This year we have the Olympic games – the World’s biggest sporting event. But in quick succession is the Paralympics, now the third largest sporting event. Some quip that the Olympics is the warm-up or the test event for the Paralympics. Well this week’s guest is one of the greatest stalwarts and servant of the Paralympics, my good friend and close colleague Nik Diaper. It’s difficult to overstate the impact that Nik has had on the domain of disabled sport, from the days when frankly very few people were interested, through to it becoming not only respected, but revered. In this interview I discuss with Nik what drew him to parasport, what resonated with him and what has endured. Nik shares his perspectives on why disability sport has caught the imagination of sports fans, general public and global audiences alike. He shares his search for meaning amongst some of life’s broader questions and why what he does can add value to society. Now I cycle most weekends with Nik and he is a quality athlete, which I know to my suffering. This interview was in many ways like how he rides – unfussy, humble, deliberate in delivering a powerful effect. Show notes: Nik discusses his sporting history in Kenya Moving to the US to pursue his swimming dream The move to Manchester Nik had no intention of pursuing a career in Paralympic sport Entering Para sport and feeling completely out of his depth Accessibility The Paralympics 2020 and the step change in perception for disability sport What made London so successful and it’s legacy? What does it mean to be disabled? - the debate! What were the reasons for sticking with Paralympic sport if it wasn’t your first choice? Stand out para moments for Nik Technological advances in para-sport and the ramifications Tokyo 2020 What more needs to be done and Nik’s hopes and ambitions?   Links: Nik on Twitter https://twitter.com/nik_diaper Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

This week’s guest is business consultant James Glover. James is a world champion white-water rafter, former performance lifestyle practitioner and head of support for the sport of triathlon in Britain. In these sporting support roles James began to explore and research some deeper concepts of human performance and found himself drawing upon some emerging and quite powerful principles being applied to business people around the world in the area of well-being, sustaining our energy and achieving greater productivity and human vibrancy. In this episode we explore his early experiences, a supportive family home, how he felt so disconnected through his university education, becoming world champion, making the transition to working in elite sport and then sensing an opportunity to take the step to the business world and the key lessons he has learnt from both arenas.   Show notes How are you feeling?…the vulnerability behind the question James’ background The predictability of career path is a turn off Taking leaps of faith which pay off Disengagement from the learning environment The qualities required to be a world champion white water rafter The human experience and contributions people make Performance lifestyle and athlete support Business demands and reflections Extreme performance, stress being a stimulant for adaptation and growth for athletes but also other aspects of our lives The transition between stress and distress The leap taken towards The Energy Project The reverence in business for sport and the power of human endeavour expressed through sport   Links James on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-glover-1180b2a1/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Welcome to episode 50, a mini milestone for us and not long ago we've ticked over 50,000 downloads so thank you to all for tuning in and sharing what you've learnt from each episode - it encourages to keep producing more content for you. While we've hit some mini milestones, this week's guests has been part of some projects that have grown to become phenomenally successful. Tom Williams is Parkrun's Global Chief Operating Officer the incredible successful charity that provides free timed 5km runs for people around the world. At the time of recording Parkrun has had 60 million interactions of participants or volunteers with an average of 200 people in each event each week, supporting people to run over 200 million kms in total. Tom shares with us the spirit, culture and ethos of inspiring people to exercise through Parkruns.  Tom is also co-host of Marathon Talk with Martin Yelling, the incredibly successful podcast that has just had it's 500th episode - a feat of stamina in itself. It was fascinating to hear how with both Parkrun and Marathon Talk how these projects started because if you look at those statistics of achievements it can be quite intimidating. But that idea you've got, that we've got, has to start somewhere, they have to start at zero. Show notes; How did Marathon Talk podcast come to fruition? Being authentic on the podcast for both Martin and Tom Introversion, lack of structure and a small group of people can be difficult however standing up in from of 500 people can feel fantastic. The barrier between The beauty of running and talking What has Tom learnt from running the Marathon Talk podcast Tom’s observation of the increasing uptake of marathon running Parkrun - a social intervention for a lonely bloke!! Paul was lacking in real social interaction and to all intents and purposes lonely despite having loads of ‘friends’ the original ‘Parkrun’ was set up to rectify this situation with friends. Parkrun isn’t about the running, it’s about sharing the experience Ironman qualification The danger of focussing on outcomes rather than our values, what is the essence of sport what it the essence of performance? 60 million instances in participation in the first 15 years The future of Parkrun - 900 million instance in participation in the next 15 years   Follow Tom on Twitter https://twitter.com/tomwilliams1974 Parkrun https://www.parkrun.com/ Marathon talk https://marathontalk.com/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Jason Laird has worked in Premiership football, ballet, judo and now gymnastics and as such is one of the most experienced physiotherapists in the UK. What I have always admired about Jason is his ability to get to the crux of a matter and begin to explore it, develop solutions and adapt. In this interview you’ll hear about Jason’s early passion for physiotherapy, we talk about doing the hard yards of professional experience, helping aspiring physios learn from his experience and mistakes, but above all what came through was a concept that so often gets overlooked  - the value he puts on working with people.   Show notes: How and why did Jason choose to get into physiotherapy? Routes into physiotherapy Making mistakes, trialling, working creatively and learning Broad general physiotherapy practice to Chelsea football academy, how did that happen? Juggling roles, different environments and energy levels Working in the Royal Ballet, thinking differently, asking ‘stupid’ questions and being open to not knowing Judo to gymnastics – it’s all about the variety and the challenge How do you deal and prepare for trauma The balance of pushing through recovery and getting back to play, risk management and decision making Physio chat! Not creating dependency and building your client base Supporting the next generation, developing and growing practitioner skills beyond the knowledge of physiology and sport Jason lists the practitioner skills he feels are most important   Follow Jason on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhysioReel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physioreel/ His website: http://www.jasonlairdphysio.com/ Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Dave Smith, Paralympic champion shares his emotional story intertwining sporting pursuit and cancer survival. This interview is a deep one, it’s a full existential exploration of what is important, how and what we pursue and the focus on what really matters in our lives. I had the truly humbling, moving and inspirational experience of speaking to Dave Smith to tell his utterly remarkable story of sporting endeavour, fighting cancer and choosing to live life. Show notes: Living with purpose, the benefits and negatives of social media and the way in which the world can rapidly change External and internal effects of spinal tumour Reaching out for help Regaining control better sleep, better nutrition, better exercise, reconnecting with passions and support of friends and mentors Dave’s story form the beginning Foot deformity from birth Tumour symptoms from 17 Overtraining and pushing too hard Bobsleigh challenge Classifying for Paralympic sport 2009 joining a supported rowing programme Rowing support and investigation saved Dave’s life and identified the tumour 2010 tumour diagnosis, life changed but sport was the coping mechanism Re-diagnosis Cancer diagnosis and the way in which you deal with it is very individual, use what works for you, Dave chose to use it as a battle and threw himself into sport. The difference between the ‘have to’ and ‘want to’ goals Who are you and what defines you, what is your purpose?   Links Dave's website https://davidsmithathlete.com/ Dave's blog https://davidsmithathlete.com/vblog Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Performance psychologist Dr Josie Perry is this episode's guest. Josie has a successful consultancy service supporting endurance athletes, golfers tennis players, but she also has a rich background in communications. Originally a journalist, director of communications and public relations. Josie converted to psychology but what was fascinating about this interview was about the fusion of the two subjects of psychology and with that human behaviour, influencing and development, with the principles of communication and with that human behaviour, influencing and development. I caught up with Josie just a few days after the launch of her book Performing under pressure, which we also dive into. Show notes Background and journey to sport psychology, Monica Lewinsky, a PhD and working within communication When delivering information, who is your audience? How to frame a difficult conversation in a way that works for the other person. Bridging from being a journalist on CBS new to being a sport psychologist Having a brave list  The having a baby, ironman, running a business and stage 2 training juggle! Clarity and brevity of communication and the shift in communication style due to social media Stories are powerful. What problem are you trying to solve and how can you utilise stories to enable your message? Perfectionism Josie’s book - The nine most common reasons athletes come to see me. Start with what and then why? Taking time, growing your business and being brave The different elements of Josie’s consultancy which provide stability 1:1 work, writing and media training Mantra that work, Josie’s mantra, “Make Hattie proud”  Josie’s lesson to her younger self   You can follow Josie on twitter at https://twitter.com/Josephineperry www.performanceinmind.co.uk Take a look at her new book Performing under pressure https://performanceinmind.co.uk/performing-under-pressure/   Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Dawn Scott, High Performance Coach to the USA women’s national football team, who happen to have won two successive World cup titles and Olympic gold in 2012, is this episode's guest. In this interview you’ll hear about Dawn’s journey from her early days grafting away with women’s football, taking a lead role at the English FA and then taking the leap to working with the US team. Critically you’ll hear how it has been for Dawn under the spotlight of supporting the team under the big moments of the numerous finals the team have competed in. You’ll also hear about how it has felt growing with a sport that has emerged from obscurity to global prominence The conversation was rich with insight about the pivotal moments when it all felt really fragile, when results and the outcome have felt like they’ve hung over everything, the team’s future, the coaching staff’s future and with that the prospects of the game.   Show notes Dawn Scott background, education and route into Sport Science World Cup win with the USA team, back to reality and training, nutrition and appropriate recovery Overview of Dawn’s background and career progression Applied jobs in sport science weren’t the norm! Basic applied sport science, paper and pencil wellness and basic heart rate monitoring The USA approached Dawn and she moved out in 2010  Dawn’s football background and being a Newcastle fan with her Dad What got Dawn the job at a national level…? Sharing your knowledge, understanding the process, what is your role in camp how do your define your role, find your niche and start to integrate your ideas? It always has to be about the player, to impact them and their performance Dawn discusses support team and individual temperament, what is required during match performances Individualisation, knowing the players and how best to equip them for matches and for recovery. Going the extra mile.   Follow Dawn on twitter https://twitter.com/DawnScott06 Follow us on line Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Nick Grantham, performance enhancement specialist and consultant, is this week's guest. Nick and I go way back to the mid 1990s and have worked alongside each other in the sphere of sports performance. Nick has worked with a range of elite teams, netball, gymnastics, basketball, premiership football, downhill mountain biking to name a few. Nick is also a leading light in taking an active role in developing content and advice for aspiring professionals and we’ve been increasingly aware that we share this as a motivation and a driver. So it was a great conversation, where we found there was some real overlap in our thoughts and perspectives, but as expected when I speak to Nick I find my thoughts and perspectives developed even further. Show notes: Nick’s background, education, short lived rubbish career in banking, night school and university. Early career in Sport Science and the small community of like-minded people delivering applied work in the field. Having experienced a career in banking it gave Nick the determination to be tenacious in the pursuit of opportunities at university. Working at Lilleshall, gymnastic team, and the first strength and conditioning netball team role. Investment in the non-technical career skills, balancing work loads, management, income sources and side hustles Everybody is expendable and you will be replaced The reasons Nick left the English Institute of Sport The rewards of working with the general population and learning humility Consultancy and the balance of selling yourself and the development of confidence in his own abilities, experience and skillset. The motivation to write ‘You’re Hired’ Making personal connections Being comfortable with being a specialist generalist, having a depth of knowledge and being able to work with diversity and making an impact, but know when you need to refer out Career highlights The one thing to change: the Negatrons!   Follow Nick online https://twitter.com/coachnickg https://www.instagram.com/zer0226/ http://nickgrantham.com/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Youre-Hired-Nick-Grantham-ebook/dp/B00MENQMEE   Follow us on line Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Neil Chugani was a coxswain and a good one too. He coxed the Oxford crew to success in the boat race in 1991, he was World Champion in the coxed pairs in 2001, where I met Neil for the first time as Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell went for the double, double, both the coxed pairs followed by coxless pairs world championship finals in the space of two hours – a story I feature in my book How to Support a Champion. Neil shares the insight behind successfully leading, coaching, supporting a crew from within a boat and offers some perceptive advice about the dynamics that he had to manage in a unique role where he is in it, he is involved but not pulling on an oar. Neil has also held a number of prominent leadership positions, at BBC, Sky Broadcasting, a board member of UK Sport, interim CEO of British Rowing, Steward at Henley Royal Regatta and currently Chief Financial officer for Google in Europe Middle East and Africa. So what Neil hasn’t experienced about leadership in sports and business is probably not worth knowing about. What you will hear and what particularly stood out from this interview though is the level of thought, intentionality and consideration that Neil demonstrated in his views and actions, I wonder if this has developed through the roles he has held and the experiences he has had, or whether the wisdom he carries is the reason he has led at the very top.   Show notes The physical requirements of a coxswain, personal characteristics and waterman ship How do you learn to be a cox? Cox heart rates, decision making and keeping a cool calm head The Double-Double 2001 -managing Matthew Pinsent & James Cracknell and balancing the events Neil’s two careers, one in rowing and the second in finance ….. and technology Sporting applications into business for Neil are clarity of thought and, clarity of purpose and review of performance relative to intent The myriad of individual objectives in business makes it difficult to create alignment between people in business which differs from a sporting world Leadership roles in business and decision making Decision making at the board level, understanding the perspectives of others, diversity Management of decision making, balancing opportunities versus risk: focussing on the climate rather than the weather Henley Royal Regatta – changes reflecting the nature of the sport today, live streaming etc Self-belief: belief in your own potential If you want to follow Neil you can do so on Twitter and Instagram at https://twitter.com/neilchugani https://www.instagram.com/neilchugani Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Emma Hatton star of the West End talks about her career, Emma has starred in some of the biggest musicals and lead roles, Scaramouche in We will Rock You, Elphaba in Wicked, Eva Peron in Evita and recently Grizabella in Cats. We discuss Emma’s origins as an athlete, the pull of performing on stage, the art form that Emma performs and how she does that, the persistence and knock backs, sustaining performance from a physical and mental perspective. I got in touch with Emma because I had an inkling that this world is extremely demanding and that Emma would be able to articulate that and I have to admit I found this interview utterly fascinating as Emma gave such rich insights into how she performs.   Show notes: Emma’s origins as a long jumper, following her passion to study sport Not sure what next, take a year out to do something interesting and fun – London School of Musical Theatre The cost on personal relationships for Emma when aspiring for success in her career Honouring Emma’s previous marriage by being extra determined to succeed Early successes from Emma’s raw talent, feeling the music, learning to sing by listening to people The determinants of musical theatre and the importance of connecting with the music Pacing and sustaining performance to offset the cost of 8 shows each week The responsibility of the roles balanced by the context of a paramedic sister Portraying the characters appropriately Acclimatising to the pressure of performing on the West End Importance of social support Preparation and focusing on what you can control Coping with rejection Pressure of the big notes and the external pressure of holding a role Pressure to perform when you’re not physically or mentally 100% Getting into the right mindset for performing and the benefit of having a sporting background, doing what it takes to get the performance out  Emma now supporting and championing others to learn from her insights If you want to follow Emma you can on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emmahatton1 Twitter at https://twitter.com/emmahatton1 https://www.emmahatton.com Emma’s music is of course on iTunes and Spotify Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/ A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/ If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/ or drop us a note at enquiries@supportingchampions.co.uk then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.