E600: Steroids vs Placebo: How Perception Changes Performance

Jun 11, 2025

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Shallow and Jiunta unpack a wild placebo study where elite powerlifters and sprinters were told they were on steroids... but weren’t. We dive into the psychology of belief, placebo effects, and how the mind might be the most underutilized performance-enhancer in training.

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Croissants and Intravenous Drugs (00:00:00) Drug vs. Alcohol Logic: The Dark Humor Segment (00:02:00) Performance vs. Feeling Good (00:09:40) The Steroid Placebo Study Breakdown (00:10:18) The Psychology Behind Perceived Strength (00:14:10) Belief vs. Recovery: What’s Really Helping? (00:15:26) The Power of Perception in Training (00:16:12) Coaching as a Placebo? (00:20:28) What Athletes Actually Trust (00:24:06) Outliers and Self-Belief (00:27:14) When Placebos Wear Off (00:29:16) Kobe, Floyd, and the Power of Belief (00:31:00) Mental Weakness or Missed Opportunity? (00:36:00) Confidence, Self-Doubt, and Growth (00:39:00) Steroids, Fairness, and the Playing Field (00:41:00)