Remembering Nims Purja: The Lessons We'll Never Forget

More from The High Performance Podcast All episodes →

1. 

   E433 · 17 Aug 2026 · 1 hr

   Getting Fired Was a RELIEF: Guenther Steiner on the Truth About His Haas Exit (E433)

   Guenther Steiner is one of Formula 1’s most recognisable team bosses, building Haas from nothing and becoming known for his straight-talking approach to leadership. He joins us to reflect on ambition, pressure, and knowing when it’s time to walk away, as well as discuss his new position as CEO of MotoGP team Red Bull KTM Tech3. Guenther opens up about his final years at Haas, admitting he stayed around two years too long, and how he knew the belief was gone when he could no longer see a path to a podium. He also reveals the moment he discovered he’d been sacked, and why it brought an…

2. 

   14 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 11 min

   James Blunt: Criticism, Confidence & What Success Took From Me

   We're revisiting this conversation with James Blunt because it's among the most disarming things we've recorded about belief, ridicule, and where confidence actually comes from. James made his first album on nothing but belief. He'd burnt his bridges with every record label in Britain and was playing to about twenty people on the twentieth floor of a Ramada hotel — and he was still completely certain the whole world was going to hear it. Understanding the real odds, he says, would have taken the wind out of his sails entirely. James tells Jake and Damian why you keep your powder dry until…

3. 

   12 Aug 2026 · 27 min

   The 5 Habits Behind Every High Performer We've Met

   Jake and Damian tackle the question underneath almost every High Performance conversation: what do the best actually do differently, day to day? Not the big moments. The small, repeatable ones. Because across hundreds of conversations on this show, the pattern is rarely talent or luck. It's that high performers have built a handful of habits they hold onto when nobody is watching, and they keep doing them long after most of us would have forgotten about them. In this episode, Jake and Damian hear from: Jamie Peacock on why a life of hard decisions becomes an easier life, and the moment on a…

4. 

   E432 · 10 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 21 min

   Playing Until 40 Comes at a COST: Ashley Young on the Brutal Reality of Football (432)

   Premier League icon Ashley Young joins us for a masterclass in longevity, self-belief, and turning rejection into an unstoppable competitive edge. At 15, Watford told Ashley he was too small for a scholarship, a disappointment that became the operational system for his entire 20-year career. He explains why every manager's doubt or dropped selection became fuel to prove them wrong, from Antonio Conte's brutal pre-season at Inter Milan to winning Serie A at 35 and feeling fitter at 37 than at 27. He also breaks down what it means to know your value in high-stakes environments, his return to…

5. 

   7 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 8 min

   Eddie Howe: How His Newcastle Exit Echoes Leaving Bournemouth

   Eddie Howe has stepped away from Newcastle United after nearly five years in charge — his own decision, following what he called "a period of personal reflection." He leaves having delivered the club's first major trophy in 70 years and two Champions League campaigns. So we're going back to the conversation we had with him in 2022, right as that chapter began. Eddie had just taken the Newcastle job — but before it, he'd left Bournemouth after relegation, and described the exit almost exactly as he'd describe this one: "I think it was time... I just knew." He told us it felt like grief. That…

6. 

   E431 · 3 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 45 min

   90% of Footballers Are Just Surviving: Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien Gets Brutally Honest (E431)

   Sunderland captain Luke O'Nien has built his career on resilience, determination, and an unwavering belief that hard work can outlast natural talent.. He joins Jake and Damian to reflect on the setbacks that shaped him, from being overlooked early in his career to leading his club back to the Premier League. Luke explains why he no longer relies on confidence to perform, how embracing discomfort became his greatest strength, and the simple mindset shifts that help him stay present under pressure. He also shares the habits and systems that have enabled him to keep improving throughout his…

7. 

   E430 · 31 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

   You Only Have 20% of Your Life to Make an Impact - Here's How To Make It Count | Adrian Gore (E430)

   For more than 30 years, Adrian Gore has been challenging conventional thinking about health, leadership, and human behaviour. As the founder of Discovery and CEO of Vitality, he's built a global business by asking a simple question: what if we designed systems that helped people become the best version of themselves? Adrian joins Jake to share the leadership principles behind that philosophy, revealing why optimism is a discipline, why ambitious goals matter, and how embracing discomfort creates meaningful change. This is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, behaviour, and unlocking…

8. 

   E429 · 29 Jul 2026 · 41 min

   Como’s Football Revolution: From Serie D to the Champions League (E429)

   Como 1907 has become one of Europe's fastest-rising football clubs, transformed by bold leadership and long-term thinking. In partnership with Revolut Business, Chief Business Officer Ryan Shelton joins Jake to reveal how the club has redefined what's possible on and off the pitch. Ryan shares how Cesc Fàbregas has helped shape a high-performance culture, why the club embraces unconventional thinking, and how partnering with Revolut is helping the organisation move faster and think differently. This is an insight into the leadership, innovation and ambition behind one of football's most…

9. 

   E428 · 27 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 17 min

   Rafaela Pimenta: The Super Agent Negotiating Deals for Haaland, Foden & Mora (E428)

   Rafaela Pimenta is one of football's most influential agents, representing some of the biggest names in the game, including Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Gilberto Mora. She joins Damian to reveal what it really takes to protect, develop, and lead elite athletes at the very highest level. Rafaela explains why players should be treated as people; not assets, how elite players have built an environment that allows them to perform at their best, and why the modern game is placing unprecedented demands on footballers. She also shares why setting boundaries, championing player welfare, and…

10. 

    E427 · 24 Jul 2026 · 43 min

    James Timpson: The Leadership Formula Where Kindness Drives Profit (E427)

    This episode is brought to you in partnership with Aviva. The former UK Minister for Prisons and CEO of the Timpson Group, Lord Timpson (James Timpson) believes there's a direct link between happy colleagues and business success. He joins Jake and Damian to explain why putting trust before control has shaped both his people and his company. Lord Timpson shares the leadership philosophy behind his "upside-down management" approach, why hiring people with criminal convictions has become one of his greatest strengths, and how kindness, trust, and long-term thinking have driven lasting success.…