It is evidently apparent presenter Jake Humphrey is appreciative of the privileged position he holds and the BT Sport host speaks with great enthusiasm ahead of bringing his new theatre tour to Leeds.
The hugely-popular High Performance podcast is hitting the road in 2023 with a date at Leeds Grand Theatre scheduled as part of the run. Millions listen to the podcast, Jake, 44, fronts with professor Damian Hughes which sees them delve into the lives of some of the biggest names in sport, pop culture and business.
Previous guests on the podcast include Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey, boxing hero Tyson Fury as well as football legends Frank Lampard and Alex Scott. The new immersive production will be in Leeds next year on July 2.
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Jake, who came to prominence hosting CBBC's coverage of Fame Academy, alongside Holly Willoughby, has told us just how much he’s looking forward to hitting the road and connecting with fans of the podcast. He enthused: “I think when you start a podcast, you don’t ever believe people are going to listen to it and you certainly don’t believe people are going to come along and watch it as a live show.
“To take it to the Grand Theatre in Leeds is quite something. We are really, really excited that we are going to be in front of a live audience. Hopefully, inspiring people and getting them even closer to their own version of high performance.”
When the production comes to Leeds Grand Theatre the audience can expect expert guests, live music and an opportunity to engage with Jake and Damian. Jake explained: “It is unlike any live theatre show I’ve ever seen.
“I’d love people to understand this will not just be a live podcast show. This is going to be a really impactful theatre show. There will be live music and guests on stage. There will be lots of interaction with the audience and proper conversations with them.
“There will be an expert on stage and I just want people to really feel connected to other people in the high performance community. I want people to feel like they are all in a room together going in the same direction. I want real tangible takeaways that people who come to the live show can leave with. So, a real understanding of what is in their control and an understanding there’s no such thing as a ‘nothing’ action.
“Every single thing we do and every single thing we say has an impact on those around us and impact on us. I want people to leave feeling empowered. Not just to make the right decision but understanding the power they have got to control the destiny and direction of their own lives - particularly in a period like now. There is a cost of living crisis, there is global uncertainty and we are living in a world with huge social media criticism. So, how can we safeguard against that and protect ourselves in the world that we live in?”
Since Leeds United’s return to the Premier League supporters will have regularly seen Jake fronting BT Sport’s coverage of the Whites in action with the star making regular visitors to Elland Road. Jake is absolutely delighted to see a ‘proper club’ like Leeds United back in the Premier League and would one day like to welcome boss Jesse Marsch as a guest for his long-form podcast warts and all interview - perhaps we might see him at the Grand.
Jake said: “If you were to ask me the most vociferous support in the Premier League I think I would put Newcastle and Leeds right up at the top. The passion in that city (Leeds) for that football club is second to none. I really like Jesse Marsch, I’d love to get Jesse Marsch to come on the podcast and have a chat with us.
“I think the Premier League needs Leeds United and Leeds deserve to be in the Premier League. They are a proper, proper football club with incredible support. I know that things aren’t easy (with the club involved in a relegation battle last season) but this is an example of how frantically driven the Premier League is.
“It is going to be a challenge for Leeds until they have had four or five years back in the top flight but I really hope they have a settled season under Jesse and they stay up for sure.”
Jake explained how overwhelmed and thankful he’s been for the success of High Performance which averages around two million listeners each month with some huge guests eager to appear and open up. He said: “The ambition when we first started was to try and make an impact on people’s lives and to make them realise they really are responsible for the way they feel and they react to things that happen. That’s not to say that life is easy for everybody but it is to say too often we give up control. We have to separate our faults and responsibilities.
“We talk often on the podcast with the biggest names in sport and business about how things might not be your fault but they are still your responsibility to deal with. I think we have managed to get to that point on the podcast that has really helped a lot of people so you then get a real energy.”
Many still look back fondly on Jake’s time fronting the BBC’s Formula 1 coverage - presenting from races tracks across the globe from 2009 to 2012. Jakes explained he still has fans of the sport asking him about the latest happenings in F1 10 years after signing off on his last race and he told us ‘never say never’ when questioned whether he’d one day like to return to covering the sport.
Because of that connection, some of the guests on High Performance are from the world of motorsport with arguably F1’s greatest being Jake’s dream future booking. Jake told us: “I would absolutely love to get Sir Lewis Hamilton on the podcast with my background in Formula 1. That would be a real thrill for me to hear from a guy who I consider to be the best Formula 1 driver the sport has ever seen.
“I’d love to get Lewis to come on the podcast and share what his journey has been like. That would be my number one. So, if Lewis is reading this please get in touch.”
This year, one of F1’s biggest issues came around fan-favourite Daniel Ricciardo losing his seat at McLaren despite being a marquee signing for the team back in 2021. Not long after the decision was announced the team’s boss Zak Brown joined Jake and Damian on High Performance and spoke candidly about it.
Jake explained: “What I love about this long-form opportunity is that in a world where everything is quick, this is a podcast which finally allows people to speak for an hour or an hour-and-a-half. We get a lot of time with a lot of high profile people.
“We often interview people who have done things wrong or made serious errors. We are not making excuses for that or those debates. What we are saying though is instead of having a judgement of this person let’s try and understand them more. So, let’s say something like the Daniel Ricciardo thing with McLaren, it is easy to be critical of the fact it didn’t work out.
“If you listen to our podcast I think you will have empathy for the situation McLaren were in and the understanding of Daniel’s side and McLaren’s side. One day, I’d love to get Daniel on the podcast and talk to us about what went on there because it is a real shame, for whatever reason, he struggled so badly in the last few seasons.
“We provide a real safe platform. There’s no gotcha, there’s no attempt to catch people out or anything like that. It is a really clear and simple premise of ‘let's talk some truths about life’ and people will learn from it.”
Mental health is a prominent discussion topic in many of the interviews and something Jake believes to be vitality important. He feels it is hugely beneficial for listeners to get an opportunity to hear their icons open up about their vulnerabilities.
Jake said: “Almost without us meaning to do it this podcast has really taken on a mental health aspect. We talk to the biggest names in the world about the fact they are struggling. What I want people coming to the show to realise is that the biggest names on the planet, who have achieved the most amazing things, they are struggling and making mistakes - not sure of the right direction to move.
“If they are struggling then, of course, all of us are. We need to be kinder to ourselves. We are hoping people will leave with that feeling of personal responsibility to look after themselves in this world.”
This safe space has seen countless listeners reach out to the two High Performance hosts about difficult experiences they’ve encountered. Jake speaks with great empathy when acknowledging how touching that has been for the podcast’s two hosts.
Jake concluded: “Every single day on Instagram we are getting messages from people telling us this podcast, and the conversations that we’ve had, which often centre around mental health, have made a real impact on their lives.
“It is easy to get excited about two million people a month listening to the podcast. It is much more exciting, for me, to get messages showing the real tangible difference it has made to their lives - that’s why we do it.”
Tickets
If you'd love to go to the live High Performance event at Leeds Grand Theatre tickets are on sale now. You can buy them from the High Performance website as well as the Grand's website.
To find out the latest food and drink in our city you can visit our Best in Leeds homepage. There you will also find a guide to great things to do in Leeds.
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