Performance People

Georgie + Ben Ainslie

Georgie Ainslie’s podcast Performance People sees the sports broadcaster and ainslie + ainslie founder chat to high performing people in sport on how they got to the top and the journey they have been on to get there. Episodes every Tuesday.

Follow the show for new episodes every week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Our Editor's Take

Anyone curious about how high-achieving people overcome challenges may enjoy Performance People. Podcast cohosts Ben and Georgie Ainslie interview renowned achievers with their supporting cast. Often, guests are famous people and whoever helped them succeed. The Ainslies' backgrounds help them probe guests for fresh ideas on what it takes to succeed.

Ben is a former Olympian, and his wife Georgie is a career sports newscaster. Both overcame many obstacles to achieve great things themselves. Their backgrounds in media and sports make the podcast's four-way conversations illuminate. People from various backgrounds offer new perspectives to listeners. This UK-based podcast is appealing to listeners everywhere.

The Performance People podcast begins with quick bios and background highlights. Listeners get familiar with guests before the conversation starts. Though guests have accomplished great things, Ben and Georgie uncover the relatable. Whether politics, sports, or entertainment, the cohosts evoke common ground. Episode after episode, the show inspires all with valuable insight.

Ben is one of the most decorated Olympic sailors. Georgie anchors the biggest program on popular British television's Sky Sports News. Guests impressed with that pedigree are happy to sit down and share profound moments. The Ainslies are also busy parents. Performance People's work-life balance focus helps make it so popular. The podcast helps listeners improve performance in every aspect of their lives.

One episode brought on former Olympic and world champion sprinter Michael Johnson. The coach who worked with him throughout his career, Clyde Hart, joined him. Georgie had stomach troubles during the interview and saw it as a teaching moment. She led with questions about when Johnson struggled with stomach flu and missed an event. Keeping discussions honest like that is a big part of the Performance People podcast. The show focused on the steps they took to get back on track.

More great interviews let listeners hear from former politicians and mental health specialists. Performance People brings in journalists, artists, and more. Interview episodes run for about one hour and air once a week. Shorter, ten-minute episodes follow up on specific challenges past guests faced. Listeners also get tips for health problems and personal struggles.

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Ben + Georgie Ainslie’s new podcast, Performance People sees the sport loving couple chat to high performance people in sport, entertainment, business and politics. Join the most successful Olympic sailor in history and his broadcaster wife for this four way conversation as they get the scoop on how to perform better as told by those operating at the top of their game and those who have been on the journey with them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

The Importance Of Breaking Down Your Big Dream Into Smaller Steps | George Russell

The Importance Of Breaking Down Your Big Dream Into Smaller Steps | George Russell

The Importance Of Breaking Down Your Big Dream Into Smaller Steps | George Russell George Russell is one of Formula One’s hottest young talents, now in his third season at Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton. In the third episode in our ‘A Moment in Time’ series of Performance People with the Inside Tack podcast, George reflects on the key stepping stones that took him from karting as a kid with his brother to his current seat at the top of his sport. His phenomenal record in Formula Two put him in the shop window but it took an impromptu email to change his career path, confirming that even at this level, timing is everything. He describes the emotion of his first F1 race win in Brazil and what surprised him most about that moment, and shares some of the key performance lessons he’s learned along the way including his personal antidote to pressure and nerves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Decision That Changed My Career | Sir Lewis Hamilton

The Decision That Changed My Career | Sir Lewis Hamilton

With an astonishing seven Formula One Driver Championships, 201 podiums and 105 race wins, Sir Lewis Hamilton’s career record is unparalleled in the history of his sport. His prodigious natural talent combined with a relentless will to win saw him become the most successful rookie in history back in 2007 and he’s never looked back, except to check his rivals in the mirror.In the second episode in our ‘A Moment in Time’ series of Performance People with the Inside Tack podcast, Lewis looks back on the defining moments in his career, starting with the decision to join Mercedes that sent his career on to a new level. He remembers the thrills of his formative days in karting which shaped so many of the attributes that mark him out as such a special driver, he reflects on how he’s learned to handle the responsibility of carrying the hopes of his entire team on race weekend and looks back on some of the individual races and moments that have stayed with him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside One Of Sport’s Greatest Ever Comebacks | Sir Ben Ainslie

Inside One Of Sport’s Greatest Ever Comebacks | Sir Ben Ainslie

As the summer of sport moves towards the 37th America’s Cup, we look back to the remarkable 2013 edition in a special episode of Performance People with the Inside Tack podcast.Oracle Team USA were 8-1 down and going nowhere against Emirates Team New Zealand who needed only one more win to lift the Auld Mug. Enter Ben Ainslie, who was brought in as tactician in a last-gasp move to try to change things up. And boy did it work, as he reeled off seven straight wins to set up a winner-takes-all decider. Ben takes us back to that time when the sporting world was glued to events in San Francisco Bay, recalling the moment he was asked to join the crew, the nature of the challenge he faced, the details that helped shift the momentum and the impact it had on his own career, as he leads INEOS Britannia in their attempt to win the trophy for Britain this autumn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paris 2024 | The Key Performances From Week Two | Prof. Greg Whyte

Paris 2024 | The Key Performances From Week Two | Prof. Greg Whyte

Georgie Ainslie and guest Professor Greg Whyte debate the most memorable performances from the second week of the Paris Olympics, breaking down what made them stand out from the rest. Featuring the serene brilliance of Team GB’s Keely Hodgkinson, the emergence of a new European track and field superstar and the mechanics behind what made the men’s 100m so special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paris 2024 | The Key Performances From Week One | Prof. Greg Whyte

Paris 2024 | The Key Performances From Week One | Prof. Greg Whyte

Georgie Ainslie and guest Professor Greg Whyte look back at the most memorable performances from the first week of the Paris Olympics, breaking down what made them stand out from the rest. From the otherworldly brilliance of Simone Biles to the longevity of Tom Daley, plus the Team GB all-time great who doesn’t get the recognition they deserve. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Live a Life Without Limits | Craig Wood

How to Live a Life Without Limits | Craig Wood

When Craig Wood was an 18-year-old soldier, a roadside bomb in Afghanistan left him a triple amputee.After a gruelling rehabilitation full of operations and setbacks, he needed a new focus and felt the pull of the sea as soon as he left hospital.A keen windsurfer before his injuries, he began to learn para sailing and it changed his life. He now lives on a catamaran with his wife and two young kids, travelling the world.But that’s the just the start. In January 2025 he is planning to sail 6,000 nautical miles solo from Mexico to Japan to raise money for the charities which helped him recover and to show other amputees just what’s possible. He'd become the first para sailor to do so.At the heart of Craig’s story is his lust for life and his resolute unwillingness to compromise on how he wants to live it. He discusses with Georgie why he’s taking on a challenge that to many of us consider terrifying, the specific hurdles he’ll need to face down and why he’s already excited about coming home. Craig’s attitude is contagious and his story speaks to the freedom that comes from finding your passion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Power Of Proving People Wrong | Helen Glover

The Power Of Proving People Wrong | Helen Glover

At the Tokyo Olympics, two-time gold medallist Helen Glover showed to herself and the world that a working mother could also be an Olympian. And that, so we thought, was that. Except, well, some people are cut from a different cloth and Helen saw an opportunity to prove that women shouldn’t be written off at a certain age or life stage. What if she could medal in Paris at 38 with her kids at the finish line and at an age when they would remember seeing their mum doing her thing? Helen describes how she came to decide on such a big turnaround, how she juggles the different roles in her life and why she thinks being a parent has actually changed her career as an athlete for the better. Helen also compares how this Olympics compares to her first in 2012, the differences in moving from a pair to a team of four and she describes, beat by beat, what it’s like to actually race in an Olympic final when it’s all on the line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reflections From A Life Covering Extraordinary Sporting Moments | Matt Dickinson

Reflections From A Life Covering Extraordinary Sporting Moments | Matt Dickinson

As a writer for The Times, Matt Dickinson has been an original and trusted voice on the key sporting events and characters of the last 25 years. He came to prominence as the reporter behind the interview with then England manager Glenn Hoddle in which Hoddle’s remarks on reincarnation ultimately led to his sacking. Matt recalls how being involved in such a high-profile story affected him, what it’s like to watch sport for a living and picks out the most compelling sporting figure he ever came across. He remembers the drama in the Nou Camp in 1999 when he had to rewrite his story in a matter of minutes and explains how he’s come to realise that his obsession with sport is actually less about the action on the pitch and more about a fascination with what makes extraordinary people tick. Which might explain why he’s now moving into psychotherapy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Locker Room Stories With A Wimbledon Legend | Tim Henman

Locker Room Stories With A Wimbledon Legend | Tim Henman

When Tim Herman first went to Wimbledon as a 6-year-old and saw Bjorn Borg play, his fate was sealed. It was tennis all the way. Fifteen years later, he was playing his first match as a pro on Centre Court, the place he wishes he could have played his whole career on. Tim looks back on his life in a tennis and sports-obsessed family, how he handled the pressure of being the great British hope at Wimbledon, the matches he remembers most fondly and a few inside stories from behind the ropes at the All England Club. He also shares his views on the opponents who stood out including his pick in ‘the greatest of all-time’ debate. Tim recalls the moment he knew it was the right time for him to retire, and what he wishes for Andy Murray as he prepares to do the same. He remembers his tennis-obsessed father who had to pretend he was a picture of calm for every Wimbledon and tells us why his own daughters haven’t followed in his tennis shoes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Wimbledon means so much to Andrew Castle

Why Wimbledon means so much to Andrew Castle

Think of Wimbledon and the name Andrew Castle won’t be far from your mind. A former British number one as a player, he took a chance in broadcasting and never looked back - his voice is now one of the most recognisable soundtracks to the British summer.Andrew talks frankly and entertainingly about his early life, how he got his break in tennis, his trials on tour and why making it as a pro from an unlikely background is something he’s still proud of.He also shares how he got his break in TV and looks back on the many highs and lows of a life in TV and radio - like why the stresses of covering news made him quit LBC, and why calling the Wimbledon final is a privilege he'll never take for granted. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Formula One Is Helping Win Back The America’s Cup | Sir Ben Ainslie and Toto Wolff

How Formula One Is Helping Win Back The America’s Cup | Sir Ben Ainslie and Toto Wolff

One of the big stories going into this year’s America’s Cup is the collaboration between two different sports which share more similarities than you might expect. In a special episode of Performance People with the Inside Tack podcast, Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team sat down with Sir Ben Ainslie, CEO and skipper of INEOS Britannia, to discuss how Formula One thinking has influenced this campaign, highlighting the areas which have seen the most benefits on both sides. Toto describes what it felt like to be a member of Ben’s crew for the day, and they look ahead at the ways Formula One’s commercial know-how might influence the cup’s future, including what sailing could learn from the ‘Netflix effect’ of Drive To Survive. They also discuss the different challenges involved in business and sport, and why winning after periods of adversity and criticism make the sweetest victories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Stay Fitter, Younger And Stronger For Longer | Matt Roberts

How To Stay Fitter, Younger And Stronger For Longer | Matt Roberts

How much can we slow down the ageing process and extend our healthspan? It’s a growing area of interest and a subject in which personal trainer Matt Roberts is a leading and hugely knowledgable voice.Now in his fifties, Matt has the same body fat and measurements he had at 20. He believes - and is living proof - that we have more control over physiological ageing than we realise. It takes work, of course, and requires a systematic approach to our fitness, recovery and nutrition. He takes us through the precise habits to focus on each week including why zone 2 training is important, how sleep tracking can help you take control of your recovery and why cold showers should be your new morning habit.A major part of the process is assessing and understanding the state of our health right now, using as much data as possible to assess our current health to take full ownership of what we are up against and to tweak our approach as we age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Turn Difficulties Into Opportunities | Lewis Moody

How To Turn Difficulties Into Opportunities | Lewis Moody

England rugby stalwart Lewis Moody was known for his all-action approach which left everything on the pitch. You don’t get the nickname 'mad dog’ for nothing.Yet it was off the pitch that Lewis Moody had to overcome his biggest challenges, most notably having to deal with ulcerative colitis as a young player in an environment where sharing your vulnerabilities wasn't exactly encouraged.Lewis credits these obstacles as opportunities to overcome difficult things and his incredible career is testament to that approach, as he went on to play in two world cup finals, coming off the bench in 2003 to win the line-out that set up Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop-goal.He also discusses how a ‘pay it forward’ approach helped him with the difficult transition into retirement and also led to his current role as a performance coach, where he now applies his own experiences and observations in sports culture into other areas of performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What It Feels Like To Be a Favourite At Your First Olympics | Emma Finucane | Paris 2024

What It Feels Like To Be a Favourite At Your First Olympics | Emma Finucane | Paris 2024

Team GB’s Emma Finucane is on a whirlwind rise through women’s cycling and is heading to Paris with high hopes that she could become the next name in British Cycling royalty.Just a year ago, this wasn’t even part of the plan. It all changed for the 21-year-old when she won the 2023 World Championships as a newcomer and she’s since had to manage the shift in expectations and attention that comes when you’re no longer an underdog but one of the favourites.She discusses her rise to the top, how she uses nerves as a performance enhancer, why she doesn’t do mind games and why it’s statistically harder for women to become repeat winners.With Paris 2024 approaching, she also looks ahead to the biggest summer of her life, sharing her thoughts on what it feels like to take on her first Olympics as one of the big guns, what she’ll do the day before the race to take her mind off things and what to expect where it matters - on the track. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Seeking Out Discomfort Could Make Us More Fulfilled | Michael Easter

Why Seeking Out Discomfort Could Make Us More Fulfilled | Michael Easter

Michael Easter is a journalist and author whose two books ‘The Comfort Crisis’ and ‘Scarcity Brain’ reveal the ways in which the modern world has become incompatible with the way our animal brains are wired.In fact, we’re living pretty much the opposite lives to those of our ancestors. We have an excess of food which makes us crave other fixes, we sit down all day indoors and have had to invent the concept of exercise.His own journey to quitting alcohol made him realise that the greatest benefits in life come after short-term discomfort, and a trip to the Arctic made him appreciate the power of spending time outdoors, from lowering stress to increasing empathy levels. He also explains that boredom is good for us, why joining the 2% of people who take the stairs instead of the elevator can make the difference and puts forward a persuasive argument on why we should all plan an annual challenge with a 50% chance of failure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Champion Runner That Doesn’t Like Running (But Loves Racing) | Jake Wightman | Paris 2024

The World Champion Runner That Doesn’t Like Running (But Loves Racing) | Jake Wightman | Paris 2024

As crazy as it sounds, middle-distance runner Jake Wightman doesn’t really enjoy the act of going for a run. Sounds like a bit of a problem when you’re an elite athlete with his sights set on an Olympic gold this summer. As a talented and sporty kid he was spotted for his potential and realised he needed to grab the opportunity - and the responsibility - that comes with it. Fortunately what he does love though is racing and the 2022 1500m World Champion offers a fascinating insight into what it’s like to be in the mix of a crowded final, where mind games, tactics and decision-making become the crucial difference between glory and despair. He also tells us what it’s like to have your Dad commentate on your big races, the importance of feeling his friends’ support and how the thrill of winning keeps him motivated as he prepares for the biggest summer of his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Understanding How Mental Illnesses Lie To You | Bryony Gordon

Understanding How Mental Illnesses Lie To You | Bryony Gordon

Journalist and author Bryony Gordon’s books, including her latest ‘Mad Woman’, are dark, funny, no holds barred accounts, of what it’s like to live with addiction and mental illness while, at the same time, putting on the mask of being a high-functioning and successful human being. Now a mental health campaigner, she sees her honesty about her struggles as an essential part of staying well, and a way to connect with others. As she learned in therapy, ‘shame dies when you expose it to the light’ and she explains that understanding how all mental illnesses lie to you has been an important step in her journey.From her experiences with OCD as a child to drinks and drugs addiction as an adult, she looks back at what she’s learnt and offers her take on what can help people live more positively again. She also offers her take on why our obsession with phones is making us sad, how being a parent has changed how she sees her own problems and the regular habits she’s introduced to help her feel better from day to day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why It Pays To Make Friends With Fear | Laura Crane

Why It Pays To Make Friends With Fear | Laura Crane

Big wave surfing is a sport like no other. Clearly you need incredible technique and athleticism just to be in the conversation. But beyond that it’s the mental side of taking on a monster wave, each one unique in how it forms and breaks, that puts it in a category all its own. British surfer Laura Crane takes us inside this otherworldly pursuit, from the moments of calm as she waits for her chance, to the instant game face required to enter the fray and take on a wave as big as an office block. What’s remarkable about such skill and bravery is how Laura has had to battle self-doubt and imposter syndrome along the way but she credits the challenges she’s faced - including bulimia and sepsis - with equipping her with the edge she needed to find her calling and become the first British woman to ride the 60 foot waves of Nazaré in Portugal. She also discusses how her earlier experiences as a young female surfer have made her passionate about the example she sets for the next generation and explains how all of us could benefit from getting to know and understand our fears instead of battling against them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Fear Holding You Back From The Career Switch You Need? | Beth Potter

Is Fear Holding You Back From The Career Switch You Need? | Beth Potter

GB Triathlete Beth Potter didn’t even own a bike eight years ago. Now she is a gold medal favourite for the women’s triathlon in Paris this summer. The story of why she decided to trust her instincts and quit track athletics for a completely new sport is a lesson in trusting your instincts, staying patient and taking advice from people who really know. There was no immediate success to validate her decision either. She realised that learning to handle doubts and instead focus on the daily discipline of turning up each morning to do your work is the most reliable way for any of us to get results. She also explains how improving her self-talk has helped her turn good finishes into wins, how sleep banking has helped her handle pre-race insomnia, and she gives us a preview of the route she’ll be taking on in the Olympics this summer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is How You Breathe Helping You or Hurting You? | Stuart Sandeman

Is How You Breathe Helping You or Hurting You? | Stuart Sandeman

It’s the most basic function we all take for granted but learning to harness our breathing can help us manage stress, release tension and even allow us to switch our mindsets when we need to. Stuart Sandeman was grieving the death of his girlfriend when he booked a breath class as a Mother’s Day gift. What happened in the next hour changed the course of his life and he now works as a breath coach to high-performers in different fields. The author of Breathe In, Breathe Out tells Georgie of the different benefits that come from regular practice, how he works with clients to improve performance and why, despite breathing all our lives, most of us just aren’t doing it right. He also takes us through a simple breathing exercise that can reset our mind and body and prepare us for the day ahead. By prioritising our breathing, he says, we can boost our mood, output and resilience. Given how many of us are living lives in which stress is the norm, he also explains why breathing might be the most simple antidote. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.