
The Inform Perform Podcast is an industry show focussed on Sports Performance and Sports Medicine. The show interviews thought leaders and professionals that support elite athletes and teams. The aim of the show is to deconstruct the strategies and philosophies the guests utilise in their working environment or area of expertise. Featured guests have worked across the NBA, NFL, MLB, F1, World title Boxing, EPL and more.
Episodes

Monday Feb 20, 2023
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Episode 112: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Mike Guevara a Performance Coach with over 10 years experience. Coach Mike G has worked privately with some of the world’s top NFL and NBA players, including Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Mike James. In this episode Andy and Mike discuss how to work effectively with players in the private sector or as an external practitioner at teams. This episode also covers how Mike went private and leveraged social media from a business perspective to shine some light on a side of the industry many professionals consider transitioning into.
Topics Discussed:
- Transition form team to Pelicans
- Working effectively inside a team as an external coach
- How can teams integrate external coaches.
- Considerations for starting a private client business
- Leveraging social media platforms as a coach
Where you can find Mike
Sponsors
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
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Episode 111: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Dr John Kiely a Strength & Conditioning Coach, Performance Consultant and Senior Lecturer. John has a wealth of experience and has enjoyed a career with roles at UK Athletics, Munster Rugby, Irish Rugby, Egypt Football World Cup Squad 2018, various Irish NGB’s and more! Currently John is a Senior Lecturer in Performance and Innovation, PE and Sports Sciences at The University of Limerick, where he is supervising PhD candidates working within professional multi-disciplinary performance environments and pursuing practice-based post-graduate qualifications. Among John's well known academic contributions he has published an article titled "Periodization Theory: Confronting an Inconvenient Truth" - This article combined with Johns present day perspective is the basis for this podcast conversation.
Topics Discussed:
- Origins of periodisation
- Has planning of training changed?
- Are there key fundamentals when organising training?
- Biopsychosocial considerations to physical preparation
Where you can find John
- Performance and Innovation, PE and Sports Sciences at The University of Limerick
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Saturday Jan 21, 2023
Research Unpacked: Matthew Buckthorpe PhD - Part 2 - On Field Rehabiliation
Saturday Jan 21, 2023
Saturday Jan 21, 2023
Episode 110: In this Research Unpacked episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Matthew Buckthorpe PhD. Matt is a British Sport Scientist, S&C Coach, University lecturer and Researcher specialising in late-stage and on-field rehabilitation. He completed his PhD at Loughbourgh University looking into the neural determinants of Rate of force development. In this second of three episodes Matt will discuss his paper - 4 Pillars of High-Quality On-field Rehabilitation are Restoring Movement Quality, Physical Conditioning, Restoring Sport-Specific Skills, and Progressively Developing Chronic Training Load.
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The 4 Pillar approach to on-field rehabilitation
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Restoring movement quality
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Developing physical conditioning
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Restoring technical and tactical skills
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Building chronic training load
Where you can find Matt:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
Episode 109: In this Research Unpacked episode Ben Ashworth chats to Physiotherapists Ariane Schwank & Paul Blazey who contributed on the 2022 Bern Consensus Statement on Shoulder Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Return to Sport for Athletes at All Participation Levels. This episode covers a lot of content and will therefore have a part-2 to follow this first conversation.
Topics Discussed:
- Advise for writing articles
- Shoulder Consensus Paper
- Screening or monitoring for shoulders?
- Shoulder specific RPE?
- Should pathoanatomic diagnosis drive rehab?
- Does pain equal an injury?
- Where does psychology fit into injury management
Where you can find Ariane:
Where you can find Paul:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Episode 108: Ben Ashworth chats to Darcy Norman a qualified PT, AT and S&C with over 20 years experience in the human performance industry. He is currently a performance coach for the US Mens National Soccer Team and the Lead Performance Strategist at Kitman Labs. Darcy has previously enjoyed roles at the German Mens National Team, A.S. Roma, FC Bayern Munich, EXOS and many other roles as a PT, AT and S&C Coach. This episode between Ben and Darcy was recorded a little ago whilst Ben was still at AC Sparta, with the conversation covering nuances of effectively working in soccer managing workload & recovery in elite environments.
Topics Discussed:
- Communication between club and national team
- Individualisation within team settings
- Collaborating on technical & tactical information with coaches
- Optimal on-field volume & Intensity
- Maximising Recovery
Where you can find Darcy:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Monday Aug 01, 2022
Monday Aug 01, 2022
Episode 107: In this Research Unpacked episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Matthew Buckthorpe PhD. Matt is a British Sport Scientist, S&C Coach, University lecturer and Researcher specialising in late-stage and on-field rehabilitation. He completed his PhD at Loughbourgh University looking into the neural determinants of Rate of force development. In this first of three episodes Matt will begin by discussing his PhD research RFD and its implications for rehab and performance. In parts two and three Matt will discuss his more recent clinical commentary about high-quality on-field rehabilitation which combine with his academic and practical experience through 3 great conversations.
Where you can find Matt:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
Episode 106: Dr Andy McDonald chats to fellow Inform Performance Host Ben Ashworth. Ben is a Performance consultant for elite teams abs individuals. Shoulder specialist with a Master of Science (MSc) in Strength & Conditioning & UKSCA accreditation. “Physio-coach” with experience in elite rugby, Olympic Sports, baseball & Professional football. Ben provides consultancy & education for MLB teams based on original research in Athletic Shoulder strength monitoring developed in Premiership Rugby
https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000365
This work is currently applied in MLB & NFL teams, Premier League football, Olympic swimming, British tennis and other upper limb sports worldwide. Ben has successfully developed and implemented monitoring processes in a number of challenging environments to minimise injury risk and support high performance programmes. Providing independent consultancy services to the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, London, UK and in the development of their shoulder assessment and research pathway. Her has also worked across 4 seasons as Director of Performance in European Football at Sparta Prague 2019-2022 and over 20 years experience in elite sport environments.
Topics Discussed:
- What is the Ashtest
- Comparing lower limb performance with the upper limb
- Comparing peak force with RFD in the shoulder
- Case studies where monitoring informs a shoulder strategy
Where you can find Ben:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
Episode 105: Ben Ashworth chats to Philipp Jacobsen a Physiotherapist and Performance Consultant. Philipp is has an extensive background in sport with previous roles in Physiotherapy and Performance Management at Liverpool Football Club, Aspetar, Portsmouth FC, Panathinaikos FC and Eden Reha. This easy listening episode explores Philipps journey through professional sport with Ben and Philipp exchanging experiences.
Topics Discussed:
- Phil’s background working in Greece, Aspetar and the EPL
- Working with external practitioners
- Play or not play pressure
- Functioning as a ‘caretaker’
- Who should be a Director of Performance
- Workflow of a typical day in professional football
Where you can find Philipp:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Saturday Jun 04, 2022
Saturday Jun 04, 2022
Episode 104: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Jean-Benoit (JB) Morin a Professor in Sport Sciences and Physical Education at University Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne in France. Outside of academia JB is also an established Running Coach and Consultant to both athletes and professional sports teams alike on sprinting and biomechanics. In this episode Andy and JB discuss JB's work and perspectives on GPS usage, programming resisted sprints and postural considerations in sprinting.
Topics Discussed:
- Using GPS to assess high speed events
- How to efficiently program resisted sprinting
- How running posture effects posterior chain loading
- The process of assessing an athlete run
Where you can find JB:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Wednesday May 18, 2022
Research Unpacked: Nick Cross - Achilles Tendinopathy
Wednesday May 18, 2022
Wednesday May 18, 2022
Episode 103: In this Research Unpacked episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Nick Cross. Nick is an Australian sports physiotherapist and exercise physiologist based in Melbourne. Nick has worked in high performance sport across different football codes, athletics and ballet. His key clinical interest is lower limb injuries and rehabilitation that supports optimal performance. Nick is currently undergoing a global research project with la Trobe University to understand how clinicians who work in sport diagnose achilles tendinopathy and in todays episode, Nick shares his clinical insights into his practice. If you are a sports or musculoskeletal physiotherapist you can help by contributing to this global research project. All that is required is to compete a 10-minute survey with the link below.
- Defining AT
- Key subjective indicators relating to the diagnosis of AT
- The role of the peritendon in AT
- The role of tissue compression in assessment
- Auscultation
- Progressive loading for AT.
Where you can find Chris:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team