Marnie Merrilees | High Performance Psychologist Podcast

About Marnie Merrilees | High Performance Psychologist Podcast

Fix your glitches. Fine-tune your system. Optimise your performance. Conversations with high performers on the mind behind performance. Hosted by Marnie Merrilees, BPS registered High Performance Psychologist, working with world champion fighters, high-stakes poker players, leaders and teams. We cover decision making under pressure, tilt, leaks, focus, burnout, leading well, resilience, identity and mental wellbeing. Working holistically with mind, body and soul. The psychological skills professionals use, made useful for everyday life. marniemerrilees.com | @marniemerrilees

Publisher

Marnie Merrilees

Category

science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Apr 2024

Latest episode

18 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

6 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Andrew Jenkins: Brain Injury Survivor, Traitors, Mental Wellbeing, TEDx | Marnie Merrilees | E5

   ⚠️ Content note: this episode discusses a life-threatening brain injury, depression and suicidal thoughts. ⚠️ It also contains my guest's personal views on medicine and health. Nothing in this episode is medical advice. Full note and support services at the bottom. On the 20th of August 1999, Andrew Jenkins was pronounced dead at the side of the road. Four weeks in a coma, four months in hospital, and a surgeon who told him he would never walk again. He walked in two weeks. The harder recovery took far longer. For years he got up, put on a shirt and tie, went to work, and told no one how he felt. It was fifteen years before he went to counselling. Today Andrew is a TEDx and keynote speaker. After 30 years in banking and insurance, including as a Lloyds Bank branch manager, he helps leaders and teams thrive through courage, connection and authenticity. His personal mission is to reduce the rate of suicide in men. MY TAKE AS A PSYCHOLOGIST What stayed with me most was Andrew's counsellor telling him he wasn't depressed, he was grieving. In my work, I see how often people carry the loss of an identity, a sport, a career or a role, without ever recognising it as grief. If you have lost a version of yourself and feel stuck, this episode is for you. 🔗 CONNECT Andrew's website: andrew-jenkins.co.uk Andrew on Instagram: @andrewjenkinsofficial Andrew on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrewjenkins-coach Work with me: marniemerrilees.com Follow me: @marniemerrilees New episode out now on Spotify, Apple & YouTube. If it resonates, like and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe to keep up with future episodes. The psychological skills professionals use, made useful for everyday life. I'm Marnie Merrilees, the High Performance Psychologist. Dream big, and go make it happen. ⚠️ CONTENT NOTE This episode contains discussion of a serious brain injury, depression and suicidal thoughts. Please take care when listening, and skip or pause if you need to. Andrew also shares his own understanding of health and medicine, including views on vaccines and medication, on weight loss injections, and on the diagnosis of ADHD and depression in children. These are his personal views and his own account of his experience. They are not established fact, they have not been independently verified, and they do not represent my clinical view or the position of this podcast. My role in this conversation is to listen and to hold the space for Andrew's story, not to assess or endorse the claims made within it. Please do not act on any health claim made in this episode without speaking to a qualified professional who knows your circumstances. If you are worried about a child's mood or behaviour, please speak to your GP. This podcast is for information and reflection only. It is not psychological assessment, diagnosis or treatment, and listening to it does not create a therapeutic relationship between us. 💛 IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP. IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY. If you ever find yourself experiencing extremely difficult thoughts or at risk of self harm or suicide, please know there are services and people ready to support you right now. For UK residents: Samaritans: call 116 123 (free, confidential, 24/7) Text SHOUT to 85258 (free, confidential, 24/7) CALM, Campaign Against Living Miserably: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight, every day) Andy's Man Club: peer support groups for men, run by men. Check online for your local group. Headway, the brain injury charity: 0808 800 2244 (free, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) If you are in crisis, please call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. Marnie Merrilees | High Performance Psychologist #HighPerformancePsychologist #BrainInjury #MensMentalHealth #AndrewJenkins #Podcast

2. 

   18 Aug 2026

   Matthew Morton “The Spider” : Trauma, Recovery & Bare Knuckle Boxing | Marnie Merrilees | E4

   ⚠️ Content note: this episode discusses childhood sexual abuse, addiction and mental health. Full note and support services at the bottom. Matthew "The Spider" Morton survived a childhood no child should ever know, and was lost to addiction by the age of twelve. Most people, hearing where he started, wouldn't expect him to be here at all. And yet here he is. Sober, fighting at the top of his sport, studying, and using his own story to help others still in the dark. In this conversation we talk about addiction, recovery, faith, and the discipline that rebuilt his life from nothing. It's a story of real courage, and of hope. Proof that no matter how dark it gets, there is a way forward. If his story speaks to something in your own life, please hear this: reaching out for support is never weakness. It's the bravest thing the strongest people do. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 07:54 Childhood 12:04 Falling into addiction 14:22 Discipline 17:29 Lessons learned 20:10 Realisation of abuse 23:29 Life in addiction 31:16 Turning point 34:31 Rehab 36:52 Baptised 39:41 Bare knuckle boxing 42:08 Life changing ayahuasca retreat 49:40 Ambassador for UK Athletes Journey Home charity 52:30 Western vs Eastern medicine 1:07:00 Challenges of bare knuckle boxing 1:08:50 Gratitude 1:10:30 Trauma in the body 1:16:37 Future plans 1:24:58 Final words of advice 📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE youtube.com/@MarnieMerrilees 🔗 CONNECT Follow Matthew: instagram.com/matthewmortonbkb Work with me: marniemerrilees.com Follow me: @marniemerrilees I'm Marnie Merrilees, the High Performance Psychologist. Dream big, and go make it happen. ⚠️ CONTENT NOTE This episode contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, addiction and mental health. Please take care when listening, and skip or pause if you need to. It also touches on Matthew's personal experience of plant medicine and psychedelics as part of his own recovery journey. This is shared as his lived experience only. It is not medical, therapeutic or professional advice, and it is not an endorsement or recommendation of any substance or treatment. Some of the substances discussed are illegal in the UK and elsewhere. Please do not make decisions about your own health or recovery based on this episode. Always seek guidance from a qualified medical or mental health professional. 💛 IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP. IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY. If you ever find yourself experiencing extremely difficult thoughts or at risk of self harm or suicide, please know there are services and people ready to support you right now. For UK residents: Samaritans: call 116 123 (free, confidential, 24/7) Text SHOUT to 85258 (free, confidential, 24/7) Andy's Man Club: peer support groups for men, run by men. Check online for your local group. NAPAC, the National Association for People Abused in Childhood: 0808 801 0331 The Survivors Trust: 0808 801 0818 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line: 0808 500 2222 (free, 24/7) If you are in crisis, please call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. For those outside the UK: Search for your local mental health crisis services and make a note of the numbers. Marnie Merrilees | High Performance Psychologist

3. 

   18 Jul 2025

   Marnie Merrilees: Ultra Running Mens Mental Health & Suicide Awareness| Guest Charlie Sutherland| E3

   Welcome to Marnie Merrilees, High Performance Psychologist Podcast @MarnieMerrilees. Where we discuss psychology and psychological skills for high performance and everyday life. In this episode, my guest 22 year old Charlie Sutherland, UK Ultra Runner shares his inspirational journey of self-belief and resilience, running from Melbourne to Sydney and then 700km in 7 days to help raise money and awareness for mens mental health and suicide awareness, charity MensMindsMatter. LISTEN ON: All Podcast platforms. FOLLOW:‪@MarnieMerrilees‬ Follow: @CharlieSutherland10 Show notes. Marnie Merrilees, High Performance Psychologist introduces todays guest 22-year-old Charlie Sutherland, UK Ultra Runner who shares his inspirational journey of self-belief and resilience, running from Melbourne to Sydney and then 700km in 7 days to help raise money and awareness for mens mental health and suicide awareness, charity MensMindsMatter. Main Discussion Topics. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Limiting beliefs. Mental resilience. Previous sports Kickboxing and Rugby. Bullied at Primary School. Dynamics & Psychological impact of bullying behaviour. Regaining Confidence with Kick Boxing and BJJ. Self-Awareness. Importance of a Supportive Network. Importance of Opening up and Sharing. Catastrophising. Coping with intrusive thoughts. Shared Human Experience. Male Suicide. Relationship with Parents. Melbourne to Sydney training schedule. Relationship with brother. Psychological Impact of Injury. Depression. Brother as an Inspiration. Breaking Boundaries. Chasing Dreams. Mens Mental Health & Suicide Awareness. Pushing Physical & Mental Limits. Social Media -false perceptions. Stress & Overthinking. Life is a Rollercoaster. Self-Control. Authenticity. Summary of key takeaways about mental resilience. Closing comments from guest and host. Resources Mentioned. Robert Greene quote ‘One does not recite poetry to a swordsman’. People Mentioned. Nedd Brockmann- Runner and ambassador for people experiencing homelessness. Russ Cook - The first person ever to run the full length of Africa. Cameron Hanes - Bowhunting athlete. What to do in CRISIS. If you are an individual and you have identified yourself at current risk of self-harm or suicide or having extremely risky thoughts. The next step is to utilise crisis numbers and help lines immediately if and when you feel triggered to self-harm or commit suicide. There are lots of services out there that are aimed and helping you through the trigger and calming you down from any difficult thoughts and or feelings. In the UK you can call Samaritans on 116123 or text 'shout' on 85258 these are free, confidential, 24/7 crisis services. Also, you have the option to call 999 or take yourself to A&E for more direct support or if the thoughts ever get too difficult for you. Andys Man Club - Support Group for men ran by men.https://andysmanclub.co.uk (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbm1ta2FDYlBnYmhRZ0JZMkhtbUltTl90V0s2d3xBQ3Jtc0tsRlhhTWFIZjItSEZYUFdwZE53UkVYcnZOS0djM3o0RnplanEwZE40RHhZS3FRTFRrTEdxTlhxVkpDWVlZRzl1Y08zamQxY0NGRHhyVnFfT190Y05CSVh3dUh3dTlTQk1Hb3c0X2l4ampobTduUFJKdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fandysmanclub.co.uk%2F&v=Zn7IC9zqSFo)

4. 

   17 Jul 2025

   Marnie Merrilees: The Journey to becoming a World Champion Kickboxer | Guest JAMIE BATES | E2

   Welcome to Marnie Merrilees, High Performance PsychologistPodcast @MarnieMerrilees. Where we discuss psychology and psychological skills for high performance. In this episode, my special guest Jamie Bates discusses his kickboxing journey from childhood to his goal of becoming world champion. Jamie starts the discussion by reflecting on his recent kickboxing fight Hadia vs Bates on June 29th at Rome Sports Palace. We discuss the highs and lows of Jamies professional kickboxing career; What it takes to come back from injury; Work life balance; Relationships inside and outside of sport; Fatherhood and much more! We also talk about the psychology of high performance and give insight into some of the psychological techniques we used to help Jamie mentally prepare for his most recent fight after being out of the ring for 18 months. It’s a discussion I am sure you will enjoy and find extremely informative. Jamie gives great behind the scenes insights into the world of competitive kickboxing which you would only gain access to by being part of the life long journey of competitive kickboxing as Jamie has. Jamie is very open and honest and the information Jamie shares will be invaluable to fellow kickboxers and fighters alike wanting to work their way up the ranks. Jamies story truly is a journey of dedication, commitment, hard work and resilience… Dream Big and Go Make it Happen! Meanwhile, put any questions you have in the comments section and as always, thank you for your interest in high performance psychology! LISTEN ON: All major Podcast platforms. FOLLOW: ‪@MarnieMerrilees across ALL Social Media platforms. I am proud to say Jamie Bates is part of my team of sponsored professional athletes! Jamie is the most talented kickboxer in the North East of England, with an impressive professional record of 27-8. Ranked 5th in the welterweight world rankings, number 1 in the UK in K1, and in the Glory top ten, Jamie is without a doubt a standout athlete! We have been working together on the psychology of high performance, and I must say Jamie's dedication and commitment to the sport are unparalleled. Currently signed with Glory, the world’s premier kickboxing league, we are confident that Jamie's future holds great promise, and we have no doubt he will be a World Champion very soon. FOLLOW: Jamie Bates Instagram: instagram.com/jamie_bateskbFacebook: facebook.com/jab89X (formerly Twitter): twitter.com/JamieBates89Special Thanks to Jamie Bates Sponsors:@jordanwilliams97 @msksportsinjuryclinic @unit29fitness @cbdlifeuk @delta_9_hydroponics_uk @marniemerrilees@acutabove.combat Reggie Tribusis LandscapingJake Hall Roofing! Special thanks goes to Denis Hazon for recording this Podcast Episode. Facebook (Denis Hazon New)facebook.com/profile.php?id=100033789994146

5. 

   15 Jul 2025

   Inside the Mind of a World Champion Bare Knuckle Boxer: Mick Terrill

   In this episode, my guest Mick Terrill, World Champion Heavyweight Bare Knuckle Boxer reveals his physical and mental preparation for his upcoming fight to defend his BKFC World title TERRILL vs HUNT on 27th April 2024 in Los Angeles. Its a discussion that I'm sure everyone, whether your a fan of bare knuckle boxing or not, will find interesting and informative especially with regards the mental preparation leading up to a big fight and the dedication and hard-work required to be a World Champion BKFC. Show Notes: Introduction Marnie Merriless introduces herself and describes her background in psychology, specializing in high performance. Introduction of guest Mick Terrill, World Champion in heavyweight bare-knuckle boxing. Main Discussion Topics: The Psychology of Combat Sports: Insights into the mental toughness required in bare-knuckle boxing. Training and Preparation: Mick Terrill discusses his training regimen and mental preparation for fights. Overcoming Adversity: Techniques and strategies for handling pressure and setbacks. Performance Psychology: Marnie and Mick discuss how psychological principles can be applied to enhance performance in high-stakes environments. Closing Thoughts Summary of key takeaways about mental resilience and performance. Closing remarks from both the host and the guest. Resources Mentioned Mention of specific books, articles, or previous studies related to performance psycho

6. 

   22 Apr 2024

   Marnie Merrilees: Inside the Mind of a World Champion Bare Knuckle Boxer | Guest MICK TERRILL | E1

   Welcome to Marnie Merrilees, High Performance Psychologist Podcast @MarnieMerrilees. Where we discuss psychology and psychological skills for high performance and everyday life. In this episode, my guest Mick Terrill, World Champion Heavyweight Bare Knuckle Boxer reveals his physical and mental preparation for his upcoming fight to defend his BKFC World title TERRILL vs HUNT on 27th April 2024 in Los Angeles. Its a discussion that I'm sure everyone, whether your a fan of bare knuckle boxing or not, will find interesting and informative especially with regards the mental preparation leading up to a big fight and the dedication and hard-work required to be a World Champion BKFC. FOLLOW:  @MarnieMerrilees (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCemnrDBbBGnSVysw07M34aQ) on ALL Social Media Platforms. FOLLOW: Michael Terrill https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006751023886 https://www.instagram.com/mick_terrill/ Mick Terrills Sponsors : O'Tools Gym: https://www.facebook.com/otooleshealthandfitnessgym Computer Clinic: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057319424518 The Straightener Show: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094669764479 Team Valley Service & MOT Centre. Gabriel Spirits. Show Notes: Introduction Main Discussion Topics The Psychology of Combat Sports: Insights into the mental toughness required in bare-knuckle boxing. Training and Preparation: Mick Terrill discusses his training regimen and mental preparation for fights. Overcoming Adversity: Techniques and strategies for handling pressure and setbacks. Performance Psychology: Marnie and Mick discuss how psychological principles can be applied to enhance performance in high-stakes environments. Closing Thoughts Summary of key takeaways about mental resilience and performance. Closing remarks from both the host and the guest. Resources Mentioned Mention of specific books, articles, or previous studies related to performance psychology

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