In this episode, Dr Julie Greeves, principal physiologist for the British Army and expert in applied human physiology, shares groundbreaking research on female soldier health, injury prevention, and performance optimisation. Dr. Greeves unpacks the Women in Ground Close Combat research program, and explains what it tells us about physical performance, load carriage and reproductive health. Listeners from defence, sports, or health sciences will benefit from these insights, which can help tailor training and policies for women in demanding environments. We discuss the implementation of physical employment standards, the importance of nutrition, menstrual health and sleep for female soldiers, and the steps required to help women thrive in strenuous roles within the military.

Key Takeaways:

• Development and implementation of gender-specific physical employment standards and their impact on female recruitment.
• Physiological differences between men and women: skeletal structure, muscle mass, cardiovascular capacity, and susceptibility to injury.
• Injury risk factors: higher stress fractures and bone injuries in women, especially during initial training phases.
• Benefits of female physiology: metabolic advantages, increased fat oxidation during prolonged submaximal exercise, and potential to reduce injury risk with appropriate systems.
• The myth of training around the menstrual cycle and its practical, science-backed inaccuracy.
• Hormonal fluctuations, menstrual health, contraceptive use, and their impacts on performance and injury risk.
• The importance of micronutrients like iron and calcium for women in military settings.
• The role of sleep, stress, and the gut-brain axis in psychological health and performance, with sex differences in cortisol responses.
• Practical advice for individuals preparing for arduous training: targeted load carriage, resistance, nutrition, and tracking menstrual health.

Guest:

Julie is the Head of Army Health and Performance Research in the British Army. After obtaining her doctorate in female physiology, Julie has spent over 25 years pioneering original research on musculoskeletal health and human performance in the military. Julie's research has widely informed Army and Defence policies, and she was decorated with an OBE in 2017 for her scientific contribution to the opening of Ground Close Combat roles to women. Julie holds honorary Chair appointments at the School of Medicine UEA and UCL and has published over 140 original papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

Produced & edited by Bess Manley

Resources:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-greeves-obe-facsm-60170a52/?originalSubdomain=uk
• https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=RgILbTUAAAAJ&hl=en 
• Arduous Training Guide for Women – coming soon!

Chapters:

00:13 Julie's Career Journey and Current Role

02:06 Women in Ground Close Combat Research Program

04:39 Implementing Research Findings in the Army

08:41 Physical Differences and Injury Risks for Women

12:02 Benefits of Female Physiology in the Military

16:17 Training and the Menstrual Cycle

22:58 Analysing Data on Muscle Performance and Bone Health

23:12 Informed Decisions on Contraceptives and Training

23:57 Tactical Decisions Around Menstrual Cycle

24:17 Understanding RED-S in Military Context

25:13 Energy Deficiency and Logistical Challenges

26:52 Impact of Sleep on Reproductive Health

29:16 Psychological Health and Stress Responses

33:14 Nutritional Needs and Training Recommendations

36:09 Empowering Women Through Menstrual Health Tracking

38:33 Future Research and Implementation

42:46 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Women can absolutely thrive in demanding military and sporting environments if they get the right training, nutrition, sleep, and monitor their menstrual health. The tools and policies to support you are on the horizon. Thanks for listening!

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

www.ophp.co.uk

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

Instagram: @ophumanperformance

If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.

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

In this episode, Martin & JP talk to Dr Allison Brager, an active-duty Army officer and neuroscientist specialising in sleep and fatigue research.

Dr. Brager shares her pioneering research on how both acute and chronic sleep deprivation affect physiological, cognitive, and emotional performance, especially in high-stakes environments. She breaks down the genetic factors that make some individuals resilient to sleep loss, debunks common myths about "training" yourself to need less sleep, and reveals the critical role of sleep in energy (ATP) production outside of the brain. Plus, learn about the military's evidence-based strategies for managing inevitable fatigue, including the best way to use strategic caffeine dosing.

Key Takeaways:

• Acute (Forced Wakefulness): After 18 to 24 hours, an individual struggles to recover performance without a sleep opportunity.
• Chronic (5 hours/night): Three days of chronic restriction lead to a decline in physiological, cognitive, and emotional state approaching clinically significant levels (e.g., a 50% drop in testosterone).
• Genetic Resiliency: A naturally occurring mutation in the adenosine receptors can make individuals more resilient to sleep deprivation, slowing the rate of decline in performance under forced wakefulness.
• The Sleep-First Principle: Sleep is the biological foundation for readiness. It is necessary to replenish glycogen and fat reserves (ATP/energy homeostasis) to support high-intensity training and performance the following day.
• Nap Strategy: A simple 20-minute nap or "chill time" can significantly increase productivity, morale, and unit welfare in operational settings.
• Strategic Caffeine Dosing: Do not wait until you feel tired to take caffeine; it's already too late.
• SLANT Acronym: Optimise a suboptimal sleep environment by controlling Surface, Light (use red light, eye masks), Air quality, Noise (use earplugs), and Temperature.
• Busting the Morning Caffeine Myth: Dr. Brager states that for an individual with an entrained circadian rhythm, morning caffeine has a minimal effect on the body's ability to use light as a time cue. Light is the most potent time cue, and the idea that you must wait hours after waking up to consume coffee is generally considered "nonsense."

Guest, Cast & Crew

Dr Allison Brager is a highly respected neurobiologist and active-duty US Army officer with expertise in neuroscience, sleep, and circadian rhythms. Her work examines substrates and mechanisms of resiliency to extreme environmental stress in Special Forces and other elite populations during intense maritime, aviation, and land-based training and operations in Antarctica, the Central American rainforest, and other austere environments. Her popular science book, titled Meathead: Unravelling the Athletic Brain, links exercise physiology and neuroscience to her experiences as an elite athlete.

Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

Produced & edited by Bess Manley

Resources

• https://www.westpoint.edu/directory/allison-j-brager
• https://www.instagram.com/docjockzzz/?hl=en 
• linkedin.com/in/allison-brager-80a58210   
• Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meathead-Unraveling-Athletic-Allison-Brager/dp/149086444X  
• Born To Run https://www.amazon.co.uk/Born-Run-Hidden-Ultra-Runners-Greatest/dp/1861978774 

Thanks for tuning in. If you found this podcast valuable, please take a moment to rate, share & review. If you have feedback, guest suggestions or topics that you'd love us to cover, then do email us at [email protected] or connect with us on LinkedIn.    

Chapters

01:33 Exploring Sleep Deprivation

07:55 Genetic Factors in Sleep Resilience

13:43 Impact of Physical Activity on Sleep

24:57 Practical Sleep Strategies for High-Stress Environments

29:55 Caffeine and Sleep Management

37:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

www.ophp.co.uk

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

Instagram: @ophumanperformance

If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.

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

Are you ready to unlock your full potential in high-demand situations?

Join hosts Martin Jones and Jonpaul Nevin on the Optimising Human Performance podcast as they dive deep into the fascinating truth about mental fatigue with one of the world's most cited sport scientists, Professor Samuele Marcora.

Discover groundbreaking and often surprising research findings that redefine the limits of human capability. We don't just explore the problem; Sam provides immediately applicable, practical strategies for mitigating mental fatigue, including:

• Strategic caffeine use to combat fatigue.
• The science behind brain endurance training.
• The critical role of motivation in pushing through mental and physical barriers.

Tune in to master your mind and elevate your high performance and endurance to a new level!

Guest Spotlight: Professor Samuele Marcora

Professor Samuele Marcora is a leading authority whose pioneering research seamlessly integrates physiology and psychology to understand human performance. His high-impact scientific publications span crucial topics like physical and mental fatigue, endurance performance, and cognitive load.

A sought-after consultant, Sam has advised elite organisations globally, including:

• Italian Cycling Federation
• Juventus
• Arsenal
• Bath Rugby
• Honda Racing Corporation
• ASICS

In This Episode: Key Topics & Chapters

We break down the science of the mind-muscle connection:

• Understanding Mental Fatigue (01:42): What is it and how does it differ from physical exhaustion? (02:11)
• Impact on Performance (05:28): The surprising ways mental fatigue limits your endurance.
• Cognitive Load and Limits (12:30): Exploring the neurophysiology of mental fatigue. (19:33)
• Caffeine and Fatigue (23:07): The definitive guide to using caffeine strategically.
• Nootropics and Energy Drinks (24:00): Evaluating their real role in fighting fatigue.
• Identifying and Measuring Mental Fatigue (27:51): Practical methods for athletes and high-performers.
• Strategies to Mitigate Fatigue (31:17): Immediate actions you can take.
• Training Your Mind for Endurance (33:51): The power of brain endurance training.

Resources Mentioned:

• Sam Marcora's Academic Profile: University of Bologna
• Sam's Publications: Google Scholar Citations
• Video: The Eternal Run

Hosts: Martin I. Jones & Jonpaul Nevin (ophp.co.uk)

Produced & Edited by: Bess Manley

00:08 Sam's Professional Journey

01:42 Understanding Mental Fatigue

02:11 Mental Fatigue vs. Physical Fatigue

05:28 Impact of Mental Fatigue on Performance

05:39 Research on Mental Fatigue and Endurance

12:30 Cognitive Load and Performance

19:33 Neurophysiology of Mental Fatigue

21:48 Understanding Adenosine and Mental Fatigue

23:07 The Role of Caffeine in Combating Fatigue

24:00 Evaluating Nootropics and Energy Drinks

26:25 Exploring Caffeine Delivery Methods

27:51 Identifying and Measuring Mental Fatigue

29:53 The Importance of Motivation in Fatigue

31:17 Strategies to Mitigate Mental Fatigue

33:51 Training for Mental and Physical Endurance

40:20 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to rate, share, and review the podcast. For feedback, guest suggestions, or topics you'd love us to cover, email us at [email protected] or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

www.ophp.co.uk

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

Instagram: @ophumanperformance

If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.

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

In this episode, we’re talking to Harry Moffitt - SAS veteran, psychologist & human performance consultant. The physical, psychological and social pillars of human performance are well known, but Harry believes that, as a society, we have forgotten the crucial fourth pillar, our philosophical self. We discuss the importance of philosophy as a tool for navigating our uncertain world. We explore how ancient wisdom, developed thousands of years ago, remains deeply relevant today. 

Guest, Cast & Crew

Harry Moffitt retired from the Australian Defence Force after almost 30 years, most of which were spent with Australia’s elite Special Air Service Regiment. He completed 11 active service deployments and completed his time with the SAS as its Human Performance Manager. He’s a registered psychologist and runs a human performance consultancy, Stotan Group, working with sports teams, the military and the corporate world. He has recently released a new book called The Fourth Pillar: Modern Stoicism & the Philosophy of High Performance. 

Hosted by Martin Jones https://www.ophp.co.uk 

Produced & edited by Bess Manley

Resources

Harry’s website https://harrymoffitt.com.au/ 

The new book – The Fourth Pillar https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761563133/ 

Eleven Bats: A Story of Combat, Cricket & the SAS https://www.elevenbats.com.au/ 

The Externals' latest album – Back on the Cans https://open.spotify.com/album/1hsoDqmGApnKvLwyxngFB4?highlight=spotify:track:7rL6Sn7C0t9YkBdvVhYWEN  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrymoffitt/?originalSubdomain=au 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrymoffitt353/?hl=en 

Stotan Group https://stotangroup.com.au/ 

The Master and His Emissary https://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-His-Emissary-Divided-Western/dp/0300188374 

Percy Cerutty https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/percy-cerutty/ 

Thanks for tuning in. If you found this podcast valuable, please take a moment to rate, share and review.  If you have feedback, guest suggestions, or topics you'd love us to cover, do email us at [email protected] or connect with us on LinkedIn.    

Chapters

00:12 Guest Background & Career Overview

01:24 Human Performance Program in the Military

03:02 Evolution of Human Performance Programs

07:07 Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life

11:13 Journey into Psychology

15:14 The New Book: The Fourth Pillar

20:30 Exploring Stoicism & Philosophy

23:56 Discovering Stoicism & Its Modern Relevance

25:15 Ancient Practices in Modern Times

26:11 The Philosophy of Modern Stoicism

27:12 Applying Stoicism in High-Performance Environments

30:41 The Role of Philosophy in Personal Development

44:35 The Importance of Reading & Lifelong Learning

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

www.ophp.co.uk

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

Instagram: @ophumanperformance

If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.

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

This special Christmas re-release revisits one of our most powerful conversations: Afghanistan veteran Luke Sinnott shares his extraordinary journey after losing both legs in an IED explosion. Luke opens up about the physical and psychological challenges of his rehabilitation, and the crucial role that sport and humour have played in rebuilding his life and mindset.

• Guest: Luke Sinnott – Former Royal Engineers Search Advisor, Afghanistan (2010). Luke lost both legs in service, went on to represent Great Britain in para sailing and long jump, and is now training to be a commercial pilot.
• Hosts: Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin (ophp.co.uk)
• Produced & Edited by: Bess Manley

• Luke Sinnott on Instagram
• Luke Sinnott on X

If you found this episode valuable, please rate, share, and review the Optimising Human Performance podcast. Got feedback, guest suggestions, or topics you’d like us to cover? Email us at [email protected] or connect with us on LinkedIn.

1. 00:10 – Luke’s Background and Career Journey
2. 03:13 – Counter IED Operations in Afghanistan
3. 05:55 – Challenges and Responsibilities of Command
4. 14:30 – The Incident and Aftermath
5. 21:55 – Arrival at DMRC Headley Court
6. 22:23 – Life in the Rehabilitation Facility
7. 25:02 – Meeting JP and the Role of PTIs
8. 26:30 – Understanding Resilience
9. 30:20 – The Importance of Humor and Sport in Rehab
10. 35:24 – Operation Surf and Its Impact
11. 37:25 – Transition to Long Jumping
12. 40:27 – Final Thoughts and Future Aspirations

Optimising Human Performance delivers evidence-based insights for professionals in high-stress, high-stakes environments. Subscribe for more inspiring stories and actionable strategies.

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

www.ophp.co.uk

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

Instagram: @ophumanperformance

If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.

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

Fuel Like a Pro: Inside the Science of Endurance Nutrition with the former lead performance nutritionist for Team INEOS’s pro cycling.

Martin & JP talk to Professor Javier Gonzalez about food and how we can use it to get the most out of our bodies. They discuss dietary strategies that make a real difference to performance, the science behind popular diets, and the importance of finding the right balance in high-stress, high-performance environments.

• Guest: Professor Javier Gonzalez, Professor of Nutrition and Metabolism, University of Bath, UK. Consultant to sports teams and industry, leading research on how we fuel, burn, and store energy.
• Hosts: Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin (ophp.co.uk)
• Produced & Edited by: Bess Manley
• 
  

• Centre for Nutrition, Exercise & Metabolism, University of Bath
• Javier on LinkedIn
• Javier on X (Twitter)
• Javier on Google Scholar

Thanks for tuning in. If you found this podcast valuable, please take a moment to rate, share, and review. For feedback, guest suggestions, or topics you'd love us to cover, email [email protected] or connect with us on LinkedIn.

• 02:45 Fueling Strategies for Endurance Events
• 05:23 Low Carb Diets and Exercise Performance
• 07:27 High Carb Diets and Long-Term Health
• 08:22 Personalized Nutrition for Unpredictable Events
• 09:48 Carbohydrate Types and Performance
• 17:12 Professional Cycling Nutrition Insights
• 23:02 Hydration Strategies for Different Conditions
• 24:05 Nutritional Periodization: Balancing Carbs and Fats
• 25:09 Micronutrient Preloading and Supplementation
• 26:31 Supplements for Performance Enhancement
• 28:09 Fasted Training: Benefits and Misconceptions
• 30:45 Dietary Adjustments for Optimal Adaptation
• 37:17 Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Training
• 40:39 Emerging Technologies in Sports Nutrition
• 41:46 Ketogenic Diets and Ketone Supplements
• 44:05 Future Directions in Nutritional Science
• 46:04 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

• Carbohydrates are critical for high-intensity and unpredictable endurance events.
• Personalization is key: body size, habitual diet, and environment all matter.
• Practice your nutrition strategy in training, not just on race day.
• Supplements like creatine and caffeine have strong evidence; not all trendy products deliver.
• New advances are making nutrition more personalized than ever before.

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

www.ophp.co.uk

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

Instagram: @ophumanperformance

If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.

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

In this episode of Optimising Human Performance, Martin I. Jones and Jonpaul Nevin sit down with Dr Duncan French, Senior Vice President of the UFC Performance Institute, to explore what it really takes to prepare fighters, and other high‑stakes performers, to operate in chaos.

Dr French leads the global high‑performance operation for over 700 UFC athletes, with Performance Institute facilities in Las Vegas, Shanghai, and Mexico City. With more than 20 years of experience across 40+ professional and Olympic sports, he has previously served as the Director of Performance Sciences at the University of Notre Dame and as the Technical Lead for Strength & Conditioning at the English Institute of Sport. He is widely recognised for his expertise in strength and conditioning, training transfer, and performance optimisation.

Across the conversation, we cover:

• How strength and conditioning has evolved over the last 20+ years in the UK and US
• What a truly multidisciplinary high‑performance system looks like inside the UFC
• The “law of thirds” of athlete buy‑in, and how to work with fighters who “know best”
• Why MMA is one of the most complex sports to prepare for, and how the UFC PI breaks it down
• The cultural challenge of over‑training, red‑lining every session, and chasing “more”
• How simple human conversations (“How are you today?”) often beat fancy technology
• The role and limits of performance tech, and why some metrics can do more harm than good
• What other high‑stakes organisations – including the military and police – can learn from MMA

Guest, Cast & Crew

Hosted by Martin I. Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

Produced & edited by Bess Manley

Resources

https://www.ufcpi.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/dr_duncan_french/?hl=en 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-french-phd-a41bb9122/

Thanks for tuning in. If you found this podcast valuable, please take a moment to rate, share and review.  If you have feedback, guest suggestions or topics that you'd love us to cover, then do email us at [email protected] or connect with us on LinkedIn.    

Chapters

00:52 The Challenges of Combat Sports

01:59 Duncan French's Background and Role

03:51 Evolution of Strength and Conditioning

05:45 Multidisciplinary Approach at UFC Performance Institute

09:08 Fighter Mentality and Buy-In

13:07 Human Performance Optimization in Military and Sports

18:47 Year-Round Training and Readiness

24:40 Physiological and Psychological Demands of MMA

31:04 The Double-Edged Sword of Training Intensity

32:27 Evolution of Fighters: From Brawlers to Technicians

33:32 The FMA Model: Fighter, Martial Artist, Athlete

35:12 Military Training and MMA: Cross-Disciplinary Insights

38:05 The Role of Technology in Performance Monitoring

44:00 Humanistic Approach in Sports Science

46:52 Challenges in Fighter Training and Recovery

49:39 Managing Overreaching and Allostatic Load

57:31 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

www.ophp.co.uk

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

Instagram: @ophumanperformance

If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.

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

Join hosts Martin Jones and Jonpaul Nevin for Series 3, Episode 4 of the Peak Potential podcast by OpHP (Optimal Human Performance). This episode features renowned performance psychologist Dr Dave Collins, who shares expert strategies for maximising human performance through psychological skills. Discover how elite athletes, coaches, and high-stakes professionals can harness the power of the brain, mental imagery, and quality practice to achieve excellence under pressure.

• Psychological skills for peak performance
• The role of the brain in elite performance
• Talent identification and development
• The impact of quality practice
• Imagery techniques, including PETTLEP imagery
• Overcoming trauma and building resilience
• Adaptability, continuous learning, and critical reflection
• Coaching strategies for high-pressure environments

Dr Dave Collins is a leading expert in sport and performance psychology. With decades of experience, he has worked with over 70 World or Olympic medalists and professional teams. Dave is a Professorial Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and Director at Grey Matters Performance Ltd. He specialises in developing individuals and teams to perform under pressure and has coached at the national level in three sports.

• Grey Matters Performance Consultancy
• Dave Collins on LinkedIn
• Dave’s academic research
• Sport Skill Acquisition Book
• Sport Psychology Essentials (Book)

1. Dave’s Journey from Military to Psychology
2. The Importance of the Brain in Performance
3. Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence (PCDEs)
4. Defining Excellence in High-Stress Contexts
5. Quality Practice and Its Impact
6. Talent Identification and Development
7. Transitioning Skills Across Domains
8. The Power of Imagery in Sports
9. Understanding and Applying PETTLEP Imagery
10. The Rocky Road Hypothesis
11. Coaching Strategies and Flexibility
12. Maintaining Skills and Continuous Improvement
13. Final Thoughts and Reflections

• Email Dr Dave Collins: [email protected]
• Contact OpHP: [email protected]
• Visit OpHP Website

Don’t miss expert interviews on optimizing human performance. Subscribe to Peak Potential on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover evidence-based strategies for high performance.

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

www.ophp.co.uk

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

Instagram: @ophumanperformance

If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.

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

How can athletes train smarter for long-term success? Performance coach Chris Tombs joins host Martin Jones to discuss how to build physically and psychologically resilient athletes. With more than 30 years of experience in elite sport and military performance, Chris shares insights on sustainable training, recovery, and human connection in coaching.

The conversation covers velocity-based training, reducing orthopaedic stress, and maintaining peak performance without burnout. Chris explains how to create training systems that promote longevity, adaptability, and consistent improvement, helping athletes perform better for longer.

This episode is a practical guide for coaches, trainers, and anyone interested in the science of performance, recovery, and resilience.

Key Topics:

• Coaching philosophy and athlete development
• Lowering the orthopaedic cost of training
• Longevity and durability in high-impact sports
• Velocity-based training and data-informed performance
• Building trust and human connection in coaching
• Advice for new strength and conditioning professionals

Guest

Chris Tombs has over 30 years of experience in strength and conditioning across professional rugby, action sports, cricket, and the military. His current work focuses on preparing soldiers for the physical and mental demands of their roles.

Host

Martin Jones — ophp.co.uk

Producer

Bess Manley

Connect with Chris Tombs:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

If you found this episode useful, please rate, share, and review the show. To suggest guests or topics, email [email protected] or connect on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

www.ophp.co.uk

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

Instagram: @ophumanperformance

If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.

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

In this episode, Martin & JP talk to Dr Meaghan Beckner about her work in biomarker research. They explore the concept of resilience and the use of biomarkers to measure physiological and psychological readiness. They discuss the potential of wearable technology, the importance of omics, and the validity of using pre-workout supplements. 

Guest, Cast & Crew

Dr Meaghan Beckner is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, where she is involved in innovative studies aimed at optimizing the performance and well-being of military personnel. She specializes in the intersection of military health, nutrition, and cognitive resilience. 

Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

Produced & edited by Bess Manley

Resources

• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Meaghan-Beckner
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/meaghan-e-beckner-phd-624b80353/ 

Thanks for tuning in. If you found this podcast valuable, please take a moment to rate, share and review.  If you have feedback, guest suggestions or topics that you'd love us to cover, then do email us at [email protected] or connect with us on LinkedIn.    

Chapters

01:41 Defining Resilience

02:26 Understanding Biomarkers

05:24 Molecular Biomarkers and Readiness

08:09 Cortisol and the Stress Response

20:08 Physiological Impact of Special Forces Training

37:13 Future Directions in Biomarker Research

38:59 Pre-Workout Supplements and Performance

41:08 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

www.ophp.co.uk

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

Instagram: @ophumanperformance

If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.

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