The Mechanics of Poker Podcast E59 - Vlastimil Pustina, How Distraction Destroys Your Poker Game
Jul 30, 2025
This week’s guest is Vlastimil Pustina, a Czech high-stakes NLH cash-game player known for his profound journey into self-awareness. He discusses how poker serves as a mirror for personal growth, exploring emotions like fear and perfectionism that can sabotage performance. Vlastimil shares insights on mindfulness, emotional regulation, and managing dopamine to enhance focus. He also highlights the importance of recovery routines and setting boundaries, making connections between poker strategies and life lessons that resonate beyond the table.
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Self-Knowledge Multiplies Performance
- 95% of our reactions are subconscious, so self-knowledge multiplies small math-like changes into big performance gains.
- Vlastimil says understanding your programming lets you navigate burnout and emotional cycles intentionally.
Label The Inner Critic And Let It Pass
- Use mindfulness to name inner states so they stop driving behaviour unconsciously.
- When the inner critic appears, label it ("hey buddy") and let it pass instead of battling it.
Thinking About Emotions Isn't Feeling Them
- Poker players overuse their problem-solving mind and often avoid actually feeling emotions.
- Vlastimil notes thinking about emotions is not the same as feeling them, and feeling unlocks different learning.
