High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset

In this episode, we dive into the power of grit—the ability to keep showing up, stay committed, and persevere even when things get tough. Grit is more than talent or luck; it's the number one predictor of long-term success in life, work, and sport. You'll hear the inspiring story of J.K. Rowling, who overcame rejection and struggle before building one of the most successful book series in history....

In this episode of the  High Performance Mindset  podcast, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with  Victoria Rennoldson , an award-winning coach, speaker, and facilitator specializing in global leadership, communication, and cultural intelligence. As the CEO and Founder of  Culture Cuppa and host of a top-ranked podcast with over 145 episodes, Victoria shares practical wisdom on how leaders can communi...

In this episode, Dr. Cindra dive into one of the biggest barriers to confidence and high performance: the  inner critic . You know that harsh voice that nitpicks, second-guesses, and drains your energy? Learn how to recognize it, challenge it, and replace it with empowering self-talk that fuels your purpose and potential.   Dr. Cindra shares a real coaching story of an NFL kicker who learned to no...

What separates good teams from great ones? It's not just talent or IQ—it's the culture they create together. In this episode of  The High Performance Mindset Podcast , Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares the mental strategies and research that reveal why the best teams think differently. You'll discover why positivity and psychological safety are essential for high performance and how you can lead yourself...

Welcome to The High Performance Mindset Podcast, where we help you master your mindset to gain the high performance edge. My name is Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, and today I am thrilled to share my conversation with Jim Murphy—author of Inner Excellence. You might have heard about Jim's book on January 12 when AJ Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles was reading his book on the slide lines of a NFL Game. To be...

In this episode of the High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares how belief is the catalyst for breaking through limitations, using the inspiring story of Mankato East's first win in the Jug Game over Mankato West in 19 years. Despite a long losing streak, the team showed up believing in a new outcome—and they made it happen. Dr. Cindra connects this story to everyday challenges we all...

This episode explores how to receive feedback without letting it shake your confidence. Feedback is often hard to hear because we take it personally, treating it like a judgment rather than data. A key mindset shift is recognizing that feedback says more about the giver—their values, priorities, and perspective—than it does about you.   The feedback that stings most is usually the one that confirm...

What you believe about yourself determines what you're capable of becoming. In this episode, Dr. Cindra shares how high performers—from athletes to entrepreneurs—use the power of belief as a foundation for confidence and success. Drawing on the inspiring story of Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, Cindra shows how speaking your vision out loud and believing in your potential—even before there's any p...

Craig Siegel is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the founder of Cultivate Lasting Symphony. After leaving a thriving career on Wall Street, he dedicated his life to helping people reinvent themselves from the inside out. His energy, purpose, and belief in human potential have made him a sought-after coach and entrepreneur, guiding others to align with their vision and...

Drawing on powerful examples from Olympian Brenda Martinez and legendary coach Nick Saban, Dr. Cindra explains how shifting your attention from results to daily actions can boost performance, reduce anxiety, and help you show up more consistently under pressure.   Martinez's story—recovering from a heartbreaking stumble to qualify for the Olympics just days later—illustrates the power of trusting...

Dr. Jim Afremow is a high-performance consultant and the author of The Creative's Mind: How Exceptional Artists Think, Make and Perform , along with several bestselling books on sport psychology and leadership. He has trained athletes, teams, coaches, and professionals across achievement domains to perform under pressure and sustain success. In this special 700th episode, Jim shares how the same m...

In this insightful episode of the High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff explores why psychological safety is the foundation of high-performing teams. Drawing on Google's groundbreaking Project Aristotle study, she explains that the best teams aren't the ones that avoid mistakes—they're the ones that embrace them as learning opportunities. Psychological safety means people can take risks, s...

Henna Pryor, CSP, is an award-winning keynote speaker, workplace performance expert, and the author of Good Awkward: How to Embrace the Embarrassing and Celebrate the Cringe to Become the Bravest You. She's been featured in major outlets like Forbes, Fast Company, and NBC, and her work helps leaders and teams reframe awkwardness as a superpower. She blends science, storytelling, and real-world str...

In this inspiring episode of the High Performance Mindset, Dr.  Cindra Kamphoff explores how grit is the foundation for achieving your biggest goals and dreams.   She shares the powerful metaphor of the pearl—how something rare and valuable begins with irritation. Just like a pearl forms when an oyster transforms a piece of grit over time, our greatest achievements come from leaning into challenge...

In this fascinating and high-energy episode, I interview Traci Brown—ranked the #3 body language expert in the world and a go-to voice on lie detection, deception, and influence. A former elite cyclist turned deception detection expert, Traci brings a rare combination of athletic discipline and forensic insight to her work. Traci is a frequent television guest featured on CBS, NBC, and Nancy Grace...

In this episode, we explore one of the most powerful mindset tools high performers use:  reframing .   You'll hear the inspiring story of Spanx founder Sara Blakely and how her father helped her see failure as a sign of courage and growth.   We break down how reframing allows you to reinterpret challenges with strength and optimism, turning setbacks into comebacks and adversity into fuel.   You'll...

In this science-backed and practical episode, I interview John Edwards—executive coach, speaker, and founder of The Edwards Groups. With a background in neuroscience and years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies, John shares powerful insights on how to navigate stress, lead with presence, and thrive through change. John's approach blends neuroscience with leadership strategy to help high...

In this episode of the High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff challenges you to dream bigger and pursue bold, gritty goals—even if they feel just out of reach. She shares compelling research from Harvard and insights from performance psychology that show how stretch goals—ambitious targets that push you beyond your current limits—can fuel creativity, persistence, and breakthrough performanc...

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Alden Mills—former Navy SEAL platoon commander, championship rower, best-selling author, inventor, and entrepreneur. Alden's life is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. From overcoming childhood asthma to leading Navy SEAL teams and building a $95M business with the Perfect Pushup, Alden shares how the unstoppable mindset shape...

In this inspiring episode of the  High Performance Mindset , Dr. Cindra Kamphoff explores how optimism can  turn adversity into advantage.   She shares a powerful story of a collegiate athlete who, after a devastating ACL injury just before nationals, chose to reframe the setback as a new beginning. Her shift in perspective led her to mentorship, sport psychology, and a new purpose: becoming a men...

In this engaging episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff talks with Stacey Hanke—nationally recognized communication expert, keynote speaker, and author of Influence Redefined and Influence Elevated. Stacey challenges the common myths around influence and shares how true influence isn't about charisma or likability—it's about showing up consistently with presence, clarity, and connection. Stacey is the found...

In this episode of the  High Performance Mindset , Dr. Cindra Kamphoff explores one of the most powerful mindset shifts we can make: choosing the  meaning we assign to our experiences.   She shares a story of coaching a senior executive who was initially devastated after being passed over for a promotion. But by reframing the experience and asking,  "How is this happening for me?" , the executive...

Welcome back to the High Performance Mindset Podcast, the show where we explore what it takes to show up fully and perform at your best—mentally and emotionally—every single day. I'm Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, and I'm so grateful you're here. Today's guest is someone who lives and breathes mental performance. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kristofer Kracht, a championship coach, professor, entr...

In this episode of the High Performance Mindset, we dive into the power of emotional agility—the skill of being present with your emotions without letting them take the wheel. Backed by cutting-edge research, we explore how processing and labeling emotions can reduce distress, enhance performance, and improve your ability to lead and live with purpose. You'll learn: Why emotional agility is a key...

In this episode, we explore one of the most powerful mindset tools high performers use:  reframing .   You'll hear the inspiring story of Spanx founder Sara Blakely and how her father helped her see failure as a sign of courage and growth.   We break down how reframing allows you to reinterpret challenges with strength and optimism—turning setbacks into comebacks and adversity into fuel.   You'll...