Performance People

John Amaechi OBE didn’t pick up a basketball until he was 17. Within a few years, he was playing at the highest level of the sport in the NBA.
But John doesn’t see his story as proof of natural talent. Instead, he credits the people and environments that allowed him to discover what he was capable of, and believes far too many people never get that opportunity.
Founder of APS Intelligence, organisational psychologist and author, John has spent his second career studying what enables people and leaders to perform at their best.
In this conversation with Georgie Ainslie, he challenges the idea of the “natural leader” and explains why extraordinary leadership is built through behaviours that can be observed, practised and learned.
They discuss why potential is so often overlooked, how class and stereotypes influence who we see as talented, why leaders need to become better at difficult feedback, and the difference between genuine vulnerability and simply admitting defeat.
John also reflects on the extraordinary journey that took him from a small basketball gym in Manchester to the NBA, why he never actually fell in love with basketball, and why retiring from the sport ultimately felt like freedom.
His latest book, It’s Not Magic, argues that great leadership isn’t mysterious. The skills can be understood, developed and repeated.
This is a conversation about leadership, human potential, identity, feedback and the people who help us become capable of more than we imagined.

FAQs
Who is John Amaechi?John Amaechi OBE is a psychologist, author, speaker and former NBA basketball player. After retiring from professional sport, he moved into psychology, leadership and organisational consultancy.
How old was John Amaechi when he started playing basketball?John says he first picked up a basketball at 17, before eventually moving to the United States and reaching the NBA.
Does John Amaechi believe great leaders are born or made?He is unequivocal: great leaders are built. He argues that the behaviours associated with effective leadership can be identified, practised and learned.
Why does John Amaechi think potential is often missed?John argues that people make assumptions based on labels, background, class, accent, race, gender or occupation, which can prevent them from recognising someone's underlying ability.
What does John Amaechi say about giving feedback?He believes giving useful feedback is a basic leadership skill that too many managers avoid because it feels uncomfortable. Withholding important feedback, he argues, can ultimately harm the person receiving it.
What does John Amaechi mean by vulnerability in leadership?For John, vulnerability isn't about collapse or helplessness. It's about knowing and clearly communicating the specific areas where you lack knowledge or expertise, allowing others to contribute.
What is John Amaechi's book It's Not Magic about?The book explores the behaviours and skills behind extraordinary leadership, challenging the idea that great leaders possess some mysterious innate quality.
Did John Amaechi enjoy playing basketball?Interestingly, he says he never truly fell in love with basketball itself. He loved many of the people and experiences around it, but describes feeling a great sense of freedom when his NBA career ended.

#JohnAmaechi #Leadership #HighPerformance #HumanPotential #Psychology #PerformancePeople
___
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/
_____
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/
________________________________
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olympic champion Eve Muirhead is coming out of retirement for one more shot at the Games.
Four years after stepping away from curling at the top of the sport, Eve joins Georgie Ainslie to explain why she has returned, what she still wants to achieve and why this comeback will look very different from the first act of her athletic career.
Eve reveals how a call from British Curling opened the door to a mixed doubles campaign and why Olympic gold in that discipline feels like “unfinished” business.
She also reflects candidly on the pressure that came with being one of Team GB’s leading athletes. Eve discusses hiding a serious hip problem, struggling with her mental health and reaching the point where a clinical psychologist told her that, in a conventional job, she would have been signed off for six months.
She explains how getting help allowed her to rediscover the fearless competitor she had been earlier in her career, and why her biggest lesson now is simple: perform for yourself, not for other people.
Eve also takes Georgie behind the scenes of her time as Team GB’s Chef de Mission, talks about completing the London Marathon in 3:25, her love of HYROX and CrossFit, and what she has learned from seeing elite sport from both sides.
Now she is back on the ice, targeting another Olympic cycle, but with a very different perspective on performance, pressure and success.

The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.
______
ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.
We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com
_____
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/
______
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/
________________________________
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Will Cole is a functional medicine practitioner, New York Times bestselling author and one of the leading voices in personalised health. His latest book, Heal Your Cells, explores how inflammation, stress, sleep, nutrition and lifestyle can influence the way our bodies function at a cellular level.
In this episode, Will joins Georgie to examine what good health really means, and why being told your results are ‘normal’ doesn’t necessarily mean you are functioning at your best.
They discuss the impact of chronic stress on the nervous system, why high performers can be particularly vulnerable to burnout, and the importance of treating recovery as part of performance rather than something that happens when the work is finished.
Will also explains why fatigue isn’t always simply a sleep problem, the relationship between stress and inflammation, why cortisol shouldn’t automatically be viewed as the enemy, and why sleep remains one of the most powerful tools available to us.
They also explore nutrition, supplements, coffee, trauma and what Will calls ‘shameflammation’, as well as his belief that the pursuit of wellness itself can become counterproductive.
His message is ultimately a simple one: consistency matters more than perfection, more isn’t always better, and you cannot obsess your way into better health.

Heal Your Cells by Dr. Will Cole and Dr. Josh Axe - discover how to activate cellular healing to reverse chronic inflammation and reclaim lasting health. Available now wherever books are sold.
https://thehealthinstitute.com/products/heal-your-cells

FAQs
What does Dr Will Cole mean by “healing your cells”?
Will describes cellular health as addressing the underlying factors that can contribute to dysfunction, including inflammation, stress, poor sleep, nutritional deficiencies and environmental influences. His approach is based on identifying what may be affecting an individual rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model.
Can chronic stress affect physical health?
According to Will, prolonged stress can affect the nervous, immune and endocrine systems. He discusses how persistent stress may contribute to inflammation, disrupted sleep, fatigue, hormonal changes and the feeling of being simultaneously “wired and tired”.
Is cortisol bad for you?
No. Will explains that cortisol is an essential hormone and part of the body’s natural response to stress and inflammation. Rather than simply trying to lower cortisol, he believes it is important to understand why it may have become dysregulated.
What does Dr Will Cole say about sleep?
He describes sleep as one of the most underrated foundations of health and recovery. Rather than viewing sleep as a luxury, he argues that consistent, good-quality sleep is fundamental to reducing stress on the body and supporting performance.
What is Will Cole’s advice for high performers?
He argues that sustainable high performance requires recovery. Continually operating under stress without adequate rest may eventually reduce effectiveness and contribute to burnout. His broader message is to prioritise consistency, self-compassion and habits that support health rather than trying to optimise every aspect of life.

The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.
_____
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/
_____
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/
________________________________
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir James Dyson joins Georgie Ainslie at Dyson’s office in Malmesbury to discuss his move into Bath Rugby ownership, the future of professional sport and why he still believes failure is more valuable than success.
A longtime Bath supporter, Dyson explains why he had “not at all” a moment’s hesitation when Bruce Craig offered him the opportunity to invest in the club. He discusses the financial realities of English rugby, his ambition to help secure Bath’s long-term future and his hope of seeing a new city-centre stadium built “like a coliseum”.
He also considers where engineering and science could influence rugby performance, from medicine and injury prevention to data, psychology, speed and developing young players.
Away from sport, Dyson gives his assessment of artificial intelligence. He questions whether AI can ever produce genuinely disruptive thinking, describes its reliance on existing information as “plagiarism” and explains why he would not yet trust it to provide a reliable answer without human judgement.
Dyson also reflects on the 5,127 prototypes he built over five years while developing his vacuum cleaner technology, why he finds failure more interesting than success, and why he believes “there’s nothing worse than being satisfied”.
The conversation also explores Dyson Farming, robot-picked strawberries, British food security and how curiosity can turn wasted resources into new opportunities.

The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.
_____
ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.
We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com
_____
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/
_____
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/
________________________________
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Hazel Wallace joins Georgie to explore why female physiology still isn’t properly accounted for in health, nutrition and performance.
Hazel is a former NHS doctor, nutritionist, personal trainer, bestselling author and founder of The Food Medic. She explains how women have historically been treated as “small men” in medical research, and why that can have serious consequences, from misdiagnosis and adverse drug reactions to gaps in our understanding of hormones, nutrition and performance.
They discuss how the menstrual cycle can influence energy, motivation, sleep and recovery, why Hazel prefers women to be “cycle aware” rather than rigidly training around different phases, and the nutritional issues that disproportionately affect women, including iron deficiency.
The conversation also covers perimenopause, HRT, fertility, IVF and egg freezing, including why the months before conception or egg collection can be important from a nutritional perspective.
Plus, she shares the exercise she believes matters most for longevity, the supplement she recommends for many people in the UK, and the one principle she believes every woman should remember:
Just because something is common doesn’t make it normal.

FAQs
Who is Dr Hazel Wallace?
Dr Hazel Wallace is a former NHS medical doctor, nutritionist, personal trainer, bestselling author and founder of The Food Medic, an educational platform focused on evidence-based health and nutrition.
How does the menstrual cycle affect performance?
Hazel explains that changing hormone levels can influence factors including energy, motivation, mood, sleep and recovery. However, she says the research does not currently support rigid week-by-week training prescriptions for every woman.
Should women train according to their menstrual cycle?
Hazel recommends being cycle aware rather than strictly “cycle syncing”. Tracking your own symptoms and recognising when you personally feel strongest or most fatigued can help inform training decisions.
Why is iron deficiency particularly relevant for women?
Women lose iron through menstruation and can have increased requirements during stages such as pregnancy and breastfeeding. Hazel says iron deficiency is an important issue in female health and performance.
Can nutrition affect IVF and egg freezing?
Hazel discusses evidence suggesting nutrition can influence fertility-related outcomes and highlights the importance of the period leading up to conception, IVF or egg collection.
What does Hazel say about perimenopause?
Perimenopause can last months or years and may involve changes in periods, sleep, mood, concentration, hair, skin and temperature regulation. Hazel recommends tracking symptoms and speaking to a healthcare professional if they become troublesome.
Does Hazel recommend HRT?
Hazel explains that HRT can be safe and effective for many women but is still a medication and isn’t appropriate for everybody. Decisions should be made with a doctor based on individual symptoms, risks and medical history.
Does Hazel recommend continuous glucose monitors?
Not routinely for healthy people. She says unnecessary glucose monitoring can sometimes create anxiety or food obsession.
What is the best exercise for longevity?
Hazel highlights resistance training, while also stressing that the best form of exercise is ultimately one you can consistently maintain.

The Performance People podcast is produced in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank.
______
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/
_______
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Connect with Performance People
Hit subscribe today for the latest.
🎧 Spotify/Apple Music
http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/
________________________________
The views and opinions expressed on Performance People are those of the guests and hosts, and do not necessarily represent the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, or any affiliated organisations.
This podcast is produced by Gameface Limited and is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only.
© Gameface Limited 2026. All rights reserved.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.