Podcast
Coaching Mind's Podcast: Perform at your best!
Hosted by Mental Training Plan · EN
This podcast is designed to help people take back control of their mind and body in high-pressure situations. We primarily focus on athletic situations usually spend time talking with athletes and coaches about how to use these tools in an athletic setting. However, we firmly believe that these are tools and skills that you will be able to use for the rest of your life in any situation or setting that causes your mind or body to get off track. Whether that is losing focus to distractions, losing confidence, that little voice in the back of your mind creating doubt, or wondering if you have what it takes, we use tools and strategies backed by cognitive brain research and neuropsychology to help YOU take back control and perform at your best when it matters the most.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
#150 - What Athletes Can Learn from Fighter Pilots with Boo Boucousis
Apr 2800:41:35Tap to summarizeWhat do fighter pilots and elite athletes have in common? More than you think.In this episode, Ben sits down with Boo Boucousis—former fighter pilot and entrepreneur—to break down how high performers train, think, and respond under pressure. From the cockpit to competition, the principles of execution, accountability, and mental control remain the same.Boo shares how fighter pilots use systematic debriefing, real-time feedback, and disciplined habits to accelerate learning and eliminate mistakes—lessons every athlete and coach can apply immediately.If you want to perform at your best when it matters most, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most elite performance environments in the world.Key Takeaways: Performance is built on mastering the basics—especially when you don’t feel like it Debriefing and reflection are the fastest ways to improve Fear isn’t the enemy—it’s part of the process in high-pressure momentsAre you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/teams
Transcribe →#149 - Mental Secrets from an NBA Sports Psychologist
Mar 300:31:08Tap to summarizeWhat separates great athletes from everyone else?It’s not talent.It’s how they handle pressure.In this episode, Dr. Tom Mitchell (former NBA sports psychologist for the Golden State Warriors) breaks down:• The truth about nerves and performance• How elite athletes reset after mistakes• Why comparison destroys confidence• The mindset tools used at the highest levelIf you want to perform at your best when it matters most… this episode is for you.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 Intro13:00 Visualization Story18:45 Super Bowl Story23:00 Joe Montana on FearAre you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/teams
Transcribe →#148 - Relationships First: Real world lessons learned from athletics with Myron Burr Jr.
Jan 3000:34:00Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Coaching Minds Podcast, Ben Carnes interviews Myron Burr Jr., who shares his journey from being an athlete to a coach and now an assistant city manager. They discuss the importance of mental preparation in sports, the lessons learned from veteran players, and the unique challenges of coaching young athletes. Myron emphasizes the significance of building relationships, understanding individual needs, and the transition of skills from sports to professional life. He concludes with advice for young athletes to relax and enjoy their journey.Mental preparation is crucial for performance.Building relationships with athletes is essential.Understanding individual needs helps in coaching.Preparation leads to confidence in performance.The mental aspect of sports is often overlooked.Lessons from veterans can shape a player's approach.Track and field requires a different mindset than team sports.Coaching young athletes involves navigating their social development.Routine and preparation can limit decision fatigue.Flexibility in routines is important for adaptability.Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/teams
Transcribe →#147 - Handling Failure, Pressure, and Identity in College Baseball with Tyler Rubasky
Jan 1200:25:13Tap to summarizeBaseball is a game of failure — and how athletes respond to that failure often determines who lasts and who fades.In this episode of The Coaching Minds Podcast, Ben Carnes sits down with Tyler Rubasky, Head Baseball Coach at Anderson University, to talk about what it really takes to build mentally tough athletes in today’s college game.Tyler shares his journey from player to assistant coach to head coach, how injuries shaped his mindset, and why he chose to fully invest in mental training — even during a major coaching transition. He explains how mental skills impact performance between pitches, after errors, and during slumps, and why mental preparation matters just as much as physical development.You’ll also hear how mental training:Shapes recruiting and cultureHelps athletes move on from failure fasterPrepares players for life after baseballChanges how coaches show up in big momentsWhether you’re a coach, athlete, or leader working under pressure, this conversation is packed with insight on identity, resilience, and long-term development.Episode Chapters / Timestamps (Highly Recommended)00:00 – Intro & Tyler’s coaching journey 02:00 – Why mental training matters in baseball 03:15 – Playing through injury & mental resilience 05:20 – Initial skepticism about mental training 06:40 – Why Anderson invested in Mental Training Plan 08:00 – Why baseball is uniquely mentally demanding 10:45 – NIL, transfers, and new mental challenges 12:40 – Building culture players want to stay in 14:15 – Mental training’s role in recruiting 17:15 – How players actually use mental skills in games 18:45 – How mental training changed Tyler’s coaching style 20:05 – Preparing athletes for life after baseball 22:10 – Advice to coaches on the fence about mental training 24:45 – Advice Tyler would give his younger self 26:20 – Advice for first-year coachesAre you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/teams
Transcribe →#146 – The Story Behind MTP Biz with Co-Founder Matt Hallock
Dec 800:39:10Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we officially introduce Matt Hallock, the newest member of Mental Training Plan and the Co-Founder & Chief Performance Officer of MTP Biz—our new division bringing mental performance training to the corporate world.Matt brings 25 years of corporate leadership, decades of experience coaching athletes nationwide, and a lifelong passion for serving and developing people. From managing Enterprise Rent-A-Car branches in his 20s to leading early-career talent development for Fortune 100 companies, Matt has seen firsthand how stress, burnout, imposter syndrome, leadership gaps, and performance pressure impact the modern workforce.Together, we break down:• Matt’s unique background in coaching, biomechanics, recruiting, and corporate leadership • How his upbringing shaped a service-driven, people-first philosophy • Why athletes and corporate professionals experience the exact same pressure patterns • Why information isn’t training—and why mental performance tools actually stick • The massive costs of burnout, turnover, and untrained middle managers • The launch of MTP Biz and what early partner companies will receive • How micro-learning, assessment, and coaching can transform culture & performanceIf your company struggles with stress, retention, leadership readiness, burnout, or performance under pressure, this conversation shows why training the mind is no longer optional—it's the next competitive advantage.Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/teams
Transcribe →#145 - Launching MTP Biz: Mental Performance Training for the Corporate World
Dec 400:15:06Tap to summarizeToday marks a major moment for the Mental Training Plan. After helping athletes in 90+ schools across 14 states perform at their best, we’re officially expanding into the business world with the launch of MTP Biz — a mental performance division built specifically for high-performing leaders and teams.In this episode, Ben shares the story behind the decision to move into corporate America, the imposter syndrome that held him back, and the conversations that made it clear:We don’t have a football brain or a corporate brain. We have a human brain. And human performance under pressure works the same everywhere.You’ll hear:How burnout, pressure, mergers, and promotions mirror high-stakes sportsWhy tools that increase playoff wins and point differentials also improve corporate KPIsWhat the research shows about performance psychology in Fortune 100 companiesThe simple system we’ll use with businesses (assessment → alignment → training → application → reassessment)Why MTP Biz is only for high performers who want an edgeA preview of next episode with new MTP Biz co-founder & Chief Performance Officer, Matt HallockIf you're a business leader curious about bringing mental performance training to your organization, this is the place to start.Next episode: A deep dive with Matt Hallock on what’s really happening inside corporate America and why this training is desperately needed.As always: Make your plan and put it to work.Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/teams
Transcribe →#144 - Confidence Pt 5: Pro Golfer Jocelyn Bruch on Using These Tools On The Course
Nov 1001:04:02Tap to summarizeToday, I’m joined by Jocelyn Bruch: Indiana individual state champion, Division I golfer at Purdue, national championship competitor, and now a professional who just returned from Q-School.We dig into the real tools she used in competition — not theory — to calm nerves, trust her preparation, and perform when it counts:Diaphragmatic Breathing (16+ seconds, not 2!) to lower heart rate and get presentFMR (Forced Muscular Relaxation) to release tension before swings and puttsGo-To Statement she repeats before every shot to push out negative thoughtsCaddie Game-Plan Meetings and a simple “got it” cue to protect her routineEarned / Shows / Trained Confidence (and why “fake it till you make it” cracks under pressure)Using the book out of order to solve immediate problems, then spot-checking before roundsIf this helps you, please share it with a teammate, parent, or coach who could use a practical confidence framework.Resources:My book: Confidence: Build It, Trust It, Show It — https://amzn.to/3LqECEB (includes FREE athlete workbook)Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/teams
Transcribe →#143 - Confidence Pt 4: Breath, Reset, Recover: Building Confidence You Can Trust
Oct 700:32:36Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Coaching Minds Podcast, Ben Carnes, founder of The Mental Training Plan, breaks down the next layer of the Confidence Wall: how to train confidence like a muscle.Learn practical, science-backed tools that help athletes hardwire belief into their body and nervous system through three powerful bricks:The Breath Brick – how controlled breathing regulates the vagus nerve and restores focus.The Reset Brick – how pros like Drew Brees and Victor Oladipo flush mistakes and get back in rhythm.The Recovery Brick – why sleep, rest, and recovery are the secret advantage most athletes ignore.Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or parent, you’ll walk away with real tools you can use to help your athletes perform under pressure and bounce back stronger after mistakes.📘 Get the book Confidence on Amazon (includes free workbook download)https://amzn.to/46RhDJJ Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/teams
Transcribe →#142 - Confidence Pt 3: Identity, Body Language & Self-Talk for Athletes
Sep 1700:38:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Coaching Minds Podcast, we continue our Confidence series and dig into three critical building blocks every athlete needs: identity, body language, and self-talk.You’ll learn why confidence isn’t just earned through practice and reps — it’s also chosen by who you decide to be. Ben shares a powerful example from an NBA player who missed six straight shots but still had the confidence to take — and make — the game-tying shot.Coaches will discover how to use self-schema theory to shape team culture, why body language impacts performance, focus, and even how opponents view you, and how tools like a Go-To Statement and mental reset phrases can rewire an athlete’s belief system.Whether you’re a high school athlete, college competitor, coach, or sports parent, this episode provides actionable mental performance strategies that strengthen confidence on and off the field.Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/teams
Transcribe →#141 - Confidence Pt 2: Building Belief Through Reps, Proof, and Preparation
Sep 900:44:11Tap to summarizeConfidence doesn’t come from hype—it comes from work. In Episode #2 of our Confidence Series, we break down how athletes, coaches, and parents can build earned confidence through three critical “bricks”:Reps – putting in the work with intentionEvidence – gathering proof of growth and winsPreparation – creating routines that build stabilityYou’ll hear stories from the field, practical tools (like the Rep Tracker and Confidence Journal), and the science behind why deliberate practice and routines create real, lasting belief.📖 Following along with the Confidence book? Grab your copy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4pfeU5a and be sure to download the free workbook that comes with it!Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/teams
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