Ever feel like you know what to do… but somehow never do it? You’re not alone. In this episode of Unleash Your Inner Athlete, we dive into the everyday struggles midlifers face self-sabotage, habit friction, and mental blocks that hold you back from better energy, health, and performance.

Our guest, Stuart Wade, 4-time World Champion martial artist and High-Performance Mindset Coach, shares his proven strategies for breaking through mental barriers, building resilience, and following through on the habits that really matter.

From failing his first black belt test as a kid to coaching elite athletes and global leaders, Stuart knows what it takes to perform under pressure and now he’s sharing it with you.

Whether you want more energy, better health, improved focus, or higher performance in business and life, this episode is packed with insights and practical tips to help you finally take control of your habits and your results.What You’ll Learn

in This Episode:

• Why we often get in our own way, even when we know what’s best for us
• How to break self-sabotage patterns and build lasting resilience
• The everyday mental habits that separate those who follow through from those who don’t
• Stuart’s program for unlocking unstoppable drive and consistency
• How midlifers can level up energy, health, and life performance

They say that difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations, and today’s guest is the living embodiment of that truth.In this powerful episode, I am joined by the incredible Julia Scoville, founder of Red Lion Business Coaching.

Julia’s story is one of the most profound examples of resilience I’ve ever encountered. From growing up under the restrictions of communism to surviving a near-drowning at just five years old, and later navigating the weight of deep personal loss, Julia has faced the kind of "difficult roads" that would break most people.

But instead of letting trauma define her, she allowed it to refine her. Julia transformed her grief into a deep sense of purpose, using her experiences to build a thriving business and a legacy of helping others.

As I’ve shared before, the toughest part of the journey isn't just building, it’s believing. Julia is a master of both.

Success isn't just about the bottom line; it’s about the strength of the soul behind it. 🚀

Is medicine enough to keep us healthy? 🏥✨

When it comes to our wellbeing, we often think in extremes: medicine vs. lifestyle, science vs. spirituality, or treatment vs. prevention. But real healing doesn't live in binaries—it lives in integration. In this powerful episode, we explore what it truly means to create the right conditions for the body to heal.

We dive into a model of health that honors the physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of life. While medicine is essential when life is on the line, what sustains us day-to-day are the choices we make, the connections we build, and the environments we create.

Today’s guest, Mark Jackson, embodies this philosophy. As the Founder & CEO of Vitaspan, Mark is leading the future of predictive and preventative healthcare using advanced AI. He is redefining health as more than just the absence of disease—it’s the presence of balance, resilience, and possibility. 🚀💻

Mark also gets vulnerable and shares his own powerful healing journey—moving from a life of relying solely on prescriptions to discovering a root-cause, integrative approach that transformed his life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The 5 Dimensions of Healing: Why your social and spiritual life is just as important as your physical stats.

• The Role of AI in Prevention: How Vitaspan is using technology to predict health issues before they become crises.

• Root-Cause vs. Symptom Management: Moving from "fixing what's broken" to "sustaining what's whole."

• The Power of Environment: How the spaces and connections we build dictate our daily vitality.

Mark Jackson is a globally experienced leader who has worked across Fortune 500 companies and private equity ventures. His mission at Vitaspan is centered on innovation and impact, fueled by his personal transition from symptom management to deep, proactive, and personalized healthcare.

What if the secret to your best health and fitness has been written in your DNA all along? Today we’re talking about something that could completely change the way you think about health and fitness — using your DNA to create a truly personalized approach.

My guest is Dr. Sam Decombel, CEO of FitnessGenes and a pioneer in genetic testing for fitness and health. We’ll explore how understanding your genes can help prevent long-term health problems, fine-tune your fitness plan, and unlock a healthier, longer life.

This is about moving beyond one-size-fits-all — and into the future of individualized healthDr Sam BioDr. Sam Decombel is a visionary leader and scientist at the forefront of innovation in the fitness and health industries. As the CEO of FitnessGenes, leading DNA testing company for  fitness and health,

Sam combines her deep expertise in genetics with her passion for helping people live longer, healthier lives through DNA insights.With a PhD in genetics and years of experience leading teams at the intersection of science and business, Sam is dedicated to transforming the fitness industry through innovation.

Under her leadership, FitnessGenes has developed business solutions that allow fitness and health professionals to deliver tailored fitness and wellness programs using the latest genetic science.Sam is a sought after speaker on topics such as:

• The role of genetics in personalising fitness and health
• Innovative strategies for retention and differentiation in the fitness industry
• The future of fitness: science, technology, and innovation
• The role of the fitness industry in preventative health 

Passionate about the industry’s role in preventative health, Sam offers unique insights that bridge cutting-edge science with actionable strategies for fitness businesses. Her engaging and data-driven approach resonates with audiences ranging from gym owners to fitness directors and health professionals.

In this incredibly powerful and human episode, I sit down with the one-and-only Sean Searight—a physiotherapist whose life experience is as unique as his approach to healing.

With 29 years of physiotherapy experience, Sean is more than just an expert; he's a former Army Lieutenant Colonel and a true innovator in rehabilitation. Imagine treating the most traumatic injuries at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court, and then going on to oversee over 100 rehabilitation centres across the Armed Forces—all while staying on the front line of patient care. Sean has seen it all!

Beyond the military, Sean holds a Masters focused on pain-related fear of movement (a huge topic we unpack!) and has mentored post-graduate physios for over two decades. He's now bringing his passion for movement to the Royal Navy and to a groundbreaking new system.

Why Your Pain Always Returns (And How to Fix It)

I'm thrilled to introduce our new episode, "STOP Treating Symptoms: The SHOCKING Reason Your Pain Always Comes Back." If you've ever felt trapped in a cycle of temporary relief, this conversation is essential for your long-term health, life, and well-being.

👉The Benefit of Understanding

ThisWhen you learn to look beyond the surface, you discover the root cause—whether it's chronic stress, emotional buildup, or structural misalignment—that is the true source of your discomfort.

This understanding is profoundly liberating: you gain the power to stop the endless cycle of treating symptoms and instead focus on permanent, sustainable healing. The result is restored energy, clarity, and the ability to reclaim a life free from recurring pain.👉The Cost of Ignoring This LieIf you continue to ignore the root cause, the consequences are severe: you stay locked in the Pain Loop. You waste time, money, and emotional energy on solutions that offer only temporary relief. More critically, the underlying issue continues to worsen, leading to chronic inflammation, emotional exhaustion, and a systemic belief that you are destined to live with pain, thus sabotaging your overall success and well-being.If you’ve ever been told your injury is ‘unfixable’ today’s guest is the one people call when they’ve tried everything else. From the British Army to Formula 1, from elite athletes to everyday heroes, Nell Mead has a track record of solving the unsolvable.

🌟Today, we’re diving into how she does it and more importantly, how you can take control of your own recovery. We’ll talk about empowering yourself through physical self-testing and self-assessment, why functional test resets are game-changers, and how to treat the root causes of pain, not just the symptoms.

Nell will explain her groundbreaking Health & Performance Pyramid, and why her approach goes far beyond the mechanical addressing emotional and cognitive factors to restore integrated body function.

Most urgent realization for anyone striving for higher achievement. We often look for external reasons for failure, but this concept proves the biggest obstacle to your growth is actually internal and completely within your control.

Your worst habit, whether it’s chronic lack of sleep, poor nutrition, or persistent procrastination, is not just a flaw; it is a hard cap on your potential.

By recognizing and dismantling this one negative pattern, you remove the hidden force that is suppressing your energy, clouding your judgment, and ultimately limiting your success.

This realization forces a powerful shift: you stop looking for external hacks and start investing in your core health blueprint. This investment instantly unleashes suppressed energy and focus, clearing the pathway for sustained achievement.

You realize that mastering your daily habits is not a chore, it is the direct, most effective route to limitless success and optimal well-being.

My guest today on Unleash Your Inner Athlete is a real breath of fresh air in the increasingly noisy fitness space, and who prides herself on fitness without the fluff.Getting back to fun, practical, science backed strategies without the “wellness wankery”

I am so excited to sit down with The lifestyle Ninja herself-Hayley FieldHayley is a Nutritionist, Sleep, Stress & Recovery Coach, Applied Neuroscience & Brain Health Practitioner, Menopause Coach and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist.

Find out how she went from broken back and bedridden to the lifestyle Ninja working with some of the highest achieving female founders.

This is crucial because it offers immediate, practical control over a state that paralyzes productivity and drains mental health.

The importance lies in recognizing that overwhelm isn't a permanent state; it's a signal that your mind needs a reset.

By learning this simple, quick technique—a mental hack—you gain two immense benefits: First, you restore immediate clarity. This allows you to cut through the mental fog and transition from frantic activity to productive, strategic focus. Second, and most importantly, you prevent the destructive spiral that leads to burnout.

This quick intervention proves that you have the power to influence your internal state, giving you back the control and resilience needed to sustain success without sacrificing your peace. It’s the ultimate defense against stress.

This is transformative because it challenges the destructive belief that constant struggle is necessary for success. It gives you permission to prioritize your well-being as the foundation for true achievement.

Firstly, this perspective restores your energy and prevents collapse. High-functioning burnout is insidious because you keep pushing until you hit a wall, believing stopping is failure.

This understanding validates that strategic rest and scaling back—quitting the grind—is a necessary action, not a moral failure. You stop the slow leak of your energy and mental reserves, preventing a complete physical and emotional collapse, and you restore the vitality required for true innovation.

Secondly, it forces strategic alignment and focus. The "grind" is often pure inefficiency—activity over impact. When you quit the toxic hustle, you are forced to be strategic.

You eliminate low-value tasks and distractions, reserving your precious energy solely for high-impact activities that truly move the needle toward your goals.

You trade exhaustion for intentional, meaningful success.Finally, this shift reclaims your self-worth and joy. The grind often ties your self-worth directly to your productivity, leading to immense stress.

Quitting the grind is the ultimate act of self-leadership. It teaches you that your value is inherent, not earned through endless work.

This change brings back joy, passion, and creativity, ensuring your success is sustainable and fulfilling, rather than just a source of anxiety.

I'm thrilled to introduce our new episode, "STOP Sabotaging Your Energy: The Truth About Alcohol and High-Achievers," featuring the brilliant Gill McKay!

Gill, a leading Sobriety Guide, Educator, and Thought Leader in Alcohol-Free Living, joins me to explore the surprising ways alcohol impacts our energy, hormones, mindset, and self-leadership. If you’re a high-achieving professional, this is the most honest conversation you need to hear.

We unpack the myth that alcohol helps us "unwind" and discuss exactly how it shows up in the corporate world, from client dinners to "wine o’clock." Gill shares how she helps professionals make alcohol truly irrelevant (not just resisted) through her Sober Joy programme, blending neuroscience, somatic practices, and mindset coaching.

Going alcohol-free might just be the ultimate act of self-leadership in midlife.

This is no judgment, just real talk, a few "aha" moments, and a lot of laughter. It’s time to stop letting a habit steal your focus and start unleashing the real energy and potential you deserve.