Inform Performance

Episode 197: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we are joined by Nick Grantham — a leading authority in athletic preparation and performance enhancement, with over two decades of experience at the highest levels of elite sport.

Nick’s career has taken him from professional football to Olympic and Commonwealth Games programs, national governing bodies, and consultancy roles across a wide range of sports. Renowned for his no-nonsense, evidence-informed approach, Nick has helped shape the careers of athletes in football, gymnastics, netball, and beyond. As a published author and sought-after speaker, he is known for challenging conventional thinking and championing sustainable, athlete-centred development.

In this conversation, Nick shares candid insights on the evolving landscape of sports performance leadership, exploring what it truly takes to lead effectively in high-pressure, results-driven environments.

Topics Discussed:

Career Journey — From early S&C roles to consultancy and Premier League experience

Olympic & Multi-Sport Work — Coaching insights across gymnastics, netball, and professional football

Leadership Development — Lessons from mentors, management courses, and pivotal career moments

Leadership Philosophy — Values-based leadership, authenticity, integrity, and influence over hierarchy

Metaphors for Leadership — “Batman vs Alfred” and the power of tactical withdrawal

Building Trust & Influence — Humility, listening, onboarding quickly, and asking “silly questions”

Self-Development & CPD — Audiobooks, TED Talks, 360 feedback, and key reads like Dare to Lead and Radical Candor

Team & Talent Development — Reverse mentoring, psychological safety, and avoiding poor leadership promotions

Strategic Trends in Sport Leadership — Balancing “superstars” and “rock stars,” short-term vs long-term performance, and learning sideways from F1, business, and healthcare

This episode delivers a thought-provoking conversation filled with practical takeaways, leadership lessons, and reflections from one of the most respected voices in the performance community.

Where you can find Nick:

LinkedIn

Instagram

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

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Our Team

Episode 196: In this episode of the Sports Science Insights Podcast, powered by Inform Performance and hosted by Steve Barrett, we’re joined by Julia Donnelly — Head of Performance at Athletes Focused, where she provides performance services across multiple sports and professional organisations.

Julia’s applied work includes supporting the Scottish Women’s National Team age groups, Glasgow City Women, and other elite athletes. She recently completed her PhD exploring the menstrual cycle in football, adding valuable research to an underrepresented but vital area of sports science.

Topics Discussed:

Julia’s background and applied performance work across sport

Her PhD research on menstrual health in female athletes

How growing knowledge in this area can shape better athlete support

Insights from her recent published papers

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in athlete health, applied performance support, and the integration of research into practice for female athletes.

Where you can find Julia:

Julia’s Papers:

Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

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Our Team

Episode 195: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Maggie Bryant, a residency-trained Sports Physical Therapist who currently serves as Vice President of Medical for the LA Clippers.

Maggie studied Physical Therapy at the University of Minnesota (DPT) before completing her Sports residency training at the University of Southern California. Her career has included positions with the Orlando Magic and Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine, leading to her current leadership role in the NBA.

Maggie’s professional interests include optimizing performance-driven rehab, advancing leadership and communication in medical teams, and refining the biomechanical profile of elite athletes.

Topics Discussed:

Examination of medical assessments in evaluating NBA recruits

Analysis of performance metrics and their impact on player selection

Integration of health data in recruitment decisions

The role of sports science in player evaluation

Case studies of successful recruitment strategies in the NBA

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Where you can find Maggie:

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

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Our Team

Episode 194: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we are joined by Mark Adamoulas — a performance leader whose 20-year career has spanned across sport, education, and the corporate world.

Mark’s track record is both diverse and exceptional: he has worked with Manchester United, the FA, Red Bull, and numerous global corporates, supporting C-suite leaders, Premier League managers, Olympic gold medalists, and VC/PE companies. His mixed heritage and multilingual background allow him to connect authentically with people from varied cultures and contexts, bridging high-performance environments across industries and geographies.

As co-founder of coachup, Mark leads on coach development, bringing the latest behavioural science into the world of sports coaching. Where traditional coaching development often focuses on skills, drills, and tactics, Mark and his team shine a spotlight on the most critical driver of sustained success: the team environment.

Topics Discussed:

This conversation delivers a rare insight into the science and practice of team performance, blending psychology, neuroscience, and leadership to show how high-performing cultures are built — and sustained — in today’s most demanding environments.

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Where you can find Mark:

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

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Our Team

Episode 193: In this episode of the Sports Science Insights Podcast, powered by Inform Performance and hosted by Steve Barrett, we’re joined by Dr. Warren Bradley — a performance nutritionist turned entrepreneur, who has spent over a decade working within elite sport.

Warren earned his PhD in sports nutrition and spent the early part of his career supporting top-level athletes across multiple sports. In recent years, he has transitioned into the world of innovation and business, co-founding a company that now delivers cutting-edge Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training solutions to elite teams worldwide.

Topics Discussed:

Developing ideas to transition out of full-time sport to business owner

Building a business and network that scales beyond your comfort zone

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in performance nutrition, career transitions in sport, and the growing intersection of sports science and entrepreneurship.

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Where you can find Warren:

•⁠ LinkedIn

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

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Our Team

Episode 192: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we speak with Duncan N. French, PhD, CSCS*D, RSCC*E, FUKSCA — Senior Vice President of the UFC Performance Institute and one of the most respected leaders in global high-performance sport.

Since joining the UFC in 2017, Duncan has overseen the delivery of high-performance services to over 700 world-class MMA fighters worldwide, managing a multidisciplinary team of 68 professionals across three state-of-the-art UFC Performance Institutes in Las Vegas, Shanghai, and Mexico City. With over 25 years of experience in elite professional sport, Duncan’s career spans coaching Olympic medalists, World Champions, world-record holders, and NCAA National Champions.

His leadership journey has taken him from national lead roles in the British Olympic system and the English Premier League, to directing performance sciences at the University of Notre Dame, and now shaping the global performance strategy of the UFC. Alongside his practical leadership, Duncan is a prolific contributor to the field — with over 60 scientific manuscripts, 9 book chapters, and as lead editor of the NSCA’s Essentials of Sport Science textbook. In 2014, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the UKSCA for his outstanding service to the strength and conditioning profession.

Topics Discussed:

Career Path — From British Olympic teams and Premier League football to NCAA and the UFC

Leadership Evolution — Transitioning from technical expert to organisational leader

Core Skills — Communication, influence, situational awareness, and emotional intelligence

Building High-Performance Systems — Designing infrastructure and protocols from the ground up

Leadership Models — Holacracy, situational leadership, and empowering teams

Team Culture — Managing egos, fostering psychological safety, and leading with authenticity

Personal Development — Staying technically sharp while reflecting on leadership behaviour

Wellbeing — Strategies for sustaining energy, including surfing, meditation, and cold exposure

Future Trends — The growing role of AI and technology alongside the enduring need for human connection

This episode offers rare insight into building world-class performance environments, sustaining leadership impact at scale, and balancing technical expertise with human-first leadership in elite sport.

Where you can find Duncan:

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

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Our Team

Episode 191: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Dr Fearghal Kerin. Fearghal is a chartered physiotherapist with extensive experience in elite sports. He has worked across Irish sports, including as Rehabilitation Physiotherapist at Leinster Rugby for nine seasons, before transitioning to Chelsea Football Club in the English Premier League, where he held the same position. At Chelsea, he worked with international athletes including Premier League, Champions League and World Cup winners. In this episode Andy and Fearghal discuss the management of T-Junction hamstring Injuries. 

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Where you can find Fearghal:

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

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Our Team

Episode 190: In this episode of the Sports Science Insights Podcast, powered by Inform Performance and hosted by Steve Barrett, we’re joined by Dr. Jamie Salter, a researcher and applied sport scientist currently serving as a Senior Lecturer at York St John University.

Jamie’s work focuses on training load management in youth athletes, with a particular emphasis on growth, maturation, and injury risk. Drawing from both academic research and applied experience, he explores how practitioners can better support developing athletes through tailored strategies that align with biological age rather than chronological age.

Jamie’s background and journey into youth sport science

The relationship between injuries and maturation in young athletes

Managing training load across different maturity statuses

An introduction to and practical insights on Bio-Banding

This episode is essential for coaches, practitioners, and researchers working in youth development and long-term athlete performance planning.

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Where you can find Dave:

•⁠  LinkedIn

•⁠ ResearchGate

•⁠ X

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Sponsors

VALD: makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training.

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

Teambuildr: A platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete and client performance data. Teambuildr is a complete platform. Whether you're building your own programming, looking to create custom reports or give athletes a tool for accountability, they've built it out.

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

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Our Team

Episode 189: In this episode of the Sports Science Insights Podcast, powered by Inform Performance and hosted by Steve Barrett, we’re joined by Dave Carolan, a highly experienced Head of Performance, strategy advisor, and entrepreneur, currently leading the first team performance program at Derby County.

With over 30 years in elite professional sport, Dave brings a wealth of knowledge on the evolution of performance departments, athlete monitoring, and the changing landscape of sport science. From his early days pioneering innovation in football to his current strategic leadership role, Dave offers both historical context and forward-thinking insight.

The evolution of performance departments in elite sport

How internal and external load monitoring has changed over three decades

What innovation looked like in the early days of sport science

Why players today are playing fewer games than 10–20 years ago

This is a must-listen for practitioners, coaches, and leaders seeking to understand the past, present, and future of performance strategy in elite sport.

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Where you can find Dave:

•⁠  LinkedIn

•⁠ Website

•⁠ X

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Sponsors

VALD: makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training.

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

Teambuildr: A platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete and client performance data. Teambuildr is a complete platform. Whether you're building your own programming, looking to create custom reports or give athletes a tool for accountability, they've built it out.

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

-

Our Team

Episode 188: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Stephanie Grubbs, a Strength & Conditioning Coach and Sport Scientist currently working with the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball. With prior experience across top-tier programs including the University of Pittsburgh, Clemson Athletics, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Stephanie brings a diverse and practical perspective on applied sport science in elite sport.

In this conversation, Stephanie shares her journey through high-performance environments and reflects on the strategies, systems, and relationships that have shaped her approach to athlete development.

The evolution of sports science in the U.S. high-performance landscape

Building strong relationships and implementing impactful ideas

Designing effective systems and processes in sports science programs

The use of microdosing in strength training

Adapting training methods to the unique demands of baseball

The importance of intent and communication in daily training

Exploring innovative recovery strategies

Thoughts on career development and mentorship in elite sport

Whether you're a coach, practitioner, or sports science student, this episode delivers valuable insights into optimizing performance support in team sports.

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Where you can find Stephanie:

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

- 

Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

-

Our Team