Master Your Mindset: Breath Control, Fear & High Performance (Best Of)
Release Date: 07/10/2025
Bulletproof Leadership: Thalia Burt on Fitness, Mindset & Resilience for Success
Drop the Act
Bulletproof Leadership with Thalia Burt explores fitness, mindset, and resilience strategies to help leaders, performers, and business professionals sustain peak performance and mental clarity. In Episode 10 of Drop the Act, host Christopher Key sits down with Thalia Burt, founder of The Bulletproof Dancer and former international performer, to explore how fitness, mindset, and resilience can transform leadership performance — whether on stage, in business, or at the highest levels of sport. Thalia shares her journey from Cape Town to the West End, her transition from performer to...
info_outline
FA Coach Guy Whittingham on Leadership, Mindset & Career Transitions
Drop the Act
FA Coach Guy Whittingham on Leadership, Mindset & Career Transitions In this episode, FA Pro Licence course leader Guy Whittingham shares how he went from Army PTI to Premier League striker to elite coach—exploring resilience, leadership, and communication in high-performance settings. You’ll hear how military mindset, emotional intelligence, and adaptability shaped Guy’s coaching philosophy — and how business leaders can apply the same tools to lead under pressure. Episode Highlights: The mindset shift from soldier to striker to coach Adapting from team-first to individual...
info_outline
Master Your Mindset: Breath Control, Fear & High Performance (Best Of)
Drop the Act
In this episode we re-visit our best bits from Season 1 & 2. Breath control, elite team rituals, performance mindset, breath control, overcoming fear and high performance take centre stage in this curated “best‑of” episode. Featuring Annesley Park, Lucy Key, Richard Wallace, and Dan Lowe—these highlights dive into practical techniques and powerful stories guaranteed to elevate your communication and leadership game. 💡 Key Highlights Complacency Creeps in Quietly The moment you feel comfortable, you’re already losing edge. Staying alert and self-aware is what keeps high...
info_outline
Christopher Key: Real Leaders Know This Storytelling Secret
Drop the Act
Words matter—but how you show up matters more. 🎭 Special Feature Episode – Chris on the How to Strive Podcast 🎙️ This week, we're switching things up on Drop the Act. Instead of hosting, Chris steps into the guest seat for a powerful conversation with Nick Adkins on the How to Strive podcast. From directing Les Misérables across continents to helping business leaders find their voice, Chris dives deep into the art of non-verbal communication, feedback that lands, and how to truly perform under pressure—whether you're on a stage, in a boardroom, or leading a tough conversation....
info_outline
Annasley Park: Alone on the Ocean, Stronger Than Ever
Drop the Act
In this episode of Drop the Act, host Chris Key talks with Annasley Park — former professional cyclist, yoga instructor, somatic coach, and one of only nine women in history to complete a solo, unsupported 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic Ocean. On Friday 28th March, Annasley made history at The Alnwick Garden by finishing this grueling journey from Gran Canaria to Barbados in nearly 55 days. Battling extreme weather, dangerous animals, sleep deprivation, and a capsize, she turned this epic challenge into a powerful metaphor for life’s ups and downs. Annasley shares her inspiring story...
info_outline
Benedict Sherwood and Sophia Cashman - What Surgery Taught Me About Leadership
Drop the Act
In this powerful episode, Chris is joined by Dr. Sophia Cashman and Mr. Benedict Sherwood—two exceptional surgeons at the forefront of NHS leadership and patient care. Together, they take us inside the operating theatre to explore the life-or-death communication, real-time decision-making, and emotional intelligence required to lead under pressure. What unfolds is an unflinching, honest, and surprisingly human look at leadership, teamwork, and trust—offering vital insights for any business leader seeking to build resilient, high-performing teams. 🎧 What You’ll Learn: How...
info_outline
Daniel Lowes Part 2: Debrief: The Boardroom’s Missing Ritual
Drop the Act
Welcome back to Drop the Act, the podcast brought to you by Performing Perfectly, where we explore the power of communication, presence, and performance in leadership. Hosted by Christopher Key, this show draws from the worlds of theatre, aviation, sport, and business to reveal what it really takes to perform when it matters most. In Part 2 of this episode, Chris is joined by Daniel Lowes, former Red Arrows pilot and RAF Qualified Weapons Instructor. Strap in for an intense, inspiring conversation about leadership in high-stakes environments, the role of trust and communication in...
info_outline
Daniel Lowes - Precision Under Pressure with a Former Red Arrows Pilot
Drop the Act
Welcome back to Drop the Act, the podcast brought to you by Performing Perfectly, where we explore the power of communication, presence, and performance in leadership. Hosted by Christopher Key, this show draws from the worlds of theatre, aviation, sport, and business to reveal what it really takes to perform when it matters most. In this episode, Chris is joined by Daniel Lowes, former Red Arrows pilot and RAF Qualified Weapons Instructor. Strap in for an intense, inspiring conversation about leadership in high-stakes environments, the role of trust and communication in elite...
info_outline
Richard Wallace: Imposter Syndrome? You're Not Alone
Drop the Act
In this episode of Drop the Act, host Chris Key sits down with Richard Wallace, co-founder of Liverpool Media Academy (LMA)—a leading creative institution in media, music, and performing arts. Since launching LMA in 2009 with his brother Simon, Richard has grown the academy into a multi-campus success story, with major backing from Sir Terry Leahy, Bill Currie, and global superstar Robbie Williams. Richard shares his journey from launching a bold new educational model to becoming a voice for change in how we develop talent across the creative industries. He opens up about the reality of...
info_outline
Leon Lloyd: The Leadership Skill You Can’t Ignore
Drop the Act
In this episode of Drop the Act, host Chris Key sits down with Leon Lloyd, a former England international rugby player, high-performance strategist, and leadership expert. With 11 major trophies, including English and European titles with Leicester Tigers, Leon has competed at the highest level against some of the world’s best athletes. Leon shares his unique journey from professional sport to becoming an influential speaker and advisor for top organisations, including Microsoft, AMEX, the Premier League, and the UK Special Forces. He discusses how the skills and lessons learned on the field...
info_outlineIn this episode we re-visit our best bits from Season 1 & 2. Breath control, elite team rituals, performance mindset, breath control, overcoming fear and high performance take centre stage in this curated “best‑of” episode. Featuring Annesley Park, Lucy Key, Richard Wallace, and Dan Lowe—these highlights dive into practical techniques and powerful stories guaranteed to elevate your communication and leadership game.
💡 Key Highlights
Complacency Creeps in Quietly
The moment you feel comfortable, you’re already losing edge. Staying alert and self-aware is what keeps high performers sharp.
The Sound of Presence
Pitch, pace, pause, and tone aren’t optional—they’re the difference between being listened to and truly heard.
The Breath Beneath the Words
Controlling your breath can transform nerves into grounded confidence. It’s not just calming—it’s strategic.
Your Tribe Makes You Stronger
Trust, vulnerability, and support are performance tools too. When your people have your back, everything changes.
Old Habits, New Standards
Growth means recognising when your default settings no longer serve you—and choosing to evolve.
Purpose Over Perfection
What matters isn’t flawless delivery. It’s showing up with clarity, intention, and connection when it matters most.
🧭 Guest Spotlights
Annesley Park – Ocean Rower & Mindset Coach
Atlantic-rowing survivor who shares her harrowing capsizing story and how curiosity overcame fear.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annesley_park/
Lucy Key – Director, Performing Perfectly
Breath‑control specialist teaching techniques to calm nerves, support communication, and optimise performance.
Website: https://www.performingperfectly.com/
Instagram:
Richard Wallace – CEO, Liverpool Media Academy (LMA)
Expert in building culture, collaboration, and resilience through trust and strategic challenge.
Website: https://www.lma.ac.uk/
Dan Lowe – Former Red Arrows Pilot & Leadership Speaker
Reveals elite team rituals, anti‑complacency tactics, trust under pressure, and high‑stakes debriefs.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-lowe-redarrows/
-
Drop The Act / Performing Perfectly — Email: droptheact@performingperfectly.com
-
Listen on: YouTube • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • WebEmbed
-
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PerformingPerfectly
Across two powerful seasons of Drop the Act, Christopher Key has explored what it truly means to show up when it counts—from theatre stages to boardrooms, classrooms to high-stakes conversations.
This special feature pulls together the most resonant highlights so far: bold insights, real vulnerability, and practical tools that reveal how breath, voice, mindset, and human connection shape how we perform under pressure.
🔗 Connect with Christopher Key
🌐 Website: Performing Perfectly Website
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopher-key
📍 About Performing Perfectly:
Performing Perfectly helps professionals show up at their best in high-pressure situations—when it really counts. Hosted by Christopher Key, this podcast reveals the mindset, tools and preparation that underpin elite performance, from operating theatres to boardrooms.
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@Performing-Perfectly
Contact Us:
-
-
🌐 Website: https://www.performingperfectly.co.uk
-
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@performingperfectly
-
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/performingperfectly
-
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/performingperfectly
-
Connect with Us:
Stay inspired by following Performing Perfectly for more insights on leadership, communication, and storytelling.
#LeadershipUnderPressure #NonverbalCommunication #DropTheAct #ChrisKey #ExecutivePresence