Performance Intelligence Podcast

• The Power of Preparation to Conquer a Packed Schedule | Andrew May

  4 keynotes in a 24-hour period that included over 2,000 attendees, four client industries, across three states. That kind of sprint could leave most people feeling flat, fractured, and f’ing broken. At Performance Intelligence we up-skill elite athletes, sporting teams and people employed in high-stakes environments to perform in key moments, when it matters most – and last week was Andrew's turn to put these science-based tools (and a few decades of experience) into practice. "We don’t rise to the occasion. We fall to our level of preparation."Shannon Frost (Podcast Producer) locked Andrew in the studio to try and understand how the process he followed could apply to her, and to our wider audience. In this episode Shannon and Andrew discuss:00:55 Building up to doing 4 presentations in 24 hours, an in-depth look at the 4 different keynotes and locations, and the 5 performance levers Andrew pulled to deliver at a high standard.7:05 This isn’t a normal occurrence for Andrew and "there’s periods during the year where you need to rise to the challenge" and the metrics (wearable tech) he uses to measure stress and recovery, especially during hectic periods.11:35 Does Andrew exercise because he enjoys it, or is he addicted to it? And does walking help increase physiological capacity?12:30 This 24 hour window was part of a bigger 4-week intensive block of presentations.16:55 Tapping into purpose to push through challenging/testing times, Andrew catching up with himself in the exhaustion aftermath, and a simple way to tap into your personal purpose.21:25 Andrew didn’t find his purpose and clear identity until his 40s, the conversation Andrew and Shannon had that led to her studying counselling, and how she feels about the big shift in her life.27:40 How Andrew’s support team helped him in the 4 presentations, and how the wizard set up for a virtual studio in a new space.31:05 The most important part of Andrew’s support team: his partner Toni, the fighter pilot analogy of working as part of a team and how people without a support team can still use some digital tools to help them be more productive.34:00 How Andrew down regulated after the highs of each presentation, being strategic and recovering in waves, simple ways to micro dose recovery.40:15 The muscle memory that builds up after years of presenting, and still getting nervous after all of these years.46:40 Winging it can lead to being hit or miss, transitioning straight in to a 5th birthday party after the 24 hour block, and what Shannon can took away from the discussion.Listen to the podcast on HRV: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/65-the-science-of-heart-rate-variability-hrv-and-teaching-the-german-police-force-breathwork-and-how-to-regulate-stress-dr-marc-jarczok-with-dr-tom-buckley Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

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• Bite Size: Vincent Walsh - Menopause + its Overlooked Impact on Sleep

  Menopause is impacting your sleep. Prof Walsh reveals how the hormonal shifts and other physiological changes during this life stage can significantly disrupt sleep quality.In this episode, we delve into the challenges of researching menopause and sleep, exploring why it's a relatively under-researched area. Professor Walsh details his work with elite athletes, demonstrating how simple bedroom adjustments—like temperature control and the use of earplugs—can dramatically improve sleep consistency during the menstrual cycle and menopause. He explains the interconnectedness of temperature regulation, sleep cycles, hunger, and satiety, highlighting the hypothalamus's crucial role. The episode provides practical advice for improving sleep during menopause, emphasizing the importance of creating a consistent sleep routine and optimizing the bedroom environment for optimal rest. You can find Professor Vincent at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-walsh-15187b28/?originalSubdomain=ukGet a copy of the books mentioned in this podcast:https://www.amazon.com.au/Rhythms-Life-Biological-Clocks-Control-ebook/dp/B005LMSKAYhttps://www.penguin.com.au/books/why-we-sleep-9780141983769https://www.amazon.com.au/Take-Nap-Change-Your-Life/dp/0761142908  Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

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• 140 Dr Michael Gervais - Building a Super Bowl Championship Team at Seattle Seahawks and Doing it Again with Las Vegas Raiders

  Dr. Michael Gervais is one of the world’s leading high-performance psychologists with an obsession about the relationship between the mind and human performance. His clients include the US Olympic beach volleyball team, Olympic athletes, NBA players, Formula 1 racing, Felix Baumgartner (jumping from space as part of Red Bull Stratos) and for 9 years he partnered with Coach Pete Carroll at the Seattle Seahawks, helping them to an NFL Superbowl Championship in 2014. Michael’s Business, Finding Mastery, consults to Fortune 500 CEOs and leading organisations. As host of the Finding Mastery Podcast, Michael takes you inside the minds of the world’s most extraordinary thinkers and doers. And on a personal note, Michael has been extremely generous with his time, mentoring Jon Clarke (JC) and I behind the scenes with some of the frameworks we are introducing with the Manly Sea Eagles. JC joined me behind the mic for this rich, robust and raw discussion about all things performance psychology and stepping up when it matters. In this episode Andrew, JC and Dr Michael discuss:2:30 How Michael feels about his bio being read out, growing up being obsessed with wanting to be better and feeling very grateful for where he is now.6:00 How Michael was hit with imposter syndrome before going on stage at a global conference, how he managed to calm himself down through a form of mindfulness, and how that has led to his 27 year long mindfulness and presence practise.12:50 "Did I do my best to prepare for this moment?" When something really matters, you do what it takes to make it happen and how Michael leveraged some parts of his sometimes challenging upbringing.18:20 Michael’s purpose is unlocking the potential that lies dormant within people, how to unlock your personal purpose and its cousins (vision and values) and the importance of having clarity. 24:05 Hacks are for hacks, confidence in your skills takes time to grow, and working with the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Pete Carrol, for 9 years.31:55 Why Michael loves working in sport, avoiding having corridor conversations, and the 3 rules that kept the culture going at Seattle Seahawks.39:15 Releasing the magic of players and how good coaching is as simple as letting someone know what they did right and speaking the language of high performance "that, yes that!"44:35 The 3 types of skills to get better at, the learnings from losing a Super Bowl, better preparing players and teams to deal with loss, and the "longbody" concept rooted in that Native American tradition of tribal members being connected.53:50 Vulnerability and courage are cousins, what JC is afraid of, and Michael’s story about saving his marriage with intensive therapy and working on himself.1:07:15 Why Andrew loves working in the mental skills field and why JC loves working in sport. You can find Dr Michael at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichaelgervais/Listen to the Finding Mastery Podcast: https://findingmastery.com/Listen to the podcast with John Schneider: https://findingmastery.com/podcasts/john-schneider/Watch the Interview with Willie McGinest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtS2w6XRKrYYou can find JC at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-clarke-1152a065/?originalSubdomain=au Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

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• Bite Size: Sean Bell - Extreme Diet of Fastest Person to Run Around Australia

  In this Bite Size from episode #113 ultra marathon runner Sean Bell talks about the unusual diet he had to adopt on the run around Australia and why that played a part in the nausea he felt on the entire run.  Sean also elaborates on how he was able to keep going mentally by using his why, in this case raising money for sick kids and how he found himself doing a form of moving meditation to keep his mind occupied in the many hours of the run. You can find Sean at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanbellruns/?hl=enAt his Website: https://seanbellruns.com/Or at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbellruns/?originalSubdomain=auSend Sean an email at: [email protected]   Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

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• 139 Martin Sheppard - The Energy, Mindset and Resilience to be Australian Chairman & sit on the Global Board of Consulting Firm KPMG

  This week, Andrew sits down with Martin Sheppard, the National Chairman of KPMG Australia, a visionary leader whose drive and dedication have shaped the firm’s strategic direction. Martin’s journey is a testament to the discipline and resilience required to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.With nearly 3 decades of experience at KPMG, Martin has mastered the art of merging governance with innovation, all while stressing the importance of being "MatchFit" and creating "Leadership Capacity" - a holistic approach that combines physical and mental readiness for peak performance."In terms of leadership, I'm not a big emailer and I'm not a big meeting requester...I think true leadership is actually knocking over and getting things out of the way and empowering other people..."In this episode Andrew and Martin discuss:2:30 Andrew and Martin’s long term professional and personal relationship, Andrew’s ADHD theory in relation to productivity and the brutal feedback Andrew gave to Martin on his presentation.7:10 How showing vulnerability and putting a bit of himself in the presentation helped Martin, believing in yourself and following through on it and learning as much about leadership outside of work as inside.11:55 Advice on leadership from the former premier of NSW, the rise of digital natives in the current crop of new hires and why KPMG bought Andrew’s previous business.19:20 Why Martin looks 10 years ahead, not just 10 months, Martins philosophy on mentors and some of his and Andrew’s mentors throughout the years.27:50 Martin’s natural curiosity and how that leads him to new skills, taking a year off when he turned 50 and spending that time renovating his own house.32:40 Leading from the back of the room, doing a shred a couple of times a year to keep good habits and the start of the shred being a terrible feeling until you get used to it.36:40 Spending the first half of your life training to be healthy for the second half, how Martin researches guests for the KPMG podcast and Gary Windgrove’s quote about Martin.40:20 Martin’s partner Suzanne’s thoughts on Martin, doing the Sydney to Hobart race makes the rest of the year seem easier and learning leadership skills from yacht racing.47:10 Martin’s disastrous first Hawkesbury kayak race, not being able to walk past a piece of rubbish without picking it up and starting work at Spotless during a time of crisis.55:20 being under pressure from day 1 to do something clever at Spotless, some of Andrew and Martin’s favourite AFR cartoons from that time and Martins safety net being his family and his values.1:02:40 Dealing with tall poppy syndrome, how consulting firms can adopt AI and using AI technology for the benefit of the customers.1:09:45 Martin’s love for KPMG and all it has done for him, removing the hard limit of retiring at 58 in KPMG and how Martin is able to synthesise information so effectively.1:20:00 Making sure to take time off and recharge, recognising the tough times Andrew and Martin have been through and you can’t control the wind but you can control the sails.Connect with Martin at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinsheppard1/?originalSubdomain=auOr through the KPMG website: https://kpmg.com/au/en/home/contacts/s/martin-sheppard.htmlView the AFR cartoons mentioned in the podcast:https://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/33d364e1f8f4f4f0b2c9b3e5d9c195a7.webphttps://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/813111e20707ef1bd7a1e38c3a2fdd6b670595f1.webphttps://performanceintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/f9a05922d440f4f9f9a365d589da430770b4526d.webpListen to the podcast with Arthur Brooks: https://findingmastery.com/podcasts/arthur-brooks/ Use Code "PIPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

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