Staffordshire University’s Performing Under Pressure Podcast

Dr Paul Mansell

Paul completed his PhD in stress in sport in 2023 and is a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Staffordshire University. His main interests are centred around stress mindset, irrational beliefs and cognitive appraisals. Paul works with students and athletes by delivering the intervention 'Mindset: Performing Under Pressure". Recently, he has collaborated with FC Porto, Crystal Palace FC and Stoke City Women's Academy. He spends his weekends following Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Professor Matt Slater

Matt is an expert on the psychology of leadership and group dynamics, and a Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology at Staffordshire University, UK. Matt has delivered numerous invited and keynote talks on the psychology of leadership and group dynamics nationally and internationally; and has sole-authored a book titled: “Togetherness: How to build a winning team”, which has sold over 1000 copies worldwide. Academically, Matt has published over 50 scholarly articles. Matt applies his expertise of leadership, group dynamics and psychological skills in sport, the military, and across public and private sector organisations. In sport, Matt has worked with Stoke City Women’s Football Club and Regional Talent Centre for 10 years, and has provided psychological support to Leicestershire County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board, Staffordshire County Cricket Club, Stoke City Football Club Academy, and the England Cerebral Palsy Football in their preparation for the World Cup (2015) and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Matt consults with businesses and the military in the areas of leadership development, psychological health, and performance psychology, including work with NEOMA Business School (Paris) on developing leadership and culture.

Dr Karla Drew

Karla is a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, and Course leader for the MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology programme at Staffordshire University. Karla’s expertise focuses on within career transitions in sport, with her PhD using a multi-method approach exploring the junior-to-senior transition in the context of British track-and-field. Other research interests include talent development, sport psychology interventions and applied sport psychology. Karla is also a BPS Chartered, and HCPC Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist who has accrued a number of hours of consultancy working with athletes to improve their performance, welfare and mental health. In terms of applied practice, Karla has worked with athletes all the way from novice to professional level and across a range of sports (e.g., athletics, snooker, netball). Finally, away from academia, Karla was a GB International Heptathlete and 100m Hurdler, training at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Some of her achievements include being 3x British Champion and 4x British University Champion.