Performance People

Alix Popham is a retired international rugby player, with 33 caps for Wales. He’s played in World Cups in 2003 and 2007 and is a 2008 Grand Slam winner. Alix retired in 2011 and in April 2020 was diagnosed with probable CTE and early onset dementia as a result of traumatic brain injury suffered in his rugby career.Joining Alix is his wife Mel who has been with him on every step of his journey to raise awareness of his condition. Together they speak openly about Alix's heartbreaking diagnosis and why speaking out has ultimately led them to what they believe is a medical miracle and given them hope for a future again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Performance People, Georgie delves into the world of human performance with expert coach Rob Madden. From optimising elite athletes to tackling burnout, Rob shares valuable insights for success. Discover practical tips for enhanced focus and well-being. Subscribe for more inspiring conversations on Performance People. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Performance People this week, Georgie is joined by presenter and journalist, Sarah-Jane Mee, host of, The UK Tonight, on Sky News. From Sky Sports News junior to prime-time Sky News anchor, Sarah-Jane, known as SJ to friends and colleagues, has enjoyed a stellar career in broadcasting.On this episode, SJ gives a searingly honest account of the light and shade which has informed her newsroom experience, reliving the story which moved her to tears on air, explaining why she now rations her exposure to harrowing news stories and revealing how she recovered from a career threatening medical condition. She also tells us about the chaos behind the scenes when Sir Rod Stewart rang in to a live phone-in show, what Noel Gallagher said when he fan-bombed her and Georgie and SJ share some tales from their flat-share days.This four way conversation was recorded on 2nd March 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Performance People this week, we’re joined by Ross Adams, the CEO of Acast, one of the leading podcasting platforms in the world. In a treat for audio addicts, we sit down with Ross to discuss the evolving landscape of podcasting and how Acast is playing a pivotal role in shaping its future.With Ross's phenomenal experience in media and tech, including executive roles at Spotify, we delve into the current state of podcasting, exploring the industry's rapid growth, content trends, and the significance of monetisation for podcast creators. And Ross explains why it’s better to get a speeding ticket than a parking fine.Whether you're a podcast enthusiast, a creator looking to expand your reach, or just curious about the future of the medium, this episode offers valuable insights and a behind-the-scenes look at Acast from the man who leads the organisation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Hadfield is a Canadian astronaut, fighter pilot and author who has consistently challenged conventional thinking while reinventing himself numerous times along the way.With a new book out, The Defector, Chris has commanded numerous missions with the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian Space Agency and NASA, before finally retiring from active duty in 2013.In this episode he discusses how to assess risk effectively, his family’s role in a crisis scenario simulation, what he did when confronted with a snake in the cockpit at 10,000 feet and why you need to credit yourself with ten little wins, every day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Hammond + Izzy Hammond. TV Presenter + Graduate. Father + Daughter.Richard Hammond has been a partner in British TV’s most successful and at times controversial presentation team for more than 20 years. Alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May he’s shaped how we think about our cars and their place in our lives. Along with, The Grand Tour, he’s now got his own reality TV show, running a car restoration business.Joining Richard is his daughter, Izzy. Recently graduated from university, Izzy is an ensemble cast member on the show and is busy working out whether to follow dad, full time, into the TV business.Together, they work through the parenting compromises that Richard was forced to make as a young journalist, why good luck must be paid back to the cosmos with hard graft and whether the world is ready for a Clarkson/Hammond/May hybrid.The new series of Richard Hammond's Workshop, is available to stream on discovery+.This four way conversation was recorded on 11th September 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Pinkham has been presenting F1 on Sky Sports for a decade.In 2021 Natalie made history by becoming the first woman to commentate on a Formula 1 session on British television when she led Sky’s commentary of first practice at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix.In 2022 Natalie dreamt up and put on a now annual festival Flackstock, in honour of her late friend Caroline Flack to celebrate Caroline’s life and raise awareness of those with mental health issues. In this pod Georgie and Natalie talk about their boarding school days together, why F1 needs Lewis Hamilton, misogyny in sport television, mum guilt and why we must keep talking about mental health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben and Georgie chat about INEOS Team Britannia's chances of winning the America's Cup with a year to go till the start of the world's oldest sporting trophy in Barcelona. There is talk of the history of the America's Cup, why it's still sailing's biggest prize and why it's so hard to win. How to lead a team through the highs and lows of a Cup cycle crops up more than once... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristin Harila is a Norwegian mountaineer who in 2023 broke the True Summit World Record conquering the 14 highest mountains in the world in a staggering 92 days, smashing the previous record by three months.Joining Kristin is the Sherpa who climbed every step with her, Tenjen ‘Lama’ Sherpa.Together they discuss the decision they took to continue their ascent of K2 after encountering another climber in trouble, why a family tragedy didn’t stop Lama from getting the job done and how, even in 2023, women still struggle to find suitable high altitude clothing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a new series from Performance People where Ben + Georgie breakdown the conversations they’ve had and work out how to integrate some of the insights into their lives, and yours.This week, inspired by takeaways from John Amaechi and Peter Carroll, they dissect what it means to be an ‘Everyday Jedi’ and weigh up winning in the long term versus right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.