I Never Thought Of It That Way

Ever caught yourself saying: "I always choke under pressure." "I should be further ahead by now." "One mistake and everyone will lose confidence in me." What if those aren't facts? What if they're stories ? In this episode of I Never Thought of It That Way , mental performance coach Krystle Kustanovich explores how the stories we tell ourselves influence our a...

There is a shift that happens when the outcomes start to matter more. You don't suddenly become a worse athlete, leader, performer, or professional. But things start to feel different. You're thinking more. You're tighter. Decisions that used to feel automatic suddenly feel heavier. In this episode, mental performance coach Krystle Kustanovich explores the concept of "Freedom of O...

Book your coaching call: https://mentalperformance.co.za/contact In this episode, Krystle explores something many high performers quietly struggle with: What happens when you have actually climbed the ranks, but the pressure, expectation, and performance goals start pulling you away from the very reason you started in the first place. Whether you’re a professional athlete, ambitious entrepreneur,...

In this episode, Krystle unpacks why high performers often take failure, criticism, and mistakes so personally — and how performance can quietly become fused with identity. When your confidence depends on outcomes, pressure feels heavier, mistakes feel threatening, and even small setbacks can trigger overthinking, self-doubt, or emotional shutdown. Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, doctor,...

Confidence isn’t a feeling. Stress isn’t the problem. And overthinking isn’t a personality flaw. In this episode, Krystle breaks down what’s really happening in your brain under pressure, and the mental skills that can help you perform when it counts. You’ll learn: Why stress (and cortisol) isn’t the enemy How your brain interprets pressure as a challenge or a threat What really happens to your at...

Why do talented athletes and high achievers struggle under pressure, even when they’re supported, confident, and capable? Why does waiting to “feel ready” block calm, consistent performance? In this episode, mental performance coach Krystle Kustanovich breaks down The Expectation Loop, the hidden brain response that makes elite teens, professional athletes, doctors, entrepreneurs, and executives f...

What if your motivation didn’t disappear, you just shifted the driver without noticing? Are you struggling with low motivation or feeling disconnected from the things you used to love? In this episode, I break down the difference between intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation , why high performers often lose their drive, and what the neuroscience of motivation tells us about staying consist...

Most people are unaware of the distinction between a professionally trained coach and someone selling “transformation” online. And it shows. In this episode, Krystle opens up about what she discovered when she stepped into the coaching world and why the word  "coach" has become so confusing. After listening to Season 3 of The Dream , she reflects on the difference between ethical, accred...

Athletes are constantly told to “calm down” before a big game, but in high-adrenaline sports like rugby and hockey, that advice can actually backfire. In this episode, mental performance coach Krystle Kustanovich breaks down the neuroscience behind adrenaline, focus, and control. Learn why total calm dulls your edge and how to regulate your nervous system so you can perform with power, precision,...

We’ve all thought it: “Once I get there, I’ll finally be happy.” That dream job, gold medal, relationship, or milestone; the moment of arrival . But what if the happiness you expect at the finish line doesn’t actually come? In this episode, Krystle unpacks the Arrival Fallacy: the psychological illusion that achieving a goal will bring lasting happiness. Drawing on research from Harvard psychologi...

🧠 What if you could switch on confidence, calm, or focus, instantly? In this episode of I Never Thought of It That Way , Mental Performance Coach Krystle Kustanovich (ICF-accredited) unpacks the neuroscience behind anchors, one of the simplest and most effective tools for building mental consistency under pressure. You’ll discover: ⚡️ What an anchor is and how it works in the brain⚡️ The scienc...

Krystle dives deep into the science of mindset with insights from Dr. Alia Crum’s groundbreaking research about Mindset and Beliefs. Discover how your beliefs don’t just shape your motivation, they can literally rewire your brain, influence your body, and transform your emotional responses. From the placebo effect in medicine to the hidden power of reframing stress, Krystle unpacks real-world stud...

Ted Lasso may be fictional, but his approach to leadership and mindset is grounded in real neuroscience and psychology. 🍪⚽️ In this episode, Krystle breaks down three powerful mental coaching lessons from the hit show Ted Lasso, and the science behind why they actually work: 1️⃣ Why intention beats ego (and how that changes the brain’s performance response) 2️⃣ How your beliefs literally rewire...

Find out more about Krystle and the work she does: www.mentalperformance.co.za In this episode, Krystle Kustanovich dives into the world of mental performance, challenging the generic advice often found online. She unpacks why common tips like “believe in yourself” or “just stay positive” fall short, and instead offers practical, evidence-based strategies for building confidence, improving focus,...

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build . In this episode of I Never Thought of It That Way , Krystle unpacks the real truth about confidence: it’s not a personality trait, it’s a belief cycle you can rewire. You’ll discover: Why self-doubt and self-sabotage aren’t flaws, but outdated coping strategies. The simple “Formula for Change” to interrupt negative thoughts an...

Have you ever noticed how being around old friends, family, or revisiting certain places can make you slip back into an old version of yourself? In this episode, Krystle explores why this happens, from the made-up term “revertigo” in  How I Met Your Mother  to the actual psychological term known as associative regression, and why we often keep outdated versions of ourselves alive in our own minds....

Self-doubt creeps in at the worst times; before a big meeting, a crucial game, or when you’re about to take the next step in your career or life. In this episode, Krystle Kustanovich breaks down where self-doubt really comes from, how it impacts your performance and wellbeing, and the practical tools you can use to silence that inner critic. If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I really good enough?” this...

Setbacks happen, whether it’s an injury, a performance slump, or a sudden career curveball. But bouncing back isn’t just about physical recovery; it’s about rebuilding trust in yourself and learning to use your brain as a performance tool. In this episode, Coach Krystle shares a 3-phase roadmap to help athletes and high performers: Grieve the future they thought they’d lost Rebuild trust with thei...

In this episode, Krystle Kustanovich shares practical tools for parents who want to support their teen athletes under the pressure of competition. If your child is putting too much pressure on themselves, battling nerves on game day, or comparing themselves to “that one competitor,” this episode is for you. You’ll learn simple strategies to help your teen: Calm competition-day nerves Shift from pr...

Have you ever reached a new milestone, only to feel like it wasn’t enough? In this episode, Krystle unpacks The Progress Paradox: why high achievers and athletes often overlook their own growth, constantly raise the bar, and end up feeling stuck despite impressive results. Drawing on the story of a drummer who couldn’t hear his own improvement, Krystle reveals how our brains downplay effort and ma...

Stop replaying mistakes and start turning them into wins! In this episode, Krystle shares a 7-step process for athletes and high performers to overcome overthinking, build confidence, and harness mistakes as fuel for success. Learn how to focus on what’s in your control, manage emotions, and use visualisation to train your mind for peak performance. 📥 Bonus: Download the companion workbook to fol...

Ever felt like you're doing all the right things to change, but still nothing shifts? Then you probably have what we call "An Immunity To Change" In this episode, Krystle unpacks the powerful concept of The Immunity to Change from Dr. Robert Kegan and Dr. Lisa Lahey. You’ll learn why your brain creates hidden "mental antibodies" to block growth, even when you deeply want it...

In this episode, we delve into one of the most powerful mental performance tools available to athletes, high achievers, and individuals under pressure: reframing . Drawing from evidence-based insights by Bruce Peltier, Richard Oxtoby, and Martin Seligman, we break down what reframing really is—and how it can shift your mindset, regulate your emotions, and unlock elite performance under stress. You...

You’ve probably seen quotes and reels along the lines of: “just change your mindset” or "positive self-talk and mantras work", but here’s the truth: some of the most important parts of mental performance don’t make it to social media. Because it's not "easy". And let's face it, we're not on social media to feel like we need to make an effort... In this episode, Krystle pulls back the curtain on wh...

In this episode, Krystle takes you back to the foundations of mental performance . Whether you're an athlete, a surgeon, or a high-achieving professional, the secret to sustainable success lies not in doing more, but in thinking differently . She introduces the Belief Cycle —a framework that shows how your beliefs drive your thoughts, emotions, actions, and ultimately your results—and explains...