Toughness

Flexibility Comes First: From Panic Disorders To Player Development - Steven Hayes (Psychology) & Ben Freakley (MLB)

When Steven Hayes was struck by a crippling panic attack decades ago, little did he know one of the ripple effects of that incident would shape the careers of future hall of fame athletes. A clinical Psychologist and the mind behind one of the most popular "third wave" approaches in psychology, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, he shares the mic with Ben Freakley - who has been a mental performance coach for elite operators in both the military and Major League Baseball - as we dig into the concept of psychological flexibility. Drawing on examples from military, business and sport we talk about how it applies with such success across so many domains, and break down the six skills that are vital for any individuals dealing with pressure or stress.

The Stress Of Repeating Success - Veronica Campbell Brown (Olympic Champion) & Dr Erik Korem (High Performance)

Even when you’re an eight-time Olympic medalist, and only the second woman in history to win gold in two consecutive 200 m events, the competition still forces you to evolve or fade away. But throughout Veronica Campbell-Brown’s life - from racing against boys as a child on the dirt roads in Jamaica, to Olympic glory on the fastest tracks around the world - that’s just part of the journey. In this incredible chat she’s joined by long-time performance coach Dr Erik Korem - who’s also headed up programs in NCAA and NFL football - to talk about what toughness means to those who reach the top & stay there, and why being deliberate about what you pay attention to can pay you back in gold.

Cultivating Courage In Acrobats, Clowns & Coaches - Véronique Richard (Creativity) & Darren Holder (Coaching)

Whether you’re performing death-defying feats or rebounding from defeat, the stakes go up when lives (or careers) are on the line - and along with that comes even more pressure and stress. Véronique Richard coaches some of the worlds most talented artists at Cirque Du Soleil to handle those moments, and Darren Holder has spent more than a decade now preparing coaches in a number of sports to do the same - including those in charge of one of the world's leading cricket teams, Australia. In this wide-ranging chat we not only cover the different types of courage shown by clowns and coaches, but our guests share some proven ways to train adaptability and creativity in any learner, leader or high-stakes performer.

Tough Women Make History - Jen Welter (NFL) & Justine Siegal (MLB)

Before both Jen Welter and Justine Siegal were hired as coaches for the Arizona Cardinals (NFL) & Oakland A's (MLB) respectively in 2015, there had been a grand total of zero female coaches in either league. While they had to endure tough times - from being spat on and tackled, to dealing with verbal abuse - they not only persevered to achieve their own dreams, but paved the way for those who followed too: 4 women were part of the Tampa Bay staff that won Super Bowl LV in 2021, and major market teams like the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox now boast females as part of their coaching team. In this Women's History Month special, we talk about their journeys from outsiders to part of the game, the mental strengths you must have as an outsider or minority, as well as what they learned along the way about how to forge a path when one doesn't exist yet.

Special Forces, Mental Agility & Elite Habits *Part 2* - Coleman Ruiz & Ceci Craft (Military)

In this second part of an extended conversation with two of the best practitioners in their respective industries - with so many insights that we had to split the conversation over two separate listens! - we jump straight into the big questions: how do you train mental agility & toughness at the elite levels? And are there behaviors or actions we can all take that will help us improve in our own battles, at work and in life?

Coleman Ruiz & Ceci Craft should know - not only did Coleman take lead hundreds of operations and dozens of sensitive military programs as part of the SEAL teams, he then went on to serve as an advanced training officer in Naval Special Warfare. Ceci, the recently appointed Director of Mental Performance for the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB, also has 6 years experience coaching US Army & Special Operations personnel, and at the time of recording was the Lead Mental Performance Coach for the program overseeing the mental conditioning of US Army & Special Operations soldiers.

**Note - if you haven't listened to Part 1 of this conversation (literally the previous episode of this podcast) do that first!**

Special Forces, Mental Agility & Elite Habits *Part 1* - Coleman Ruiz & Ceci Craft (Military)

When lives are on the line and people are pushed to their limits, what do the elite Special Forces of the US military lean on to find that extra gear? As a former officer in the U.S. Navy SEALs, with 13 years on active duty, during six (6) combat deployments in both the Afghanistan and Iraq, Coleman Ruiz should know - not only did he take part in and lead hundreds of operations and dozens of sensitive military programs, he then went on to serve as an advanced training officer in Naval Special Warfare. Joining him for this 2-part episode is Ceci Craft, the recently appointed Director of Mental Performance for the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB, who has 6 years experience coaching US Army & Special Operations personnel, and who at the time of recording was the Lead Mental Performance Coach for the program overseeing the mental conditioning of US Army & Special Operations soldiers. In a conversation with two of the best practitioners in their respective industries - with so many insights that we had to split the conversation over two separate listens! - we dig into the concepts of mental agility & emotional stability, and how the best of the best train them to prepare for their toughest battles.

Keeping Calm When Life Throws You Curveballs - Kevin Pillar (MLB)

As a player for some of the biggest teams in Major League Baseball - from the Toronto Blue Jays to the San Francisco Giants, on to the Boston Red Sox and now the New York Mets - Kevin Pillar's baseball career has played out under the brightest lights. His journey has had it's share of time in the shadows however - he had to force his way into the starting lineup as a walk-on at a Division II college, and then play that same underdog role again when was drafted in the 32nd round of his draft, at pick 979 overall. In this rare glimpse behind the scenes of life in The Show, Kevin shares the new challenges he now faces despite having made it in the big leagues - and talks us through exactly how he manages those battles and occasional dark times, both on and off the field.

A Model Of Confidence, From Fashion To Film - Broderick Hunter (Model/Actor)

What happens when your goals don't go according to plan? Or when you're told "NO" 30+ times? Broderick Hunter, a pioneering black male model & actor, dug deep and eventually turned his bad breaks into gold. Despite humble upbringings and being an outsider to the industry when he began, he's now been the face of campaigns for global brands like Ralph Lauren & Tommy Hilfiger, featured in Vogue, GQ and Cosmopolitan, and been labeled People Magazine's "Hottest guy to follow on Instagram". But he isn't only known for his looks - he's gone on to feature as an actor in multiple hit TV series for HBO, NBC and FOX, and with roles in two films coming up his star only continues to rise. His story highlights the importance of persistence & doing the "inner work" while you wait, and explains his passion for supporting mental programs for youth.

Trading, Triggers, And How Feelings (Like Fear) Help Us Win - Denise Shull (Finance)

Billions. Bitcoin. WallStreetBets. With more people than ever interested in trading - traditional stocks, options and even cryptocurrency - the psychology involved in high stakes decision making has never been more relevant to the wider community. Denise Shull - perhaps best known as the basis for the character of performance coach Wendy Rhoades in the show Billions - has had her head in the game for decades now, starting as a trader herself before diving into psychology and becoming a coach of people who handle hundreds of millions of dollars every day. In this show she's joined by John Burns, who has spent decades as a trader himself, and they discuss how feelings drive every move we make - and why we should ignore traditional advice of "take the emotion out of it" when we are making decisions under pressure or stress.

Growth, Greatness & Attacking The Game Of Life - Kliff Kingsbury (NFL Head Coach)

Growing up as the son of a high school football coach in Texas, Kliff Kingsbury may have seemed destined for a life in football. But it hasn't been a smooth road: on the journey from an elite college career to disappointment in the pros, through regular coaching up and downs, to the personal tragedy of losing his mom, Kliff shares with us what he's learned working with household names like Belichik, Brady & Mahomes, as well as the lesser known heroes in his life - including his dad, a Vietnam Vet - who helped shape his approach to attacking every day like it's your last play.