Performance People

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.

John Amaechi is an organisational psychologist, best-selling author and founder of APS Intelligence, which helps businesses create high performance ethical workplace cultures. He was also the first Brit to play basketball in the NBA. One of the UK’s most influential intellectuals, John went from the school gym to the NBA in just nine years before shifting focus to psychology and business, while passionately advocating for some of society's underrepresented minorities.Alongside John is his best friend, long time collaborator and CEO of APS Intelligence, Peter Carroll. Peter is a qualified medical clinician turned business leader and now boss of the business which John founded. Together, they discuss the racism that John is regularly confronted with, why he can only lose if he chooses to fight back, tactics for how to subvert emotions to win in the long run, the need for a full time commitment to your principles and why it’s important to know the difference between feathers and bricks.This four way conversation was recorded on 9th August 2023. 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 they debate the five year plan versus a longer term business view, a debate kick-started by George Bamford, founder of Bamford Watch Department and his wife and My Baba founder Leo Bamford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George Bamford is the owner of Bamford Watch Department, Bamford London and one of the heirs to the JCB fortune. Encouraged to go it alone by his father, George had a backstage pass as parents, Anthony and Carole Bamford developed flourishing global businesses, while his watch customisation firm has been disrupting its own sector for 20 years.Alongside George is Leo Bamford, co-founder of, My Baba, a pregnancy and parenting website.Together, they discuss George’s quest to discover his own business path after being, ‘born into the lottery’, how they have both harnessed their neurodiversity as a superpower, why George has had to renounce ‘punk’ entrepreneurship and the one change he’d like to see at JCB. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.