NO BS Podcast | Hyrox Training and Peak Performance Tips

Motivation is the lie holding you back from peak performance. In this episode, Brian Stokes breaks down the mental toughness strategies elite athletes and military performers use instead, diving into why discipline, systems, and mental resilience beat inspiration every single time. Discover the framework that separates serious HYROX racers from casual dreamers and unlock the real secret to sustain...

Parents often sabotage young athletes by chasing outcomes instead of fostering passion. In this episode, Brian explores the biggest kids fitness mistake and how elite athlete parents actually think about development, resilience, and long-term performance. Real strategies to build mentally tough, joy-focused competitors.

At 54, Brian Stokes competed at the HYROX World Championships and learned more about life than performance. In this episode, Brian reflects on HYROX training, recovery strategies, and the elite athlete mindset that matter most, why health beats competition, why community amplifies resilience, and why comparison is the thief of joy. Discover the mental toughness framework that separates sustainable...

Recovery and endurance sports training aren't passive, they're strategic. After a Triathlon, HYROX or endurance event, your recovery week determines whether you adapt stronger or regress. Brian Stokes walks through the exact training strategies elite athletes use: active recovery pacing, when to avoid intensity, how to manage fatigue without losing fitness, and structuring your return to t...

Junior HYROX | Is it actually good for kids? We cut through the hype on functional fitness training for young athletes. Brian Stokes breaks down whether HYROX training is developmentally appropriate, what coaches and parents need to know, and how to safely introduce hybrid training to kids without burning them out. Real talk on kids fitness from a former Royal Marines Commando.

Peak performance under pressure isn't about toughness alone. In this episode, JD Tremblay reveals what extreme endurance and military environments teach us about resilience under pressure, recovery mistakes, and elite athlete mindset. Discover why high performers crumble, the line between discipline and self-destruction, and what sustainable peak performance actually looks like, no BS.

Elite athletes aren't built on flashy workouts, they're built on the boring stuff. In this episode, Brian Stokes breaks down why mastering training strategies and consistent fundamentals separate peak performers from the rest. Drawing on his military commando background, discover the unglamorous discipline, periodisation, and daily habits that create true elite athletic resilience. If you&...

Mental toughness and resilience under pressure are what separate good athletes from elite performers. In this episode, Brian reveals why pressure actually unlocks human potential and why most modern training environments remove it completely. Drawing on his military background, racing experience, and coaching insights, discover how controlled adversity builds the mental resilience you need to exce...

Most kids' fitness programs miss the mark, they're disconnected from real performance. In this episode, Brian Stokes breaks down why traditional youth fitness fails and reveals the functional fitness methodology that builds genuine athletic resilience, endurance athlete mindset, and physical fitness that actually transfers to life. If you're coaching young athletes or want to understan...

Why do athletes push harder in HYROX training than they ever do alone? This episode explores the real science behind group fitness accountability, structure, and community and how hybrid training environments unlock peak performance. Brian sits down to unpack the HYROX community effect, drawing on functional fitness training principles, military unit cohesion lessons, and athlete mindset research...

In this second part, Brian continues the conversation with Jaco van Gass, diving into the journey of rebuilding after life-changing injury and what it really takes to reach the top of elite sport. Jaco shares how he adapted both physically and mentally in the early stages of recovery, and how sport became a vehicle for purpose and progression. From exploring different pathways in adaptive sport to...

In this powerful first part, Brian sits down with Paralympic gold medallist and former Paratrooper Jaco van Gass to explore the early stages of his journey, from military life to the life-changing moment in Afghanistan that altered everything. Jaco shares his path into the Paras, the mindset required for military service, and the reality of deployment. He then opens up about the day of the IED exp...

In this solo episode of the No BS Performance Podcast, I break down a real moment from racing where something didn’t feel right and why it turned out to be more serious than just fatigue. Mid-race, my heart lost rhythm. Not just high effort… but completely out of sync. This episode is a straight-talking look at: What AFib actually is (without the medical jargon) How it felt in the middle of a race...

Most people wouldn’t even attempt rowing around the UK. Mike Ellicock did it. In this episode, we break down what it really takes to push through extreme endurance challenges, from rowing around Britain to chasing marathon records and now stepping into HYROX. This is a conversation about real performance, not theory. We get into mindset, resilience, fuelling, and what separates those who keep goin...

Lee Johnston built his elite performance foundation as a Royal Marines Commando, then proved it works across three Olympic Games and 12 British bobsleigh championships. Now coaching international teams, he reveals exactly how military discipline, long-term consistency, and pressure protocols create world-class athletes. In this episode, we unpack the systems behind peak performance, from how top c...

One of the most powerful conversations I’ve had, this one goes deep. Royal Marines commando Dan Holder reveals how military performance discipline, PTSD recovery, and extreme endurance sports converge to unlock elite athlete mindset. In this raw conversation, discover the unexpected link between combat resilience and peak performance—and how redefining your limits changes everything. Real strategi...

Most endurance athletes overlook a crucial factor that can unlock their full potential, yet many get it wrong by overtraining or neglecting personalised data that could prevent burnout. In this episode, I break down simple, evidence-based strategies to optimise your aerobic engine, improve recovery, and avoid the danger of overtraining, all without overcomplicating your routine. Discover why VO2 m...

Women over 35 don't need to accept performance plateaus, they need smart adaptation. In this episode, Brian Stokes talks with women's strength and fat loss coach Sarah Killeen about how hormonal cycles, aging, and lifestyle factors influence peak performance for female athletes. Sarah breaks down practical strength training techniques, recovery optimization, and resilience strategies that actually...

In this episode of the No BS Performance Podcast , Brian Stokes sits down with Abby Oakman to talk about Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA). Abi shares her personal journey, from pushing hard in training to realising something wasn’t right. She opens up about the warning signs, the physical and psychological impact of low energy availability, an...

Brian Stokes breaks down how elite athletes handle race disappointments without spiraling or ignoring lessons. In this NO BS conversation, learn the emotional management framework, performance analysis checklist, and structured training approach that separates resilience from denial, so setbacks become fuel instead of roadblocks.

In this episode I’m joined by Wayne Sanderson - Sando We talk about training, mindset and performing when it matters, whether that’s in sport, work or everyday life. Expect a relaxed conversation covering background, lessons learned and what actually works when it comes to staying strong, capable and consistent. If you enjoy the episode, share it with someone who trains properly and follow the pod...

No BS performance, training and mindset. Performance coaching from someone who's actually been tested.** Hosted by Brian Stokes, former Royal Marines Commando and HYROX competitor, this is the podcast for people serious about resilience, endurance athlete mindset, and peak performance. No sponsored nonsense. No gimmicks. Just honest conversations with elite athletes, coaches, and high performe...