercise in, below or above different landmarks. We explore the strengths, mistakes and pitfalls of different types of zone structures, debating laboratory, field, precise prescriptions or margins, whether to use heart rate, power, speed, breathing as some of the ways to regulate exercise intensity. As you can imagine the discussion goes in all different directions and what we’ve tried to do is define each concept as we go, just in case you’re not familiar with the various terms. But rest assured you’re in safe hands with Mark, his keen intellect, exacting precision combined with an eye for the applied practical implications of this topic - are all delivered with highest level of clarity in his communication. Links to Mark Mark on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@all-outphysiology2177 Mark on Twitter https://twitter.com/DrMarkBurnley --- Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, ww
Tue, February 14, 2023
117: Costas Karageorghis on music and performance
This week’s guest is Costas Karageorghis Costas is a professor of sports psychology at Brunel University. I first knew of Costas, many years ago as “Piano Man”, as he was sat at the piano in a bar at a BASES conference, skilfully and joyfully playing away entertaining conference attendees. Only the next day did I find out that that music was his specialist topic. Since, Costas has become renowned for his research on the effects of music on exercise and sports performance. In Costas’ book Applying Music in Exercise and Sport, the preface begins with a quote from Confucius, “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without”. What is fascinating is that the link between music and sport isn’t more widely explored. In this discussion we explore the connection between sports and music, starting with on one of my favourite indulgences -the sports montage. We delve into how music can support exercisers, how it can make exercise seem easier, how it can be used to help performers get ready for competitions, how music preferences diverge based on culture, within teams and based on your circumstances. I start by asking Costas what he thinks about the Supporting Champions podcast music. Links SAVI Group on Twitter https://twitter.com/SAVIBrunel SAVI playlists on Spotify Brunel SAVI Group On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brunel_music_and_driving Hi, I’m Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I’ve been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you’re working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems – take a look at what I offer here – https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Thu, February 02, 2023
116: Kate Hays on the psychology of the Lionesses
This week’s guest is Dr Kate Hays Kate is Head of Women's Performance Psychology at The English FA Kate is just about as richly experienced a practitioner and leader in sports psychology as you are likely to meet. Kate has worked on the Front line in Olympic sport, in particular in the sport of diving, working with Olympic Champion Tom Daley; she has worked in professional rugby at Harlequins RFC and as a leader Kate was the Head of Psychology at the English Institute of Sport. In this conversation I speak to Kate about her experiences in support of the England women’s team in the lead up and during the winning run at the European Championships. Kate shares the insights into handling the pressure, embracing the excitement and buzz of the tournament while staying in control and delivering to the plan. Kates shares the characteristics that you should be interested in developing if you’re interested in developing a winning culture, some of which are non-negotiables and some of which are created from within. If you’re listening in because you want to hear what went on behind the scenes for the Lionesses, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. If you’re tuning in to hear about what makes a successful team, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. If you are tuning in to hear about a great performance psychologist works, how psychology support has evolved from one-to-one, behind closed doors work to on-pitch, integrated and woven into the fabric everything a great team does - then you won’t be disappointed. Links Follow Kate on Twitter https://twitter.com/DrKateHays England Women's team https://www.englandfootball.com/england/womens-senior-team Hi, I’m Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I’ve been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you’re working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems – take a look at what I offer here – https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Tik Tok <a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions
Wed, January 18, 2023
115: Joe Baker on the tyranny of talent
This week’s guest is Joe Baker Joe is a Professor at the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University in Toronto Joe’s work specialises in optimal human development, largely to understand how someone gets to, and stays at, the highest levels of performance. This means he works in the areas of skill acquisition, talent identification and athlete development. He has recently written a book called the Tyranny of Talent, which pokes and probes of the ideas of what talent is, how it is typically thought about, worked with and developed (or attempted to be developed) in many elite environments. What are the pitfalls, pivot point and priorities in supporting people all the way through their athletic, sporting and exercising journey. Joe is a true expert in the field and he brings an erudite wisdom to this discussion, but he is also active in helping others switch their mindsets to begin to think again about how we can develop people. Links Link to The Tyranny of Talent - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1738644103 Link to Joe's page at York University - https://www.yorku.ca/professor/bakerj/ Joe on twitter https://twitter.com/bakerjyorku Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, January 04, 2023
114: Christian Swann on using goals effectively
Happy New Year! This week’s guest is Christian Swann. Christian is an associate professor at Southern Cross University and specialises in research around goal setting and mental health. In Christian’s early research he noticed an interesting observation. While working with elite golfers he asked them what sort of goals they set for themselves. To his surprise the types of goals they set didn’t conform with the typical, off-the-shelf literature, such as outcome specific goals. This led him to delve a lot deeper into the area and astutely began to question many of the premises upon which goals setting methods are based, finding in many instances, that frameworks such as SMART goals do not comply with the basics of goal setting theory. Who knew? Well, probably a lot of us who have tried to use them? This is what we get into in this discussion, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of different ways of setting goals, weighing up process goals, outcome goals and performance goals. We discuss the use of open goals and ‘do your best’ goals and how to apply goals whether you are a learner or expert. If you’re setting goals for yourself right now or setting them for others - this discussion is well worth your attention. Links Follow Christian on Twitter https://twitter.com/cswannpsych Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, December 14, 2022
113: Nick Tiller on harnessing scepticism
Nick is a senior research fellow in Exercise Physiology at Harbor UCLA Medical Centre. For over a decade, Nick has been scrutinizing the commercial health and wellness industry through the critical lens of scientific skepticism. Where he finds nonsense he has called it out, campaigned for a stronger stance against snake oil, bogus claims and myths. Nick is also the author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science which we discuss in this conversation. The book was named one of Book Authority's "Best sports science books of all time". As you will also hear Nick is passionate, sometimes frustrated, some times exasperated with this area. Kudos for him for taking it on - I think we all have a role to play in this area and as you’ll also hear, I passionately believe this book is essential reading for any coach or sports scientist. This is the last podcast of the year - we'll be back in the New Year with a super helpful episode about goals! Links Nick's website https://www.nbtiller.com/ The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science https://www.routledge.com/The-Skeptics-Guide-to-Sports-Science-Confronting-Myths-of-the-Health-and/Tiller/p/book/9781138333130 Is 2023 the year to set up your side-hustle? Take a look here at the course that people like you are using to guide setting up your own consultancy. https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/set-up-your-own-performance-consultancy/ Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions </
Wed, November 30, 2022
112: Lucy Gossage on triathlon, training and supporting cancer patients
This week’s guest is Dr Lucy Gossage Lucy is a triathlete and doctor and on underpinning that a phenomenal person. Lucy started her career almost by accident, just trying out in triathlon for fun, then got the bug, entering her first ironman and steadily realising that she could go pro and taking 12 Ironman titles. In between swimming, biking and running, Lucy studied medicine at Cambridge, where she also undertook PhD in kidney cancer and is now a consultant oncologist at Nottingham University Hospital We talk about how it all started for Lucy, her rise to being pro, how she managed the effort of medical and triathlon training. We discuss how she preferred not to overcomplicate her training, keeping things simple and unfussy, in this case not use a scientific approach. We also discuss her career as a cancer doctor, how this gave her perspective through the hard days training and racing, how she copes working with patients suffering each day and how she is campaigning through the charity ‘5k your way’ a community based initiative encouraging those living with cancer to stay physically active. Links Lucy Gossage https://lucygossage.com/ Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/lucygoss 5 k your way https://5kyourway.org/ Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, November 16, 2022
111: Andy McNab on special forces performance
This week's guest is Andy McNab Andy McNab is perhaps the most recognisable name of any special forces operator in the world. Andy served in the Royal Green Jackets in Northern Ireland where he was awarded the Military medal for gallantry, he entered the Special Air Services in 1984 and worked on both covert and overt operations including and drug operations in the Middle East and Far East, South and Central America and Northern Ireland Andy is best know for commanding an 8 man SAS patrol designated Bravo Two Zero in Iraq, which he wrote about in the book bearing the same name. The book tells of a mission that was compromised leading to three of the eight dying and four (including Andy being captured, held and tortured for 6 weeks). I wanted to talk to Andy about his choices to join the military, what selection is like for special forces applicants and what qualities are selected for. And Andy as you’d expect tells it like it is. There is a clarity of understanding about what is required, how you undertake highly specialised manoeuvres and how you achieve high-performance under the intensity of combat. But this isn’t all just aggression and attack (although there is a bit of that). Listen carefully and you’ll hear a profound lessons in how you select people, how you train people to perform and how you deliver when it matters. We also discuss the finding that Andy is a diagnosed psychopath, or more specifically a functioning psychopath, how he found out, what that meant for his military performance as well as how understanding that has helped him engage more effectively in day-to-day life. It was an honour to speak to Andy, not everything in special forces applies to our sporting and working lives, but here are some super interesting insights in this conversation - of which I have no doubt you could apply - it certainly, certainly offers a contrast. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Links Andy's new book DOWN TO THE WIRE Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your t
Wed, November 02, 2022
110: Ryan King on operating in complexity
This week's guest is Ryan King. Ryan is a strength and conditioning coach by trade. He has a background working at the EIS and England FA. In addition to his conditioning work Ryan has led numerous teams, for example managing the women’s pathway team, the performance support team and the innovation work at the FA. Ryan is now a performance strategist at Kitman labs and a performance consultant for his own business Blended Intelligence. But beyond the job titles is the way Ryan works which is highly considered, thoughtful and holistic. When I say holistic I mean he fully respects the climate, environment, the timing as well as the problem on the table. In this discussion we explore how to work in simple and complex situations, creating systems but being flexible and measuring our impact. But central to this is harnessing people and their full capability to create performance. I don’t think I will ever tire of speaking to Ryan he is one of these people who always brings fresh insight and perspective. Links for Ryan https://twitter.com/Blended_Team https://blended-intelligence.com/ Hi, I’m Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I’ve been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse ***Applied Pro Practitioner courses are now discounted USE CODE APPLIED2022 for £50 off until 15th Nov Sign up now to take advantage of live sessions with tutors*** If you’re working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems – take a look at what I offer here – https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://w
Wed, October 19, 2022
109: Tom Geraghty on psychological safety
This week’s guest is Tom Geraghty Tom runs a business that supports and coaches people and teams in the area of psychological safety. He has created a reputation in this niche, through his work, his online contributions and a very impactful newsletter each week. Tom hasn’t come at this topic through what you might think is the traditional and formal psychological route, but from the position of a worker in an environment seeing how leaders misuse their position, create caustic environments and make people feel not only rubbish but inhibited too. And Tom then had sense and will to learn why, how, what and when these environments arise and how he could support people to make things better, to feel safer so that you can unlock their potential and performance. I really enjoyed this conversation with Tom, his deep thinking really added value and I hope you enjoy it too. Links Twitter https://twitter.com/tom_geraghty Website https://psychsafety.co.uk/ Newsletter https://psychsafety.co.uk/newsletter/ Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse ***Applied Pro Practitioner courses are now discounted USE CODE APPLIED2022 for £50 off until 15th Nov Sign up now to take advantage of live sessions with tutors*** If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, October 05, 2022
108: Jenny Coe and Amy Whitehead on myths of sports coaching
I have two guests for you this week, Jenny Coe and Dr Amy Whitehead Jenny Coe is former international basketball player for Ireland and has spent her working career developing coaches and players, first at UK coaching and now working as a Head of Performance and Wellbeing with West Ham Women’s Football Team. Jenny also runs her own company Impact the Game a company that supports coaches and athletes in the area of sports psychology. Amy is a Reader in Sport Psychology and Coaching at Liverpool John Moores University, where she leads the Coaching and Pedagogy Research Group at LJMU and specialises in research in stressors and coping during competition. But the main reason that Jenny and Amy are on today is that they have co-edited a super interesting book called Myths of Sports Coaching, collating a range of common misconceptions and tackling them head on, giving sense over superstition, but also a clear understanding as to why myths have originated which I think really helps people see where some ideas such as Learning styles 10,000 hours Deliberate practice Do you have to walk it to talk it and do coaches need to be cruel to be kind As I stated in my testimonial on the back of the book, The work, illuminated by leading authors, scholars and practitioners, is indispensable for anyone supporting and championing others through coaching. I hope you enjoy this wide ranging conversation as we get into several of the concepts that the book addresses. Links for guests https://twitter.com/jennycoady10 https://twitter.com/a_whitehead1 https://www.sequoia-books.com/catalog/whiteheadcoe/ Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links Twitter at
Tue, September 20, 2022
107: Colin Lewin on the evolution of the support team in football
This week's guest is Colin Lewin Colin was Arsenal Football Club’s physiotherapist from 2005 to 2018 - making that 22 years of front line medical support in elite football. Acting both as a physio and later as Head of Medical Services, Colin oversaw the creation of Arsenal’s outstanding purpose-built medical facilities in 2012 the £17 million player performance centre and implementing the Research & Development arm to the medical team. Colin now runs the Lewin Clinic in Essex with and consults with a number of football, NBA, NHL, NFL, Major League Baseball teams. Colin has such depth of experience and has seen a radical re-development of support teams in football, under the guidance of one of the pioneers in the game Arsene Wenger. This came out in our conversation with real perspective that I think is necessary not only as club’s grow and get caught in a performance science and medicine arms race but also balancing the need to actually do impactful work (not just do what a player or coach fancies doing). This is typified by the growth of independent player support teams. I’ve always enjoyed conversations with Colin, he has a relaxed down-to-earth approach, that is so easy to imagine gelling with an elite team. His grounded self-awareness comes through this conversation, being prepared to just say, “I don’t know” but equally with a strength of opinion where he sees support teams misfiring. With that you’ll hear his wealth of wisdom and passion to make the game of football better. Follow Colin on Twitter and check out his website when you need a brilliant sports physio; https://twitter.com/LewinPhysio https://www.lewinclinic.co.uk/ Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions
Wed, September 07, 2022
106: Abbie Eaton on women’s motor racing, injury and pushing boundaries
Abbie Eaton is a racing driver having competed in a range of Series’ including the Mazda supercup, Super 2 series, 2 x British Champion and notably in the W series. She is also a test driver on the series The Grand tour. In this discussion Abbie talks about carving out a career as a woman in a male dominated sport, she shares her drive, personal ambitions to not only compete but to manage everything, from sponsors, to training, recovering from serious injury, to earning an income away from racing as a driving coach. This really encapsulates where the women’s sport is at the moment with top talent having to cope themselves, make things work as best they can, while staying competitive. For me this is an insight into the mind and pursuit of a pioneer. I listen to many of the lionesses recently thank all of the women who grafted to make their current rise in popularity possible and I think of people like Abbie - making it happen for herself but also taking the sport forward. Follow Abbie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abbieeaton44 and twitter https://twitter.com/AbbieEaton44 and take a look at her website https://www.abbieeaton.com/ Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, August 24, 2022
105: David Joyce on decision making
This weeks guest is David Joyce. David is a physiotherapist by trade but over the last decade or so David has carved himself out as a strategic thinker, advisor, and developer of teams and leaders. He has learned his craft at the cold face in numerous systems based in Europe and Asia as a practitioner but his curiosity has led him to undertake some fascinating research in the area of strategic decision-making. And from this basis he has developed some real critical insights, informed by breadth of reading, discovery and application about how we make decisions. He now advises sports and businesses around the world through his own consultancy. David' is a super shrewd thinker who stretched my own thinking - so I learned loads in this conversation. To many of you though David is the coeditor of The book high-performance training for sports and I'm just acknowledging that now because it's worth bearing that in mind as you listen to the discussion, because David is still embedded in high-performance yet he has followed his interests, spread his wings and developed a unique set of skills and insights that he is applying well beyond sport. Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links for David Follow David on Twitter https://twitter.com/davidgjoyce Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, August 10, 2022
104: David Dunne on behaviour change and technology
This week’s episode is with Dr David Dunne. I mentioned a few weeks ago in the reboot episode that I will continue to speak to scientists, applied practitioners, coaches and athletes and those outside of sport. But I also flagged that I want to speak with entrepreneurs and consultants, people who’ve created businesses or are consulting for their income. David is one such person. He is a doctoral at Liverpool John Moores in the area of how behaviour influences carbohydrate intake. He has done something quite interesting and I would say inspiring too. He’s taken that research and applied AI technology to form a digital application that helps athletes and nutritionists to optimise energy intake (HEXIS). As much as the application, I was fascinated to talk to David about his applied experiences as well as the road into start-ups, investment, product development and ultimately creating value for people. Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ LINKS Links for David and Hexis https://twitter.com/david_m_dunne https://twitter.com/hexis_live https://www.hexis.live/ WE'RE NOW ON TIK TOK! https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions And Instagram <a href='https://www.insta
Wed, July 27, 2022
103: Danny Kerry on performance leadership
103 Danny Kerry on performance leadership Today's episode is with Danny Kerry. Danny has led the GB field hockey teams for 17 years. He recently coached the men’s team to the Tokyo Olympics, and is perhaps best known for coaching the women’s team from 2005 to 2012 and again from 2014 to 2018 - leading them to a bronze in London and a wonderful gold medal at the Rio Olympics. What you hear from Danny is a thoughtful, considerate yet performance focused leader of people, willing to make the hard decisions, give clear feedback and do what’s best - not only for the team but to be able to turn that focus on himself, his own development and his own performance. Links Follow Danny on Twitter https://twitter.com/Danny_Kerry and Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-kerry-mbe-25676917/ Hi, I’m Steve Ingham, I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you’re working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems – take a look at what I offer here – https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram And Instagram https://www.instagram.com/steveandingham https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, July 13, 2022
102: Vanessa Bohns on influence
102: Vanessa Bohns on Influence Today’s episode is with Vanessa Bohns Professor of organisational behaviour at Cornell University. I spoke to Vanessa about her recent book “You have more influence than you think” with the subtitle of “How we underestimate our power of persuasion and why it matters”. I found this topic fascinating - because we spend so much time thinking about our ideas, interact with other people, trying to create change, while often being overly worried about what judgements people make of us. The book and the discussion helps you overcome some of those worries and champions us you to realise that we are influential. Follow Vanessa on Twitter https://twitter.com/profbohns https://www.vanessabohns.com/ Hi, I’m Steve Ingham, I help aspiring and Professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you’re working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems – take a look at what I offer here – https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram And Instagram https://www.instagram.com/steveandingham https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Wed, June 29, 2022
101: John Kiely on questioning conventions
The podcast is BACK! We're delighted to be back and we've got some great conversations ahead for you! We've taken a bit of a break and now we're recording again Expect to hear from great scientist, coaches and athletes. Unique to the podcast we'll still be speaking those people outside of sport who are performers themselves or have insights that can inform what we do. We'll also be adding more voices from entrepreneurs out there; both business builder and consultants. We think the world has shifted in the way we work and we want to lean into hearing from people about making a living by selling what you know and can do. This week on the podcast I speak to Senior Lecturer Performance and Innovation at the University of Limerick, John Kiely. John has an incredible background as a combat athlete, strength and conditioning coach and leader of high performance teams, with extensive experience in athletics. But over the last 15 years or so John has thought deeply about the principles with which we work, especially around the area of periodisation and athlete preparation. His publications in this area have provoked a rethink about the whole paradigm - leading me to wonder just how many of the concepts we think are foundational don't have great foundations at all? Follow John on Twitter https://twitter.com/simplysportssci Instagram https://instagram/simplysportssci Researchgate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John-Kiely Hi, I'm Steve Ingham, I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram And Instagram https://www.instagram.com/steveandingham https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
Fri, June 17, 2022
The podcast returns on 29th June
We’ve had a little break from the podcast and now I’m delighted to say we’re back and have got lots of great interviews coming up. New episodes are uploaded on 29th June. Don't forget to subscribe on your podcast platform or Youtube So what’s changed since we were away, well we haven’t changed things around too much. We’re still exploring all aspects of human performance, whether that is getting stronger, fitter, mentally more prepared, eating better, playing better - but also how we perform in work, individually and as teams. I’ll still be speaking to great scientists, practitioners, coaches, athletes, and people outside of sports - but who are interested how we perform as humans. Although I will be looking to add more entrepreneurs into the mix. I think with the world of work shifting and changing in recent years I want to find out more from those people who have set up businesses or are consulting for their own income. Senior Lecturer in Performance and Innovation - Dr John Kiely all about Periodisation and questioning conventions Social Psychologist - Professor Vanessa Bohns from Cornell, all about influence Olympic gold medal winning GB Women’s Hockey coach, Danny Kerry Women’s racing driver Abbie Eaton Former Arsenal men’s team Physio Colin Lewin Performance Strategist - Ryan King Fonder of Hexis App Dr David Dunne Authors of Myths of Sports Coaching Jenny Coe and Dr Amy Whitehead Strategy and decision making expert David Joyce Psychological safety expert -Tom Geraghty We’re really looking forward to sharing these insights with you and so make sure you subscribe on whichever platform you get your podcasts and of course on Youtube
Wed, November 17, 2021
Steve reflects on 100 episodes with Jamie Pringle
After 100 episodes over 4 years, I take a chance to reflect on the lessons learned from hosting the Supporting Champions podcast and speaking with some of the world's best performers, coaches, support staff, mainly from sport but also from a range of other performance fields too. I'm joined by my close colleague, friend and initial podcast guest Dr Jamie Pringle to help me reflect. Episodes mentioned in the podcast Miss Val Kondos Field https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/029-miss-val-on-coaching-a-positive-culture-in-gymnastics/ Mark Webber https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/071-mark-webber-on-racing-in-formula-one/ Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/093-redgrave-and-pinsent-on-their-olympic-partnership/ Katelyn Ohashi https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/030-katelyn-ohashi-on-finding-joy-in-gymnastics/ Mel Marshall https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/067-mel-marshall-on-evolving-coaching/ Alistair Brownlee https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/alistair-brownlee-on-a-sub-7-hour-ironman-triathlon/ Dame Jessica Ennis Hill https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/042-jessica-ennis-hill-on-becoming-world-and-olympic-champion/ Kelly Sotherton https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/014-kelly-sotherton-on-receiving-her-4x400m-medal-ten-years-late/ Dave Smith https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/048-dave-smith-on-choosing-to-live/ Louise Minchin https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/031-louise-minchin-from-the-bbc-breakfast-sofa-to-gb-team-triathlete/ Mike Powell https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/099-mike-powell-on-records-rivalry-and-resilience/ Emma Hatton https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/043-emma-hatton-west-end-star-on-sustaining-performance/ Peter Vint https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/074-peter-vint-on-data-culture-and-athlete-development/ Liz Stokoe https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/012-liz-stokoe-on-science-and-art-of-conversation/ James Glover https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/051-james-glover-on-intentionality/
Tue, November 02, 2021
100: Sue Campbell on leadership and the power of sport
A very, very warm welcome to our 100th episode. Woo! A milestone for us having started the podcast just under 4 years ago. I truly hope you have enjoyed all the episodes. If you’ve listened to them all then kudos and thanks for being with us along the way. If you’re new in, then hello and I kind of envy you as there is a back catalogue just waiting for you to tune into. When I look back now only a few sections of the conversations are specific to time, and so the discussions are pretty evergreen. It’s been a pure joy to connect with so many great minds, thinkers, achievers, aspirers, supporters of others - I’m truly humbled and want to thank everyone who has been on the show. I want to say at this point a huge thank you to Rachel who caringly curates the podcast episodes, Rachel does this with a coach's eye for not only the dialogue but also for the deeper motivations, passions, concerns and insights that people share in the conversations. Share your thoughts about the podcast in this quick survey This week's guest is Baroness Dame Sue Campbell. Sue Campbell trained as a PE teacher, guiding inner city children in Moss side to embrace sport. From humble yet so powerfully formative beginnings Sue has become one of the most effective and infectious leaders in modern sport. Sue founded the National Coaching Foundation, the Youth Sport Trust and became Chair of UK Sport from its early beginnings to becoming a world superpower. Sue now leads the English women's FA, in pursuit of growing the game. Her achievements are profound and pioneering having led the development of support for coaches, children, whole system wide sports. Recognition for her work includes 11 honorary degrees, appointed Baroness Campbell of Loughborough and Dame Commander in 2020. Throughout her career Sue has infused teams, organisations and the people within them to become better, lift the standards all in service of celebrating the power of sport to affect lives, show us that things are possible and to do so with deep respect for each other. Notes The importance of sport, for us and specifically children Football and its ability to reach parts of society that traditional legislation can’t The next challenge Designing a pathway for girls professional football. Creating the best professional league for women in the world Long termism Influencing Sue’s greatest challenges Growing Women’s Football in its own light Links Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin,<a href='http://
Wed, October 20, 2021
099: Mike Powell on records, rivalry and resilience
This week’s guest is one of the most outstanding athletes ever, Mike Powell. Mike has held the long jump world record for the last 30 years, taking the mark from the legendary Bob Beamon - who held it himself for 23 years. The record stands at 8.95 m or in old money 29 feet 4 and a bit inches. When I do keynote speeches, one of my favourite things to do is to measure out Mike’s record just to illustrate some of the extraordinary feats elite athletes are capable of and it never, never fails to amaze me or an audience. Mike broke the record at the Tokyo World Championship in one of the most tumultuous tussles with the equally legendary athlete Carl Lewis, having played second fiddle to Carl for so many years. In the conversation Mike describes in such a colourful and engaging way how he went about pursuing the title, using Carl as a motivator, how he tapped into a coach that could take him to another level, how he harnessed sports psychology long before it was common place. If you can take a look at the youtube link in the below of the competition either as a reminder or to soak up for the first time what I would describe as one of the best head to head sporting competitions of all-time. Tokyo World Championship final https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0WfsAwvTSU *** Applied Pro Practitioner Courses *** https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse Notes The long jump record was a turning point in Mike’s life Mike Foul! Using fuel between Carl Lewis and himself as competition Stoking of aggression in order to fuel performance Visualisation with a sport psychologist Mike Powell’s coach Randy Huntington and his training methods Breaking the World Record but Carl had 2 jumps left and he ALWAYS came back What was it like experiencing the peak of his performance? Mike’s prediction! Adjusting to fame and the downsides Mike’s pearls of wisdom Being lean and strong is the key! Links Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions You can get bonus content from me at Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A
Wed, October 06, 2021
098: Ben Ryan on culture
This week’s guest is Ben Ryan. Ben coached the England Rugby Sevens team between 2007 and 2013. Ben then took a big leap of faith in taking up the head coach role with the Fijian team, leading them to Olympic gold at the Rio Olympics. In recognition of these achievements the IOC named Fiji as the best male team performance at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and Ben was awarded the Companion of the Order of Fiji, the highest order attainable on the Islands. Ben’s book documenting his journey, Sevens heaven won the Telegraph’s sports book of the year. Ben is a thoughtful, observant coach. He has a level of calm consideration for the environment he is in and the people he interacts with whether they’re a prop or a prime minister, which all manifests itself in an unambiguous focus on how he works, how he leads and how he creates the conditions for others to succeed. This approach makes him one of the most compelling coaches to listen to. *** Applied Pro Practitioner Courses *** https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse Notes Talking in different languages Resources, foundations & communication Independent views is added value The commitment to Fiji Massaging egos Sausages! What did you learn and still reinforce whilst in Fiji? Ben’s North Star Links https://benryan.co.uk/ https://benryan.co.uk/podcast/ https://twitter.com/benjaminryan Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions You can get bonus content from me at Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A
Wed, September 22, 2021
097: Laurence Halsted on becoming a true athlete
This week’s guest is Laurence Halsted. Laurence is a former Olympic fencer, having competed at the London and Rio Olympics. Laurence retired after the Rio Olympics and is currently Performance Director of Danish Fencing. Since retiring as an athlete Laurence has been supporting athletes in a bold new way to support the whole athlete, through holistic thinking, mentoring, developing self-awareness, care and mental health. He’s done this work with a company called The True Athlete Project and he has just published a book by the same title which lays out - in a very clear, logical inspirational and practical way. Notes Laurence explains a little of the fencing rules Performance Director for the Danish fencing team Post Games how do you debrief athletes? How to offset conditions to create change in sport The definition of a ‘true’ athlete ‘The second arrow’ & mentoring Mindfulness as a starting point Links Applied Practitioner Course https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse Where to buy Becoming a True Athlete book: Amazon- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Becoming-True-Athlete-Philosophy-Flourishing/dp/191411003X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2AX88EK2ZG67S&dchild=1&keywords=becoming+a+true+athlete&qid=1631273446&sr=8-1 Waterstones- https://www.waterstones.com/book/becoming-a-true-athlete/laurence-halsted/9781914110030 www.thetrueathleteproject.org www.laurencehalsted.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurencehalsted Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions You can get bonus content from me at Youtube, take a look at the link in the show notes - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A
Wed, September 08, 2021
096 Martin Yelling on supporting young people with Stormbreak
Martin Yelling is a former international runner, duathlete and ironman athlete and since retiring has, along with his partner Liz Yelling coached 1000s of athletes, and everyday folks to marathon and endurance achievements. Recently, Martin has set about creating a charitable organisation called Stormbreak. They have a purpose to; “... improve children’s mental health through movement, equipping them with sustainable, transferable skills and coping strategies to thrive during the complex demands of growth into adult life. Martin describes the origins of the idea, the challenge they’re working with and the hopes for what might develop. If you want to get involved follow Stormbreak https://twitter.com/hellostormbreak https://www.stormbreak.org.uk/ Work experience bootcamp - registration closes 10th Sept https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/kps-course/ Starter Courses - Pre-register Now https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/starter-courses-2/ Applied Pro Practitioner Course - Pre-register Now https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/applied-pro-course-preregister/ You can get bonus content from me at Youtube, take a look at the link in the show notes - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions
Wed, August 25, 2021
095: Duff Gibson on the Tao of Sport
Duff Gibson won the Olympic gold medal in bob skeleton at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics. He did so at the age of 39. Duff has an incredible story to tell about trying and trying again, testing himself in several different sports, in the pursuit of finding the one that would suit him and allow him to take a shot at being an olympian. Duff shares that exploration and with it the clear analysis of why he wasn’t suited to certain sports, ranging from physiology to politics. But this isn’t a tale of a plucky loser, picking himself up from each knock back, failure or disappointment. This is a lesson in valuing the experience along the way, experience above detail, journey above destination. Duff has such clarity on this philosophy that he has written a book called the Tao of Sport in which he lays his experiences bare and creates a campaign for us to be more cognisant and skilful in how we create the journey for young athletes in the future. Talking to Duff reminded me of the quote from Confucius We all lead two lives, the second one begins when you realise you only have one. Notes Early athletic career Mental strategies - what if I wasn’t able to compete? The Turin Olympic gold Intimidation versus competitor support Creating an environment which support great performance not just winning It’s about execution - what makes a difference Links https://twitter.com/duffgibson For details of Duff's upcoming book https://www.darkhorseathletic.ca/ https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-tao-of-sport?fbclid=IwAR2wQaSfF-cO4qEeQz6EPAidMW3G_kYaCqesu4sa6mgyJZuyTRhe7jkqKJI Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions You can get bonus content from me at Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A
Wed, August 11, 2021
094: Dan Bigham on reverse engineering performance
Dan Bigham is an athlete of the highest order, principally in the disciplines of individual and team pursuit with multiple national and World cup titles. Recently Dan is taking a pop at Bradley Wiggins’ hour record too. But Dan has achieved this level of performance with a band of brothers who congregated together and plied their collective physical talents with a mindset of simply trying to ‘work performance out’. Dan is an engineer by training and spent numerous years working in motorsports and sports analytics using his big brain and curiosity to ask questions, explore, be willing to go off script in the pursuit of performance. Dan’s recent book Start at the End, tells the story of how he led this team to success using the principles of reverse-engineering. And while you’ll hear Dan get into the technical details of aerodynamics etc, you’ll also hear how this attitude has spilled or you could say has been applied to all aspects of personal and team performance too. Notes Early introduction to a range of sports Cycling interests increase and coincide with business development of Team KGS Team Derbados!!!! The closing of systems after initial success Creating loss, fail at competition or training, questions decisions Don’t be annoying Marginal gains and not stretching too thinly Separating the results from the process Open conversations and feedback sheets shared with everyone clarity over metrics and selection Dan’s lesson on team organisation /dynamics: listening, decision making, attitude etc Links You can follow Dan on Twitter https://twitter.com/DanBiggles22 Start at the end book https://www.shopforwatts.co.uk/products/start-at-the-end-book You can get bonus content from me at Youtube, take a look at the link in the show notes - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A On Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions
Wed, July 28, 2021
093: Redgrave and Pinsent on their Olympic partnership
Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent are as successful a sporting duo as you’ll ever meet. Steve has won 5 gold medals at 5 successive games and is a 9 time world champion, Matt has won 4 Olympic golds and 10 world championships. They were successful before Britain became good at sport, winning before the UK Olympic system grew sophisticated. But not just the occasional win - sustained and dominant winning. I had the privilege of working with Steve and Matt from 1998, supporting them, along with Tim Foster and James Cracknell to the Sydney Olympics. I can’t tell you how much influence they both had on me as a professional sports scientist and as a person. Their focus, standards, intensity, but also thinking, understanding and at times philosophy was so impressive you couldn’t help but learn from it. You’ll hear that though in this conversation, which was surprising, fun and at times emotional. Notes Tokyo delays how would they have responded? ‘Just what we wanted’ & ‘Control the controllables’ A hairline crack in the rig puts a race in jeopardy Are you feeling nervous yet? Changing the conversation The step up from Barcelona to Atlanta the pressure changed hugely Steve’s infamous quote and the pressure of build up It wasn’t a long retirement! The challenges that Steve felt in returning to rowing, both physically & mentally The way in which Matt & Steve supported each other, the deep level of understanding What are Matt & Steve’s reflections on pursuing a goal pushing and driving but doing it well? Links https://twitter.com/matthewcpinsent https://twitter.com/SteveRedgrave5 Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions
Wed, July 14, 2021
092: Martin Buchheit & George Perry on ego in high performance
In this week’s conversation I speak to Martin Buchheitt and George Perry authors of their upcoming book “Egoals” (a blend of Ego and goals), the subtitle being, “Exercising your ego in high-performance environments”. Martin has been a real leader in applied sports science and research particularly in team sports and George is a track coach and writer based in the US. They’ve teamed up to explore the notion of how we manage, utilise and harness our sense of self, identity and achievement in roles which are inherently in support of others achieving. They have done this with a powerful collection of interviews and reflections from support staff from around the world with an accumulated experience level of over 2000 years. Their writing and reflections resonated deeply with me and yet the conversation challenged me. There is an urge for us to be a little bolder with the experiences and insights we need to find ways not to get ahead of ourselves. There is a balance to be had, a tightrope, almost a dil for which we have to find a better way to manage. Martin and George’s exploration of ego is a valuable contribution to our craft. Follow Martin on Twitter https://twitter.com/mart1buch Take a look at the book https://egoalsbook.com/ http://instagram.com/egoalsbook NEW SUPPORTING CHAMPIONS YOUTUBE CHANNEL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions
Wed, June 30, 2021
091: Mike Hughes on analysing elite performance
This week I spoke to Mike Hughes. Mike is a Performance Analyst, having worked with some of the best teams in the world and developed them by providing understanding and insight based on deconstructing and exploring phenomena in training and performance. Mike and I worked alongside each other at the English institute of Sport, though on different teams, Mike worked with British cycling in the years that it went from mediocre to utterly dominant. He’s worked at Insight Analysis where he was assigned to the England Rugby team where you may have seen him alongside the England coaching team where Mike was beavering away crunching numbers on hand to feed directly to the coaches. Performance Analysis has risen in prominence in the last few decades - nearly every top operation has analysts as a central part of their backroom teams. What is interesting about the discussion with Mike though is that he creates the case that insight is all very well but if you haven’t got the relationship with the coaches and leaders to have that conversation that could necessitate change, (perhaps sometimes against their preferred way of working), then analysis stays as just that - an unused data point. At the very heart of Performance Analysis is the saying “Why guess, when you could know?” - but as Mike illustrates a deeper question is - “Now you know what needs to be different, but do you know how to make difference?” Happy listening Notes Performance analysis in the blood - Mike Hughes son of Prof Mike Hughes! The differing eras of PA advancement Current PA set up for teams The importance of coaching intuition and marrying with PA Mike’s example of making a difference via PA Simulating differing environments, referees and preferences Red Zone Analysis Links Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
Wed, June 16, 2021
090: Mandy Hickson on jet fighter pilot performance
Mandy Hickson on jet fighter pilot performance This week I spoke to Mandy Hickson. Mandy is a fighter pilot, having joined the Royal Air Force in 1994 and flew the Tornado GR4 on the front line, where she operated in hostile environments, including patrolling the ‘No Fly’ zone over Iraq. I was fascinated to discuss with Mandy about the physical and mental challenges of training to become a top fighter pilot. I was particularly interested how pilot’s like Mandy improve, what are the stages of progression to go from small craft, to faster and more manoeuvrable craft, and then to train in such a way that you’re ready to operate and perform in a combat zone, where the stakes are as high as they get. The conversation is so rich with insight, where Mandy unpacks a number of situations, scenarios and seriously pressured circumstances with powerful detail and shares a number of useful frameworks that helped her to manage the fears and doubts but then rise to the top. She shares her insights with a combination of breeziness, fun, care and a level of wisdom that comes from profound experience. Oh and there’s another detail that’s pretty obvious but in many ways is irrelevant and relevant as you’ll hear in this discussion. She’s a woman who got to the top in a male dominated field. And while that might not matter to some, as a role model to other people aspiring to do something against the odds, she’s an inspiration. Notes Types of jets and craft Mandy has flown in the RAF Training takes time Grey out, G-Force and the G-suits required to be worn and the pressure of G-Force Situational awareness and the bigger picture Notice, understand and think ahead - NUTA Getting your head out of the detail Debriefing and best practice Everyone hates feedback but give me a BOOST - balanced, observed, objective, specific and timely DODAR Diagnose share with the team, what do you think?, options - what would you do?, option generation leading to the decision by the leader, Assign task and review (or give me a reason not to) Being a female fighter pilot Making better quality decisions and creating a solutions based culture, the ‘Just Culture’ Links Follow Mandy https://twitter.com/MandyHickson https://hicksonltd.com/ Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions <
Wed, June 02, 2021
089: Steph Houghton on leading by example
This week I spoke to Steph Houghton. Steph is the England Football Captain, having played for her country over 120 times. Steph has seen the women’s game evolve from amateur days, to the rise in popularity of the game in Britain and around the world, to the Women’s Super League and now the women’s game selling out stadia. During this time Steph has also had to evolve, adapt & respond to growing pressures of playing for her country, taking on the captaincy, World Cup finals successes and disappointments, becoming a household name and leading others. The conversation with Steph was interesting because she had this quiet resolve, this inner steel, almost stoicism all in service of trying to be the best she can and to take the opportunities in front of her. I felt there was no facade about Steph - just genuine, values driven commitment to her craft and profession - all while honouring the role and responsibility she recognises she now holds - and that is as a role-model for the people she plays with, the game and a community of people looking up to her. Notes Recovery from an achilles injury and learning to take time after experience of multiple injuries Opportunities for female players now and the changes in the last decade Hoping to inspire a generation What are the values Steph holds close England captain at 26! Breathing exercises are a no go for Steph but she is seeing the benefits of pilates mentally and physically Difficult conversations Managing 20-21 games and the uncertainty for athletes The Olympics and preparation The World Cup in 2023 Links Follow Steph on Twitter and Instagram https://twitter.com/stephhoughton2 https://www.instagram.com/stephhoughton2/ Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions
Wed, May 19, 2021
088: Cody Royle on the reality of being a Head Coach
This week’s guest is Cody Royle. Cody is the head coach of Australian Football League Team Canada, the men's national program for Australian Rules football. Cody is also an author and I would say fast becoming recognised as a pioneering voice about a topic that previously just hasn’t been communicated - that is the reality of being a head coach. In his recent book, The Tough Stuff, he explores the challenges of coaching in elite sport, but specifically the dynamics and perspectives, the difficulties and the pressures of being a HEAD coach. He ratifies his own feelings, in conversation with a series of top coaches too, such as Dan Quinn (Atlanta Falcons) and Stuart Lancaster (England Rugby), to name a few. I can’t stress enough just how important this step change is in communicating the demands on coaches. There is a disproportionate and unwarranted expectation, storm of opinion and lack of support and empathy for the head coach. It is Cody’s petition that we all need to do better. To give you a flavour of the book chapter titles which we delve into and build the conversation around, Your fiercest rival is yourself, you’re not a coach, Tactics don’t matter, Chapter 1 - everyone thinks you’re an idiot - and that’s where I start this conversation. If anyone wants to work in or learn from high performance sport - I compel you to listen to what Cody has to say. WIN A FREE COPY OF CODY'S BOOK We have two copies of Cody's book, The Tough Stuff to give away. Simply give an honest review of the podcast on iTunes (only new reviews accepted), take a screenshot of the review and email it to enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk , by 31st May at 12 noon. Two reviewers chosen at random will receive a copy in the post. It could be one of the most worthwhile screenshots you take this year! Enjoy the listen! Notes on what we discuss The Tough Stuff - ‘Everyone thinks you’re an idiot’ If we’re all performers why aren’t the coaches seen as performers? The catalyst of the book Coaches and the importance of self-care Get. Some. Sleep! Translating skills from assistant coach where the pressure’s off to head coach The brethren of understanding Support structure for coaches You’re not a coach - being detached from our real identity Changing the dialogue for mutual benefit Follow Cody on Twitter https://twitter.com/codyroyle The Tough Stuff on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tough-Stuff-Seven-Truths-About/dp/1660114446/ Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter<a href='http://www.twitt
Wed, May 05, 2021
087: David Martin on the ecology of performance systems
David Martin is a leading light in applied sports science. He was senior physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport, where along with a number of brilliant minds, pioneered the application of science to elite performance. During the 1990s, as I was grappling with some fundamentals, David was breaking new ground and frankly doing work that the world hadn’t seen before. Their work was the benchmark of excellence that we looked to. In this conversation David and I reflect on our parallel universes, how they drove us, how we in the UK system came to catch and overtake them, and in all likelihood, though some would deny it, then served as the benchmark for the Australian system. David then went onto work at the NBA at the Philadelphia 76ers, an experience and a professional set up that is worth comparing to the national systems we both cut our teeth in. What I truly value when talking to David is piercing insight by that I mean raw intelligence, powerful communication skills, honesty, reflection, all informed by experience of working at the coal face. Show Notes The Jane Goodall Lecture David’s analogies in comparison to Jane Goodall’s experiences Growing with the team and gathering momentum - the dangers Learn to step back Athlete beliefs and scientist beliefs - the interactions David’s zoology training The Apex predators and the consequences of extinction The switch in funding for practitioners Changing and switching things up after a home games David’s observations since moving into professional sports David’s goals going forward Links Follow David on Twitter https://twitter.com/davidtmartin Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions
Wed, April 21, 2021
086: Kevin Dutton on learning from psychopaths
This week I speak to Kevin Dutton Professor of Psychology at Oxford University, who specialises in psychopaths. Kevin has written several books on the topic, for example The Wisdom of Psychopaths, Flipnosis, The Good Psychopaths Guide to Success and his recent book, Black and White Thinking all of which are illuminating because they unveil a world that is for many of us so alien, so peculiar, so grotesque, yet so close, so relevant and in some cases so familiar. Because as Kevin explains, many of the characteristics that we associate with malice, danger and evil - if dialled differently are definitely determinants of personal success. This was such a fascinating conversation not least because Kevin turns his evaluation measure onto me to find out if I have psychopathic tendencies with interesting results, somewhat surprising. If you grab a piece of paper you can take the test along with me. Notes Steve and Kevin chat about why Kevin’s jaw hurt after a VO2max test? Are you allowed to be not as tough as you used to be Steve’s dislike of glib sport commentary What are the three components for success in all works of life What are the messages you are sending out to other people and more importantly yourself The psychopathic mindset You need the right mind for the right context The taxi driver bias Dissociation in performance Is Steve a psychopath...he takes Kevin’s test Distilling DNA of being successful - the ability to do what you have to when you don’t want Jumpers versus splashers The use of metaphor Mantras Yes to less Disruptive team members The psychology of teams Links There’s still time to sign up to our Applied Pro Practitioner Skills Courses to develop your impact and skills! https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ Check out Kevin’s books, The Wisdom of Psychopaths, Flipnosis, The Good Psychopaths Guide to Success and his recent book, Black and White Thinking. Kevin Dutton on Twitter https://twitter.com/therealdrkev Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://sup
Wed, April 07, 2021
085: Chris Thompson on persistence
This week’s guest is Chris Thompson, who at the age of 39 has qualified for the Tokyo Olympic marathon for Team GB. 'Thommo' as he is known didn’t suddenly spring to the top in a freak qualification, he has been knocking on the door for 20 years , keeping going, persisting, persevering, through a career full of challenges. Thommo crossed the line a Kew Garden’s in the qualification event with an outpouring of emotion, celebration and joy and in response the athletics community. Not only has Thommo been on the scene, numerous teams, flights, training camps, competitions with so many athletes over the years - but he is one of those people that just adds life into groups and this, I’m certain, is part of reason why there has been this response. To cap it all off, in the same week that Thommo made the plane to Tokyo his wife Jemma Simpson, now Jemma Thompson had their first child, a young boy Theo. Now if any of you have children, you’ll remember the whirlwind of a child entering your life. It was great fun catching up with Thommo, moving at times, and a reminder about the cost and the meaning of pursuing personal goals. In this conversation we explore; Enjoying the moment Chris’s massive engine but struck my injury and over training A 26 year year athletic career Chris discusses his early career and his early approach to training, his lack of responsibility Chris’s partnership with Gemma Simpson and a change in attitude Chris lost his off switch. Achilles and broken sacrum Paying less attention to times and focussing on feeling, taking each session at a time and assessing A crushed hand puts the marathon qualifier in jeopardy Questioning immaturity Links Follow thommo on twitter https://twitter.com/Thommo10k https://www.instagram.com/thommo26.2 Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions Take a look at our Applied Pro Practitioner Skills Courses to develop your impact and skills https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/
Wed, March 24, 2021
084: Alistair Brownlee on a sub-7 hour Ironman triathlon
This week’s guest is Alistair Brownlee. Alistair is a two time Olympic Champion, four time World and four time European Champion amongst many other honours in triathlon. But quite simply Alistair is one of the greatest racers in the history of the sport and probably across any sport in his generation. After the Rio Olympics Alistair began racing over half and then full ironman triathlon distance. For those of you who need a reminder of the distance that’s 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run, raced in that order. Alistair has set out the goal of a full Ironman in under 7 hours. To put the performance into perspective the current best time is 7:35. Speaking to Alistair was extraordinary. Many athletes have physical abilities, many have the will to win, but Alistair has these in bucket loads. A lot of athletes are invested in the process of preparing and performing, interested to know how they can get better, but many of the best just need to stay out of the details, leave that to the coach, the support team. Often overthinking the details can lead to a negative spiral where people become increasingly wound up about minutiae. But what was evident from this conversation was the Alistair’s extraordinary capacity to delve into the science, the rigour, the possibilities, the innovation, the deep understanding and testing of what works for him. His appetite, his command and his acumen to pioneer across the whole spectrum of physical, mental, tactical and technological methods as well as to go out there and perform - is a bandwidth of capabilities that is truly exceptional. This was a masterclass in high performance and I was left in no uncertain terms that Alistair is a true sporting great. Notes Training during lockdown more or less normal Training 5% under rather 5% over Alistair and the urban myths that follow him around Alistair’s internal drive - where does it come from? “Relentless' - coming soon to all good bookstores! Comparing notes with other elite athletes in differing fields The sub-7 ironman The need to constantly innovate Decision making and the honing of the direct feedback loop Inspiring others to get into sport via the Phoenix Foundation The future for Alistair beyond being an elite athlete Links Follow Alistair on Twitter, https://twitter.com/AliBrownleetri And all things sub 7 and sub 8 on https://www.sub7sub8.com/ Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin,
Wed, March 17, 2021
COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT: Applied Performance Practitioner Skills Programme
Applied Performance Practitioner SKILLS Programme - COURSES ANNOUNCED I’m delighted to share with you details of the upcoming Applied Professional Practitioner Skills Programme. Bookings are open NOW and full details are here. Here I explain what the course is, who it's for, how it's unique (spoiler - it's applied in focus), everything you need to know. 0:00 Introduction 2:20 What the courses are all about 3:04 Why they're unique 4:50 The motivation behind the courses 13:10 Details about the Nutrition route - course tutor Dr Sophie Killer 14:48 Details about the Performance Analysis route - course tutor Dr Sian Allen 16:38 Details about the Psychology route - course tutors Chris Marshall and Rebecca Levett 18:50 Details about the Strength and Conditioning route - course tutor Nick Grantham 20:58 Details about the Physiology route - course tutor is me Steve Ingham 23;58 How the course works and how to sign up All the details are here; https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/ Keep a look out for the discount code on the website
Wed, March 10, 2021
083: Glyn Howatson on recovery and adaptation
This week’s guest is Glyn Howatson, Professor of Human & Applied Physiology at Northumbria University. Glyn’s specialist subject is recovery but its recovery with a purpose and that is to optimise neuromuscular adaptation. I spoke to Glyn to try to cut through some of the noise, make sense of an area that has to all intents and purposes exploded in interest over the last few decades. As you’ll hear from the conversation - recovery, training planning, and interventions are dependent on context, timing, circumstance, demand - which can at times make this subject feel like a bit of Rubiks cube. But what Glyn does really well and he has done for as long as I’ve known him - he helps make the complex simple and with that practicable - which for me is a signal of true expertise in the area. Show notes Glynn gives a mini intro to who he is and his interest in recovery Steve discusses his experience of recovery Training more cleverly on an individual basis particularly in team sports The Seb Coe training volume story Reorganisation of training programmes and allowing time for adaptation The ‘interference effect’ and how to get around it What can enhance recovery and snake oil! Hormesis and the training dose Doing the basics well Cherry juice, caffeine, The inverted U! Links Follow Glyn on Twitter, https://twitter.com/GlynHowatson Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions
Wed, February 24, 2021
082: Daniel Lieberman on evolving to exercise
This week’s guest is Harvard University Professor of Biological Sciences, Dan Lieberman. If you’ve heard of Dan it will probably be in connection with his work around whether we are born to run, i.e. that a number of specific evolutionary adaptations that we as a species have acquired over time have enabled us to be really rather good at running for long distances. This hinted that our survival was aided by our ability to hunt by wearing animals down, known as the persistence hunting. Dan has a new book out called Exercised, which as Dan explains is cutely entitled because so many people are so exercised about exercise, I expect you can think of many people that have opinions that are so specific and adamant that one way is the best way. The book takes a broader view, reminding us of our biological origins, why we do sports and exercise, what we’re good and not so good at and Dan takes aim at a few current myths like sitting being the new smoking, step counts and how much exercise is enough - in so doing Dan widens our perspective to a healthier, compassionate view of physical activity. Show notes: Pigs on treadmills. Research trip to Sierra and finding an older equivalent of the Ironman Exercise is abnormal, if just for the sake of health and fitness Why the Tarahumara Native Americans are famous for their long distance running No-one evolved to run as fast as possible from A to B We have become exercised about exercise Is there an optimal form of exercise? Running fast Proactive aggression The benefits of endurance as hunter gatherers and the feats we care about most now are more recent in our history Links Website for Dan's new book Dan is delivering a seminar for the University of British Columbia on 24th March 2021, titled 'Are we born to rest or run?' Register here (and a big thank you to Prof Rob Shave for this). Follow Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Clubhouse @steveingham Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions UPCOMING OPPORTUNITY Pre-register for our upcoming 'Applied Performance Practitioner' programme and the Pro membership starting in April 2021 here
Wed, February 10, 2021
081: Ama Agbeze on belief
This week’s guest is Ama Agbeze, former England Netball captain. Ama Led the team to perhaps the England Teams's greatest success, winning the Commonwealth Gold medal. I was keen to ask Ama about her leadership of the team, what was different in the lead up, the preparation and in the moments of performing under the pressure of playing the hosts in 2018. I was also intrigued by Ama’s own individual style as the leader, what were her expectations and influences and how has Ama coped after the high, and coping with lows of missing out on selection from the team altogether last year. A situation that affected her mental health. Ama is strikingly candid, open and frank as well as curious and insightful about her experiences. It struck me that these qualities were assets that enabled her as a leader in bringing people together and empowering her team to move forward. But in experiencing moments where she struggled but has been active in communicating that - I expect she’s doing exactly the same - connecting and empowering others to move forward. Show notes Ama’s move from New Zealand to England temporarily stopped by COVID Background to Ama’s netball career Natural ability helps but hard work gets you there The difference is sport participation across countries Having faith in your ability to win as a team Talking fitness, strength, playing matches internationally and beating them & confidence How to create belief Ama’s style as a leader The selection/deselection process The effect of deselection on Ama Which techniques have helped Ama? The importance of routine Factors that allowed the team to take the gold medal The shock of winning Looking forward Links If you want to follow Ama on twitter or instagram https://twitter.com/amaagbeze https://www.instagram.com/amaagbeze/ Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ If you’re studying sport or you’re looking to carve out a career in sports performance then you might be interested in our membership courses <a href='http://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/mem
Wed, January 27, 2021
080: Alan Murchison on Michelin star performance
In this episode I speak to Alan Murchison. Alan currently runs a business called the Performance Chef, providing support to a host of sports, teams and executives in providing their food, their fuel and flavours. Alan does this from a unique stand point of credibility as he is a chef, a Michelin starred chef - in fact in his heyday he ran the 10 in 8 Fine Dining Group, where he oversaw four Michelin starred restaurants. This is where we centre the discussion on entering into the world of fine dining, the talents required both in the chef and the chef training the chefs. We discuss the standards and meticulous preparation required, and whether the old fashion rollocking is fair game in the heat of a kitchen. Alan discusses the pursuit of the Michelin star, how he approached it, and without describing it here and now an intriguing section about what happened after he was awarded it. There is an intensity to Alan’s approach that seems perfectly aligned to the getting stuff done, setting the bar high and driving others to success and what you might expect from some of the portrayals you would have seen in the media about the dynamics of operating in an elite kitchen. At the heart of my feelings during this conversation - I could feel Alan’s energy, compulsion for better that I (and it might be my inclination) but I can completely see why he led others to excellence. A fascinating discussion - but it made me a bit hungry so have a snack or two on hand. Show notes Alan discusses his background and where he started washing pots in kitchens from the age of 14 The familial atmosphere and vibe of a kitchen - it escalated! A trial at a Michelin star restaurant, tough, hard work, no fun - it was all about excellence. What is the progression from pot washer to chef Culinary biomechanics! Diligent creativity is a rare quality but important for a Michelin chef Alan discusses his vision of excellence Alan discusses his ideas of non competition & everyone being a winner! What does Alan define as excellence? The vagaries surrounding gaining a Michelin star Alan realised he was unemployable Utter focus on perfection and then falling out of love with cooking Michelin star or nothing Food that is fit for athlete and fit for purpose Developing online nutritional content for the athlete Links Follow Alan on Twitter https://twitter.com/AlanMurchison And on instagram https://www.instagram.com/performance.chef/ And his website is http://www.performancechef.com/ Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter<a href='http://www.twitter.com/support_c
Wed, January 13, 2021
079: Dan Cable on being exceptional
This week I spoke to Dan Cable. Dan is a Professor Organisational Behaviour at London Business School specialising in research and teaching focus on change, organisational culture, leadership mindset. Dan has a new book out called Exceptional, which I must admit was my favourite read of 2020. You might assume from the title and from Dan’s background that the book is about aspiring, goals, striving higher - which I admit was why I got in touch with Dan to speak to him. But the book is so much more than that, for starters Dan begins by sharing his experience of fighting and overcoming cancer, how this propelled him to ask more fundamental questions about his existence and how we can all back ourselves, building on what we have experienced, recognise our inner strengths rather giving ourselves a hard time. I loved this conversation and I hope it is just the tonic for starting off 2021. Dan is so full of energy, enthusiasm, wisdom and knowledge about how we can all flourish. Notes Dan discusses his motivation behind writing the book Post traumatic growth and the harsh insight that something like cancer can give you Life highlight reels Being energised, self efficacy and being noticed Re-humanising the workforce Meta processing The stories we tell ourselves about who we are have a way of coming true The interrelated structure of reality Links Give Dan a follow in Twitter https://twitter.com/DanCable1 Dan’s website where you’ll find details about his book. http://dan-cable.com/ Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions If you’re ambitious to work in sports performance, and you realise that there’s no golden ticket to the chocolate factory – that you have to learn and develop and build a network of collaborators to get there – then sign up for our Graduate Membership today – go to http://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ and enrol. We’ll look forward to connecting with you there. If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampi
Wed, December 16, 2020
078: Lizzy Yarnold on talent, ownership of performance and team
This week I speak with Lizzy Yarnold. Lizzy is double Olympic Champion in that chilled out sporting event Bob Skeleton. Lizzy was spotted through a talent identification scheme, selected to be part of the development team for skeleton racing and rose to competitive on the world stage, World Cup winner and took the Olympic gold in Sochi in 2014. Lizzy discusses the journey towards that gold, how she was able to channel some of the talents she already had, how she could focus under pressure and take the step to the highest heights in the sport. She also discusses burning out, needing to take time out from the grind of the sport to orient herself to what is important to her and so refresh herself to take a different approach to trying to win again in Pyeongchang in 2018, which she did, but with a flurry of physical and mental challenges. Lizzy is thoughtful, fun, softly spoken, ever recognising the collective contribution of those who supported her to perform - but what's always present is a steal, grit, commitment to being a student of her craft her event, and a fiendish ability to compete. Show notes Sharing her experience through the selection process for skeleton via Girls for Gold Trying to fit in and get her foot in the door with Skeleton Lizzy can switch on her competitive focus The bleakness of training Lizzy discusses her winning run in Sochi The support team and how they were paramount to her success Lizzy discusses her burnout as an athlete Becoming more than ‘an athlete’ The critical review and ownership of training Life after skeleton Links Lizzy on Twitter https://twitter.com/lizyarnold Lizzy's website https://lizzyyarnold.com/ Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions If you’re ambitious to work in sports performance, and you realise that there’s no golden ticket to the chocolate factory – that you have to learn and develop and build a network of collaborators to get there – then sign up for our Graduate Membership today – go to http://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ and enrol. We’ll look forward to connecting with you there. If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a l
Wed, December 02, 2020
077: Stuart Worden of the Brit School on performance environments
This week’s guest is Stuart Worden, Principal of the Brit School. The BRIT (British Record Industry Trust) School is a performing arts and technology school in Croydon, South London and free to attend. But this is no ordinary performing arts school. The alumni read like a who’s who of music, dance, film and production; Singers - Adele, The Feeling, Leona Lewis, Katie Melua, Jessie J, Actors - Cush Jumbo, Tom Holland, Cleve September, Dancers - Twist and Pulse, Youtube comedians - Percelle Ascot, Joivan Wade Many more students come through the school who we wouldn’t know, but are the people that set the lighting for concerts or stage shows, write poetry that maybe we haven’t yet read or adapt screen plays that we have yet seen. So how does a performing arts school support the talent that comes through its doors? How do the school teachers select people to attend? In this discussion with Stuart, he shares the values, philosophies, challenges that he and many of the incredibly talented teachers create. What lies at the centre of the discussion that you’ll hear is about environment and how the very sense of a place and what it lives for how it feels - can be a force for the development of incredible performance and people who want to make a difference in this world. This all against a backdrop of the arts being profoundly undervalued in educational systems around the world and under great threat during the restrictions on gatherings with the coronavirus pandemic. Stuart has such passion and conviction, his approach seemed to me to be deeply caring about how we should support young people. I found his outlook and insights enriching, as I could feel my worldview being enhanced with every answer he gave. By the end of the discussion I was genuinely enlightened. Notes How well the students have responded to the strange times Exploring specialisation or exploring the whole creative process The process of applying to joining the Brit School Artists fundamentally need to be able to display empathy The importance of activism What do the Brit School look for in people? Working hard and realism Advocacy and mentoring of students How non-uniform reduces barriers Rules and regulations Alumni such as Tom Holland, Tuwaine Barrett enjoy returning and meeting the current students The Alumni of the Brit school and how they still contribute to the school The destination and results are not as interesting as the journey Stuart’s ambitions for the Brit School and the future Links https://twitter.com/Stuartworden https://twitter.com/TheBRITSchool https://www.instagram.com/thebritschool/ <
Wed, November 18, 2020
076: Mark Williams on how the best learn to be better
This week’s guest is Professor Mark Williams who has spent his professional career understanding the neural and psychological aspects of acquiring skills and developing expertise. Mark has recently published a fascinating book called “The Best”. The subtitle of the book captures your attention though, “How elite athlete are made”. Now you might starting jumping to conclusions that the book tends towards the nurture side of nature vs nurture, but you’d be mistaken. Mark and his co-author Tim Wigmore weave a narrative from the social, economic, environmental and family factors that contribute to success. And in this discussion I explore many of these concepts but ask Mark given that we have a certain set of cards dealt to us, what can we do as athletes, coaches, parents and supporting members of the cast to enable others to succeed, enable others to grow especially during a disruptive pandemic. Enjoy the pod. Notes Does Mark constantly analyse performance and expertise? What is expertise? Sibling advantage Maintaining an optimal learning environment in lockdown Using time in lockdown wisely to hone our weaknesses The differences between performance and learning, variations in briefing levels of challenge and reflection Helicopter parenting How to enable athletes to live a life well outside of sport Personal effectiveness and developing successful teams The joint curation of group rules, norms and behaviours, enables the agreed consequences of breaking the group agreements Links Take a look at Mark’s new book, ‘The best; How elite athletes are made’. https://www.markwilliamssportsscience.com/ Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions If you’re ambitious to work in sports performance, and you realise that there’s no golden ticket to the chocolate factory – that you have to learn and develop and build a network of collaborators to get there – then sign up for our Graduate Membership today – go to http://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ and enrol. We’ll look forward to connecting with you there. If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at <a href='https
Wed, November 04, 2020
075: Mark Richardson and Marcus Smith on drumming performance
This week we have two guests, Mark Richardson and Marcus Smith. Mark Richardson is the drummer for the band Skunk Anansie, a band that were figureheads of the Britrock explosion in the mid-nineties, with defining songs Weak and Hedonism and remain a highly influential band 25 years since they were formed. Dr Marcus Smith is Reader in Sport and Exercise Physiology at the University of Chichester, with background of supporting elite athletes, especially boxers to Olympic success but Marcus loves his music too and as you’ll hear he became curious about how hard drummers work while on stage. This led to him contacting Clem Burke the drummer of Blondie and from there a fascinating project was struck up involving quantification of the physiological demand of performing Their work began to gain momentum and the Clem Burke Drumming Project was founded. And Mark Richardson got involved in the project because in music circles he was known as one of the most ferocious drummers about. In the conversation, Mark describes his early career, how he found drumming as an outlet, how exploring his own performance with Marcus has opened up his thinking and practice to a much healthier, sustainable way of approaching the demands of performing on stage or touring. They also both share some wonderful spin-offs that the project has had in supporting children with autism too (see the links below). Make sure you listen right to the end of the episode where you can listen to Mark performing the drumming for "Tear the place up" (courtesy of Skunk Anansie and reproduced with permission) This episode is sponsored by Junius, a multi-award winning, health food + drinks company. Junius have made a superb range of plant-based juices. We’ve partnered with Junius so that you can benefit from a 10% discount on your first order from a range of themed boxes of 7 juices. When you go to the checkout at wearejunius.com/shop make sure you enter the exclusive code Champions10. (Disclosure: Affiliate links are used for each product that we are an affiliate of, which means that if you click that link and subsequently make a purchase, we will earn a commission. You pay nothing extra; any commission we earn comes at no additional cost to you.) Show notes Drawing comparisons between performers and understanding of what is performance Marcus discusses how he became interested in music; Blondie & Clem Burke the drummer. PhD with Olympic boxers and sport science. Heart rate data collection of Clem drumming Mark - the baddest hardest hitting rock drummer Marcus discusses why he was fascinated by drummers and specifically fatigue Mark discussed his childhood and how physical activity helped him not misbehave Alcoholism, AA meetings and therapy, learning to get fit and stay healthy The similarities between Premier League football pl
Wed, October 21, 2020
074: Peter Vint on data, culture and athlete development
This week’s guest is Peter Vint. I’d got in touch with Peter with the full intention of discussing analytics, and the trend towards data and to fully explore the wave of interest, activity and investment in capture, understanding and use of information – and we do explore this especially as he has directed and delivered this function at the highest level at the USOC and in the Ineos sub 2 hour marathon project with Eliud Kipchoge. And now Peter is Chief of Sport at USA Volleyball – so has a much broader leadership role. But I can’t say we spent the whole conversation discussing data – that’s because Peter is such an interesting person that we ended up exploring adapting to the pandemic, culture, long-term athlete development to name a few areas. So I promise you I’ll be exploring information and data in more detail in future episodes, but in the meantime enjoy a free ranging conversation with someone who over the last ten years of knowing Peter, it’s become apparent to me, that he is a luminary, a source of deep insight and knowledge and philosophy. This episode is sponsored by Junius, a multi-award winning, health food + drinks company. Junius have made a superb range of plant-based juices. We’ve partnered with Junius so that you can benefit from a 10% discount on your first order from a range of themed boxes of 7 juices. When you go to the checkout at wearejunius.com/shop make sure you enter the exclusive code Champions10. (Disclosure: Affiliate links are used for each product that we are an affiliate of, which means that if you click that link and subsequently make a purchase, we will earn a commission. You pay nothing extra; any commission we earn comes at no additional cost to you.) Show notes As Chief of Sport at USA Volleyball Peter discusses how COVID affecting the year? The culture of pay-to-play in youth sport What could, and should, youth sport look like? Peter discusses the need of sports people to achieve something very special and the technology that supports these feats The gap between what we know and what we have and how do we make it useful and impactful The Ineos Project Deterministic approach becomes probabilistic Links Follow Peter on Twitter https://twitter.com/PeterVint Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram, ht
Wed, October 07, 2020
073: Chris Rosimus on relationships in performance
This week’s guest is Chris Rosimus, Chris is the Head of Nutrition at the Football Association, leading all aspects of dietary provision to the England football teams. Prior to that Chris was nutritionist at England and Wales Cricket Board, English Institute of Sport and England Squash. What was fascinating about this conversation was the route that Chris followed, which you might consider unconventional, if there is such a thing as a conventional route. Chris essentially followed his passions and interests, and what you’ll hear from Chris is how through chance, through his own connection with his experiences and through his intuition, he honoured the ideas that have sparked deep enthusiasm by pursuing them. At the centre of all of these discussions is one recurring theme that Chris has respected and protected during his career, one theme that has enabled him to influence a whole host of elite players and coaches – and that is relationships. This episode is sponsored by Junius, a multi-award winning, health food + drinks company. Junius have made a superb range of plant-based juices. We’ve partnered with Junius so that you can benefit from a 10% discount on your first order from a range of themed boxes of 7 juices. When you go to the checkout at wearejunius.com/shop make sure you enter the exclusive code Champions10. (Disclosure: Affiliate links are used for each product that we are an affiliate of, which means that if you click that link and subsequently make a purchase, we will earn a commission. You pay nothing extra; any commission we earn comes at no additional cost to you.) Show Notes Chris’ unique route into nutrition, 6 months as an apprentice gas engineer, 6 months making conservatory roofs, 6 years as an alarm engineer Football coach for kids Progressing to coaching badges which sparked an interest in nutrition Chris reflects on how much he has changed Taking the leap in applying for a nutrition course A foundation year and learning to be academic and use a USB stick Chris had a plan and knew he needed experience First time doing a one-to-one session and struggling! Common characteristics of a nutritional role Feeling under pressure, being supported but having to work very hard to survive Preparing a team for a major event Having something positive to sell Research and reading to stay on top of your game Perceived traits of effective practice Links Connect with Chris on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-rosimus-a77425180/ Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on; Twitter www.twitter.com/suppo
Wed, September 23, 2020
072 Cath Bishop on The Long Win
Dr Cath Bishop competed as a rower at three Olympic Games, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens (and I had the privilege of working with Cath throughout her career), with highlights including winning the World Championships in 2003 and an Olympic silver medal in 2004. As a diplomat specialising in conflict issues, Cath was posted to Sarajevo, Bosnia, Basra and Iraq, as well as leading in Whitehall on the UK civilian contribution to conflicts around the world. Cath has written a book, out on 13th October 2020, calling on us all to redefine what winning is. Cath brings extraordinary and insight together, back up with numerous anecdotes, references and her own experience to examine what winning has come to mean to society and to us as individuals and offers a fresh perspective on how we might redefine success – personal and professional - for the longer-term. This episode is sponsored by Junius, a multi-award winning, health food + drinks company. Junius have made a superb range of plant-based juices. We’ve partnered with Junius so that you can benefit from a 10% discount on your first order from a range of themed boxes of 7 juices. When you go to the checkout at wearejunius.com/shop make sure you enter the exclusive code Champions10. Notes Cath discusses the reasons for writing the book, being tested provoking debate and furthering thinking Cath was a sporting failure at school Shifting identity to an athlete and competing at the highest level. Surviving in a high intensity, high performance environment Relief at results at a high level but could it be reproduced at the Olympics Being tough, but how much can you take? When the results don’t match your physiology you realise there is more to performance Associating failing to perform with your identity, at the time they were the same thing If you come second you are a loser, but there is and has to be a different way The longer you compete the more you realise the mental and cultural side of performance has a huge impact There is a different psychology around ways to motivate it doesn’t need to be base on aggression or a macho narrative which is self-limiting The Long Win – why are we still relying on outdated mantras and beliefs? Athletes and even the athletes who are on the winning podium feeling unfulfilled and empty Role modelling values and the way in which you can role model performance Why is it important to win the medal? Why is it you train? What are the costs of the sport you love, are you buying into them, do you understand them? What is acceptable in the journey to success and what is unacceptable? Playing to the longer term metric and strategies in both sport and business Stating a wider purpose other than results How can we unlock performance in a different way? The IOC speci
Wed, September 09, 2020
071 Mark Webber on racing in formula one
This week’s guest former Formula One driver Mark Webber. During his career Mark won nine Formula one Grands Prix, finishing third on three occasions, while driving for Red Bull racing. Mark has also won the FIA World Endurance Championship with Porsche. In this interview I ask mark about how he’s making sense of his career now that he’s retired and hear all about a strange mix of feeling fortunate and experiencing the loss of his career. We discuss physically and mentally what he felt he was losing that meant he wasn’t able to compete. Mark shares how he with the help of his father was stretching to ever higher standards and he offers a fascinating insight into competing against the very best in Michael Schumacher. In a really powerful section Mark divulges what it was like to experience some of the most severe and spectacular (in the factual sense of the word) crashes. Perhaps what was just as fascinating was how Mark processed his thoughts and what struck me about this discussion was how effective Mark is at using frameworks to move to action, deliver the necessary behaviours, discipline and focus required to ascend, recover and improve. Much of this is self-taught, instinctive and so perhaps is a talent itself. This episode is sponsored by Junius multi-award winning, health food + drinks company – Junius. Junius have made a superb range of plant-based juices. We've partnered with Junius so that you can benefit from a 10% discount on your first order from a range of themed boxes of 7 juices. When you go to the checkout at wearejunius.com/shop make sure you enter the exclusive code Champions10. Show notes Mark discusses how covid-19 has affected him and Formula 1 Personality traits, competition scenarios and keeping perspective/composure Retirement and career reflections Levels of boredom Mark does not want to get in a grand prix car again Grand prix driving is a young mans’ game It’s tough at the top, winning, tough conversation/messages and self-discipline to adapt Mark’s youth, how did he rise to the top? The subtlety of feedback The paranoid perfection pressure The crunch moment – not having a plan B Moments when Mark new he was ‘good’ Winning in Europe Michael Schumacher the desire, pressure, belief and risks Adapting to scenarios, team mates and pressures The crashes Providing support to others Hindsight is their foresight Doing the basics brilliantly and focus on yourself Links Mark Webber on Twitter https://twitter.com/AussieGrit and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aussiegrit/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/supp
Wed, August 26, 2020
070 Stephen Seiler on how the best train
I would put this week’s guest into a very select place in the world of endurance, one that has combined four often distinct factors, first quality academic research, second in a topic that contributes to elite performance, third creates a paradigm shift that challenges how most of us think about training, and fourthly has been successfully applied to the non-elites, the serious amateur athletes or training for the general population. Professor Stephen Seiler’s has captured, described, cross-referenced and validated the unique training patterns of the world’s best athletes and has found a somewhat remarkable, counter-intuitive trend – that the training they do is polarised, that is that the best endurance athletes make their easy training easy and their hard training hard. This has become known as the polarised approach. Stephen and his research group’s contribution to endurance sport took a bit of time to become recognised, now is widely accepted, considered and underpins the practice and thinking of coaches and athletes around the world. We have a right old natter in this discussion, and in truth we could have spoken for hours more, we take a good couple of hours to explore, psycho-physiology, training, periodisation, philosophy and we both coin some new markers of over-training. We actually sort of drifted into a fascinating discussion right from the off, before we really started, which is representative of what you’ll hear, much less an interview but much more of a long-form conversation Show notes Talking shared book titles, Star Wars Steve and Stephen discuss children and the role of parenting, ensuring you are mindful of their resilience and coaching them in their chosen field Stephen discusses his daughter’s eating disorder and the areas he needs to be mindful of. Passing on the mantle of coaching, Stephen’s role will then have been fulfilled. Gathering teams with different skills sets communicating effectively and putting the athlete in the centre Stephen discusses the routine, the mundane aspects of high performance and planning for the extraordinary. Self-doubt and elements of OCD within athletes regardless of achievement or performance level. Providing positive support to athletes during competition Getting bogged down in the details whilst forgetting the exceptional work completed over the long term Interval training relax this is not rocket science! Confidence versus certainty Agile periodisation The cheetah - moments of aggression The adaptive advantage of the polarised approach Signal versus stress Staying under the stress radar Getting the athlete and the coach on the same page The relevance of subjective indicators The hair in the yoghurt indicator! Evolution and innovation of training Resistance to change I have been a gold medallist and I can b
Wed, August 12, 2020
069: Sebastien Foucan on pioneering free running
In this week’s episode I speak to a true innovator, pioneer and superstar of human movement – Sebastien Foucan. Sebastien was one of the founding developers of the discipline of parkour and later Sebastien stretched his practice to develop free-running – creative, acrobatic, exploratory, jumping, vaulting, rolling, climbing and interacting with obstacles and environments. Sebastien was also Bond baddy, delivering his art form on the big screen in a breath taking chase sequence with Daniel Craig at the start of Casino Royale! Sebastien has starred in Madonna video and toured with her. In this interview we discuss Sebastien’s early athleticism, the origins of parkour, the split to free-running, the assessment of risk against knowledge of his own physical capabilities, the founding philosophies and links to Bruce Lee’s doctrines and the demands of getting it right on stage and screen. We also find out who was the harder taskmaster Madonna or Bond! I’ve been in awe of Sebastien for many years and it was a compelling, deep yet fun conversation to have. Show notes Early origins of Sebastien's athletic ability Creation of parkour and the split with free running The philosophical nature of three running and the links with Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do Evaluating risk and understanding of personal physical abilities when performing free running Importance of practice Feeling flow, in the zone, the importance of the environment Delivering free running on the big screen in James Bond Casino Royale movie The demands of touring with Madonna Sustaining performance as Sebastien gets older Mentoring others and being the Obi-Wan Kenobi of free running Links https://twitter.com/SebastienFoucan https://www.foucan.com/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or dro
Wed, July 29, 2020
068: Kit Holder on the art of performance
This week’s guest is Kit Holder, first soloist at the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Kit has spent his whole career dancing, he came from a family of dancers, he went to the Royal Ballet School and has performed at the highest level on stage and now is a choreographer for the Birmingham company. There’s a number of interesting angles that I took from this interview, one that he is working to the direction of a new boss the world renowned Carlos Acosta – finding out how the style, manner and expectation change with the new direction. Kit also shares an interesting hurdle he had to overcome where a particular routine and section caused a real performance blocker for him and how he overcame this limiting inhibition. Fascinating still how this experience has propelled him to study more about the psychology of performance. Kit also shares his insights into choreography, nurturing others, directing, inspiring and co-creating works with other dancers. We’ve always been super keen to learn from diverse fields. Sport is not the reference point for all things performance – that’s something I’ve learnt since we set Supporting Champions up and begun applying performance thinking to business, education and the performing arts. To that end we've featured, west end stars, military commanders, television presenters in our interviews and there is always something ratifying about the convergence of ideas from parallel fields. This episode does the same. Show notes Prior to lockdown Kit was performing with the Birmingham Royal Ballet in Swan Lake How COVID-19 affected the rehearsals, performances, classes and training. Kit observes his motivation during the first few weeks of lockdown Balancing road cycling and ballet The specifics of training for ballerinas and maintaining performance The film, ‘Alone Together’ Challenging audiences with performance Dancing for a digital audience Kit’s experience of dancing as a child and following in his brothers’ footsteps From the Royal Ballet School to the Royal Ballet Company Kit set his sights on specifically wanting to work at The Royal Ballet School The inherent desire to dance Ballet dancers aesthetic Physical performance and psychological skills Choreography Choreography of a jazz improvisation and the realisation of the bigger components that allow a ballet company to function Kit’s learnings about choreography The ability to admit you were wrong What’s next for kit? Links https://twitter.com/KitHolder Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, <a hre
Wed, July 15, 2020
067: Mel Marshall on evolving coaching
This week’s guest is Mel Marshall. As a swimmer Mel made five Olympic finals at two Olympic games’ and she is one of the most decorated swimmers for England at the Commonwealth Games. You’re likely to know Mel as much for her reputation as an elite swimmer as the coach of perhaps the most dominant swimmer on the planet at the moment – the imperious Adam Peaty. Mel has coached Adam from his pre-teenage years taking him to the top of the Olympic podium in the 100m breaststroke at the Rio Olympics and having devastated the 100m breaststroke world record breaking it on five occasions. Mel shares her tensions about what the COVID-19 crisis has taught her and how she needs to balance her energy and frustrations and when she’ll switch her focus. She shares her philosophies of coaching and how these evolved over the 12 years she’s been out of the pool and guiding others. And in a fascinating section Mel lets us in on the 4 facets of what makes Adam Peaty great, how he’s always had these and how it’s up to her to channel his voracious athletic and competitor talents. Show notes Adapting to COVID-19 personally and professionally creating working environments, winning each round but struggling with the lack of buzz personally 12 weeks out of water, what is lost in terms of physicality and psychology? Innovating programmes Building momentum for 2021, accepting and moving training forward confidently Supporting confidence with short term goals Mel is ‘on’ but she’s not ‘on on’! Mel the coach and Mel the swimmer Sticking to the process and making the coaching athlete centred Mel’s reason for becoming a coach Adam Peaty and his abilities physically and psychologically Preparation minds and bodies The difference between club level and elite level sport Mel’s proudest achievement, her relationship with Adam Coaching the shit out of emotions Knowing athletes and what makes them tick Mel’s favourite day as an athlete…it may surprise you! Coaching into the unknown and the emotional toll it takes Links You can follow Mel on twitter at https://twitter.com/massivemel Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at h
Wed, July 01, 2020
066: Eva Carneiro on doing what is right
Dr Eva Carneiro is this week’s guest (I will give you Eva’s introduction in two parts). Eva is a Sports Physician and was one of the first eight pioneering doctors recruited nationally to the UK Sports and Exercise Medicine Specialist Training Programme. She worked in the New South Wales Institute of Sport in Sydney and at the Olympic Medical Institute in London in the build up to the Beijing Olympics. Eva worked at Chelsea Football Club from 2009-2015. During her four seasons as First Team doctor the team was successful in winning Champions league, Premier league, Europa league, FA Cup and League Cup titles. During her six and half years with the team she worked with a total of seven elite international football managers. She is the first woman to sit on a team bench pitch-side in Champions League, Premier League, and Europa League competitions and the only woman to become the First Female Assistant Medical Director in a Football Club in the UK. That’s the introduction to Eva’s medical and performance credentials. Here are some details about an incident that erupted in 2015. On the first game of the 2015-16 premier league season, Chelsea played Swansea. During the game, Eden Hazard twice called for medical attention following an impact to his abdomen. The medical team were then then summoned on the pitch by the ref on two separate occasions …. Eva, along with club physio Jon Fearn came onto the pitch to attend following rules of the game. But the manager Jose Mourinho reacted to the situation, because he didn't feel the injury warranted attention. The reaction was pivotal to Eva's case, first there was a demotion from the first team. Footage emerged of Jose Mourinho used abusive phrases towards Eva, which he denied being sexist in motivation. The subsequent furore received extensive press coverage, both for the dismissal, the claim for abuse and the character and personal attention, scrutiny and sensationalism that Eva was exposed to. Eva's lawyers filed for constructive dismissal, but before she gave evidence the tribunal the case was settled on confidential terms. But importantly as part of the settlement, Chelsea issued a statement "We wish to place on record that in running onto the pitch Dr Carneiro was following both the rules of the game and fulfilling her responsibility to the players as a doctor, putting their safety first". This was important because that statement indicates the position that Eva upheld; upheld beyond the stage of the game or its results, the Hazard situation, beyond the clash with the manager and club, beyond football, beyond sport perhaps too - in not only serving her professional duties and duty of care, but in doing what is right and not capitulating to compromise. Eva’s case received widespread media and public attention all sorts of accusations, pressures, intrusions into her personal and private life for, as I say, essentially doing her job, but perhaps the difference is that she
Wed, June 17, 2020
065: Nick Levett on developing talent
Nick Levett on talent development Have you ever found yourself stood along side parents or coaches shouting and barking instructions to their child? Or have you ever found yourself bursting out with commands or subtly taking your child aside to say, “Just do this”. If we have done this or seen this or felt the urge to help but done so in a clumsy way – then we’ve been an influence (perhaps not positive) on a child’s interest in not only sport but on their willingness to try. This week’s guest is Nick Levett, Head of Coaching at UK Coaching an expert in talent development. Nick has had a fascinating career coaching in schools in socially and economically deprived areas, working to develop the paths of young talent in the largest governing body in the UK – the Football Association and now a broader remit to develop coaching across the sporting landscape Nick’s insights are edifying, that is they compel us to take a moment to reflect and learn how morally, ethically and intellectually how we support and develop others, not just aspiring young sports people, but the lessons apply to our wider influence to the people around us. Show notes Playing football at university (oh and studying for a degree) Strategic planning of modules for the best outcome rather than subject interest Working in a challenging school, Learning ‘how to communicate’ Working in the FA for 14 years Child centred work drives Nick’s ethos Student aspirations, how much do I know these kids as individuals? The coaching tension between the traditional FA coaching methods and real life experience Nick’s development of the national coaching programme Rod Thorpe teaching games for understanding (TGFU) How do you know that kid wasn’t about to work it out for themselves? Taking inspiration from Iceland and project based learning Doing things that are inherently enjoyable What has been good during coaching amidst COVID-19 and what have learned that will be beneficial for the future? Always start with the person Academies and pathways should be teaching kids skills that are going to serve them for life Manchester United think about the people first rand the values and rights of the child What are the values of children when they play sport What’s more important, winning trophies and medals or hardest is more important to me Coaching horizons, what would Nik like to see explored over the next decade? Links Nick's blog http://riversofthinking.com/ Nick on Twitter https://twitter.com/nlevett Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve
Wed, June 03, 2020
064: Caspar Berry on risk
Caspar Berry is a former professional poker player, having been the poker advisor on the James Bond movie Casino Royale. Caspar is now a speaker on risk, not only understanding this area from the principles of the game of poker, but it’s underpinned with an economics degree from Cambridge University. In this discussion we talk about the parallels between poker and what we’re experiencing through this viral pandemic – and there definitely are some. We talk about how to get good at poker which unveils an array of applicable lessons in terms of probabilities, luck and taking opportunities when they are presented to you. Caspar has a knack of making some unfamiliar concepts feel really accessible – he’s a bright guy with whom I've loved chatting to over the years. And if a Las Vegas poker player and advisor on a Bond movie weren’t enough Caspar has one of the most fun biographies going – which I will leave him to explain. Show notes Poker and a global pandemic – it is good when people appreciate uncertainty in their lives The importance of cash and savings Caspar’s three important messages: The future is uncertain and we are way poorer than we think we are Everything is going to end eventually Insulate yourself against the downside and open yourself up to the upside Risk and decision making; short term versus long term allocation Working as an actor in Byker Grove Learning that poker and business are related, defined by decision making and resource allocation Luck - your short term deviation from your long term expectation as a result of that which you cannot control Olivia Colman & Sacha Baron Cohen – luck Don’t play the man, play the cards Casino Royale How to play perfect poker Uncertainty and predicting the future The Ludic fallacy Links Caspar is on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/casparberry/ You can visit Caspar’s website at http://www.casparberry.com/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to s
Wed, May 20, 2020
063: Rob Pacey on creating content
In this episode I spoke to Rob Pacey. Rob runs one of the most successful podcasts in Sport, the aptly named Pacey performance podcast, which focuses on strength and conditioning and training. He has curated close to 300 episodes since 2015 featuring some of the leading names in aspects of conditioning. In this discussion I was curious to find out what inspired Rob to begin recording episodes, and how he took the plunge. What Rob didn’t have at the time was a reputation to lean upon, he just went for it, with an infectious spirit summed up in the phrase, “Well I could do that”, or at least I could try. That optimistic spirit shines through about wanting to network, create connections, learn from people and contributing. In a cluttered world of online content we can learn from Rob’s lessons of being consistent, showing up for people and ultimately creating something of value. While he didn’t have a reputation when he first started, he does now! Show notes Dreams of becoming a professional footballer Realisations of having optimised his performance The loss felt when ending the pursuit of becoming a professional Importance of education as another outlet Mini business charging for football training Finding work as a ‘fitness guy’ Getting an opportunity because people trusted him Transition to the commercial world working for Catapult Benefitting from other podcasts and thinking, “I could do that!” Leading me to the realisation that this would be a great networking opportunity Becoming the podcast guy The strongest guests are the ones who you can have a drink with and who can talk hard science Developing buy-in is a critical theme Creating a resource for people to add value Getting the specifics out from guests, there’s a lot of assumed knowledge What has Rob learned. Editing audio, social media material, but also anticipating and communicating what the audience want to hear – becoming in tune with the industry Authenticity to who you are and aware of what you communicate on social media Links Rob on Twitter https://twitter.com/strengthofsci The Pacey Performance Podcast can be found here https://www.strengthofscience.com/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of
Wed, May 06, 2020
062: Steve Ingham on new book The First Hurdle
I’m excited to share, in this special episode, 7 key principles from my new book The First Hurdle on applying and interviewing for jobs in sports performance (and the sub-text here too is for those doing the interviewing too). The First Hurdle is a guide to searching, applying and interviewing for jobs in sports performance and is now available to buy for kindle or other e-reader here https://supportingchampions.co.uk/downloads/ In this episode I share the motivations behind the book; a story about my first interview experience alongside the England Football team; and 7 key principles that people would be wise to follow (including one message, principle number 7, for the interviewers) Be yourself! why and how you need to be true to yourself Can you do the job? How to emphasise your employability by focusing on their needs. De-clutter! Focus your attention on the areas that really matter. Would you put on all the clothes in your wardrobe to go out to a party? Add structure to your answers. How ‘and’ ruins interview answers. The importance of holistic view on communication, not just what we say but how we say it. We need to It’s not about you! The importance of focusing your answers on how you can influence others and your ability to work in teams. The Superheroes and the mice! (If you’re interviewing people) Don’t be an arse! By all means push people, but you have a responsibility to people, profession and an industry. You should develop your interviewing skills such that you’re able to inspire someone’s development, not humiliate them. Take your responsibility as an interviewer seriously and inspire people. The First Hurdle book is now available to buy, both as an ebook and paperback; https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Hurdle-searching-interviewing-performance-ebook/dp/B087JTHB2M/ Here’s a look at the contents; Runners and hurdlers: Introduction One principle: You can’t be anybody else Get out of your own head: What interviewers think about Target practice: Finding the right job Looking good on paper: CVs and cover letters The warm-up: Interview preparation First contact: The start of the interview Xs and Ys: The question that differentiates Clarity, clarity, clarity: Structuring your answers Team: Can you work with other people? Who are you?: The importance of self-awareness Sprint finish: How to finish an interview Eyeing the competition: Group interviews Show me: Practical tests Virtual reality: Video pitching and online interviews Climbing the ladder: Interviews for managers and leaders The feedback loop: Getting advic
Wed, April 22, 2020
061: Stef Reid on challenge
We hope you and those close to your are safe and well. In this episode I spoke to Stef Reid, three-time Paralympic medallist, World Champion long jumper. Stef is a remarkable lady irrespective of the fact that at 15 years old she lost her leg to the rotor blade of a motorboat. For she has amongst her sporting accomplishments, also been a semi-finalist in Masterchef UK, was the first Paralympian to model in Vogue magazine and is Vice president of UK Athletics. You may be wondering with the Para games moved on a year, if she is still going for it – well in this discussion we find out that it’s a yes. We explore how she’s motivating herself during the lockdown and Stef, talks me through her horrific accident, her response, what helped her, who helped her, which wasn’t just her family but some tough loving health workers. We also talk about how she has made sense of her experience, emboldened her sense of self and to hear it was truly moving and uplifting.g. Show notes Delay to the Paralympics and the ramifications for athletes for a range of reasons Stef’s coping mechanisms – ‘feel the feelings’ Adapting training due to COVID-19 Stef’s early sporting endeavour into rugby and ambitions to become a professional player The accident Processing the loss of the limb The nurse that first challenged Stef and the thrill of having a poo! Acceptance of the new Stef The 2012 Paralympics changed everything Bringing the whole package to sport Running The decision that sport wasn’t for Stef World championships 3 years later! Positive distractions You can’t be too focussed on athletics, athletics can’t be your sole identity Links Not surprisingly Stef is a motivational speaker and if you’re thinking of someone to inspire your next event, take a look at http://www.stefreid.com/speaking You can follow Stef on Twitter https://twitter.com/RunJumpStefReid Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the
Fri, April 10, 2020
060: Andrea Furst on change and uncertainty
In this episode I talk to Dr Andrea Furst, performance psychologist at Mental Notes. Andrea has had a highly successful career supporting some of the highest performing teams to the highest performances. She has worked in Australia, where she originates from, Singapore and now based in the UK. She has supported the Australian kayak team, Singapore sailing, GB Hockey and is widely sought after in professional sports and supporting business leaders. Andrea brings a really grounded, pragmatic approach to her practice. She is thoughtful and intuitive, but shrewd and no nonsense. In this conversation we discuss some of the emotions and challenges everyday people and athletes will be experiencing during this lockdown period, what methods and ways of thinking can help people cope and thrive. What I really enjoyed about this conversation was not only hearing about the mental models and ideas that help people cope with change, but I was compelled by her approach of putting the human needs first on the path toward self-discovery. Show notes Andrea’s focus on adjusting to the new normal with challenge of COVID19 How the lack of deadlines effects our thinking How we cope with change Dealing with uncertainty Staying present and the value of recognising our experiences How investment in self-awareness and self-reflection nurtures the person and performance Handling mavericks in team situations Establishing buy-in and engagement with top performers With the Olympics moved to next year what advice and support can help athletes re-focus Links You can follow Andrea on https://twitter.com/AndreaFurst Have a look at her website https://mentalnotespsych.com/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for
Mon, April 06, 2020
059: Louise Burke on keeping nutrition practical
The next few special episodes of the podcast will break away from the normal regularity as we capture, produce and air some relevant content to the COVID-19 crisis. In this episode I talk to Professor Louise Burke, Chief of Nutrition Strategy at The Australian Institute of Sport, where she has led the nutrition support work for Australia since 1990. Louise is certainly one of the world’s leading dieticians, has been there and done it but uniquely has outstanding achievements in applied sport and research. I caught up with Louise to ask her about some of the big things people can be doing to ensure a healthy diet to support immune function and support training during the COVID-19 crisis and what people can do when their normal food choices aren’t necessarily available in the supermarkets anymore. I also take a brief opportunity to ask Louise about her key experiences and lessons learnt from an illustrious career in support of elite performance at the Australian Institute of Sport. Show notes The new normal for a while - perhaps we can think about what is important and what isn’t…to recalibrate, during COVID-19 Team Australia, what are they up to now? Grateful for an extra year to prepare for Tokyo 2021 Why we eat what we eat? Disordered eating during this COVID-19 crisis The complexity of habits beliefs and behaviours around diet What can we do in these uncertain times to ensure we are nutritionally looking after ourselves Planning menus for a week being more resourceful with the ingredients we have This is a great time for exercise and ensuring nutrition supports health The change in the Australian Institute of Sport Supernova research camp Project Supernova lack of resources ensured that Louise needed to find a new way or working Having a good relationship with athletes and coaches Periodising carbohydrate Making the coaches and athletes part of the team Links You can follow Louise on Twitter https://twitter.com/LouiseMBurke Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to g
Fri, March 27, 2020
058: Phil Skiba on exercise and health during COVID-19 crisis
Phil Skiba on exercise and health during COVID-19 crisis The next few special episodes of the podcast will break away from the normal regularity as we capture, produce and air some relevant content to the COVID-19 crisis. In today’s special episode I talk to Dr Phil Skiba, Director of Sports Medicine for the Advocate Aurora Medical Group in Chicago, one of the largest in the United States and one of sharpest people I know – a true polymath, about the current crisis, his observations, his advice about us for general health, staying physically fit and training and more broadly our responsibilities to ourselves, each other and why and how this situation arose and what this all might mean. Show notes The warning signs of COVID-19 and health service overwhelm Making excuses for ourselves… Our individual and societal responsibilities Paying attention to how you are feeling Do the neck check! Good nutrition Heart disease and cancer kill way more people than COVID-19 and are preventable and treatable with exercise No more powerful medicine than exercise Any organism has a carrying capacity We are in this together Bettering yourself through education Popping to the shop in Africa Fighting this war from the coach, binging Netflix and don’t do anything stupid! You can follow Phil on Twitter @DrPhilipSkiba More from Phil is available on his website on www.physfarm.com Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
Wed, March 25, 2020
057: James Cracknell on Endeavour
057: James Cracknell on Endeavour A note about Coronavrius We, individuals, groups, communities, society look up to sporting heroes, we revere and admire their dedication, their persistence, their focus, the sacrifices they make to make the most of their often rare genetics and to do so on the greatest performance stage. As the world battles Coronavirus, we’re all going to be required to make sacrifices that we’ve never made before in pursuit of applying ourselves, to the collective goal of public health. We’ve thought hard about whether while the world is taking dramatic turn, whether the appropriateness of us publishing podcast episodes about a topic of human performance is even relevant. Certainly we can appreciate that if you normally tune in but your head is elsewhere at the moment then it might be better to switch off, go an focus on what you need to do (which hopefully isn’t stock piling toilet rolls) and listen to this again when it suits you best. We’ve decided to continue because perhaps these episodes can offer some inspiration, maybe an hour’s worth of distraction, perhaps to help refocus you on what you need to be doing. Also, there are a lot of people now distancing and isolating for the first time in their lives – I hope in some ways these episodes can be some supportive company and a positive influence as the worry and the noise surrounding the outbreak increases. This week's episode features my interview with James Cracknell. Two time Olympic Champion in coxless four rowing, part of perhaps the most renowned rowing crew of all time the Sydney 2000 four – a team I was honoured to support. On retirement, James didn’t put his feet up, in fact almost the opposite. He crossed the Atlantic with Ben Fogle, raced to the South Pole, kayaked the length of the Thames, was at the time the fastest Briton to run the Marathon de Sables, competed in the Yukon Arctic Ultra and has run the London Marathon numerous times with a best time of 2:43 which for a 90kg guy is phenomenal (at the time of recording James was headed for the London Marathon in a few weeks, but the event has now been postponed for now to October). In 2010 James undertook Ride Across America and was hit by a petrol tanker suffering a contrecoup brain injury – he is now a campaigner for the use of bike helmets – which effectively saved his life. Last year James became the oldest competitor and the oldest winner, in the history of the Oxford – Cambridge boat being twice as old as his crew mates and competitors and older than some of his crew mates dad’s. I worked with James in the pursuit of this goal and it was one of the most challenging cases I’ve worked on, to problem solve and innovate in such unique ways. James did so through some trying personal circumstances which played out in the press. In this conversation James and I discuss his early in drivers, becoming part of a crew with some of the highes
Fri, March 13, 2020
056: Malcolm Brown on a career in coaching and lessons from the Brownlees
056: Malcolm Brown on a career in coaching and lessons from the Brownlees This episode’s guest is Malcolm Brown a Performance Coach based at the Leeds Triathlon Centre where he has partnered with Jack Maitland in coaching the Brownlee Brothers, that’s Alastair and Jonny – two of the greatest triathlon racers of all time. He was previously the head endurance coach for UK Athletics, coaching athletes to international gold medals at Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic level Malcolm has journeyed through what would be considered one of the most traditional routes for a coach, being a PE teacher by trade, coaching in his spare time almost always on a volunteer basis and then as the system in the UK developed he began to coach professionally, first for athletics, then later in triathlon In this interview, Malcolm reflects over the long arc of his career and draws on the lessons that have kept him so stable, cogent and wise. Malcolm tells it like it is about the state of coaching and how it has been underinvested in, how it lacks the recognition and prominence that it deserves but ardently hopes for better and is active in creating that future for coaching. He’s supposed to be retired, but he’s still extremely active in the coaching community, having established the Leeds triathlon centre and recently the Endurance think tank. We start the conversation with a recent health scare for Malcolm, which it sounds as though many of his athletes ‘coached’ him through. Show notes: Club Le Santa, Lanzarote and a heart attack How Malcolm occupied his mind when recuperating Context to Malcolm’s 42 year coaching career Paternal role model, interest in multiple sports, Head down and Head up perspectives from academics Malcolm’s athletic career and the insights provided by his own injuries! Finding the right words at the right time to support the athlete Working with Alistair and Jonny Brownlee and picking up body language indicators in order to adapt sessions clip Malcolm didn’t want coaching to be his job, he enjoyed his independence and autonomy too much!! The common language of a team Coach with significant input from the athletes led the training environment Coach development roles, skills and competencies The benefits of the endurance think tank Malcolm’s observations around successful junior athletes not progressing to being successful senior athletes and the reasons he identified The resourcefulness of the Brownlee brother’s and the necessity for them to make their own decisions as they are the athlete How has Malcolm’s input changed with the Brownlees over time Physiological efficiency Malcolm’s nuggets of wisdom Fail better! Malcolm on Twitter https://twitter.com/Malcthecoach Leeds National Endu
S1 E63 · Wed, February 26, 2020
055: Lizzie Simmonds on transition
The dynamic of retirement, transitions and change for athletes is rightly receiving much greater attention as athletes speak up and openly about their experiences – none more so this episode’s guest Lizzie Simmonds. Former international backstroker, two time Olympian, European champion – Lizzie has taken it upon herself to write and speak about her experiences since her retirement in 2018 and now mentoring others. Her blog, her speeches are some of the most candid, open, articulations of what it feels like, how she’s responded, the noise in her head, the loss of identity, the polarised reactions of excitement but being daunted, open to possibilities but feeling like an imposter. Lizzie’s communications are not some sort of ‘woe is me’ plea for attention – these are balanced, considerate, heartfelt, humble and honest accounts – that have rightly been lauded for expressing what many feel but have found too overwhelming or chaotic to be able to capture. Not everybody can do what Lizzie has done, but I think that anybody experiencing a change can certainly benefit from Lizzie has given a voice to. Show notes Rediscovering exercise after retirement Lizzie’s viral tweet and Piers Morgan and the dangers of social media Openness and engagement Blogging about retirement and transitioning The challenges of retirement, the guilt, feeling disconnected and being honest about feeling a little lost Preparing for retirement and the thought process involved ahead of time Athletes who have amore balance lifestyle tend to do better at retirement Defining yourself by your sport and the consequences of that single identity Support networks the difficulty in diverting resources from performance aims to support retirement in order to help them transition successfully. What compelled Lizzie to write her blog about transitioning. What does Lizzie miss, and not miss, about swimming Specific memories from Lizzie’s swimming career Rockstar in goggles Confidence and association with identity Future life – enjoying experiences and staying away from the rat race If you’d like to follow Lizzie then you can do so on Twitter https://twitter.com/LizzieSimmonds1 and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simmo1234/ To find out more from Lizzie’s website including her blog go to https://lizziesimmonds.com/ https://lizziesimmonds.com/2018/07/15/how-to-be-a-real-person/#more-157 Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitt
S1 E62 · Wed, February 12, 2020
054: Duncan French on mixed martial arts
Duncan French is the Vice President of the Ultimate Fighting Championships. Mixed martial arts is a sport that has had an accelerated rise into the public consciousness over the last couple of decades. It seems to have captured the imagination, created interest and intrigue about the unpredictability of the contest. And so has followed a professionalisation of the bouts, the events, and the support they receive. Duncan’s focus is to provide the very best support to the fighters, sometimes supporting two fighters that are about to fight each other. We get into an interesting discussion about the ethics of aiming to help someone do a better job of hurting someone else to the point of submission or unconsciousness, versus the unhealthy neglect that would result if fighters were left to their own devices. Combat has been with us since the dawn of time – way before we were human and it was one of the earliest activities we’d call sport – and let’s be realistic it’s probably not going away any time soon. Duncan is a world renowned conditioning coach, rightly respected and sought after. As I fully expected from Duncan he sheds light on this territory with lucidity, acumen and wisdom. If you’re not into MMA (which I’m not actually but I’m interested) my expectations are that you’ll take a great deal from Duncan’s ideas. Show notes Introducing Frankie French! Duncan’s background in strength and conditioning, particularly in the field of combat The challenge of the PhD Working and identifying as a sport scientist The move to Connecticut and the moving into understanding the role of strength and conditioning Duncan is a hybrid, shouldn’t we all be? Nuns with arthritic wrists Filtering the noise – it’s time consuming and takes effort but it’s important to focus on creating a quality track record and reputation The pendulum swings from the coaching domain to the science domain, a blend of both is required Combat based sports GB boxing Changing the trajectory of a young sport the training and standards Degrees of freedom We don’t want to take the wild out of the stallion! Uniquely supporting athletes both sides of the ring, the trust, support and opened required and operating within boundaries that are fundamental The ethical challenges of supporting two people who are fighting the aim of which is to knock out their opponent: making the environment as safe a possible such as equipment design, physical development and training, rehabilitation, rules, regulations in order to make the sport as safe as possible for the fighters Changing the standards of combat sports beyond mixed martial arts Maximising deliverables Fighting is in our DNA we get it and we like it Duncan’s mantras! Links Duncan on Twitter https://twitter.com/duncan
S1 E61 · Wed, January 29, 2020
053: Susan Backhouse on eating and cheating
Sue Backhouse, Professor of psychology and nutrition at Leeds Beckett University is this week's guest. Sue is an expert in the complexity around two huge areas – eating and cheating. Everyone’s a nutritionist these days, everyone’s a psychologist and everyone has an opinion on the issue of doping. Three emotive, convoluted and noisy areas for Sue to tackle. What Sue’s research does is something quite unique, particularly so compared with a lot of reductionist studies that pare back all confounding variables to a level of control almost sterility. Of course, you need that level of meticulous control for some research but often important areas get neglected by researchers because they’re too messy. Equally what Sue is able to do is see through the clatter, the jumble and offer illuminating yet grounded findings and advice. We explore the hows and whys of influencing athletes to adopt certain dietary practices and how underpinning motivation and behaviour are essential for change. Then we get into a rich discussion about why people dope, the context, knowledge, social norms, group think, can all be factors in people taking or not taking that step into violating rules and how people reconcile their minds that what they’re doing is ok. A fascinating area, one that I have spent my life staunchly and adamantly against and working to support athletes in an ethical and legal way. At the end of the conversation I felt more aware and understanding and perhaps slightly more empathetic towards a doper – NOT that I have lowered my stance – but by better understanding why people cheat I feel I might be able to help someone choose not to. Show notes: Sue’s formative years leading to her career in sport. Resetting ambitions and dealing with rejection and disappointment and how this has turned into an advantage. Complexity of behaviour on multiple levels towards food and nutrition. The role of emotions and how it drives behaviour, decision making and the support required to be sensitive to. Capability Opportunity Motivation model of behaviour (COM-B); a behaviour change model recognise that in order to bring about change one needs a capability i.e. education, training and skills. Having difficult conversations and making sure everyone is on the same page with the same expectations. Just telling! Barriers towards nutritional adherence What are the unintended consequences of some of these short term solutions? Doping, “I just did what I was told…” Social norms of dysfunction, the power of the group. Unravelling the complexities of doping, the vulnerability, the goal directed behaviours, the protection of health, athlete identity and winning at all costs. Differences in doping violations, team versus individual approach Therapeutic exemption and the knock-on effect of the negativity surrounding doping Fearless organisations and having diffi
S1 E60 · Wed, January 15, 2020
052: Nik Diaper on the impact of Parasport
This year we have the Olympic games – the World’s biggest sporting event. But in quick succession is the Paralympics, now the third largest sporting event. Some quip that the Olympics is the warm-up or the test event for the Paralympics. Well this week’s guest is one of the greatest stalwarts and servant of the Paralympics, my good friend and close colleague Nik Diaper. It’s difficult to overstate the impact that Nik has had on the domain of disabled sport, from the days when frankly very few people were interested, through to it becoming not only respected, but revered. In this interview I discuss with Nik what drew him to parasport, what resonated with him and what has endured. Nik shares his perspectives on why disability sport has caught the imagination of sports fans, general public and global audiences alike. He shares his search for meaning amongst some of life’s broader questions and why what he does can add value to society. Now I cycle most weekends with Nik and he is a quality athlete, which I know to my suffering. This interview was in many ways like how he rides – unfussy, humble, deliberate in delivering a powerful effect. Show notes: Nik discusses his sporting history in Kenya Moving to the US to pursue his swimming dream The move to Manchester Nik had no intention of pursuing a career in Paralympic sport Entering Para sport and feeling completely out of his depth Accessibility The Paralympics 2020 and the step change in perception for disability sport What made London so successful and it’s legacy? What does it mean to be disabled? - the debate! What were the reasons for sticking with Paralympic sport if it wasn’t your first choice? Stand out para moments for Nik Technological advances in para-sport and the ramifications Tokyo 2020 What more needs to be done and Nik’s hopes and ambitions? Links: Nik on Twitter https://twitter.com/nik_diaper Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at <a
S1 E59 · Wed, December 18, 2019
051: James Glover on intentionality
This week’s guest is business consultant James Glover. James is a world champion white-water rafter, former performance lifestyle practitioner and head of support for the sport of triathlon in Britain. In these sporting support roles James began to explore and research some deeper concepts of human performance and found himself drawing upon some emerging and quite powerful principles being applied to business people around the world in the area of well-being, sustaining our energy and achieving greater productivity and human vibrancy. In this episode we explore his early experiences, a supportive family home, how he felt so disconnected through his university education, becoming world champion, making the transition to working in elite sport and then sensing an opportunity to take the step to the business world and the key lessons he has learnt from both arenas. Show notes How are you feeling?…the vulnerability behind the question James’ background The predictability of career path is a turn off Taking leaps of faith which pay off Disengagement from the learning environment The qualities required to be a world champion white water rafter The human experience and contributions people make Performance lifestyle and athlete support Business demands and reflections Extreme performance, stress being a stimulant for adaptation and growth for athletes but also other aspects of our lives The transition between stress and distress The leap taken towards The Energy Project The reverence in business for sport and the power of human endeavour expressed through sport Links James on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-glover-1180b2a1/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at <a href='https://suppo
S1 E58 · Wed, December 04, 2019
050: Tom Williams, COO Parkrun, Marathon Talk host, on inspiring people to run
Welcome to episode 50, a mini milestone for us and not long ago we've ticked over 50,000 downloads so thank you to all for tuning in and sharing what you've learnt from each episode - it encourages to keep producing more content for you. While we've hit some mini milestones, this week's guests has been part of some projects that have grown to become phenomenally successful. Tom Williams is Parkrun's Global Chief Operating Officer the incredible successful charity that provides free timed 5km runs for people around the world. At the time of recording Parkrun has had 60 million interactions of participants or volunteers with an average of 200 people in each event each week, supporting people to run over 200 million kms in total. Tom shares with us the spirit, culture and ethos of inspiring people to exercise through Parkruns. Tom is also co-host of Marathon Talk with Martin Yelling, the incredibly successful podcast that has just had it's 500th episode - a feat of stamina in itself. It was fascinating to hear how with both Parkrun and Marathon Talk how these projects started because if you look at those statistics of achievements it can be quite intimidating. But that idea you've got, that we've got, has to start somewhere, they have to start at zero. Show notes; How did Marathon Talk podcast come to fruition? Being authentic on the podcast for both Martin and Tom Introversion, lack of structure and a small group of people can be difficult however standing up in from of 500 people can feel fantastic. The barrier between The beauty of running and talking What has Tom learnt from running the Marathon Talk podcast Tom’s observation of the increasing uptake of marathon running Parkrun - a social intervention for a lonely bloke!! Paul was lacking in real social interaction and to all intents and purposes lonely despite having loads of ‘friends’ the original ‘Parkrun’ was set up to rectify this situation with friends. Parkrun isn’t about the running, it’s about sharing the experience Ironman qualification The danger of focussing on outcomes rather than our values, what is the essence of sport what it the essence of performance? 60 million instances in participation in the first 15 years The future of Parkrun - 900 million instance in participation in the next 15 years Follow Tom on Twitter https://twitter.com/tomwilliams1974 Parkrun https://www.parkrun.com/ Marathon talk https://marathontalk.com/ Supporting Champions on Twitter <a hre
S1 E57 · Wed, November 20, 2019
049: Jason Laird on critical skills
Jason Laird has worked in Premiership football, ballet, judo and now gymnastics and as such is one of the most experienced physiotherapists in the UK. What I have always admired about Jason is his ability to get to the crux of a matter and begin to explore it, develop solutions and adapt. In this interview you’ll hear about Jason’s early passion for physiotherapy, we talk about doing the hard yards of professional experience, helping aspiring physios learn from his experience and mistakes, but above all what came through was a concept that so often gets overlooked - the value he puts on working with people. Show notes: How and why did Jason choose to get into physiotherapy? Routes into physiotherapy Making mistakes, trialling, working creatively and learning Broad general physiotherapy practice to Chelsea football academy, how did that happen? Juggling roles, different environments and energy levels Working in the Royal Ballet, thinking differently, asking ‘stupid’ questions and being open to not knowing Judo to gymnastics – it’s all about the variety and the challenge How do you deal and prepare for trauma The balance of pushing through recovery and getting back to play, risk management and decision making Physio chat! Not creating dependency and building your client base Supporting the next generation, developing and growing practitioner skills beyond the knowledge of physiology and sport Jason lists the practitioner skills he feels are most important Follow Jason on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhysioReel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physioreel/ His website: http://www.jasonlairdphysio.com/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or dro
S1 E56 · Wed, November 06, 2019
048: Dave Smith on choosing to live
Dave Smith, Paralympic champion shares his emotional story intertwining sporting pursuit and cancer survival. This interview is a deep one, it’s a full existential exploration of what is important, how and what we pursue and the focus on what really matters in our lives. I had the truly humbling, moving and inspirational experience of speaking to Dave Smith to tell his utterly remarkable story of sporting endeavour, fighting cancer and choosing to live life. Show notes: Living with purpose, the benefits and negatives of social media and the way in which the world can rapidly change External and internal effects of spinal tumour Reaching out for help Regaining control better sleep, better nutrition, better exercise, reconnecting with passions and support of friends and mentors Dave’s story form the beginning Foot deformity from birth Tumour symptoms from 17 Overtraining and pushing too hard Bobsleigh challenge Classifying for Paralympic sport 2009 joining a supported rowing programme Rowing support and investigation saved Dave’s life and identified the tumour 2010 tumour diagnosis, life changed but sport was the coping mechanism Re-diagnosis Cancer diagnosis and the way in which you deal with it is very individual, use what works for you, Dave chose to use it as a battle and threw himself into sport. The difference between the ‘have to’ and ‘want to’ goals Who are you and what defines you, what is your purpose? Links Dave's website https://davidsmithathlete.com/ Dave's blog https://davidsmithathlete.com/vblog Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at <a href='https://supportingchamp
S1 E55 · Wed, October 23, 2019
047: Josie Perry on the psychology of communication
Performance psychologist Dr Josie Perry is this episode's guest. Josie has a successful consultancy service supporting endurance athletes, golfers tennis players, but she also has a rich background in communications. Originally a journalist, director of communications and public relations. Josie converted to psychology but what was fascinating about this interview was about the fusion of the two subjects of psychology and with that human behaviour, influencing and development, with the principles of communication and with that human behaviour, influencing and development. I caught up with Josie just a few days after the launch of her book Performing under pressure, which we also dive into. Show notes Background and journey to sport psychology, Monica Lewinsky, a PhD and working within communication When delivering information, who is your audience? How to frame a difficult conversation in a way that works for the other person. Bridging from being a journalist on CBS new to being a sport psychologist Having a brave list The having a baby, ironman, running a business and stage 2 training juggle! Clarity and brevity of communication and the shift in communication style due to social media Stories are powerful. What problem are you trying to solve and how can you utilise stories to enable your message? Perfectionism Josie’s book - The nine most common reasons athletes come to see me. Start with what and then why? Taking time, growing your business and being brave The different elements of Josie’s consultancy which provide stability 1:1 work, writing and media training Mantra that work, Josie’s mantra, “Make Hattie proud” Josie’s lesson to her younger self You can follow Josie on twitter at https://twitter.com/Josephineperry www.performanceinmind.co.uk Take a look at her new book Performing under pressure https://performanceinmind.co.uk/performing-under-pressure/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some c
S1 E54 · Wed, October 09, 2019
046: Dawn Scott on supporting the USA women’s football team to successive World Cups
Dawn Scott, High Performance Coach to the USA women’s national football team, who happen to have won two successive World cup titles and Olympic gold in 2012, is this episode's guest. In this interview you’ll hear about Dawn’s journey from her early days grafting away with women’s football, taking a lead role at the English FA and then taking the leap to working with the US team. Critically you’ll hear how it has been for Dawn under the spotlight of supporting the team under the big moments of the numerous finals the team have competed in. You’ll also hear about how it has felt growing with a sport that has emerged from obscurity to global prominence The conversation was rich with insight about the pivotal moments when it all felt really fragile, when results and the outcome have felt like they’ve hung over everything, the team’s future, the coaching staff’s future and with that the prospects of the game. Show notes Dawn Scott background, education and route into Sport Science World Cup win with the USA team, back to reality and training, nutrition and appropriate recovery Overview of Dawn’s background and career progression Applied jobs in sport science weren’t the norm! Basic applied sport science, paper and pencil wellness and basic heart rate monitoring The USA approached Dawn and she moved out in 2010 Dawn’s football background and being a Newcastle fan with her Dad What got Dawn the job at a national level…? Sharing your knowledge, understanding the process, what is your role in camp how do your define your role, find your niche and start to integrate your ideas? It always has to be about the player, to impact them and their performance Dawn discusses support team and individual temperament, what is required during match performances Individualisation, knowing the players and how best to equip them for matches and for recovery. Going the extra mile. Follow Dawn on twitter https://twitter.com/DawnScott06 Follow us on line Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https:
Wed, October 02, 2019
Special Announcement: Kickstart Performance Skills course is about to launch
This is a special announcement: Our online course is about to launch. It's called, 'Kickstart Performance Skills' and is aimed at undergraduate and masters students in sports and exercise aiming to work as a professional in sports and performance. The course launches on 7 th October 2019, when I’m hosting a live webinar at 7pm GMT to show you the course content with live Q&A and provide you with an exclusive discount. Sign up now to find out more https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1387471925819327757 The realities of working in the sports and performance industry means there is a strong possibility that students are exposed, ill-equipped or at best unable to thrive when entering the world of work. I've observed that across first year undergraduates entering into sports based degrees 50 to 75% of students want to work in sports and at a high level (85% of our webinar attendees do too). However, from the tens of thousands of graduates applying for jobs we estimate that 0.03% are equipped to work in that environment. So few people applying for jobs are work ready. In a nutshell the vocational skills gap is widening. Survey data from shows that ¾ of industry professionals see the widening, yet ¾ of academics think it’s closing. Something isn’t right if 50-75% of young people start their studies wanting to work in sports and performance, yet such a small percentage, less than 0.1%, are skilled. Universities are just not set up to develop the skill of working in sports and yet 90% of our webinar attendees expect universities to get them work ready. This issue has motivated me to write the letter to 15000, How to Support a Champion, but people are asking for more. We've had 2500 attendances on the webinar programme earlier in the year and it has motivated us to spend the summer developing the course. <
S1 E52 · Wed, September 25, 2019
045: Nick Grantham on developing self, consultancy and performance
Nick Grantham, performance enhancement specialist and consultant, is this week's guest. Nick and I go way back to the mid 1990s and have worked alongside each other in the sphere of sports performance. Nick has worked with a range of elite teams, netball, gymnastics, basketball, premiership football, downhill mountain biking to name a few. Nick is also a leading light in taking an active role in developing content and advice for aspiring professionals and we’ve been increasingly aware that we share this as a motivation and a driver. So it was a great conversation, where we found there was some real overlap in our thoughts and perspectives, but as expected when I speak to Nick I find my thoughts and perspectives developed even further. Show notes: Nick’s background, education, short lived rubbish career in banking, night school and university. Early career in Sport Science and the small community of like-minded people delivering applied work in the field. Having experienced a career in banking it gave Nick the determination to be tenacious in the pursuit of opportunities at university. Working at Lilleshall, gymnastic team, and the first strength and conditioning netball team role. Investment in the non-technical career skills, balancing work loads, management, income sources and side hustles Everybody is expendable and you will be replaced The reasons Nick left the English Institute of Sport The rewards of working with the general population and learning humility Consultancy and the balance of selling yourself and the development of confidence in his own abilities, experience and skillset. The motivation to write ‘You’re Hired’ Making personal connections Being comfortable with being a specialist generalist, having a depth of knowledge and being able to work with diversity and making an impact, but know when you need to refer out Career highlights The one thing to change: the Negatrons! Follow Nick online https://twitter.com/coachnickg https://www.instagram.com/zer0226/ http://nickgrantham.com/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Youre-Hired-Nick-Grantham-ebook/dp/B00MENQMEE Follow us on line Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportin
S1 E2 · Wed, September 11, 2019
044: Neil Chugani on leading as a coxswain, in sport governance and at Google
Neil Chugani was a coxswain and a good one too. He coxed the Oxford crew to success in the boat race in 1991, he was World Champion in the coxed pairs in 2001, where I met Neil for the first time as Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell went for the double, double, both the coxed pairs followed by coxless pairs world championship finals in the space of two hours – a story I feature in my book How to Support a Champion. Neil shares the insight behind successfully leading, coaching, supporting a crew from within a boat and offers some perceptive advice about the dynamics that he had to manage in a unique role where he is in it, he is involved but not pulling on an oar. Neil has also held a number of prominent leadership positions, at BBC, Sky Broadcasting, a board member of UK Sport, interim CEO of British Rowing, Steward at Henley Royal Regatta and currently Chief Financial officer for Google in Europe Middle East and Africa. So what Neil hasn’t experienced about leadership in sports and business is probably not worth knowing about. What you will hear and what particularly stood out from this interview though is the level of thought, intentionality and consideration that Neil demonstrated in his views and actions, I wonder if this has developed through the roles he has held and the experiences he has had, or whether the wisdom he carries is the reason he has led at the very top. Show notes The physical requirements of a coxswain, personal characteristics and waterman ship How do you learn to be a cox? Cox heart rates, decision making and keeping a cool calm head The Double-Double 2001 -managing Matthew Pinsent & James Cracknell and balancing the events Neil’s two careers, one in rowing and the second in finance ….. and technology Sporting applications into business for Neil are clarity of thought and, clarity of purpose and review of performance relative to intent The myriad of individual objectives in business makes it difficult to create alignment between people in business which differs from a sporting world Leadership roles in business and decision making Decision making at the board level, understanding the perspectives of others, diversity Management of decision making, balancing opportunities versus risk: focussing on the climate rather than the weather Henley Royal Regatta – changes reflecting the nature of the sport today, live streaming etc Self-belief: belief in your own potential If you want to follow Neil you can do so on Twitter and Instagram at https://twitter.com/neilchugani https://www.instagram.com/neilchugani Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingh
S1 E3 · Wed, August 28, 2019
043: Emma Hatton, West End star on sustaining performance
Emma Hatton star of the West End talks about her career, Emma has starred in some of the biggest musicals and lead roles, Scaramouche in We will Rock You, Elphaba in Wicked, Eva Peron in Evita and recently Grizabella in Cats. We discuss Emma’s origins as an athlete, the pull of performing on stage, the art form that Emma performs and how she does that, the persistence and knock backs, sustaining performance from a physical and mental perspective. I got in touch with Emma because I had an inkling that this world is extremely demanding and that Emma would be able to articulate that and I have to admit I found this interview utterly fascinating as Emma gave such rich insights into how she performs. Show notes: Emma’s origins as a long jumper, following her passion to study sport Not sure what next, take a year out to do something interesting and fun – London School of Musical Theatre The cost on personal relationships for Emma when aspiring for success in her career Honouring Emma’s previous marriage by being extra determined to succeed Early successes from Emma’s raw talent, feeling the music, learning to sing by listening to people The determinants of musical theatre and the importance of connecting with the music Pacing and sustaining performance to offset the cost of 8 shows each week The responsibility of the roles balanced by the context of a paramedic sister Portraying the characters appropriately Acclimatising to the pressure of performing on the West End Importance of social support Preparation and focusing on what you can control Coping with rejection Pressure of the big notes and the external pressure of holding a role Pressure to perform when you’re not physically or mentally 100% Getting into the right mindset for performing and the benefit of having a sporting background, doing what it takes to get the performance out Emma now supporting and championing others to learn from her insights If you want to follow Emma you can on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emmahatton1 Twitter at https://twitter.com/emmahatton1 https://www.emmahatton.com Emma’s music is of course on iTunes and Spotify Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for
S1 E4 · Wed, August 14, 2019
042: Jessica Ennis-Hill on becoming World and Olympic Champion
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill is triple World champion, Olympic champion, European Champion and British record holder in the heptathlon and World indoor champion in pentathlon. Perhaps more significantly Jess is an icon of British sport and global track and field athletics – as much for carrying the weight of expectations of a nation at the London Olympics in 2012. To give you an example a 4000m2 portrait of Jess was painted beside the Heathrow airport runway emblazoned with the message, welcome to our turf, that was the message that greeted every athlete, coach, official, reporter and spectator to the London Olympics Now I had the privilege of working with Jess from her Junior days all the way to her retirement and still work with her now, but this conversation was a chance to look back on the entirety of her career and recap, reflect and in some cases help each other remember aspects of the journey. So it was great to take a chance to take stock with Jess but it was equally a dose of what also makes jess uniquely Jess, what makes her so adored, revered and connected to people is her overwhelming sense of values, ego-less sensibility, grounded kindness, and personability. Show notes Life after retirement First GB selection at 15 and school sports day. School athletics and experimenting with events within the sport Changes in physiology after pregnancy A defining career moment and important lesson in approaching training… have no weaknesses The balance of endurance over power, the way in which Toni focussed the training towards Jess’s strengths The mental challenges within the heptathlon event. Mila, Jess’s dog, Jess talks about the impact of Mila and the distractions she brought 2007 Osaka, First World Championships, placed 4th. Excited and motivated to do her best A bank of confidence derived from hard training particularly in the 800m 2008, Götzis, a turning point in Jess’s career. Toni and Jess changed too much, and injury struck! Injury and the devastation of pulling out of competition and the ramifications of not being able to compete in the Olympics Team Jennis pulling together to get Jess back on track. Unloaded training in order to cope with injury and maintain fitness A change in training, sensible training and sensible recovery introducing new elements in order to allow the body to offload 2009 planning after injury, planning the comeback! The face of the Olympics- how did that happen…? The World Championships, Daegu, and a 2nd place. Happiness tinged with sadness, what do I need to do to win?! Career moments which show you ‘this isn’t going to be easy’ are beneficial but hard to take The 800m at the Olympics 2012 80,000 people watching at the start of the hurdles during the Olympics! Keeping the mind clutter free, best performances came when I was really happy A change in train
S1 E5 · Wed, July 31, 2019
041: Hannah Critchlow on the science of fate
This week’s guest is Dr Hannah Critchlow, cellular and molecular neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge. Hannah has recently released her new book the ‘science of fate’, exploring whether our genetic code determines our path or instead whether our genetic code acts as a start point from which we get to choose who we become. I grabbed 15 mins with Hannah between sessions at the Cheltenham Science Festival and we had interesting conversation that covered a lot, explored some interesting concepts, but in many ways hinted to a pivotal moment in time where the study of genetics is at a delicate cross-roads about how our new found understanding of the area is applied for the future of the human race. Show notes The concept of free will and what neuroscience tells us about how we’re formed New understanding of neuroscience and genetics asking us fundamental questions about who we are Neuroscience of resilience and the role of BDNF – Brain derived neurotrophic factor – helping nerve cells to flourish Characteristics are multi-factorial in nature yet many companies are now offering genetic screening Connection to gene doping in sport and the latest on managing the dial of gene expression The link to epigenetics and transfer of characteristics based on a stressor – a gap in our understanding! Neuroscience of well-being, what can be done? Exercise, foods, life long education, social connection What can we do to ensure we flourish? Expression and acts of compassion, practicing gratitude – develops a feeling of moral awe and have a profound effect on the mind and body! Follow Hannah on Twitter https://twitter.com/hancritchlow Buy her new book The Science of Fate https://www.hodder.co.uk/titles/hannah-critchlow/the-science-of-fate/9781473659285/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions
S1 E6 · Wed, July 17, 2019
040: Matt Dixon on customising training
Matt Dixon is a professional triathlon coach and founder of Purplepatch fitness. Matt is former professional triathlete and elite swimmer, now coach and has set up a highly successful performance training and coaching support business. Purple patch has a roster of numerous world class triathletes that Matt and his team of coaches have supported to hundreds of ironman and half ironman victories. But they also have a slogan of 'Performance Training for Time-Starved People' which is fascinating as a growing group of their clientele are executives searching for an outlet and a health and performance goal but clearly having to manage work, life and their sporting endeavours. Thanks to Andy Blow from Precision Hydration for putting me in touch with Matt. I caught up with Matt at his family home when I was speaking over in the US. Triathletes - performance driven people The intellectual challenge of triathlon How to do a triathlon poorly! The value of failing Work ethic Not allowed bottles on the pool deck… It’s great to work hard but in order to maintain balance you need to recover Why do we train? Drop weight, drop weight drop weight…poor behaviours My actions, my behaviours, my mistakes that proved fruitful Subjects like strength & conditioning, nutrition and recovery were only given lip service The barometer of success is more work The four primary subjects of consistency endurance component, nutrition, recovery and strength & conditioning as an educational. Recovery is part of the programme - the Recovery Coach Stressors - the components of recovery Stress, recovery & adaptation Supporting people that are ‘time starved’ How did Purple Patch start? I want to change the way endurance sports are coached The scaling problem - without diluting quality Set up your business with multiple oils wells Content marketing opens an environment of sharing globally The best coaches to have worked with are those which have an environment of sharing Elite and professional athletes unapologetically driving towards world class performance Amateur athletes to improve but not at the expense of the other areas of your life Purple Patch attract people that are time starved and high performers Redefining what it takes to be successful the classic sense for many coaches is to take a training programme and dump it on top of life We don’t start with the training programme we start with life The growth of executives searching for a sporting outlet A training programme cannot be just about the prescription of training Empowering athletes to make adjustments Prescription is the first act of coaching, but it’s the execution of the why that is imperative Purple Patch focus on triathletes but also globally performance drive
S1 E7 · Wed, July 03, 2019
039: Emma Ross on the female athlete and equality in performance cultures
Joining us this week on the Supporting Champions podcast is Head of Physiology at the English Institute of Sport (EIS), Dr. Emma Ross. I first met Emma at a scientific conference in 2009 and she blew me away with her ability to communicate and translate complex ideas and concepts. A few years later I appointed Emma as Head of Physiology at the EIS and after moving on from the system in 2016, I have kept a close eye on how people and schemes of work progress, develop and grow. This is exactly what Emma has done, particularly in her work on an essential project around the female athlete. In this conversation you will hear about several concepts around the female athlete and obvious discussions around things such as the menstrual cycles, taboo, equality, ethics and positive/negative behaviours that can enrich or erode cultures in different directions. Inevitably we discussed some potential implications and applications of support both inside and outside of sport. Show notes Steve and Emma begin by exploring Emma’s background growing up, her journey in sport as a keen rugby player and endurance runner and the role she currently holds at the EIS. After becoming a mother and embarking on the female athlete project at the EIS, Emma has spent a lot of time reflecting on the support she received from her parents growing up and the influence that has had on her work in academia and sport. Get out and speak out loud – one of Emma’s top pieces of advices for any aspiring sport scientist. Growing up, Emma spent a lot of time in debating groups and acknowledges this accelerating the skills required to lead and influence people. Steve and Emma begin to explore Emma’s PhD research on monitoring the mechanisms of fatigue during physical activity via transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques. After transitioning from PhD studies and academia into her role at the EIS as Head of Physiologist, Emma discusses some of the challenges and lessons learnt from this period. Steve asks Emma to share some of the origins, background, data and insights on the female athlete campaign and how this is now optimising the support of the female athlete within the system. Emma discusses some of the behaviours that can enrich or erode the ability to optimise female athlete support, particularly around the importance of role models, removing taboo and ridding cultures of silence, secrecy and judgment. Emma extends on the importance of female role models and diversifying the workforce in sport and beyond in order to optimise and innovate. Emma expands more on how she now shares her role with another female leader within the EIS so that she can sustainably support and develop her family and career. Steve rounds off the discussion by asking Emma what her top tips would be for sport and business leaders to better embrace females in the workforce and as leaders. Follow Emma on Twitter https://twitter.co
S1 E8 · Wed, June 19, 2019
038: Tom Waller on the science of feel to optimise performance
In this week’s episode I am joined by Dr. Tom Waller (Senior Vice President Whitespace, Innovation and R&D at lululemon athletica). After completing his PhD at Loughborough University in sports technologies, where I first met Tom, he went on to work at Progressive Sports Technologies and onto Speedo as Head of Aqualab at a time where skinsuits were at their peak at having an impact on world record swimming times. Now at lululemon athletica, Tom heads up a team of innovators and experts inventing their products. Tom shares his philosophies on innovation, how critical it is to engage with user needs, the importance of lateral thinking and what the future might bring with the science of feel. Show Notes Steve and Tom begin by discussing the origins of lululemon’s name before delving into Tom’s background and his journey with Progressive Sports Technologies, Speedo and lululemon. Steve enquiries about Tom’s experiences of being mentored by Professor Mike Caine throughout his PhD at Loughborough University. Tom discusses the importance of being purpose driven, lateral thinking and connecting diverse dots in generating new innovation and perspective in a radically changing world. Steve asks how Tom brings technological innovation in lululemon’s products to the mass market. In particular he expands on the differences between meaning and association with a product. Tom expands on lululemon’s concept ‘the science of feel’, how we require different ‘feels’ in different contexts to perform optimally and gives us an example with the sports bra. The importance of feel as a sensory feedback source for athletes to optimise performance. The science of feel was an idea conceptualised by LuLuLemon to help manage the dialogue between body and mind. Tom offers more insight into the culture at lululemon – they’re a team of entrepreneurs who have a strong collective and individual alignment on purpose, vision and goals. Steve asks Tom, what is next? Follow Dr. Tom Waller online Connect with Tom on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommwaller Visit LuLuLemon here www.lululemon.co.uk/ www.lululemon.com Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampi
S1 E9 · Wed, June 05, 2019
037: Nick Matthew on becoming world squash champion
Nick Matthew is three-time British and three-time World squash champion, as well as being two-time Commonwealth champion and former world number one. In this discussion we explore Nick’s early rise into the sport, particularly the breakthroughs he made through grit and perseverance. We also delve into his insights from finding his ‘super strength’ with the help of Mark Bawden and how he could apply them against his opponents. From the discussion you will also get a sense of the importance of Nick’s support team and the gratitude he shows towards them, none more so than his wife Esme. Show Notes Nick and Steve meet down at Hallamshire Squash Club in Sheffield and begin by discussing his squash academy and post-career squash training and competition levels. The conversation moves onto the preparation required to meet the demands of elite level squash. Nick wishes he was able to identify and develop ‘super strengths’ earlier on his career. In 2008, whilst overcoming injury and working with sport psychologist Mark Bawden, he was able to do this after plateauing in the top ten in the world. At the age of 19, Nick changed coaches and went back to basics, learning some fundamental technical skills despite being at the top of his game at a youth level on the national and international stage. Nick highlights the importance of not seeking the magic fix. He gives insight into the confidence he gleamed from the results he began to obtain, the process he was focusing on and the plateau’s and learning curves he faced that accelerated his learning and ranking. Nick expands on how he used his super strength, his physical abilities and work ethic, to his advantage on the court versus many different styles of play. He details the training regime required to deliver this intense physical style of play. Steve and Nick explore his breakthrough into the world top ten, focusing on some of the strategies he used to get there. Steve then asks Nick about some of the key challenges and rivalries he faced during this period. In 2010, Nick became world number one. He shares his experiences and insights with Steve from sustaining performance in this position, including overcoming knee surgery 5 weeks prior to winning Commonwealth gold. Nick shows immense gratitude for his wife and the support staff in the English system. Steve and Nick round off the conversation by gaining perspective on Nick’s career and discussing the current state of play in squash, the Olympics and future plans. Follow Nick Matthew on Twitter https://twitter.com/nickmatthew Visit Nick's website here http://www.nickmatthew.co.uk/ Tune in to Nick's podcast here https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holding-court-the-squash-cast-with-nick-matthew/id1439788051 Supporting Champions on Twitter <a href='http://www.twit
S1 E10 · Wed, May 22, 2019
036: Gareth Sandford on working with the world’s best coaches
This week we are joined by Gareth Sandford, exercise physiologist at the Canadian Sports Institute. Gareth is just starting his post-doctoral studies and so in many ways you could say he is at the beginning of his career, having just wrapped up his PhD in New Zealand, but he certainly has some incredible insights to share! Yes, this story is one of studying hard, but the reason why I wanted to talk to Gareth was due to his ability to demonstrate enormous persistence in finding opportunities, creating buy-in and taking leaps of faith. Interestingly, his PhD project has allowed him to carve out a niche in high performance after travelling around the world to work with some of the world’s best running coaches and athletes. Show Notes Gareth begins by discussing the early experiences he had in carving out placement opportunities, internships and highlights the importance of persistence, mentoring, curiosity and realising the current state of the sport science job market. Gareth shares the lessons learnt from this foundational period in his career. His early experiences at Chelsea F.C. with Nick Broad accelerated his ability to problem solve and answer performance questions with impact. He also moved into coaching and discusses the skills learnt here. After completing an MSc in physiology at Loughborough University, Gareth encountered some setback in the pursuit of landing a role. As a result, he took some time out to travel and work in India, gaining new found outlooks on life and performance. Gareth begins to discuss his PhD research into the determinants of anaerobic speed reserve in middle distance running. He explains the background and role of the New Zealand institute of sport, how he drove impact and the key findings and applications from the project. Gareth shares some of the challenges posed in data collection in New Zealand and details how he broke away into other countries through collaborating with other coaches, developing rapport, momentum and buy in with a global community. Steve asks Gareth to draw on some of the key principles and stats from engaging with a performance community during his PhD project, all of which share a common cause and problem but in very different environments spread across the globe Follow Gareth Sandford on Twitter https://twitter.com/Gareth_Sandford Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to
S1 E11 · Wed, May 08, 2019
035: Trent Stellingwerff on nutrition and leadership
Trent Stellingwerff, sports nutritionist is this week's guest. Trent and Steve first met as coaches in Valencia at the 2008 World Indoor Championships and he has since had a glittering career in the sport and exercise sciences. Trent now currently works at the Canadian Sports Institute, leading the track and field nutrition support team and is also the institute’s lead for innovation and research. Trent is undoubtedly one of the leading applied performance practitioners in the world, not only for his technical knowledge and skill but also the holistic manner in which he operates. Steve and Trent begin by exploring their coaching backgrounds and Trent’s relationship with his wife, Hillary, a Canadian track and field middle distance runner. Trent emphasises the importance of variability in one’s life and career. Steve and Trent then explore the generalist vs specialist debate, gaining breadth and depth and how Trent has maintained his specialist knowledge across his career. Trent explores the concept of tacit knowledge and goes on to offer advice for young practitioners. He also begins to explore the variability of training, systematic overloads and the importance of the psychological and social journey. Trent offers insight into sport science’s state of play in Canada. He covers points around pseudoscience, barriers to entry, demonstrating impact, measuring energy expenditure/intake and relative energy deficiency syndrome. Steve and Trent highlight the importance of emotion and cultural identity on eating behaviour before examining some dietary trends. Trent offer lessons learnt from his career to date. These include being more measured, understanding context, minimising noise, holding himself accountable to the highest standards and driving impact in research and applied work. Lastly, Steve asks Trent what is next? Follow Trent on Twitter https://twitter.com/TStellingwerff Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at <a href='https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/'
S1 E12 · Wed, April 24, 2019
034: Steve Ingham on developing performance people
Podcast 034 Show Notes – Performance People In this week’s episode, Steve takes the reins on his own as he shares some perspectives about developing the next generation of performance people. Over the last few years Supporting Champions have been applying the lessons learnt in elite sport into other sports, business and education and one of the areas we keep observing/hearing about is the lack of skilled graduates. People and team development has therefore been a major area of work for us and has been for Steve throughout his time at the British Olympic Association and the English Institute of Sport. A significant shift toward this began post-Beijing, focusing not only developing the performance of athletes but that too of the team behind the team. This podcast will focus on these ideas, distilling advice for people in three key early career phases; during study, transitioning out of university and attempting to land a job and after just securing a role. Show Notes Steve starts by sharing the “ Letter to the 15,000” blog he first published in 2015 which has been read over 300,000 times across the world. The blog highlights the ever-growing concentrated graduate pool and the gaps between the education system and the workplace. Here, Steve offers advice and practical tips to those who are currently studying and preparing for life after university. Steve starts to explore the transition out of university into the workplace and the hurdles people encounter when applying for jobs, managing online presence, differentiating self from others and the importance of work and personal experience. So you have got the job? Now what? Steve talks about the chaotic start you will face whilst immersing yourself into your new role and environment. He emphasises the requirements of having to skill up quickly, find role clarity, broaden your network and all of this whilst still being incredibly effective under pressure. Steve highlights the startling facts behind the university-employment gap widening. and urges you to take action, ownership and responsibility of your career. The world of work is messy, ambiguous, fast moving and pressured. Find out how we can help you prime your knowledge in this area and get started. Steve's book How to Support a Champion. https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Support-Champion-applying-science/dp/0995464359/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram <a h
S1 E13 · Wed, April 10, 2019
033: Antony Jinman, Polar Explorer on expeditions with purpose
This week’s guest is polar explorer Antony Jinman, a former naval officer and mountain leader. Antony was the 12th Briton to ski to both the geographic north and south pole. In this interview Antony shares the ups and downs of his career, in particular coping and managing with depression. He shares with us some of the demands of designing, funding and managing an expedition off set against actually doing the training for it too. But if there is one message that comes through loud and clear in this podcast – it is purpose. Antony is completely aligned to why he does these adventures, what he is connected to, who he is connected to and the reason he does what he does. Show Notes Steve and Antony begin by exploring Antony’s background and his early interest in nature and exploration. After school, Antony embarked on a career as a Naval officer and shares the moment he realised naval life wasn’t for him, opening up about his experiences of coping and managing depression. Antony shares some of the lessons he learnt from this difficult period and the Navy, including the importance of routines and self-care practices. So what next after the Navy? Antony started working for Explore Worldwide in Europe, Scandinavia, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Here he found a passion for travel, learning and people whilst also gaining appropriate expedition qualifications and developing his own school outreach programmes. Antony begins to explain some of the demands of designing, funding and managing an expedition. It is clear his purpose for completing these expeditions is to inspire, connect and educate others, particularly children in schools. Antony delves further into the management of expeditions and shares some of the ways he divides his time across physical training and preparing logistically. Steve asks Antony, what is it like executing an expedition? What does a day look like on a polar expedition? Antony shares the sense of wonder, peace, overwhelming success and of dreams come true when he lands at the poles. Antony now dreams of connecting professions into schools and the wider community in order to educate, connect and inspire others through his enterprise at www.liketobe.org Antony is also planning a trip to the Alps and Antarctica for the 6th time in the next few years alongside some other secret plans! He also shares the potential and opportunity in future expeditions and some of the environmental challenges he may face there. Follow Anthony online Follow Anthony on Twitter https://twitter.com/polaraj Visit Anthony's website https://www.antonyjinman.com https://www.antonyjinman.com Follow LikeToBe Online https://www.liketobe.org Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.tw
S1 E14 · Wed, March 27, 2019
032: Joe Eisenmann on long term athlete development
Joe Eisenmann joins me on the Supporting Champions podcast this week as we explore the area of long-term athletic development. We discuss his background in physiology, academia and applied practice and start off by discussing some of the fundamental principles of pedagogy and how important that is in academic and practical pursuits. We then delve into some of the research Joe has conducted on lifestyle and health related behaviours and how they relate to markers of physical activity and long-term athlete development, exploring ideas on training regimes, parental inputs and the pressures they are under. It is clear that Joe adopts a holistic, critical thinking approach to help people develop and sustain health and performance across youth and adult life. I very much enjoyed the conversation with Joe as he understands many of the dynamics involved with working in sport, such as being a specialist vs generalist, but it is the centre piece of what he does and being mindful of the development of other humans that I enjoyed most. Show Notes Steve and Joe start off by discussing the management of knowledge. Specifically, the translation and implementation of knowledge to ensure academic and practical impact Steve starts to explore Joe’s journey and his experiences in the field of athlete development. But in particular a focus on Joe’s time studying and working in Carnegie 1 academic institutions, USA Football and in consultancy. Joe shares his passion for youth sport but tells Steve about the moment he realised his focus would have to shift to health and disease related research - where research funding was being provided. Joe parts with some of the major insights from his period of study into physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, stress and genetics. Joe then highlights the overlapping concepts from this research and how there is overlap with long term athletic development. Steve and Joe then discuss how Joe supports athletes holistically. He stresses the importance of psychosocial development and the challenges associated with working as a unit with parents, coaches and athletes. Steve and Joe chat about doing the fundamentals of performance really well, silver bullet approaches, the specialist vs generalist concept and the important skills required to work in sport. Joe shares a concept he likes to talk about called ‘the living lab’ and how we collect, process, implement and review information and action. Steve and Joe then unpack the importance of relational and environmental concepts in developing talent. Joe emphasises the importance of coach education, the coach as a delivery system and the importance of pedagogy no matter the environmental conditions. They are leaders at the centre of an athlete’s sporting experience. Joe asks all of us, what is your quality of life? He believes this should be one of the most important metrics in life. A good exercise Joe su
S1 E15 · Wed, March 13, 2019
031: Louise Minchin from the BBC Breakfast Sofa to GB Team Triathlete
BBC Breakfast's Louise Minchin on performing in broadcasting and as an age group triathlete for team GB. Louise is a journalist and former radio presenter and is best known as the anchor on BBC1's Breakfast programme - a unique job that welcomes the day in for many people. However, you may not know that Louise has had a sharp rise into competing for Great Britain in the age group Olympic distance triathlon. In this interview Louise shares with us the spark that started this recent foray into competitive sport, how she prepares in training, how she fits this around a demanding day job, how she copes with the contrast of pressure of competing in a swim, bike, run versus the pressure of performing to millions of people every day on camera. Finally, we also discuss her new book "Dare to Tri" which has been written to encourage people to do exactly that and give something a go. Show Notes Steve asks Louise that obvious question…What time does she go to sleep and get up?! She then gives us an insight into the discipline required to implement routines and habits to optimise sleep. Louise tells Steve about what sparked her return to exercise and sport and the need for a space in her life that was hers alone amidst incredible attentional demands at work on the big red sofa. Steve asks Louise to unpack the incredible demand she performs under in her role as a BBC news presenter. Louise then shares how she has habituated to nerves and some of the skills she has acquired in order to perform in triathlon and in front of 6 million people every day. But that doesn’t stop her getting ridiculously nervous at the beginning of a race! In 2012, Louise joined BBC Breakfast and with the help of fellow presenter Bill Turnbull, a velodrome and some endorphins, the spark to return to competitive sport was provided. Louise tells Steve about her athletic background and in particular her participation in swimming as youngster. Despite her love for the sport, Louise quit because of her perception of having a muscular body image. As a 50-year-old woman to be strong, muscular and to feel incredible as a result of training, is something Louise is now very proud of. Steve asks Louise about her book “Dare to Tri” and then asks when was the moment she started to realise she had true ability as an athlete? Steve and Louise then explore some of the significant moments Louise has acknowledged as particular experiences that have allowed her to develop resilience and confidence as a performing triathlete and the empowerment this brings. In her book, Louise states the importance of breathing and…jellyfish, when preparing for performance. Louise shares with us her current level of training, what she is working towards next and delves into her past competitive experiences and the role of her coach, Claire. Louise embraces the sense of community, taking part without dwelling on success and the fe
S1 E16 · Wed, February 27, 2019
030: Katelyn Ohashi on finding joy in gymnastics
030: Katelyn Ohashi on finding joy in gymnastics In this episode I talk to Katelyn Ohashi about that viral routine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ic7RNS4Dfo Katelyn shares here journey through gymnastics Body shaming Writing and poetry Advice for my daughter Finding joy once again with Miss Val The details of her routine and what it meant to her. Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
S1 E17 · Wed, February 20, 2019
029: Miss Val on coaching a positive culture in gymnastics
In Part 1 of this Podcast Special we have Head Coach of UCLA Gymnastics and orchestrator of THAT viral gymnastics' routine by Katelyn Ohashi, Miss Val Kondos Field. Miss Val and I discussed; how she was a ballerina originally but transitioned into coaching in gymnastics, the culture of gymnastics in the United States and how it has gone rotten, we unpacked her philosophies that have been galvanised by real life experiences such as her battle with cancer, her book "Life is Short Don't Wait To Dance" and of course we spoke about Katelyn Ohashi's unbelievable routine. Next week, Katelyn herself will join us on the podcast. Miss Val had a long and successful career in ballet. She studied classical ballet and piano for 17 years. Her first transition into gymnastics came by first becoming hired to play piano for floor routines before moving into coaching. Miss Val sees her job much more as a life skills coach, a mentor than a coach. Coaching is all about motivating change, not dictating change. Coaching from the ego takes the joy out of learning. Miss Val explains her philosophy, her faith and values and how she believes gymnastics teaches discipline like no other sport. Using success in sport as a platform to spread a message with impact. Example of the voice that Michael Phelps has now in spreading message about depression. Miss Val discusses the role of her parents and in particular being brought up without a fear of failure, how this now influences her coaching style and successes. Initially Miss Val quickly made some lessons in coaching after some mistakes and losses. The importance of a shared philosophical base with her athletes and fellow staff. One of Miss Val's lessons in leadership is to surround yourself with people that you trust, rid your ego and when the time is right, allow your team to act and take charge with freedom. Gymnastics is in recovery and Miss Val states the need to educate coaches and parents Miss Val speaks of the abuse cases in US gymnastics and offers some of the issues within the US culture and systems. Miss Val's reports that UCLA alumni all reported that they are stripped of a voice, made into robots and verbally and physically abused. "The after" - athletes report that after you are no longer able to win medals and money, you are forgotten about and no longer valued as people or as athletes. Miss Val discusses the conversations she has had with senior figures in changing American culture, not just sport and gymnastics. Active listening, high performance habits and getting out of the desert so that you can better serve other people. Gratitude is a critical component to UCLA's gymnastic success and is engrained into their daily practice. Life is an adventure that requires you to learn, adapt and move fast Miss Val shares with us the moment she was told she had an aggressive form of breast canc
S1 E18 · Wed, February 06, 2019
028: Helen Jenkins on the highs and lows in triathlon
Helen Jenkins is a two time World Triathlon Champion. In this interview Helen begins by discussing motherhood, her early career and the importance of early career influences such as the legendary coach Chris Jones and world champion Leanda Cave. We delve into her peak performance in San Diego, where Helen produced one of the most dominant triathlon performances in the last few decades, crushing a truly world class field. It is here where she shares the exhilaration of winning the ITU World Triathlon Series in 2008 and 2011. But then things started to unravel as she experienced knee and most significantly, a back injury in the lead up to London 2012. Managing this, Helen explores how she was thinking before, during and after the 2012 attempt that ultimately didn’t go her way. It was truly uplifting to hear how Helen reconciled this, to make sense of her amazing achievements and to think about her bigger purpose in life. Show Notes Helen starts by reflecting over the last 12 months. She has experienced some gargantuan changes – having a baby and back surgery in the same year. Steve and Helen explore how Helen made adaptations to training during and after her pregnancy. Shortly after pregnancy, Helen had to make further adaptations after back surgery. 9:30 – Helen’s back injury has been her major limiting factor since 2011. This has resulted in challenges to lifestyle and performance. Helen discusses her early career experiences in swimming, important influences, the transition she made into triathlon and early successes. A big turning point in Helen’s career was training in Australia with the likes of Chris Jones, Leanda Cave and other world class athletes. Finding out what it takes to be the best. World level success soon followed. Helen discusses the components of her success, finding consistency and her peak performances in 2011 to 2012. Notably, becoming world champion in 2008 and 2011. San Diego in 2011 was one of Helen’s best performances across her career. A week after her peak performance in San Diego, injuries to the knee and back surfaced and the fight to get to London 2012 began. Helen didn’t train for 2-3 weeks prior to London 2012 and was amazed she was able to stand at the start line. The day before the race she could not run. Helen finished 5th at London 2012 in an incredible achievement. She found this tough to deal with initially but after reflecting on the experience, this is the race she is most proud of in her career. Helen had a large period off to recover, reflect and explore the issues surrounding her back injury with specialists. Helen dug deep to reflect and refocus. The difficulty Helen has in having to train less but smarter in order to achieve performance. Helen found it tough to be upbeat for herself and her stakeholders when the injuries have taken its toll on her. Steve and Helen discuss how the coach-athl
S1 E19 · Wed, January 23, 2019
027: Brad Dieter on effective consulting
Brad is a trained Exercise Physiologist, Molecular Biologist, and Biostatistician, but wasn’t in these specialist topics that the insights started to flow in the interview, it was much more about how we live, work, day-to-day performance habits, parallels and allegories from the world of human function and human performance that we ended up exploring. One key area though really emerged and that was the concept of consulting, and how Brad set up his consultancy, and working with others, Brad shares his insights of focusing on quality work, empowering others in what I thought was a flawless, thoughtful, diligent almost calm way work with people for whom he can provide a solution! It was a fascinating discussion, so thank you Dylan. We started off by chatting about why he and his dog were up so early in the morning. In this show we discuss: - Brad's background in biomechanics, molecular physiology and epidemiology. - The parallels between human functioning and performance. - Starting and growing a consultancy/portfolio career. - The mindset and habits required to succeed in personal and professional domains. Show Notes Focus, sleep and high-performance habits. Overview of Brad’s journey into high performance and biomechanics, molecular physiology and epidemiology. Brad now heads research and development for a number of consultancy firms that he co-own’s. In his early career, Brad purposely sought opportunities that would develop metacognition, skill acquisition and networked with different people in different industries to develop his ability to solve performance problems. Understanding concepts from human functioning. Transferring and applying the fundamental processes of these into performance domains. Brad’s observation of highly successful people: they spend a lot more time asking questions than proposing solutions. Navigating some of the difficulties in life as a consultant - selling uncertainty to people. Communicating clarity is key. We are trying to solve this problem once! Empowering performers through education so that they can become problem solvers for the rest of their career in sport or business. Building and managing a portfolio career. Relationships, work ethic and a growth mindset at the core. Operating from a stable base and growing from that. Networking with a curious, inquisitive mind with the goal of meeting people with similar aspirations and values. Self-awareness and empathic qualities have been central to Brad’s performance and connecting with others as well has having good people around him. Work ethic, balancing work and family life. Brad discusses building assets, referring to relationships, companies, skill sets, knowledge, anything that gives you more value down the road. Working with the pulse of operating from a place that enables you to do what you want to do rather than what you have to do. This requires a lo
S1 E20 · Wed, January 09, 2019
026: Dame Katherine Grainger on persistence and resilience
Katherine is Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympic athlete. She won medals at 5 consecutive Olympic games in Sydney (2000), Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), London (2012) and Rio de Janeiro (2016), culminating in gold at our very own home games and a recording breaking fifth medal in Rio. To top off an incredible year, Dame Katherine Grainger was honoured in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List for her services to rowing and charity. Soon after Katherine was appointed Chair of UK Sport. In this interview we reflect upon Katherine’s rowing career and as ever, she is extremely humble, perceptive, honest, thoughtful, driven and resilient. We hope you enjoy the show! Show noes Reflecting on the moments before the Sydney Olympic final and the physical and mental preparation Katherine adopted on final’s day. Exploring Katherine’s transition into senior professional sport and senior training as a rower, an incredibly draining period both physically and emotionally. Also having to transition with professional coaching and sports science support with new lottery funding. As a youngster Katherine became a sponge when around others, trying to soak up as much experience and wisdom from anybody around her. Thrown into an unrelentingly physical training programme. Sink or swim moments. The goal to make the podium at the Sydney Olympic games. Any medal would have been deemed a huge success, but the silver might be nice! The benefits of learning from inspirational others such as Steve Redgrave and co. Surround yourself with others who share your dreams. Intimidating your opponent. Beating them before you get on the start line. 3 consecutive World Championship successes in the 4 year lead up to Beijing. Knowing what it takes to win. Losing to the Chinese and not achieving gold in Beijing was a huge disappointment. Responding to the big emotional lull after the disappointment in Beijing. Reflecting on the intensity of the battle, Katherine reflects on the hugely valuable ability to relax in chaos. London 2012. Gold medal winners. Katherine had an amazing partnership with Anna Watkins as a double. It was an immense privilege for Katherine to have taken part in front of a home games crowd, particularly at the peak of her career. Being a part of an amazing team at Team GB. Everyone matters, sharing experiences and the huge highs and lows of this level of involvement. Katherine reflects back on the important others that have played a part in her career and her love for being a part of a team. Katherine would tell her younger self to enjoy and persist with your own journey wherever that takes you. Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve<
S1 E21 · Wed, December 19, 2018
025: Highlights of 2018 podcasts
I take a look back at some of the highlights from the last year of interviews and discussions about high performance. The show is grouped into 5 common themes across all of the episodes: early career experiences and getting started, working with others, embracing change, thriving and looking at the bigger picture in life and leadership. Show Notes Get Started Emilie Thienot from Ep #5 on getting experience, creating opportunities and breakthrough. David Fletcher from Ep #6 on internships, studying and applied practice Jamie Pringle from Ep #19 on understanding the context of what, where, and who you're working with. Lucy Balfour from Ep #13 about her passion for pursuing her dreams in the performing arts and developing resilience. Working with Others Adam Conlon from Ep #15 on working as the first response team in disaster zones, getting face to face with people and developing trust, empathy and rapport. Harvey Galvin from Ep #20 about getting out of your own narrative, listening to what other people need and asking questions before offering your own predetermined solution. Liz Stokoe from Ep #12 about conflict, the importance of choice of language and how to negotiate with people. Toni Minichiello from Ep #10 on how critical it is to add value with your work for performance improvement. Rosie Mayes from Ep #22 discusses the future of leadership and the necessity of individualising and understanding relationships. Thriving 16:01 - Barry Fudge from Ep #16 on keeping your nerve in volatile, complex and fast-moving environments. Others will look to leaders to role model behaviours in these environments. Emilie Thienot from Ep #5 on how important self-awareness is in understanding how we respond and react in positive and negative situations. Rosie Mayes from Ep #22 discusses the principles of stress adaptation in sport to failing fast and learning in business. Jo Meek from Ep #11 about anticipating the problems ahead of time and having a pre-planned response so that performance sustains. Adam Conlon from Ep #15 discusses performing and training under pressure, being calm in chaos and performing with lives on the line in the army. Working with Change Tim Harper from Ep #24 on building performance capacity, ridding the ego and switching our thinking away from more is better. Tess Morris Paterson from Ep #21 on how she decided on moving away from elite sport and creating change toward a career in space exploration. Steve Ingham from Ep #22 about the similarity between physical and mental effort preceding the adaptive response to improve. Yann Le Meur from Ep #9 on the importance of relationships, work ethic and challenging yourself. Big Picture 30:40 - Harvey Galvin from Ep #20 about reflecting, staying grounded and reframing what it is to have a good day. Chrissie Wellington
S1 E22 · Wed, December 05, 2018
024: Tim Harper from Saracens to Sub-Sahara, fiercely championing the underdog
This week Tim Harper from Harper Performance joins us to discuss moving out of elite performance support in the UK to create unique, locally driven solutions to performance problems in disadvantaged communities across the world. Tim and his social enterprise are on a mission to give sport back some of its purer spirit, to diversify thinking about preparation and performance and to fiercely champion the underdog. A short introduction to Tim Harper's career pathway in professional sport and Harper Performance - a social enterprise aiming to provide performance support services to disadvantaged populations. Exploring the catalyst's that led Tim to change his career focus, mindset and the desire to find a path that had real purpose and meaning. Sport as a microcosm of society. Not being happy with the values of sport and what it represents and wanting to challenge and change its platform for societal change. Tim's experiences in professional rugby union in the UK and Africa as a practitioner led to a questioning of: is sport the be all and end all? Why isn't it making more of a difference? Tim went back to the drawing board. Networking and educating himself on the origins of elite performance support, its systems and processes. The birthplace of HarperPerformance came from observing environments within the developing nations of Africa. Finding that performance support is missing in the developing world but the athletes and (some) facilities are in place. Africa has the capacity to produce good athletes consistently, however, doesn't seem to have the capacity to take good athletes to great athletes. Taking solutions from the UK to Africa isn't simple. Context is key. How do we take our knowledge and skill and deliver in a locally driven way? Sports development strands: mass participation and sports performance development. Exploring the risks and pitfalls of sustainability, systems and culture. Developing relationships with locals to develop long term sustainability. Ridding the ego to collaborate and find solutions. Innovation and diversity is a driving force for HP in response to a monopoly and uniformity in a small number of approaches. Finding new ways of improving performance. Instead of throwing new and more resource at performance issues, HP phase progress with what resource developing nations currently hold in order to sustain it long term. In response to food availability and eating times, sports nutrition has been a huge area for development and scope in Africa. The evolution of Harper Performance since its inception. Now operating in a more focused and impactful manner on The KANJU Project in Africa. The dream outcome for HP is to develop capacity, sustainability and to evidence a positive outcome. Ultimately, coming back to see these environments in the future and learning from them to take lessons back to the UK. Vision for H
S1 E23 · Wed, November 21, 2018
023: Steve discusses sustaining high performance with Jamie Pringle and Rosie Mayes
Sustaining high performance: Steve Ingham is joined once again by Jamie Pringle from the Performance Science Distillery and Rosie Mayes from the EB Centre. So sustaining performance – this is an interesting one. The discussion this week covers a series of tensions we come across in order to sustain performance, both as athletes and as support staff. Yes, we all want to achieve something and do well, but if it’s a bit of flash in the pan then there’s a chance that there will be a void behind it. That’s accepting that anything we ever do in aspiring for something that’s just outside our reach, will have its ups and downs, it will need us to stay open minded yet aware of what is essential, as you age, as competition changes and priorities change. This discussion is just as rich as all the other panel discussions, this one’s got some tangibles, but its also got some deep and challenging philosophy about how we perform, engage with others and the very concept of maintaining excellence over the longer-term arc of life. Show Notes Investing time and effort into physical and psychological attributes for many years E.g. Roger Federer and David Beckham. Different stages of a performer’s physical journey Understanding of self and identity vital for management of physical training and step change. Learning at the razor’s edge. Thinking outside of the box and exploring environments to find more ways to achieve performance. In the high-performance world, how can we align curiosity to purpose to generate outcome? How mindset and culture can prevent curiosity. Harnessing the power of collective intelligence to help coaches and athletes make better decisions. Making the complex, simple and adopting an interdisciplinary mindset. Technical knowledge and skills will not get you far in performance environments without the personal skills required to deliver the knowledge and help people find answers. Reflections on exploration, open-mindedness and identity across the lifespan. The importance of role models in inspiring others and developing positive talent development environments. The power of structure, debriefing and creating and sustaining high performance habits. Understanding the performer and helping them tap into this awareness to unlock potential. Meeting performance indicators, funding and talent development. Curiosity and context is key. Where am I on my journey and what is now relevant, what is now required for me to improve? Go out and explore, generate opportunities for learning and reflection. To follow the panellists on Twitter: @RosieMayes49 @JamiePringle Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, <a href='
S1 E24 · Wed, November 07, 2018
022: Steve Ingham, Jamie Pringle, Rosie Mayes discuss stress adaptation
Steve discusses the essential concept of stress - adaptation with Jamie Pringle, Rosie Mayes. We explore what a stimulus is and does and the factors that determine the effectiveness of a stimulus. We discuss the experiences and environments that mitigate any adaptive responses, exploring the concepts of individualisation and group responses from a physical and cognitive performance perspective and then broaden that application to work and business and the very concept of progression, the achievement of mastery. Show Notes An introduction to Hans Selye's seminal work on the systemic hormonal responses to stress and how the human body and mind responds under duress. Positive and negative stressors and responses. No pain no gain…pushing into an area of discomfort or pain to allow development and adaptation. Dr Mary Neville sprint adaptation and 12 leg biopsies! Stress adaptations are complex to interpret. Adaptations occur as a result of a variety of interacting dynamics across our individual experiences. Do we adapt and improve without some form of stressor? Fight or flight response, Walter Cannon Does it always have to be a stressor? Appreciative enquiry, the reinforcement of the positives Minimum effective dosing. What are the core pieces in your training that are giving you 80-90% of your adaptation both physically and mentally? The subjective experience of enduring a stressor. Knowing yourself, others and the concept of time throughout the stress adaptation and recovery process. The role of the coach and scientist enabling the athlete to know what is going on in their mind and body in a way that is helpful for them. Coach - Athlete relationship key. Carol Dweck's, growth vs fixed mindsets and the stubbornness of self-efficacy. Knowing your capabilities, boundaries and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Variety is key in developing an adaptation. Monotony and familiarity can prevent or slow adaptation. Explore and find your own method. Fail fast and learn quick. An environment to allow failure and learning important for creativity and innovation in sport and business. Ability to perform under pressurised conditions develops and acclimatises your skillset, resulting in increased skill development. No one's fitter at the end of a marathon! Failure and suppression of the system from which adaptation occurs Learning and the state of flow. Being immersed, focused and recovery. Immersion, incubation and inspiration. Discussion on the mind-body relationship and the role of feedback in adaptation, self-regulation and performance. The business world is great at stressing but less so at recovering. Moving the body can move the brain. Shifting from an idle physical and mental state into an active physical state can alter brain functioning (Forgetting and doorway research, https://link.springer.com/co
S1 E25 · Wed, October 24, 2018
021: Tess Morris-Paterson on astronaut training
This week’s interview is with Tess Morris-Paterson. Tess was a sports scientist with Lucozade Sport, then at the Glaxo Smith Kline Human performance laboratory. Then about 18 months ago, she began to think about a new goal, one of becoming an astronaut. In the interview Tess talks about the deep reflection and questions about self and identity that led to the decision to understand more about what it entailed, how she traverses risk through understanding the demands with meticulous detail and planning, but critically moving to action and applying herself and finding there is more in her and the critical roles that mentors have played along the journey. It was fascinating to hear how she faces down the incredible severity of the risks of being in outer space balanced against lofty goal of getting to the international space station, living on a lunar base or even a mission to Mars. Show notes Applying sports physiology, strength & conditioning and nutrition in a variety of elite high-performance sports. Early career experiences at Lucozade Sport and working in professional football for five years before goal posts started to shift. Explores the benefits and risks of taking a non-paid work opportunity with Tom Reilly at Liverpool John Moore’s University and the personal and professional qualities required to make this time successful. An aspiring helicopter pilot and officer in training whilst at university. Networking and getting applied experience whilst at university is vital. Gender, being female and working in football. Developing and sustaining relationships by identifying what makes each person tick is fundamental to being effective in a role whilst working in professional football. A journey of self-reflection resulted in the realisation of wanting to become an astronaut. The impact of transition on self and important others around you. Aerospace physiology PhD at Kings College London, supervisor working at NASA. Rigorous medical and psychiatric process involved in becoming an astronaut. Becoming self-aware, deep reflection of self is fundamental to discovering whether you could become an astronaut. The next big missions being explored by NASA are to have a lunar base and a Mars based mission by 2030. Technical capability and interpersonal intelligence fundamental when under high tension and high pressure – lives are on the line in space! ‘Becoming a guinea pig astronaut’ and starting to develop the skills and qualities required to become an astronaut – underpinned by Tess’s PhD research. Being the right type of person is vital - character, can it be improved? Personal qualities and skills are a matter of life and death. Identifying, understanding and developing these are essential. Fundamentally you will ask, can I trust this person? Space wrestling could be an apt solution for maintaining physiology! Space is qu
S1 E26 · Wed, October 10, 2018
020: Harvey Galvin on change, transformation and adapting self
Harvey Galvin epitomises all that Supporting Champions represents, but he has no gold medal to show for his efforts, no affiliation with a top performer, in fact his story is one about not making it in his chosen field of sport. He tried and he tried again, he grafted, he applied entrepreneurial spirit, he made opportunities but it didn’t work out. During that time Harvey explored his purpose, what makes him happy, his drivers, the need to be adaptable and tenacious, the potential sacrifices and choices he’s willing and not willing to make along the way. Ultimately, Harvey switched career away from his initial intended choice of sport. But there was a particular reason that I got in touch with Harvey to ask him to come on the podcast, and that was because he was starting to share his story in support of others who might be in a similar situation and I thought that was a story worth sharing Show notes Failing in sport, you always hear about working hard and the successes Not asking for help and support and therefore failing my dissertation – the best thing that ever happened to me Channelling and building resources in order to work at a voluntary based support sports groups Academic sport science courses require additional experience working with actual athletes rather than theoretical Having a purpose and a passion is all well and good however being flexible and agile allows acquired skills to be applied to a range of opportunities What is your life purpose? Focussing on purpose focusses on what you haven’t got and drives you backwards The players and the coaches will begin to see the value of sport scientist eventually Being strategic and finding a university with greater opportunities Gaining experience full time at the Lawn Tennis Association A lack of communication leads to a contract at the LTA not being renewed Applying for 100s of jobs and not getting an interview Making sacrifices, money, location and time understanding which sacrifices are worth making Re-evaluating life, trying to be the person you say you are and using actions to back those up You can let things happen to you, or you can say that chapters done and start something new Having a heart condition and the addition of stress is not a good combination ‘Hard work will get you what you want’ is a narrative that makes you feel good, in reality try to find skills that you are talented at hard work isn’t everything Habit making and failing to maintain a habit The benefits of journaling and writing, particularly when having a thought time unhelpful thoughts can be recalibrated against your previous experiences written down 45:25 Passion is not how you choose your career, it’s what you’re good at Key lesson from sales and influencing people: Learning to get out of your own narrative in order to frame you solution The ski
S1 E27 · Wed, September 26, 2018
019: Steve Ingham, Jamie Pringle, Rosie Mayes on lessons from working with elite performers
Steve discusses lessons from the frontline of working with elite performers with Jamie Pringle, Rosie Mayes. We discuss the essentials of that initial engagement with elite athletes, what to do and what not to do. Getting clarity around your role and what you're working to so that you can prioritise. What clues you might be drawing from the environment, the culture that can help you connect with others and be more effective. Importantly we discuss how some of our behaviours, actions and the bonds between us change under the pressure of competition. What is it like to work with an elite athlete? Understanding the culture and environment of sport Applying your skill and experience to the high performance training environment Step into the shoes of your athlete, see and experience what they do. Working with high level performers, winning Olympic medals, but the hard work is completed day in day out on the track or pool What if they are not interested in the science? The world doesn't revolve around you Team sports have their own culture and identity Cultural intelligence, what do you learn and how do you apply it? Using humility and credibility in a high performance environment…it's not about you! Losing naivety, understanding your role, the athlete role and clarity of knowledge Expecting less from a performance based relationship Don't fall into the trap of wanting to be valued! Team identity and the pressure that increases the close to high performance moments Recognising the pressure for others increasing when you might also be feeling an increase in pressure Wanting a sense of team belonging and an amplification when under pressure Searching for certainty in pressure situations Consistency in training and consistency in performance is a good marker as how you will perform on the day Get involved in the culture, atmosphere and connect with the individual. The relationships you build on a one to one basis and the development of trust is invaluable. 'Athletes don't care what you know until they know that you care' Emma Gardner Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching supp
S1 E28 · Wed, September 12, 2018
018: Chrissie Wellington on becoming four time World Ironman Champion
Chrissie Wellington OBE four time World Ironman Triathlon Champion and holder of the three world ironman records shares her experiences of performing at the top end of world triathlon. In this interview Chrissie shares her journey into becoming professional, what it was like on the start line, during the races and crossing the finish line. Importantly Chrissie talks about what becoming World Champion meant to her and how she utilised it for greater good. Chrissie is a powerful, soulful and inspirational person with an infectious enthusiasm. But equally she is deeply thoughtful, considerate and hopeful about how she approaches life and her legacy. Show notes Early beginnings in sport, driven, determined a perfectionist but channelled. Trying out triathlon A dislike for mediocrity! Be brave enough to explore your talents Physical environment, financial support, medical support combined with drive and agency create what is needed to succeed No expectation or pressure for the first World Ironman attempt Late qualification, accommodation half way up the volcano, a broken pedal - not the perfect prep but racing with no expectation. Goal setting focus on process rather than victory "Chrissie you're going to win this!" A sense of euphoria The process of an ironman equates to the rollercoaster of life: extreme highs and lows The importance and the power of sport to create change Rabbit in the headlights Withdrawal from an Ironman due to illness 2011 bike accident led to 'just a flesh wound' and the freedom to race Giving everything and being capable of overcoming more than Chrissie ever believed she could Characteristics and traits What's next…family, Parkrun, public speaking and ambassador for a range of companies Ultra running! Raising a passionate, effervescent, confident, empathetic and adventurous child Making mistakes & being emotional showing our imperfect selves 80 year old self advice: you are capable of so much more than you think. To strive, to keep reaching and to be kind to your self Find out more about Chrissie: Twitter @chrissiesmiles www.chrissiewellington.org Books A Life Without Limits: A World Champion's Journey To The Finish Line: A World Champions Triathlete's Guide To You Perfect Race Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wa
S1 E29 · Wed, August 29, 2018
017: Tom Boother on running from Land’s End to John O’Groats
In 2016 Tom Boother ran (yes ran) from Land's End to John O'Groats (for the non-Brits, that's bottom left to top right of Great Britain). What is remarkable about Tom is that he classes himself as a non-athlete, and in fairness to his running speeds he isn't going to threaten Mo Farah anytime soon. BUT for me that is the remarkable thing about Tom, that he has found a way, through his own tenacity, courage, resilience and search for understanding. Inspired to question, "There must be more to life than this", when taking his law exams (probably enough to push anyone to question their existence), he set about entering the Tour du Mont Blanc and caught the bug and eventually set his sights on running the length of the country. In this episode we hear about how he hatched the idea, the many trials and tribulation along the way, the serendipity of birthdays and blisters in Bristol, the joys of receiving random acts of kindness along the way and how he is making sense of what he has learned about life and business along the way. I hope you enjoy the listen it was fun to record full of insights. Show notes It was a very long run! Racing driver ambitions The lawyer and dyslexia combination Chamonix Ultra trail inspiration Don’t disqualify someone with a sports law degree! Chamonix race, bad blisters and a police escort to hospital The 2012 Grand Union Canal race The beginning of a change, creating a change and pre-event planning The appeal of working towards a long term goal A nutter in need! Support from the Human Performance Unit, University of Essex Beginning the Land’s End - John O’Groats journey Statistics – target was 14 days it actually took 15 days, 18 hours and 18 minutes Averaging 85 kilometers a day the total distance 1400 kilometers Blisters…again! Preparation, failing, nutrition problems and ramifications of small issues growing A stroke of luck – the Queen’s birthday and a podiatrist! The kindness of strangers and running through the pain Headwind messing with Tom’s head Worn through shoes at the Scottish borders Sport psychologists, uncomfortable questions and making a commitment Support from strangers. The charities Great Ormond Street and EACH East Anglia Children’s Hospices, creating a buzz for a wonderful cause Crossing the line at John O’Groats and a cold shower! Tom’s seven core principles: Do it, become it, reward and routine, endure the pain (contract of resilience), team, time to quit and desire The Running Friend, if you can run 3 miles you can run a marathon Running across America now the naivety has gone?! Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting
S1 E30 · Wed, August 15, 2018
016: Barry Fudge on Heading up endurance
Dr Barry Fudge is Head of Endurance at British athletics and lead scientist for many outstanding endurance athletes like Sir Mo Farah. Barry has a PhD in exercise physiology which uniquely he undertook the majority of which in East Africa working with the richly talented Kenyan and Ethiopian teams, which at the time included Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele. Barry was actually my postdoctoral researcher back in 2007 and despite this is has gone on to achieve incredible amount. First as a physiologist as the key architect Mo Farah’s transformation from an also-ran to a world beater. Then being promoted to Head of Endurance with the much wider remit creating the conditions to nurture success in British Athletics. Barry spoke at our 2017 conference which you can also catch up on the podcast, and in this discussion expands on some are many challenges works through, how he works with athletes and coaches on a day-to-day basis and in the arena of the track and field stadium and he explores his purpose and shares with us why he does what he does. Show notes Barry’s role and background The different components that come to together to facilitate elite sport How did Barry get into sport? PhD in endurance running in Kenya Ethiopian athletes and impacting on performance for the first time Doing science differently Being comfortable with uncertainty & observing over time Understanding the UK system, how to systematically support athletes and coaches Mo Farah, focus and clarity of purpose The relationship between science and performance, to execute when it matters most and how you then approach competition in the long term. Focussing on what matters, the complexity of a big event and managing the environment around the athletes Forgetting what sport is actually about…the drama! Providing calm, focus and clarity The vulnerability of athletes It’s ok to win and to lose, will the athlete be happy or upset? Being mechanical or inhuman Enjoying the journey of sport for what it is, there will always be ups and downs Key lessons: purpose, passion, enjoying it and being comfortable with where you are ‘Own the start line’ – looking ahead to what you want to achieve, what would you have to have done in order to be fully prepared and then work your way back Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for t
S1 E31 · Wed, August 01, 2018
015: Adam Conlon on performance on the frontline in warfare and disaster zones
Adam Conlon was a captain in the British Army, undertaking his officer training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He the entered the Royal Artillery, and is a veteran of two tours of Afghanistan. Adam talks about the development path from basic training to the heat of battle, where his job was in leading teams, calling the shots and co-ordinating the use of weapons on the battlefield. Adam shares the intense feeling of receiving volleys of fire from the Taliban, how he responded under that pressure and how his training and camaraderie developed and enabled him to perform. Poignantly, Adam shares the process and the emotions of decompressing after a tour and adjusting back to normal life. Adam spent a brief time serving Her Majesty the Queen in Human Resources, but now is leadership consultant and speaker, but still finds time to out his skills to use in the first response teams that aid disaster zones and we get into that skill of developing rapid teamworking and the importance of listening and rapport in engaging with survivors and locals in catastrophe stricken areas. This interview was humbling, richly engaging and I would say 1 hour and 25 minutes of pure performance. I finished the interview fascinated, moved and frankly I was thankful that we have people like Adam amongst our population that do what they do in order to make the world a better place. Show notes Adam Conlon and his background Sandhurst, becoming a soldier, captain and leader Leading people and making the decisions to fire artillery within the infantry The importance of 'fit' in finding the right people for the right roles Variety and being a generalist 15:15 Leading people, by developing followers - ego and vulnerability Upping the pressure to test your skills Being relaxed in chaos High performance industries develop people because if they don't the consequences are high Nad Ali and the operations in Afghanistan Getting on the front foot with the enemy Response to the first rattle of fire Humour as a pressure valve Fight or flight is a good option, freezing is not Decompression on the way home from a tour Stressful heart rate response to post-tour come-down Letting the emotion out with crying Working for Her Majesty the Queen Learning what he didn't want to do From tax consultant to frontline operations through sport Applying skills to disaster zones Operating in the Caribbean in 2017 Get face to face Listen, empathy and trust Arriving in Dominica - it was like a bomb had gone off Sensing when there might be trouble - being observant when something is out of place - the absence of the normal Who supports Adam, family, friends Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twi
S1 E32 · Sun, July 22, 2018
014: Kelly Sotherton on receiving her 4x400m medal ten years late
In this special podcast episode I talk to Kelly Sotherton just after receiving a retrospectively awarded Olympic medal for the 4x400m, ten years after the Beijing games. Show notes Introduction to Kelly Sotherton and the award of 4x400m medal from the Beijing Olympics alongside Marilyn Okoro, Christine Ohuruogu and Nicola Sanders Background of how we developed 400m running performance from heptathlon training Sadness and hope. Sadness that athletes and countries resorted to cheating. Hope that the authorities are punishing athletes retrospectively Athletes taking the courage to speak out against cheating The moment the women’s 4x400m team received their medals Finally got the medal 8:00 Heptathlon medal still to come Mixed emotions, when Kelly retired there was a sense of bitterness and being heartbroken but being reflective that she did everything to get her in the best shape possible After Athens 2004 Olympics, her coach Charles van Comenee left the UK, Kelly pulls together a group of coaches The running begins to plateau - where the two of us started to work together The fact finding mission at a training camp in Portugal The results start to come. Kelly medals at the Worlds Championships. Kelly calls out Lyudmila Blonska, someone who already cheated. The gamble of investing in a new approach to running Focussed on speed to renew Kelly’s running ability and my transition to the coaching team Background to Kelly calling out other athletes as dopers How Kelly felt about competing against athletes. Blonska and Chernova effects Kelly performance The headline is injustice, sympathy for missing out on the moment, loss of earnings – but competing against dopers did negatively affect her performance Kelly’s hopes that we don’t see these retrospective medal awards Sport won’t forget athletes like Kelly as victims of cheaters Many athletes haven’t received their rightful medals, so Kelly feels fortunate to have the moment. Goldie Sayers still waiting How Kelly and I came across the 400m while focussing on developing the 300m ability Top Britain in 2008 indoor season and 8th in World – leading to a curiosity in her 400m ability Not getting distracted by the 400m. A trial of whether Kelly’s ability could contribute to the 4x400m team, running 51s split In shape for heptathlon – but capable of a great 400m performance. A pivotal 300m trial that impresses the 4x400m coaches 8th fastest GB 400m split of all time A lesson in rounded training that can help overall performance Reflecting on what could be but blighted by injury, trying different training methods to keep Kelly fit when injured Kelly applies the lessons learned from her career to athletes now Heptathlon medal still to come, how Kelly focuses on the individual medal having more meaning<
S1 E33 · Wed, July 18, 2018
013: Lucy Balfour, Ballerina at Rambert on performance, competition and motherhood
Lucy Balfour is a leading dancer at the world renowned contemporary dance company Ballet Rambert. Lucy trained at the International Ballet Academy in Christchurch, then spent ten years with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, before joining Rambert. In this episode, Lucy talks about the competitiveness of becoming a ballerina, the singular focus on realising her dream, with no back up plan. She talks about the pressure of selection and performing, maintaining self-identity throughout balanced by the privilege of being a dancer. Lucy is pregnant and gives an insight how Rambert have been supporting her to continue to rehearse and perform (Lucy performed on stage with Rambert up to 5 months pregnant) and now looks ahead with the question of whether she'll return to dance once she becomes a mum. Show notes Lucy's journey into dance Decision ballet school or high school? First ballet contract with The Royal New Zealand ballet company Focus, rejection, perseverance and belief: developing resilience No plan B Dealing with rejection Advice for the 16 year old Lucy Balfour The day in a life for a dancer at the Rambert Dance Company Coping with the ups and downs of the selection/audition process Stay alert use rejection as a learning opportunity, learning from your peers without the pressure! Staying aware of your behaviour Getting in the right place for a new performance: preparing physically and mentally, writing down corrections in a training diary and not being afraid to ask lots of questions Late specialisation Pregnancy and performance Life after the birth Dancing whilst pregnant Facing the prospect of being a dancer and a mum Viewing ballet through a different set of eyes which will help in the future, learning more about the craft of ballet The length of a ballet career - it's not about age, it's about desire and physicality Dancer's Career Development - thinking ahead Wanting to inspire others, an ambassador for dance mamas and helping others to realise their potential at an earlier age Top tips for a career in the performing arts Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking
S1 E34 · Wed, July 04, 2018
012: Liz Stokoe on science and art of conversation
In this episode I interview Professor Liz Stokoe, while we were both speaking at Cheltenham Science Festival. Liz is a Professor of Social Interaction at Loughborough University, specialising in conversational analysis. Liz shares her insights into the dynamics of conversation, some of the aggressive moves people make and how to manage these situations and what we can learn from delicate exchanges such as marriage guidance mediators and suicide negotiators. I really enjoyed this interview and found it utterly fascinating to hear Liz's insights and advice. Show notes The future of human communication The forensic examination of conversational encounters 'Mis-greeters' and 'recalibrating' initial greetings Liz's route to conversational analysis Liz's PhD - an analysis of university tutorials. Students reluctant to show they worked hard, cool to not prepare but actually working very hard Myth busting - Gender and interaction. Zero evidence that women and men talk differently in systematic ways Identity categories such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age etc stereotype and narrow conversational focus, anything can be turned into an aspect of your identity which limits and reinforces stereotypes The concept of coaching differently because of gender 'Recipient design' - the monitoring of a conversation recipient to see if ideas are landing via body language, fractional delays in responses etc 'First movers' - challenging greetings. For example, "Where've you been?" as a mis-greeting Dealing with a first mover! Recalibrating the conversation and socializing Conflict is good, it is important to be able to challenge Responding under pressure - suicide negotiators. Live conversation analysis in a real-life, lifesaving setting Conversational Analytic Roleplay Method (CARM) - real conversation from real encounters paused…what would you do next? Learning through the expertise of others What actually works in a real-life, live encounter, rather than roleplaying guidelines The problems with traditional roleplay Mediators for relationship management. Explaining a process rather than philosophy. Are you willing…? Willing works! Single words can change the outcome of a conversation either positively or negatively Subtle changes in language create different outcomes 'Let's get things sorted out' rather than 'I can help' The field of conversational analysis in the future Sports coaching - tennis parents and kids. The conversations between parent and child at the beginning, middle and end of a competition Liz's ted talk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtOG5PK8xDA&t=1042s Follow Liz on Twitter https://twitter.com/LizStokoe Find out more about Liz's CARM training http://www.carmtraining.org/ Supporting Champions on Twitter <a href='http://www.tw
S1 E35 · Wed, June 20, 2018
011: Jo Meek on ultra-endurance
In this episode I talk to Jo Meek, aka the "Running Squirrel". Jo is one of the world's leading ultra-endurance runners. In 2013 Jo was 2nd woman across the line in the Marathon de Sables. In 2014 Jo was first in the Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica (a 225km run which she completed in 29h 17mins, 19s; 5th in Comrades marathon; 4th in the World 100km Champs. Jo has a 10km time of 34:36; a marathon time of 2:46; and a 100km time of 7hr 43mins. Jo offers a unique insight into managing training, discomfort of training and how she reframes challenge into a positive. Show notes The origins of the nickname "Running Squirrel" Unconventional entrance to sport. Sport as a key to join in and be cool! Road running and now running on Dartmoor English cross-country champion, road racing and marathon and then ultra-marathon Mental resolve, persistence and hard work. Mental resolve is innate for Jo Sport Science top tips Make running your routine The pros and cons of becoming a full-time athlete What moderates Jo's training? The army, frontline action in Iraq for 4-5 months The army taught Jo the importance of looking after yourself Endurance background to ultra and the Marathon de Sables Highest British female finisher in the Marathon de Sables! Variety of races, UTMB 170km around Mont Blanc, France, Switzerland & Italy Tuning training to the event. UTMB training marathon training, long run becomes 3-4 hours and back to back long runs Training schedule, daily routine Managing winter training and darkness Mental resilience, anticipation of problems to stay positive for the race planning…control the controlables Ultra-running is easier than marathon running! The next challenge…Western States Endurance Run? Jo's top tips for ultra-training, consistency with training, fuelling and enjoy it! More from Jo at; https://twitter.com/jo_meek https://jomeekblog.wordpress.com/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then
S1 E36 · Wed, June 06, 2018
010: Toni Minichiello on communication with athletes
In this episode I talk to long standing colleague, coach and friend Toni Minichiello, coach to one of the World's greatest athletes Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill. I've worked with Toni since 2001 and while we've talked about everything and anything over the years, it was fascinating to capture his thoughts about the key area of communication, his thoughts, ideas, techniques and how they have evolved over the years; Show notes Communication and conveying knowledge and ideas for maximum impact Gleaning information from the athletes of different ages/abilities/experience Athletes critiquing themselves negatively Toni Minichiello's coaching style Communication assumptions! High performers and communication Finding a mutual vocabulary/language Motivational styles and mindsets Succinct information at critical points…deliver two points Motivation, confidence…pushing the positive The coach has to make the decision based on your knowledge and experience of the athlete…coach what you see Working/communicating with a coach…add value! Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
S1 E37 · Mon, May 21, 2018
009: Yann Le Meur on Infographics
009 Yann Le Meur This week's episode features an interview with Dr Yann Le Meur, physiologist and creator of the infographic phenomenon. Yann Le Meur - training strategies - tennis/triathlon, improving fitness, sport science & Rodger Federer Studying Sport Science, PE teacher, exercise physiology/ Heat altitude training, recovery nutrition provided a breadth and grounding in sport. Synchronised swimming, modern pentathlon - working with national team and high level athletes Act as a chameleon! Adaptation Infographics - a way of explanation, communication and interaction Teaching to make information - infographics Elite sports teams in France Consultancy and performance improvement Applied sports career top tips, fairness, relationships & hard work Create a network, work hard and challenge yourself create opportunities to create a good reputation Opportunities in sport Infographic stats: first began August 2014, 200 per year, 70,000 Twitter followers No-one was reading my paper!! A simplification of the message = infographics was born Infographic promotes what is new in sport science, the infographic is not enough, it is a simplification of the full paper which should be read Different levels of evidence - infographics have limitations Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
S1 E38 · Thu, May 10, 2018
008: Rosie Mayes, Jamie Pringle join Steve Ingham to talk culture
Episode 008 In this episode I am joined once again by Rosie Mayes, and Jamie Pringle to talk culture in high performance sport and in the wider world of business and education. Show notes Why are we talking about culture? Could you put culture on a dashboard of metrics? How quickly can you pick up on a culture? Whose responsibility is culture? Process review Culture as a determinant of performance Early experiences, environment culturing achievement If culture is poor how does it manifest in people? Getting the balance right between under or over investment in peak performance and stress The responsibility and potential for those in charge in leadership Rosie as a benchwarmer - but served a key role in team dynamics Coach decisions and responses on a day to day basis that define culture Projecting and ownership of pressures Sensitive moments in performance, such as selection and de-selection Can you get more and do it well? Purpose, autonomy and mastery High performance habits for all How does sport influence culture and culture influence sport? How do you tap into and lead "the way it works around here" Key insights into optimising culture Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
S1 E39 · Mon, April 23, 2018
007: Jenny Rogers on Coaching
Jenny Rogers: Coaching Episode 007 Show notes Where it all started? Jenny’s teaching career and her ‘development itch!' Where did it all start? The BBC & finding Delia Smith! Where did the development of others start? Becoming commissioning editor for The Open College, Jenny’s introduction to consulting and organisational behaviour The beginnings of one to one work and executive coaching 20:00 Becoming a coach full-time and leaving the BBC What is the coaching that Jenny provides? “The slippery-ness of the human approach to change’ The power of coaching - examples Jenny’s top tips for people new to coaching This isn’t working - working in the moment and developing a different kind of conversation Stepping outside of the conversation, navigating the difficult childhoods. Treading dangerous waters. Super-champions, high performing executives and their emotional lies Supporting sporting systems and what executive coaching can offer sport Coaching sessions…holding a space, nudging, challenging and laughter Support for coaches Jenny’s writing compulsion A Coaching Handbook - stay curious and stay self-aware Top tips for writing Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
S1 E40 · Tue, April 03, 2018
006: David Fletcher on adversity
Supporting Champions Podcast 006 David Fletcher In this episode I talk to David Fletcher about his career as a swimmer, researcher and expert in the area of adversity. Show notes; Early aspirations as a swimmer, but experiencing near misses as an athlete and academically Transfer of desire from swim background to early success in studies Father as a science role-model, searching and sharing academic papers Importance of internship in sporting environment Importance of breadth of experience beyond own area of specialism Interest in the stresses that athletes experiences Stresses changing based on growth of high performance system Uncovering poor organisational behaviours that adversely influenced sporting performance Seeking legal advice due to controversial nature of athlete interviews - sticking to your guns about unearthing and communicating stresses Identifying stresses and how some used stressful experiences as fuel for determination Organisational stresses - leadership styles, not being listened to, overuse of pressure training and how it spilled over How it is unethical not to prepare athletes for the pressure of top competitions How leadership behaviours permeated down to grass-root levels Adversity as a stimulus for growth - so it needs to be; - Relevant, e.g. penalty shoot-out - Progressively adaptable - Agreed Appropriate and inappropriate consequences to contravening agreed behaviours Role of early adversity as a fuel for focusing on sporting goals Theories emerging - life adversity coinciding with sporting success, and finding sport as a sanctuary Caveat that sport doesn't protect person from mental health response to adversarial events How best to support when people experience adversity; 1) give them space; 2) supporting people when they are ready to disclose - provide inspirational opportunities; 3) when a vase breaks consider creating a new mosaic rather than re-building as it was Adversity gives you honesty to review deeply Different personality traits required to succeed in sport vs life Re-emergence of 'issues' wen sport is not there Are we doing enough to support coaches? Lessons for everybody - Anything worthwhile will have its challenges - Importance of anticipating stresses and preparing for them - Importance of support network - Importance of disclosing and being open to sharing stress response Future directions in area of adversity Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagr
S1 E41 · Sat, February 24, 2018
005: Emilie Thienot on mindfulness
005: Emilie Thienot on mindfulness Go out there, meet people, do something! Overtime if I want something I don’t give up because I know it will happen. If I work hard and smartly I will see results. Back to the UK, the UK system and the British Sailing team. The psychology of sailing, how do you support them? Freeing the mind to make good decisions. Unlocking potential - removing psychological barriers. Communication as a team - who do they want to be as a team, underpinning values and translating to behaviours. Trust and honesty at the foundation. The skill of resetting and the ability to adapt in the moment. Mindfulness - what is it? The ability to be aware of what is going on in the moment, in a non judgemental way. What does mindfulness do? What's the performance advantage? Accepting of negative thoughts and being able to notice the difficult feelings coming in, taking a helicopter view, diffuse and choose something else to refocus on, rather than fighting with the negative thoughts. Step 1, Step 2 & Step 3 of mindfulness. Benefits and results of mindfulness application. The neuroscience behind mindfulness. Daily integration and an earlier adoption creates a more robust, ingrained technique. Emilie’s work, unlocking potential in sports and business. Using tools from the elite athlete world and applying to the corporate world. Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
Sat, February 24, 2018
Emilie Thienot 3 minute mindfulness coaching
Emilie Thienot coaches your mindfulness. For three minutes, sit back, listen in and be aware. Download this track to your phone, ready to play whenever you need it. If you like this, let us know!
S1 E43 · Sun, February 11, 2018
004: Vern Gambetta on a career at the front line of coaching
004 Vern Gambetta on a career in coaching Guru or legend?! How Vern got into sport Role models Be a generalist not a specialist It’s still the human body, what are the differences and similarities between the different sports? Maintaining an open-mindedness. Don’t make assumptions! Generations of young people with negligible physical literacy Training sessions - how do we get more out of what we do? How do you design somebody’s journey from youth to senior athlete? Avoiding early specialisation - the conflict between art and science We need to educate the coaches to be better managers the resources they have. Early specialisation and generalising - what’s required? I am a student of history, continually asking where did this technique/coach come from? 3 Passionate about getting better at getting better Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
S1 E44 · Mon, January 29, 2018
003: Rosie Mayes, Jamie Pringle join Steve Ingham to talk sustaining high performance
Steve Ingham, Jamie Pringle, Rosie Mayes, discuss the rise of UK High Performance System that has gone from 36th on the medal table in 1996 Olympics to 2nd at the Rio Olympics in 2016, becoming a global sporting superpower. This episode discusses what are the common trends in successful high performing systems and looks forward as to how performance can be sustained. What are the determining factors of a successful system? What are the things from other performance environments you would find which are similar to the British system irrespective of context and culture? Jamie plays devil’s advocate - if we had unlimited resources what would we do with that money? Where might we want to see future investment for competitive advantage if we had unlimited resources? If we travelled forward 100 years, what would we want to see long term residing in high performance sport system that is successful? If we travelled back 100 years, to 1917, what would have astounded our contemporaries? Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
S1 E45 · Wed, January 17, 2018
002: Rosie Mayes, Jamie Pringle join Steve Ingham to talk how a home Olympics gave focus
Episode #2 Panel Discussion (Part 2 of 3) Steve Ingham, Jamie Pringle, Rosie Mayes, discuss the rise of Uk High Performance System that has gone from 36th on the medal table in 1996 Olympics to 2nd at the Rio Olympics in 2016, becoming a global sporting superpower. This episode charts the necessary focus that came with the award of the home games, what challenges it brought and how the roles change under mounting pressure and resource. Show notes 4:01 July 6th 2005 London was awarded the Olympic Games Suddenly the bar has gone higher…we need more! Know what your role is. The fundamental difference between sport science in the academic sense and thinking about the performer and their performance The athletes don’t care who supplies the support, they want the support. The coach’s role is the distiller of language that the athlete can understand. 10:31 How has the education of the coaches developed and how has science been able to inform the coach? The athlete centred, coach managed network. How do you explain what a scientist does within that role? Coach education One practitioner can become the filter through which the coach and the athlete can connect For a coach the leadership challenge has changed The leadership challenge for the coach is team management, clarity, cutting through the noise applying priority Switching from a scientist role to coaching Kelly Sotherton - I need to cut down the noise, I’m a noise generator! The dynamics of the team, relationships in the success of performers - creating champions 16:51 It’s a filtering process, I don’t want more I want less! No-one would ever teach me that story It requires a whole host of different intelligences, intra-personal skills, inter-personal skills in order for your ideas to land Ego, sectors that have bright people can come with an arrogance. Personality preferences, “Oh god I’m like that am I”?! If you have a team dynamic, if you can put your ego aside and have a role to play that isn’t your best position, that’s a real challenge Complexity of a network and the ability to establish trust Are we all playing the same tune? When we have a clear sense of purpose about what we are doing. The professionalisation of the system in Britain we are part of a network that brings a sense of belonging for everyone. London 2012, everyone was focussed on the summit. We always expect a lull after a big pie but…that could have been the best day at work EVER?! Fear, threat, resistance. What is your purpose, asking why questions. To give pride to a nation. To achieve this goal, where would you start? Working for somebody, and it has consequence, it gives purpose and the purpose has consequence. Why do you do what you do? This fundamental level of deep thinking isn’t taught, isn’t facilitates and when it is you get a united sense behind
S1 E46 · Tue, January 02, 2018
001: Rosie Mayes, Jamie Pringle join Steve Ingham to discuss rise in performance sport in UK
Episode 001 Panel Discussion (Part 1 of 3) Steve Ingham, Jamie Pringle, Rosie Mayes, discuss the rise of Uk High Performance System that has gone from 36th on the medal table in 1996 Olympics to 2nd at the Rio Olympics in 2016, becoming a global sporting superpower. This episode charts the early origins of the UK beginning to find pockets of excellence, how the system emerged from losing and grew to develop its own identity, method and network. Show notes UK High performance achievements Where did it all start? Capturing nuggets from early achievers (Boardman/Keen) Searching for early specialists Creating and innovating from nothing Protecting competitive advantage Losing acting as an accelerator for funding and system change Professional (funding allow athletes, coaches and staff to train/work full-time) but lacking focus Support services in their infancy - the baby begins to develop The baby learns to speak and say no for the first time Into the next episode - the acceleration provided by being awarded the homes games Links Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.
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