

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

Jan 30, 2024 • 1h 4min
Research Unpacked: Judd Kalkhoven - Modeling for Proactive Injury Management (Associate Lecturer at WSU)
Episode 137: In this Research Unpacked Episode from Inform Performance, Dr Dylan Carmody chats to Judd Kalkhoven an Associate Lecturer at Western Sydney University. Judd has recently completed his PhD with a thesis focused on the complexities of the muscle-tendon unit and athletic injury. In his current research he is seeking to determine the optimal muscle-tendon architectural and mechanical characteristics for elite athletes depending on their specific sporting demands. In addition, he has a keen interest in understanding injury causation and will produce further academic papers in this area.
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Topics Discussed
What is Injury Modeling
Limitations of relying on cumulative load metrics
Tissue Specific Injury Susceptibility
Estimating load induced damage to tissues
Using Imaging to gauge tissue health
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Where you can find Judd:
LinkedIn
X (Twitter)
Research Gate
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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.
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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
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Our Team
Andy McDonald
Ben Ashworth
Alistair McKenzie
Dylan Carmody

Dec 7, 2023 • 58min
Dan Howells - The grey area between Physiotherapy & Strength & Conditioning (Director of Collaborate Sports / Lead Mentor)
Episode 136: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Dan Howells founder of Collaborate Sports. Dan is a high performance coach, with a career spanning over 15 years of work in elite sport, both in the UK and the USA. Dan is a certified Strength & Conditioning coach with the UKSCA aad NSCA, and has worked with Olympic and Paralympic Programmes, The US and GB Ski Teams, The English Institute of Sport, Wasps Rugby Club, England Rugby 7s, Team GB Rugby 7s (2016 and 2020) and the Houston Astros MLB Club. As well as focusing on creating impact and success within performance sport organisations, Dan is passionate about creating real world learning opportunities for developing coaches and practitioners. Coaching coaches is something he is heavily invested in. If you are looking for personal development, the opportunities provided across the Collaborate Sports platform are unique and will be able to provide development for you in varied and exciting ways. Todays conversation between Andy and Dan is focussed on the grey area between Physiotherapy & Strength & Conditioning and how practitioners can work with other disciplines effectively.
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Topics Discussed
Outcome led & principle based rehab
Creating an environment for teamwork
Co-planning rehab
Athlete perspective in rehab
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REHAB SIMPLIFIED GROUP MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME
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Where you can find Dan:
Instagram
LinkedIn
X
Collaborate Sports
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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
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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

Nov 28, 2023 • 1h 4min
Research Unpacked: Dr Dustin Willis - Compassionate Care of Elite Athletes (Quantum Performance)
Episode 135: In this Research Unpacked Episode from Inform Performance, Dr Dylan Carmody chats to Dustin Willis PT, DPT. Dustin is an Assistant Professor in the West Coast University Doctor of Physical Therapy program, where his focus is on teaching all the musculoskeletal content and injecting some of the humanities into healthcare through his Sociocultural Aspects of Human Interaction course. When he is not in the classroom, he treats patients with Quantum Performance, a private concierge service provider that focuses on helping professional athletes to perform at the highest level possible.
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Topics Discussed
Compassion in elite sports medicine
Understanding clinical empathy
Building rapport
Imposter syndrome working with elite athletes
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Where you can find Dustin:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Quantum Performance
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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.
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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

Nov 3, 2023 • 49min
Maggie Awad - Using Biomarkers to Improve Athlete Health & Performance (NP & Elevate Performance Medicine Founder)
Episode 134: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Maggie Awad, FNP-BC. Maggie is a Nurse Practitioner who specializes in personalized-based Functional Sports Medicine for the Pro and Corporate Athlete. Maggie personally trained under world renown and sought-out physician, Dr. Ara Suppiah- Who coined the term, Functional Sports Medicine™ model which uses a holistic, proprietary approach by leveraging the sciences of functional medicine, allopathic medicine and Eastern medical philosophies to limit the amount of inflammation within athletes’ bodies. The focus of this episode today is how Maggie uses biomarkers to assess and advise athletes health and immunity.
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Topics Discussed
How blood lab information benefit athletes
Common deficiencies
Gut health for athletes
Athlete Immunity
Preparing athletes systemically for surgery
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Where you can find Maggie:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Elevate
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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
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HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
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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

Oct 26, 2023 • 57min
Research Unpacked: Jay Hertel - Chronic Ankle Instability
Episode 133: In this Research Unpacked Episode from Inform Performance, Dr Dylan Carmody chats to Dr Jay Hertel. Jay holds an academic appointment in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (courtesy) & serves as co-director of the Exercise & Sport Injury Lab at the University of Virginia. His research interests are at the intersection of lower extremity injury prevention and rehabilitation, clinical biomechanics, and the use of wearable sensors to monitor training loads in team sport athletes and distance runners. He has authored or co-authored over 250 peer-reviewed journal articles and presented at numerous national and international sports medicine conferences. Hertel is a fellow of both the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Athletic Trainers' Association. He currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Athletic Training. In this episode Dylan and Jay discuss ankle instability an area of expertise for Jay.
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Topics Discussed
Mechanical v sensory-motor ankle Instability
C.A.I Inclusion criteria
How to assess C.A.I
Assessing muscle Inhibition
C.A.I effect on gait
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Where you can find Ola Eriksrud:
LinkedIn
Research Gate
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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
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HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
-
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

Oct 19, 2023 • 41min
Jonas Dodoo - Coaching Return-to-Running (Head Coach & Founder Speedworks Training)
Episode 132: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Jonas Dodoo the Head Coach & Founder Speedworks Training. Jonas developed as a coach through his passion for speed and power and was lucky enough to be under the tutelage of Master Coach Dan Pfaff for four years. Jonas has worked with many elite performers across a range of sports but with his main successors and main role within Track and Field. Jonas currently has an Elite Group of Sprinters based out of the National Institute at Loughborough and he is also currently Consulting at Premiership and Championship Football and Rugby clubs working with their staff and first team players. This conversation between Andy & Jonas focusses on what and how Jonas coaches return-to-running for high speed athletes.
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Topics Discussed
Early Sprint Training Post Injury
Technical Sprint Competencies
What is Projection, Switching & Reactivity
Develop a Coaching-Eye for Speed
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Where you can find Jonas:
Instagram
Twitter
Speedworks
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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
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HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
-
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

4 snips
Oct 13, 2023 • 1h 2min
Research Unpacked: Ola Eriksrud - Deceleration Mechanics
Episode 131: In this Research Unpacked Episode from Inform Performance, Dr Dylan Carmody chats to Ola Eriksrud. Ola is an Associate Professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, doubles as a consultant and physical therapist at Olympiatoppen, affiliated with the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic committee and Confederation of Sports. Over the past decade, he has provided consultation to athletes at national and international levels, spanning sports such as PGA, LPGA, NHL, NFL, ATP, WTA, NBA, and EPL, in addition to working with non-athletes. Currently holding the position of Head of Research and Development at 1080 Motion. This episode with Ola focusses mainly on deceleration mechanics
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Topics Discussed
Deceleration Mechanics
Horizontal Force Production
Addressing Asymmetries
Future S&C Strategies
Where you can find Ola Eriksrud:
LinkedIn
Research Gate
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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
-
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
-
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

Oct 5, 2023 • 50min
Dr Ben Rosenblatt - Intentional Coaching (CEO & Founder of 292 Performance)
Episode 130: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Dr Ben Rosenblatt. Ben is an incredibly experienced and knowledgeable Physical Preparation Coach who has enjoyed a diverse career that has included roles at the British Olympic Association, The FA, EIS, Birmingham City Football Club and more! In this episode with Ben the conversation covers the professional lessons he has learnt over his career with a a focus on intentional coaching from planning and programming through to delivery and reflection.
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Topics Discussed
Parallels between sales & coaching
Using athlete stories in analysis
Intentional session design
Gamification of training
Structured reflection & evaluation in coaching
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Where you can find Ben:
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
292 Performance
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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
-
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
-
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

Sep 25, 2023 • 49min
Research Unpacked: Danny Lum - Isometrics v Traditional Resistance: Comparative Analysis
Episode 129: In this Research Unpacked Episode Dr Dylan Carmody chats to Danny Lum. Danny Lum serves as the Head of Strength & Conditioning at the Singapore Sport Institute, where he plays a pivotal role in training athletes from various sports disciplines such as bowling, track and field, canoeing, diving, kayaking, judo, and track cycling. With a focus on pushing the boundaries of isometric strength training, Danny is actively engaged in pioneering research in this field. Notably, he recently achieved a significant milestone by obtaining his PhD, which delved into exploring the impacts of isometric strength training on sports performance. In addition to his doctoral studies, Danny is actively involved in investigating the application of variable resistance exercises for the induction of post-activation potentiation, contributing further to the realm of Sports Science and S&C.
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Topics Discussed
Fatigue effects of Isometrics v traditional resistance
Repetition Duration Reserve: Timing Considerations for Isometric Training
Isometrics - Position specific or not?
Impulse and Recovery: Exploring Isometric Training Benefits
Where you can find Danny Lum:
LinkedIn
Research Gate
Twitter
Instagram
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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
-
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
-
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

Sep 18, 2023 • 1h 1min
Research Unpacked: Dr Mathew Cuthbert - Implementing Microdosing In Physical Preparation
Episode 128: In this Research Unpacked Episode Dr Dylan Carmody chats to Dr. Mathew Cuthbert. Matt is a seasoned sports scientist & researcher who currently works for The Football Association where he is a Physical Performance Coach. Matthew is also an honorary research fellow at the University of Salford, Manchester. In this episode Dylan and Matt engage in a comprehensive conversation about Matt's work on Microdosing in sports training.
Topics Discussed
What is Microdosing
How it differs to other programming trends
Residual effects of microdosing
How to periodise Microdosing
How to prime resistance training
Repeated-bout-effects
Where you can find Dr Mathew Cuthbert:
LinkedIn
Research Gate
Twitter
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
-
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
Sportscientia - An emerging precision tech-layer that harnesses the power of AI and machine learning to seamlessly capture gait analysis in real-world conditions and provide 3D depictions of the foot during both swing and stance phases of the gait cycle. This enables further analysis of running into multi-directional movements including lateral, backwards, turning actions and more.
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