This episode is brought to you by Fruition Financial, which is committed to helping you achieve financial fitness. From starting his own finance business after years in banking to leveraging property investments, Zack shares invaluable insights that can help you navigate the complex world of real estate and finance. Learn how "rentvesting" can unlock your dream lifestyle without breaking the bank, understand the ins and outs of bank lending, and uncover simple strategies to enhance your savings. Whether you're a young professional or looking to make smarter financial decisions, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you achieve your property goals and secure your financial future. Tune in now and take the first step towards financial empowerment!

In this episode Andrew and Zack discuss:

2:00 Why Zack started up his own finance business after working at a bank.

3:10 How Zack was able to use his property investments to fund his new business.

4:55 You don’t need a huge amount of savings to buy a property.

6:20 Why rentvesting could be ideal for you.

8:00 Rent where you want to live and invest where you can afford.

9:20 The surprising amount of assets you may have to leverage.

11:45 Why some banks don’t lend as freely as others.

13:00 Zack is in this for the long haul and will always be looking for the next best deal for his clients.

15:15 Using your salary as a tool to leverage new loans.

17:10 Adding up small costs over time can be a shock.

18:25 looking at your lifestyle and seeing what you might need to cut.

20:05 Lifestyle creep can be a big factor in saving money.

22:25 How young people can work towards buying their first property with government assistance.

24:15 Have a conversation about your finances now, no matter your current situation.

26:20 A few simple areas you can save money.

Find out more at Fruition Financials website: https://fruitionfinancial.com.au/
You can find Zack at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackraad/

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Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

What does it take to turn your fears into fuel for success? This week's guest is Rick Cooper (also known as The Educational Athlete). Rick is a former London Fire Service officer, athlete, and educator turned Leadership & Performance Coach. Rick shares his incredible journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a force for good, inspiring others to embrace authenticity and courage. With over 20 years of experience in his field of human behavior, performance, and leadership - Rick leaves you with practical strategies to transform your leadership style.

Rick is the creator of the Education Athlete Program which offers a series of workshops designed to equip 15 to 18-year-old young men and women in independent schools with essential skills including emotional intelligence, resilience, and leadership. 

"Courage is the word. It takes absolute courage and bravery to want to sit in all your fear and accept it."

In this episode, Andrew and Rick discuss:

1:50 How Andrew and Rick met through JT at Manly, Rick's upbringing in a rough area of England, and the dysfunctional family dynamic Rick grew up with.

5:30 How Rick found his upbringing affected him later in life, how Rick channeled his anger into rugby and moving to a new area to leave all that behind him.

10:00 Why Rick thought he had to prove himself to everyone on the rugby pitch, his innate sense of empath,y and joining the fire service after recovering from a broken spine.

17:45 The flattened hierarchy of the fire service Rick witnessed, sport isn’t high performance when compared to emergency services or the military, and the reaction Rick gets when he says that to athletes and coaches.

23:30 Rick realising he was enough for himself after being invited to an international bodybuilding event, how Rick got into the speaking circuit by sharing his story and the story of Rick’s 47-year-old personal training client.

38:30 Feeling whole after a long journey of self-discovery, Rick’s client finds peace and how Rick defines fear.

45:48 Finding the courage to sit in the fear and move past it, authenticity creates genuine connections and Rick’s corporate client who struggled to be vulnerable with his team.

55:30 Past pain informs future fear, you can’t get to courage without feeling fear beforehand and being on purpose to become whole.

1:00:30 Rick is incapable of only having a surface-level conversation, leaving behind people in your life who drag you down, and resolving conflict with your partner.

1:09:20 The 3 questions you should ask yourself, are where you can find Rick and who Andrew would like to see through the eyes of for a day. 

Rick's 3 questions are:

1. Why am I doing what I'm doing?
2. In my relationship, what are we doing well, and what is not working?
3. What's my biggest obstacle right now and how do I overcome it?

You can find Rick at his website: https://www.rick-cooper.com/
Or at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-cooper-theeducationathlete/
Listen to the podcast with Michael Bungay Stanier: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/66-michael-bungay-stanier-the-power-of-coaching-tapping-into-curiosity-and-reinventing-yourself-to-stay-relevant-and-fresh
Buy a copy of his book mentioned in this podcast: https://www.mbs.works/coaching-habit-book/

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Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.

Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Greg Page, the original Yellow Wiggle, almost died on stage from a heart attack. That moment changed everything—shaping his mission to raise awareness of heart health and show people how they can save lives.

He shares what it’s really like to face a life-or-death crisis, why having an AED nearby can make all the difference, and the simple actions anyone can take if someone’s heart stops. This episode isn’t just about surviving—it’s about being prepared, being present, and making a real impact when it matters most.

Watch the full interview on YouTube: Link
Follow Greg: Instagram | Heart of the Nation

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Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.

Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

There is a lot of confusion about the differences between leadership capacity and leadership capability. In this discussion Angela Poon and Andrew May give people a clear understanding of what leadership capacity is, and more importantly – how to train it!

Leadership capability is the skills, knowledge and attributes to effectively lead others. Leadership Capacity is the ability to manage energy, perform consistently under pressure and regulate emotions to effectively lead yourself. In this episode Ange and Andrew discuss:

2:00 There isn’t a lot of information on leadership capacity, and how Ange built this into her life after working at KPMG and catching up with what she has learned over the past few years.

8:30 How Andrew evolved his philosophy on leadership capacity, the difference between leadership capability and leadership capacity and the most common challenge Andrew sees leaders facing.

19:30 How Commbank CEO Matt Comyn manages his energy, how most people aren't aware of how to manage their own energy and try a 21 Day Challenge to get started and feel better everyday.

26:10 How Manly Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold builds down regulation into his day, techniques you can use to down regulate and when your brain is calm your body follows.

33:10 How Andrew discovered the concept of performance moments while working at KPMG, how Warrant Officer Ken Robertson shifts state between work and home and how you can consciously shift state between performance moments.

39:55 High performing teams give feedback regularly, and how Compass Group CCO Shelley Roberts uses the Better Week to manage energy and focus on what matters in a high intensity global role.

43:50 How Ange coaches clients around the Better Week, Andrew plans his Better Week at the start of every week and the difference between a  Better Week, a survival week and a recovery week.

48:00 How firefighter Sam Monaghan stays calm and regulates his emotions, being calm isn’t being soft (it’s being ready) and the inverted U hypothesis of performance and arousal.

53:45 Being able to pull the appropriate performance levers when you need them is essential, Andrew’s summary of leadership capacity and sign up for our free masterclass on the Performance Intelligence website.

View the Inverted U model here: https://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Dynamic-Energy-Model-02-scaled.jpg

Listen to the episode with Matt Comyn: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/94-matt-comyn
Listen to the episode with Seibs: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/128-anthony-seibold
Listen to the episode with Ken Robertson: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/106-ken-robertson
Listen to the episode with Shelley Roberts: https://tinyurl.com/ydahb4zc
Listen to the episode with Sam Monaghan: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/111-sam-monaghan

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/

Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.

Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

In this Bite Size from episode #93 professional MC Luke Hannan talks to Andrew and Ange about what it is that makes for a good public speaker and gives out some examples of how he gets himself ready for a big presentation. 

Luke also shares some of the ways you can use breathing and imagery to get yourself ready to present to a crowd of any size, even if you have no experience.

Find Luke at his Website: https://lukehannan.com.au/
Or at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukehannan

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/

Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.

Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Jake Trbojevic and Michael Bevan are on the Performance Intelligence Podcast this week! Andrew reveals the unexpected connection between the two as they delve into the surprising realities of high performance anxiety, the pressures of leadership, and the unexpected paths to success.

Jake, a prominent NRL player for the Manly Sea Eagles and the current captain of the NSW State of Origin team, is celebrated for his remarkable rugby skills and mental resilience. Known for his quiet strength, Jake exemplifies what it means to lead with integrity.

Michael, an Australian cricket legend, is renowned for his calm demeanor and match-winning contributions during Australia’s golden era in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including two World Cup victories. Now a respected mentor, he guides athletes on navigating high performance and mental health challenges.

"Superpowers* are simply those qualities that contribute to your consistency. It’s all about how YOU define your superpower. Definitions and goals are crucial to your understanding of what a superpower truly is.”

In this episode Andrew, Micahel aka Bevo and Jake talk about:

2:45 Bevo’s rockstar front hiding an introverted nerd, how Jake and Bevo first met after Jake’s nightmare training session and what first struck Jake during his.

7:20 Why Bevo resonated with Jake’s struggles, what Bevo felt like at his peak of playing and Jake’s reaction to being named NSW State Of Origin Captain unexpectedly.

15:00 The definition of high performance anxiety, how Jake gained a bit of perspective on life and deep wins and shallow losses.

21:55 Why rooming with Bevo was considered a death sentence, having anxiety so bad it ruined his sleep and how Bevo gained his self awareness to tame his anxiety.

28:30 Getting dropped from the Australian test team in a hotel in Leeds, enjoying the back of his career more after dealing with his anxiety and how working with Bevo on this had improved Jake’s day to day life.

33:20 Jake controlling the controllables, how Bevo has turned his anxiety into a superpower and having a frozen fish thrown at his head during a game.

42:15 Bevo’s different mental modes, some of the things Jake has learned from Bevo and Jake being the nicest guy in the nrl.

52:15 Bevo wanting to have a positive impact on people, knowing when to not jump in to a conversation too quickly is a skill and Jake’s mental toughness as a superpower.

58:00 How Glenn Mcgrath was able to perfect the simple things in his successful career in cricket, the difference between and average player and a great player is consistency and Jake’s new mystery skill he has been working on.

1:05:30 The Difference between consistency and playing the same game, how Bevo learned to be an effective coach and Jake learning to ask others for help.

1:14:00 The difference between a coach and a mentor, why Bevo likes learning about different industries and Jake and Bevo’s advice for people starting in their careers. 

You can find Bevo at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bevo_michaelbevan/?hl=en
You can find Jake at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaketrbojevic/?hl=en
Check out Bevo's gold chain look: https://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/michael-bevan-to-be-inducted-in-the-australian-cricket-hall-of-fame.jpg
Watch the interview with Jake about anxiety: https://wwos.nine.com.au/videos/nrl/nrl-news-2024-jake-trbojevic-interview-manly-sea-eagles-finals/cm19608yh000c0glg0ggyl1cc
Read the article about Jake's mental toughness: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/can-you-turn-the-nicest-guy-in-rugby-league-into-an-origin-captain-20240528-p5jhc3.html

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/

Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.

Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

What happens when your career ends but your health - and identity - start to unravel? In this Bite Size from episode #100, Longevity Expert Amelia Phillips shares how she helped a retired professional athlete navigate the tough transition after sport — rebuilding his physical health and reshaping his mindset before things spiralled further.

Andrew May also reflects on his work with elite athletes facing the same identity crisis — and why preparing for life beyond your peak years isn’t just about your body, but your mindset too. Whether you’re an athlete or not, the question is the same: Are you preparing for age 80, or are you leaving your future health to chance?

 
You can find Amelia at her website: https://www.ameliaphillips.com.au/
Or at her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_amelia_phillips/?hl=en
Or at her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-phillips/

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/

Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.

Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Fecal transplants, coffee, and probiotics - dive into the groundbreaking research shaping our understanding of gut health! Dr. Tom Buckley joins the Performance Intelligence Podcast to share the latest insights and reveal what truly works for a healthy microbiome.

As an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and specialising in Precision Medicine, Dr. Tom is a trusted voice on the podcast. He intertwines personal experience with cutting-edge research, making complex topics accessible and relatable.

“Everyone wants energy… but marvellous mitochondria - where do they come from? They originated from bacteria. We are intimately connected with the microbes in our bodies until our habits lead to dysbiosis, where the balance is disrupted…”

2:00 What got Dr Tom so interested in gut microbiome.

3:50 The trillions of cells and bacteria in the body and how they interact with the world.

5:35 What is gut microbiome?

7:20 How this topic is so integral to Dr Tom’s health journey.

9:45 Dr Tom’s research into the gut microbiome and some of the factors that influence it.

15:35 Dr Tom’s previous thoughts on coffee.

20:55 The effects of coffee on the gut microbiome.

25:30 The surprising multitude of things that affect the gut microbiome.

28:30 Everyone has a unique gut microbiome and what works for one person might not work for others.

33:10 The rise in fecal transplants and the science behind them.

35:40 Dr Tom’s experience in rebalancing his own gut microbiome.

39:30 Dr Tom’s food recommendations for a healthy gut and why probiotics aren’t as good for you as you might think.

45:35 Try a Mediterranean diet to start improving your gut microbiome.

48:05 The effects of alcohol on the gut microbiome.

50:15 Most people don’t get enough fiber in their diet.

55:20 The anecdotal evidence of heat and sauna therapy on the gut microbiome.

57:25 Dr Tom’s overall recommendations for gut health.

Find the summary slide mentioned in the podcast here: https://shorturl.at/33sm5
Read the Medical News Today article: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-might-drinking-coffee-alter-your-gut-microbiome

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/

Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.

Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

In this Bite Size from episode #110 helicopter crash survivor Jay Stevens explains how he was able to overcome the PTSD inflicted on him during his near fatal helicopter crash through the use of intensive EMDR therapy. 

Jay also talks about how he used his family as a motivation – not wanting to pass on any of the negative psychological effects from the crash onto his young children as they grew up.

You can find Jay at his Website: https://jaystevenskeynote.org/
or at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-stevens-a1634028/
Listen to the Matt Formston Podcast Episode: https://shorturl.at/8LOhx

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/

Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.

Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Can imagining success actually make you stronger? Listen to how mental rehearsal impacts athletic performance, from mindfulness techniques to creating personalized imagery scripts.

Professor Adam Nicholls a leading researcher in sports psychology bridging the gap between research and practical application in sports psychology. A professor at the University of Hull and a competitive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athlete, Adam translates cutting-edge research into actionable strategies for coaches and athletes seeking to optimize performance and well-being.

"We're doing imagery to help their psychological side for preparation for when they're performing. We focus more on the feelings associated with different performances. So getting them to imagine themselves feeling confident, feeling mentally tough..."

In this episode Andrew and Professor Adam discuss:

2:25 Adam’s prolific content posting ability on LinkedIn, the hardest feedback to take is usually the best to receive and why Adam is so passionate about posting helpful content online.

7:45 When you imagine something your muscles are activated, how champion blind surfer Matt Formston uses mental imagery and doing mindfulness exercises to stay present.

16:50 Doing 10 minutes of mindfulness a day as a gold medal standard, mental imagery creates neural pathways in your brain and real life examples of athletes using mental imagery.

23:10 Being calm is a different thing for different people, zones of optimal functioning and the difference between internal and external perspective in imagery.

27:20 Many research papers on this are done with students instead of athletes, each person has a different level of imagery ability and aphantasia – the inability to use mental imagery.

33:20 Using a string tied to a paperclip to test mental imagery ability, using mental imagery to improve your golf game and creating bespoke mental imagery scripts to help athletes in their practise.

42:45 Adam’s method for creating scripts, the PETTLEP model of mental imagery and the importance of doing imagery in real time.

48:15 Using mental imagery in injury rehab, broaden and build theory and how Adam uses that as a framework for his scripts.

53:40 When is the best time to do imagery, the rise of mental imagery in American football and letting athletes set their own pace when doing mental imagery.

1:01:00 Mental imagery is more about the feeling than ticking a box, some schools are now building this in to classes and Adam’s love of competing in Jiu Jitsu.

1:07:30 Adam learning more from competing in Jiu Jitsu than completing years of studying, doing new things to challenge yourself and the importance of experimenting with mental imagery and sticking with it.

You Can Find Professor Adam at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-adam-nicholls-77453b20b/?originalSubdomain=uk
Buy a copy of Professor Adam's book: https://shorturl.at/U92K7
Try the burpee challenge: https://fit4racing.com/the-zone/death-by-burpee-challenge/

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/

Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.

Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.