Podcast
Toughness
Hosted by Paddy Steinfort · ENGLISH
Everyone does it tough at some point in their journey. So what can we learn from those who deal with stress or pressure on a regular basis?
Hosted by Paddy Steinfort, a performance coach to some of the world’s best who Sports Illustrated has called “Master Mind”, this show takes world-class performers from a range of arenas (from athletes to academics, entrepreneurs to entertainers, medicine to military) back through their journey to find their hard earned answers to a simple question: what does toughness look like in action?
Initially recorded exclusively for the US Army & veterans only, the intent behind these talks was to help soldiers and families deal with stressful situations so they dont just survive but thrive. But given the challenges everyone in the broader community faces these days, the full tapes of these exclusive interviews will now be released to the public via the Toughness podcast - so we can all benefit from the toughness of those at the top.
46episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How To Respond, Not React - A Toughness Compilation on Personal Power (Business, NBA, Olympics, Military, Authors)
Jul 7, 202200:57:09Tap to summarizeAs we start to wrap up our series of hot topics compilations, we are going over the essential pillar of what Toughness is all about: personal POWER - aka committed action - which is a combination of mental strength and psychological speed that makes people unstoppable in uncertainty. From a basketball legend to a business maverick, from an Olympic champion to multiple bestselling authors, you'll hear how these inspiring examples only managed to unlock their full potential when they decided to commit and stick to their vision, no matter how many road blocks stood in their way - and each one of them has advice for others who need to move past their feelings and stick to their plans. FEATURED IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE: Jordan Belfort (Investor) - Bravery in Business Justin Kenna (CEO) - Bravery in Business Shaquille O'Neal (NBA) - Belief Is A Big Deal Dalilah Muhammad (Olympic Champion) - Running Towards the Hurdles Dan Coyle (Author) - Tough Cultures vs Tough Leaders Mike Erwin (West Point) - Tough Cultures vs Tough Leaders Freddie Stevenson (Football / Author) - Finding A Way Jon Gordon (Author/Speaker) - Public Speaking with Positivity and Purpose
Transcribe →How To Pivot Under Pressure - A Toughness Compilation on Cognitive Speed (SWAT, E-Sports, MLB, NFL, Execs, Olympics)
Jun 26, 202200:57:20Tap to summarizeWhat if you had a on/off switch that could instantly shutdown the negative emotions in your brain and just get you focused on the task at hand? That's exactly what today's episode is all about: developing Cognitive Speed. From baseball to the boardroom, e-sports to the olympics, from the police to the podium, all of these stories involve individuals who faced immense pressure and stress, but pivoted quickly to ensure success. Whether you're scared by an important decision that you have to make, or you have experienced deep traumas, or constantly battling "negative" emotions like anger, this selection of guests are going to show you how they manage to quickly accept the noise and flick their focus onto the now, as a result of that, get the most out of the moments that matter. FEATURED IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE: Keeping Calm When Life Throws You Curveballs - Kevin Pillar (MLB) Executive Function Under Fire - Mike Tannenbaum (GM) Executive Function Under Fire - Scott Goldman (PhD) Police, Pressure & PTSD - Lane Douglas Hunt (Police) + Brian Willis (Training) Police, Pressure & PTSD - Brian Willis (Training) The Practice of Finding Power in Pain - Apolo Ohno (Olympic Champion) Gaming Your Mind - Emmalee ”EMUHLEET” Garrido (Esports) The Brain Is A Body Part - Alexi Pappas (Olympian + Filmmaker)
Transcribe →How To Hang On During Hardship - A Toughness Compilation on Emotional Endurance (World Series Poker, NASCAR, Journalism)
Jun 19, 202200:56:05Tap to summarizeHow do people deal with prolonged discomfort? How can you hang on when the going gets tough? How can you avoid cutting corners or getting lazy when the payoff seems forever away? At the halfway point of our series of specially curated episodes, a topic comes to mind that covers all of this - Emotional Endurance. In this episode we hear how people that stand out in very different arenas manage to keep their emotions in check in high stakes situations. From gambling millions of dollars in World Series Poker, to driving and crashing a 200mph Nascar racing car, or living for 10+ in war zones, some guests had to learn not only how to deal with the pressure of being a World Champion, but also how to find balance within their teams. This is an episode that will definitely help you to put the weight, pressure and bullshit aside and hang in there through hard times. FEATURED IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE: Margaret Coker (Journalist) - The Waiting Game Of War Jesse Iwuji (NASCAR Racing) - The Drive to Thrive Jorryt Van Hoof (Poker Player) - High Stakes? Poker Face 😐 Jared Tendler (Performance Coach) - High Stakes? Poker Face 😐 Denise Shull (Finance) - Trading, Triggers, And How Feelings (Like Fear) Help Us Win John Burns (Wall Street) - Trading, Triggers, And How Feelings (Like Fear) Help Us Win Michael Hixon (Olympic Diver) - Staying in Sync Under Stress Sam Dorman (Olympic Diver) - Staying in Sync Under Stress Cody Royle (Performance Coach) - The Tough Part of Being the Top Dog
Transcribe →How To See Through The Storm - A Toughness Compilation on Spiritual Stability (Coaching, Comedy, Fashion, Business)
Jun 12, 202200:45:15Tap to summarizeHere in the third episode of our series of hot topic compilations, you'll hear how some of the best in the world in a huge variety of fields - from Comedy to Coaching, in the NFL and the WNBA, from fashion shows to finance boardrooms - manage to stick to their vision and stay on course to their North Star, even when the waves get choppy and the vision might be blurry. Hear from people at the top of their game as they explore what can be termed "Spiritual Stability", but not in a religious sense: it's about what your heart & your spirit value most in life. Why do elite performers keep pushing forward when there’s so many obstacles, and plenty of excuses to quit or change? Tune in to find out! FEATURED IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE: Ronny Chieng (Comedian / Actor) - How To Stay Strong, Even If You Bomb Kliff Kingsbury (NFL Head Coach) - Growth, Greatness & Attacking The Game Of Life Chasity Melvin (WNBA) - The Value of Vision Broderick Hunter (Model / Actor) - A Model Of Confidence, From Fashion To Film Joe Moglia (Business / Coaching) - The Courage of Leading With Love Jen Welter (NFL) - Tough Women Make History Justine Siegal (MLB) - Tough Women Make History
Transcribe →How to Bend But Not Break - A Toughness Compilation on Psychological Flexibility (Navy SEALs, NASA, Firefighters, Cirque)
Jun 5, 202200:44:55Tap to summarizeAhead of the upcoming second season of Toughness, behold the second in our series of hot topic special episodes! In today's specially curated compilation, you'll hear how bad-ass performers in cut-throat environments - from Navy Seals to NASA, from Firefighters to First Basemen, even Cirque du Soleil acrobats and Olympic sprinters - flex their mental muscles in unique ways in order to withstand the fire. Listen to tales from the front lines as those who face the flames on a daily basis talk through how they adapt, adjust and overcome unexpected obstacles and unforeseen setbacks. Some of our guests also speak to coaches and the psychology behind training that flexible, "bend, don't break" mindset which is so crucial on stages when its make or break, where lives are saved or lost - including vital tips that could help you adapt while facing your own adversity. FEATURED IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE: Coleman Ruiz (Navy SEAL) - Special Forces, Mental Agility & Elite Habits *Part 1* Ceci Craft (MLB) - Special Forces, Mental Agility & Elite Habits *Part 2* Holly Ridings (NASA) - Mission Critical Mindset Jason Brezler (FDNY) - Focus Through The Fire *Part 1* Steven Hayes (Psychology) - Flexibility Comes First: From Panic Disorders To Player Development Jonathan Fader (NFL / MLB) - Focus Through The Fire *Part 2* Veronica Campbell-Brown (Olympics) - The Stress Of Repeating Success Veronique Richard (Cirque du Soleil) - Cultivating Courage In Acrobats, Clowns & Coaches Darren Holder (Coaching) - Cultivating Courage In Acrobats, Clowns & Coaches
Transcribe →How To Focus For Your Fight - A Toughness Compilation on Mental Strength (NFL, NBA, WWE, Olympics, Medicine, Military)
May 29, 202200:54:33Tap to summarizeTo warm up for season 2 of the show, we're releasing a series of specially curated compilations on the pillars of Toughness. In today's episode, you're going to hear how elite performers in different arenas - from NFL and NBA to WWE and MLB, from the Olympics to academics, and from medicine to the military - maximize their talents in the moments that matter most. One by one you'll be able to hear how some of the world's best in their fields stay glued to their goals and focused in the fight, despite distress and distractions. These brave experts will share stories and tips on how they tap into and even develop their own Mental Strength in the toughest of conditions, and provide inspiration for anyone who is facing a tough time at work, at home or anywhere else in life. FEATURED IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE: Raheem Mostert (NFL) - How an NFL Record Holder Tackles Tough Times Shaquille O'Neal (NBA) - Belief Is A Big Deal Lacey Evans (WWE) - Motivation in the Marines, MLB and WWE Justin Su'a (MLB) - Motivation in the Marines, MLB and WWE Lindsey Vonn (Olympics) - Grit, Gold, and the Two Types of Toughness Angela Duckworth (Academics) - Grit, Gold, and the Two Types of Toughness Dr Al'ai Alvarez (Emergency Medicine) - Coping With Chaos in Critical Care Waldo Waldman (Fighter Pilot) - How To Fly Through Fear
Transcribe →The Tough Part of Being the Top Dog - Cody Royle (Performance Coach)
Mar 31, 202200:47:20Tap to summarizeThe coach of head coaches: that's the perfect way to explain how Cody Royle operates behind the curtains with the leaders of elite teams around the world. After some traumatic events in his own early coaching journey, Cody realized that there was nobody focussed specifically on how tough situations could impact the performance of head coaches - so he decided to start documenting his coaching philosophy in a series of books, podcasts, and blogs, which led to him becoming the trusted confidant of coaches across multiple sports. In this episode, Royle shares with us how toughness, optimism and a great culture can drive not only professional sports forward, but careers and life in general.
Transcribe →Running Towards the Hurdles - Dalilah Muhammad (Olympic Champion)
Feb 15, 202200:36:20Tap to summarizeDalilah Muhammad's career is filled with titles, medals and world records, but the Track & Field legend needed elite levels of toughness to overcome a lot of hurdles on the way to winning Gold in Rio's 2016 Olympics. By saying 'yes' to her inner voice, and then also to everything that led towards what she really wanted - even if it was hard - she was able to go all-in on her dreams, overcome injuries and other setbacks and write her name in history as the first American woman to win Olympic Gold in the 400 meter hurdles.
Transcribe →The Courage of Leading With Love - Joe Moglia (Business / Coaching)
Feb 6, 202200:54:25Tap to summarizeWhat's one thing that the stock market and football have in common? The answer is Joe Moglia. The former chairman of the board and CEO of TD Ameritrade decided to leave one of the most most lucrative fields ever to pursue his dream of working as a football coach. As the head coach of Coastal Carolina, Moglia quickly realized that toughness was an essential fuel for not only athletes and businessmen, but for every person with the guts to find out who they really are.
Transcribe →Staying in Sync Under Stress - Michael Hixon and Sam Dorman (Olympic Divers)
Sep 7, 202100:43:02Tap to summarizeWhen 4 years of work can be undone in one moment, whats tougher than having to deal with your own stress? Having two people's stress combined. This week we dive in the mind of 2 Olympic silver medalists, Michael Hixon (2x silver in 2016 and 2020) and Sam Dorman (1x silver in 2016). The duo of divers represented Team USA in Rio in the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard event. By talking about how they deal with the pressure of having only 6 dives to focus on in an interval of 4 years of preparation, we dig into the counterintuitive truth that you can have 2 people who approach their mental game in a very different manner. You don't want to miss this one!
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