The High Performance Podcast

Before he was a Formula One driver, Lando Norris was the kid in the McLaren garage packing boxes, dismantling equipment, and working side by side with the mechanics. No glamour, no headlines, just long hours in the background, doing the kind of jobs nobody sees. What struck me most is that he didn’t see it as grunt work. He saw it as belonging. As trust-building, as part of something bigger than himself, and that small shift is the difference between viewing work as a job, a career, or a calling. In this episode, we explore what it really means to treat your work as a calling, not just a set of tasks. We look at psychologist Dr. Amy Wrzesniewski’s research on how we find meaning in the everyday, and how something as simple as reframing a task can transform the way we show up. Together, we explore: Why Lando’s early garage work laid the foundation for his careerThe psychology of job, career, and callingHow job crafting turns small tasks into meaningful onesWhat leaders can learn about trust from Formula One teamworkHow to reframe your own work so it matters more Because high performance isn’t only about winning under the lights, it’s about the way you approach the work nobody else notices. Here is more information on the studies referenced:  Jobs, Careers, and Callings: People’s Relations to Their Work (Amy Wrzesniewski, Clark McCauley, Paul Rozin, Barry Schwartz, 1997)Jobs, Identities, and Work: How Job Crafting Relates to Meaningful Work and Work Identity (Justin M. Berg, Jane E. Dutton, Amy Wrzesniewski, 2013)Positive Emotions Broaden the Scope of Attention and Thought-Action Repertoires, (Barbara Fredrickson, 2001) Listen to the full episode with Lando Norris: https://pod.fo/e/112cbb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda Staveley is one of the most influential figures in modern football, best known for helping steer the takeover that transformed Newcastle United.   In this episode, Amanda opens up about what it takes to build something lasting in football and in life. From being underestimated in high finance to proving herself in one of the toughest industries, she reflects on the quiet power of persistence and the importance of surrounding yourself with people you can trust.  She talks candidly about what it means to keep going in the face of uncertainty, how her Huntington’s disease has sharpened her priorities, and why empathy and vulnerability have become such central parts of her journey. This episode is about more than football, it’s about life, hope, and the meaning of legacy. 🚨 Partners Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights1 Tide 👉 Free £50? Just spend £100 on your Tide card to get it when you use code HP50: https://highpfrmc.com/tidehp50 HP Foundation 👉Do you want to kick-start an evolution that will change the lives of millions of children? Find out more about the High Performance Foundation: https://hppod.co/foundation HP Corporate Events 👉Click here to book High Performance Events: https://hppod.co/corporate-events Explore offers and discounts through our other partners: https://hppod.co/partners Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pippa Grange has spent years working behind the scenes in elite sport, guiding some of the biggest names and teams to perform at their best when it matters most. As a sports psychologist and culture coach, she’s best known for helping shift the mentality of the England national football team, but her work stretches far beyond the pitch. In this episode, Pippa unpacks the core ideas from her book Fear Less, exploring how the fear of failure shows up in sport, business, and everyday life. She explains how it quietly controls decisions, holds back potential, and fuels the constant chase for perfection. Through powerful stories and examples, Pippa shows that success isn’t just about talent or hard work, it’s about learning to loosen fear’s grip. She offers clear, practical tools to help you face fear differently and create space for courage, connection, and fulfillment. Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes the biggest reset doesn’t come from doing more, but from zooming out far enough to see what really matters. That’s exactly what productivity expert Ali Abdaal does every year, with a practice that at first sounds unusual, he writes his own obituary. Not to dwell on the end, but to remind himself how he wants to live. Ali’s story is a powerful reminder that alignment beats hustle. A former doctor turned one of the world’s most-followed productivity voices, he’s learned that the real danger isn’t burnout from overwork, but “misalignment fatigue”, the exhaustion that comes when your daily actions don’t reflect the life you actually want. In this episode, I share what I’ve taken from Ali’s approach and how you can use it as a compass too. We explore: Why writing your obituary is really about living, not dyingHow to spot “misalignment fatigue” before it derails youThe science of mortality awareness and why it makes us kinderSmall steps to bring your daily choices closer to your true story If you’ve ever felt stuck, drifting, or unsure where your energy should go, this episode is a reminder that high performance isn’t about squeezing more into the day. Here is more information on the studies referenced:  The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life (Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, and Tom Pyszczynski, 2015) Evidence That Reminders of Mortality Increase Generosity ( Ilan Dar-Nimrod, Tom Pyszczynski, Jamie Arndt, et al. 2008) Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want, (Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy 2016) Listen to the full episode with Ali Abdaal: https://pod.fo/e/213471 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicolas Hamilton is a British racing driver who has defied the odds to make his mark in motorsport while living with cerebral palsy. As the younger brother of Lewis Hamilton, the most successful F1 driver of all time, Nicolas has grown up around elite performance, but his own journey has been filled with challenges, setbacks, and powerful lessons about determination and self-belief. In this episode, Jake sits down with Nicolas to explore the unseen struggles that shaped him, from feeling isolated at school to dealing with the pressure of growing up in the shadow of a world champion. Nicolas talks openly about the influence of Lewis’s mindset, the inspiration it gave him, and the unique bond they share as brothers. He also discusses the battles many never see: the mask of happiness he wore while struggling with mental health, the expectations that weighed heavily on him, and the process of learning to be honest about his own story. Alongside this, Nicolas shares the physical demands of competing in racing and the determination that helped him achieve what once seemed impossible. This episode offers an inspiring conversation about family, ambition, and the importance of owning your truth.  Need Support? Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk Shout: https:giveusashout.org IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies 🚨 Partners Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights1 Vestiaire Collective 👉 Buy and sell pre-loved Fashion now: https://highpfrmc.com/vestiaire-au Tide 👉 Free £50? Just spend £100 on your Tide card to get it when you use code HP50: https://highpfrmc.com/tidehp50 HP Foundation 👉Do you want to kick-start an evolution that will change the lives of millions of children? Find out more about the High Performance Foundation: https://hppod.co/foundation HP Corporate Events 👉Click here to book High Performance Events: https://hppod.co/corporate-events Explore offers and discounts through our other partners: https://hppod.co/partners Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.