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

How Data Helped Win The Premier League | Ian Graham

How Data Helped Win The Premier League | Ian Graham

As Liverpool’s Director of Research for over a decade, Ian Graham was at the heart of the data revolution in football, and his approach helped Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, the team he also supports, to win the Premier League and Champions League in his time there.Ian shares the stories and insights that helped them to win - why Brendan Rodgers left partly because he couldn’t get on board with the new approach, how the experience of Liverpool’s owners in American sport allowed data to thrive, the players, including Mohammad Salah and Joel Matip, that were identified by this approach and why even Jurgen Klopp’s appointment as manager was only green lit after some last-minute data analysis.Ian also gives his thoughts on the state of the Premier League, why data’s most effective when combined with the human touch and how he can still watch football as a fan, not just as an analyst. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Crushing Disappointment Helped Castore Disrupt The Sports World | Tom Beahon

How Crushing Disappointment Helped Castore Disrupt The Sports World | Tom Beahon

Tom Beahon is the co-founder of sportswear label Castore, which in less than a decade has grown in to a major global challenger brand, and can be seen on athletes and teams including Andy Murray, Red Bull Racing, Newcastle United and the England cricket team.Growing up, all Tom ever wanted to be was a pro footballer, but that particular dream ended when he was let go by Tranmere Rovers as a 19-year-old. It was this crushing disappointment that fuelled the fire for what came next. He made the decision that this failure wouldn’t define him and, with his brother Phil, took his passion for sport on a new path.Tom shares the stories of starting out on his journey with no clue how to start a clothing label, the qualities he believes opened the doors which allowed the business to grow and shares the most important lessons for anyone looking to start out on their own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rugby Player Who Turned Personal Disaster Into a New Life of Purpose | Ed Jackson

The Rugby Player Who Turned Personal Disaster Into a New Life of Purpose | Ed Jackson

Ed Jackson says he has lived two lives. For ten years he was a professional rugby player, who was defined by his physicality and performance. But in 2017, at a family friend’s barbecue, an accident ended this old life forever. He dived into a swimming pool, not realising it was three feet deep. On the way to the hospital he had to be resuscitated three times. Not long after, he was told he’d never walk again.Incredibly, just three years from this moment, Ed was standing on the world’s highest trekking peak, Aconagua. He shares this rollercoaster story, from the initial devastation of his prognosis to the slow flicker of hope, from long rehabilitation to a level of recovery he didn’t think was possible.It was a fundraising expedition to Snowdon that then sent his life in an entirely new direction, when he saw the opportunity to use his experience to help others in a similar boat. Now, as co-founder of the Millimetres 2 Mountains foundation, such is the purpose he has found, he says he no longer regrets the accident that led him here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At The Heart Of a Media Storm For Doing The Job You Love | Jacqui Oatley

At The Heart Of a Media Storm For Doing The Job You Love | Jacqui Oatley

Jacqui Oatley is a hugely respected sports journalist, commentator and presenter who in 2007 became the first woman ever to commentate on Match Of The Day. In fact, her career is full of media firsts for women, although all she ever wanted to do was the job she loved.A football obsessive from a young age, a serious knee injury in her twenties led to her reappraising her career. She retrained as a sports journalist, she worked her way up from non-league football, to the Premier League on Radio Five Live. An opportunity to commentate on Britain’s flagship football highlights programme blew up into a huge national media story with her at the centre. As the first woman to ever call a match on the show, she faced a torrent of publicity, criticism and, frequently, abuse. Jacqui tells her story vividly and honestly from the inside, describing what it was like to be at the centre of a cultural moment, how she had to develop a thick skin to get through the aftermath, how things have progressed and why there’s still work to do across the board. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leadership Lessons In Life And Sport From The 37th America’s Cup | Ben Ainslie

Leadership Lessons In Life And Sport From The 37th America’s Cup | Ben Ainslie

Now the dust has settled on the 37th America's Cup, it's the perfect time to look back on how things played out both on and off the water with the skipper and CEO of INEOS Britannia, Ben Ainslie.As well as some stories from the inside, Ben considers the highs and lows of his team’s journey to face off against the Kiwis, the details that he thinks made the difference and the biggest lessons, both collectively and personally, he’ll take in to next time.He tells us how the boat’s near sinking made him realise how much potential was in the team, explains the challenges of having leadership roles both on the boat and on the business side and looks ahead at what it’ll take to take the extra step and win the cup for Britain for the first time in history.As always, the parallels between success in sport and life are on show here, with insights on everything from team-building to handling pressure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s The Work No One Sees That Makes a Champion | George Gregan

It’s The Work No One Sees That Makes a Champion | George Gregan

A true rugby union hall-of-famer who ranks as one of the best scrum-halves who ever played the game, George Gregan is known for having the whole package - skill, creativity, tenacity, intelligence, sportsmanship and leadership. He is the seventh most capped player of all-time with 139 appearances for Australia, 59 of them as skipper.George puts these remarkable performance standards down to the moment at 19 when he gained a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport. It’s what he learned there, from elite coaches, specialists and athletes in every sport and discipline, that paved the way for the personal and team success that followed.He shares some of the lessons that can be applied to anyone looking for performance gains in their own life - how preparation can see you through even unexpected challenges, how regular reflection can iron out problems and the factors which make the difference between good and great. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Turn Sleep Into a Performance Advantage | Professor Russell Foster

How To Turn Sleep Into a Performance Advantage | Professor Russell Foster

Professor Russell Foster is one of the world’s leading experts on sleep and circadian health. He explains how modern lifestyles have disrupted our natural body clocks and why many of us aren’t getting the quality sleep we need to perform at our best. More importantly he goes through ways to get back into the rhythm. As Professor of Circadian Neuroscience at Oxford University, Russell says it’s vital we understand the importance of sleep in how our minds and bodies function to unlock its benefits. Expect to learn why light plays such a crucial role, what to do if you wake up in the night, why it’s not all about getting eight hours, why bad sleepers have a negative world view, and why dreaming helps us solve complex problems.You can take the anxiety out of sleep by taking back control. Get it right and it can become the most effective performance enhancer we have. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Failure Is Another Word For Opportunity | Brett Gosper

Why Failure Is Another Word For Opportunity | Brett Gosper

Brett Gosper is a leading figure on the business side of global sport, having been CEO of World Rugby during a pivotal era, and now, in a key role at the NFL as Head of Europe and Asia-Pacific.It’s a career that has come full circle as Brett recalls the moment when, as a promising rugby union player, he was on the verge of breaking in to the Australian national squad with the rest of his 20s already mapped out in his head.When he was told he hadn’t made the cut, what seemed at the time like a personal failure actually sent him on a new path - to France, where he played top tier club rugby whilst building a career in advertising, which ultimately led to his current role as a sports leader.In this week’s episode, Brett shares his memories of rugby’s amateur era, the personal lessons he learned in sport and business, the greatest challenges during his time in World Rugby and what working in the NFL has taught him about the differences with American sport and the Premier League. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Life Throws You A Curveball, Hit It Out The Park | Adam Jones

When Life Throws You A Curveball, Hit It Out The Park | Adam Jones

Adam Jones is a former Major League baseball player, a five-time all star and four-time Golden Glove who retired a fan favourite and local legend for the Baltimore Orioles having spent 11 happy and successful years there. He was even given a ceremonial send-off in front of fans and dignitaries when he retired to mark his time in the city.Rewind to 2008 though and few would have predicted such an outcome. Adam was just a prospect in his early 20s when he was told he was being sold and had to leave the safety net of his native west coast for the other side of the country.Initially shocked, he could have seen it as rejection and played the victim. But he’s not cut like that. Within minutes his brother told him it was a chance to ‘show out’. To prove how good he can be to a whole new set of people. And Adam spent the next decade turning an unforeseen hurdle into a new adventure and a remarkable career on and off the field. Adam’s story is a lesson for all of us in the power of attitude when things don’t appear to go your way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How I Broke The Two-Hour Marathon Barrier | Eliud Kipchoge

How I Broke The Two-Hour Marathon Barrier | Eliud Kipchoge

Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge is a two-time Olympic marathon champion who has run four of the fastest 10 marathon times in history. In this latest episode in our ‘A Moment in Time’ series of Performance People with the Inside Tack podcast, Eliud looks back to his most memorable achievement - the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, when he became the first runner to break the two-hour barrier for the marathon, in Vienna in 2019.He shares the story of how he and the support team achieved what was once inconceivable. From the training requirements to prepare his body, to the mental approach that allowed him to believe the impossible. In fact, he explains that it was being told that it couldn’t be done which gave him the motivation to show the world that it could.He is now on a mission to inspire people in different fields that running is a force for good and that no human is limited. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How I Became Kitesurfing’s First Olympic Champion | Ellie Aldridge

How I Became Kitesurfing’s First Olympic Champion | Ellie Aldridge

Ellie Aldridge was on track to be a dinghy sailor when a chance to try kiteboarding ahead of its Olympic debut came up. Quickly, she had to choose which sport to focus on. It was a decision that would change her life. Just six years later she became the sport’s inaugural Olympic champion in Marseille.In the latest episode in our ‘A Moment in Time’ series of Performance People with the Inside Tack podcast, Ellie looks back on that golden moment this summer - how she handled the tricky conditions, why she never allowed herself a second to imagine that gold medal and what it really feels like to fly across the ocean to win a flawless race and make history.She also explains the challenge of having to maintain an unnaturally heavy weight in order to compete and what it means for her title defence in LA in 2028.Now a sailor in the Women’s America’s Cup team, Ellie also discusses her role in the British Athena team as it tries to make history in Barcelona. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turning Disappointment Into Gold | Hannah Mills

Turning Disappointment Into Gold | Hannah Mills

Hannah Mills is already one of British sailing’s all-time greats, a double gold medallist and double world champion, she’s currently on-board strategist for the Emirates GBR SailGP team and skipper of the British Athena Pathway team in the first ever Women’s America’s Cup in Barcelona.In this latest episode in our ‘A Moment in Time’ series of Performance People with the Inside Tack podcast, Hannah looks back to Rio in 2016 and her first gold medal triumph in the Women’s 470 with Saskia Clark. Having been gutted with silver in London four years earlier, she recalls what made the difference this time. From dealing with adversity through meticulous planning and role play, handling nerves and pressure by sticking to routines, and using self-talk to counter often unbearable nerves, Hannah is someone we can all identify with - and learn from.She also shares what it’s like to compete at the top of her sport as a mother, and what it means to be leading a new era of opportunity in women’s sailing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How We Turned Around The 1999 Champions’ League Final | Gary Neville

How We Turned Around The 1999 Champions’ League Final | Gary Neville

If you’re one of Manchester United and England’s greatest full-backs, and a pivotal figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s golden years, you have a lot of good moments to reflect on, but for Gary Neville, one night in Barcelona stands out above all others.In the latest episode in our ‘A Moment in Time’ series of Performance People with the Inside Tack podcast, Gary took us back to the Nou Camp in 1999 for the remarkable treble-winning moment his United side came back from a goal down to beat Bayern Munich 2-1, with both United’s goals coming in injury time.He shares the lessons the team needed to learn to get over the line, the factors that gave them the belief to turn the game around and the tactical changes that made the difference.It’s a revealing and colourful account of what it felt like to play in the most dramatic and memorable Champions’ League final - including the all-night (and all-morning) celebration that followed. Gary also puts the achievement in context with his whole career and explains why he’s happier now as a pundit and entrepreneur than he ever was as a professional known for his intensity and high standards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Inside Story Of The Race Of The Century | John Bertrand

The Inside Story Of The Race Of The Century | John Bertrand

John Bertrand is the America’s Cup skipper who led Australia to an historic against-the-odds victory over the USA in their own back yard in 1983. It’s been dubbed ‘The Race of the Century’ and is the subject of a Netflix film of the same name.In the fifth episode in our ‘A Moment in Time’ series of Performance People with the Inside Tack podcast, John takes us inside this incredible story to reveal the thinking, leadership and values which took the Australia II team from plucky underdogs to world champions, against the might of New York Yacht Club.He also offers his insight into the 2024 America’s Cup and explains why it’s the team that finds a way to learn, develop and innovate the most during competition that will likely win. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Journey From Obscurity To Formula 1 Team Boss | Toto Wolff

My Journey From Obscurity To Formula 1 Team Boss | Toto Wolff

Entrepreneur, investor and Team Principal + CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, Toto Wolff started his career as a racing driver and instructor in his native Austria before turning his attention, with phenomenal success, to business. He later combined his expertise as an entrepreneur with his passion for motorsport, as an investor in Williams F1 before leading the Mercedes F1 team into a period of incredible success which featured eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships and seven consecutive Drivers’ Championships.In the fourth episode in our ‘A Moment in Time’ series of Performance People with the Inside Tack podcast, Toto recalls the moment, alone in a car after the Austrian Grand Prix, that he first took in the nature of his journey from a struggling kid to the pinnacle of his sport.He shares the lessons and insights that he’s picked up along the way from his preference for action over words, the importance of sharing success with others and why he immediately resets to the next goal but makes sure not to look too far ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.