The popular podcast series, led by the University’s Sport and Exercise Psychology team, invites guests from the world of sport and beyond to explore perceptions of pressure and how they perform when the heat is on.
Host Dr Paul Mansell is joined by a rotating cast of academic co-hosts, including Professor Matt Slater, Dr Karla Drew, Dr Andrew Wilkinson, Dr Katie Sparks, Dr Joe Dixon and Jack Bullock.
Paul, a Lecturer in Sports Psychology, said: “We have been fortunate to interview athletes from a variety of sports, sport psychologists, coaches and more to provide a variety of perspectives on coping under pressure, strategies that are effective immediately prior to performance and how they react adaptively to mistakes.
“We want to thank everyone who has contributed to our 100 episodes and helped to make the podcast a success. It was great to have Conor Coady join us to mark this milestone and share insights from his career as an elite athlete. If you love football, or want to understand the mindset behind success, this latest episode is one not to miss.”
Current Charlton Athletic loanee Coady has ten England caps and made over 300 appearances for Wolves. In conversation with Dr Paul Mansell, Conor discusses the psychology behind his career and the role of his family in supporting him through uncertain times. From preparing for high-stakes matches and building trust and togetherness in the dressing room, to leadership lessons from Gareth Southgate, Harry Kane and Ruben Neves.
Since its launch in January 2024, many high profile guests have appeared on the Performing Under Pressure podcast. Among them is Olympic gold medallist Helen Richardson-Walsh who helped GB women’s hockey team claim victory at Rio 2016, former England international footballer Matt Jarvis, and four-times British triple jump champion Ben Williams.
The series also has international appeal. It has been downloaded in over 50 countries and has featured a range of international guests, including Matilde Fidalgo who played at the highest level of women's football clubs around the world from Manchester City to Benfica, Canadian rugby star Sara Svoboda who plays for Harlequins FC, and Professor Geir Jordet, who is considered to be the world's leading expert on the psychology of the penalty kick.
Alongside Professor Matt Slater, Dr Paul Mansell is now writing a book called Performing under Pressure: Conversations With Those Who Know, using interviews from the podcast as cases studies.
It builds on the team’s cognitive behavioral intervention Mindset: Performing Under Pressure (MPUP), which seeks to enhance wellbeing and performance in a variety of contexts, ranging from students to athletes to the emergency services.
“Across all walks of life, individuals are required to perform well in challenging circumstances. This experience can be stressful and may sometimes have a negative influence on wellbeing. Our research is about helping people to manage that in a positive way,” Paul explained.
“There is so much we can learn from the experiences of the athletes and professionals who have joined us on the podcast about how to manage stress and enhance performance in sport, education, business and everyday life. It’s all about changing the way you think to change the way you feel.”
Listen to the Performing Under Pressure podcast on Spotify