Ep 80: Gym Culture - What’s Changed, What’s Broken and What Still Matters
The Art of Performance Podcast
In this episode we unpack our own experiences of gym culture, how it has evolved over time, what has genuinely improved, what has become worse and what still matters if a training environment is actually supposed to help people change. We discuss the good, the bad and the absolute nonsense of the modern gym world - from community, standards, coaching and belonging, through to phones on equipment, performative fitness, poor etiquette, influencer culture, gym anxiety and why so many people still feel lost when they walk through the door We also explore: what makes a gym feel alive vs dead why...
info_outline
Ep 79: Raising Strong Resilient Kids Through Training
The Art of Performance Podcast
What does it actually take to raise strong, capable and resilient kids in today’s world? In this episode, we break down the biggest myths around youth training from the fear that strength training “stunts growth” to the idea that kids should just play sport and avoid the gym altogether. The reality? Kids aren’t fragile. They’re highly adaptable and when we get training right, they become more robust, more confident and better equipped for both sport and life. We dive into what actually matters when it comes to developing young athletes: Why strength training doesn’t stunt growth...
info_outline
Ep 78: “Peptides" - The Shortcut You Haven’t Earned Yet!
The Art of Performance Podcast
Peptides are everywhere right now. BPC-157… TB-500… Tesamorelin… Everyone’s talking about healing faster, getting leaner, recovering like a pro. But here’s the truth no one really wants to hear: Most of you don’t need them. Not because they don’t work - but because you haven’t even nailed the basics that actually drive results. In this episode, we strip it right back. We break down what peptides actually are (without the bullshit), the different types you’ve probably seen all over social media, and where they might have a place. But more importantly - we talk about what...
info_outline
Ep 77: Theres No New Vegetables!
The Art of Performance Podcast
In this episode of The Art of Performance Podcast, we dive into a growing concern in elite sport the modern injury epidemic. Despite the rise of sports science, load monitoring systems, GPS tracking, and advanced performance departments, injury rates across elite competitions continue to climb. From the Premier League to the National Basketball Association, soft-tissue injuries and player unavailability remain persistent problems, raising an important question: Have modern strength and conditioning practices drifted away from actually preparing athletes for the demands of sport? In this...
info_outline
Ep 76: Why Your Peak Is At 35!
The Art of Performance Podcast
Most people think decline starts in their 50s. They’re wrong. In this episode of The Art of Performance, we break down a 47-year longitudinal study tracking physical capacity from age 16 to 63 and the findings are confronting. Peak aerobic capacity? Mid 30s. Peak muscular endurance? Mid 30s. Peak explosive power? Often before 30. Decline begins before 40 and accelerates after that. But here’s the real story... Aging doesn’t just reduce performance. It separates people. By 63 the gap between the strongest and weakest individuals is enormous and lifestyle plays a defining role in how steep...
info_outline
Ep 75: Resilience is a Lie - The Dark Side of "Get Hard" Culture
The Art of Performance Podcast
Resilience has become a badge of honour. Cold plunges. 4am alarms. No days off. “Stay hard.” But what if most of what we call resilience is actually emotional suppression, chronic stress exposure and identity armour masquerading as strength? In this deep psychological dive, Dean & Acos dismantle the modern narrative of resilience and rebuild it properly through the lens of neuroscience, stress physiology, emotional processing and high-performance culture. We explore: • The difference between acute stress and chronic nervous system dysregulation • Why suppression is not strength •...
info_outline
Ep 74: Under-Fuelled, Overwhelmed & Misled - The Silent Nutrition Crisis Breaking Modern Humans
The Art of Performance Podcast
In this episode Dean and Acos rip apart one of the biggest and most damaging myths in modern health and performance... The belief that people are overeating! Most high performers, tactical & hybrid athletes and everyday humans are actually chronically under fuelled because modern life has created the perfect storm of: The Under-Eating Paradox Stress, caffeine intake, dopamine addiction, poor sleep and chaotic schedules blunting hunger signals, suppressing appetite and literally tricking people into believing they “don’t need much food” The Death of Satiety Hyper-processed food, poor...
info_outline
Ep 73: Placebo Power - Why Your Mind Is the Strongest Supplement You’ll Ever Take
The Art of Performance Podcast
In this episode, Dean and Acos unpack one of the most fascinating — and misunderstood - forces in human performance: the placebo effect. From fake supplements that still trigger weight loss to rituals that enhance focus, pain tolerance, and recovery, the science is clear - your beliefs change your biology. We break down the new research on open-label placebos (where people know they’re taking something fake but still get results), how belief alters RPE, HRV, digestion, and sleep and why coaches must learn to remove bullshit without removing belief. No magic pills. No pseudoscience. Just...
info_outline
Ep 72: Ultra-Processed Foods, Fear Marketing and the Real Science Behind Joe Wicks Killer Bar
The Art of Performance Podcast
Joe Wicks says his new “Killer Protein Bar” proves how dangerous ultra-processed foods really are. The media says it’s a wake-up call. We say it’s an epic opportunity to discuss the real issue in fear marketing dressed up as health education. In this episode, Dean and Acos cut through the hysteria to expose what’s really going on: • The truth about ultra-processed foods and what the science actually shows • Why blaming a single protein bar misses the entire systemic picture • How the fitness industry weaponises fear for clicks, clout and cash • The hidden ingredients Joe...
info_outline
Ep 71: Why You'll NEVER Lift The Same As Everyone Else
The Art of Performance Podcast
Not all Lifts are created equal and neither are you. In this episode we break down why your lever lengths, hip structure, and joint mechanics decide how you move under the bar. Forget copy and paste form cues and Instagram ‘perfect’ squats this is about biomechanics, not bad form. We’ll cover: Why bone length and torso ratios change mechanics Anthropometry How hip morphology and tendon moment arms put hard limits on range of motion A coach’s framework to individualise big lifts without wrecking joints Backed by research, stripped of shite and made relatable for athletes and...
info_outlineMost people think decline starts in their 50s.
They’re wrong.
In this episode of The Art of Performance, we break down a 47-year longitudinal study tracking physical capacity from age 16 to 63 and the findings are confronting.
Peak aerobic capacity? Mid 30s.
Peak muscular endurance? Mid 30s.
Peak explosive power? Often before 30.
Decline begins before 40 and accelerates after that.
But here’s the real story...
Aging doesn’t just reduce performance. It separates people.
By 63 the gap between the strongest and weakest individuals is enormous and lifestyle plays a defining role in how steep your slope becomes.
We dive into:
• Why decline starts earlier than you think
• What’s actually changing physiologically
• Why power is the first casualty
• How physical activity alters the trajectory
• What coaches and everyday athletes should do in their 30s, 40s and beyond
This isn’t a fear based conversation about aging.
It’s a strategic one that will give you a fresh persepctive.
Because you are already on the curve.
The only question is whether you’re steering the slope to be shallow or sliding down it rapidly & unconsciously.
If you care about performance, longevity and building a body that can still do things decades from now…this episode is essential listening.