Carol Cooke, AM, is a 3-time gold medal Paralympian, 9-time world champion in para-cycling, international speaker, and expert in adversity and mindset. Born and raised in Canada, Carol's journey began as a young swimmer with Olympic dreams. Fate had other plans when the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games were boycotted and she transitioned her focus to a 14-year career with the Toronto Police force, including four years working undercover in the Morality Unit (Prostitution, Drugs and Gambling).In the mid 90’s Carol packed up everything and moved to Australia. Life threw a massive curveball in 1998 when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Carol ignored her initial doctor’s orders, defying stereotypes and refusing to give up. Carol discovered para-cycling and constantly challenges the notion of what it means to age and slow down.Carol has written two best-selling books The Force Within and Finding Your Inner Gold, had the original vision for the 24hr Mega Swim which has now raised over $20M for MS Plus, and she lives by the motto “dare to face your fears, believe in yourself, and you can accomplish anything." In this episode Andre and Carol Discuss:3:00 How Andrew and Carol met, becoming an undercover cop and what it was like working on a street corner.11:30 Learning colourful language from pimps and prostitutes, explaining blowjobs to a judge, how Carol was trained to be undercover and how to transition back to normal life.20:30 High number of relationship breakdowns in emergency workers, shifting personas for the role you’re in and the frustrating story of how Carol got her MS diagnosis.30:00 Carol’s husband Ross, winning 3 paralympic medals and how Carol went from swimming to rowing41:05 Transitioning from rowing to cycling, dealing with the logistics of moving a 20kg bike interstate and the importance of Carol’s sister not joining her pity party.49:00 The worst year of Carol’s life, dealing with condescending cyclists and working undercover being the best improv coaching possible.1:01:30 What Carol would say to someone having a rough time, getting through lockdown with the help of the calm app and Carol’s favourite of her many medals.1:14:40 Competing in Paris at 63, Carol’s views on age and her family’s longevity.1:23:00 Performance Uncovered.1:37:15 Andrew and The Wizard’s reflections. Find Carol at her LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/carol-cooke-am-ply-a728201bOr at her Website: https://www.carolcooke.com.au/Buy Carol's Books: https://www.carolcooke.com.au/books Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

In this Bite size from episode #28, entrepreneur Naomi Simson shares her passion for small business and the main motivator behind starting Red Balloon. Naomi gives some examples of the pressure small business owners are under daily and how she hopes to alleviate some of that through using Red Balloon as an experience marketplace.Naomi also talks about the book she thought of writing after seeing over 100 pitches as a part of the TV show Shark Tank and the impact she hopes it will have on people wanting to begin a new startup. Sign up for Naomi's newsletter: https://naomisimson.com/newsletter/Or browse her art store: https://www.naomisimsonart.com/Visit the Red Balloon website: https://www.redballoon.com.au/  Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Dr Paul Batman is a university academic and is recognised as one of the world’s leading exercise physiologists. As co-founder of Fitness Institute Australia (FIA) and a university lecturer, Paul has trained thousands of people to become accredited in the fields of Exercise Science, Sports Coaching and Personal Training. He is a vocational educator, researcher, author, and avid fitness tragic. “For over 40 years I had been participating in and prescribing moderate to high intensity exercise to increase fitness, improve wellbeing and lose weight. Two weeks away from climbing Mount Killimanjaro at age 65 years, my Cardiologist told me I was close to having a fatal heart attack, with one of my coronary arteries 90% blocked. I had been aware of many well-trained athletes for no apparent reason suffering a heart attack against, but I thought it would never happen to me. This diagnosis tipped my approach to exercise programming upside down.” Listen to Paul explain chronic cardio syndrome and the loss in elasticity of endothelial lines, why Orcas in captivity suffer a floppy dorsal fin, how MET (metabolic equivalent of tasks) is transforming fitness programming and Andrew (nervously) asks Paul to assess the guidelines he and Dr Tom Buckley have just released for Level 1 Physiology Building Blocks and Level 2 Longevity and Performance.In this podcast Andrew and Dr Paul discuss:2:25 The change in fitness methods from 15 years ago to now3:45 Dr Paul’s own heart attack scare and how he was in disbelief6:15 Shifting the narrative on wellbeing and exercise programming to align with his new research7:20 Endothelium lines and 'the widowmaker'12:00 Exercising too much and METs (Metabolic Equivalent of Tasks)15:00 The wrong messages about exercise going out to the public and how outsourcing your life can eventually kill you18:00 How Dr Paul trains for treks doing housework and vacuuming (this part of the podcast should be sponsored by Dyson vacuum cleaners)21:15 Being sedentary vs being inactive23:30 Getting your 10,000 steps daily and why this is so important27:15 Floppy dorsal fin syndrome and Andrew's analogy of how this plays out for unfit, inflamed middle-aged men31:30 The problem with having too much information about exercise (over-analysis leads to paralysis)34:00 How much sitting is too much and looking at opportunities to move37:30 The best way to exercise during the week 42:30 Creating a tribe of active non-exercisers44:30 Why the World Health Organisation doesn’t really work well with the fitness industry47:30 What drives Dr Paul and longevity49:15 Getting kids active.52:30 Dr Paul's thoughts on Andrew's Level 1 Physiology Building Blocks.56:00 Intermittent fasting throughout history and using temperature contrast therapy59:00 Andrew's Level 2 Longevity and Performance, and the importance of lifting heavy weights1:03:20 Sarcopenia and ageing To find the resources mentioned in this episode go to: https://www.andrewmay.com/performance-intelligence-with-andrew-may/ Find Dr Paul at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-paul-batman-9092a052/Or at his Website: https://www.drpaulbatman.com.au/ Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

In this bite size from episode #57, Commander Dean Thompson  talks about the concept of leadership and followership and how both are vital to the smooth operation of the Australian Navy. From operating the bridge of a ship all the way to the upper echelons of command - creating an environment where people can bring up a concern and feel heard without being put down or criticised is paramount to creating a high performance culture.  Dean also talks about a concept he has been using in his own work where ‘leadership is love’ and how this can be such an important framework when fostering a connected team environment.  Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

John Quinn is mental skills trainer for the Crusaders, who have won the Super Rugby title an incredible 7 times in a row. He is also the mental skills trainer for Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, who won the recent Japan Rugby One competition. John's impressive roster also includes national sporting organisations in cricket and softball, and he has guided countless athletes to world titles and Olympic glory.John is a seasoned expert who draws on leadership skills, positive psychology, and wellbeing research. As the Director of Performance Wellbeing, his mission is clear: Unleashing the passion and strengths within individuals and teams for optimal results. John challenges his athletes with unique experiences like underwater breathing and dance classes to nurture their ability to be vulnerable and take risks on and off the field.In this episode Andrew and John discuss:3:15 Winning titles, rugby talent coming out of New Zealand, and differences between coaches/coaching around the world.10:00 John’s education and career path, working with youth and getting comfortable with failure.19:15 Rewarding children’s effort not success, 6 pillars that underpin world-class teams and the lifespan of an athlete’s career.28:15 Vulnerability in sporting teams, getting athletes to stretch outside their comfort zones and the impact of social media on team dynamics.35:15 Teaching mental skills to kids, the shift in player’s priorities and being able to step back and taking a macro view.42:15 John’s success over the past 7 years, creating a winning team culture at the Crusaders and how NZ Rugby inspired the idea to collaborate and work together to all become better.52:15 How John reinvents himself, the brilliant basics, and working in Japanese rugby.1:05:15 Pressure and personal identity, using different colours in coaching (red and blue) and knowing how to use the right skills at the right time.1:16:45 Performance Uncovered.1:29:00 Andrew and The Wizard’s reflections. You can find John at his Website: https://performancewellbeing.co.nz/Or at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/performance_wellbeingnz/ Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

In this Bite Size from episode #51, Holly Ransom explains how she prepares for rockstar interviews with global leaders like Sir Richard Branson, Barrack and Michelle Obama, Condoleezza Rice, Adam Grant, Billy Jean King and Malcolm Gladwell. Holly has interviewed a diverse range of high performers in multiple fields, and she goes into detail on how she prepares leading up to the interview, and her process of reflecting after.Holly outlines how she finds information on her interviewees, how she builds rapport and trust, and how sometimes on the day things can take a turn and just need to throw everything out, back yourself, and be prepared to go with the flow.Follow Holly on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyransom/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://www.andrewmay.com/keynotes/  Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Michael Bungay Stanier (MBS) has a gift for distilling big, complex ideas into practical, accessible knowledge for everyday people that helps them be a force for good. His book, The Coaching Habit, is the best-selling coaching book of this century, with over one million copies sold.Michael founded Box of Crayons, a learning and development company that helps organisations transform from advice-driven to curiosity-led. Box of Crayons have trained hundreds of thousands of managers to be more coach-like, with clients ranging from Microsoft to Gucci. MBS has been featured on blogs and social media platforms for global thought leaders including Seth Godin, Tim Ferriss, and Brené Brown. Listen in to discover the 7 Essential Questions to achieve better coaching results, how to tame your Advice Monster, and how Michael was recently asked to coach Brené Brown live on her podcast. Make sure you listen right to the end where Andrew and Podraig O'Sullivan (one of the world's best leadership coaches) reflect on lessons learned from Michael's conversation. In this episode Andrew and Michael discuss:3:45 How Andrew and Michael met, Strictly Ballroom and selling over one million copies of The Coaching Habit10:40 Why Michael’s book was so successful, why many men struggle with the notion of coaching, and coaching with curiosity20:30 Getting in the right state for a presentation, being in service to other people and shifting for important Performance Moments27:00 7 Essential Questions to ask in coaching, coaching Brené Brown on the spot, and the gift of holding your silence47:30 Becoming a Rhodes scholar, being playful and disrupting the flow of power1:01:30 Reinventing yourself, solving problems and being of service1:06:30 Andrew and Padraig O'Sullivan's reflections Find Michael at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbungaystanier/                           Or Website: https://www.mbs.works/Buy a copy of Michael's books: https://www.booktopia.com.au/michael-bungay-stanier/author1256.html Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

In this Bite Size from episode #49 rugby legend Wayne Pearce shares the origin of his no BS approach to leadership he developed after seeing people get promoted to leadership roles they weren’t equipped for.Andrew also talks about his experience taking Wayne’s course and what he learned over the 3 days and how he uses that in his own business and coaching. You can find more about Wayne at his website: https://www.waynepearce.com.au/                                                              or Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waynepearce/  Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Dr. Marc Jarczok runs the Laboratory for Clinic-Experimental Stress Research within the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at the University Medical Center in Ulm, Germany. Dr Marc is an international expert in HRV and using it to positively impact wellbeing and performance. As a rule of thumb, higher HRV is associated with better health and less variability has been shown to be associated with all-cause mortality  Using principles of psychosomatic medicine, Dr Marc and his colleagues are teaching teams within the German Police Force about HRV, how to measure it, and how to regulate their physiology, emotions and decision making capability. We discuss the ability to bridge the gap between physiological and psychological factors, stress and emotional regulation, how the heart has a personality, and how to enhance cardiovascular health. Joining me in this discussion is regular podcast favourite, Dr Tom Buckley. Dr Tom is Director of Research at StriveStronger and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. He specialises in the impact of stress on cardiovascular health and coaches high performers to optimise their physical and psychological state.In episode Andrew, Dr Tom and Dr Marc discuss:4:30 How Dr Tom and Dr Marc first met and started their intellectual love affair, Dr Tom’s spine-tingling heart transplant story and how emotions form in our organs16:00 Emotional development in children and the bi-directional relationship between the heart, brain and HRT25:00 Heart rate and capacity and the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system41:00 Why Germany is so evolved and leads the way globally in psychosomatic medicine, HRV, and some of complications around measuring it50:30 What to do if you are time-poor, experience Andrew and Dr Tom have in measuring HRV and the positive effects of breathwork1:06:00 40-45 minutes of breathing is the sweet spot, learn how to set up a good breathing routine and the importance of regulating stress as you age1:20:00 The amazing results Dr Marc’s studies are showing in the German Police Force 1:35:30 'PQ and You' with Hugo Fonseca. Hugo is a regular podcast listener and previous participant of a Performance Wellbeing program with Andrew. Listen how Hugo lost 35 kg, positively impacted his family's wellbeing and literally turned his life around To find the resources mentioned in this episode go to: https://www.andrewmay.com/performance-intelligence-with-andrew-may/ Find Dr Marc at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-marc-n-jarczok-8194a77b/Read more about his Research: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marc-Jarczok Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Harness your imposter syndrome with Dr Nicola Gates. In this bite size from episode #48 Dr Nicola talks about her own experience with imposter syndrome and how she has learned to not only overcome it but also turn it into a useful tool she can use when she feels it. You can find Nicola at her website: http://brainandmindpsychology.com/  Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.