Performance Intelligence Podcast

The Penrith Panthers' 4 consecutive Grand Final wins are a testament to their exceptional skill and unwavering mental fortitude. This week on the Performance Intelligence Podcast, we delve into the secrets of their success with Dan Haesler, their Mental Skills Coach. Dan shares his unique approach to fostering a winning mindset, both on and off the field.Dan Haesler is a Performance and Mental Skills Coach who's worked with elite athletes from the Australian Olympic and Commonwealth Games Teams, the Penrith Panthers, and the NSW Swifts. He's also the Director of Cut Through Coaching and hosts the "Habits of Leadership" podcast.In this episode Andre and Dan discuss:2:00 How Andrew and Dan met through different Rugby teams, Dan growing up in the Postman Pat village and finding a love of teaching in high school after helping with a P.E. lesson.8:35 The rough school Dan first worked at, the strong team bond the teachers at that school had and the start of Dan looking in to mental skills.13:35 Why Dan is only interested in working with people he can create genuine connections with, learning empathy while teaching and Andrew and Dan’s shared hate of the word “hack”.18:35 Most athletes don’t know who they are without a footy in their hands, decoupling sport identity from personal identity and Dan’s I am/what I do exercise.26:10 How Dan stays calm, present and flexible during a Penrith game, the importance of mental recover in addition to physical recovery and how mental skills can give you the edge in an otherwise even league.33:30 It’s not just about your content but also how you deliver it, Dan’s core values of excellence and belonging and reframing imposter syndrome as humility.38:15 Asking questions about the way things operate in an organisation, what an average week looks like at the Penrith Panthers and a key learning from Olympic gold medallist Jess Fox.46:55 What Dan does in an average week, Ivan Cleary’s natural curiosity and not being intimidated working with him.48:55 How Dan’s work with the Tigers and Cronulla led him to working with Penrith, the first meeting Dan had with the leadership group at Penrith and being given time to observe before jumping in with a program.57:45 Most of Dans work is just listening, how Dan gets the team excited after 4 straight years of success and the importance of having good goals and goal setting processes.1:04:40 Athletes feeling empty after reaching their goals, the difference between working with a male team and a female team and taking things from different domains and sharing them with other organisations.1:12:15 Using gratitude to realign your thoughts in a helpful direction, making a habit of staying off phones in the home and Dan’s view on mindfulness.1:20:50 Being in the game until the very last play, Dan seeing himself as only a small part of the Panther’s success and sport is a working lab where you can test out ideas in an objective way.1:28:45 Where Dan sees himself in the next 5 years, what Andrew has come to change his mind about and where you can find Dan.You can find Dan at his Website:https://danhaesler.com/Or at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danhaesler/?hl=en                  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danhaesler/?originalSubdomain=auBuy a copy of Dan's book: https://www.actofleadership.com/View the image Dan mentions here: https://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/THIS-ISNT-THE-GOAL.png  Looking to streamline your financial goals? Connect with Zack Raad at Fruition Financial. 📅 Book a meeting with Zack: Calendly Link📞 Call: 0478 622 281📧 Email: zack@fruitionfinancial.com.au🌐 Website: www.fruitionfinancial.com.auZack Raad (Credit Representative 555450) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. This podcast is intended as a guide only. No loan approval can be assumed on this basis. All applications remain subject to the specific lenders credit approval criteria.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 #126 Kamal Sarma talks about his word of the year and how he uses it to make decisions every day and keep himself aligned with the word throughout the whole year. Kamal also expands on some of the other words he has used in previous years and a few ways they have helped him when going through difficult times and helped him steer his life in a more positive direction Listen to Kamal's previous episode here:https://shorturl.at/rQEMOYou can enter your word of the year here: https://www.rezilium.com/word-for-the-yearYou can find Kamal at his website: https://www.rezilium.com/                                      or Linkedin: https://rb.gy/qemwq Looking to streamline your financial goals? Connect with Zack Raad at Fruition Financial. 📅 Book a meeting with Zack: Calendly Link📞 Call: 0478 622 281📧 Email: zack@fruitionfinancial.com.au🌐 Website: www.fruitionfinancial.com.auZack Raad (Credit Representative 555450) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. This podcast is intended as a guide only. No loan approval can be assumed on this basis. All applications remain subject to the specific lenders credit approval criteria.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.

Professor Vincent Walsh, a renowned cognitive neuroscientist, dives into the critical role of sleep in enhancing performance and cognitive function. He discusses how our sleep patterns affect not just mental health but also relationships, revealing the fascinating impact of chronotypes. Myth-busting surrounds sleep needs, emphasizing individual variations rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Also, he explores the innovative combination of caffeine and naps to enhance alertness and the surprising connection between sleep quality and sexual health. Prepare to rethink your bedtime!

This episode is brought to you by Fruition Financial, which is committed to helping you achieve financial fitness. From starting his own finance business after years in banking to leveraging property investments, Zack shares invaluable insights that can help you navigate the complex world of real estate and finance. Learn how "rentvesting" can unlock your dream lifestyle without breaking the bank, understand the ins and outs of bank lending, and uncover simple strategies to enhance your savings. Whether you're a young professional or looking to make smarter financial decisions, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you achieve your property goals and secure your financial future. Tune in now and take the first step towards financial empowerment!In this episode Andrew and Zack discuss:2:00 Why Zack started up his own finance business after working at a bank.3:10 How Zack was able to use his property investments to fund his new business.4:55 You don’t need a huge amount of savings to buy a property.6:20 Why rentvesting could be ideal for you.8:00 Rent where you want to live and invest where you can afford.9:20 The surprising amount of assets you may have to leverage.11:45 Why some banks don’t lend as freely as others.13:00 Zack is in this for the long haul and will always be looking for the next best deal for his clients.15:15 Using your salary as a tool to leverage new loans.17:10 Adding up small costs over time can be a shock.18:25 looking at your lifestyle and seeing what you might need to cut.20:05 Lifestyle creep can be a big factor in saving money.22:25 How young people can work towards buying their first property with government assistance.24:15 Have a conversation about your finances now, no matter your current situation.26:20 A few simple areas you can save money.Find out more at Fruition Financials website: https://fruitionfinancial.com.au/You can find Zack at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackraad/ Looking to streamline your financial goals? Connect with Zack Raad at Fruition Financial. 📅 Book a meeting with Zack: Calendly Link📞 Call: 0478 622 281📧 Email: zack@fruitionfinancial.com.au🌐 Website: www.fruitionfinancial.com.auZack Raad (Credit Representative 555450) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. This podcast is intended as a guide only. No loan approval can be assumed on this basis. All applications remain subject to the specific lenders credit approval criteria.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.

What does it take to turn your fears into fuel for success? This week's guest is Rick Cooper (also known as The Educational Athlete). Rick is a former London Fire Service officer, athlete, and educator turned Leadership & Performance Coach. Rick shares his incredible journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a force for good, inspiring others to embrace authenticity and courage. With over 20 years of experience in his field of human behavior, performance, and leadership - Rick leaves you with practical strategies to transform your leadership style.Rick is the creator of the Education Athlete Program which offers a series of workshops designed to equip 15 to 18-year-old young men and women in independent schools with essential skills including emotional intelligence, resilience, and leadership. "Courage is the word. It takes absolute courage and bravery to want to sit in all your fear and accept it."In this episode, Andrew and Rick discuss:1:50 How Andrew and Rick met through JT at Manly, Rick's upbringing in a rough area of England, and the dysfunctional family dynamic Rick grew up with.5:30 How Rick found his upbringing affected him later in life, how Rick channeled his anger into rugby and moving to a new area to leave all that behind him.10:00 Why Rick thought he had to prove himself to everyone on the rugby pitch, his innate sense of empath,y and joining the fire service after recovering from a broken spine.17:45 The flattened hierarchy of the fire service Rick witnessed, sport isn’t high performance when compared to emergency services or the military, and the reaction Rick gets when he says that to athletes and coaches.23:30 Rick realising he was enough for himself after being invited to an international bodybuilding event, how Rick got into the speaking circuit by sharing his story and the story of Rick’s 47-year-old personal training client.38:30 Feeling whole after a long journey of self-discovery, Rick’s client finds peace and how Rick defines fear.45:48 Finding the courage to sit in the fear and move past it, authenticity creates genuine connections and Rick’s corporate client who struggled to be vulnerable with his team.55:30 Past pain informs future fear, you can’t get to courage without feeling fear beforehand and being on purpose to become whole.1:00:30 Rick is incapable of only having a surface-level conversation, leaving behind people in your life who drag you down, and resolving conflict with your partner.1:09:20 The 3 questions you should ask yourself, are where you can find Rick and who Andrew would like to see through the eyes of for a day. Rick's 3 questions are:Why am I doing what I'm doing?In my relationship, what are we doing well, and what is not working?What's my biggest obstacle right now and how do I overcome it?You can find Rick at his website: https://www.rick-cooper.com/Or at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-cooper-theeducationathlete/Listen to the podcast with Michael Bungay Stanier: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/66-michael-bungay-stanier-the-power-of-coaching-tapping-into-curiosity-and-reinventing-yourself-to-stay-relevant-and-freshBuy a copy of his book mentioned in this podcast: https://www.mbs.works/coaching-habit-book/ Looking to streamline your financial goals? Connect with Zack Raad at Fruition Financial. 📅 Book a meeting with Zack: Calendly Link📞 Call: 0478 622 281📧 Email: zack@fruitionfinancial.com.au🌐 Website: www.fruitionfinancial.com.auZack Raad (Credit Representative 555450) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. This podcast is intended as a guide only. No loan approval can be assumed on this basis. All applications remain subject to the specific lenders credit approval criteria.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 #96 Original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page shares the story of how he survived a near fatal heart attack while performing on stage and how that has put him on his current life path of raising money and awareness of heart health. Greg also talks about how you can be of help if you see someone having a heart attack and the importance of having an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on hand.  You can find Greg at his Instagram: www.instagram.com/greg_page_yellowwiggle/Or at the Heart Of The Nation Website: https://www.heartofthenation.com.au/  Looking to streamline your financial goals? Connect with Zack Raad at Fruition Financial. 📅 Book a meeting with Zack: Calendly Link📞 Call: 0478 622 281📧 Email: zack@fruitionfinancial.com.au🌐 Website: www.fruitionfinancial.com.auZack Raad (Credit Representative 555450) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. This podcast is intended as a guide only. No loan approval can be assumed on this basis. All applications remain subject to the specific lenders credit approval criteria.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.

There is a lot of confusion about the differences between leadership capacity and leadership capability. In this discussion Angela Poon and Andrew May give people a clear understanding of what leadership capacity is, and more importantly – how to train it!Leadership capability is the skills, knowledge and attributes to effectively lead others. Leadership Capacity is the ability to manage energy, perform consistently under pressure and regulate emotions to effectively lead yourself. In this episode Ange and Andrew discuss:2:00 There isn’t a lot of information on leadership capacity, and how Ange built this into her life after working at KPMG and catching up with what she has learned over the past few years.8:30 How Andrew evolved his philosophy on leadership capacity, the difference between leadership capability and leadership capacity and the most common challenge Andrew sees leaders facing.19:30 How Commbank CEO Matt Comyn manages his energy, how most people aren't aware of how to manage their own energy and try a 21 Day Challenge to get started and feel better everyday.26:10 How Manly Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold builds down regulation into his day, techniques you can use to down regulate and when your brain is calm your body follows.33:10 How Andrew discovered the concept of performance moments while working at KPMG, how Warrant Officer Ken Robertson shifts state between work and home and how you can consciously shift state between performance moments.39:55 High performing teams give feedback regularly, and how Compass Group CCO Shelley Roberts uses the Better Week to manage energy and focus on what matters in a high intensity global role.43:50 How Ange coaches clients around the Better Week, Andrew plans his Better Week at the start of every week and the difference between a  Better Week, a survival week and a recovery week.48:00 How firefighter Sam Monaghan stays calm and regulates his emotions, being calm isn’t being soft (it’s being ready) and the inverted U hypothesis of performance and arousal.53:45 Being able to pull the appropriate performance levers when you need them is essential, Andrew’s summary of leadership capacity and sign up for our free masterclass on the Performance Intelligence website. View the Inverted U model here: https://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Dynamic-Energy-Model-02-scaled.jpg Listen to the episode with Matt Comyn: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/94-matt-comyn Listen to the episode with Seibs: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/128-anthony-seibold Listen to the episode with Ken Robertson: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/106-ken-robertson Listen to the episode with Shelley Roberts: https://tinyurl.com/ydahb4zc Listen to the episode with Sam Monaghan: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/111-sam-monaghan Looking to streamline your financial goals? Connect with Zack Raad at Fruition Financial. 📅 Book a meeting with Zack: Calendly Link📞 Call: 0478 622 281📧 Email: zack@fruitionfinancial.com.au🌐 Website: www.fruitionfinancial.com.auZack Raad (Credit Representative 555450) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. This podcast is intended as a guide only. No loan approval can be assumed on this basis. All applications remain subject to the specific lenders credit approval criteria.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 #93 professional MC Luke Hannan talks to Andrew and Ange about what it is that makes for a good public speaker and gives out some examples of how he gets himself ready for a big presentation. Luke also shares some of the ways you can use breathing and imagery to get yourself ready to present to a crowd of any size, even if you have no experience. Find Luke at his Website: https://lukehannan.com.au/Or at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukehannan Looking to streamline your financial goals? Connect with Zack Raad at Fruition Financial. 📅 Book a meeting with Zack: Calendly Link📞 Call: 0478 622 281📧 Email: zack@fruitionfinancial.com.au🌐 Website: www.fruitionfinancial.com.auZack Raad (Credit Representative 555450) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. This podcast is intended as a guide only. No loan approval can be assumed on this basis. All applications remain subject to the specific lenders credit approval criteria.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.

Jake Trbojevic and Michael Bevan are on the Performance Intelligence Podcast this week! Andrew reveals the unexpected connection between the two as they delve into the surprising realities of high performance anxiety, the pressures of leadership, and the unexpected paths to success.Jake, a prominent NRL player for the Manly Sea Eagles and the current captain of the NSW State of Origin team, is celebrated for his remarkable rugby skills and mental resilience. Known for his quiet strength, Jake exemplifies what it means to lead with integrity.Michael, an Australian cricket legend, is renowned for his calm demeanor and match-winning contributions during Australia’s golden era in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including two World Cup victories. Now a respected mentor, he guides athletes on navigating high performance and mental health challenges."Superpowers* are simply those qualities that contribute to your consistency. It’s all about how YOU define your superpower. Definitions and goals are crucial to your understanding of what a superpower truly is.”In this episode Andrew, Micahel aka Bevo and Jake talk about:2:45 Bevo’s rockstar front hiding an introverted nerd, how Jake and Bevo first met after Jake’s nightmare training session and what first struck Jake during his.7:20 Why Bevo resonated with Jake’s struggles, what Bevo felt like at his peak of playing and Jake’s reaction to being named NSW State Of Origin Captain unexpectedly.15:00 The definition of high performance anxiety, how Jake gained a bit of perspective on life and deep wins and shallow losses.21:55 Why rooming with Bevo was considered a death sentence, having anxiety so bad it ruined his sleep and how Bevo gained his self awareness to tame his anxiety.28:30 Getting dropped from the Australian test team in a hotel in Leeds, enjoying the back of his career more after dealing with his anxiety and how working with Bevo on this had improved Jake’s day to day life.33:20 Jake controlling the controllables, how Bevo has turned his anxiety into a superpower and having a frozen fish thrown at his head during a game.42:15 Bevo’s different mental modes, some of the things Jake has learned from Bevo and Jake being the nicest guy in the nrl.52:15 Bevo wanting to have a positive impact on people, knowing when to not jump in to a conversation too quickly is a skill and Jake’s mental toughness as a superpower.58:00 How Glenn Mcgrath was able to perfect the simple things in his successful career in cricket, the difference between and average player and a great player is consistency and Jake’s new mystery skill he has been working on.1:05:30 The Difference between consistency and playing the same game, how Bevo learned to be an effective coach and Jake learning to ask others for help.1:14:00 The difference between a coach and a mentor, why Bevo likes learning about different industries and Jake and Bevo’s advice for people starting in their careers. You can find Bevo at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bevo_michaelbevan/?hl=enYou can find Jake at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaketrbojevic/?hl=enCheck out Bevo's gold chain look: https://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/michael-bevan-to-be-inducted-in-the-australian-cricket-hall-of-fame.jpg Watch the interview with Jake about anxiety: https://wwos.nine.com.au/videos/nrl/nrl-news-2024-jake-trbojevic-interview-manly-sea-eagles-finals/cm19608yh000c0glg0ggyl1ccRead the article about Jake's mental toughness: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/can-you-turn-the-nicest-guy-in-rugby-league-into-an-origin-captain-20240528-p5jhc3.html Looking to streamline your financial goals? Connect with Zack Raad at Fruition Financial. 📅 Book a meeting with Zack: Calendly Link📞 Call: 0478 622 281📧 Email: zack@fruitionfinancial.com.au🌐 Website: www.fruitionfinancial.com.auZack Raad (Credit Representative 555450) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. This podcast is intended as a guide only. No loan approval can be assumed on this basis. All applications remain subject to the specific lenders credit approval criteria.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.

What happens when your career ends but your health - and identity - start to unravel? In this Bite Size from episode #100, Longevity Expert Amelia Phillips shares how she helped a retired professional athlete navigate the tough transition after sport — rebuilding his physical health and reshaping his mindset before things spiralled further.Andrew May also reflects on his work with elite athletes facing the same identity crisis — and why preparing for life beyond your peak years isn’t just about your body, but your mindset too. Whether you’re an athlete or not, the question is the same: Are you preparing for age 80, or are you leaving your future health to chance? You can find Amelia at her website: https://www.ameliaphillips.com.au/Or at her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_amelia_phillips/?hl=enOr at her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-phillips/ Looking to streamline your financial goals? Connect with Zack Raad at Fruition Financial. 📅 Book a meeting with Zack: Calendly Link📞 Call: 0478 622 281📧 Email: zack@fruitionfinancial.com.au🌐 Website: www.fruitionfinancial.com.auZack Raad (Credit Representative 555450) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. This podcast is intended as a guide only. No loan approval can be assumed on this basis. All applications remain subject to the specific lenders credit approval criteria.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.