Episode 201: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we are joined by Jeremy Sheppard — an internationally respected performance coach, sport scientist, and leader in athlete development.

Jeremy has spent over two decades working at the highest levels of sport, from the Australian Institute of Sport to Canada Snowboard, where he currently serves as Performance Coach within the Slopestyle program. His work integrates movement, mindset, and medicine, creating high-performing environments where athletes thrive.

Across his career, Jeremy has held key roles with Surfing Australia, Australian Volleyball, and consulted with organisations including the New York Jets, Newcastle United FC, and Melbourne Storm. Having contributed to athlete success at eight Olympic Games, multiple X Games, and World Championships, his experience spans continents, cultures, and disciplines.

In this conversation, Jeremy offers deep reflections on leadership, authenticity, and performance — exploring how character, creativity, and relationships drive sustainable achievement in sport and beyond.

• Background & Career Journey — From athlete to sports scientist/coach, working at Australian Institute of Sport and Canada Snowboard
• Character as Leadership Foundation — Character drives behaviour and sustainable achievement; contrasting childhood influences shaped this philosophy
• Anti-Hierarchical Leadership — Dynamic team structures, circular decision-making, “captain in the dressing room” approach, leadership shifts based on context
• Personal Before Team Leadership — Self-development and authentic identity required before effectively leading others
• Team Development — Empowering autonomy, creating belonging, working with limited resources through creativity and relationships
• Redefining Success — Success as behaviours matching values rather than outcomes; process over results focus

Where you can find Jeremy:

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

• X

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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

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

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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

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Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth
• Alistair McKenzie
• Dylan Carmody
• Steve Barrett
• Pete McKnight

Episode 200: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Dr. Enda King PhD MSc, one of the world’s leading sports physiotherapists and rehabilitation experts. Enda is currently the Aspetar Head of Elite Performance and Development.

Enda King PhD MSc has combined his roles as a sports physiotherapist, strength and conditioning coach, researcher, and educator through his work with individual athletes and elite teams across a spectrum of sports and disciplines.

Through role as Head of Performance, Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin led the development and delivery of their ACL and Athletic Groin Pain clinical and research pathways and their Elite Athlete Program Rehabilitating catering for players from Premier League, NBA, NFL, NHL, Premiership Rugby, European Tour Golf, National Hunt Racing, AFL and UFC.

Over 40 peer review publications and book chapters in the management of Athletic Groin Pain, Biomechanical Analysis after ACL reconstruction and the role of biomechanics in rehabilitation and athletic performance.

As an educator, has presented at scientific conferences, courses and workshops and consulted for elite teams world wide, in particular in relation to ACL rehabilitation, Athletic Groin Pain and Chronic and Recurrent Lower limb muscle and tendon issues.

Topics Discussed:

• Understanding Athletic Hip & Groin Pain

• Challenges in Diagnosis and Management

• Functional Assessments & Key Considerations

• North Star Principles of Effective Rehabilitation

• Rehab Insights from the Sportsmith Conference

Where you can find Dr. Enda King:

• X

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

• Website

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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

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

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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 199: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Jess Elis, founder of Rehab Code and one of the sharpest minds in elite sports medicine.

Elis earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy before pursuing a PhD and multiple board certifications in orthopedics and sports. His career spans leadership roles as Director of Physical Therapy at EXOS and later as Vice President of Player Health for the New York Knicks. With a career dedicated to blending science, ethics, and athlete welfare, Elis offers a unique perspective at the intersection of research and practice.

Topics Discussed:

• Exploring Ethics in Sports

• Themes from the Research

• Communication and Consent

• Team Data Strategy

• Ethical Considerations in Testing

• The Human Element in Data Collection

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Where you can find Jess Elis:

• Rehab Code

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

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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

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
• Dylan Carmody
• Steve Barrett
• Pete McKnight