#54 Alex Hutchinson: The Lie That Unlocked Human Limits, Tricking Perception & Aphantasia!

Alex Hutchinson is a physicist, elite endurance athlete, and author of Endure — one of the most widely respected books on the science of human performance ever written.Fatigue isn’t a failure of the body — it’s a protective illusion cast by the brain. And Alex has spent the last decade exposing the hidden limits that shape our endurance, our suffering, and our potential.Expect to learn why the brain — not the muscles — is the true governor of performance, how pain, thirst, heat, and oxygen deprivation are all perceptions, how world-record freedivers trick their brains into ignoring suffocation, why some athletes can lift cars in moments of hysterical strength, how the brain decides when you’re “done,” how brain zapping may change the future of sport, why elite performers can override mental fatigue, what separates champions from mortals, and why exploration might be the final expression of the endurance instinct.Timestamps: 00:00 Intro02:25 The Fascination with Endurance Feats 05:15 Faith Kipyegon's Four-Minute Mile Attempt 08:21 The Role of Pacers and Aerodynamics 11:19 Nike's Innovations in Performance 14:26 Mental Strategies in Endurance Racing 17:09 Personal Stories of Overcoming Limits 30:00 The Unheard of Improvement in Running 31:26 The Role of Perception in Performance 33:12 Breaking Mental Barriers in Running 35:30 The Pressure of Expectations in Competition 38:32 The Champion Mentality: Rising to the Occasion 40:13 The Inner Game of Tennis and Performance Psychology 44:11 The Mystique of Race Day Energy 52:58 Understanding the Central Governor Theory 56:35 The Controversy of Fatigue Perception 01:03:31 Reframing Feelings for Better Performance 01:05:00 Understanding Fatigue Through Predictive Frameworks 01:10:26 The Role of Wearables in Running Performance 01:18:29 Diane Van Deren: Running Without Time Constraints 01:26:10 The Impact of Inner Monologue on Endurance Performance 01:34:01 Exploring the Spectrum of Visualization 01:36:41 Understanding the Central Governor Theory 01:41:18 The Concept of Brain Training in Endurance 01:51:26 Ethics and the Future of Enhanced Sports ...📚 RECOMMENDED READINGEndure: Mind Body & Curiously Elastic: https://amzn.to/47dMLFeThe Explorer's Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map: https://amzn.to/4mMHaur…Neuroscience Products I Swear By (Supports the Channel)Sentia Spirits: https://sentiaspirits.com/mcgloughlin4209355084Manta Sleep Mask: Get the Comfiest Sleep Mask on the Planet (Use Code GIANTSMANTA10 https://bit.ly/4ilzfBL )Brain.FM: Music Entrainment for Focused Deep Work (30 Day Free Trial: https://www.brain.fm/giantsshoulder)Consensus.AI: https://get.consensus.app/we00d2cmjpqeFollow My Neuroscience Podcast - The Giants Shoulder Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5m3Gta5MtIYdk59pb2GJ7M?si=b33232eae67b4126Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/brief-enquiry-to-the-brain/id1752486249