Inform Performance

Episode 215: In this episode of the Athletic Shoulder Podcast, Ben Ashworth is joined by Richie Gray — founder of GSI Performance and one of the leading voices in contact and collision coaching globally. With over two decades of experience across elite sport, Richie has helped shape how athletes prepare for contact at the highest level. His work spans international rugby, the NFL, and world-class environments including the Springboks, Flying Fijians, and RC Toulon — alongside ongoing contributions to global governing bodies such as World Rugby and USA Football. Across the conversation, Richie breaks down what it truly takes to prepare athletes for the demands of collision sport — from technical precision and physical readiness to building systems that hold up under pressure. The discussion explores the intersection of coaching, equipment, and methodology, highlighting how his frameworks have redefined both performance and player welfare. The episode also dives into the critical distinction between return to play and return to performance, offering a clearer pathway for practitioners looking to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and real-world sport. Richie shares practical insights into integrating technical skill within physical preparation, developing athlete confidence through progression, and applying innovative tools to better replicate the demands of contact environments. Topics Discussed: The journey of collaboration in sports rehabilitation Return to performance vs return to play The role of technique in injury prevention Innovative training equipment in collision sport Progression in rehabilitation and athlete confidence Frameworks for effective shoulder injury management Integrating technical skill into physical preparation Coaching philosophy and the future of contact training Bridging the gap between research and practice - Where you can find Richie: LinkedIn Website Instagram - Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight

Episode 214: In this episode of Accelerate, host Nicola Graham is joined by Chris Bodman — a Chartered Performance Psychologist who has helped guide Olympic athletes to podium performances and now works with executives and founders navigating high-pressure environments. Chris’ career began in strength and conditioning, where he spent over a decade developing athletes physically before shifting his focus to the psychological side of performance. That transition led him to work across some of the UK’s leading high-performance systems, including the England and Wales Cricket Board, Rugby Football Union, and the UK Sports Institute, as well as supporting the England Women's Cricket Team. In 2021, Chris founded LMNTARY Performance — a consultancy designed to translate the mental frameworks used in elite sport into the worlds of leadership, entrepreneurship, and business performance. Across the conversation, Chris shares how the principles that underpin success in high-performance sport — clarity of purpose, adaptability under pressure, and sustainable habits — can be applied far beyond the sporting arena. The discussion explores the realities of burnout, the importance of psychological flexibility, and how individuals and organisations can build environments that support long-term performance rather than short bursts of intensity. ㅤ Topics Discussed: Chris’ journey from strength & conditioning into performance psychology Lessons from working within elite sport systems Translating sport psychology frameworks into business Purpose, burnout, and sustaining high performance Adaptability and decision-making under pressure Building environments that support long-term success — Where you can find Chris: LinkedIn Website Instagram X - Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight

Episode 213: In this episode, Andy McDonald is joined by Tom Clark — a sports scientist and performance coach with over a decade of experience working at the highest levels of elite sport. Currently completing a doctorate focused on jet lag and circadian disruption, Tom brings rare, first-hand insight into the challenges of global travel in high-performance environments. Having coached across the world in Formula One, his work centres on understanding how travel fatigue, disrupted sleep, and circadian misalignment influence athlete readiness and performance. Across the conversation, Tom unpacks the realities of jet lag in elite sport — exploring how travel affects physiological rhythms, why its impact varies between athletes, and how practitioners can better assess and manage it within performance systems. The discussion also examines practical interventions to minimise disruption, alongside the role of new technologies designed to support high-performance travel. ㅤ Topics Discussed: • Understanding jet lag • Impact of travel and circadian disruption on performance • Assessing jet lag in athletes • Key interventions to reduce travel fatigue • Phaze — a solution for high-performance travel - Where you can find Tom: LinkedIn Website Instagram - Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Steve Barrett Pete McKnight

Episode 212: In this episode of Accelerate, Nicola Graham is joined by Jason — Founder of Joyned Capital, former semi-professional footballer in the Netherlands, and a leader at the intersection of athlete identity and technology investment. Jason’s journey spans elite sport, corporate banking, venture building, and two years designing and running the Qatar SportsTech accelerator programme — giving him a rare perspective on both sides of the performance and investment table. After transitioning out of football, he made it his mission to reshape the narrative around athletes in business and redefine how investors engage with sport and technology. Now through Joyned Capital, Jason is focused on changing the face of investment — building bridges between high-performance sport and high-growth tech, while empowering athletes to become credible, strategic investors. Across the conversation, Jason breaks down what the high-performance mindset really looks like beyond the pitch — exploring growth, curiosity, relentlessness and grit in the world of startups and venture capital. He shares practical insights into the different types of capital founders can pursue, and why relationships — not just capital — are the true currency in early-stage investment. ㅤ Topics Discussed: • From semi-pro football to founder and investor • Designing and leading Qatar SportsTech’s accelerator • The high-performance mindset in venture • Understanding different types of investment capital • The rise of the athlete investor • Building meaningful investor–founder relationships - Where you can find Jason: LinkedIn Website Instagram - Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Steve Barrett Pete McKnight