Don’t Tell Me The Score
BBC Radio 4
What can sport teach us about life and how best to live it? Each week Simon Mundie sits down with an expert and uses sport to answer life’s big questions.
DTMTS Lessons: Simon Mundie
What has Simon Mundie learnt from the DTMTS journey so far?
This is the last episode on BBC Sounds, before Simon takes DTMTS off to pastures new. The series will continue on all non-BBC platforms from the end of April. Over the course of over 130 episodes to date, the DTMTS guests have opened up to share their stories as well as their own "life lessons". To mark the end of the BBC chapter and the start of the new one, it is Simon's turn to be vulnerable about his story and what he has learned.
A philosophy of sport: Rupert Spira
What the experience of flow in sport may reveal about the nature of reality. One theme that has arisen time and again with sportspeople on DTMTS is the experience of flow: when we lose ourselves in whatever it is that we are doing. Several sportspeople have spoken on DTMTS about the experience of "me" not being there in such moments. But what is that "me" that seems to disappear? That’s a hig question and here to help address it is Rupert Spira, a philosopher interested in the nature of reality,
When winning isn't winning: John Neal
When does an obsession with winning become unhealthy? John Neal is head of coach development at the England and Wales cricket board, and he has extensive experience as a performance psychologist, within rugby, football and cricket. He has also worked with men's and women's teams at three World Cups across two sports. Despite setting out to help teams win, John's relationship with "winning" has evolved over his many years in sport. He came to see that trophies and titles isn't what it's all about
Emotional Intelligence: Daniel Goleman
Why emotional intelligence can be more important than IQ. Daniel Goleman is an internationally known psychologist and author of the best-selling book, "Emotional Intelligence". EQ is about understanding ourselves better, managing our own emotions, and using empathy to better understand the feelings and emotions of the people around us. Daniel has also written "The Science of Meditation", which is a deep-dive into the research on meditation and how it affects both our "states" and our "traits". I
Self-acceptance: Billy Monger
The power of accepting yourself and letting go of the need for approval. Billy Monger is a racing driver who was critically injured in a crash at Donnington in 2017. He had both his legs amputated, but was back behind the wheel of a car within a year. Since his crash, Billy has been thrust into the limelight, but he's not lost sight of what is important. He's all about positivity, kindness and authenticity. He talks about the lessons he's learnt from and since his crash, including around gratitu
Character: Bill Beswick
Bill Beswick is one of the world's best respected sports psychologists. He worked at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson during the club's dominant reign. Roy Keane and Gary Neville are among those who have credited Bill with making a real difference to their ability to perform at their very best. As well as working alongside many other top football managers, Bill cut his sporting teeth in the world of basketball where he was also very successful, winning Commonwealth gold as England head
Kindness: Dr David Hamilton
How being kind can positively impact our health, relationships and the world around us. Dr David Hamilton has a PhD in organic chemistry and spent four years at one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies, where he became fascinated with the placebo effect. Since leaving that industry and becoming an author, speaker and TV personality, he's discussed the implications of the placebo effect and the mind-body connection, including on the acclaimed Netflix documentary HEAL. David is an exper
Valuing People: Nigel Pearson
Appreciating people for who they are – not just for what they do. Nigel Pearson has managed Southampton, Hull, Derby, Watford and Leicester in his time. He was in charge just before Claudio Ranieri came in and led the team to their stunning Premier League title success. Many players and staff from that 2016 title-winning squad say Nigel deserves lots of credit for the work he did in laying the ground that enabled them to pull off the most remarkable title triumph in living memory. Kasper Schmeic
Calming the voice in our head: Ethan Kross
Harnessing the power of the conscious mind and calming our inner chatter. Ethan Kross is an award winning psychologist and neuroscientist. His fascinating new book is called "Chatter: The Voice in our head, why it matters and how to harness it." Chatter happens when the voice in our head starts spinning out of control. After going through an acute episode of chatter himself, Ethan experienced a eureka moment. He discovered a simple but powerful technique that can help wrestle back control of the
Perception: Tatyana McFadden
Choosing an empowering narrative to handle whatever comes your way. Tatyana McFadden is arguably the world's best female wheelchair racer of all time. She was born with spina bifida, and spent the first six years of her life in a Russian orphanage before being adopted and moving to America. There she fell in love with wheelchair racing, going on to win 17 paralympic medals, including one in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Tatyana also has over 20 major marathon successes to her name. She has
Exploration: Jos Buttler MBE
Exploring your own limits and trusting your own judgement with the England cricketer and World Cup winner. Jos Buttler is one of the most descrtuctive batters in the sport. He plays for Egland in all forms of the game, is vice-captain for his country in limited overs teams, and whipped off the bails to secure England the World Cup in 2019. The theme of this episode is "exploring". It is about staying in touch with the childlike enthusiasm for what your are doing. It is an attitude that has enabl
How our environment shapes us: John McAvoy
Lessons from the ex-armed robber reformed through sport. John McAvoy spent ten years in some of the UK's highest security prisons, having grown up around some of the most notorious criminals in the country. He even chose to spend a year in solitary confirnement rather than be "broken by the system". But while in prison John had an epiphany that transformed his outlook and identity. He discovered a talent for endurance sport, and after having broken world records at indoor rowing while in prison,
Connection. Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Exploring why human connection is so vital to our wellbeing. Dr Chatterjee is a physician, author, TV presenter and podcaster, who has explored this topic in depth. People who are lonely are significantly likely to die earlier, and social isolation is thought to be as dangerous to your health as being a regular smoker. At this time, when so many of us are cut off from our loved ones, this topic is even more important. @simonmundie
Choking under pressure: Mark Williams
Exploring why pressure causes a dramatic drop off in performance, with Mark Williams. He is one of the most published scientists in the world when it comes to identifying talent identification and developing skill, and has co-authored "The Best: How Elite Athletes are Made", which explores how sportspeople get to the top and stay there.
Teams: Frances Houghton MBE
How to create a successful team culture and thrive within it. Frances Houghton competed at five Olympic Games, winning three silver medals. She was also a four-time World Champion. Over the course of her two decades in the British rowing system, Frances underwent a big evolution that led her to question what is truly important; what she found out is valuable to anyone wanting to compete, collaborate and cooperate to the best of their ability. Frances has shared her wisdom in her book, "Learnings
Courage: Ollie Ollerton
Being willing to throw yourself into something without any guarantee of a successful outcome. Ollie Ollerton is a former Special Forces soldier turned TV star and author. He passed the SAS's gruelling six-month selection process – testing his physical and mental endurance to the limit – before spending six years with the SBS. But it was after leaving the special forces that he came unstuck; the process of getting himself back on track informed many of the life lessons Ollie holds dear, and which
Goals: Tim Don
How to set goals with the Ironman world record holder. In 2017, Tim Don was in the shape of his life as he headed to the Ironman World Championships in Kona. He had broken the world record earlier that year and was one of the favourites for the podium, but two days before the race he broke his neck in a collision with a car. He was fitted with a "halo" – a medieval looking brace designed to keep his head and neck still – which is attached via titanium bolts screwed into his skull. For three mon
Perspective: Anne Keothavong
How our experiences inform how we see the world, with GB's Fed Cup captain. Anne Keothavong was formerly Britain's number one ranked tennis player, but her route into the sport was anything but typical. Her parents are from Laos in South East Asia; they raised their children on a housing estate in Hackney, and saw tennis as one way to give them more opportunities than they had. As well as the impact of her upbringing and her parents' outlook on her perspective, Anne talks about the sad death of
Obsession: Adam Peaty
What it takes to become one of the greatest athletes on the planet with Adam Peaty – the 2016 Olympic Champion, an eight-time World Champion, a twelve-time European Champion and a three-time Commonwealth Champion. He has broken world records twelve times and currently holds three of them. In this episode, Adam talks about the daily dedication required to become one of the greatest swimmers on the planet, and shares what he's learned about the value of self-reflection and the danger of pinning ou
Visualisation: Sir Nick Faldo
How to harness the power of your imagination to achieve success, with Britain's greatest ever golfer. Sir Nick Faldo spent 97 weeks as the world number one and won six majors, three at The Open and three at The Masters, and he attributes much of his success to his powers of visualisation, which is the theme of this episode. He explains how he used to visualise twice a day in his pomp, and "saw" himself as the winner of major championships before it happened. He explains what he believes is the k
Making things happen: Maurice Hamilton
The art of creating opportunities and turning dreams into reality. Maurice Hamilton is a Formula One legend, albeit not for his skill behind the wheel but as one of the sport's greatest authors. He's been part of the sport since 1977 and was the Observer's motor racing correspondent for 20 years. The theme of this episode is "making things happen" as Maurice's route into the sport was certainly unorthodox. He left school with no great ditinction and tried his hand at sales and accountancy before
The art of selling: Eddie Hearn
Why sales is an important life skill and how to get better at it, with top sports promoter Eddie Hearn. Eddie is now the managing director of Matchroom Sports, but he cut his teeth in the world of double-glazing. He's since mastered his craft, and he shares what he's learned in climbing to the top of his profession. Eddie shares wisdom on the importance of passion and energy – whether you are selling a product or yourself. He talks about ditching ego and having a "beginner's mind", as well as th
Self-reflection: Jamie Peacock
The value of observing and evaluating yourself in order to grow as a person. Jamie Peacock is one of rugby league's greatest ever players. He captained both England and Great Britain and is one of the most successful players in Super League history, having won a total of nine Super League championships, four Challenge Cup winners medals, as well as picking up the prestigious Man of Steel award. Jamie made a smooth transition out of the sport upon retiring, down in no small part to his ability to
Embracing discomfort: Wim Hof
How to become more resilient - with the "Iceman" Wim Hof. Wim has numerous records to his name, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in just his shorts, running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle in bare feet and standing in a container full of ice cubes for nearly two hours. Wim has also been injected with an E. Coli endotoxin without showing any adverse reactions, and taught a group of volunteers how to achieve similarly remarkable results. Wim says we are all built to be "happy, strong a
Beliefs: Helen Davis
How our beliefs and perceptions shape how we experience ourselves and the world. Helen Davis is a sports psychologist who has worked with a number of top athletes, including previous DTMTS guest Lucy Gossage. The key understanding explored in this episode is that it is not people or events that make us feel or behave in a certain way, it is our perceptions and beliefs that are crucial. Helen explains how to uncover unhelpful beliefs and ways of thinking, and why tweaking the language you use can
Confidence: Sir Chris Hoy
Why having self-doubt is normal and how preparation and perspective are key. Sir Chris Hoy won six Olympic gold medals during his dazzling cycling career, and he was World Champion 11 times. He was inspired to take up the sport after watching "ET", and began in BMX before switching to track cycling. In this episode, Hoy talks about confidence and why self-doubt is normal. He talks about the value of preparation and perspective, and why dreaming big is an absolute must. Hoy explains how to develo
Vulnerable conversations: Emile Heskey
The importance of having open and understanding conversations. Emile won 62 England caps, playing in three World Cups and Euro 2004. He started his career at his hometown club Leicester, before making a multi-million pound move to Liverpool in 2000. While there he won the FA Cup, two League Cups and the UEFA Cup, but in his book "Even Heskey Scored" he shared some of the struggles he went through off the pitch. In this episode, Emile explains why he didn't want to tell anyone how he felt at that
Knowing yourself: Damon Hill
Resolving complicated feelings, recognising patterns and understanding yourself better with the 1996 Formula One World Champion. When Damon Hill secured the F1 Championship, he ensured that he and his father Graham Hill entered the record books as the first father-and-son pair to win Formula One's biggest prize. But sadly, Graham was not there to see Damon do it, as he had died in a plane crash in 1975 shortly after retiring from the sport. Damon initially resisted the urge to follow his father
Always learning: Nigel Adkins
Seeing life as an opportunity for constant and never-ending learning and growth. Nigel Adkins has managed several top football teams in his time, but he's best known for working wonders at Southampton. He secured back-to-back promotions from League One up into the Premier League, lifting the club 51 places in the process. Nigel is known as one of football's most likeable characters, and his uplifting social media videos have become something of a sensation during the Covid-19 lockdown. Nigel's d
Passion: Scott Lloyd
How doing what you love can lead to unexpected places – with the head of British tennis. Scott comes from one of the original British tennis dynasties; his uncle John was an Australian Open finalist and top ten player, and his father David was a Davis Cup player and captain. Scott grew up around the Slater squad – an elite programme for top young British players including Tim Henman in the early 90s – and had hopes of being a professional player. While that didn't transpire, Scott did continue t
Circadian rhythms: Professor Satchin Panda
How our circadian rhythms impact our athletic performance, mood and overall health. Dr Panda is Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences in California – and a leading expert in the field. He argues that developing a robust circadian rhythm is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself against Covid – and in this episode he explains exactly how you can. He reveals how athletic performance can vary by as much as 26% in the course of a day – and how some top teams are usin
Self-talk: Lucy Gossage
Exploring the stories we tell ourselves and the impact they can have on our lives – with triathlete and cancer doctor Lucy Gossage. Lucy is now retired from professional racing but during her athletic career she was a 13-time Ironman Champion. She was most successful when competing alongside her work in oncology, and in this episode Simon and Lucy explore the balance between meeting your own wants and needs and considering the wellbeing of others. The theme of the episode is self-talk, and they
One step at a time: James Golding
How small actions can lead to amazing outcomes - with cancer survivor and cycling world record holder James Golding. In his 20s - James was given just a 5% chance of survival while being treated for an aggressive form of cancer. He could barely lift his head off the pillow but he managed to pull through and once he had – his life changed dramatically for the better. James even goes so far as to say – in hindsight – what he went through was a blessing. While he was recovering - James basically d
Persistence: Ade Adepitan
The power of sticking with something and refusing to give up - with TV presenter and wheelchair basketball star Ade Adepitan. Ade contracted polio when he was just 15 months old while living in Nigeria – which prompted his parents to move to the UK to give him a better chance of not just thriving but even surviving. It was a huge sacrifice by his family – and his parents in particular endured a torrid time when they moved to London but they instilled in Ade a resilience and persistence that has
Psychological Fear: Dr. Pippa Grange
Understanding the cost of fear and how to face and replace it - with the former England football psychologist, who was credited with helping transform the team at the 2018 World Cup. Pippa explains the difference between 'in the moment fear', and 'not good enough fear', and it's the latter that is the focus of this conversation and which is lurking behind many of our self-defeating behaviours.
Pippa talks about the subtle role fear plays when we shame ourselves and others - as well as in tribal
Service: Dan Pfaff
Finding joy and meaning in serving others with the legendary Olympic coach. During Dan's career, he has coached 49 Olympians, including nine medallists and five World Record holders. He helped Greg Rutherford win long jump gold at London 2012 and Donovan Bailey win 100 metres gold in 1996. Outside track and field, he has coached football, NFL and tennis stars – including Maria Sharapova.
Throughout his nearly 50 years in coaching, and his studies into the military, Dan has come to appreciate t
Determination: Cal Crutchlow
Determination can trump talent according to MotoGP star Cal Crutchlow. In 2016, Cal became the first Brit in 35 years to win a race in MotoGP – the premier motorcycle racing world championship. He says the key ingredient in his success is determination, a quality he has in spades – whether it be in returning from injuries or just taking him to the top rung of his sport, ahead of other riders he considers to have more talent.
Cal is a great advocate of talking calculated risks to get to where y
The trouble with winning: Cath Bishop
Why our obsession with 'winners' and 'winning at all costs' is holding us back, with Cath Bishop – a three-time Olympic rower who won silver at Athens in 2004. She was also a diplomat and is now a business coach and author.
Cath argues that our fixation on winning is overhyped and outdated, and she explains why the world needs an evolved attitude of cooperation to enable us to reach our potential in a more meaningful and sustainable way. In her new book The Long Win she challenges our cultural
Positivity: Frankie Dettori
The importance of a positive outlook in achieving success, with the legendary Italian jockey. Frankie Dettori says he aims to be in a positive frame of mind every time he leaves the house, which has contributed to his remarkable longevity. But Frankie also says it has a tangible effect on his horses – they can sense the frame of mind he is in and react accordingly. That may well explain how he managed famously to win all seven races in one day at Ascot in 1996, when he had something akin to a my
Deliberate practice: Anders Ericsson
How to get better at almost anything by practising like an expert. Anders Ericsson, who sadly died recently, was Professor of Psychology at Florida State University. Anders spent decades studying elite performers across a number of fields including sport, music and medicine, and it was his research that led to the popular "10,000-hour rule" written about by Malcolm Gladwell and others.
Anders explains that just clocking up 10,000 hours of regular practice won't make you an expert; the key is t
Power of emotion: Mel Marshall
Using emotion, vulnerability and connection to fuel powerful performances. Mel Marshall is a former world number one swimmer turned coach. She’s been coaching Adam Peaty since he was 14 and Adam is one of the greatest swimmers of all time (2016 Olympic champion, eight-time world champion and world record holder in the 50 and 100 metre breastroke). Adam says Mel developed him into the man he is today.
Mel is all about relationships and talks about the love she feels for the people she works with
Work ethic: David Coulthard
Developing a work ethic and being efficient with F1 legend David Coulthard. David spent 15 seasons in Formula One, taking 13 Grand Prix victories and 62 podium finishes. After retiring, he deftly transitioned into being a commentator, pundit and entrepreneur. He is undoubtedly a grafter, and that work ethic is something that was instilled in him by his upbringing. In this episode David explains what he learnt from his hard working parents, and how he's taken that forward into his own life and pa
Managing people: Sam Allardyce
Getting the best out of people by treating them as individuals with the former England manager, Sam Allardyce.
Sam has had a long and successful career in football, first as a player and then as a manager. Many players who were managed by Sam have spoken fondly of his ability to create an enjoyable environment for them, most notably the team he created at Bolton. He surprised many people by luring World Cup winners and genuine megastars to the club in the early 2000s. Sam was ahead of his time
Mental Health: Sir John Kirwan
How to go from surviving to thriving with All Black legend and mental health advocate Sir John Kirwan. John is one of the greatest rugby union players of all time, but it's his work around mental health that led to him being knighted. When he was one of the most high profile players in the world, John had a serious mental health crisis. Thoughts of suicide eventually prompted to him to seek help, which sent him on a wellness journey that led him to being one of the faces of the mental health cam
Adaptability: Leon Smith
Being adaptable to people, circumstances and environments with Leon Smith, the head of men's tennis at the LTA and the captain who helped deliver the Davis Cup to Britain in 2015, something that was inconceivable just a few years previously. Leon also coached Andy Murray during his earlier years, and the two remain close friends.
The theme of the episode is 'being adaptable', and it's an area in which Leon excels. It's also something we are all having to be at the moment as we adapt to the new
Unlimited: KSI
Believing in yourself and living without self-imposed limits - with social media sensation turned pro boxer and rapper, KSI.
KSI has over 21 million YouTube subscribers and his videos have been viewed six billion times. He has a social media reach of over 50 million, including 5.6 million followers on Twitter, eight million on Instagram and 3.2 million monthly Spotify listeners. He also now boasts the third most followed music channel in the UK. But KSI started out commentating on FIFA matches
Reflecting: Goldie Sayers
Taking the time to reflect on your life and where you are heading with Olympic medalist Goldie Sayers.
Goldie was Britain's top javelin thrower who won a medal at the 2008 games, but injury just before London 2012 robbed her of her best chance of gold. She was able to overcome that disappointment and made a successful leap from athlete to businesswoman and coach when her sporting career ended. She is a great advocate of taking the time to reflect on your life and appreciate how far you have com
Stoicism: Ryan Holiday
How to use the ancient Greek philosophy of stoicism to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, with author Ryan Holiday.
Ryan has written a number of best-selling books on stoicism, including The Obstacle is the Way, which has become a favourite with elite sports teams and players. Ryan describes stoicism as as "the most practical of all philosophies".
In this episode, Ryan explains the essence of stoicism, and why we should focus on objective judgement, unselfish action and willing acceptance of
Balance: Laura Muir
How to balance competing demands on your time with top British athlete and qualified vet Laura Muir.
Laura is Britain's top middle-distance runner and Scotland's top female athlete who was considered a great prospect for a medal at this year's Olympics before it was postponed. She is also a qualified veterinary surgeon. In this episode she explains how she managed to juggle two such demanding pursuits, and how each one helped her excel in the other.
Laura wasn't considered a great athletic pro
Perspective: Ed Jackson
Why adversity can be a blessing in disguise, with walking quadriplegic Ed Jackson.
Ed was a professional rugby player whose career was cut short when he broke his neck diving into a shallow swimming pool. Ed nearly died and was told he would never walk again but he confounded the experts and even recently climbed Mount Snowdon. He was due to be climbing Mont Blanc for charity in June, although that's now been cancelled because of the lockdown. Instead, Ed is climbing the equivalent height of Ev
Clarity: Ben Hunt-Davis
The importance of being clear on where you want to go in life and how to get there with Olympic gold medallist Ben Hunt-Davis.
Ben turned himself from an also-ran in the rowing world to a gold medal winner by asking himself just one question, over and over again, and applying it in every area of his life: Will it make the boat go faster? Ben’s approach passed into sporting performance folklore and has been referenced by other DTMTS guests including Sir Clive Woodward. After listening to this ep
Values: Adam Gemili
Is being kind and living by your values more important than ambition and success?
Adam Gemili is one of Britain's top sprinters. He's a former European Champion at 200 metres who has just missed out on a medal at the Olympics and the World Championships, finishing fourth at both.
The theme of this conversation is 'values', and why living by your values could be more important than pinning your hopes, dreams and self-esteem on your goals, which you may not achieve including for reasons outside
Gratitude: Kriss Akabusi
Being mindful of the importance of gratitude with Kriss Akabusi, arguably the most popular British athletics star of the late 1980s and 90s.
Growing up Kriss was called Kezie. When he was just four years old, Kezie’s parents left him to return back to Nigeria. He grew up with a series of foster parents and in a children’s home, before deciding to join the army and changing his name to Kriss. Despite what was a difficult start to life, Kriss is grateful for everything that has happened and is a
Looking after yourself at home: James Collins
Strategies and tips for looking after yourself and being productive while staying at home with elite sports nutritionist James Collins.
Never before have so many of us been stuck at home, with no clear idea how long we'll be indoors. Coronavirus has upended our lives in a dramatic way, and the challenge now is to make the best of what is clearly a very difficult situation.
This episode's guest is James Collins, a performance nutritionist who has worked in elite sport for many years. He's been
Personal Responsibility: Jeff Jarrett
The importance of taking personal responsibility for every aspect of your life, and what that means, with wrestling legend and WWE hall of famer Jeff Jarrett. Jeff was Introduced to audiences in 1993 as an obnoxious country singer, with a passion for smashing guys over the head with a guitar. Despite his image, Jeff has been through a lot in his personal life, and is a deep thinker. Here are some of the lessons that come up in this episode:
- The importance of shooting for the pinnacle of thing
Pressure: Dave Alred MBE
How to deal with pressure and thrive when the stakes are high with elite performance coach Dave Alred MBE. Dave is the go to elite performance coach of many of the world's best athletes. He's best known for coaching Jonny Wilkinson during his career, but also steered Francesco Molinari to his golf major and has worked with top footballers, cricketers and businesses too. He started out life as a teacher though, and it was there that he developed many of the guiding principles. The theme of this w
Motivation: Max Whitlock
Getting motivated with Britain's most successful gymnast Max Whitlock. Max has a mass of major medals. In 2016 he became a double Olympic champion, winning the floor and pommel titles as well as an all-around bronze medal. Then in 2017 he became the first British gymnast to defend a world title, taking pommel gold with a near faultless routine having won it for the first time in 2015 in Glasgow. He added a third world title at the 2019 championships, . The theme of this conversation is motivatio
Doing the basics: Toni Minichiello
Why doing the basics well is more important than marginal gains, with Jessica Ennis-Hill's former long term coach Toni Minichiello. Toni met Jess when she was 13, and guided her athletics career for the next 15 years, winning three world titles and Olympic heptathlon gold at London 2012. Toni then won coach of the year in what was arguably the greatest year in the history of British sport. He was inducted into the coaching hall of fame too. Toni has also coached a number of other top athletes, a
No regrets: Alex Danson
Giving your everything and having no regrets with Olympic gold medallist Alex Danson. Alex is one of Britain’s greatest ever hockey players, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2018. Alex has been capped over 300 times and was an instrumental part of the team that won Olympic gold in Rio in 2016. We talk about some of the lessons she learnt in becoming the best in the world, including understanding that character is more important than talent if you’re going to make it. Alex suffered a trau
Respect: Carl Frampton
Treating people as you want to be treated with boxing legend Carl Frampton, Northern Ireland’s first two weight World Champion. Carl is one of the most down to earth boxers on the planet. He's also one of the most popular, with his fans willing to travel all over the world to watch their man in action. The theme of this chat chat is 'respect'. Carl grew up in Belfast, in the loyalist area of Tigers Bay. The next housing estate across was the New Lodge which was Republican. As a child, he witness
Obsession: Ric Flair
The good and bad of letting your profession consume your life with WWE legend Ric Flair.
Ric is rated as the greatest wrestler of all time by many, including legends like Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin. He had a career spanning 40 years, was a 16-time world champion AND was the first two time WWE hall of fame inductee. His most memorable catchphrase was just one word- WOO- and it became so famous they named a wrestling tour after it. His appearance was so flashy, Snoop
Facing Fear: Gareth Thomas
Why facing and overcoming fear forces you to grow as a person, with Gareth Thomas.
Gareth is one of Wales’ greatest ever rugby players. He's their second highest try scorer ever, and was the first man to reach 100 Wales caps. He’s also the first high profile player to come out as gay. Recently he came out as HIV positive, doing a huge amount to tackle the stigma around it in the process. Gareth competed in an Ironman when he came out, and the support 'Alfie' got as he competed shows how much lo
Self-development: Ebony Rainford-Brent
Why continually working on yourself is worth it, and how to do it, with Ebony Rainford-Brent. Ebony is a former England cricketer who won both the World Cup and the Ashes during her career. She was also the first black woman to play for England. Since retiring, she’s joined the Test Match Special team, becoming a part of one of sport’s great broadcasting institutions. She’s also a motivational speaker, a podcaster and was appointed Surrey’s first director of women’s cricket. The theme of this ch
Domination: Stephen Hendry
What does it take to be utterly dominant, with snooker legend Stephen Hendry. In the 1990s, Stephen was the undisputed best snooker player in the world, winning the World Championship a record seven times. His period of domination is up there with any other champion from any other sport. But what does it take to be as dominant as he was? Stephen emphasises the importance of loving what you do, but also putting in the hours of practice, as nothing can replace hard work. He had to learn to embrace
Determination: Sir Ben Ainslie
Determination is setting course and refusing to let anything stop you, and it's one of the keys to the incredible successes of sailing legend Sir Ben Ainslie. Ben competed in 5 Olympic games, picking up 4 golds and one silver between 1996 and 2012. Then in 2013, shortly after having been knighted, Ben played an integral role in one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time, in the oldest sporting competition in the world: the Americas Cup. He was drafted in with team Oracle badly trailing-
Doing the hard thing: Heather Rabbatts
Why it's worth doing the hard thing in life with Dame Commander Heather Rabbatts. Heather was the first woman to be appointed a director of the FA and she was also chief executive of Millwall football club, but her incredible career transcends sport. She’s been a barrister, a BBC governor, the youngest ever chief executive of both Merton and Lambeth councils, Head of Education at Channel 4, a director of the Bank of England and much more besides. And this from a woman who underachieved at school
Leadership: Mike Brearley
RE-RELEASE: The art of leadership with legendary England cricket captain Mike Brearley. As this is the last episode of 2019 we’ve decided to re-release a conversation from much earlier in the DTMTS series, when Simon sat down with former England cricket captain Mike Brearley. The theme of their conversation was leadership. Mike is considered to be one of the best, if not the best, England cricket captain over the last handful of decades. What makes Mike particularly interesting though is that af
Walking: Professor Shane O'Mara
How walking more will boost your brain, body and creativity with professor Shane O'Mara.
Most of us do it - but almost all of us don’t do it enough. Yes, we're talking about walking. It's hardly news that we are, as a species, too sedentary, and the fact is that we were not designed to spend as much time as we do sitting or slouching around. Walking is what we are designed to do, and our ability to walk long distances helped humans become the dominant species on earth. It helps to protect and
Culture: Sir Clive Woodward
How to create a winning culture with in sport, business and life with Sir Clive Woodward. Clive was appointed England coach in 1997, and he went about transforming the culture of the team, using many of the lessons he had learnt running a small business. Results steadily improved until England were unquestionably the top team in the world, a goal Clive had set right at the outset of his tenure, and they rounded things off by lifting the Webb Ellis trophy in 2003, coping brilliantly with the pres
Insomnia: Dr Guy Meadows
How to address insomnia and anxious thoughts with Dr. Guy Meadows. Guy is the founder of the sleep school, and has treated a number of top sportspeople, as sleep is essentially the greatest natural performance enhancer available to each and every one of us (as Christie Ashwanden revealed in an earlier episode of Don’t Tell me The Score- called the science of rest and recovery). And while poor sleep can affect your performance on a pitch, track or court, it can certainly also have negative impac
Obsession: Jonny Wilkinson
Letting go of control and of being obsessive to find peace of mind with Jonny Wilkinson. Jonny was the golden boy in what was England’s greatest ever rugby team, the 2003 World Cup Champions. Jonny of course kicked the winning drop goal in that final against Australia, and he relives the moment in this episode of DTMTS revealing he basically had something akin to an out of body experience as it happened. The theme of this conversation is ‘obsession', as Jonny admits to being an obsessive charact
Role Model: Kate Richardson-Walsh
Setting an example and being a role model with former England and GB hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh. Kate captained Britain to a historic gold medal in hockey at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is the most capped player in her country’s history, and Kate and Helen Richardson Walsh are the first married gay couple to win Olympic gold medals in the same team. They are now expecting their first baby, due before the end of the year. The theme of this conversation between Simon Mundie and Kate is:
Letting go: Kevin Clifton
The importance of letting go of the need for approval with Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin Clifton. Kevin’s parents were world class dancers, and he took it up when he was just four years old. Along with younger sister Joanne, also a Strictly champion, he competed in international dancing competitions from a young age, going through one particularly harrowing experience at the Wimbledon of dance- the British Open- aged 11. What he experienced there stayed with Kevin, and left him with self-doub
Caitlyn Jenner: Honesty
Why being honest with yourself and the people closest to you is vital for peace of mind with Olympic Decathlon Champion and the world's most famous transgender woman Caitlyn Jenner. Caitlyn was born Bruce Jenner, but struggled with gender dysphoria, which is where there’s a mismatch between someone’s biological sex and their gender identity. Caitlyn’s greatest sporting moment came at the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal, where as an amateur American athlete, she saw off the Soviet challenge at the
Relationships: Will Carling
Why relationships are the key to success in sport and life, with former England captain Will Carling. Will was appointed captain aged just 22 and led England to their first ever rugby World Cup final in 1991. He was their first genuinely successful captain over a sustained period of time. As well as reaching that World Cup final- England won three Grand Slams in the 90s under Will, and were undoubtedly the northern hemisphere’s best team during that period. Will is now back helping the England s
Purpose: Lewis Pugh
Why having a clear purpose is key to success in sport and life with record breaking swimmer and UN Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh. Lewis was the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world, and was the first person to swim across the North Pole- to highlight the melting of the Arctic sea ice. He also swam across a glacial lake on Mount Everest to draw attention to the melting of the glaciers in the Himalayas. More recently he swam the full length of the English Cha
Bloody-Mindedness:Tanni Grey-Thompson
The power of being 'bloody-minded', with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.Tanni is a Paralympic legend who now sits in the House of Lords, and she credits much of her success to being bloody-minded. It’s all about having a stubborn streak, and not just taking no for an answer. Tanni was born with Spina Bifida, and aged seven her spinal cord severed leading her to choose to get around in a wheelchair. At that time, Tani’s parents were told she was unlikely to amount to much and were given a long list
Despair: Kearnan Myall
Facing and overcoming despair, with Kearnan Myall. Kearnan is a former professional rugby player who toured Argentina with England in 2013. On a mid-season break during his playing career, Kearnan came close to taking his own life. Since hitting his lowest point, Kearnan has worked hard on his mental health and wellbeing- and is now in a good place. This month- he’s starting a PhD in psychiatry at Oxford University, researching mindfulness and mental health in athletes, with the aim of helping p
Being True To Yourself: Sam Warburton
Why being true to yourself is vital to success and happiness with Wales rugby legend Sam Warburton. .Sam holds the record for the most Wales caps as captain, and has also captained two Lions tours- the win in Australia in 2013, and the famous draw in New Zealand in 2017. One of his most famous moments came in the 2011 World Cup semi-final- when he received a red card for a tackle early in the match. It’s a moment seared in the memory of every Wales fan, and while many pundits felt it was a bit h
Maximising Talent: Gary Lineker
How to get the most out of the talent you have, with Gary Lineker. Gary is one of England’s greatest ever footballers- he won the golden boot at the 1986 World Cup for scoring the most goals- and is now one of Britain’s most successful broadcasters- presenting Match of the Day and a plethora of other top programmes. Gary insists however- he wasn’t outrageously talented at either football or broadcasting, but he found a way to maximise his talent and become a huge success at both- and that’s what
Diversity: Matthew Syed
Why diversity is crucial to success in any organisation, with top author, broadcaster and former world class table tennis player Matthew Syed. Matthew is not talking about arbitrary diversity in this episode of DTMTS, but is explaining why a diversity of background, outlook and experience is vital. He explains how the FA embraced diversity off the pitch, which contributed to success on it, and how the tragedy of 9/11 could have been avoided had the CIA been less collectively blind because of a l
Hard Work: Sir Alastair Cook
Why all the greats have hard work in common, with England cricket legend Sir Alastair Cook. As well as being England captain, Alastair was one of the most prolific batsmen cricket has ever seen. Not only is he England's most capped player, he's also their leading run scorer in Test matches- and it's largely down to his undoubted work ethic. In this episode of DTMTS, Alastair talks about where his work ethic comes from, and why all the greats have hard work in common. He explains why he would int
Mortality: Liz Clarke-Saul
What facing death can teach us about living life, with GB Para-cyclist Liz Clarke-Saul. Liz is 30 years old- and has incurable cancer. She was first diagnosed with adamantinoma – an extremely rare form of bone cancer- at the age of 12 in 2001. Liz had her leg amputated because of the disease two years later, and she was inspired to take up para-cycling after London 2012. But last year- with Tokyo 2020 firmly in her sights- Liz found out the adamantinoma had returned, and that it was now incurabl
The Journey: Goldie Sayers
Why the journey is more important than the destination, with Olympic medallist Goldie Sayers. In 2008, Goldie missed out on a medal in javelin at the Beijing Olympics by a matter of centimetres, coming fourth. She later found out that the Russian athlete who 'won' silver was a drugs cheat, so Goldie was promoted, and eventually received her bronze medal 11 years later. In 2012, Goldie was in the form of her life and nailed on for a medal at the London Olympics, but a freak injury weeks before th
Self Mastery: Chrissie Wellington OBE
How to follow your intuition and reach your potential, with triathlon and Ironman legend Chrissie Wellington OBE. Chrissie was the Ironman world champion on four occasions- in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011- despite only turning pro at the relatively ripe age of 30. Chrissie planned to become a lawyer after graduating from university- but after spending 9 months travelling - she had a change of heart about her career path- and decided to focus on international development. It was a spell in Nepal that h
Confidence: Annie Vernon
What is confidence and how you can develop it with Olympic rower Annie Vernon. Annie won silver at Beijing in 2008, which was actually a huge disappointment for her, as she had expected to collect gold. However, it did prompt her to write the book Mind Game, which explores the psychology of elite sport, so every cloud and all that. In it, Annie spoke to more than 60 elite athletes, coaches and psychologists from diverse sports to find out their secrets, and one area she explored was confidence.
Addiction: Tony Adams
What causes addiction and how to face it, with Arsenal and England legend Tony Adams. Tony played for Arsenal for over 20 years, uniquely captaining a title-winning team in three different decades- the 80s, 90s and noughties. He also won 66 caps for England and played at four major tournaments. But despite all his successes on the pitch, Tony’s life away from football spiralled out of control due to his alcoholism, leading to a ‘lost decade’ and a spell in prison for drunk-driving. In 1996 Tony
Greatness: Michael Johnson
What does it take to be one of the Greatest of All Time, with Michael Johnson. Michael is one of the greatest sprinters of all time, having won four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championships golds. He also held the world records in the 200m and 400m – and was the undoubted star of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, becoming the first man to win the 200 / 400 double, and smashing the world record in the 200 in the process. To make the moment all the more memorable he wore gold shoes as he did the
Acceptance: Brad Smeele
Why accepting things we can't change is key to our emotional and psychological wellbeing, with quadriplegic former wakeboard champion Brad Smeele. Research shows that our willingness to accept the unchangeable is crucial, whether we’re talking about a financial crisis, a health diagnosis, the loss of an important relationship, or any other unanticipated, unpleasant event, fighting what is won’t make it not so. Instead, when we do battle with reality, we cripple our capacity to cope with the situ
Range: David Epstein
Why it's better to be a generalist not a specialist in sport and life- with best-selling author David Epstein. The general consensus in society tends to be that to have success in any field requires early specialisation and many hours of deliberate practice- aka the 'Tiger Woods model'. And if you dabble or delay, you'll never catch up with those who got a head start. In this episode of DTMTS, David Epstein dispels this widely-held myth. He explains that the best way to succeed is by sampling wi
Fame: Boris Becker
Celebrity and fame certainly has its pros and cons. One man who knows what it’s like to be a global icon is tennis superstar and three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, who sits down with Simon Mundie in this episode of DTMTS to discuss ‘Fame’. Boris became a household name aged just 17 when he first won Wimbledon, and has been on the front and back pages ever since. In this celebrity obsessed time in which we live, Boris can explain some of the less savoury aspects of fame that people like
The science of rest and recovery: Christie Aschwanden
Rest and recovery: what works and what doesn't.
In recent years recovery has become a sports and fitness buzzword. Anyone who works out or competes at any level is bombarded with the latest recovery products and services: from drinks and shakes to foam rollers and sleep trackers. But are they any good? And what can the rest of us who don't exercise much learn from them? In this episode of DTMTS Simon Mundie sits down with acclaimed science writer Christie Aschwanden, author of the bestselling b
Depression: David Cotterill
Depression can affect people of any age or background, and can even be a silent killer. Someone experiencing it may appear happy to people on the outside, but internally they may be experiencing very distressing symptoms. In this episode of DTMTS, Simon Mundie sits down with David Cotterill, the outgoing former Wales international and Premier League footballer. He played more than 400 games during his career, for Birmingham, Swansea, Sheffield United, Doncaster and Wigan, but for much of that ti
Positivity: Josie Pearson
A positive attitude helps you cope more easily with the ups and downs of life. It brings optimism into your life, and makes it easier to avoid worries and negative thinking. In this episode of DTMTS recorded live at the Hay literary festival in Wales, Simon Mundie sits down with Paralympic gold medallist Josie Pearson to hear about her ‘glass if half full’ approach. Josie was involved in a car accident in 2003 in which she broke her neck leaving her paralysed from the mid-chest downwards. Her bo
Self-acceptance: Nigel Owens
Self-acceptance could be the key to a happier life, yet it’s the 'happy habit' many people practise the least. That’s according to psychologists at the University of Hertfordshire who studied the keys to happiness. In this special episode of DTMTS recorded live at the Hay literary festival in Wales, Simon Mundie sits down with the beloved Welsh rugby referee Nigel Owens to explore the lessons he has learnt and can share about accepting yourself. When Nigel was a young man, he struggled to accept
Moderation: Ronnie O'Sullivan
Everything in moderation. It’s a saying we’ve all heard, but mastering it might just be the key to health and happiness. For example, it’s good to be challenged at work to stop boredom setting in, but too much pressure can lead to being flooded with stress hormones. Basically, it’s all about the sweet spot in the middle - something that snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has found over the course of his career. The five-time World Champion has struggled with various addictions throughout his life,
Vedic Meditation: Michael Miller
Vedic Meditation is a powerful tool that claims to help sharpen sport and life skills. It is one of the most ancient meditative techniques on the planet, and differs from Mindfulness Meditation, currently the best known technique in the UK. In this episode of DTMTS, Director of the London Meditation centre and the New York Meditation center Michael Miller sits down with Simon Mundie to explain the nuts and bolts of Vedic Meditation, and how it can help people excel in sport and in life. This is
Eating Disorders: Renee McGregor
Eating disorders are significantly more common within the world of sport than the rest of the population, and appear to be on the rise. In this episode of DTMTS, leading Sports and Eating disorder specialist Renee McGregor sits down with Simon Mundie to explain why, and what can be done about it. Renee has 20 years of experience working in clinical and performance nutrition, with Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth teams. She is also the author of ‘Orthorexia, When Healthy Eating Goes Bad’, as
Mindfulness: Andy Puddicombe
Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. It can help relieve stress, improve physical and mental wellbeing, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain and improve sleep. Mindfulness can also improve your sporting and work performance and contribute to more fulfilling relationships. This week on DTMTS, Simon Mundie is sitting down with the man who has done as m
The Power of Sport: Andy Burnham
Sport can be one of the most powerful forces for good globally, nationally and personally. It has changed entire political systems, thawed relations between warring countries and changed government policy on a significant scale. But it can also change people's behaviour more locally, as well as improve people's habits and health, both physical and mental. The Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham joins Simon on this week's episode of DTMTS, to explore each of these aspects in turn.
Endurance: Jasmin Paris
Endurance is defined as the ability to endure an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way. Keeping on going, when the going gets tough basically. This week on DTMTS, Simon Mundie sits down with British ultrarunner Jasmin Paris to discuss endurance. Jasmin won the 268 mile Spine race, widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance races in the world and described as the ultimate challenge of physical resilience and mental fortitude. Jasmin became not only the first woman
Testosterone: Matt Roberts
Male testosterone levels are dropping, which is bad news. In fact 30 year old men have 20% less testosterone than they did 20 years ago, according to a new study. It’s believed to be down to stress, inactivity and processed foods. Low testosterone has a negative impact on almost every system in the male body: from increasing insulin resistance, obesity levels, risk of cardiovascular disease, reducing skeletal muscle mass, decreasing bone density, to increasing the risk of depression, diabetes an
Football Fandom: John Nicholson
Football has a fandom unlike other sports. It attracts people all over the globe and country, and is unashamedly tribal. With that comes a unique sense of belonging and loyalty, but also some less than savoury traits. This week on DTMTS, Simon Mundie sits down with novelist and star Football 365 writer John Nicholson, who writes about the sport from a cultural, comedic and philosophical point of view. He argues that aspects of football tribalism need dispensing with, although some of the behavi
Cheating - Ed Warner
The consequences for top sportspeople who cheat can be severe. Just ask the likes of Lance Armstrong, Dwayne Chambers and Ben Johnson. But what is it that causes people to break the rules, and how likely is it that the rest of us would make the same decision if the opportunity arose? This week on DTMTS, Simon Mundie sits down with the former chair of UK Athletics Ed Warner to discuss cheating, to unpick what we can learn from those people who followed that path- and paid the price. Ed has writte
Self-improvement: Ben Lyttleton
Continually looking to improve different aspects of your self is one of the keys to moving forwards in life and avoiding staying stuck. In this week's episode of DTMTS, Simon Mundie sits down with author and top football expert Ben Lyttleton, who was given unprecedented access to some of the world’s top football clubs to discover their innovative methods for developing talent – so he could go on and reveal how we can use those same cutting edge techniques, approaches and outlooks in our everyday
Managing your energy- James Collins
Who doesn't want more energy, particularly when faced with a gruelling schedule. In this episode of DTMTS, Simon Mundie sits down with world-leading sports nutritionist James Collins, who shapes the eating habits of Olympic athletes and Premier League footballers, so they are on peak form when it counts. After a decade of working with the likes of Arsenal FC, England Football and Team GB, James has distilled his elite sports success into simple food principles that any of us can follow to feel a
Sexism- Tracy Edwards
What is the correct way to address sexism in sport and life? And is it much less commonplace than it was in say 1989? That was the year Tracy Edwards skippered the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, becoming the first woman to receive the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy and was awarded an MBE honour. She didn’t set off as a feminist, but she certainly came back one. She sits down in the episode with Simon Mundie to discuss her experience of sexism in sailing round th
Dealing with adversity - Dame Sarah Storey
Adversity can make you or break you. In this week’s episode of Don’t Tell Me The Score, Simon Mundie sits down with Dame Sarah Storey to talk about how she overcame difficult moments in her life - from being bullied at school to changing sports midway through her career. Sarah is the most successful female British Paralympian of all time. She won 5 swimming gold medals, before making the switch and adding 9 cycling golds to her haul. She has also competed against able-bodied athletes including
Steve Peters: Managing your mind
Learning to manage your mind is crucial to both happiness and success. In this week’s episode of Don’t Tell Me The Score, Simon Mundie sits down with Professor Steve Peters, the English psychiatrist best known for his work in elite sport. He was integral in helping British Cycling become world beaters, has worked with Liverpool FC and the England football team- and has been credited with making arguably the greatest snooker player ever Ronnie O’Sullivan ‘the player he is today’. Steve famously c
Chief Rabbi: Sacrifice
"Dreaming alone takes you nowhere. Dreams are good for seeing where you can go and what goals you can reach. You also have to pay the price." That's according to the great Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. That's as true in life as in sport, as the Chief Rabbi can explain in this special episode of DTMTS. He is a fan of the show, not least because of the title 'Don't tell me the score', one of the most commonly heard phrases in Jewish communities on the Shabbat- their weekly day of rest.
Drewe Broughton: Vulnerability
It’s not easy being vulnerable. Being honest with yourself and others about how you really feel. Many of us try to guard against vulnerability, thinking it's a sign of weakness but the opposite is true. In this week’s episode of Don’t Tell Me The Score ex footballer Drewe Broughton sits down with Simon Mundie to discuss vulnerability. Drewe had 22 clubs in a nomadic 17 year career and never fulfilled his undoubted potential. It wasn’t through lack of application, in fact he tried to control too
Dame Katherine Grainger: Perseverance
Perseverance is all about refusing to give up. It is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. Dr Dame Katherine Grainger is Britain’s most decorated female Olympian and undoubtedly its greatest ever female rower. She won gold at London 2012 and silver at four other Games, and her ability to persist and keep going through setbacks and crushing disappointments undoubtedly helped set her apart. In this episode of DTMTS, Katherine sits down with Simon Mundie t
James Haskell: Nutrition
Nutrition is crucial for fitness. Whether you want to put on muscle or lose weight, what you eat will largely dictate how successful you’re going to be. This week, Simon Mundie sits down with England rugby international James Haskell who has written two cookbooks. They discuss the key nutrition rules that apply however active you are, and go deep into a subject Simon is also passionate about. Topics covered include a close look at the different macros- carbs, protein and fats- and how much of ea
Joe Wicks: Community
It’s time to redefine sport. Joe Wicks- aka the Body Coach- says it’s not just about winning trophies and smashing into people down the park on a Sunday, it’s also about exercising together in an environment where collaboration, cooperation and community are all important. Joe is a social media sensation, and one of the world’s most influential fitness stars, and in this episode of Don’t Tell Me The Score, he tells Simon Mundie how he went from running small bootcamps in Surbiton, to breaking th
Tracey Crouch MP: Values
Your values and principles determine your behaviour and often your success.This week, Simon sits down with Tracey Crouch MP, who resigned as Sports Minister in November 2018 over "delays" to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds betting machines. She was widely praised for sticking to her principles, even though it cost her her 'dream job' in government. Tracey is also a qualified football coach, and in this episode they explore how values and principles are intimately related, and how sp
Alex Honnold: Fear
There’s nothing to fear but fear itself. So said American president Franklin D. Roosevelt, and turns out he had a point. This week, Simon sits down with climbing legend Alex Honnold, the man who climbed a 3000 foot vertical cliff without ropes, to discuss fear and how to overcome it. Alex is a free solo climber, which means he does it without equipment, and his conquering of the awe inspiring El Capitan in America has been described as ‘one of the greatest Athletic feats of any kind, ever’. It w
Nick Littehales: Sleep
Want to sleep better? For an ever increasing amount of people, the answer is yes. This week Simon sits down with Elite Sport Sleep Coach Nick Littlehales to uncover the sleep hacking secrets of some of the world’s top sportsmen and women. Nick has worked with a number of the biggest football clubs on the planet including Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City, Team Sky’s Tour De France winning cyclists and Olympic and Paralympic athletes. In this episode of DTMTS Nick reveals how he go
Sarah Lindsay: Reinvention
Everyone considers reinventing themselves either professionally or physically at some point in their life, and January tends to be the month. But it can be daunting to start afresh, and even harder to keep it going. So what are they keys to a successful reinvention? This week Simon sits down with Winter Olympian turned celebrity personal trainer and businesswoman Sarah Lindsay to look at the key attributes and mindsets you need to pursue a new path. Sarah competed at three Winter Olympics, and w
Joao Medeiros: Winning
At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Great Britain ranked thirty-sixth in the medals table, finishing below Algeria and Kazakhstan. By 2016, in Rio, they finished second, above China and Russia, with sixty-seven medals. How have they so convincingly reversed their fortunes? This week Simon sits down with Author Joao Medeiros, who literally wrote the book explaining how. Joao explains the key ingredients behind Team GB’s sporting revolution, and they discuss some of those things workplaces would do well
Sam Walker: Character
Great people are usually judged by their character. But what exactly are the key components of character, and can they be developed? Simon sits down with best-selling author Sam Walker to answer that question. Sam spent 12 years studying the 25,000 best teams the world has ever seen, and uncovered their secret ingredient, a captain with genuine character. But character is easily misunderstood in the modern celebrity obsessed world, so it's not about chest-thumping speeches, buckets of talent or
Ben Ryan: Motivation
What does it take to motivate a team of people? Offer a carrot or wield a stick? One man who has a fair idea is Ben Ryan, the most successful rugby sevens coach in the world. After a successful stint in charge of England, he upped sticks and moved to Fiji where he was initially met with some suspicion, before leading them to a first ever Olympic gold and being hoisted onto the team's shoulders after the medal ceremony. As well as his keys to motivation, Simon and Ben discuss black magic, dealing
Mike Brearley: Leadership
What makes a good leader? Is it all about inspirational speeches, or a nurturing arm around the shoulder? One man who knows better than most is Mike Brearley, considered by many to be the greatest ever England cricket captain, who kindly invited Simon to his house for this episode of DTMTS. Mike was in charge for England’s legendary comeback against Australia in the 1981 Ashes, and he lays bare the approach that got the best out of Ian Botham. Mike also went on to become a successful psychoanaly
Rebecca Symes: Identity
Losing your job is hard to stomach, but for athletes it can be particularly tough. More than half of former professional sportspeople have had concerns about their mental or emotional wellbeing since retiring, according to a 2018 BBC survey. This week Simon sits down with sports psychologist Rebecca Symes to explore what makes up someone’s identity or ‘self’, and uncover the reasons why people- and sportspeople in particular- have emotional difficulties when their career finishes. Their identit
Dr Sherylle Calder: Vision
Everyone knows the importance of training the body. Some people value training the mind. But how many of us train our eyes? This week Simon sits down with Dr Sherylle Calder, creator of the ‘eye gym’ and the world’s top visual skills coach who helped England lift the Rugby World Cup in 2003 and South Africa win it in 2007. She’s now back with England rugby, and has noticed a radical drop in the skills in elite athletes over the last six years, which has coincided with the increased use of smartp
Clay Routledge: Tribalism
Most people know someone else who exaggerates their support for a football team. David Cameron may be the most famous example after forgetting whether he was meant to be supporting West Ham or Aston Villa, but he's far from alone. So what’s that all about? Simon talks to behavioural scientist, Professor Clay Routledge to explore tribalism, which may well explain why exaggerating an interest in football is actually a rational thing to do. They trace the roots of tribalism back to the prehistoric
James Kerr: Legacy
Better people make better All Blacks. This is the mantra that underpins the statistically most successful sporting team in human history.
New Zealand have always been the gold standard when it comes to rugby, but in the early 2000s they also had a reputation for bottling the big moments. That prompted a radical overhaul of their values, which led to a stunning run of success that included back to back World Cup wins.
Simon sits down with best selling author James Kerr, who spent 5 weeks embe
Ian Price: Resilience
As you may have noticed, life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
It’s tough at times, but how you deal with setbacks as and when they arise largely dictates how successful you will be. That’s what performance psychologist Ian Price reckons anyway, and Simon sits down with him to uncover how to build a positive mindset, and asks whether resilience is actually more important than talent. This is all scientifically proven stuff from credible fields like sports psychology and neuroscience, and are th
Kelly Holmes: Power of Belief
The placebo effect and Roger Bannister’s 4 minute mile are just two examples of the amazing power of belief.
In this episode of DTMTS, Simon Mundie talks to Colonel Dame Kelly Holmes about self-belief, and asks whether it is the single most important factor in success. Kelly was 14 when she decided she was going to be an Olympic champion, and that belief never wavered. She eventually won double gold in Athens 20 years later. So what did she learn about the power of belief during that epic journ
Don't Tell Me The Score
Simon Mundie finds out what sport can teach us about life.