Episode 2 -  Concussion in High Performance Environments

Martin and Jonpaul talk to award-winning author and sports journalist Sam Peters about concussion. They discuss the role of emerging technologies in diagnosing concussion in both sport and military contexts and the potentially devastating impacts of asymptomatic sub-concussive blows.

Guest, Cast & Crew

Sam Peters’ work has transformed sport’s attitude towards head injuries. He was the driving force behind the Mail on Sunday’s concussion in rugby campaign and has recently published a critically-acclaimed book on the topic, called Concussed: Sport’s Uncomfortable Truth.

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

Edited by Bess Manley

Resources

• Sam’s email [email protected]
• Sam’s award-winning book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Concussed-Sports-Uncomfortable-Sam-Peters/dp/1838955771
• Sam’s upcoming events https://www.concussed.media/events
• Planted Community https://planted-community.co.uk/

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

01:19 Meet Sam Peters: Background and Career

03:08 The Rise of Professional Rugby and Injury Concerns

06:41 Concussion Culture in Rugby

13:34 Historical Perspectives on Head Trauma

15:15 Military and Sports: Parallels in Head Trauma

18:38 Technological Advances in Concussion Diagnosis

20:53 Cultural Change and Education in Concussion Management

25:02 Understanding CTE: Definition and Symptoms

26:07 CTE in Sports: Research and Recognition

28:29 Diagnosing CTE: Challenges and Advances

30:35 Secondary Impact Syndrome: A Closer Look

34:43 Concussion Management in Sports

37:18 Cultural and Institutional Challenges

40:21 Lessons from Rugby for Other High-Risk Occupations

44:20 Future Directions 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.

EPISODE 1: Innovations in Performance Tech with Dr David Putrino

Martin and Jonpaul talk to neuroscientist Dr David Putrino, whose job it is to find innovative human performance technologies and roadtest them. From brain stimulation to mitochondrial supplements, David takes us through the tech that works and the stuff that doesn’t live up to the hype. He also shares insights from his work with high-performance athletes at Red Bull. 

Guest, Cast & Crew

Dr David Putrino is the Director of Rehabilitation Innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System, a network of hospitals in New York City. He is also a consultant for Red Bull High Performance division, using evidence-based technologies to improve athletic performance. 

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

Edited by Bess Manley

Resources

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-putrino-bb86aa11/ 
• Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/putrinolab.bsky.social 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/putrino_lab/ 
• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/abilities-research-center/about/directors 

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

01:46 David's Role and Research at Mount Sinai

07:38 The rise of neuroscience

10:05 The Hype and Reality of Brain Stimulation

16:53 Effective Technologies for Enhancing Performance

18:54 Mitochondrial Supplements and Probiotics

23:18 David's Journey to Red Bull

24:40 Meeting Andy Walsh and Red Bull Projects

25:28 Pushing Athletes Beyond Limits

26:06 Performance Under Pressure camps at Red Bull

27:48 Insights from Project Endurance

30:01 Understanding Stress and Flow

35:35 Neuroplasticity

38:59 Wearable Technology in 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.

Martin Jones and Jonpaul Nevin, hosts of the Optimising Human Performance Podcast share their story, why they have produced this podcast and why it is important to the community of individuals and teams working in high-stress and high stakes environments.

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.

EPISODE 12:   The Chimp Paradox with Professor Steve Peters

In this episode, Martin and Jonpaul talk to renowned psychiatrist Professor Steve Peters, who specialises in the functioning of the human mind. They discuss his famous ‘Chimp Model’ and its application in high-stress environments. They explore imposter syndrome and the antecedents of high performance.

Guest, Cast & Crew

Professor Steve Peters is a medical doctor specialising in mental health and the functioning of the human mind. His work spans education, the national health service, the corporate world, and elite sports. He helps people understand how the mind works, gain insight into their own unique mind and situation, and develop the skills to optimise individual performance and quality of life.

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

Edited by Bess Manley

Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/ 

Resources

• Steve’s company: https://chimpmanagement.com 
• Steve’s official website https://profstevepeters.com 
• Steve’s Books, including The Chimp Paradox https://chimpmanagement.com/books-by-professor-steve-peters/

If you’re enjoying this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts, and newsletters. 

Chapters

01:47 Steve Peters' Background and Career Journey

05:03 The Chimp Model Explained

09:29 Imposter Syndrome and Its Implications

17:46 The Neuroscience Behind the Chimp Model

23:28 Values and Team Cohesion in High-Performance Environments

30:32 The Reality of Elite Sports Life

31:45 Psychopaths in Boxing: A Unique Perspective

33:16 Adapting and Learning in High-Stress Jobs

34:42 The Importance of Individualized Training

38:56 Preparing for the Unexpected

40:36 Dealing with Trauma in Psychiatry

46:37 Addressing Moral Injury in Extreme Jobs

51:40 Looking to the Future: Legacy and Personal Projects

55:59 Steve Sets An Emotional Health Challenge

Up Next

This is the final episode of this first series, but all 12 episodes will remain available for you to listen to. We hope to be bringing you a second series very soon. 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.

EPISODE 11:  Sleep, Circadian Neuroscience & Human Performance

In this episode, Martin and Jonpaul talk to Professor Russell Foster, a world-renowned expert on sleep and circadian rhythms. They discuss the importance of sleep and circadian rhythms for human performance, how the circadian system provides the time structure for life, optimising physiology and behavior, and highlight some evidence-based strategies for enhancing sleep quality and quantity.  

Guest, Cast & Crew

Russell Foster is Professor of Circadian Neuroscience, director of the Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute and the head of The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford. Russell’s research interests span visual and circadian neurobiology, focusing on the mechanisms by which light regulates circadian rhythms. 

Russell has published hundreds of peer-reviewed articles and books, including his recent book, ‘Life Time: the New Science of the Body Clock and How It Can Revolutionize Your Sleep and Health’.  

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

Edited by Bess Manley

Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/ 

Resources

• Sir Jules Thorn Sleep & Circadian Neuroscience Institute https://www.scni.ox.ac.uk
• Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/team/russell-foster 
• ‘Life Time: the New Science of the Body Clock and How It Can Revolutionize Your Sleep and Health’ by Russell Foster https://www.pemberleybooks.com/product/the-ecology-of-vision/34916/ 
• ‘The Ecology of Vision’ by John Lythgoe
• ‘Blitzed’ by Norman Ohler 

If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit wavellroom.com for the latest articles, podcasts, and newsletters. 

Chapters

00:28 Journey into Circadian Rhythm Research

01:56 Understanding Circadian Rhythms

03:43 Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

09:25 Mental Health and Sleep

15:16 Shift Work and Health Impacts

25:45 The Role of Light in Circadian Rhythms

36:38 Understanding HPO and Sleep

37:22 Strategies for Better Sleep

37:46 The Role of Light and Relaxation

39:06 Avoiding Sleep Disruptors

40:48 The Importance of Routine and Naps

43:42 Challenges of Night Shift Work

47:17 Impact of Light on Sleep

58:55 Food and Circadian Rhythms

Up Next

Next week, we’re delighted to welcome consultant psychiatrist Professor Steve Peters to discuss his work in optimising human performance. From the NHS to elite sport, Steve helps people understand how the mind works, gain insight into their own minds, and develop the skills to optimize individual performance and quality of life. We discuss his famous chimp model, imposter syndrome, and the antecedents of 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.

EPISODE 10: Mastering Sleep for High-Stakes Environments

In this episode, Martin and Jonpaul talk to Professor Colin Espie, a world-leading expert on sleep and treating sleep disorders, particularly using cognitive behavioural therapeutics (CBTI) to treat insomnia disorder. They discuss how sleep contributes to physical and mental health, the five principles of sleep health and the treatment options for insomnia. They debunk myths such as a 'sleepless elite’ & explore the intricate relationship between sleep, memory consolidation and trauma recovery.

Guest, Cast & Crew

Colin Espie is a professor of sleep medicine in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford, where he founded the Experimental and Clinical Sleep Medicine Research Program at the Sir Jules Thorne Sleep and Circadian Research Institute. He is also the Clinical Director of the Oxford Online Programme in Sleep Medicine and has published over 300 scientific papers and several important books on the subject of sleep. Colin is also the co-founder of Big Health, which created Sleepio, a digital treatment for insomnia. 

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

Edited by Bess Manley

Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/

Resources

• Colin’s profile & contact info https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/team/colin-espie 
• Oxford Online Programme in Sleep Medicine https://www.scni.ox.ac.uk/study-with-us 
• Sleepio – a digital treatment for insomnia https://www.bighealth.com/sleepio 
• Colin’s books https://colinespie.com/author/ 
• The 5 Principles of Sleep Health https://colinespie.com/sleep-resources/ 

If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts, and newsletters. 

Chapters

00:42 Introducing Professor Colin Espie

01:39 The Importance of Sleep in Mental Health

04:15 Why Sleep is Crucial: Physiological and Cognitive Perspectives

06:07 Sleep Deprivation and Its Consequences

14:34 The Concept of the Sleepless Elite

19:52 The Five Principles of Sleep Health

27:16 The Importance of Sleep in Peak Performance

28:14 Understanding Insomnia

31:12 Treatment Options for Insomnia

34:03 The Role of Alcohol in Sleep

36:11 Sleep Banking and Deprivation Training

43:15 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

49:51 Final Thoughts on Sleep Health

Up Next

Next week, we’re taking a second deep dive into the science of sleep, this time with Professor Russell Foster, a world-leading expert on the mysterious phenomenon of circadian rhythms, which play a crucial role in optimal human 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.

EPISODE 9:  Maximizing Mental Fitness with Outdoor Wellbeing Coaching

Martin and Jonpaul are joined by Emma Higginson-Smith and Martin Brennan from The Green Room, which provides outdoor well-being coaching, leadership, and organisational development to maximise mental fitness and prevent burnout. They discuss the importance of mental fitness and the role of wellbeing coaching and introduce the concept of the ‘green room’. 

Guest, Cast & Crew

Martin Brennan was a police officer for 30 years and has represented UK Policing at the United Nations as an advisor to UN peacekeeping missions. He has led police teams during high-risk dynamic investigations. Today, he is an international expedition leader and an experienced outdoor wellbeing coach. 

Emma Higginson-Smith is a high-impact behaviour change coach and consultant. She is committed to personal and organisational wellbeing & is passionate about human performance, health, nutrition and the benefits of the outdoors.

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

Edited by Bess Manley

Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/ 

Resources

• https://tgrcoaching.co.uk/
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit Wavell Room for the latest articles, podcasts, and newsletters. 

Chapters

02:00 The Importance of Coaching

04:48 Inspiration Behind The Green Room

13:50 Understanding Mental Fitness

15:51 Challenges in Promoting Mental Fitness

20:21 Societal Stress and Mental Health

25:56 The Fascination with the Outdoors

26:31 Rediscovering the Inner Child

29:03 The Benefits of Nature on Mental Health

31:59 Personalizing Your Green Space

38:27 The Importance of Mental Fitness

41:28 The Future of The Green Room

46:08 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Up Next

Next week, Colin Espie, professor of sleep medicine at the University of Oxford, will join us. Colin is a world-leading expert on sleep and the treatment of sleep disorders, particularly the use of cognitive behavioural therapeutics to treat insomnia disorder.  

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.

EPISODE 8:  Feeding the Force: A Tactical Dietitian’s Guide to Optimal Health & Performance

In this episode, Martin and Jonpaul talk to tactical dietician Dr. Will Conkright about the role of a dietitian in the military and the challenges he faces. We dive into the basics of optimal nutrition and examine how people working in high-stress, high-stakes environments can leverage good nutritional habits to positively influence physical and cognitive performance, rest, recovery and sleep.

Guest, Cast & Crew

Dr Will Conkright is a registered dietitian and researcher with over 16 years of experience in clinical, academic and research settings. He primarily works with high-reliability populations, focusing on military operational stress, training and recovery. 

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

Edited by Bess Manley

Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/

Resources

• Operational Supplement Safety  https://www.opss.org/ 
• Will’s email [email protected] 

If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts, and newsletters. 

Chapters

00:42 Introducing Dr. Will Conkright

01:35 Will's Background and Military Experience

04:35 The Role of a Dietitian in the Military

12:31 Fundamentals of Good Nutrition

21:17 Challenges and Strategies in High-Stress Environments

26:49 Holistic Health and Fitness in the U.S. Army

30:06 Nutrition's Impact on Cognitive Performance and Sleep

33:38 Supplements for Performance and Recovery

40:15 Precision Performance Nutrition

43:58 Future Trends in Nutrition

Up Next

Next week, we’ll be joined by The Green Room, to talk about mental fitness and how wellbeing coaching, leadership and organizational development can help maintain and improve it.  

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.

EPISODE 7:  

Navigating Uncertainty - Insights from Mission Critical Teams

Martin and Jonpaul speak with Dr. Preston Cline, co-founder and principal of the Mission Critical Team Institute.  They discuss the characteristics of effective mission-critical teams, how to improve cohesion and facilitate within-career transitions, both into and out of these high-stress roles.

Guest, Cast & Crew

Preston is the co-founder and principal at the Mission Critical Team Institute, where he also serves as the director of research. He co-founded the Mission Critical Team Institute to support the instructor cadres of small teams that compromise indigenously trained and educated experts who perform in high-pressure environments where the consequences of failure can be catastrophic. He has supported military special operations, emergency medicine, tactical law enforcement, aerospace, and urban and wilderness firefighting organizations.

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

Edited by Bess Manley

Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/

Resources

• MCTI Resources https://missioncti.com/resources/
• MCTI Teamcast https://teamcast.missioncti.com 

If you're enjoying this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. And remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts and newsletters. 

Chapters

01:57 Preston Cline's Background and Career Journey

04:16 Defining Mission Critical Teams

09:44 Characteristics of Successful Teams

13:17 The Importance of Hardship and Adversity

15:43 The Mission Critical Team Institute

18:49 Navigating Uncertainty in High-Stress Environments

27:30 Building Cohesion in Tactical Swarms

30:14 The Importance of After Action Reviews

32:50 Challenges with the Post-COVID Generation

34:53 The Role of Introversion and Extroversion

36:07 Training Environment and White Space

40:01 Data Discipline and Technology Addiction

42:50 Onboarding New Team Members

46:44 Career Transitions and Mental Health

Up Next

Next week, we talk to tactical dietician Dr. Will Conkright about the role of a dietitian in the military. We will dive into the basics of optimal nutrition and examine how people working in high-stress, high-stakes environments can leverage good nutritional habits to positively influence physical and cognitive performance, rest, recovery, and sleep.

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.

EPISODE 6:  Resilience and Mental Toughness

Martin Jones and Jonpaul are joined by human performance expert Professor Daniel Gucciardi to explore resilience as an emergent outcome in high-performance settings. 

Guest, Cast & Crew

Daniel Gucciardi is a professor at Curtin University. He is a distinguished expert on stress, resilience and mental toughness and has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles.  His research focuses on personal and contextual factors related to high performance, health behaviours and wellbeing in contexts such as sport, education and the workplace. 

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

Edited by Bess Manley

Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com

Resources

• http://www.danielgucciardi.com.au/ 
• https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/daniel-gucciardi-678a620f/

If you're enjoying this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. And remember to visit WavellRoom.com for their latest articles, podcasts and newsletters. 

Chapters

00:42 Guest Introduction: Professor Daniel Gucciardi

03:42 Defining Resilience

07:54 Exploring Mental Toughness

13:45 Measuring Resilience

24:35 Reflection Techniques

30:50 Team Resilience

33:12 Future Research and Final Thoughts

Up Next

Next week…Dr. Preston Cline, co-founder of the Mission Critical Institute, joins us to discuss the characteristics of effective mission-critical teams, and how to improve cohesion & facilitate career transitions in high-stress roles. 

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.