Your brain is the most trainable organ in your body. So why aren't you training it?

This week on Performance People, we sit down with Dr Tommy Wood, neuroscientist, researcher, and performance scientist who has worked at the highest levels of motorsport, including Formula 1 through HINSTA Performance. If you want to understand how the world's elite athletes keep their edge, this is the episode.

Dr Tommy has just released his lates book, The Stimulated Mind, and the conversation does not disappoint. We're talking cognitive performance, dementia prevention, the neuroscience of elite sport, and why up to 70% of dementias could be preventable.

We get into:

* Why 45–70% of dementias are preventable, and what you can do about it right now

* The truth about multitasking (spoiler: your brain literally cannot do it)

* How F1 legends like Hamilton and Alonso use crystallised intelligence to outperform teammates half their age

* What elite athletes understand about brain recovery that most people never will

* Why AI could be quietly shrinking your cognitive capacity and how to push back

* The Norwegian 4x4 protocol and why six months of HIIT can protect your hippocampus for five years

* Social media, dopamine, and how to curate your feed like a high performer

* The 3S Model, Stimulus, Supply, Support, your blueprint for a sharper brain at any age

Dr Tommy Wood works with Formula 1 teams through HINSTA Performance, one of the world's leading high-performance health organisations. His insights bridge elite sport science and everyday brain health in a way that will change how you think about performance, literally.

00:00 Introduction

02:10 Is Dementia Really Preventable?

05:50 Genetics vs Lifestyle — The APOE4 Reality

10:23 Can the Brain Improve With Age?

13:20 The Exercise Formula for Brain Performance

18:21 Recovery, Sleep & Cognitive Overload

20:32 Why the Brain Cannot Multitask

23:41 Social Media, Dopamine & Attention Collapse

27:47 AI, Creativity & The “Google Effect”

45:34 GPS, Taxi Drivers & Spatial Intelligence

48:29 What Elite Athletes Understand About the Brain

55:58 The Owl Experiment & The 3S Model

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The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday. Hit subscribe and don't miss an episode.

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ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.

We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest.

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

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________________________________

The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.

© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

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

Dr. Elie Abirached: Nature Over Bio-Hacking Tech

Longevity expert Dr. Elie Abirached shares his journey from war-torn 1980s Lebanon to pioneering bio-hacker and Harvard researcher. Despite having access to every cutting-edge device; hyperbaric chambers, infrared saunas, PEMF therapy, he reveals why nature, community, and purpose remain the most powerful longevity tools.

In this conversation, Dr. Abirached challenges the "one thing" mentality in health optimisation, shares the Harvard study findings on happiness, and explains his non-negotiable daily practices that keep his biological age well below his chronological age.

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00:00 Cold Open – “Nature Is the Most Powerful Biohack”

00:39 Introducing Dr Elie: Biohacking & Longevity

02:15 Growing Up in Lebanon – Trauma & Self-Preservation

05:10 Losing Both Parents to Cancer – The Power of Purpose

07:10 The Harvard Happiness Study Explained

08:53 Blue Zones, Purpose & Why We Overcomplicate Longevity

11:12 Why Biohacking Must Be Geographically Relevant

14:30 Social Media, AI & The Future of Health Optimisation

18:00 Becoming a “Limitless Human” – Where to Start

21:40 The Recovery Crisis – Why Most People Are Under-Recovered

26:46 The “Three Body Problem” – Physical, Mental & Recovery Balance

30:45 Sleep Is the Ultimate Performance Tool

33:50 Wearables, CGMs & Avoiding Data Obsession

36:30 Circadian Rhythm – The Simplest Longevity Lever

39:00 Building the Ultimate Longevity Toolkit

43:06 The Future of Biohacking & Living With Purpose

44:52 Final Reflections & Practical Takeaways

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The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

________________________________

ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.

We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest.

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/

________________________________

The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.

© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

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

Former England international James Haskell joins Performance People for an unfiltered, honest conversation about elite sport, identity, leadership and life after rugby.

Haskell reflects on the defining moments that shaped his career, from an unlikely England call-up that changed everything, to the brutal honesty of international environments where high performance is non-negotiable. He speaks candidly about learning to block out external noise, why Googling yourself can be a form of self-harm, and how early experiences with criticism and therapy reshaped his mindset long before conversations around mental health were mainstream.

The episode explores what team culture really looks like at the highest level: why different personalities matter, how leaders earn respect, and the balance between discipline, individuality and accountability. Haskell also opens up about retirement, reinvention, and the challenge many athletes face when the structure of professional sport disappears.

Now juggling podcasting, music, business ventures and fatherhood, he explains why growth doesn’t stop when sport ends, and why success, in any field, depends on self-awareness, honest feedback and taking responsibility for your own standards.

Reloaded – The Good, The Bad and The Rugby by Alex Payne, James Haskell and Mike Tindall is available now (HarperNonFiction). 

Link here: Reloaded – The Good, The Bad & The Rugby

________________________________

The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

________________________________

ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.

We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest. 

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/

________________________________

The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.

© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

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

World number one skeleton slider Matt Weston joins Performance People, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, to share the mindset, resilience and ambition behind his rise to the top of one of sport’s most extreme disciplines.

In this episode, Matt reflects on the disappointment of the Beijing Winter Games and how that experience became the driving force behind a remarkable period of success. A multiple Crystal Globe winner, World Champion and European Champion, he opens up about rebuilding confidence, managing pressure, and why adaptability, both physical and mental, has been crucial to his performances.

The conversation dives deep into the realities of elite skeleton racing: competing at speeds over 140km/h, racing through serious injury, and operating in a sport where hundredths of a second can define a career. Matt also explains how he prepares for high-pressure moments, works with sports psychologists, and balances perfectionism with performance.

Above all, this is a conversation about standards. Matt is candid about his refusal to settle for second place, the mindset that separates good from great, and why gold this winter remains the ultimate goal. An unmissable insight into elite performance, resilience, and what it takes to compete at the very top.

Subscribe for more conversations with world-class performers and leaders.

________________________________

The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest. 

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/

________________________________

The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.

© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

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

On this episode of Performance People, Georgie Ainslie sits down with Pat Sharples, an elite head coach in winter sports, for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how teams are built.

Pat reveals what really happens inside a Winter campaign. He explains how he manages 12 very different snow sport disciplines, balancing creativity in freestyle athletes with the intensity of alpine racing, all while keeping athletes confident, healthy and competition-ready.

The conversation dives into mindset, risk and preparation in extreme sports, where athletes rehearse dangerous tricks hundreds of times before executing them under pressure. Pat also discusses how confidence, fear management and decision-making can be the difference between medals and missed opportunities.

Away from the slopes, Pat shares how recovery, sleep, nutrition and smart performance planning have become critical, especially when competing against nations with far larger budgets. Despite those challenges, he explains why British snowsport is entering the winter cycle with optimism, and highlights the athletes to watch.

Subscribe for more conversations with world-class performers and leaders

________________________________

The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest. 

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/

________________________________

The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.

© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

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

In this episode of Performance People, we’re joined by Emirates GBR champion driver and newly appointed America’s Cup GB1 helm, Dylan Fletcher, to explore the defining moment behind one of British sailing’s most remarkable career arcs.

Dylan reflects on the tough reality of being dropped from the SailGP circuit early in his career, describing the moment the “rug was pulled” and how losing control of his future forced a complete reset. What followed was an uncompromising focus on what he could control, a mindset shift that reshaped his approach to performance and decision-making.

The conversation dives deep into pressure, resilience and life inside elite sport. Dylan shares what it’s really like to operate under extreme expectation, how he manages nerves, recovery and self-doubt before racing, and why failure, rather than success, has often been his greatest motivation.

We also explore the inner workings of sailing’s biggest environments, from SailGP to the America’s Cup. Dylan opens up on helming alongside Sir Ben Ainslie, adapting to the demands of a 150 person team, and learning how to win both on and off the water.

Further into the conversation, Dylan reflects on the Olympic campaign that culminated in gold medal success, and why committing fully to winning gold, rather than simply chasing a medal, changed everything.

The episode comes at a landmark moment. Emirates GBR were crowned SailGP champions in 2025, and Dylan has just been appointed helm of GB1, the British challenger for the next America’s Cup; placing him at the centre of British sailing’s next chapter.

________________________________

The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

________________________________

ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.

We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest. 

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/

________________________________

The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.

© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

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

How do you turn three people and a dog into a 23,000-strong global business? For David Howden, Founder and Group CEO of Howden, the answer begins not in a boardroom but in childhood adversity. David lost his father aged seven and watched his family lose their home overnight - a moment that forged lifelong resilience and a hunger to build something of his own.

That experience would power a career in insurance defined by imagination, not paperwork. David explains how he came to see insurance not as a grudge purchase, but as the oil in the engine - or, in his words, the Tesla battery - that enables societies, businesses and individuals to take risks, innovate and grow. Today Howden operates in 56 countries, fuelled by a culture that has employee ownership at the heart of it, puts people first, and which welcomes mistakes as lessons rather than failures.

From empowering teams to build their own businesses to shaping grassroots change through ambitious partnerships across rugby, equine sports and Emirates GBR in SailGP. David talks culture, leadership, risk, global growth and why being the underdog matters. This is the story of an entrepreneur building a business to be proud of, and inviting others to build it with him.

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The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.

We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest. 

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/

________________________________

Show notes

The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.

© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

________________________________

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

Former Winter Olympian turned broadcaster, Aimee Fuller joins Performance People to reflect on a career defined by courage, creativity and confronting fear.

Aimee competed for Team GB at the Winter Olympics in Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018, specialising in slopestyle and big air, and becoming the first woman to land a double backflip in competition. In this conversation, she opens up about the defining moment that shaped her journey; the extraordinary pressure of qualifying for her first Olympic Games, having to deliver career-best results in the final two events after sitting 72nd in the world rankings.

She speaks candidly about injury, recovery and the psychological toll of elite sport, including how fear of injury began to outweigh performance ahead of her second Winter Olympics, a realisation that ultimately led to her retirement. Aimee also reflects on identity beyond competition, the challenge of letting go, and how running and broadcasting have helped her rediscover purpose and joy in performance.

Insightful, honest and full of energy, this episode explores resilience, pressure and what it really takes to step away from the thing that once defined you, and move forward stronger.

________________________________

The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.

We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest. 

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/

________________________________

The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.

© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

________________________________

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

Iain ‘Goobs’ Jensen reflects on elite performance, pressure and resilience in SailGP. This episode of Performance People, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, was recorded in Abu Dhabi, just ahead of the SailGP Grand Final, at a moment of real intensity, both for the championship and for Goobs personally. From Olympic gold, via a 2025 Emirates GBR treble to a new chapter with Australian Flying Roos, this is a remarkable story of high-performance sailing.

A double Olympic gold medallist and one of the most respected figures in high-performance sailing, Goobs reflects on a career that has spanned the Olympic pathway, the America’s Cup and SailGP, all during a period of extraordinary technological change in the sport. From foiling breakthroughs to life inside prototype racing machines, he offers rare insight into what it takes to perform when the margins are vanishingly small.

The conversation also goes far beyond racing. Iain speaks with honesty about setbacks, pressure and perspective, including the health challenges that interrupted his career and reshaped his outlook on performance, ambition and team culture. Throughout, he returns to the importance of trust, shared purpose and doing the basics well under extreme pressure.

The timing of this episode marks a significant transition. After years with Emirates GBR SailGP Team, Goobs discusses his decision to return home to Australia and join the Bonds Flying Roos, ahead of the start of the 2026 SailGP Championship in Perth.

This is a thoughtful, deeply human conversation about resilience, elite performance and knowing when it’s time for the next chapter.

________________________________

The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

________________________________

ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.

We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest.

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/

________________________________

The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.

© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

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

From defining moments to peak performance, recovery, leadership and everything in between, this special end-of-year episode brings together the very best of Performance People.

Across the past year, we’ve sat down with world-class athletes, coaches and thinkers to understand what really drives performance, not just on the biggest stages, but in the moments that shape careers and lives. This highlights episode captures the essence of those conversations.

You’ll hear candid reflections on defining moments from the likes of Mike Tindall, Ed Chamberlin, Matthew Syed, Jimmy Anderson, George North and Geraint Thomas. There are deep dives into peak performance and strategy with Ben Ainslie, Alistair Brownlee, James Vowles, Tammy Beaumont and Ben Ryan, alongside powerful insights into recovery, resilience and mindset from athletes including Katie Boulter, Sarah Storey, Fin Smith and Abi Burton.

And because performance isn’t always serious, we’ve also included some of our favourite off-script moments, interruptions and giggles from guests such as Gabby Logan, Natalie Pinkham, Mike Tindall and Ted Kravitz.

Whether you’re an athlete, leader or simply curious about what it takes to perform under pressure, this episode is a celebration of the conversations that defined our year.

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The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

________________________________

ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.

We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest. 

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/

________________________________

The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.

© Gameface Limited 2025. All rights reserved.

________________________________

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