University of Staffordshire's Performing Under Pressure Podcast

Nathan Thompson has made over 450 appearances in professional football. He began his career with Swindon Town and spent 8 years with the club where he was voted player of the season on two occasions and was named as club captain. He then moved to Portsmouth, winning the EFL Trophy against Sunderland in 2019, before serving Peterborough, Stevenage and MK Dons. In this episode, Nathan describes the power of consistent actions as a way of performing when it matters. Nathan reflects on effective leadership, giving examples of where he has encountered it in his career, and the importance of building connections between teammates. We also discuss career transitions, Nathan's research on player care, and Nathan outlines his planned steps beyond football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emily Smith is a National Series champion in mountain biking and has prolonged experience of working in the British Army. In this episode, she explains to Dr Paul Mansell how performing under pressure might enhanced by visualisation and how she is able to cope with the intense demands of her physical training. We also discuss resilience and Emily reflects on how she helps to prepare young army recruits to face demanding situations. Emily also outlines her perspective on effective leadership by drawing on her military and sporting experiences, and she explains why we should welcome some pressure into our lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr Lisa O’Halloran is a HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, and she completed her PhD at Liverpool John Moores University. Lisa is the founder of LOH Consultancy Limited and has worked with a range of individuals and sports teams including Coventry City. She is also an experienced lecturer having held positions at Nottingham Trent University and Coventry University. In this episode, she explains to Dr Paul Mansell and Jason Wright how Nideffer's Attentional Styles Model is used in her practice with athletes. Lisa movingly explains how a serious adverse health condition has changed the way she thinks about life and how it also shapes her practice. Just before the 30-minute mark, we advise our listeners that Lisa explains a surgical procedure which may be upsetting. Lisa also reflects on effective supervision of trainee sport and exercise psychologists, and what she considers to be the fundamental qualities of a practitioner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emma Gage is a Sport Psychologist In-Training and a World Record holder in Masters Swimming. Emma completed her MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Staffordshire in 2025 and is also the owner of SwimWod. In a varied episode, Emma tells hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Dr Karla Drew how she went from being a national medalist as a young swimmer to winning world titles in the masters division and being a finalist at the Olympic trials after a 10 year break. Emma describes the psychological skills that she has used to facilitate her performance, such as the moments immediately prior to a major competition. The trio also discuss Emma's research about career transitions and the process of becoming a Sport and Exercise Psychologist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Conor Niland is a former professional tennis player who reached a career high ranking of 129 in the world. He competed at Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and the US Open, where he faced Novak Djokovic. In 2024, his book “The Racket” won the William Hill Sports Book of the year. In the book, he described in detail that life on the tour is not always glamourous as we might imagine. .. In this episode, Dr Paul Mansell and Dr Katie Sparks ask Conor to reflect on the psychology behind his career, such as how he dealt with setbacks, the psychological skills that he used on court, and managing relationships with other professionals on the tour. Conor also explains the role of identity in tennis and what advice he would give to his younger self about performing under pressure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maria Bertelli is a former elite footballer and volleyball player. She played football for clubs such as Charlton Athletic, reading the Women's FA Cup final in 2007. Maria also represented Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and has since gone on to coach volleyball at the University of Derby and for Darkstar. In this episode, she outlines how she coped, and continues to cope, with the demands of life in elite sport. Maria tells hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Jason Wright about her views on effective leadership, social support in top-level sport, and why having a sport psychologist was so valuable to her. Maria focuses on controllable factors and she reveals her psychological toolkit that facilitated her performance under pressure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mikele Leigertwood has held a number of roles at Reading FC. He made over 100 appearances for them as a player and was part of the team that secured promotion to the Premier League in 2012. Since then, he has held the roles of Academy Loans Manager and First Team Coach. As a player, Mikele also represented Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and QPR, as well as winning 11 caps for Antigua and Barbuda, whom he also coached earlier this decade. In this episode, Mikele is quizzed by his colleague - fellow First Team Coach Danny Schofield - on how he managed pressure during his playing career, and the lessons he has learnt in terms of leading others to perform on a matchday. Mikele reflects on how he likes to be led and what a culture of high challenge/high support looks like at Reading. Mikele also explains the characteristics of an effective team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kane Hemmings is approaching 500 appearances in professional football, and has scored over 160 goals for clubs including Rangers, Dundee, Tranmere Rovers, Oxford United, and Mansfield Town. In this episode, he explains to Dr Paul Mansell and Brandon Walsh how he likes to be led so that he can perform at his best. Kane also provides great detail as to how he prepares and executes penalties. The trio reflect on the need to accept pressure, and how psychology can play an integral role in recovering from serious injuries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr Catarina Morais is a Sport Psychologist and a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Psychology at Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto. In this international episode, she shares her insights from her applied experiences with athletes as well as her research. Catarina describes the essential skills that should be prioritised by sport psychologists such as having a constant awareness of their own beliefs and assumptions. She explains how irrational beliefs can undermine performance and how there might be a more favourable emotional profile that can help athletes to deal with stress. Catarina also outlines her views on leadership, including revealing the leader from her childhood who continues to influence her to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis Warrington came through Everton's academy and made his Premier League debut in 2024. Since then, he has represented Tranmere Rovers, Plymouth, and Leyton Orient before singing for Walsall for the 2025/26 season. At the time of recording, Lewis was still at Walsall, but the 23-year old has since re-joined Tranmere Rovers. In this episode, Lewis explains to hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Jack McMillan what it was like to make his debut at Goodison Park, and how he navigated loan spells early in his career. Jack asks Lewis to reflect on authenticity and honest conversations, and what the common fears are that young players might have. We discuss how Lewis deals with mistakes and setbacks, and what he does on a daily basis to put himself in the right frame of mind to perform well. Lewis reveals how he likes to be led and what are the ingredients that make a good dressing room culture. We also ask Lewis to speak about his business ventures, and how they are helping him on and off the pitch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Krystian Pearce is an experienced former professional footballer. He has made over 600 appearances in his career for clubs such as Mansfield Town, Notts County, and Port Vale, having begun his career in Birmingham City’s academy. Krystian has also represented England at U17 and U19 level, and starred in the U17 World Cup in 2007. Known as Chief, the Birmingham-born defender also has 13 caps for Barbados. In this episode, Krystian discusses a range of topics with hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Jake Jervis. With questions mainly set by our listeners, we ask Krystian to reflect on what he was like as a young player and what he would do differently if he could have his time again. Krystian speaks about how he has achieved longevity in his career, and what he considers the hallmarks of effective leadership to be. He also weighs up what his options are with the next stage of his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For our landmark 100th episode, it is a pleasure to welcome Conor Coady to the show. Conor is the former captain of Wolverhampton Wanderers and made over 300 appearances for the club, leading the newly promoted side to back-to-back 7th placed finishes in 2019 and 2020. Conor began his career at Liverpool and has represented Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town, Everton, Leicester and Wrexham. He is currently on loan at Charlton Athletic. Conor also has 10 caps for England and was selected in the Euros 2021 and the World Cup 2022 squads. In this episode, we discuss how Conor likes to prepare himself to perform under pressure, the characteristics of a good dressing room, and he reveals which coach has got the best out of him in his career. We focus on leadership, and Conor takes us into the England camps he experienced under Gareth Southgate, sharing what it was about his leadership that built togetherness in the squad. We also hear reflections on the leadership of Harry Kane and Ruben Neves, while Conor dispels some myths about footballers that we might hear on the terraces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr Mel Morrison is a HCPC registered Educational and Child Psychologist. Also known as ‘The Sporty Ed Psych’, Mel completed her Doctorate in Applied Educational and Child Psychology at the University of Birmingham in 2023, and she now works as an Educational and Child Psychologist for Walsall Council. In the episode, hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Laura Jackson de Domene ask Mel to reflect on her work in supporting young people in educational settings. What does an average day look like in this field, and how does Mel support neurodivergent children? What makes adolescence a period of 'storm and stress', and what does this mean? Mel is also an "everyday athlete" and trains intensely with a coach leading to her competing in Hyrox events. Paul and Laura ask Mel to explain the psychological skills and strategies that enable her to train and perform well, and how this evolved over the years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul Anderson is the Head Coach of Derby County's Under 15 side. He is also a former footballer having signed his first professional contract with Liverpool, where he won the FA Youth Cup in 2006. It was with Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town where he most made his mark as he made over 300 professional appearances. In this episode, Dr Paul Mansell and Sam Westley quiz Paul on his experiences as a player and as a coach. How did Paul react when West Bromwich Albion told him that he wouldn't make it as a Premier League player? Who were the players that Paul admired in terms of their ability to perform under pressure? Which managers got the best out of Paul and why? Paul also offers his suggestions for how we can best support young players as they navigate the challenges of academy football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Wheeler amassed over 600 appearances in his football career, representing clubs such as Exeter City, Wycombe Wanderers, and Queens Park Rangers. Since retiring, he has begun his formal training to become an accredited sport psychologist, building on his Masters degree. In this episode, Reading first team coach Danny Schofield joins host Dr Paul Mansell to quiz David on his perceptions of performing under pressure. Danny acts David to reflect on his experiences as an academy footballer and how he coped with rejection from Brighton. David explains the term 'diversification of identity', and how an athletic identity may become all-consuming. We explore what it is like to play at Wembley, and how imagery might be useful to prepare for a big occasion. David also outlines his plans for the future including the approach he hopes to adopt as a sport psychologist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr Jonathan Katz is a Consultant Psychologist with 39 years experience of support provision within psychiatric settings and has supported athletes, coaches and support staff at major championships. His experience includes supporting Olympic and Paralympic athletes including at several Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. He was also the Head Coach of Team England at 5 Commonwealth Fencing Championships. Jonathan is joined in the studio by Matt McKeen. Matt is training to be a sport psychologist under Jonathan's supervision, and is also completing a PhD at Loughborough University. In this episode, we focus on the relationship between a supervisor and supervisee. Jonathan explains the thrive-manage-survive model and how he uses this to support athletes' mental health. We also hear from Matt about his recently published research on the mental health of sports officials. Jonathan and Matt reflect on the use of REBT in applied settings and both offer interesting definitions as to how they would define performing under pressure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special international episode, we welcomed Dr Sara Mesquita into our studio at the University of Staffordshire. Having previously been the sport psychologist for FC Porto's U19 as they reached the top, she now works with the women's team as they begin their quest to reach the Champions League. Sara is also a Lecturer at the University of Porto. Speaking to hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Dr Karla Drew, Sara explains the role of togetherness in a high performing team and the traits that are typical of elite footballers. We discuss some of Sara's research, as well as the important qualities that a sport psychologist should demonstrate. With expectations to win always high at FC Porto, Sara outlines how she might help the players to deal with this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Hill is an experienced leader within forensic policing in Staffordshire having amassed 25 years of experience in this domain. In this episode, she explains to hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Dr Katie Sparks how she is able to perform and lead others in this demanding and stressful occupation. Joanna explains why forensic policing, despite often being glamourised in the media, is fraught with challenges. In turn, this can have a negative influence on workers' mental health, and Joanna explains how this is addressed in her team. We also explore performing under pressure from a leadership angle, and Joanna explains her approach to dealing with difficult conversations and how she fosters a sense of togetherness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Louize Yafai is an accredited Breakup, Divorce & Life Transition Coach for individuals and sports professionals, and a member of the International Divorce Coach Centre of Excellence. In this episode, relationships are the central focus of our attention as Louize explains their relevance in performing under pressure. For example, Louize explains how individuals can rebuild their confidence after a difficulties in a relationship and how to negate the effects of 'people pleasing' behaviours. Louize highlights the importance of boundaries and provides a useful analogy regarding how to consider this concept. Louize also explains the role of self-compassion in her work, and the professional skills that she values the most in her role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lauren Garner is the First Team Performance Psychologist for Sunderland AFC having joined the club during their promotion-winning season in 2024. Prior to that, she has been the Lead Academy Performance Psychologist at Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers. In this episode, Dr Paul Mansell and Brandon Walsh ask Lauren to describe her journey into the profession. Lauren explains in detail the importance of listening and reflection in her role. She gives examples of the types of questions she asks players so she can best support their psychological needs. We also ask Lauren to explain how she works at a team and organisational level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Pearce has spent around twenty years working for Staffordshire Fire Service. The majority of this has been spent working as a firefighter and over the last three years, Mark now leads a training programme to ensure firefighters are physically prepared for their work. In this episode, we examine pressure from the perspective of a firefighter, and we discuss how to prepare to deal with highly important situations as well as navigating any setbacks. Mark outlines how he deals with being 'on call' and knowing that a major incident could come through at any time. The conversation also turns to leadership - how does Mark motivate the firefighters that he works with to stay physically fit? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taylor Allen grew up in Staffordshire and began his professional career with Forest Green Rovers. After several loan spells, he then joined Walsall FC where he won the club's Player of the Season award and was named in the League Two team of the year for 2025, accumulating 18 goal involvements in all competitions. This earned him a moved to League One Wycombe Wanderers for an undisclosed fee. In a moving and poignant episode, Taylor describes how the tragic passing of his father was marked by the players and staff at Walsall FC. He outlines the individuals who have shaped his psychology, and on a personal level, the psychological factors that influence taking set pieces. Taylor also describes the importance of confidence and how he maintains a high level of self-belief. We also discuss the psychology behind Walsall's challenging end to the 2024/25 season, and what it was like to prepare for a play-off final at Wembley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordan Brookes is a golf caddy and sport psychologist in training. He is currently completing his professional doctorate through the University of Portsmouth. Jordan also has experience of supporting academy footballers and currently works with players at Crewe Alexandra's academy. In this episode, Jordan reflects on how is able to combine his role as a caddy with providing psychological assistance to golfers during their round. He discusses some of the practical strategies that he applies, such as how irrational self-talk could be tackled. Jordan also shares his insights on the use of imagery in golf and why it is important to consider tournament preparation on a holistic level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gail and Andy Coady are the parents are former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain and England international Conor Coady, and his brother Harrison. Conor made over 300 appearances in Old Gold and has 10 England caps, and he has also represented Everton and Leicester City in the Premier League. In this episode, we explore the experiences of parenting in elite sport from academy football to the World Cup. Gail and Andy share how they may have shaped Conor's leadership skills, how they have supported him during the difficult moments of his career, and how they play an active role as grandparents to Conor's football-mad children. Gail and Andy share their experiences of the personal abuse that Conor has experienced in-stadium and on social media and how, as a parent, what life is like for them on the rollercoaster of elite football. We also hear about the positive experiences they have had and the advice they would give to parents of academy footballers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peter Dutton is a psychotherapist and counsellor who works with athletes and occupational workers to enhance their wellbeing and performance. Peter works for Sporting Chance to help athletes in dealing with addictions and he is also a part-time lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University. In this episode, he shares insights from his practice to hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Dr Karla Drew. During the conversation, Peter outlines the role of dopamine in addiction and explains how mentoring can be a valuable approach to support career transitions. Peter also describes how mental health can impact performance and how we might be able to spot when a teammate is suffering from poor mental health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Graham Scott has spent a decade refereeing at the highest level of English football having worked his way up from the National League to the Premier League. He retired from the Select Group of Officials in 2025. In this episode, Graham explains to hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Professor Matt Slater how he was able to perform well in the high-stakes environment that is Premier League football. Part of this process is built around a clear routine, and Graham outlines how he approached the days and hours leading up to kick-off. He shares what he considers to be the biggest source of mistakes in officiating and provides some interesting advice for those who are looking to excel at officiating. We also discuss the need for referees to decompress after an important fixture, and Graham reflects on the reporting of refereeing decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ian Davies MBE is an associate professor in Health, Education and Policing Sciences at the University of Staffordshire. For 20 years, Ian worked within the NHS as Lead Biomedical Scientist and an Operational Manager, providing 24-hour analysis of specimens from patients to assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease. In 2025, Ian was awarded an MBE for his services to pathology and biomedical science education. In this episode, Ian offers his unique perspective into the challenges and psychological effects of working within a demanding clinical environment. He goes into detail about the inherent stressors of working with sick patients and how to handle these, as well as his thoughts on what makes an effective leader. Ian also explains how he is designing graduate courses to better equip prospective NHS scientists with the ability to lead and perform under pressure. With thanks to Jacob Rowlands and Holly Cadman for their technical support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Osborn is a professional footballer who is currently on loan to Stockport County from Derby County. His former clubs include Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United, and he has also represented England at U18, U19, and U20 level. He has made over 350 appearances in his career including 61 appearances in the Premier League. In this episode, he explains how he prepares himself to deliver on a matchday. He describes his ideal type of leadership, including what changed at Derby County towards the end of the 2024/25 season when they survived relegation having looked certain to go down. Ben also explains his business interests and how he is utilising mentoring in schools to support the development of adolescent boys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special international episode recorded in the Porto region of north Portugal, we are joined by professional footballer Erin Seppi. Erin is from New Jersey in the United States of America and has represented Romanian side FC Cluj in the Champions League before joining Valadares Gaia in 2021. Valadares Gaia are one of the top sides in women's football in Portugal, and Erin is their captain and goalkeeper. In this episode, Erin reveals the kind of skills that are in her psychological toolkit that can help her to perform under pressure and deal with mistakes. Our first goalkeeper on the show, Erin also explains the psychology of a goalkeeper and how that might be different to outfield players. We focus on leadership and Erin describes how a senior leadership group can shape togetherness at Valadares Gaia. Erin also explains how she was able to deal with studying while playing to a high level, and how she is developing skills now that can underpin life beyond football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeremy Holt is a chartered organisational psychologist and a founder of the Centre of Team Excellence. He has spent over 30 years building high-performance teams in sport, business, and the military. Jeremy also coaches young players in grassroots rugby, for which he has a strong passion. He is also the author of "For the Love of the Game: How to coach identity, belonging and performance in sport. A playbook for grassroots coaches".  In this episode, Jeremy gives an overview of the "TRIBE" method outlined in his book, which gives a guideline for creating a sense of togetherness or "us" within a team. Additionally, Jeremy talks about his approach to team leadership and the importance of social identity. He recounts his experiences working in senior officer training, as well as working with some of Great Britain's Olympic and Paralympic teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emma Heighway is the Subject Leader of PE at Erasmus Darwin Academy, a school based in Staffordshire. Having graduated with a first class honours degree and completed her PGCE, she has been teaching PE for over ten years. More recently, she has been promoted to Subject Leader, and leadership forms a big part of our conversation. We discuss the importance of having values that are lived, and Emma shares how this is the case for students and staff alike. We also discuss ways to motivate young people, the importance of goal setting, and how to make a learning environment inclusive. Emma also shares her approach to fostering the development of leadership in young people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Katie Clark is a HCPC accredited Sport and Exercise Psychologist. She completed her postgraduate degree at the University of Staffordshire and has since gone on to work in a Premier League football academy and in women's football, among other sports. In this episode, she explains to Dr Paul Mansell how she navigated the challenging pathway to becoming a Sport Psychologist. Katie tells us more about her work around the training ground and on a matchday, and she reflects on strategies that she finds to be effective when working with players. Katie outlines the balance between working at group-level vs. 1-to-1 and how she works through the coach to develop an effective environment for performance under pressure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sara Svoboda is a Canadian rugby player at Harlequins FC. In 2021, she reached the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup, and has over 20 caps for her country. Sara is also a doctoral researcher at Loughborough University.In this episode, Sara shares her methods for controlling her demeanour and behaviour while performing under pressure, both on and off the field. As an international athlete, Sara offers a unique perspective on the ways in which she has been able to support her team following some significant setbacks, sharing her findings on the usefulness of being mentally flexible in response to adversity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Maurice is the Lead Academy Sport Psychologist at Portsmouth FC. He has previously worked in the academies at West Ham United, Sunderland, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. In this episode, James shares his experiences of working in this domain, as well as working for GB Archery at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. James describes the concept of 'pressure menus' to help prepare athletes for competition. We discuss the role of mentoring and the findings from James's PhD which examined the parent engagement in academy football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former professional footballer Sam Winnall has completed a fascinating research project as part of his MSc, and in this bonus episode, he explains his findings to Dr Paul Mansell. Conducted with a sample of current elite strikers, including an international player, Sam investigated the role of competition for places between teammates in football. With most teams playing with only one 'number 9', how do footballers navigate the scenario of being a team-mate, a friend, and a rival for a place in the team? Sam outlines the results of his interviews, which include healthy and unhealthy competition, what is meant by a 'Goldilocks' level of competition, and the social factors that can influence this dynamic. He also shares some useful implications based on his research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nathan Magill's job is to oversee the development of thousands of referees in England. His previous experience includes being Head of Referees at Football Australia and he is also a Board Member on the Premier League's Elite Referee Development Plan. He explains to hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Stuart Carrington the importance of a person-first approach to his role. This episode naturally features conversations about the learning and development of referees, but more so, the development and leadership of individuals. Nathan shares the one question that underpins his leadership, how the FA support referees in dealing with abuse, and why he has no non-negotiables when it comes to referees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Helen Davis is a Sport Psychologist who has extensive experience working across a broad spectrum of sports, collaborating with accomplished athletes at various levels. Her clientele includes elite professional teams and individuals, amateurs, Olympic and Paralympic medallists, as well as Commonwealth, European and World Champions. Through completing her postgraduate degree at the University of Staffordshire, Helen explains her transition from teaching into sport psychology. With host Dr Paul Mansell, we explore Helen's experiences of working at Wimbledon, and Helen outlines how a lightbulb moment helped her to see pressure in a different way as a competitive swimmer herself. We also discuss supervision of trainee sport psychologists, and Helen reveals what she thinks sport psychology will look like as a discipline in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Maisie Brown shares her experiences of what life is like as the romantic partner of a high performance athlete. Married to Jacob Brown, a forward for Luton Town and Scotland, Maisie shares her thoughts on what it is like to navigate the transfer window, dealing with Jacob's injuries, experiencing abuse, and the scheduling issues that are part of football. This interview builds on Dr Sofie Kent's work which explores the experiences of romantic partners in elite sport. Often the bedrock of an athletes' support system, there is often a lack of focus on supporting romantic partners. Maisie offers some suggestions as to how this might be improved, as well as her advice as to how younger romantic partners can best deal with life in this domain. We also hear from Jacob about the level of support he feels that he receives from Maisie, while he also shares some of his experiences as part of being a married couple in elite sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack Cuthbertson is a personal trainer and business owner. Having worked in the industry for over a decade, he explains how he uses psychology as an integral part of his daily work. For example, he outlines how he uses goal setting, his approach to motivating his clients, and how he went about taking a calculated risk to set up his own business. This episode really highlights the role that psychology plays in both work and life, and regardless of your occupation, there are some useful takeaways that can help individuals reflect on their own use of psychology. Jack describes to hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Dr Andrew Wilkinson how he protects his mental health and shares a useful analogy that our listeners may benefit from. We also debate the success of Hyrox, and Jack explains how he uses psychology himself as a regular Hyrox competitor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nathan is a Digital Sports Editor, Presenter, Sports Writer, and Podcast Host for Wolverhampton’s Express and Star newspaper. He has covered Wolves for nearly a decade, and earlier this year, he was named Sports Journalist of the Year at the Regional Press Awards. In this episode, we explore performance under pressure in the domains of journalism and broadcasting. To what extent are deadlines a stressor in journalism? What are the nuances of managing relationships between football clubs and the press? What is like working in the chaos of the transfer window? How important is integrity in broadcasting? And who is the best sports journalist in the world, in Nathan's opinion? From a Wolves perspective, Nathan shares what it was like working with Nuno Espirito Santo and how challenging it can be to be the bearer of bad news. We also discuss life as a podcast host and how to prepare for speaking live in front of hundreds of people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stuart Carrington is a Lecturer at St Mary's University in Twickenham, London. He is currently completing his PhD which centres around officials' performance under pressure, and he is the author of 'Blowing the Whistle: The Psychology of Football Refereeing'. In the episode, Stuart discusses the strategies that officials typically find to be helpful before, during, and after a performance. With a focus on Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, Stuart explains which irrational beliefs are particularly prominent and unhelpful in officials. We also discuss how organisations can facilitate performance under pressure for officials, such as through mentoring schemes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr Katie Sparks is a Lecturer of Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Staffordshire and a Performance Lifestyle Advisor for British Rowing. She completed her PhD at the University of Birmingham in 2022 and has published several peer-reviewed articles relating to performing under pressure. In this episode, she tells Dr Paul Mansell and co-host Brent Horleston about the importance of mindfulness and how it can facilitate performance. Although not an easy skill to develop, mindfulness can be learned by anyone and can reduce rumination and anxiety. We also discuss self-compassion and how parents can learn these skills to better support their child. The role of mentoring in academy football is explored, as well as how we might reduce the likelihood of choking under pressure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack McMillan is a former professional footballer who has dedicated his second career to supporting professional athletes on a holistic level. His specialisms include breathwork and yoga, and he has worked with over 60 professional football clubs and organisations including the PFA and Great Britain. Joining Jack and host Dr Paul Mansell in the studio are two of Jack's clients. Former professional footballer Jake Jervis and Luton Town and Scotland forward Jacob Brown shared their experiences of working with Jack and more broadly, how breathwork and other strategies have helped their performance and wellbeing. Jack describes the science behind breathwork and underlines the importance of maximising something that we all do 20,000 times per day. We discuss the role of the out-breath, the link between breathing and our physiology, and how other strategies such as yoga, meditation, and grounding can support the psychology of athletes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode contains a trigger warning - see episode description below... Dr Andrew Wood is a HCPC registered sport psychologist with a specific interest in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy. He has worked with many businesses and teams as well as previously holding lecturer positions at the University of Staffordshire and Manchester Metropolitan University. Joining Dr Paul Mansell in the studio as a co-host is England blind footballer Azeem Amir. Andrew worked with Azeem during his time as the team's sport psychologist. Andrew reflects on what it is like to work in para sport and how adopting rational rather than irrational beliefs can facilitate performance under pressure. Andrew also candidly speaks about his experiences of long Covid. In an emotional and enlightening episode, Andrew shares how he coped with some incredibly dark times, and we should warn listeners that there is a discussion about topics that might be upsetting. If you or someone you know is in crisis, Mind UK are a charity that offer free mental health support via their website https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/ or by calling 0300 102 1234. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kelly Massey is a former 400m and relay athlete who has represented Team GB at the Olympics, World Championships, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games earning multiple medals throughout her career. Alongside her many years at the training ground, Kelly also taught Physical Education and Dance full-time at secondary school level. Now, Kelly lectures at Liverpool Johns Moores University whilst also completing her PhD exploring all things maternity/motherhood and sport. Joining us on our Stoke-on-Trent campus at the University of Staffordshire, Kelly discusses the pressures of training at Olympic level and her current research with host Dr Paul Mansell and co-host Laura Jackson de Domene.   In this episode, Kelly shares practical advice from her experience behind the scenes of athletic training, highlighting the importance of joy and fun with teammates. She describes the importance of the support team surrounding an athlete being ‘on board’ with a common goal. Kelly also shares her research-informed views on the culture of training environments and wider society in the experiences of athletes navigating fertility, pregnancy and motherhood and evolving identity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rhian Cleverly is a defender for Rugby Borough Women FC. She has previously played in the WSL, Championship, and she has been capped for Wales. Rhian also has a master's degree in sport and exercise psychology. In this episode, Rhian describes the routines that she adopts to aid performance under pressure and how she is able to bounce back from adversity. There is a focus on the culture that has been created at Rugby Borough through initiatives such as 'family meals'. Rhian is a passionate advocate for the advancement of women's football and she describes what life is like in the game having played at a range of levels. This episode was recorded for in aid of Dementia UK - we thank Rhian for her generous donation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kate Richardson-Walsh was the captain of Team GB women's hockey side that triumphed at the Rio 2016 games. She's been capped a record 375 times for her country. Kate was awarded an MBE in 2016, an OBE in 2017, and was nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2016. Alongside guest co-host for this episode Helen Richardson-Walsh, Kate and Helen were the first same sex married couple to win an Olympic gold as part of the same team. In this episode, Kate describes the importance of vulnerability as a leader and how this may create a sense of togetherness. She explains how she has dealt with the ups and downs of her career, and she reveals the key question that helped her to move on from one of her most difficult moments. We also discuss the behaviours and actions required to be a gold medallist and how this may instill ruthlessness in a team. Finally, Kate explains how she navigated the transition into retirement from being an athlete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr Karla Drew is a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Staffordshire. She is a former Team GB heptathlete and since retiring, has gone on to complete her HCPC sport psychologist accreditation. In this episode, Dr Paul Mansell and co-host Nika Pavic facilitated a conversation with Karla about her experiences across those three different domains. Karla explained her recent experiences in applied research, such as the role of mentoring during the transition from academy to senior football. She explains how she was able to perform under pressure as an international athlete, such as reflecting on her use of visualisation. We also discussed some of the cornerstones of her work as a sport psychologist including the appropriateness of self-disclosure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Williams is a triple jumper who represented Team GB at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The Staffordshire-based athlete is also the former World Youth Champion. In this episode, he joins host Dr Paul Mansell and co-host Meg Baldwin to discuss his approach to performing under pressure. Ben describes the importance of having a coach who you can trust, as well as the criteria for people to be in his inner circle. There is a section called 'How do you deal with...', and this features conversations about dealing with success and performance slumps. Ben also explains the 'flea in the jar' analogy and underlines the importance of 'rejection is redirection'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr Phil Clarke is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Derby and a HCPC registered sport psychologist who has worked in over 30 different sports. Phil joined hosts Dr Paul Mansell and Jason Wright to discuss performance under pressure through the lens of his research and applied practice. Much of Phil's published work has centred around 'choking under pressure' and 'the yips'. Phil explains the factors that can predict the breakdown of skilled performance and how we may negate those issues. We discuss the role of self-compassion and grounding techniques in performance, the need to add pressure in training, and effective practice when working with teams and individuals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices