Inform Performance

Episode 208: In this episode, Andy McDonald is joined by Jake Gillies, Lead Sports Scientist at Bristol Bears Rugby, working at the sharp end of performance data integration within English Premiership rugby.

Jake’s role centres on quantifying the physical demands of match play and translating performance technology outputs into actionable training decisions. Prior to joining the Bears, he worked as a Sports Scientist at Harlequins Rugby, alongside experience as a Strength & Conditioning coach in the British Basketball League (BBL) — giving him a broad, cross-sport perspective on how data should (and shouldn’t) be used.

Across the conversation, Jake breaks down what it really means to turn data into action. He explores how practitioners can move beyond numbers for numbers’ sake, contextualise information within rehab and performance environments, and ensure that data serves decision-making rather than complicating it. The discussion highlights the importance of athlete intent, flexible testing frameworks, and clear visualisation when bridging the gap between rehabilitation and match performance.

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Topics Discussed:

• Turning data into action
• Contextualising data in rehabilitation
• Managing complexity in rehab objectives
• Insights vs. information in sports science
• The importance of good data in rehab settings
• Athlete intent & performance metrics
• Flexibility in testing protocols
• Effective data visualisation & dashboards
• Bridging the gap between rehab and match performance

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Where you can find Jake:

LinkedIn

Instagram

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

Instagram

Twitter

Our Website

-

Our Team

Andy McDonald

Ben Ashworth

Alistair McKenzie

Steve Barrett 

Pete McKnight

Episode 207: In this episode, Andy McDonald speaks with Dr. James Morehen, Lead Performance Nutritionist for England Rugby and an SENr-registered practitioner working at the forefront of elite sport.

James has supported athletes across Premiership Rugby, international rugby pathways, professional boxing, motorsport, and endurance sport — previously serving as the Performance Nutritionist for Bristol Bears Rugby Union before moving into his current national-team role. Through his company, Morehen Performance Ltd, he also consults privately with athletes and high-performing individuals seeking clear, practical nutrition systems that fit real life.

James shares his journey into performance nutrition and the evolving expectations placed on practitioners — from managing game-day fuelling to navigating alcohol and recovery, and from educating players to integrating seamlessly within multidisciplinary teams. He also discusses the difference between textbook knowledge and applied practice, and how identifying simple, high-impact nutritional wins can drive meaningful performance change.

Drawing on his experience in both elite and private settings, James unpacks the realities of modern nutrition support, the myths that distract athletes, and the principles that consistently move the needle.

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Topics Discussed:

• Common nutritional challenges in athletes
• Alcohol and recovery: finding the balance
• Bridging the gap between textbook knowledge & applied practice
• Game-day nutrition: a full walkthrough
• Identifying “low-hanging fruit” for quick performance wins
• Debunking trends, myths & overcomplicated advice

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Where you can find James:

LinkedIn

Instagram

X

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

- 

Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

Instagram

Twitter

Our Website

-

Our Team

Andy McDonald

Ben Ashworth

Alistair McKenzie

Steve Barrett 

Pete McKnight

Episode 206: In this episode, Andy McDonald is joined by Dr. Robin Thorpe, one of the most influential performance scientists of the modern era.
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Robin spent a decade at Manchester United (2009–2019) as a Senior Performance Scientist and Conditioning Coach, working across multiple managerial eras — from Sir Alex Ferguson through to Ole Gunnar Solskjær. As Head of Recovery & Regeneration, he supported the First Team through 10 national and international titles, developing systems to maximise player availability, manage fatigue, and reduce injury and illness risk.
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Alongside his applied PhD with Liverpool John Moores University, Robin has worked with elite athletes across football, golf, boxing, track & field, and national teams — including the Mexican National Team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. His career spans leadership roles in the EPL, NBA, MLB, MLS, PGA Tour, and most recently as Director of Performance at Red Bull, supporting global high-performance environments.
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In this conversation, Robin shares how he translates first-principles thinking into real-world decision making, how teams can collaborate more effectively, and why strategic performance leadership is the future of high-performance sport.
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Topics Discussed:

Interdisciplinary team dynamics

Converting first principles into practical application

Specialist vs. generalist roles in elite sport

Decision-making frameworks for practitioners

Monitoring & measuring rehab outcomes

Outcome-based, process-guided, & adaptation-focused rehab

Where to Find Dr. Thorpe:

LinkedIn

Instagram

X

ResearchGate

Sponsors

Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

- 

Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

Instagram

Twitter

Our Website

-

Our Team

Andy McDonald

Ben Ashworth

Steve Barrett 

Pete McKnight

Episode 205: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we are joined by Dr. David Bailey — an internationally recognised coach, sports scientist, and performance leader whose career spans over two decades across Olympic, corporate, and professional sport.

David is currently Head of Performance Support with a World Tour professional cycling team, where he leads multidisciplinary sports science and performance teams competing at the highest level. Over the past ten years, he has helped drive innovation and integration across physiology, nutrition, technology, and data — guiding athletes and staff towards sustained world-class performance.

Before his move into cycling, David was a Senior Research Scientist at Nestlé, responsible for global sports nutrition research for PowerBar, and previously a sports physiologist with the English Institute of Sport across three Olympic cycles — Athens, Beijing, and London — supporting athletes in cycling, triathlon, and other endurance sports.

With a PhD in Exercise and Sport Nutrition from Loughborough University and more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, David continues to shape the evolution of applied sports science and performance leadership — bridging the gap between research, technology, and real-world performance.

In this conversation, David and Pete explore the art and science of performance management — from the “aggregation of marginal gains” to the power of reflection, collaboration, and human-centred leadership in complex, high-pressure environments.

Topics Discussed:

David’s journey from academic research to elite performance leadership

The real meaning behind “aggregation of marginal gains”

Balancing data-driven insights with human-centred leadership

Lessons from Olympic sport, corporate R&D, and World Tour cycling

The future of performance leadership in the age of AI and technology

Where you can find David:

LinkedIn

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

- 

Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

Instagram

Twitter

Our Website

-

Our Team

Andy McDonald

Ben Ashworth

Steve Barrett 

Pete McKnight

Episode 204: In this episode, Andy McDonald speaks with Bryony Johnson, a Performance Chef with 19 years of experiencesupporting some of the world’s most elite athletes, including Anthony Joshua, Roger Federer, Sir Ben Ainslie, and Ellie Aldridge.

Bryony shares her journey through elite sport and the evolving role of the performance chef — bridging the gap between nutrition science and practical food delivery. She also lectures on the MSc in Sports Nutrition at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, offering future practitioners a real-world perspective on applied performance nutrition.

Drawing on nearly two decades in kitchens and high-performance environments, Bryony discusses the nuances of collaboration, the challenges of feeding athletes with individualised needs, and the impact of modern food culture on performance.

Topics Discussed:

The role and importance of a performance chef in sport

Effective collaboration between nutritionists and chefs

Challenges and strategies in adapting meals for athletes’ needs

The impact of food trends and fads on athletes’ dietary choices

Balancing whole foods and supplements in sports nutrition

Where you can find Bryony:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Website

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. 

- 

Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

Instagram

Twitter

Our Website

-

Our Team

Andy McDonald

Ben Ashworth

Alistair McKenzie

Steve Barrett 

Pete McKnight