EPISODE 4:  The Perfection Trap

This week, Martin & Jonpaul are joined by Dr Thomas Curran, a world-leading expert on perfectionism. They break down perfectionism to understand what it really is and  challenge some of the myths that link perfectionism with high performance.  How we can prevent perfectionism from hindering our health, wellbeing, productivity and performance?

Guest, Cast & Crew

Dr Thomas Curran is an Associate Professor at the London School of Economics. He's a world-leading expert on perfectionism whose work has been featured in Time magazine, the Harvard Business Review, New Scientist, and the Times of London, to mention just a few. In 2018, he gave a Tedmed talk that’s well worth a watch, entitled ‘Our Dangerous Obsession With Perfectionism is Getting Worse’, and just last year, he published his debut book, ‘The Perfection Trap’.  

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

Edited by Bess Manley

Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com 

Resources

• Find Tom on Linkedin https://uk.linkedin.com/in/thom-curran 
• ‘The Perfection Trap’ by Thomas Curran  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1847943861/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr= 
• Tom’s TED talk

https://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_curran_our_dangerous_obsession_with_perfectionism_is_getting_worse?language=en 

• ‘Connected’ by John Spencer.

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 

01:25 Introducing Tom

04:07 Perfectionism and its Impact

08:04 The Influence of Social Media and Secularization

11:25 The Experience of Perfectionism

12:48 Perfectionism and Mood Disorders

20:48 Debunking the Notion of Healthy Perfectionism

24:09 Perfectionism in Covert Environments

26:00 Different Types of Perfectionism

26:42 Other-Oriented Perfectionism

33:25 Creating a Culture of Psychological Safety

37:41 The STOP 5 Model for Reflection and Learning

40:01 Perfectionists and Withholding Effort

52:25 Reframing Perfectionism as a Hindrance

Up Next

Join us for an eye-opening discussion with Professor Rob Orr, director of the Tactical Research Unit at Bond University. We discuss the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive performance and uncover the value of an individualized approach to training.

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 3

Leadership and Wellbeing: Lessons and Insights from a Policing Career

In this episode, Martin & Jonpaul are joined by Tim Jacques - former Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the UK’s Counterterrorism Policing HQ. They discuss health and wellbeing in high-stress positions and the role of senior leaders in optimising wellbeing and performance.

Guest, Cast & Crew

Tim Jacques retired in February 2024 after 37 years in policing. He completed his service as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner in UK Counter Terrorism's Policing Headquarters based in New Scotland Yard.  Counter Terrorism Policing is an 8,000 people strong collaboration of UK Police Forces who work with the United Kingdom's Intelligence Agencies, His Majesty's Government, the Ministry of Defence and other partners to counter the threat to UK interests from all forms of terrorism. Tim had strategic responsibility for all counterterrorism policing Prevent and Pursue activities.  

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

Edited by Bess Manley

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

Resources

• Tim on Linkedin https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tim-jacques-50104423 
• The National Police Wellbeing Service https://www.oscarkilo.org.uk
• Viktor Frankl ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’
• Martin Seligman ‘Flourish’
• Alan Cohen ‘Radical Contentment: The Power of Enough’

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

Chapters

00:42 Introducing Tim Jacques: A Policing Career in Review

01:09 The Importance of Well-being in High-Stress Roles

05:09 Understanding Human Performance in Policing

08:02 The Evolution of the Oscar Kilo Program

18:35 Strategies for Personal Well-being and Performance

29:58 Advice for Leaders on Fostering Wellbeing

32:25 Final Thoughts and How to Connect with Tim

Up Next

Look out for our next episode with Dr Thomas Curran, a world-leading expert on perfectionism. We challenge some of the myths that link perfectionism with high performance and discuss how we can prevent perfectionism from hindering our health, wellbeing, productivity and 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 2: Next Generation Mindfulness: the New Frontier for Peak Performance

In this episode, Martin & Jonpaul are joined by social psychologist Dr Jutta Tobias-Mortlock to discuss the role that mindfulness training can play in high-performance settings. 

Guest, Cast & Crew

Jutta Tobias-Mortlock is a reader in organisational psychology at City University and is the co-director of its Centre for Excellence in Mindfulness Research. 

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

Edited by Bess Manley

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

Resources

• Jutta’s contact https://www.city.ac.uk/about/people/academics/jutta-tobias-mortlock# 
• Centre for Excellence in Mindfulness Research www.mindfulness-science.com 
• Ellen Langer https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/ellen-langer 
• Viktor Frankl ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’

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

00:41 Mindfulness in High Performance

02:29 The Essence and Evolution of Mindfulness

05:44 Mindfulness as a Tool for Engagement and Decision-Making

06:32 Challenging Traditional Mindfulness Programs in High-Performance Settings

10:24 Practical Applications of Mindfulness in High-Stress Environments

17:34 The Limitations of Commercial Mindfulness Programs

23:04 The Story of the Honey Badgers

26:02 Exploring Team Mindfulness Training

28:37 NextGen Mindfulness

35:51 Challenges and Strategies in Mindful Organizing

39:54 The Journey Towards Mindful Organizations

48:58 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions

Up Next

Keep an eye out for our upcoming episode featuring Tim Jacques, former Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the UK’s Counterterrorism Policing HQ. We'll have a fascinating discussion about health and well-being in high-stress positions, and the role of senior leaders in optimising well-being and 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 1: The Role of Psychology in Human Performance Optimization

This week, Martin & Jonpaul talk to eminent psychologist Professor Michael Matthews. Mike shares insights from his extensive career across a wide-range of topics including the importance of non-cognitive factors such as grit, developing character traits and the role of organisational culture. 

Guest, Cast & Crew

Michael Matthews is professor of engineering psychology in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He has authored over 250 scientific papers and is the co-editor of several leading texts. 

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

Edited by Bess Manley

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

Resources

·      Mike’s email [email protected]

·      Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb

·      Human Performance Optimization: The Science and Ethics of Enhancing Human Capabilitieshttps://academic.oup.com/book/1587

·      Headstrong: How Psychology is Revolutionizing War https://academic.oup.com/book/36963

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 Introducing Professor Michael Matthews

03:29 Prof Matthews' Journey: From Police Officer to leading Psychologist

07:33 Exploring Non-Cognitive Factors 

10:32 The Grit Factor

17:45 Character Development and Organizational Culture

22:38 The Crucial Role of Character in Leadership

25:24 The Pitfalls of Short-Term Wins Over Long-Term Success

27:20 The Multidisciplinary Nature of Human Performance Optimization

28:09 The 'Shiny Object Syndrome'

31:38 The Psychological Warfare of Modern Conflicts

35:43 The Weaponization of Social Media in Warfare

39:33 Improving Situational Awareness and Counteracting Misinformation

43:23 Closing Thoughts

Up Next

Our next episode will be released on 20th May, when our guest is social psychologist Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock. We discuss the role that mindfulness training can play in high-performance settings.

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.

1 week before the launch of the optimising human performance podcast, Martin introduces the first episode due in May 2024.

To find out more about the podcast and the hosts, go.wavellroom.com/ophpwr

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.

Hear from Martin Jones and Jonpaul Nevin in this trailer for the Optimising Human Performance Podcast.

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.