NO BS Podcast | Hyrox Training and Peak Performance Tips

What does it actually take to become physically and mentally tough and have modern athletes overcomplicated performance? In this episode of the NO BS Performance Podcast, Brian sits down with Jake Shannon, founder of Scientific Wrestling, creator of the Macebell and long-time student of legendary British Catch Wrestling coach Billy Robinson. Jake shares the old-school lessons that shaped his appro...

Why do capable people make catastrophic mistakes under pressure and why does one error snowball into several? In this episode of the NO BS Performance Podcast, Brian Stokes sits down with international Grand Prix dressage rider Silvia Rizzo to explore the psychological cascade that derails elite athletes when pressure rises. Drawing on Silvia's elite sport experience and Brian's background...

What does elite athlete mindset actually look like when you're tired, under pressure, and things aren't going your way? Former professional cricketer and high-performance coach Jim Allenby joins Brian on the NO BS Performance Podcast for a straight-talking conversation about what separates talented people from those who can perform consistently at the highest level. After 15+ years and 400...

How do elite athletes perform under pressure when fatigue, doubt and discomfort kick in? Grey Cup-winning coach, Jaime Elizondo joins Brian to explore mental toughness, resilience, confidence and the preparation required to perform when it really matters. Drawing on 25 years in professional and college football, Jaime explains why motivation isn't enough, how to train decision-making under pre...

What separates elite performers from hardworking burnouts? Alan Lazaros, Founder of Next Level University, learned the hard way: after a near-fatal car accident forced him to rebuild, he discovered that discipline, not motivation is what drives real results. In this episode, Brian and Alan unpack the mental toughness strategies, peak performance mindset shifts, and the systems that separate people...

Performance coaching for neurodivergent athletes often gets overlooked, but ADHD can be a massive advantage in human performance. In this episode, Ania Hulsman reveals how elite athletes with ADHD leverage their unique neurology for peak performance in endurance sports and HYROX. Discover the training strategies, mental resilience tactics, and performance coaching breakthroughs that transform ADHD...

Mindset and mental resilience are non-negotiable for elite athletes, until they work against you. In this episode, Brian explores how high performers' disciplined mindset can trap them in stress patterns, and why nervous system regulation is the missing piece most performance coaches ignore. Kristin Rivas, a brain-based hypnotherapist and TEDx speaker, shares her breakdown-to-breakthrough story: l...

Mental toughness and peak performance separate elite athletes from the rest, especially under pressure. Olympic boxing coach Bruce Babashan shares the exact mental resilience framework he uses to prepare fighters for split-second decisions in the ring. Learn how to rewire your mindset for race day, manage fatigue-driven breakdowns at the wall ball station, and execute when it matters most, whether...

Mental toughness and elite mindset aren't built overnight—they're forged through systems. At 76, former US Marine Jay Setchell has survived three deaths, 73+ surgeries, paralysis, and traumatic brain injury. Yet he leads businesses, raises adopted twins, and inspires thousands. In this episode, we uncover the mental resilience framework and Marine Corps discipline that let him rebuild his identity...

In this episode of the No BS Performance Podcast, Brian discusses the fine line between discipline and obsession in fitness. He reflects on his personal journey with exercise addiction, the impact of AFib on his training, and the importance of recovery. Brian emphasises the need for athletes to listen to their bodies and redefine what success means in their training routines.

What separates high performers from everyone else? After 25 episodes of conversations with Royal Marines, elite athletes, coaches and everyday people pushing their limits, I've realised that success almost always comes back to the same core principles. In this milestone solo episode, I share the seven performance principles that have shaped my coaching philosophy through over 30 years of military...

Most athletes quit mentally long before their bodies reach their limit. In this episode, mental resilience expert and former Royal Marine Pete Leahy shares the exact psychological triggers that make elite performers push through pain, pressure, and doubt and the practical strategies you can use to recognise when your mind is giving up and how to override it. Learn how to build the peak performance...

Most people quit their biggest goals just before the breakthrough. In this episode, Brian explores the perseverance mindset that separates elite athletes from the rest, why the middle of any journey (HYROX training, business, relationships) is where dreams die, and the one mental resilience shift that changes everything. Real stories from high performers who almost quit, and exactly why you're pro...

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...