The Nearly Man is a talk about identity, self-belief, and the dangerous comfort of unrealised potential.

Through personal stories of risk, failure, reinvention and near-misses, Jake explores what it means to spend years almost becoming the person you know you could be — and what finally forces someone to leap.

This talk challenges audiences to confront self-doubt, embrace uncertainty, and stop waiting for permission before pursuing meaningful work, ambition and purpose.

The Heroic Age draws powerful lessons from the great Antarctic expeditions of Shackleton, Scott and Amundsen — and asks what modern people can learn from an era defined by courage, suffering and impossible ambition.

Blending history, psychology and modern performance, Jake explores how extraordinary individuals pursued audacious goals in brutally unforgiving conditions, and why those same principles matter now more than ever.

This talk leaves audiences thinking differently about resilience, leadership, discomfort, teamwork and the pursuit of greatness in an age increasingly designed for comfort.

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