The High Performance Journey

The High Performance Journey — Tony Fretwell: The Talent We Miss: Who Gets the Opportunity to Become Exceptional?

What does high performance really mean, and what happens when we look beyond the results, achievements and expectations?

In this episode of The High Performance Journey, Andrew Stratton sits down with Tony Fretwell, Talent Inclusion Officer at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), whose career has also included working with the Football Association (FA) and playing professional rugby.

Together, we explore the journey behind the individual, the experiences that shape who we become, and the pressures, sacrifices and challenges that often remain hidden from the outside world.

This is an honest, open and vulnerable conversation about all sides of high performance — the highs, the lows, the moments of doubt, the fear, identity and the personal cost of constantly striving for more. They explore what it means to belong, the importance of inclusion, and how our professional identities can sometimes become so closely tied to who we believe we are.

Because high performance isn't just about what we achieve. It's about who we are, what we sacrifice along the way, and whether we truly understand the person behind the performance.

An honest conversation that goes beyond the surface.

The High Performance Journey — Angelo Calfo: The Highs, Lows and Hidden Cost of High Performance - The Journey Behind the Player.

In this episode of The High Performance Journey, Andrew Stratton sits down with professional footballer Angelo Calfo for an honest conversation that goes beyond the usual story of sporting success.

We explore Angelo's career, the experiences that have shaped him, and the realities of pursuing performance at the highest level. But this conversation isn't just about the highs, the achievements or the moments in the spotlight. It's also about the lows, the setbacks, the pressure and the less visible side of high performance.

What happens when the highs don't last? How do you deal with disappointment, uncertainty and the demands that come with competing professionally? And what does the pursuit of excellence ask of you personally, away from the pitch?

We look at the sacrifices, the mental challenges and the difficulty of navigating the constant expectations that come with a career in professional sport. We also explore the importance of identity, resilience and understanding who you are beyond your performance.

Because high performance isn't simply about reaching the top. It's about navigating everything that comes with trying to stay there — including the moments nobody sees.

An honest conversation about ambition, adversity, identity and the reality of life in professional football.

The High Performance Journey — Michal Glowacki: Why Trying to Become Better Can Make You Worse

What does it take to perform at the highest level — and what can we learn from the challenges, sacrifices and experiences that shape the journey?

In this episode of The High Performance Journey, Andrew Stratton sits down with Michal Glowacki to explore the mindset, experiences and lessons that shape his approach to performance and personal growth.

Through an honest and insightful conversation, we look beyond the outcomes to explore the challenges behind the journey, the importance of resilience, and the role that discipline, mindset and determination play in pursuing excellence.

We discuss the realities of striving for success, navigating setbacks, learning from experience and developing the mental strength needed to keep moving forward. We also explore what high performance means beyond achievement, and how the lessons learned along the way can shape both personal and professional development.

This is a conversation about ambition, resilience, growth and the pursuit of excellence — and about recognising that the journey matters just as much as the destination.

Because high performance isn't just about what you achieve. It's about how you respond to challenges, how you continue to develop, and who you become along the way.

🎧 Listen now to Michal Glowacki on The High Performance Journey.

The High Performance Journey — Liz McColgan: The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence

What does it really take to become a world champion — and what happens when the medals, the expectations and the pressure become part of who you are?

In this episode of The High Performance Journey, Andrew Stratton sits down with Scottish athletics legend Liz McColgan, one of Britain's greatest runners, to explore the mindset, sacrifices and resilience behind an extraordinary career.

From her early days growing up in Dundee to Olympic silver in Seoul, World Championship gold in Tokyo and victory at the New York Marathon, Liz takes us beyond the results to explore the determination and mental strength required to compete at the highest level.

We talk about the pressure to perform, overcoming injury, returning to elite competition after becoming a mother, and the personal challenges that the public rarely sees. We also explore life beyond competition, her transition into coaching, and the experience of helping the next generation find their own path in athletics.

This is a conversation about ambition, discipline, motherhood, setbacks and identity — and about understanding that success is measured by far more than medals.

Because high performance isn't just about reaching the top. It's about what it takes to get there, what it costs along the way, and who you become in the process.

🎧 Listen now to Liz McColgan on The High Performance Journey.

The High Performance Journey — Dean Shiels: Beyond the Game

What does it take to keep going when life throws challenges at you that football alone cannot prepare you for?

In this episode of The High Performance Journey, Andrew Stratton sits down with former professional footballer and manager Dean Shiels for an honest conversation about adversity, ambition, identity and the realities behind the game.

From his early years and the challenges of growing up, to the pressure of playing for Rangers and the difficult trade-offs that shaped his international career with Northern Ireland, Dean reflects on the decisions, setbacks and experiences that helped define him.

We explore the impact of losing sight in his right eye following a childhood accident, the mental battles that can sit behind a professional footballer's public image, and what happens when confidence, opportunity and identity are tested. Dean also shares how his perspective changed when he moved from being a player to becoming a manager, with responsibility for the careers and futures of others.

This is a conversation about far more than football. It's about dealing with adversity, living with the consequences of difficult decisions, and discovering who you are beyond the role the world sees.

Because performance isn't just about what happens on the pitch. It's about how you respond when the game gets difficult.

🎧 Listen now to Dean Shiels on The High Performance Journey.

The High Performance Journey with Alan Rapley OLY | Beyond the Olympic Dream: Identity, Pressure & Reinvention

What happens when you achieve the dream you've spent your life chasing — but the biggest challenges are still ahead of you?

In this episode of The High Performance Journey, I sit down with Alan Rapley OLY, former Olympic swimmer and Great Britain team captain at the 1996 Atlanta Games, for a conversation that goes far beyond the Olympic dream.

This isn't just a story about elite sport, competition or achievement. It's a deeper conversation about identity, pressure, masculinity and what happens when the thing that once defined you no longer tells the whole story of who you are.

We explore the reality behind high performance, the expectations men place on themselves, and why success on the outside doesn't always mean you're fulfilled on the inside.

What happens when your identity is tied to what you achieve? Why do so many men find it difficult to admit they're struggling? And how do you reinvent yourself when the world still sees you as the person you used to be?

We also challenge the idea that constantly pushing to become better is always the answer. Sometimes, the real work isn't about achieving more — it's about understanding yourself, letting go of old expectations and having the courage to change.

This is an honest conversation about the man behind the achievements, the moments that force us to question who we are, and the possibility of finding a different kind of strength through vulnerability.

Because high performance isn't just about what you accomplish. It's about who you become, what you're willing to confront, and whether the life you're building is one you genuinely want to live.

Beyond the Olympic dream, this is a conversation about finding yourself again.

This is The High Performance Journey with Alan Rapley OLY.

The High Performance Journey with Sam Neo | Risk, Identity & Finding Your Next Chapter

What happens when the life you've built no longer feels like the life you want?

In this episode of The High Performance Journey, I sit down with Sam Neo to explore career change, identity, ambition and the challenges men face when they begin questioning what success really means.

We talk about the pressure to provide, the responsibility of family, and why so many men stay in careers or situations that no longer fulfil them. When you have bills to pay, people depending on you and a reputation to protect, taking a different path can feel like an impossible risk.

But what if playing safe comes at a cost of its own?

We explore how to navigate change without throwing everything away, how to rebuild confidence when you're questioning your direction, and why it's never too late to rethink what you want from life.

This conversation is particularly relevant for men in their 40s who may look successful on the outside but feel stuck, unfulfilled or uncertain about what comes next.

Because high performance isn't just about climbing the ladder, earning more or achieving the next goal. It's about having the courage to question your direction, take responsibility for your choices and build a life that reflects who you really want to be.

If you've ever wondered whether there's more to life than the path you're currently on, this episode is for you.

This is The High Performance Journey with Sam Neo.

The High Performance Journey – Kow Ping

From Technology to Transformation: The Mindset Behind High Performance

What does it take to turn an ambitious idea into a business — and what does the journey teach you about success, resilience and yourself?

In this episode of The High Performance Journey, I sit down with Kow Ping to explore the connection between technology, entrepreneurship, health and human performance.

Through his work with Well Being Digital and its health-monitoring technology, Kow has been involved in the challenge of turning innovation into something that can make a meaningful difference to people's lives.

But this conversation goes beyond business and technology.

We explore the mindset behind entrepreneurship, the risks involved in building something new, the challenges of turning vision into reality, and the resilience required when things don't go to plan.

What does success really demand? How do you keep moving forward when the path is uncertain? And how do you balance the ambition to build something meaningful with the importance of health and wellbeing?

It's a conversation about thinking differently, challenging conventional boundaries and understanding that high performance isn't simply about achieving more — it's about what you're building, why it matters, and who you become along the way.

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership and the mindset required to keep pushing forward, this episode is for you.

This is The High Performance Journey with Kow Ping.

The High Performance Journey – Abhishek Pandher: The Man Who Ran a Half Marathon Every Day for Six Years

What does it take to show up every single day for six years — and run a half marathon, regardless of what life throws at you?

In this episode of The High Performance Journey, I sit down with Abhishek Pandher, a man whose extraordinary running streak challenges everything we think we know about discipline, consistency and human potential.

We explore what drives someone to commit to running more than 21 kilometres every day, how he pushes through fatigue and difficult moments, and the sacrifices involved in sustaining such an incredible routine alongside work and everyday life.

But this conversation goes deeper than running.

It's about the power of keeping promises to yourself, the difference between motivation and discipline, and what happens when ordinary actions are repeated consistently over an extraordinary period of time.

How do you keep going when motivation disappears? What does a commitment like this teach you about yourself? And how do you know when you're pushing your limits — versus pushing too far?

Abhishek's story is a powerful reminder that extraordinary results don't always come from one defining moment. Sometimes, they come from making the decision to show up again tomorrow.

If you're interested in endurance, resilience, mindset and what it really takes to build a life around consistency, this episode is for you.

One day at a time. One run at a time. One promise kept at a time.

This is The High Performance Journey with Abhishek Pandher.

The High Performance Journey – Chester Maglo: Sleep, Performance & The Danger of Outworking Yourself

What if the very thing you believe is making you successful is actually holding you back?

We live in a world that celebrates the early mornings, the long hours, the relentless hustle and the ability to keep pushing when everyone else stops. But what happens when pushing harder is no longer the answer?

In this episode of The High Performance Journey, I sit down with Chester Maglo — NHS Respiratory and Sleep Scientist, sleep and performance coach, and founder of The SomnoScientist.

Chester knows first-hand what it means to push your limits, but his own experience with sleep apnoea forced him to rethink the relationship between health, discipline and performance.

We explore why so many ambitious people struggle to switch off, why men often mistake exhaustion for weakness, and how the obsession with productivity can come at a cost.

We also challenge the myths around sleep, the glorification of the 5am routine, and the belief that success means simply working harder than everyone else.

Because high performance isn't just about how much you can push yourself. It's about understanding when to push, when to recover, and how to build a life you can sustain.

If you're ambitious, constantly chasing the next level, or finding it difficult to slow down without feeling guilty, this conversation might make you rethink everything.

It's time to stop asking how much more you can do — and start asking what it takes to perform at your best for the long term.

This is The High Performance Journey with Chester Maglo.