Inform Performance

Episode 205: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we are joined by Dr. David Bailey — an internationally recognised coach, sports scientist, and performance leader whose career spans over two decades across Olympic, corporate, and professional sport. David is currently Head of Performance Support with a World Tour professional cycling team, where he leads multidisciplinary sports science and performance teams competing at the highest level. Over the past ten years, he has helped drive innovation and integration across physiology, nutrition, technology, and data — guiding athletes and staff towards sustained world-class performance. Before his move into cycling, David was a Senior Research Scientist at Nestlé, responsible for global sports nutrition research for PowerBar, and previously a sports physiologist with the English Institute of Sport across three Olympic cycles — Athens, Beijing, and London — supporting athletes in cycling, triathlon, and other endurance sports. With a PhD in Exercise and Sport Nutrition from Loughborough University and more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, David continues to shape the evolution of applied sports science and performance leadership — bridging the gap between research, technology, and real-world performance. In this conversation, David and Pete explore the art and science of performance management — from the “aggregation of marginal gains” to the power of reflection, collaboration, and human-centred leadership in complex, high-pressure environments. Topics Discussed: David’s journey from academic research to elite performance leadership The real meaning behind “aggregation of marginal gains” Balancing data-driven insights with human-centred leadership Lessons from Olympic sport, corporate R&D, and World Tour cycling The future of performance leadership in the age of AI and technology Where you can find David: LinkedIn -  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.  -  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 Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight    

Episode 204: In this episode, Andy McDonald speaks with Bryony Johnson, a Performance Chef with 19 years of experiencesupporting some of the world’s most elite athletes, including Anthony Joshua, Roger Federer, Sir Ben Ainslie, and Ellie Aldridge. Bryony shares her journey through elite sport and the evolving role of the performance chef — bridging the gap between nutrition science and practical food delivery. She also lectures on the MSc in Sports Nutrition at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, offering future practitioners a real-world perspective on applied performance nutrition. Drawing on nearly two decades in kitchens and high-performance environments, Bryony discusses the nuances of collaboration, the challenges of feeding athletes with individualised needs, and the impact of modern food culture on performance. Topics Discussed: The role and importance of a performance chef in sport Effective collaboration between nutritionists and chefs Challenges and strategies in adapting meals for athletes’ needs The impact of food trends and fads on athletes’ dietary choices Balancing whole foods and supplements in sports nutrition Where you can find Bryony: LinkedIn 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.  -  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 Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight  

Episode 203: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we are joined by Dr. Richard Young — an internationally respected performance leader whose career spans more than three decades across sports, science, and innovation. Richard has been involved in 11 Olympic Games as an athlete, coach, researcher, technologist, and leader, working across over 50 sports and seven countries. His mission: to help athletes, teams, and organizations move from high potential to sustained higher performance. Holding a PhD in physiology and biomedical engineering, Richard has applied his research to understand the human and systemic factors that underpin sustained success. He founded several influential international programmes, including the Technology and Innovation programmes for Great Britain and New Zealand, and the Performance Knowledge & Learning programme for New Zealand’s Olympic, Winter Olympic, and Paralympic teams. Over six Olympic cycles, Richard has studied the crucial differences between medallists and non-medallists — exploring how leaders, coaches, and systems foster resilience, coherence, and repeat excellence. Today, he consults globally as a Performance Advisor, helping Olympic and professional sports teams, as well as leaders in business, health, and education, to declutter, align, and integrate performance systems for sustainable success. In this compelling conversation, Richard unpacks the essence of leadership systems, showing how clarity, alignment, and simplicity drive long-term success — not just in sport, but across any high-performing environment. Topics Discussed: Richard’s Career Journey — From athlete to innovation specialist across 11 Olympic cycles Sustained Performance — What separates one-time winners from repeat performers The System Approach — Understanding people, places, and things and how they interact The 3×3 Dashboard from "Simplify" — Flow, self-awareness, evidence, values, and routines Evolving Team Models — Moving from multidisciplinary to integrated system approaches Optimal Team Size for Repeat Success — Why three is often the magic number Values Alignment — How personal and organizational values must connect The Iceberg Model — Making visible the deeper systems and values beneath the surface Distributed Leadership — Tackling the bottleneck of leadership quality Creating “Simple, Aligned, and Well” Environments — A blueprint for repeat success Speed of Learning — Why adaptability separates sustained winners Mentorship for Leaders — Building the next generation of performance thinkers Personal Insights — Books, mentors, family, and life in New Zealand Where you can find Richard: LinkedIn 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.  -  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 202: In this episode of the Athletic Shoulder Podcast, host Ben Ashworth is joined by Robbie Smyth, a Sports Physiotherapist currently working with the Sport Ireland Institute, where he serves as Lead Physiotherapist for the national swimming program. Robbie has extensive experience across elite sport, having previously worked with Athletics Ireland, the Ireland National Team at the Paris Olympics, and as a Senior Physiotherapist with Meath GAA. His work focuses on bridging the gap between performance and rehabilitation for athletes competing at the highest level. In this conversation, Robbie shares insights from his experience supporting world-class swimmers and discusses the nuanced demands of managing shoulder health in aquatic athletes. Topics Discussed: Challenges in Olympic-level swimming Screening and assessment techniques Injury prevention strategies for swimmers Integrating dry-land and water-based training Managing shoulder pain and hypermobility Kinetic chain and force transfer in swimmers Surgical vs conservative management Future directions in swimmer rehabilitation Where you can find Robbie Smyth: X LinkedIn 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.  -  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 Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight  

Episode 201: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we are joined by Jeremy Sheppard — an internationally respected performance coach, sport scientist, and leader in athlete development. Jeremy has spent over two decades working at the highest levels of sport, from the Australian Institute of Sport to Canada Snowboard, where he currently serves as Performance Coach within the Slopestyle program. His work integrates movement, mindset, and medicine, creating high-performing environments where athletes thrive. Across his career, Jeremy has held key roles with Surfing Australia, Australian Volleyball, and consulted with organisations including the New York Jets, Newcastle United FC, and Melbourne Storm. Having contributed to athlete success at eight Olympic Games, multiple X Games, and World Championships, his experience spans continents, cultures, and disciplines. In this conversation, Jeremy offers deep reflections on leadership, authenticity, and performance — exploring how character, creativity, and relationships drive sustainable achievement in sport and beyond. Topics Discussed: Background & Career Journey — From athlete to sports scientist/coach, working at Australian Institute of Sport and Canada Snowboard Character as Leadership Foundation — Character drives behaviour and sustainable achievement; contrasting childhood influences shaped this philosophy Anti-Hierarchical Leadership — Dynamic team structures, circular decision-making, “captain in the dressing room” approach, leadership shifts based on context Personal Before Team Leadership — Self-development and authentic identity required before effectively leading others Team Development — Empowering autonomy, creating belonging, working with limited resources through creativity and relationships Redefining Success — Success as behaviours matching values rather than outcomes; process over results focus Where you can find Jeremy: LinkedIn Instagram X -  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.  -  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

Dr. Enda King, a renowned sports physiotherapist and researcher, discusses critical aspects of athletic hip and groin pain rehabilitation. He shares insights on diagnosing acute versus chronic injuries and the complexities involved in chronic cases. Enda details the importance of functional assessments and establishing rehabilitation targets, emphasizing a holistic approach. He also addresses when to consider surgery versus rehab, highlighting key principles such as load management and motor control. Prepare to learn from a leader in sports rehabilitation.

Jess Elis, an experienced sports physical therapist and founder of Rehab Code, dives into the intricate world of ethics and athlete data. With leadership roles in organizations like EXOS and the NBA, he discusses the importance of communication and consent in data collection. Elis highlights risks of over-relying on data and the varied responses from athletes, categorizing them as adopters, resistors, and optimizers. He emphasizes the human element, advocating for transparent dialogue and written consent to foster trust in professional sports.

Episode 198: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Jeff Riepe, a distinguished expert at the intersection of sports science, rehabilitation, and human performance. Riepe earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California, followed by a fellowship in Clinical & Sports Biomechanics at the Movement Performance Institute under the mentorship of Chris Powers. His career spans elite sports medicine roles with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams, numerous collegiate athletic programs, and the EXOS NFL Combine Training Program. Specializing in advanced movement analysis, Riepe integrates cutting-edge technologies such as 2D and 3D high-speed motion capture, force plate analysis, and wireless electromyography (EMG) to optimize rehabilitation and performance outcomes. Topics Discussed: MoveLab's Advanced Biomechanics Lab Data-Driven Rehabilitation Strategies Integration of Clinical Research and Normative Data Challenges in Late-Stage Rehabilitation The Role of VO₂ Max - Where you can find Jeff Riepe: LinkedIn Move Lab Instagram X -  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.  -  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 197: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we are joined by Nick Grantham — a leading authority in athletic preparation and performance enhancement, with over two decades of experience at the highest levels of elite sport. Nick’s career has taken him from professional football to Olympic and Commonwealth Games programs, national governing bodies, and consultancy roles across a wide range of sports. Renowned for his no-nonsense, evidence-informed approach, Nick has helped shape the careers of athletes in football, gymnastics, netball, and beyond. As a published author and sought-after speaker, he is known for challenging conventional thinking and championing sustainable, athlete-centred development. In this conversation, Nick shares candid insights on the evolving landscape of sports performance leadership, exploring what it truly takes to lead effectively in high-pressure, results-driven environments. Topics Discussed: Career Journey — From early S&C roles to consultancy and Premier League experience Olympic & Multi-Sport Work — Coaching insights across gymnastics, netball, and professional football Leadership Development — Lessons from mentors, management courses, and pivotal career moments Leadership Philosophy — Values-based leadership, authenticity, integrity, and influence over hierarchy Metaphors for Leadership — “Batman vs Alfred” and the power of tactical withdrawal Building Trust & Influence — Humility, listening, onboarding quickly, and asking “silly questions” Self-Development & CPD — Audiobooks, TED Talks, 360 feedback, and key reads like Dare to Lead and Radical Candor Team & Talent Development — Reverse mentoring, psychological safety, and avoiding poor leadership promotions Strategic Trends in Sport Leadership — Balancing “superstars” and “rock stars,” short-term vs long-term performance, and learning sideways from F1, business, and healthcare This episode delivers a thought-provoking conversation filled with practical takeaways, leadership lessons, and reflections from one of the most respected voices in the performance community.   Where you can find Nick: LinkedIn 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.  -  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 196: In this episode of the Sports Science Insights Podcast, powered by Inform Performance and hosted by Steve Barrett, we’re joined by Julia Donnelly — Head of Performance at Athletes Focused, where she provides performance services across multiple sports and professional organisations. Julia’s applied work includes supporting the Scottish Women’s National Team age groups, Glasgow City Women, and other elite athletes. She recently completed her PhD exploring the menstrual cycle in football, adding valuable research to an underrepresented but vital area of sports science. Topics Discussed: Julia’s background and applied performance work across sport Her PhD research on menstrual health in female athletes How growing knowledge in this area can shape better athlete support Insights from her recent published papers This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in athlete health, applied performance support, and the integration of research into practice for female athletes.   Where you can find Julia: • LinkedIn • ResearchGate • X Julia’s Papers: 🔗 Menstrual cycle perceptions in professional football 🔗 Menstrual health support in elite women’s sport   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.  -  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