Mental Training Lab
38 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 months ago - ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsConversations with performers, coaches, and performance psych professionals where we dive deep into the process of training your mind so you can operate at your best when it matters most.
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Episodes
Bodies Speak Body Language: Ashley Cranney on Stress, Performance, and Being Biologically Respectful
October 04, 2023 12:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBIn today’s episode we’re joined by Dr. Ashley Cranney. Ashley is a licensed professional counselor and certified mental performance consultant, employed at West Virginia University as Assistant Professor of Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. She has been consulting with athletes and performers for nearly fifteen years, sharing her passion for performance enhancement with anyone who will listen. One of the many things that makes Ashley so great is that she’s worked with a wide varie...
Bad Advice: Don't Get Too High, Don't Get Too Low
September 20, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBToday’s episode is about unpacking a bit of well meaning and ultimately bad advice. It’s advice that puts us in a no-win position where we are spending a ton of energy and attention on forcing our internal experience to fit into a narrow window of conditions. It’s also advice that inadvertently tells us we can’t expand that window to create more grace under fire and a sense of freedom within uncontrollable performance environments. And all of that happens even though it’s being shared with t...
Who's on Your TEAM? Dr. Adrian Ferrera on Powerful Questions, Powerful Allies, and Powerful Tools
September 06, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 50.3 MBToday, we’ve got Dr. Adrian Ferrera (@dradrianferrera) in the lab, and I couldn’t be more excited. As you’ll hear soon - Adrian and I go way back, and it was amazing to get to hear so many amazing and applicable tools from an old friend. Adrian spent a lot of time unpacking the power of self-regulation, how awareness acts as the first step of the mental training journey, and how he gets parents and coaches to be his greatest ally as he’s working with teams and athletes. I got ahead of myse...
Your Most Valuable Resource
August 23, 2023 12:00 - 11 minutes - 7.93 MBToday’s episode is going be a short exploration of our most important resource, which is the combination of time and attention. We’ll start with a short thought exercise, talk about the implications of low quality attention, and then wrap up with how you can be training your attention starting today.
It’s Both Art and Science: Dr. Jesse Michel on Aligned Environments and How the World’s Best Pay Attention
August 09, 2023 12:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MBMy guest today is Dr. Jesse Michel. Jesse helps lead the Performance Psychology Program at Deloitte, where his team provides support and services to over 8500 principals, partners, and managing directors across the US. Previously, he spent four years as the mental skills coordinator for the Houston Astros, and another four years before that as the Lead Master Resilience Trainer at the Army’s Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Training Center. Simply put, he has a diverse background and...
It's All Good Training: Mace and Travis Macy on The World's Toughest Race, Alzheimer's, and Taking Things A Mile at a Time
July 26, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MBMace and Travis Macy join me today for a really special episode. Their new book, A Mile at a Time, is a well-written and unapologetic look at one family’s experience with the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. Travis and Mace use humor, vulnerability, and channel their willingness to do the hard, important things, to share the highs and lows of their journey. Oh… and in case you didn’t know, both of these gentlemen are powerhouse ultra-endurance athletes! In fact, Mace and Travis, a year af...
Beneath the Surface: Raymond Prior Returns to Debunk some Performance Myths
July 12, 2023 12:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBIn today’s episode, Raymond Prior (@bts_mindset on twitter) comes back to tackle some of the common myths we hear in the performance psychology world. Honestly, one of my favorite games it so poke the bear and see if I can get Raymond riled up, and so I tossed him some cliches to see what would happen. I tried - and failed - to make this a lightning round… and the truth is there was a lot to dig into as we discussed things like “Just be positive” and “fake it til you make it”. Raymond’s book...
Burn the Boats: Commitment and Trust for Peak Performance
November 23, 2022 13:00 - 10 minutes - 7.2 MBThroughout the ages, there are a number of myths that invoke this image. A commander and their army step onto foreign soil, and knowing that they are outmatched by the enemy, the commander makes a daring choice. The army is ordered to burn their boats, leaving only two choices: victory or death. Today's short episode examines the relationship between commitment and trust and how they're critical for our capacity to perform our best when it matters most. As always, there's also a quick dis...
Be a Hybrid: Cam Smith on Motivational Flexibility and Having a Plan for Your Pain Cave
November 16, 2022 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBThis is part 2 of my interview, Cam Smith (@camfromcb). If you missed his first episode, it’s definitely worth checking out, and as a quick refresher, Cam is a world-class ski mountaineer and trail runner. He’s an 11 time US Skimo national champion, and 5 time north American ski mo champion. Cam holds the course record for the three largest skimo races in the US, the Power of Four, the Grand Traverse, and the Gothic Mountain Tour. He’s the first American man to finish top-10 in a skimo world...
Be a Hybrid: Cam Smith on Motivational Flexibility and Having a Plan for Your Pain Cave
November 16, 2022 13:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBThis is part 2 of my interview, Cam Smith (@camfromcb). If you missed his first episode, it’s definitely worth checking out, and as a quick refresher, Cam is a world-class ski mountaineer and trail runner. He’s an 11 time US Skimo national champion, and 5 time north American ski mo champion. Cam holds the course record for the three largest skimo races in the US, the Power of Four, the Grand Traverse, and the Gothic Mountain Tour. He’s the first American man to finish top-10 in a skimo world...
Quenching Curiosity: World Class Ski Mountaineer Cam Smith on Reframing, His Antidote to Burnout, and Playing with Paradox
November 09, 2022 13:00 - 46 minutes - 31.9 MBToday’s guest is Cam Smith (@camfromcb). Cam is a multi-sport monster, especially in ski mountaineering and trail running. A quick list of his accomplishments. He’s an 11 time US Skimo national champion, and 5 time north American ski mo champion. Cam holds the course record for the three largest skimo races in the US, the Power of Four, the Grand Traverse, and the Gothic Mountain Tour. He’s the first American man to finish top-10 in a skimo world cup race, with his 3rd place finish in Andorr...
It Doesn't Get Easier, You Just Get Faster
November 02, 2022 12:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBToday I’m going to spend some time looking at why challenge, or difficulty, or discomfort, is an essential ingredient for both performing our best under pressure AND continuing to improve relentlessly. I’ll also break down the concept of the Zone of Tolerable Discomfort, what gets in the way of getting uncomfortable on purpose, and what you can do to leverage challenge more effectively as a performer.
Acceptance is a Superpower: Raymond Prior is Back to Discuss Being On Time During Performance
October 20, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBThis episode is round 2 with Dr. Raymond Prior (@bts_mindset on Twitter). This is an extension of our marathon recording session, and builds off of episode 22. During this portion of our chat, Raymond spends a lot of time clarifying The Three Pillars of Mindfulness: Intention Groundedness Acceptance (specifically why acceptance is a superpower) We also discuss two specific mindfulness practices. Both single point attention practice and open awareness practice. Whether you’ve meditated fo...
On Being and Doing
October 12, 2022 12:00 - 12 minutes - 8.95 MBFor today’s show I want to take a trip way upstream and look at a couple of high level, universal states of being. Each of us is either in a state of doing or a state of being, all day, every day. In this episode, I explain what each state looks like, the implications of getting stuck in a state of doing, and of course, I’ll close with some recommendations for how we can navigate these states to improve both well-being AND performance! As always, I'm looking to offer value and quality with ...
Your Brain Knows When Score Counts: Raymond Prior on Why We Can't Fix Thinking With Thinking
October 05, 2022 12:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBToday’s episode with Dr. Raymond Prior (@bts_mindset on Twitter) was so packed that I needed to split it into multiple episodes. Here goes round 1! Raymond has a PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology and as a performance consultant has worked with a wild range of performers, including pro, college, and olympic athletes, pop stars, actors, and high performers in the financial space. In this first edition, Raymond illuminates why thinking our way out of unpleasant experiences works against ou...
Do Less: Your Nervous System, Your Mind, and the Curse of Trying too Hard
September 28, 2022 12:00 - 13 minutes - 9.26 MBToday's episode is another solocast - although a little shorter than previous editions. I wanted to explore what happens when an athlete falls under the spell of doing too much. First we’ll look at some examples of when athletes get hijacked by the urge, then we’ll spend some time looking at why it happens. And of course, we’ll wrap up with a few skills you can be working on to help you fight the urge and Do Less. For more mental training goodness, find me on IG @alldaydr.k or at mtl.academ...
Trade Your Passion for Curiosity: Kirsten Cooper on Athlete Retirement and Why Mindfulness is Worth the Effort
September 21, 2022 12:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MBToday’s episode is with Kirsten Cooper! Who is Kirsten? Well, she’s a badass, and let me tell you why. She’s dedicated a large part of her career to supporting athletes as they transition out of sport. Kirsten was a professional alpine ski racer, competing for the United States Ski Team, and won a national championship with the University of Colorado. As you’ll hear, her experience leaving the sport of skiing really informs the work she’s doing now with athletes. Kirsten is a clinical and ...
Attitude of Gratitude: Nicole Gabana on Cultivating the Good and Seeing the Whole Athlete
September 14, 2022 12:00 - 43 minutes - 29.7 MBFor today’s episode I got to sit down with Dr. Nicole Gabana (@DrNicoleGabana ). Nicole is a licensed psychologist and certified mental performance consultant who specializes in helping athletes and individuals maximize their mental game in performance and life. She currently works in private practice, specializing in a holistic approach to performance, with an emphasis on seeing athletes as whole people. Prior to that, Nicole was the Director of Sport Psychology for UMass Athletics and s...
Holding Your Best Performance Hostage
September 07, 2022 12:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBToday’s deep dive is going to be aimed at unpacking a phenomenon I call ‘holding your best performance hostage’. The idea was touched on briefly in my interview with Dr. Ashwin Patel, and is worth exploring with a bit more time and space. We’ll start with what I mean by ‘holding your best performance hostage’, then we’ll talk about why it is our brains and our minds go to this place and build these unproductive habits, and then we’ll close with what to do when noticing that this is happeni...
Not(e) Perfect: Redefining Success, The Power of Breath, and Simulating Stress
July 21, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.8 MBThis episode is part 2 of a reverse interview with episode 10's Jean Laurenz (@jeanlaurenz on IG). We close out the conversation by unpacking the value of redefining success in terms that you can control, we deep dive into the power of breathing as it relates to practice and performance, and we close with a few miscellaneous questions, including how booze helps and hurts performance! For more flavor, including show notes and other mental training goodies, stop by mtl.academy, and visit my...
Notice Your Butt: Practical Embodiment, What Triggers Flow, and How to Balance Challenge and Skill
July 14, 2021 04:00 - 58 minutes - 40.2 MBToday, episode 10's Jean Laurenz (@jeanlaurenz on IG) interviews ME, on a wide array of topics. After having her on the show, we realized there was still a ton of ground to cover, particularly as mental training relates to musicianship. Jean takes the reins and fires away on questions regarding: - What Triggers Flow - The Why and How of Balancing Challenge and Skill - Practical Embodiment For more flavor from this episode, including show notes, drop by mtl.academy, and drop by my IG account...
Be You Part Deux: Ashwin Patel on Building Relationships, Assessing Fit, and Nurturing Awareness
July 07, 2021 10:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBToday’s guest is Ashwin Patel. Ashwin is a Professor and Program Coordinator for the Sport Management and Recreation and Leisure Services programs at Humber College. He is also the co-founder of Sport and Wellness Consulting with Dr. Noah Gentner. Ashwin received his Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of Tennessee and upon graduating, Ashwin spent seven and a half years as an Associate Professor at Western Colorado University. Since 2003, Ashwin has provided Mental P...
Be You: Ashwin Patel on Building Relationships, Assessing Fit, and Nurturing Awareness
June 30, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 24.7 MBToday’s guest is Ashwin Patel. Ashwin is a Professor and Program Coordinator for the Sport Management and Recreation and Leisure Services programs at Humber College. He is also the co-founder of Sport and Wellness Consulting with Dr. Noah Gentner. Ashwin received his Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of Tennessee and upon graduating, Ashwin spent seven and a half years as an Associate Professor at Western Colorado University. Since 2003, Ashwin has provided Mental P...
Deep Dive: The Light of Awareness
June 23, 2021 13:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBIn today’s deep dive, I’m going to dig into the concept of awareness. Awareness is the master key that opens the door to purposeful, sustainable change, and so it’s worth a little extra time and energy to deconstruct it and consider how we can train it on purpose. I start with why awareness matters, talk about the two different components of awareness, and finish up with two (familiar) skills and concrete exercise for both. I want to hear from y'all. If you have questions about this epis...
Explore The Edge: Addie Bracy Shares Lessons from the Best Ultrarunners on the Planet
June 16, 2021 10:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBFor today’s episode, we’ve got ultrarunner Addie Bracy (@addiebracy) in the lab. Addie ran track at the University of North Carolina, and is a three time qualifier at the US Olympic Trials. Since 2016, she’s embraced the world of trail running, winning three US National Championships and helping Team USA to gold and silver medals at the World Championships. Addie represent Nike Trail, and at ultra distances, she’s finished 2nd at Leadville and 9th at Western States, and recently co-set the ...
The New Now: Aimee Kimball on Pragmatic Optimism and Developing High Performing Cultures
June 09, 2021 10:00 - 56 minutes - 38.9 MBToday’s guest is Dr. Aimee Kimball (@AimeeKimball). Aimee has worked in a variety of peak performance settings, starting with the UPMC center for sports medicine, and her own private practice in Pittsburgh. In a decade as the mental training consultant for the Pittsburgh Penguins, she was a part of two Stanley Cup winning teams, and is currently the Director of Player and Team Development for the New Jersey Devils. Following the hockey theme, Aimee has also been tapped as the mental perform...
Practice Like an Engineer, Perform Like an Artist: Jean Laurenz on Pre-Performance Routines and Building a Trusting Mindset
June 02, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 46.1 MBThis episode, we’ve got Jean Laurenz (@jeanlaurenz) in the lab. Jean is a trumpet player and Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a dog enthusiast, and a succulent killer. As a performer, Jean has enjoyed appearances with Adele, The Hanson Brothers, The Boston Pops, The New York Philharmonic, and the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble. Jean’s also a vocalist and stage performer who curates interdisciplinary performances which combine theater, singing, trumpet, a...
Deep Dive: What is a Mindset, Anyway?!
May 26, 2021 10:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBToday's episode is a little bit different. There have been a ton of ideas and concepts that have only gotten touched on briefly in previous episodes that are worth spending more time unpacking. In the first of what will hopefully be many, I'm taking a look at what we actually mean when we say 'mindset'. I then break down two different skills that I think are critical when it comes to building awareness and purposefully shaping a more effective mindset. I want to hear from y'all. If you ...
Deep Dive: What is a Mindset, Anyway?!
May 26, 2021 10:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBToday's episode is a little bit different. There have been a ton of ideas and concepts that have only gotten touched on briefly in previous episodes that are worth spending more time unpacking. In the first of what will hopefully be many, I'm taking a look at what we actually mean when we say 'mindset'. I then break down two different skills that I think are critical when it comes to building awareness and purposefully shaping a more effective mindset. I want to hear from y'all. If you ...
Pain Pushes, Vision Pulls: Jeffrey Siegel on Values, Vision, and Getting Back Into Your Body
May 19, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 53.9 MBToday I had the opportunity to sit down with my friend and colleague Jeffrey Siegel (@jeffsiegelwellness). Jeff's holistic background in Mind and Brain Education from Harvard University and Buddhist Studies from The University of Hong Kong provides a way towards lasting wellbeing that feels as good as it looks. Jeff coaches clients to help integrate the deep inner work of personal transformation while developing a bold vision, clear goals, and healthy routines. In addition to wellness coachi...
Adapt or Die: Gevvie Stone on the Pain Cave, Focusing on the Process, and the Superpower of Being a Perpetual Student
May 12, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MBToday’s conversation was so much stinkin fun to have. My guest is 3x Olympian Gevvie Stone (@gevgevs). Gevvie, a native of the Boston area, is a three-time Olympic rower. She raced for the USA in the women's single at the London games (where she placed 7th) and 2016 in Rio, where she took home a silver medal. She will represent the USA in the women's double in the upcoming 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. She’s also represented the USA at a variety of levels, including two Under-23 World Championsh...
Acknowledge, Accept, Adjust: Vanessa Shannon on How to Build Emotional Agility and Better Ride the Waves of Life
May 05, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.2 MBToday’s guest is Dr. Vanessa Shannon (@cardinalmindset). Vanessa has served as the Director of Mental Performance for the University of Louisville Athletic Department and Norton Sports Health since October 2015. Prior to moving to Louisville, Vanessa spent two years at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, where she served as the Mental Conditioning Coach for several programs, coordinated Psychological Test Preparation for IMG’s NFL Combine Training Program. She also has experience as an Assi...
Relentless Forward Progress: Jon Kinner on Type 2 Fun, Deploying Your Mantras, and the Paradox of Ultrarunning
April 28, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBToday’s guest is Jon Kinner (@ultrajonk). Jon’s an endurance athlete who followed his dream of nordic skiing to Western Colorado University. Jon grew his passion for exercise and fitness into a career as an elementary PE teacher in Golden, CO, and earned a Master’s in Sport & Exercise Science from the University of Northern Colorado as well. As you’ll hear in the show, one missed bus ride and Jon accidentally discovered his affinity for long distance running and he quickly progressed to ma...
Wait to Worry: Sam Zizzi on the Urgency of Mindfulness, the Value of Stillness, and the Lessons in Grief
April 21, 2021 10:00 - 58 minutes - 40.1 MBToday’s guest is Sam Zizzi (@DoctorSizzle). Sam is a father of three, an outdoor enthusiast, and a lover of travel and culture. He is passionate about bringing mindfulness to the masses, not to improve performance, but to foster self-awareness and compassion. As a Professor of Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology at West Virginia University, he guides his students in their mindfulness research, and he teaches classes at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He and his colleagues ha...
Write Your Own Scorecard: Evren Gunduz on Choice, Accountability, and Finding Joy in the Process
April 14, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBToday in the lab we’ve got Evren Gunduz (@evrenenjoylife). Evren is an award winning educator, coach, and entrepreneur whose mission is to empower teens to succeed in life. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of Enjoy Life Education Inc. through which he helps young athletes to strengthen their mindset, become empowering leaders, and develop a high achieving team culture. Evren received a Master of Education from Harvard University concentrating in developmental psychology and leadership studies. E...
Leave With a Plan: Ali Levy on the Power of Reflection and Getting 1% Better Every Day
April 06, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 41.6 MBToday in the lab we’ve got Ali Levy. Ali is the Director of Product at O2X (o2x.com) and a Mental Performance Specialist. In her role at O2X, Ali works with leading researchers and educators around the country to create tailored, integrated programs designed to meet the unique demands facing tactical athletes and elite organizations. She also holds an M.Ed. in Counseling and Sport Psychology. In her first career, Ali skied as a member of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team where she competed at the...
Mastery is Overrated: Brett Malone on Growth Mindset, Reinvention, and Saying Yes to Everything
April 06, 2021 20:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBFor today's episode, I'm joined by Brett Malone. Brett is a dynamic executive now leading the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (www.vtcrc.com), one of the largest research enterprises in the country. He’s fluent in a broad range of technologies and has had 4 successful startups in his career. He’s been in aerospace, biotech, software, and engineering and he’s passionate about building and leading high-performance teams. Brett recently got his own podcast, #StartDisrupting off the grou...
Mental Training Lab - Trailer
April 02, 2021 16:00 - 2 minutes - 1.62 MBListen up to find out what the show is all about! For all the episodes, for show notes and transcripts, and to sign up for the weekly MTL newsletter, visit mtl.acacdemy. The newsletter is the only place where you'll find the worksheets that accompany each episode, which will help you dial up your mental training so you can be your best when it matters most!