Inform Performance

Episode 182: In this episode of the Sport Performance Leadership Podcast host Pete McKnight speaks to Luke Passman, a seasoned performance leader with experience across rugby, tennis, baseball, and football at the elite level. Luke is currently the Head of Performance Sciences – Academy at Chelsea FC, where he oversees S&C, sport science, and nutrition. Luke’s career spans top roles including Strength & Conditioning Coordinator for the New York Mets, where he oversaw player development systems in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic, and Head of Sport Science Support at SotoTennis Academy, leading multidisciplinary teams. He’s also a private performance consultant on the WTA Tour, working with players at Grand Slam and WTA 250/500 events. Topics Discussed: Career journey – From coaching in Spain to leadership at the Mets and Chelsea FC Transition to leadership – Moving from S&C delivery to managing multidisciplinary teams Leadership at the Mets – Navigating decentralised systems and empowering staff Strategic performance impact – Leading initiatives like performance scouting for the MLB Draft Learning to lead – Mentorship, reflection, and executive leadership training at Oxford Navigating change – Managing staff and culture through leadership turnover Core leadership principles – Authenticity, clarity, autonomy, and honest feedback Cultural adaptability – Leading across Spain, the U.S., and the UK Future of performance leadership – Data-driven systems, generational shifts, and staff development Advice for aspiring leaders – Be self-aware, seek support, work hard, and own your growth - Where you can find Luke: •⁠  LinkedIn •⁠ Instagram •⁠ X - Sponsors Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. Remaker: The Portable Strength Tracking Ecosystem. Remaker provides real-time insights to optimise your performance, making even the smallest improvements in your strength training visible in an engaging and powerful format. Remakers integrate seamlessly with the exercise equipment you already use, and the app provides meaningful metrics for every rep, of every set, of every exercise. VALD: makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training. -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight

Episode 181: In this episode of the Inform Performance podcast host Andy McDonald speaks to Dr. Chris Bramah, a leading physiotherapist specializing in running injuries and biomechanics. With vast experience in elite-level sport, Chris has worked with British Athletics and Team GB, supporting endurance athletes at the Tokyo 2020 & Rio 2016 Olympics, the 2017 London World Championships, IAAF Diamond League events, and global altitude training camps. Topics Discussed: The importance of movement quality assessment in injury prevention Sprint technique: Balancing risk vs. reward for performance and injury reduction Understanding the S-MAS (Sprint Mechanics Assessment Score) and its key parameters The workflow of an S-MAS assessment – How it’s used in practice Case studies demonstrating real-world applications of S-MAS Limitations and future directions of sprint mechanics assessment The role of AI in revolutionizing movement analysis Tune in for expert insights into biomechanics, sprint mechanics, and the future of movement assessment in elite sports.   - Where you can find Chris: LinkedIn X (Twitter) Instagram -  Sponsors VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. Output: is a faster, cheaper and more efficient way to test, analyze, report and program athletic performance - all in a single platform and sensor. Provide comprehensive performance evaluations with 200+ assessments spanning VBT, strength, power and movement. Validated by 10+ years of scientific research.  -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight

Episode 180: In this episode of our Sports Science Insights Podcast, powered by Inform Performance, host Steve Barrett speaks to Aman Singh Shergill, Head of Innovation and Performance Scientist for a Premier League & Champions League club. With a background in both applied and academic sport science, Aman is also completing his PhD at the University of Chester, making him a leading expert in technology-driven performance solutions. Topics Discussed: Aman’s journey into sport science and innovation The evolution of sport science and its impact on elite performance The role of technology in modern sport science practice Are we using too much technology? – Finding the right balance The 4 Pillars of implementation for effective tech use in sport The future of technology in sports – Where are we headed? - Where you can find Aman: •⁠  LinkedIn •⁠ ResearchGate •⁠ X - Sponsors VALD: makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training. Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. Teambuildr: A platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete and client performance data. Teambuildr is a complete platform. Whether you're building your own programming, looking to create custom reports or give athletes a tool for accountability, they've built it out. -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight

Episode 179: In this episode of our Sport Performance Leadership Podcast, host Pete McKnight speaks to Barry Shillabeer, a globally experienced sports performance leader with over two decades in elite sport. As Head of Performance at Aspire Academy of Sporting Excellence in Qatar, Barry leads multidisciplinary teams, optimizing athlete development, strategic planning, and performance evaluation. Previously, Barry played a key role in British high-performance sport, holding leadership positions with the English Institute of Sport, British Swimming, UK Athletics, and the Rugby Football Union. He also served as Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for Team GB at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, contributing to legacy facility design and long-term performance strategies. Topics Discussed: Leadership in elite sports performance – Managing high-performance programs in the UK and Qatar The evolution of leadership – Adapting leadership styles to different teams and challenges The importance of human connection and trust – Building strong relationships with athletes, coaches, and staff Organizational structures and processes – Ensuring efficiency in performance support, sport science, and data analytics Transformational leadership and impact – Creating positive sports cultures and inspiring future generations The value of continuous learning – Seeking mentorship, embracing new perspectives, and evolving as a leader Practical advice for aspiring leaders – Technical proficiency, work ethic, and proactive goal-setting Tune in for expert insights on leadership, athlete development, and the future of high-performance sport. - Where you can find Barry: •⁠  LinkedIn •⁠ Instagram •⁠ X - Sponsors Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. Remaker: The Portable Strength Tracking Ecosystem. Remaker provides real-time insights to optimise your performance, making even the smallest improvements in your strength training visible in an engaging and powerful format. Remakers integrate seamlessly with the exercise equipment you already use, and the app provides meaningful metrics for every rep, of every set, of every exercise. VALD: makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training. -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight

Episode 178: In this episode of the Athletic Shoulder Podcast, Ben Ashworth sits down with Danny Wilson, a UKSCA accredited Strength & Conditioning Coach with extensive experience in the world of boxing. Danny has worked with hundreds of boxers, ranging from junior amateurs to world champions, and developed the Boxing Science strength and conditioning program. His innovative approach has reached over 10,000 customers worldwide, making a significant impact in the world of combat sports. During this conversation, Danny shares his insights on the critical role of strength and conditioning in boxing, with a particular focus on shoulder health and performance. From the importance of the kinetic chain in delivering powerful punches to addressing the prevalence of shoulder injuries among boxers, Danny dives deep into the essential aspects of conditioning for combat sports. - Topics Discussed  The critical role of strength and conditioning in boxing, focusing on shoulder health and performance Danny's journey into the world of boxing and the importance of the kinetic chain in delivering powerful punches The prevalence of shoulder injuries among boxers The need for individualized testing and training to address specific weaknesses and improve overall performance The intricacies of shoulder-specific training for boxers, with an emphasis on stability and strength Innovative testing methods for assessing punch power The critical role of core strength in enhancing boxing performance The importance of individualized training approaches and future exploration in the field - Where you can find Danny: LinkedIn X (Twitter) Instagram Website -  Sponsors VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. Output: is a faster, cheaper and more efficient way to test, analyze, report and program athletic performance - all in a single platform and sensor. Provide comprehensive performance evaluations with 200+ assessments spanning VBT, strength, power and movement. Validated by 10+ years of scientific research.  -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight  

Episode 177: Join host Andy McDonald on our Inform Performance Podcast, for an in-depth conversation with Tom Tombleson, a renowned Strength & Conditioning Coach with extensive experience in professional rugby and elite sports. As a former professional rugby player and a lead Strength & Conditioning Coach for England Rugby, Australian Rugby Union, Manchester City FC, and GB Rugby 7’s, Tom shares expert perspectives on conditioning, rehabilitation, movement mechanics, and the evolving demands of high-performance sport.   - Topics Discussed  Understanding Tendinopathy and Movement Mechanics Case Studies in Athlete Rehabilitation Navigating Movement Patterns in Athletes Identifying Subtle Signs of Athletic Issues Individualizing Player Preparation Evolving Conditioning Strategies Common Conditioning Approaches in Rugby Leveraging Strengths in Conditioning Minimum Standards & Metrics in Conditioning - Where you can find Tom: LinkedIn X (Twitter) Instagram Website -  Sponsors VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. TeamBuildr: A platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete and client performance data. Teambuildr is a complete platform. Whether you're building your own programming, looking to create custom reports or give athletes a tool for accountability, they've built it out.  Output: is a faster, cheaper and more efficient way to test, analyze, report and program athletic performance - all in a single platform and sensor. Provide comprehensive performance evaluations with 200+ assessments spanning VBT, strength, power and movement. Validated by 10+ years of scientific research.  -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight  

Episode 176: Join host Steve Barrett on our Sports Science Insights podcast powered by Inform Performance, where cutting-edge research meets real-world application in elite sports. This episode features Naomi Myhill, a Sports Science & Research Consultant with a PhD in Sports Performance, specializing in the locomotor demands of women’s football. With extensive experience working with elite organizations such as The FA and City Football Group, Naomi shares evidence-based insights into the ever-evolving landscape of women's high-performance sport.   ✏️ Key Topics Discussed: ▪️From Research to Performance – How performance questions shape research directions ▪️Women’s Football Insights – Training & match demands in English women’s domestic football ▪️Peak Intensities vs. Averages – Rethinking training prescriptions for female athletes ▪️ Volume vs. Intensity – Are players under-exposed to the game’s demands? ▪️Speed Thresholds in Women’s Football – Why aren’t they standardized yet? ▪️ Optimizing Performance Impact – Fast vs. methodological research approaches ▪️The Internal vs. External Load Conundrum – Managing female athlete workloads effectively - Where you can find Naomi: •⁠ LinkedIn •⁠ X/Twitter •⁠ ResearchGate - Sponsors VALD: makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training. Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. Teambuildr: A platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete and client performance data. Teambuildr is a complete platform. Whether you're building your own programming, looking to create custom reports or give athletes a tool for accountability, they've built it out. -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight

Episode 175: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast powered by Inform Performance, Pete McKnight sits down with Raj Thiruchelvarajah—Co-Founder & CEO of Hytro, a leading human performance company specializing in Blood Flow Restriction (BFR). From his transition out of the corporate world to building a groundbreaking sports-tech company, Raj shares his journey of leadership, resilience, and growth. With Hytro now serving over 150 professional sports teams and even partnering with SpaceX, Raj reflects on the challenges of scaling a startup and the lessons learned along the way.   ✏️ Topics Discussed: ▪️ Leadership Evolution from Corporate to Startup ▪️ Navigating the Challenges of Early-Stage Startups ▪️ Building High-Performance Culture Inspired by Elite Sports ▪️ Decision-Making Under Pressure and Risk Management ▪️ The Power of Constant Learning and Adaptation - Where you can find Raj: •⁠  LinkedIn •⁠ Instagram •⁠ Hytro - Sponsors Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. Remaker: The Portable Strength Tracking Ecosystem. Remaker provides real-time insights to optimise your performance, making even the smallest improvements in your strength training visible in an engaging and powerful format. Remakers integrate seamlessly with the exercise equipment you already use, and the app provides meaningful metrics for every rep, of every set, of every exercise. VALD: makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training. -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight

Episode 174: In this episode of the Sport Science Insights Podcast powered by Inform Performance, Steve Barrett sits down with Kelsey Vinson, Sports Scientist for Virginia Tech Football, to explore the evolving role of sports science in American football. Kelsey, now in her second season with the Hokies, brings a wealth of experience from her time working with teams across the ACC, SEC, and Big 12, and shares her insights on the latest trends in sports science.   ✏️Topics Discussed: ▪️What a sports science role looks like in a university football setting. ▪️The impact sports science can have on a football program, from injury prevention to performance optimization. ▪️The innovations in sports science that are shaping her work. ▪️The future of sports science in American football and where it’s headed. - Where you can find Kelsey: •⁠  LinkedIn •⁠ Twitter - Sponsors VALD: makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training. Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. Teambuildr: A platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete and client performance data. Teambuildr is a complete platform. Whether you're building your own programming, looking to create custom reports or give athletes a tool for accountability, they've built it out. -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight

Episode 173: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast powered by Inform Performance, Pete McKnight speaks with David Lasini, a highly respected leader in strength & conditioning with 30 years of experience across Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth, and professional sports. Currently Head of S&C at Sport Northern Ireland Sports Institute, David leads a team of coaches supporting over 20 elite sports. His career spans the Victorian, Australian, UK, and Northern Ireland Institutes of Sport, with expertise in field hockey, athletics, rowing, netball, Australian Rules Football, Gaelic football, judo, soccer, bobskeleton, and more. He was also Senior S&C Coach for Australia’s National Hockey Teams (2009-2013) and played a key role in Team GB’s Performance Science for Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024.     ✏️Topics Discussed ▪️Key leadership experiences—from early mentorship to leading national programs ▪️ How his leadership style evolved—balancing collaboration with decisiveness ▪️Why self-awareness and emotional intelligence are crucial in high performance ▪️The importance of authenticity—staying true to your values as a leader Future trends in sports leadership—tech, business acumen & well-being - Where you can find David: •⁠  LinkedIn - Sponsors VALD: makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training. Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. Teambuildr: A platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete and client performance data. Teambuildr is a complete platform. Whether you're building your own programming, looking to create custom reports or give athletes a tool for accountability, they've built it out. Remaker: The Portable Strength Tracking Ecosystem. Remaker provides real-time insights to optimise your performance, making even the smallest improvements in your strength training visible in an engaging and powerful format. Remakers integrate seamlessly with the exercise equipment you already use, and the app provides meaningful metrics for every rep, of every set, of every exercise. -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight