🎙️ From Olympic Marathoner to Physiology Researcher: Jess Piasecki on Female Health and Performance In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jess Piasecki — Olympic marathon runner and associate professor specialising in female physiology. Jess shares her unique journey from elite athlete to academic, reflecting on the transition from shorter races to the marathon distance, overcoming injury setbacks, and staying motivated throughout her career. We dive deep into the science of female athletic perf...
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 181
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m joined by the brilliant Kate Spilsbury—a former colleague, friend, and leading performance physiologist. Kate's journey from nutrition to physiology is both inspiring and instructive, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her to the show. We explore the critical moments in athlete preparation—particularly tapering and peaking—and why getting them right can lead to breakthroughs or breakdowns in performance. Drawing on her experience i...
Jun 11, 2025•52 min•Ep. 180
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham is joined by Tim Stevenson – a seasoned strength and conditioning coach – to explore the complex mechanics of the shoulder, injury prevention, and how to build resilient, high-performing athletes. Drawing from over 16 years of experience and his work with elite performers like Charlotte Henshaw, Tim shares a philosophy that moves beyond traditional training—focusing instead on dynamic stability, movement quality, and control-based...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 179
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m joined by Lisa Trainor – a former varsity athlete turned researcher – to explore the evolving landscape of athlete well-being. Drawing from her own experiences and her academic work, Lisa discusses how injury and major disruptions like the postponement of the Tokyo Games can influence an athlete’s psychological state. She offers insight into the distinction between hedonic (feeling good) and eudaemonic (functioning well and finding purpose...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 178
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Richard Ferguson to the show. Richard is one of the leading figures in exercise physiology, and today we’re diving deep into the fascinating world of blood flow restriction (BFR) training. We explore the science behind BFR, how restricting blood flow can stimulate remarkable strength and endurance adaptations, even with lighter loads. Richard shares his insights into BFR’s role in rehabilitation, athletic performan...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 177
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m joined by author, journalist, and endurance expert Alex Hutchinson to discuss his latest book, The Explorer’s Gene. This conversation dives into the why behind human exploration — what drives us to seek the unknown, how our genetics shape our urge to push boundaries, and what this means for athletes, adventurers, and everyday decision-makers alike. We explore the intersection of science, adventure, and personal growth, looking at everythin...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 176
🎙️In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham welcomes Kate Hays, a leading sports psychologist and author of How to Win: Lessons in Success from the Frontline of Performance Psychology. Kate shares her expertise on high performance psychology, exploring the essential building blocks of team success, the significance of team identity and purpose, and how pressure training prepares individuals for high-stakes situations. She also discusses psychological safety, behavioural ...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 175
🎙️ What training model improves VO2max and time trial performance for recreational and competitive endurance athletes? In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham is joined by Michael Rosenblat, an expert in exercise science with a fascinating journey from triathlon coaching to physiotherapy. Michael shares his insights into training intensity distribution models, drawing from his recent network meta-analysis on how different approaches impact endurance athletes. They disc...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 174
🎙️ Using play to improve performance with Richard Cheetham In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, Steve Ingham is joined by Richard Cheetham, a senior fellow in sports coaching, to explore the evolving landscape of coaching. From learner empathy and innovative coaching methods to the critical role of play in athlete development, Richard shares his insights on what truly makes coaching effective. They discuss how early experiences in sport shape long-term engagement, why coaching s...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 173
🎙️ Parenting Talent | Supporting Champions Podcast In this episode, Dr. Steve Ingham welcomes Valeria Eckardt to explore the vital yet complex role of parents in youth sports. Parents are more than just supporters—they shape a child's sporting experience as role models, interpreters, and motivators. But where’s the line between support and pressure? How can parents communicate effectively with young athletes? Valeria shares insights into emotional intelligence in sports parenting, the impact of...
Feb 24, 2025•58 min•Ep. 172
In this episode, Steve Ingham sits down with Liam to dive into the cutting-edge science behind athletic performance. From strength training and speed development to the critical role of muscle temperature, this conversation covers everything you need to know about optimising performance for elite athletes. Discover how post activation potentiation (PAP) can prime athletes for competition, why recovery is often underestimated, and how individualised training programs lead to better results. Liam ...
Feb 05, 2025•50 min•Ep. 171
🎙️ Welcome to the Supporting Champions Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Steve Ingham is joined by Professor Graeme Close, a leading expert in sports nutrition and human physiology. From his early days as a professional rugby league player to becoming a trusted advisor for England Rugby, Graeme shares his incredible journey and offers valuable insights into the science behind elite performance. We dive deep into the fundamentals of sports nutrition, the role of mentorship in academic success, and t...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 170
🎙️ Welcome to the Supporting Champions Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Steve Ingham sits down with Sue Jackson, a renowned psychologist and expert in the field of flow and optimal performance. Sue shares her incredible journey in sports psychology, including her collaboration with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the pioneer behind the flow concept. Together, we explore the fascinating world of flow—an optimal psychological state where we are fully immersed in a task—and its impact on performance, person...
Jan 08, 2025•59 min•Ep. 169
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Dr Ali Sanders, whose journey seamlessly bridges two worlds of extreme performance: Olympic rowing and emergency medicine. Ali’s story is one of grit, adaptability, and relentless dedication. From discovering rowing by chance at university to competing at the Olympic Games, Ali has always embraced high-pressure challenges. She shares how those experiences laid the foundation for her work as a consultant in emerge...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 168
In this episode, I'm joined by David Bishop, a leading researcher specializing in exercise physiology at the University of Western Australia. David takes us through his unexpected journey from a physical education teacher to becoming a renowned expert in muscle metabolism and exercise physiology. During our conversation, David delves into how training at various intensities impacts mitochondrial adaptations, which are crucial for enhancing athletic performance. We explore the critical balance be...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 167
Welcome to another exciting episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast. Today, I am thrilled to be joined by Troy Taylor, Senior Director of Performance at Tonal and a distinguished leader in the field of sports performance. With a career spanning elite sports organizations, including his role as the former High-Performance Director for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Troy brings a wealth of experience and cutting-edge insights into optimizing athlete performance. In this episode, we dive deep into t...
Nov 20, 2024•55 min•Ep. 166
Today I’m delighted to welcome a legend in the world of sports psychology, Chris Shambrook. With over two decades of experience in high-performance psychology, Chris has worked with elite athletes, including the GB Rowing Team, where he’s been pivotal in helping athletes achieve their peak performance on the world stage. In this episode, we dive into Chris’s unique approaches to mental resilience, the subtle art of supporting champions through their highs and lows, and the practical tools he use...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 165
This week, I’m thrilled to have the brilliant Dr. Shona Halson join me. Shona is an expert in athlete recovery and a former Senior Physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where she spent over 15 years researching and shaping the field of athlete recovery. She has worked with elite athletes, including the Australian Olympic team, to optimize their performance through evidence-based recovery strategies. In this episode, we dive deep into the science of recovery—what actually works...
Oct 23, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 164
In this episode of The Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Olympic gold medallist and trampolining sensation, Bryony Page! Bryony's journey from overcoming self-doubt to standing atop the podium in Tokyo is nothing short of extraordinary. We dive deep into her mindset, training approaches, and the resilience it took to become a record breaker in her sport. Join me as we explore how Bryony turned her dreams into reality, the highs and lows of elite competition, and what drives h...
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 163
In this week’s instalment I speak with Dr Ben Rosenblatt, founder of 292 performance and former S&C coach for England men’s football and GB women’s hockey. 292 performance is a multidisciplinary performance consultancy that offers support to elite athletes across a range of facets such as S&C, nutrition and psychology. Through his career, Ben has consulted and imparted his knowledge on individuals and organisations such as the premier league, Olympic associations and international milita...
Sep 25, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 162
This week on the podcast I sit down with Paolo Menaspa. Paolo is the Chief Science Officer at the Australian Institute of Sport, where he has led teams responsible for research & development, quality assurance, athlete performance health, and REST. Palo has a vast experience in the world of sport, supporting athletes through multiple Olympic cycles across multiple events. With a focus on cycling, Paolo has supported the national coaches and the performance support team developing solutions a...
Sep 11, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 161
In this week's episode I speak with Jo Harrison, the Head of Performance Lifestyle Services at the UK Sports Institute and Founder of WinWell.org Jo plays a pivotal role in athlete welfare and life beyond sport, and has been a key influence in this shift of focus over recent years. Jo possesses over 20 years worth of experience at the elite level of British sport and has consistently championed the holistic approach to athlete support. From her experiences within sport, Jo has co-founded 'WinWel...
Aug 21, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 160
On this week’s podcast I speak to Stafford Murray Stafford is the former Head of Performance Analysis at the English Institute of Sport, Director of Innovation at High Performance Sport New Zealand and now Head of Analysis at England and Wales Cricket Board. Stafford is a true pioneer in the world of performance analysis and innovation, having been at the forefront of evolving the discipline from match analysis and notation analysis to carving out the discipline of performance analysis. He has s...
Aug 07, 2024•51 min•Ep. 159
In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, we sit down with Mark England, Director of Sport Services at the British Olympic Association and Chef de Mission for Team GB across multiple Olympic Games. With a storied career that includes leading Britain to historic successes at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, Mark shares his extensive experience in Olympic leadership and team preparation. Show Notes: Introduction to Mark England: Introduction to Mark’s role with the British Olympic Ass...
Jul 24, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 158
Today, I’m joined by Geir Jordet, the world's leading expert on the psychology of penalties and author of "Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shootout." Geir brings an extensive background in sports psychology, with a focus on high-pressure performances in football. He has studied and published analyses on every major penalty shootout in soccer since 1976, so is ideally placed to offer insights into the critical moments that define sports outcomes, and how these insights apply ...
Jul 05, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 157
In this insightful episode I speak to with Tim Jones, the Associate Performance Director at British Swimming. A former Olympic athlete in the grueling 200m butterfly, Tim has transitioned from elite swimming to coaching, and now to a leadership role that spans multiple sports disciplines. With extensive experience across swimming, athletics, and gymnastics, Tim discusses his journey and the critical elements of leading high-performance teams in today’s competitive sports environment. Show Notes:...
Jun 26, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 156
Welcome to the Supporting Champions podcast, hosted by performance scientist Dr Steve Ingham. In this episode, Steve is joined by Professor Sam Marcora, a leading researcher whose psychobiological model has revolutionized our understanding of training and performance. Together, they delve into the fascinating intersection of psychology and physiology, focusing on how mental fatigue impacts physical performance. Sam shares groundbreaking insights into the role of perception of effort and how both...
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 155
In today’s episode I’m delighted host Iñigo Mujika. It is no exaggeration to say that Inigo is one of the World’s leading applied physiologists with a particular specialism in endurance training, tapering, and peaking strategies and has an extensive background working with elite athletes across various sports. In this episode, Iñigo shares insights from his career, discussing the characteristics of effective and less effective teams he's been a part of and his approach to balancing real-time dat...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 154
Today, I’m joined by Stephen Seiler, a renowned expert in sports science, to explore the integration of technology in sports performance, education, and health. Stephen brings a wealth of knowledge from his extensive research into the physiological aspects of endurance training and his insights into the optimal use of technology in enhancing athlete performance. In our conversation, we discuss the double-edged sword of technological advancements in sports. We cover how wearable devices and artif...
May 15, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 153
In this episode, we spotlight the journey and insights of Mehdi Kordi. With a rich and varied background, from biomedical science, to aerospace physiology, to accountancy, to mice in the Andes (yes you heard me correctly), then ultimately into a career in sports science and eventually coaching at the elite end of cycling. First Mehdi was at British Cycling as the sports scientist and hen coach at British Cycling, working with the Para team to Tokyo Games. Then Mehdi moved onto the Dutch National...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 152
