Episode 209: In this first episode of Accelerate, host Nicola Graham is joined by our very own Andy McDonald — CEO & Co-Founder of Gameplan Performance and the voice behind Inform Performance.

Nicola’s work sits at the intersection of preventative health, human performance, and business strategy. With a background spanning advanced clinical practice, leadership roles across growth and M&A, and an Executive MBA, she now supports founders, funds, and performance-led organisations to translate scientific credibility into scalable strategy, measurable outcomes, and commercial growth.

Andy brings 15+ years of frontline experience across elite sport — from collegiate programmes to the NBA, UFC, and Indy500 — and shares the realities of building technology as a practitioner, not just an idea.

Together, they explore why Accelerate exists, and what it really takes to build products, platforms, and companies that sport will actually adopt.

Topics discussed:

• Why we started Accelerate • Building tech as a practitioner-founder • Managing multiple stakeholders in rehab environments • Turning evidence into products teams will trust and use

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Sponsors

Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment

VALD Performance, makers of the ForceDecks, ForceFrame, HumanTrak, Dynamo, SmartSpeed, NordBoard. 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
• Steve Barrett
• Pete McKnight

Episode 208: In this episode, Andy McDonald is joined by Jake Gillies, Lead Sports Scientist at Bristol Bears Rugby, working at the sharp end of performance data integration within English Premiership rugby.

Jake’s role centres on quantifying the physical demands of match play and translating performance technology outputs into actionable training decisions. Prior to joining the Bears, he worked as a Sports Scientist at Harlequins Rugby, alongside experience as a Strength & Conditioning coach in the British Basketball League (BBL) — giving him a broad, cross-sport perspective on how data should (and shouldn’t) be used.

Across the conversation, Jake breaks down what it really means to turn data into action. He explores how practitioners can move beyond numbers for numbers’ sake, contextualise information within rehab and performance environments, and ensure that data serves decision-making rather than complicating it. The discussion highlights the importance of athlete intent, flexible testing frameworks, and clear visualisation when bridging the gap between rehabilitation and match performance.

ㅤ Topics Discussed:

• Turning data into action • Contextualising data in rehabilitation • Managing complexity in rehab objectives • Insights vs. information in sports science • The importance of good data in rehab settings • Athlete intent & performance metrics • Flexibility in testing protocols • Effective data visualisation & dashboards • Bridging the gap between rehab and match performance

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Where you can find Jake:

• 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
• Steve Barrett
• Pete McKnight

Episode 207: In this episode, Andy McDonald speaks with Dr. James Morehen, Lead Performance Nutritionist for England Rugby and an SENr-registered practitioner working at the forefront of elite sport.

James has supported athletes across Premiership Rugby, international rugby pathways, professional boxing, motorsport, and endurance sport — previously serving as the Performance Nutritionist for Bristol Bears Rugby Union before moving into his current national-team role. Through his company, Morehen Performance Ltd, he also consults privately with athletes and high-performing individuals seeking clear, practical nutrition systems that fit real life.

James shares his journey into performance nutrition and the evolving expectations placed on practitioners — from managing game-day fuelling to navigating alcohol and recovery, and from educating players to integrating seamlessly within multidisciplinary teams. He also discusses the difference between textbook knowledge and applied practice, and how identifying simple, high-impact nutritional wins can drive meaningful performance change.

Drawing on his experience in both elite and private settings, James unpacks the realities of modern nutrition support, the myths that distract athletes, and the principles that consistently move the needle.

ㅤ Topics Discussed:

• Common nutritional challenges in athletes • Alcohol and recovery: finding the balance • Bridging the gap between textbook knowledge & applied practice • Game-day nutrition: a full walkthrough • Identifying “low-hanging fruit” for quick performance wins • Debunking trends, myths & overcomplicated advice

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Where you can find James:

• 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.

-

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