

Inform Performance
Andy McDonald
The Inform Perform Podcast is an industry show focussed on Sports Performance and Sports Medicine. The show interviews thought leaders and professionals that support elite athletes and teams. The aim of the show is to deconstruct the strategies and philosophies the guests utilise in their working environment or area of expertise. Featured guests have worked across the NBA, NFL, MLB, F1, World title Boxing, EPL and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 23, 2021 • 59min
Phil Glasgow (Performance Consultant and IRFU Head of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation)
Episode 77: Ben Ashworth chats to Dr Phil Glasgow the Head of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at the Irish Rugby Football Union having previously held the position of Head of Sports Medicine at the Sports Institute Northern Ireland for 14 years. He was Chief Physiotherapy Officer for Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where he led the physiotherapy team of the most successful British Olympic Team in history. In this episode Ben and Phil have a pragmatic discussion about performance, decision making, effective learning and more.
In this episode Ben and Phil discuss:
How do we make good decisions
Shifting from an injury prevention mindset to a performance mindset
Are we actually communicating effectively?
Optimal tissue loading
Knowing verses doing
Becoming a better learner
Where you can find Phil:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Website
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
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

May 6, 2021 • 46min
Dr Daniel Coughlan (PGA European Tour - Head of Strength & Conditioning)
Episode 76: Andy McDonald chats to Dr Daniel Coughlan the Head of Strength & Conditioning for the PGA European Tour and National Lead for Sports Science and Medicine for England Golf. Daniel is an S&C Coach, Physio and Sport Scientist demonstrating his high skilled generalist capabilities. Daniel has worked at UCL as a Senior Clinical Teaching Fellow in sports medicine, Exercise and Health and has also worked in both lacrosse and football. In this episode Daniel and Andy will discuss how Daniel approaches profiling, rehabilitating and developing elite level golfers.
In this episode Andy and Daniel discuss:
Support team behind elite golfers
Physical assessment of professional golfers
Kinetics and Kinematic profiling
Golf injuries
Where you can find Daniel:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
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

Apr 21, 2021 • 44min
Matt Howley (Director of Performance at Real Salt Lake MLS Club)
Episode 75: Andy McDonald chats to Matt Howley the Director of Performance at Real Salt Lake in the MLS. Prior to joining Real Salt Lake Matt was the Director of Sports Science at the University of Notre Dame and before moving to the US he was employed by the Eastern Ranges Football Club as High Performance Manager. In this episode Andy and Matt discuss conditioning, GPS and wellness data.
In this episode Andy and Matt discuss:
Matt’s background
Conditioning MLS soccer players
GPS - Making it reliable
Implementing running technique
Do we need wellness data?
Where you can find Matt:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
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

Apr 13, 2021 • 53min
Sean Smith (Performance Coach at University of Louisville)
Episode 74: Andy McDonald chats to Sean Smith a Performance Coach at the University of Louisville. Sean heads up the internship program at Louisville so in this conversation both he and Andy discuss how he runs and organises coach development at the University.
In this episode Andy and Sean discuss:
Sean's background
Strength & Conditioning Internships
Understanding the demands of sport
Coding in coaching
Where you can find Sean:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
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

Mar 31, 2021 • 43min
Véronique Richard (Cirque du Soleil - Mental Performance Consultant)
Episode 73: Ben Ashworth chats to Véronique Richard a Mental Performance Consultant for Cirque du Soleil. Véronique has also worked for the INS Quebec, Water Polo Canada, and many other elite organisations. Véronique has a Ph.D in sport sciences and her applied expertise is in performance psychology. Through risk friendly environments to encourage people to navigate through discomfort and grow psychologically - Véronique uses movement improvisation as a method to stimulate creative mindset and set the stage for creative problem solving, creative ideation and creative performance.
In this episode Ben and Véronique discuss:
Véronique’s background
Creativity in performance
Implementing creativity for athletes
Coaches using creativity exercises
Where you can find Véronique:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Research Gate
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
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

Mar 29, 2021 • 34min
Nic Gill (All Blacks Strength & Conditioning Coach)
Episode 72: Andy McDonald chats to Nic Gill the All Blacks Strength & Conditioning Coach. Nic has been with the New Zealand Rugby Union / All Blacks for 13 years and is also an Associate Professor of Human Performance at the University of Waikato. In this episode Andy and Nic will cover coaching reflections, Nic's role at the All Blacks and his philosophies around coaching and performance.
In this episode Andy and Nic discuss:
Nic's Background
His current developmental focus
Transferable professional qualities across sports
Including athletes in decision making
Training with the national team
Looking after yourself on the road
Recent research and projects
Where you can find Nic:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
Website
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
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

Mar 16, 2021 • 38min
Ian Gatt (GB Boxing Head Of Performance Services)
Episode 71: Andy McDonald chats to Ian Gatt the GB Boxing Head of Performance Services. Ian is an experienced sports Physio with a background working for the EIS prior to boxing as well as lecturing at Sheffield Hallam University and UCL. In this episode Ian provides insights into the sports science and sports medicine workings of elite boxing.
In this episode Andy and Ian discuss:
Ian’s background
The fighters entourage: MDT collaborations
Physical profiling boxers
Monitoring load in boxing
Ian’s research
Where you can find Ian:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
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

Mar 6, 2021 • 1h 11min
Clive Brewer - Part 2 (Performance Specialist)
Episode 70: Andy McDonald & Ben Ashworth chat to Clive Brewer for a part-2 conversation following the part-1 we recorded for episode 65. Clive is a Performance Specialist in Applied sports science, strength and conditioning and integrated sports medicine. Clive has a wealth of experience delivering high performance programs over a 20+ year career applying evidence-informed practise in elite sports. Clive has enjoyed multiple roles in the UK and more recently stateside at the Toronto Blue Jays and Columbus Crew. This episode with Clive focusses on evidence based practice, technology and more using practical case studies for context.
In this episode Andy, Ben and Clive discuss:
Evidence based practise applied in sport
Matching the level of evidence to the level of performance
Implementing change
Early adoption verses sunken cost fallacy
Force diagnostics for performance
Absence of longitudinal data
Using typical asymmetry to benchmark RTP / KPI’s
Where you can find Clive:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
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

Feb 25, 2021 • 39min
Eric Cressey (NY Yankees Director of Player Health & Performance / President & Co-Founder of Cressey Sports Performance)
Episode 69: Following the Inform Performance X Elite Baseball Development Podcast Swapcast last week, this week Eric Cressey is the guest on the Inform Performances podcast. In this episode both Andy McDonald and Ben Ashworth ask Eric the questions as the second edition of a two part series. Eric is one of the best know S&C coaches globally, he’s the president and co-founder of Cressey Sports Performance and the current Director of Player Health & Performance at the New York Yankees.
In this episode Andy, Ben and Eric discuss:
Lowerbody & Upperbody standards in thowing athletes
Scaling Programs
Strategies to protect players from Injury
Rotation strength in perspective
Cervicothoracic relationship with the throwing shoulder
VBT & RFD in throwers
Workload management in throwing athletes
Where you can find Eric:
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
Website
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
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

Feb 19, 2021 • 39min
Eric Cressey - Part 1 (Inform Performance x Elite Baseball Development Podcast Swapcast)
Episode 68: Inform Performance X Elite Baseball Development Podcast Swapcast. In this episode Eric Cressey chats to Inform Performances own Ben Ashworth the Director of Performance for AC Sparta Prague and Director of the Athletic Shoulder. Eric is one of the best know S&C coaches globally, he’s the president and co-founder of Cressey Sports Performance and the current Director of Player Health & Performance at the New York Yankees. Eric chats to Ben about the lessons he has learned through his experience in European football and rugby and highlights how coaches can more effectively monitor the workload of their athletes. We will be following this episode up with a second part where Inform Performance will be hosting Eric Cressey.
Where you can find Eric:
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
Website
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
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


