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 artificial intelligence can profoundly impact training effectiveness and sleep efficiency, but also the risks they pose, such as overtraining and potential injuries. Stephen and I delve into the importance of maintaining a balance between high-tech solutions and traditional coaching methods to achieve the best outcomes for athletes.

We also touch on broader topics, such as the implications of digital technology on learning and the critical role of understanding both physiology and technology to apply them effectively in sports. Stephen shares his perspective on the potential of AI to personalize training interventions and its integration with physiological data to enhance performance and prevent injuries.

 

Links

Follow Stephen on Twitter https://twitter.com/StephenSeiler

Spotify Playlist mentioned by Steve

Physiology https://open.spotify.com/playlist/38rCXTukPgm0OteNKn2UcK?si=57ae445ce6b04758

Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

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 Cycling Federation and is currently creating outstanding success, in his role success as Head Coach (Track Sprint). When I say outstanding success, Mehdi truly encapsulates getting bang for the buck, that is in sports like cycling a mix of technology and human performance, generally the more money yoo put in the better your results. 

Mehdi and his small team have created disproportionate success by focusing on what matters most. Think ‘Massive Gains’ rather than ‘Marginal Gains’. Mehdi's experiences offer a rare glimpse into the high-performance delivered with imagination, creativity, priority and constraints led innovation. 

So, irrespective of whether you like cycling or not, and if you do there is some juicy detail about riding a kilometer very fast, Mehdi’s insights are more about a way of thinking and working, that breaks the mould, of more is better, that could be applied to a range of systems, teams and pursuits.

 

 

Welcome back to the Supporting Champions Podcast. Today, we're exploring the transformative power of focusing on solutions, not problems, with the insightful Paul Z Jackson. From his early days as a comedy writer and improvisation teacher to becoming a pivotal figure in the world of applied improvisation, Paul's journey is as fascinating as it is varied. His work, especially the acclaimed book 'The Solutions Focus,' co-authored with Mark McKergow, has been a beacon for many, including myself, since its first impact on me back in 2011.

Paul's approach is simple yet revolutionary: Don’t fix what isn’t broken, find what works and do more of it, and if something doesn’t work, try something else. It’s about making positive changes by identifying and amplifying useful change, recognizing that detailed problem analysis often doesn’t lead to solutions. This mindset shift from a problem focus to a solutions focus can stir optimism, hope, and ambition, changing the way we tackle challenges in sports, business, and life.

In our discussion, Paul delves into how this approach applies across various contexts, from coaching athletes to enhancing team dynamics. He shares insights on how to help people improvise and adapt, drawing on his extensive background in comedy and improvisation. We also touch on the importance of recognizing the small changes that signal big progress and staying 'solutions focused' rather than 'solutions forced.'

Paul's work with the Applied Improvisation Network and The Improvisation Academy further underscores his belief in the power of improvisation as a skill for life and business, teaching us to make use of what’s there and to embrace the possibilities of the past, present, and future.

Follow Paul’s work;

https://impro.org.uk/

Buy The Solutions Focus

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Solutions-Focus-3rd-Transforming-consultants/dp/1399816527/

https://www.amazon.com/Solutions-Focus-3rd-Transforming-consultants/dp/1399816527/

 

If you like these episodes, you'll probably like these too;

https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/127-mustafa-sarkar-on-resilience/

https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/047-josie-perry-on-the-psychology-of-communication/

https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/060-andrea-furst-on-change-and-uncertainty/   Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

 

In this episode I speak to Meike Bartels, a renowned researcher in wellbeing and happiness. Meike's research work uncovers the layers that contribute to our sense of fulfilment, exploring how genetics, environment, and personal habits intertwine to shape our happiness.

In our conversation, Meike highlights that wellbeing is an evolving state, influenced by positive surroundings and actions. We discuss the differences between eudemonic and hedonic wellbeing, the genetic basis of happiness, and the essential balance between work and life for maintaining our wellbeing.

Meike provides intriguing insights into the genetic factors that account for about 40% of the variation in happiness across populations, opening up discussions about personalised approaches to enhancing wellbeing. We also cover the 'exposome' concept, illustrating how a wide range of external factors from birth affects our growth and happiness.

A key focus of our discussion is the significance of acknowledging individual preferences in both life and work. Meike advocates for environments that cater to personal genetic makeup for better wellbeing and stresses the importance of adapting work settings to meet employees' unique needs.

We also explore the role of physical activity in mental health, discussing the benefits of finding enjoyable physical activities and the concepts of 'effort forcing' and achieving a flow state for optimal performance and satisfaction.

I really enjoyed the conversation. Meike is not surprisingly a sunny person, but at the same time straightforward in her advice about making active choices in our lives to enhance our happiness.

Follow Meike on:

X - https: //twitter.com/Meike_Bartels

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/meike-bartels/

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Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk... If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk... Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk... Links Twitter at   / ingham_steve     / supportingchampions   Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions   / supportingchampions  

 

In this episode, we're joined by Prof Stuart Biddle, a leading figure in the psychology of physical activity, based at the University of Southern Queensland.

Stuart's extensive work in exercise science and psychology provides groundbreaking insights into how exercise impacts our wellbeing.

Our discussion today spans Stuart's illustrious career, from his early days contributing to the foundational layers of exercise science to his current work, which includes a significant focus on the mental health benefits of physical activity. We delve into his latest collaborative research, which offers new insights into exercise as a potent intervention for depression, examining the effectiveness of various forms of physical activity and their impact on mental health.

As we get into the research and the implications, we inevitably go off on a few important tangents

• What type of exercise is most effective for depressive states?
• Is one type of exercise more beneficial for men vs women?
• Is moderate or intense exercise more effective?
• How do you coach people to start and sustain exercise?
• And importantly how do you get children to eat more fruit and vegetables?

Stuart’s knowledge of this landscape is vast, but it is clear, conditional, nuanced and specific. It is little wonder he advises the World health organisation on physical activity policy. But also listen in as we take this digression from our more traditional focus on performance, this discussion is littered with advice about how we encourage, coach and make an impact on others.

The cherry on top of the cake is a just the best quote about physical activity ever from the one and only Per Olof Astrand!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10870815/

https://twitter.com/stuart_biddle

https://staffprofile.unisq.edu.au/Profile/Stuart-Biddle

https://www.routledge.com/Psychology-of-Physical-Activity-Determinants-Well-Being-and-Interventions/Biddle-Mutrie-Gorely-Faulkner/p/book/9781032172033

Joining me this week is Andrew Rogers, a Chartered Consultant Clinical & Forensic Psychologist with over two decades of experience spanning elite sport, business, healthcare, prison services and more. As co-director of Changing Minds UK, Andrew brings a real wealth of knowledge on the psychological aspects of high performance, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.

In our conversation, we focus on mental health for sports performers, exploring the unique challenges they face and how coaches and support staff can play a pivotal role in their wellbeing. 

Andrew is a guide for me as I attempt to ask pertinent questions, know that I don’t know enough in this area and that I am as liable to make a mis-step, due to a growing, evolving and increasingly conversant landscape of mental health. Andrew, fortunately is a leading expert and sheds light on how awareness, stigma, and literacy have changed over the years and what that mean for us all.

We discuss the specific mental health challenges encountered in the high-pressure environment of sports, how these challenges shift with escalating competition, and strategies for acclimatising to stress. 

Andrew also shares insights on supporting young athletes and navigating the fine line between encouraging perseverance and recognising when to pull back.

This episode is about understanding mental health in a sporting context, gaining literacy in this area, and reflecting on how we can all contribute to a healthier, more supportive environment for athletes. But whether you're a coach, a parent, or anyone interested in the intersection of psychology and performance, perhaps for your own performance, I’m sure this discussion with Andrew Rogers will be helpful as well as illuminating.

Links:

www.changingmindsuk.com

www.linkedin.com/in/changingmindsuk 

In this episode I speak to David Robson, an award-winning science journalist. David's insightful exploration into the realms of cognitive psychology and human behaviour, particularly in his books 'The Intelligence Trap' and 'The Expectation Effect,' offers a fresh perspective on how our minds work, especially in high-performance environments.

David's journey in science journalism has led him to uncover fascinating aspects of human intelligence and the surprising pitfalls that even the brightest minds can encounter. In this conversation we explore some of the many concepts that David surfaces in his books, such as 'dysrationalia,' a term that challenges our understanding of the expert mind, and explore the balance between evidence-based wisdom and the ever-present risk of misinformation.

We'll also discuss David's approach to identifying and navigating the minefield of lies and misinformation, a skill increasingly crucial in our information-saturated world. His insights on the dichotomy of genius types and the controversial topic of multiple intelligences are thought-provoking to say the least.

In 'The Expectation Effect,' David examines how our beliefs and expectations can shape our reality, a concept with profound implications in the world of sports and high performance. We'll discuss the nuances of this effect, including the power of the placebo, the importance of mindset, and the intriguing concept of eustress for longevity and performance.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-robson-5761791b/

Twitter: @d_a_robson Website: https://davidrobson.me/

Intelligence Trap Book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intelligence-Trap-Revolutionise-Thinking-Decisions/dp/1473669855

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intelligence-Trap-Revolutionise-Thinking-Decisions/dp/1473669855

Expectation Effect Book

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Expectation-Effect-Your-Mindset-Transform/dp/1838853308

 

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Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems.

- Take a look at what I offer here -

https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast

https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/

Links Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve

https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions

Supporting Champions on

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Supporting Champions on Linkedin:

www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

 

In this episode, we're exploring the themes of mindfulness, acceptance, and actionable confidence with authors Dr. Alison Maitland and Jenna Ashford, as they discuss their latest book, 'Drop the Struggle.' This thought-provoking work challenges readers to embrace discomfort, engage with the present, and focus on what truly matters. Alison and Jenna bring a wealth of experience to the table, and they start by sharing their backgrounds, providing context for the insights that follow. The book's central message encourages moving beyond the confines of positive thinking, advocating for a more nuanced approach to personal and professional challenges. The conversation delves into the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a framework that underpins the book's philosophy. Alison and Jenna address the natural human tendencies of nerves, comparison, and competition, reframing these as part of our survival mechanism. Key skills and perspectives from 'Drop the Struggle' are highlighted, including the concept that our thoughts are merely words and pictures, not dictates that we must follow. The authors also discuss the transformative power of acceptance and the importance of aligning actions with values, rather than solely seeking happiness or adherence to rules. What I really enjoyed about this discussion was the insights into changing habits, embracing setbacks, and the 'Do What Matters' matrix—a tool for identifying priorities and overcoming obstacles. I hope if you are struggling, wrangling and tussling with stresses and thoughts that are unhelpful that this discussion can help.

Links

Find Alison on Linkedin here:

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonmaitland001

Find Jenna on Linkedin here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-ashford-nee-woolven-b00b424a

Find Drop The Struggle here (Drop the Struggle can also be found in other bookstores)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drop-Struggle-Transformative-Achieving-Potential/dp/1914110269

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Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here -

https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/

Listen to the podcast

https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/

Links

Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve

https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Supporting Champions on Linkedin www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

 

In our latest episode of Supporting Champions, we had the opportunity to engage in a fascinating conversation with James Collins, recognised as a leading Sport & Exercise Nutritionist. In elite sport he has worked with Team GB Olympic teams and athletes over three Olympic Games. He joined Arsenal Football Club in 2010, where he spent seven seasons as the club’s first performance nutritionist. He has worked as a consultant with England Football, France Football (2018 World Cup winners), and is currently a consultant with Chelsea FC. He was a project lead of an international team of 31 authors to produce the ‘UEFA Expert Group Statement on Nutrition in Elite Football‘, the best practice guidelines within the sport, published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM).

James is Managing Director of INTRA Performance Group working with talent from elite sport and entertainment from their Harley Street clinic. He was previously elected President of The Royal Society of Medicine’s Food and Health Forum and is author of the acclaimed book ‘The Energy Plan‘ (Penguin Random House).

Throughout our discussion, James shares his journey into the world of sports nutrition, providing insights into his experiences and the lessons he's learned along the way. His unique perspective, shaped by years of working with both individual athletes and team sports, offered a deeper understanding of the diverse nutritional strategies required in different sporting contexts. James has in recent years begun to branch out and apply his nutritional advice to businesses and take on interesting individual cases including a musician taking to one of the main stages in Glastonbury last year, the parallels between athletes and musicians seemingly not too dissimilar.

https://twitter.com/jamescollinspn?lang=en

http://jamescollinsnutrition.com/

https://www.intraperformancegroup.com/

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/439206/the-energy-plan-by-james-collins/9781785042294

Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed  and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. 

I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse

If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/

Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/

Links
Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve
https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions
Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs
Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions
https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

 

In this episode of Supporting Champions, we're joined by Amy Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School and a leading authority on psychological safety. We delve into her new book, "The Right Kind of Wrong," a title that intriguingly challenges our perceptions of failure.

Our conversation begins with Amy's sharing her expertise on creating environments that foster growth, development, and performance. Amy's perspective is particularly timely, as there's a growing appetite for understanding and skillfully nurturing psychologically safe spaces.

Amy emphasizes that better teams don't necessarily make fewer mistakes but are more open to discussing them. This is exemplified in her NASA example, where tired teams, who had been working hard together, outperformed fresh teams. We explore whether psychologically safe teams take more interpersonal and task-based risks.

Amy decodes sports contexts and consequences, addressing how results-focused environments can create fear-based decisions. We delve into the nuances of failure, error, and judgment in relation to goal setting, and how psychological safety, while promoting excellence, isn’t about comfort but about enabling intelligent risk-taking and learning from complex failures.

We wrap up the conversation by discussing the best and worst examples of enhancing performance through psychological safety, the increasing embrace of interpersonal skills by coaches, and the predominant factors influencing psychological safety.

Notes

Follow Amy on Twitter https://twitter.com/AmyCEdmondson

Order Amy's book here https://amycedmondson.com/

 

*** UNTIL 1st FEB - you can get 50% off our Setting up Your Own Consultancy Course ***

https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/set-up-your-own-performance-consultancy/ use code CHAMPS50

Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed  and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. 

I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse

If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/

Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/

Links
Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve
https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions
Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs
Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions
https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

In this week's episode, I'm excited to welcome back Cody Royle, author of "A Second Set of Eyes," for an in-depth discussion about the need for coaches to have coaches. We explore the often-unspoken emotional and psychological challenges coaches face, delving into themes like masculinity, individualism, and the necessity of a strong support network.

The conversation, as you'd expect from anything Cody communicates is rich with insight, exploring fascinating insights about the unique traits that define the coaches that coach expert coaches. We explore how it makes better business sense for teams to require or at least encourage, coaches to get support for their work, well being and performance.

This episode goes beyond technical aspects, shedding light on the human elements crucial to effective coaching and leadership.

Cody's book https://www.codyroyle.com/podcast
Cody on twitter or X or whatever https://twitter.com/codyroyle

Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed  and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. 

I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse

If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/

Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/

Links
Twitter at https://twitter.com/ingham_steve
https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions
Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs
Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions
https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/