Performance Intelligence

From the newsroom to navigating the unknown, Andrea Clarke has lived a life at the edge of change. As a former television reporter and foreign correspondent in Washington, D.C., she’s faced high-pressure moments, ethical dilemmas, and unexpected challenges—and turned them into lessons for leaders and teams.Andrea shares the stories behind her work as a futurist, author, and speaker, revealing how she helps people anticipate disruption, build resilience, and shape intentional futures. From losing a job abroad for whistleblowing to lessons from her dad handling a plane engine stall mid-flight, Andrea’s experiences are as gripping as they are insightful.In this episode, Andrew and Andrea discuss:00:15 Losing a job abroad for whistleblowing and having 10 days to find a new one. 06:15 Resilience in action: discovering true friends and showing up on the worst day as a reporter. 12:25 Navigating daily chaos and lessons from Andrea’s dad handling a stalled plane with three kids. 17:50 3,000 hours of practice, helping stay calm under pressure, and preparing corporates for change. 24:15 Change is uncomfortable. This is how to integrate it into your team beyond just focusing on losses. 29:20 Building fire breaks and spotting opportunities for exploration and adaptation. 39:45 Selling stressful properties: feeling relief and letting go of what no longer serves you. 44:10 Boosting energy for upcoming changes, plus Andrew’s keynote highlights and finding Andrea.You can find Andrea at her website: https://www.andreaclarke.com.au/Or at her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaclarke2020 Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. 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 #137 Andrew and Dr Tom talk about why recent studies have shown that not only is sitting not good for your health but it has a very similar effect on mortality rates as smoking over long periods of time.  Dr Tom also explains that not only is this effect limited to sitting but lying down for long periods can have a similar effect, including when you sleep!You can find the resource mentioned by Dr Tom here: https://app.box.com/s/vjd3uan18inklqvli17cz0digud1tmam Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details.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.

Lisa Alexander is one of Australia’s greatest sports coaches. From leading the Australian Diamonds to global netball impact, this isn't just about netball; it's a masterclass in coaching and leadership. Hear Lisa's journey, from her early coaching days to achieving an 81% win rate with the Diamonds, winning gold at the Commonwealth Games and World Cup.In this episode Andrew and Lisa discuss:00:20 Lisa is one of the most underrated coaches in Australia, having a chip on your shoulder and the best coaches usually weren’t the best players.6:40 Staying grounded and being open to learning, reaching out to Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy and getting her learning outside of school and university.10:45 The 2 books Lisa could potentially write, how Lisa was able to study, work and raise a child and being achievement oriented to try and impress her dad.16:45 Why coaching and teaching work so well together, creating teams in the classroom and spending a year following the Australian netball coach around.21:45 The ability to be self-aware is the most important, Lisa’s biggest influences and Lisa’s advice to people who want to get into coaching.32:45 Craig Harper working for Lisa for 10c an hour, focusing on the person first and the athlete second and you have to have a bit of ego as a coach, but not too much.37:25 The introduction of “Sisters in Arms” at The Diamonds, falling in love with rugby union at Twickenham and respecting the culture of the country that you are coming in to.44:30 Money can lead to mediocrity, encouraging players to do coaching courses as they are playing and getting perspective outside your own environment.49:00 Family first is a key tenant of Lisa’s philosophy, Lisa’s work with corporate teams and where you can find Lisa.You can find Lisa at the TGI website: https://tgisport.com.au/talent/lisa-alexander/Or the Celebrity Speakers website: https://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/speakers/lisa-alexander/Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-alexander-am-a83bb378/?originalSubdomain=au Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. 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 #92 Bonnie Hancock talks about how she was able to leverage vulnerability with her support crew and friends to keep herself sane and safe on her paddle around Australia 100km out from the shore by sharing when she was scared or in pain and needed some help. Bonnie also talks about how she has used multi-sensory imagery since she was a child to prepare herself for big iron woman events and how she was able to adapt those skills on her world record breaking paddle to help deal with the loneliness every day. You can find Bonnie at her Website: https://www.bonniehancock.com/Or at her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-hancock-0a03a0217/Follow Bonnie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonniehancock/?hl=enOr at her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnie.hancock.54 Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details.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.

4 keynotes in a 24-hour period that included over 2,000 attendees, four client industries, across three states. That kind of sprint could leave most people feeling flat, fractured, and f’ing broken. At Performance Intelligence we up-skill elite athletes, sporting teams and people employed in high-stakes environments to perform in key moments, when it matters most – and last week was Andrew's turn to put these science-based tools (and a few decades of experience) into practice. "We don’t rise to the occasion. We fall to our level of preparation."Shannon Frost (Podcast Producer) locked Andrew in the studio to try and understand how the process he followed could apply to her, and to our wider audience. In this episode Shannon and Andrew discuss:00:55 Building up to doing 4 presentations in 24 hours, an in-depth look at the 4 different keynotes and locations, and the 5 performance levers Andrew pulled to deliver at a high standard.7:05 This isn’t a normal occurrence for Andrew and "there’s periods during the year where you need to rise to the challenge" and the metrics (wearable tech) he uses to measure stress and recovery, especially during hectic periods.11:35 Does Andrew exercise because he enjoys it, or is he addicted to it? And does walking help increase physiological capacity?12:30 This 24 hour window was part of a bigger 4-week intensive block of presentations.16:55 Tapping into purpose to push through challenging/testing times, Andrew catching up with himself in the exhaustion aftermath, and a simple way to tap into your personal purpose.21:25 Andrew didn’t find his purpose and clear identity until his 40s, the conversation Andrew and Shannon had that led to her studying counselling, and how she feels about the big shift in her life.27:40 How Andrew’s support team helped him in the 4 presentations, and how the wizard set up for a virtual studio in a new space.31:05 The most important part of Andrew’s support team: his partner Toni, the fighter pilot analogy of working as part of a team and how people without a support team can still use some digital tools to help them be more productive.34:00 How Andrew down regulated after the highs of each presentation, being strategic and recovering in waves, simple ways to micro dose recovery.40:15 The muscle memory that builds up after years of presenting, and still getting nervous after all of these years.46:40 Winging it can lead to being hit or miss, transitioning straight in to a 5th birthday party after the 24 hour block, and what Shannon can took away from the discussion.Listen to the podcast on HRV: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/65-the-science-of-heart-rate-variability-hrv-and-teaching-the-german-police-force-breathwork-and-how-to-regulate-stress-dr-marc-jarczok-with-dr-tom-buckley Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. 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.

Menopause is impacting your sleep. Prof Walsh reveals how the hormonal shifts and other physiological changes during this life stage can significantly disrupt sleep quality.In this episode, we delve into the challenges of researching menopause and sleep, exploring why it's a relatively under-researched area. Professor Walsh details his work with elite athletes, demonstrating how simple bedroom adjustments—like temperature control and the use of earplugs—can dramatically improve sleep consistency during the menstrual cycle and menopause. He explains the interconnectedness of temperature regulation, sleep cycles, hunger, and satiety, highlighting the hypothalamus's crucial role. The episode provides practical advice for improving sleep during menopause, emphasizing the importance of creating a consistent sleep routine and optimizing the bedroom environment for optimal rest. You can find Professor Vincent at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-walsh-15187b28/?originalSubdomain=ukGet a copy of the books mentioned in this podcast:https://www.amazon.com.au/Rhythms-Life-Biological-Clocks-Control-ebook/dp/B005LMSKAYhttps://www.penguin.com.au/books/why-we-sleep-9780141983769https://www.amazon.com.au/Take-Nap-Change-Your-Life/dp/0761142908 Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details.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. Michael Gervais is a high-performance psychologist with a track record of working with Olympic athletes and the Seattle Seahawks, while John Clarke is the head of performance for Manly Sea Eagles. They dive into the importance of being present and self-aware, especially under pressure. Gervais shares his journey with imposter syndrome and the power of mindfulness. The discussion also touches on cultivating purpose within teams, the significance of clear communication, and lessons learned from both the Seahawks and the Raiders in resilience and team dynamics.

In this Bite Size from episode #113 ultra marathon runner Sean Bell talks about the unusual diet he had to adopt on the run around Australia and why that played a part in the nausea he felt on the entire run.  Sean also elaborates on how he was able to keep going mentally by using his why, in this case raising money for sick kids and how he found himself doing a form of moving meditation to keep his mind occupied in the many hours of the run. You can find Sean at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanbellruns/?hl=enAt his Website: https://seanbellruns.com/Or at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbellruns/?originalSubdomain=auSend Sean an email at: sean@seanbellruns.com  Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details.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.

With nearly 3 decades of experience at KPMG, Martin has mastered the art of merging governance with innovation, all while stressing the importance of being "MatchFit" and creating "Leadership Capacity" - a holistic approach that combines physical and mental readiness for peak performance."In terms of leadership, I'm not a big emailer and I'm not a big meeting requester...I think true leadership is actually knocking over and getting things out of the way and empowering other people..."In this episode Andrew and Martin discuss:2:30 Andrew and Martin’s long term professional and personal relationship, Andrew’s ADHD theory in relation to productivity and the brutal feedback Andrew gave to Martin on his presentation.7:10 How showing vulnerability and putting a bit of himself in the presentation helped Martin, believing in yourself and following through on it and learning as much about leadership outside of work as inside.11:55 Advice on leadership from the former premier of NSW, the rise of digital natives in the current crop of new hires and why KPMG bought Andrew’s previous business.19:20 Why Martin looks 10 years ahead, not just 10 months, Martins philosophy on mentors and some of his and Andrew’s mentors throughout the years.27:50 Martin’s natural curiosity and how that leads him to new skills, taking a year off when he turned 50 and spending that time renovating his own house.32:40 Leading from the back of the room, doing a shred a couple of times a year to keep good habits and the start of the shred being a terrible feeling until you get used to it.36:40 Spending the first half of your life training to be healthy for the second half, how Martin researches guests for the KPMG podcast and Gary Windgrove’s quote about Martin.40:20 Martin’s partner Suzanne’s thoughts on Martin, doing the Sydney to Hobart race makes the rest of the year seem easier and learning leadership skills from yacht racing.47:10 Martin’s disastrous first Hawkesbury kayak race, not being able to walk past a piece of rubbish without picking it up and starting work at Spotless during a time of crisis.55:20 being under pressure from day 1 to do something clever at Spotless, some of Andrew and Martin’s favourite AFR cartoons from that time and Martins safety net being his family and his values.1:02:40 Dealing with tall poppy syndrome, how consulting firms can adopt AI and using AI technology for the benefit of the customers.1:09:45 Martin’s love for KPMG and all it has done for him, removing the hard limit of retiring at 58 in KPMG and how Martin is able to synthesise information so effectively.1:20:00 Making sure to take time off and recharge, recognising the tough times Andrew and Martin have been through and you can’t control the wind but you can control the sails.Connect with Martin at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinsheppard1/?originalSubdomain=auOr through the KPMG website: https://kpmg.com/au/en/home/contacts/s/martin-sheppard.htmlView the AFR cartoons mentioned in the podcast:https://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/33d364e1f8f4f4f0b2c9b3e5d9c195a7.webphttps://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/813111e20707ef1bd7a1e38c3a2fdd6b670595f1.webphttps://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/f9a05922d440f4f9f9a365d589da430770b4526d.webpListen to the podcast with Arthur Brooks: https://findingmastery.com/podcasts/arthur-brooks/ Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. 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 #109 Dr Alan Thompson talks about the future of the education industry worldwide and how the AI revolution has changed the way teachers and academics work when students can have an essay written for them in seconds. Dr Alan also talks a bit about how he doesn't have all the answers to the future AI can lead us to and anyone claiming they do is either lying to you or wrong. You can find Alan at his Website: https://lifearchitect.ai/Subscribe to his newsletter: https://lifearchitect.ai/memo/Try out Claude 3.5 Sonnet: https://claude.ai Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details.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.