MindStrong

Did you know that almost 90% of our self-talk is negative? When you’re constantly thinking negative thoughts, you’ll have a hard time feeling optimistic about anything - and it can be hard to see the good in yourself and others. In today’s episode, Lewis goes through effective strategies you can use to overcome negative self-talk. He also shares why it’s not about getting rid of negative self-talk...

We all know that discipline is the foundation for success. In life, career, relationships, health, finances, whatever it is, discipline is the key. So how do you build more of it?   In today’s episode, Lewis talks about the power of self-discipline. He goes through creative ways to help you become more disciplined and why discipline is what separates the top 1% from everybody else.   [00:00] Intro...

Do you like receiving gifts? What is the best birthday gift you’ve ever received? In today’s episode, Lewis reveals the best birthday gift you’ll ever receive. He explains why this particular gift is special and how it can help you remain confident during trying times. Lewis shares the best birthday gift he can receive for his birthday tomorrow and how you can do the same for yourself. Whether it&...

Ed Jackson is a former Professional Rugby player, who in 2017 suffered a life changing injury when diving into a swimming pool. Ed will talk about his injury, which led to him to follow a new and refined purpose in life as an athlete. He aims to help listeners and viewers who have gone through traumatic injuries cope and understand the stages of recovering from sporting accidents.   [02:52] Introd...

Kath Koschel is a former professional cricketer, yet after facing many adversities in her life started the huge non for profit, Kindness Factory. Kath talks about her journey through the world of cricket, having to quit due to injury, and the other adversities she had to go through. She sheds some light on how expressing kindness to oneself can overcome even the hardest obstacles in life. [02:52]...

On today’s episode, Lewis dissects 3 ways for athletes to stop choking under pressure during a game. He will also identify three theories as to what causes athletes to lose their focus or stumble during a game.   [02:53] Identifying Pressure due to Anxiety  [03:52] 3 Theories that Cause Pressure  [04:08] Reinvestment Theory  [06:25] Solution to Reinvestment Theory [11:34] Attentional Control  [12:...

If you have ever been in a situation where you doubted your abilities, then you are probably one of the millions of people experiencing imposter syndrome. What’s more interesting is that imposter syndrome often occurs in highly skilled, accomplished, and experienced individuals. The big question is, why is this always the case? Lewis explains that successful people experience success but fail to i...

Will Greenwood is a former England Rugby Player and is considered to be a legend of the game. He formed a part of the team that won the World Cup in 2003. Will is also a strong advocate for Festival of Sport, a program dedicated to encouraging kids and their families to try out new types of sports. In today’s episode, Will shares the challenges he faced throughout his career as a rugby player and...

Can body language influence an athlete's performance? The simple answer is yes. Body language forms the core of almost all sporting success. How? Well, first, positive body language boosts a player's morale, making them believe they can achieve anything. On the other hand, negative body language signals the opponent that you are up for the taking and vulnerable to attack. The next time y...

As athletes, we deal with emotions all the time. So, it’s almost expected that we should be great at managing them, especially on the field. However, that is usually not the case, and not all athletes are masters of controlling their emotions.  We all crave this desire to feel a certain way on game day; we marvel at how top athletes can stay composed, mentally tough, and keep their emotions in che...

Nobody’s perfect, and the fact of the matter is that we all make mistakes. Some mistakes you don’t regret because they made you the type of athlete you are right now. But others will turn your life completely upside down. So it’s okay to make mistakes. But we have a responsibility to always recover and learn from our mistakes.  However, this is not to say that athletes should not try and seek perf...

Being an excellent athlete is not something that just happens. There has to be something that goes into making someone exceptionally good at something. Yes, there’s some natural skill involved but being the best in anything takes lots of work and, most importantly, the right habits. Habits are key, and it’s even more interesting when you realize that the more successful athletes have a few key hab...

Lauren Smith is a professional badminton player who made her Olympic Games debut in Rio 2016 and continues to impress on the world stage. In 2019, she secured the European Games title with Marcus Ellis (mixed doubles) and silver with Chloe Birch (women’s doubles). She will also be representing Team England in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.  In this episode, Lauren shares her journey from...

Tanni Grey-Thompson, also known as Carys Davina Grey-Thompson or Baroness Grey-Thompson, is a Welsh politician and former wheelchair racer. She delves into her childhood and her supportive parents, her Paralympics journey, her move to politics, and her plans for the future of disability access and inclusion. [04:16] Introducing Tanni [10:16] What it Means to Race Well and Tanni’s Family [21:31] Di...

Building a working team is easy. All you need is a budget, and you can go after anybody you want. However, there is a massive difference between a team and a cohesive team. First, you can assemble the best people to work on a project together, but that alone does not guarantee they’ll function as a unit. A cohesive team is one that has the ability to effectively work as one towards a common goal....

Jamie Peacock is the most successful player in Super League history, a motivational speaker and leadership mentor. Having won the Super League championships a total of nine times. Jamie shares how self-doubt almost ruined his career, the benefits of having personal values, and why mental toughness is the key to success in life.   [03:35] Introduction [06:23] Training and Dieting For the 100-Mile R...

Katrina Webb is a former Australian Paralympic athlete with cerebral palsy and has won Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals at three Paralympic Games. She was also the first torch bearer to enter the Stadium at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and now works off the track as a professional speaker and high-performance consultant. We talk about the power of self-acceptance, how personal values can impact...

As athletes, we are all perfectionists. Think about it: aren’t we all trying to be perfect in everything we do? Who wouldn’t want to be an athlete with a disciplined work ethic characterized by incredibly high standards for performance? But the thing is, perfectionistic traits are a double-edged sword. You can be a high achiever, hard-working, and motivated. But on the flip side, nothing ever feel...

All athletes have an inner critic -- that little voice that sounds a lot like a critical parent or friend who wants the best for you. However, the inner critic can often bring more harm than good, particularly when it’s more toward the negative side. If you’re someone who consistently makes mean comments to yourself, this episode is for you. Lewis goes through a powerful exercise that will help yo...

Complacency is when you ultimately become comfortable and take the gas off on routines, schedules, and goals. This stops you from being forward-thinking and being open to new opportunities, losing all the progress you’ve made. In this episode, Lewis discusses the signposts and issues with complacency but not without solutions on how to avoid slipping into this behavior. [01:58] What Does Complacen...

Athletes who go through their training sometimes fall back into old habits as soon as they step on the field instead of focusing on important goals. Lewis’ exercises allow you to shift your focus towards process-driven goals instead of outcome-driven ones to help you stay on track, motivated, and purposeful. [02:03] Introduction [04:12] How to Measure Success [07:53] Required Energy in a Session [...

Our nerves and anxieties can cripple us in our performances. It can come knocking at your door when you least expect it. In this episode, Lewis gives the hows and whys of proper breathing techniques and a couple of breathing exercises he recommends to manage nerves, stress, and anxiety.  [01:39] Importance of Breathing [05:12] The Simple Science of Breathing [08:57] Breathing Exercises to Do [17:4...

Chelsea Tuach is a  professional Surfer from Barbados, recently winning the Barbados Surf Pro as well as being  one of the highest ranked surfers from Barbados. She shares her love for surfing and the surfing community, how she prepares for competitions, and how she trusts no one but herself and Mother Nature. [01:59] Introducing Chelsea Tuach  [03:52] Feeling the Expectations and Riding a Good Wa...

Leon Taylor is a former Olympic diver, commentator, speaker, and wellness expert. We talk about his childhood, diving, competing in the Olympics, as well as dealing with judgments and expectations towards athletes, his work as a mentor for Tom Daley, and his thoughts and beliefs on the role of wellness in an athlete’s performance. [01:48] Introducing Leon Taylor and Diving Training [10:03] Why Gym...

April is Stress Awareness Month and we all know that stress isn’t going anywhere, especially aggravated by the pandemic. In this episode, Lewis aims to build awareness of your own stress and how to properly manage it as well as the four types of stress that people experience. [01:08] Eustress and Destress [05:57] The Four Types of Stress: Physical [15:42] The Four Types of Stress: Mental [21:35] T...