The Athletic School Podcast

You train hard all week and look great in practice. Then game day comes and you disappear. It’s not weakness, and more training probably won’t fix it. In this episode I break down why athletes fall apart under pressure, what’s really going on in your head when it happens, and what I’ve learned from Reality Transurfing, identity, and meditation about showing up when it counts. Stay till the end for...

Some people stay locked in when everything around them is falling apart. Other people lose it the second one thing goes wrong. It's not because the first person is just naturally calmer, and it's not a personality thing at all. In this episode I break down why most people try to build this kind of calm in exactly the wrong moment, why a quote you've probably heard about the space betwe...

I trained for a year to fix one specific problem. Then I raced again and got almost the exact same result, down to the number. I had a legitimate injury both times. A hernia I was either dealing with or still recovering from. I could've blamed that and moved on. Most people would have. I didn't. What I found underneath it changed how I train, and honestly, how I think about any hard goal I...

Ken Moench, founder of Moench Method Bodywork, joins The Athletic School Podcast to explain why pain is your body's warning system, not something to grind through. We break down his technique for releasing fascia and muscle tightness in minutes instead of months, why athletes who push past pain end up injured instead of stronger, and how the same root causes show up in babies, adults, and pets...

Ever feel like your identity disappeared the moment your sport, your job, or your routine did? This episode follows one athlete's journey from college sports to building an entirely new life abroad — learning a new language, navigating culture shock, and figuring out who he is without the structure that used to define him. Leon and I met in college in the US, where we played soccer together. H...

Mental toughness has never had a single agreed-on scientific definition — researchers have been trying to pin it down since 2002 and still don't fully agree. In this episode, I break down why the version of "mental toughness" you've been sold is basically a myth, why suppressing your emotions actually makes performance worse, and the real reason athletes crack under pressure: dis...

I finished my Ironman disappointed. Coming back from injury, my fitness just wasn't where I wanted it to be — and no amount of mental toughness changes what your body is or isn't ready for. In this episode, I'm being fully honest about that disappointment, and about something I'm just as proud of: I stayed exactly where I needed to stay mentally, and I pushed correctly instead of j...

What if your biggest limitation isn't your body—it's your mind? As I prepare for my Ironman 70.3, I explore the connection between mindset and performance, the science behind the placebo effect, and lessons from Deepak Chopra, Carol Dweck, and Joe Dispenza. We also discuss why lasting success starts by becoming the person you want to be before the results show up. If you're looking to...

Pressure. Overthinking. Self-doubt. Feeling lost after bad performances. Most athletes think the problem is confidence. But what if the real problem is disconnection? In this episode, we dive into the hidden identity crisis many athletes face — how attaching your worth to performance creates pressure, anxiety, and mental burnout. Inspired by lessons from Aristotle’s Guide to Self-Persuasion , this...

Most people think success is hard because of the work. But what if that’s not the real problem? In this episode, we break down a powerful mindset shift that changes how athletes and high performers experience discipline, sacrifice, and consistency. Inspired by an idea from Zig Ziglar, this conversation explores why success often feels heavier than it should — and what actually causes that resistan...

Most people don’t struggle because they don’t think…they struggle because they don’t rethink. In this episode, I break down key ideas from Think Again by Adam Grant, including the four mindsets: preacher, prosecutor, politician, and scientist. If you’re an athlete—or someone who wants to keep growing—this will challenge how you see confidence, being right, and learning. At the end, I’ll give you o...

No motivation to train anymore? It’s not what you think. In this episode, I break down why former athletes (and even current ones) start losing discipline—even when they still care and still show up. We talk about intensity, environment, and the real reason your energy feels different now. If you’ve been feeling off, inconsistent, or just not as sharp… this will make sense. Stay until the end—I’ll...

This episode is a real and simple breakdown of what it actually takes to change your life. From feeling stuck in a job I didn’t love to traveling for work with a professional soccer team, I share the mindset shift that changed everything for me. If you feel like you’re meant for more but don’t know where to start—this is for you. Simple. Practical. Real. This episode is brought to you by Californi...

Most athletes think mindset is about staying positive—but that’s not what actually changes performance. In this episode, we go deeper into what mindset really means and why so many athletes struggle to apply it when it matters most. We break down the journey into mental performance coaching and, more importantly, what athletes can actually do to improve how they think, prepare, and perform. This i...

Do you ever feel like you train well all week… but once the game starts, you start overthinking everything? Many athletes struggle with overthinking during competition . Instead of playing freely, they begin to analyze every move, worry about mistakes, and suddenly their performance drops. In this episode, we talk about why athletes start overthinking in games and what’s actually happening inside...

What happens when the final season ends and the structure of college sports disappears? For many athletes, the transition after graduation can feel confusing. The routines, competition, and identity that shaped daily life suddenly change, leaving many former players wondering what comes next. In this episode, we dive into why athletes often feel lost after college sports and how the athlete mindse...

What if your biggest regrets are not about what you did—but what you never tried? In this episode, we break down the powerful lessons from The Midnight Library and connect them to real-life mindset shifts that can help you stop overthinking the past and start creating your future. We talk about the “Book of Regrets,” life transitions, identity change, and why most people stay stuck between fear an...

One bad game can quietly ruin your season — not because you lost confidence, but because you lost trust in yourself . If you’ve been replaying mistakes, hesitating in games, or feeling disconnected from your instincts, this episode is urgent. Most athletes try to “get their confidence back” after a bad performance. That’s the wrong focus. Confidence comes and goes. Self-trust is what determines wh...

In this clip from one of our latest podcast episodes, we talk about mindset, embracing the process, and why focusing less on results leads to better performance and growth.

Not getting playing time? Feeling frustrated, overlooked, or stuck on the bench? This episode is for athletes who aren’t starting and are struggling with the mental side of not playing. We break down the mindset athletes need when they’re not getting minutes , how to take ownership during waiting seasons , and why the bench can either destroy your confidence—or build it. In this episode, you’ll le...

Listen to this clip from our episode with Todd Crandell, where he shares his journey of completing multiple Ironman races, breaking barriers, challenging himself, raising awareness about addiction recovery, and finding his life purpose.

In this episode, I break down the 7 laws to become a successful athlete in sport and life , inspired by The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success . Each law is explained in simple, practical language , with clear examples that apply to sport, performance, and everyday life. This episode is designed for athletes—but the principles apply to anyone chasing growth, discipline, and long-term success. This is...

Recovering from an injury is more than physical — it’s mental, emotional, and deeply personal. In this episode, I share my own journey after completing an Ironman while injured and dealing with a sports hernia that forced me to stop training. We dive into the mindset of recovery, patience, relearning movement, identity beyond sport, and how psychology and philosophy can help athletes come back str...

This year challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. In this episode, I share 12 lessons this year taught me —about discipline, patience, consistency, pressure, ambition, and growth when results don’t come as fast as you want. These are lessons built through training, work, responsibility, setbacks, and showing up when motivation wasn’t there. No hype. No shortcuts....

Most athletes think the new year is about setting better goals. It’s not. In this episode, I break down the mindset athletes actually need to improve, perform under pressure, and win the next season. This podcast is about athlete mindset, mental toughness, and end-of-year reflection , without clichés or fake motivation. We talk about: Why goal-setting alone doesn’t change performance The mindset e...