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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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Most people train their bodies. The best train their minds. NFL and NBA psychologist Dr. Alex Auerbach joins Nick Standlea to reveal how elite performers stay calm under pressure, turn nerves into fuel, and master stress instead of fighting it.
Whether you’re an athlete, founder, or coach, this conversation will change the way you think about focus, resilience, and performance.
🎯 What You’ll LearnHow stress can enhance performance instead of killing it
The myth of 10,000 hours — and what actually builds mastery
Why a “fixed” mindset isn’t always bad
How to stop youth sports burnout before it starts
The self-talk rituals that world champions use
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Watch more interviews on The Nick Standlea Show:
🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@TheNickStandleaShow
Connect with Alex Auerbach:
Website: https://www.alexauerbach.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexauerbachphd/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AlexAuerbachPhD
🕒 Chapters
00:00 Introduction — What separates good from great performers
01:15 Meet Dr. Alex Auerbach — NBA, NFL and elite military psychologist
03:10 From football coach to sports psychologist
07:30 Inside the Toronto Raptors and Jacksonville Jaguars mental programs
10:20 How elite athletes train their minds for focus and control
14:45 The four levels of mental performance training
18:00 Why stress is neither good nor bad — it’s your body preparing to act
22:10 Regulating energy — what to do when you’re too amped up or too flat
26:25 Individualizing mental skills for different players
29:40 How coaches should respond when kids get over-stimulated
33:00 Preventing burnout and the truth about early specialization
37:20 The myth of 10,000 hours and why it’s a story, not a rule
41:35 Turning nerves into excitement — the science of stress mindsets
47:00 Team chemistry and connection — why touch and breathing matter
51:10 Ronaldo’s self-talk and how pros build confidence on command
56:30 The “confidence résumé” — training your brain to remember wins
01:01:10 How to coach mistakes without creating shame
01:05:45 The case for a fixed mindset — balance, identity and earned belief
01:10:30 Closing thoughts — using psychology to thrive under pressure
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Connect with The Nick Standlea Show:
YouTube: @TheNickStandleaShow
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