The Elite Performance Podcast

"I didn't expect it to hit as hard again." Alan shifted from operator to executive thinking after his first run through the Arena program, but there was an even bigger shift ahead of him. He came on the pod after his second time in the program to discuss humility, ongoing personal development and how it all comes together in your business.  Topics Covered: Why staying in operator mode felt like pr...

"I was afraid coaching would reveal the real blocker was me." Most founders never say that out loud, but Natalia Scheidegger had the courage to face that and overcome it. Natalia’s business was growing and she was hitting milestones, but she sensed she was capable of more, and decided to find out. This episode is about what it takes to close the gap between the founder you are and the one your bus...

Momentum feels like traction. But it can also keep you locked into the wrong things, long past the point you should have stopped. And the scariest part? It still feels like progress. In this episode, Itamar breaks down the shadow side of momentum and how to make sure it’s working for you and not against you. You'll learn why "just keep going" is sometimes the worst advice you can follow, and what...

The Elite Performance audiobook is now live.  This week only, it's completely free. No opt-in, no paywall. Just hit play.  After Friday midnight, it goes to Audible. https://itamarmarani.com/audio-free/

Emotions that don't drive action are pointless. They just drain your energy. In this episode, Itamar opens up about a challenging year and the lessons learned when his old playbook stopped working, how small integrity compromises create massive energy drains and lessons to move forward. Topics covered: Why unexercised emotions are the worst of both worlds How identity can trap you when you need mo...

You're trading your time for someone else's effort. In this quick episode Itamar breaks down how to leverage content and get the highest ROI on your time while covering the one trade that lets you cash in on 15 years of someone else’s effort in under 5 hours. Also the Elite Performance book is now live… And for two days only, it’s free! On top of that, you can win more than $50,000 in performance...

You're stuck not because life is hard, but because you expect it to be easy. In this episode, Itamar shares a brutal mindset shift learned in Special Forces: want things to be hard. When obstacles feel personal, we shrink. When they feel purposeful, we level up. Topics covered: Why short-term goals can hurt your performance When ego helps performance and when it stunts it The shift from “proving s...

If you feel like your results aren’t matching your ambitions and desires, there’s a reason for that. Whether the barrier is internal or external, in this episode Itamar walks you through a 5-step system to uncover why you’re underperforming… and how to break through it. Topics covered: The clarity mistake business owners aren’t aware they make. Why most “action plans” can also give you permission...

How do you go from burnout cycles and self-doubt to crushing $100K months with clarity and control? Vlad breaks down: Facing the exact fear that quietly ran his life. Ditching a fluffy “WHY” for a more practical one and what that means Accepting the cost of growth - ego hits, discipline, discomfort - and paying it anyway. No hype. No hacks. Just a hard look at what actually moved the needle for th...

You’re not tired. You’re unprepared.  High performers prep for keynotes but wing the travel. That gap kills performance. Itamar shares the exact system he built as an air marshal and now uses when travelling for business. Most people confuse efficiency with output. The real mistake? Optimizing for speed, not performance. * Pre-order Itamar's book "Elite Performance" at https://itamarmarani.com/boo...

Are you actually angry or just confused about what you should be expecting?  Entrepreneurs don't get angry without cause, they react when expectations aren’t met. In this tactical breakdown, Itamar reveals how to intercept frustration before it escalates. The “expectation gap” reframe that kills 90% of unnecessary anger How to spot your personal early warning signs (before the blow-up) Why working...

Raising capital should elevate your game. For one entrepreneur, it did the opposite. When stakes rose, his performance tanked. Why? He didn’t anticipate the emotional cost of failing with other people’s money. This episode breaks down: Why “logical prep” isn’t enough, how to plan for emotional punches. The shift from external goals to internal identity that reignited his performance. The real bott...

If C-players in most industries are getting replaced by AI, why won’t this happen with therapy? Itamar breaks down why the therapy industry is broken, how AI will expose big parts of it, and why emotional baggage plus zero KPIs equals stagnation, not healing. You’ll hear: Why AI’s lack of emotional wounds can make it more effective How therapy often turns into paid validation, not progress The rea...

Still chasing confidence before taking action? That’s the trap. This episode breaks down why imposter syndrome isn’t about competence, it’s a psychological glitch from survival wiring. You’ll learn how to strip emotions from decisions, use objectivity as a weapon, and move even when it feels uncomfortable. Itamar shares two practical tools to beat imposter syndrome fast that he uses both with hims...

Have you ever found yourself feeling frustrated when you’re taking action but it doesn't flow and feels clunky? In this episode, Itamar breaks down why the belief that you should feel “comfortable being uncomfortable” can drain energy and kill your momentum.  He shares a story of a nine-figure client who was struggling to be “comfortable while being uncomfortable” and how they shifted the frame to...

"A lot of people are mistaking intensity for consistency." In this episode, I talk with Peter Shallard, the "Shrink for Entrepreneurs," about why executing on big goals scares entrepreneurs and how to break through plateaus in business.  We discuss how burnout for entrepreneurs doesn’t stem from overwork, and why playfulness and creativity are essential for breaking through plateaus. Key Topics: W...

"A black belt is someone who got choked, swept and submitted thousands of times and kept coming back for more. Someone who turned those painful lessons into wisdom." As Itamar gets ready to receive his second stripe on his BJJ black belt, he shares eight crucial lessons from martial arts that have helped him coach successful entrepreneurs. Covering how to apply these principles of high-performance...

James Swanwick reveals how high performers can break free from alcohol without willpower or AA. He shares why even occasional drinking costs you money, clarity, and connection - and how an empowering mindset shift makes alcohol freedom feel like an unfair advantage rather than deprivation. Key Topics: Why successful people struggle to give up alcohol despite conquering other challenges Why AA's ap...

"The pilots who survive aren't the most skilled—they're the ones who adapt fastest." In this episode, I explain why your current identity—the expertise you've built over years—might be your biggest obstacle to adapting at AI speed. I break down the “OODA loop” and how it can determine your success in business. Key Topics: Why a sense of stability could be your downfall in the AI era Three-step pro...

"Action beats intention. Results beat ego." What if the reason you're stuck isn’t about talent, skill, or even motivation? It’s because of how your mind reacts under pressure. And whether you realize it or not, you’re likely playing out one of three patterns that sabotage high performers: The Go Harder Guy, The Mr. Nice Guy, or The Chip on the Shoulder Guy. Alex De Fina joins Itamar in this episod...

"If you're just having all these expectations of things that you can't control, you can't have an agreement about or you can't set a standard about, you’ll just get frustrated all the time."  Many think that having high expectations of everyone shows respect and kindness. In reality, unrealistic expectations create frustration and anger, making us treat others worse. This episode breaks down how l...

"Success isn't about your current competence. It's about your belief in what you can figure out." In this episode, Itamar Marani and Alex De Fina analyze the mindset tools behind Trump's ability to maintain momentum through resistance. No politics—just clear, actionable strategies for entrepreneurs seeking extreme clarity and peak performance. Key Topics: Unshakable Confidence: The power of elimin...

"The story you tell yourself about what you've been through defines your identity. It’s not the event but how you interpret and grow from it that shapes your future... We are all capable of much more than we imagine" Glenn Cohen, former chief psychologist of the Mossad and Air Force pilot, shares raw insights from working with Israeli hostages and their families. Drawing from his experience debrie...

“Remember, success isn't just about knowing where you're going - it's about being prepared for the journey ahead.” In today’s quick episode, I share the one thing people forget to do when setting goals that makes all the difference between success and failure.  Key topics cover: Why most goal-setting systems fail Inspired January vs. Year long resilience How to properly cut down overly ambitious g...

“The guilt. It never ends. And it's true for everybody. It's part of the human condition that there are always new levels of guilt. But guilt and shame in and of themselves, without driving positive action, are unhelpful. They don't help you, and they definitely don't help anyone else.” In today’s episode, I recap 2024. I open up and share my 3 main lessons, 3 things that excite me about 2025, 1 f...