Mind Over Markets: Trading Psychology Podcast

George Papazov
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Jun 12, 2025 • 35min

Trader or Analyst? Why You Freeze at Entry — And How to Flip the Switch

In this powerful episode, George explores the core psychological conflict that prevents traders from confidently executing trades. The root of the issue? A hidden identity battle between two roles—the Analyst and the Trader. The analyst is calm, logical, and risk-free. The trader, on the other hand, operates under pressure, confronting risk, regret, and responsibility.George argues that most traders overtrain their analyst and neglect their trader, leading to hesitation, fear, and poor execution. Through vivid metaphors—like fans on the field, CEOs vs. managers, and athletes under pressure—he drives home the importance of training the execution muscle, not just the analytical mind.He wraps the episode with a practical 3-step challenge to help listeners separate and strengthen these two identities so they can flip the internal switch and become confident, decisive traders.Key TakeawaysSeparate the analyst and trader roles – The analyst prepares and plans; the trader executes under pressure. Confusing these roles leads to hesitation.Hesitation is caused by identity conflict – Freezing at entries happens when you're stuck between roles and not confident in the trader identity.Train the trader specifically – Most traders practice analysis but never practice execution. You must deliberately train the trader role with live replays and real-time decisions.Use a physical switch to build awareness – A labeled switch helps reinforce role separation and activates the right mindset at the right time.Treat trading as a performance sport – Like athletes, traders need focused execution. Intrusive thoughts (the “fans”) must be silenced during performance.Journal role-based mistakes – After each session, identify whether the analyst or trader made the error, and refine that role accordingly.Episode Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠Download End the Cycle⁠⁠⁠⁠, a 7 day reset plan used by traders to regain control - FAST!Enjoying this podcast? We’d appreciate it if you can drop us a rating and review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a message or your question ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Speakpipe here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with our community online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trade Pro Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Catch up with our earlier episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mind Over Markets Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FREE trading room here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter here
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Jun 5, 2025 • 16min

Belief Is the Real Strategy: One Mental Shift That Can Change Your Trading

In this episode, George emphasizes the importance of belief in trading success, arguing that a trader's mindset and self-belief are crucial for achieving consistent results. He shares a powerful mental exercise to help listeners reframe limiting beliefs and cultivate a positive mindset, ultimately leading to improved trading performance.TakeawaysMost traders need a better belief system, not a strategy.Belief influences risk tolerance and decision-making.Your language creates your experience in trading.Reframing limiting beliefs can change your trading outcomes.You must believe in your success before it manifests.Catch and reframe one limiting belief each day.Positive affirmations can reshape your trading mindset.Success is a decision reinforced by belief.You are a high performer; believe it to achieve it.Community support is vital for personal growth.Episode Resources⁠⁠⁠Download End the Cycle⁠⁠⁠, a 7 day reset plan used by traders to regain control - FAST!Enjoying this podcast? We’d appreciate it if you can drop us a rating and review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a message or your question ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Speakpipe here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with our community online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trade Pro Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Catch up with our earlier episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mind Over Markets Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FREE trading room here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter here
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May 29, 2025 • 34min

The Hidden Danger of Winning Streaks: What No One Tells You

Most traders fear losing streaks — but it’s the winning streaks that silently destroy more accounts than anything else. In this episode, George shares a raw and revealing look at how winning can lead to overconfidence, dopamine addiction, and subconscious sabotage. You’ll learn why success often triggers reckless behavior, how to recognize when you’re slipping into the danger zone, and what to do to stabilize your performance before the market humbles you. This is one of the most important mindset episodes we’ve ever released.👉 Includes: a practical “Streak Stabilization Plan,” subconscious reprogramming insights, and the real reason traders spiral after they win.TakeawaysWinning streaks can lead to overconfidence and reckless behavior.Dopamine surges from wins can create an addiction to winning.Traders often deviate from their plans during winning streaks.Emotional crashes can occur after a winning streak ends.Self-reflection is crucial for maintaining a healthy trading mindset.Risk management is essential to avoid significant losses.Traders should take breaks to reset their perspective after wins.It's important to journal both winning and losing trades.Your worth as a trader is not tied to your win rate.Stabilizing your approach is key to long-term success.Episode Resources⁠⁠Download End the Cycle⁠⁠, a 7 day reset plan used by traders to regain control - FAST!Enjoying this podcast? We’d appreciate it if you can drop us a rating and review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a message or your question ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Speakpipe here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with our community online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trade Pro Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Catch up with our earlier episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mind Over Markets Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FREE trading room here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter here
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May 22, 2025 • 39min

Designing the Freedom to Trade: Travel, Mindset & Mastery with Etienne Crète

SummaryIn this conversation, George interviews Etienne Crete, a trader and prop firm owner, discussing his journey from a coffee shop to becoming a successful trader. They explore the importance of community, the role of journaling in improving trading performance, and the challenges of managing other people's money. Etienne shares insights on trading while traveling, the mindset required for success in prop firms, and the lessons learned from aviation that apply to trading. The discussion emphasizes the need for personalizing trading strategies and the importance of building a fulfilling trading lifestyle.TakeawaysEvery conversation matters in shaping your journey.Classifying trades into good and bad is crucial for improvement.Trading someone else's money adds pressure and responsibility.Staying in one place for a few days helps maintain routine while traveling.Successful traders give themselves time to develop skills.Contributing to society through trading can provide fulfillment.You must become an expert at your own trading style.Trading can take as little as 20 minutes a day.Mistakes in trading are opportunities for growth and learning.Building connections with other traders is essential for success.Episode Resources⁠Download End the Cycle⁠, a 7 day reset plan used by traders to regain control - FAST!Enjoying this podcast? We’d appreciate it if you can drop us a rating and review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a message or your question ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Speakpipe here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with our community online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trade Pro Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Catch up with our earlier episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mind Over Markets Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FREE trading room here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter here
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May 15, 2025 • 51min

How Fear Distorts Every Trade You Take — Without You Noticing

Do you ever find yourself hesitating at the worst time... or chasing trades you swore you'd avoid? What if it’s not the market — but your mind — that’s sabotaging your results?In this raw and revealing episode, George shares the story of how fear nearly derailed his trading journey after leaving a six-figure bank career to go full-time. You'll discover how fear doesn’t just create hesitation — it rewires your perception, distorts your reality, and silently infects every decision you make as a trader.He breaks down how fear forms in the brain, how NLP explains the looping behavior that kills your edge, and how two traders can see the exact same setup but experience completely different outcomes — based on their internal filters.Plus, George shares a powerful 3-step fear reset process you can start using today, along with how he uses the Oura Ring to monitor mental readiness for trading.Sound Bites"Trading is not an inherently scary thing.""Your state that you're in is the lens.""Fear, tension, doubt, racing heart rate.""Behaviors created by a state of fear.""You have zero control of your behavior.""Your brain knows the difference.""You're experiencing fear, not loss.""You're overreacting to price movement.""Identify your triggers for fear.""Detect, disrupt, and refocus."Chapters00:00 Understanding Fear in Trading05:08 The Journey to Full-Time Trading09:56 The Fear Filter and Its Impact14:48 Trading Realities: Two Perspectives20:10 Breaking the Cycle of Fear in Trading25:50 Understanding Fear and Its Impact on Trading32:02 The Role of Internal Representation in Trading Behavior38:48 Identifying and Managing Triggers of Fear49:04 Practical Strategies for Emotional Awareness in Trading🎯 If you’re ready to stop letting fear hijack your trades and finally take back control, tune in now.🧠 Get your FREE 7-day mindset reset guide: 📺 Watch the companion video on YouTube this Saturday💬 Leave us a voice message.
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May 8, 2025 • 51min

The Habit That Finally Broke My Worst Trading Loop

In this conversation, George shares his transformative journey in trading, emphasizing the critical role of psychology over mere strategy. He discusses the importance of maintaining a trading journal that captures not just the hard data but also the emotional and psychological aspects of trading. By identifying emotional triggers and understanding decision-making processes, traders can break free from destructive loops like overtrading and FOMO. George outlines a two-fold journaling process that includes both hard data and real-time mindset reflections, ultimately guiding listeners through a practical example of his own trading journal. In this conversation, George delves into the intricacies of trading, emphasizing the importance of understanding market dynamics, personal accountability, and the role of journaling in enhancing trading performance. He discusses real-time decision-making, the significance of recognizing market resistance, and the psychological aspects of trading that can lead to emotional pitfalls. By sharing his personal journaling method, he illustrates how documenting thoughts and decisions can transform a trader's mindset and improve overall performance.TakeawaysThe realization that trading issues may stem from personal psychology rather than strategy.A trading journal should capture emotions and thought processes, not just statistics.Identifying emotional triggers is crucial for improving trading performance.Awareness of trading loops is the first step to breaking them.Traders occupy two roles: the strategist and the executor.Effective journaling involves both hard data and mindset reflections.Frustration in trading often has deeper roots that need to be addressed.The act of writing in a journal can lead to powerful subconscious changes.Understanding market dynamics requires a focus on order flow and emotional management.A comprehensive trading journal can significantly enhance decision-making and performance. There's a lot of buy Delta to the upside for buyers to come through.You should have an aha moment when you realize the importance of your comments.Acknowledging what needs to happen for profitability is key.The journal helps solidify your trading decisions in your subconscious mind.Relying on emotions can lead to impulsive trading decisions.Real-time order flow can confirm your trading plan.Listening to market dynamics is crucial for decision making.Journaling captures the moment that creates emotion in trading.Transforming your trading habits requires addressing the root causes of emotion.Managing your internal state is essential for professional trading.Chapters00:00 The Turning Point in Trading Psychology02:51 Understanding the Importance of a Trading Journal06:12 Identifying Emotional Triggers in Trading09:05 The Two-Fold Process of Effective Journaling11:58 Walking Through a Day in the Trading Journal26:02 Understanding Market Dynamics and Personal Accountability29:47 Real-Time Decision Making in Trading35:01 Navigating Market Resistance and Seller Behavior39:45 The Importance of Journaling in Trading45:07 Transforming Trading Habits and MindsetEpisode ResourcesDownload the trading journal that was discussed on today's show.Download End the Cycle, a 7 day reset plan used by traders to regain control - FAST!Enjoying this podcast? We’d appreciate it if you can drop us a rating and review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes here⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a message or your question ⁠⁠⁠⁠on Speakpipe here⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with our community online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Trade Pro Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠Catch up with our earlier episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mind Over Markets Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠ FREE trading room here⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter here
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May 1, 2025 • 35min

I Was Just Gambling — Taking Huge Losses (Until I Found the Real Reason Why)

In this conversation, George shares his journey from being a reckless trader to understanding the deeper psychological patterns that influenced his trading behavior. He discusses how early life experiences shaped his mindset, leading to a gambling mentality in trading. Through neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), he learned to identify and rewire these patterns, emphasizing the importance of emotional awareness and risk management. The conversation highlights the need for traders to confront their personal beliefs and emotional triggers to achieve success in the market.TakeawaysTrading can often feel like gambling when driven by emotions.Early life experiences significantly shape our risk-taking behaviors.Neuro-linguistic programming can help rewire negative trading patterns.Emotional awareness is crucial for successful trading.The fear of being wrong can lead to self-sabotaging behaviors.External validation can influence trading decisions negatively.Accepting the randomness of the market is essential for risk management.Identifying personal patterns can help break destructive trading loops.Awareness and journaling are key steps in improving trading psychology.Building trust in oneself is vital for effective trading.Chapters00:00 The Illusion of Control in Trading03:00 The Impact of Early Life Experiences05:48 Understanding the Gambler's Mindset09:10 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Trading12:07 Identifying Personal Patterns in Trading14:56 The Need for External Validation17:51 Accepting Randomness in the Market20:46 Breaking Free from Destructive Loops24:14 Steps to Rewire Your Trading Psychology29:57 Building Trust and Control in TradingEpisode ResourcesWant to re-program your trading psychology with new code that serves you?  ⁠⁠⁠Checkout this free course.⁠⁠⁠Enjoying this podcast? We’d appreciate it if you can drop us a rating and review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes here⁠⁠⁠Leave me a message or your question ⁠⁠⁠on Speakpipe here⁠⁠⁠Connect with our community online: ⁠⁠⁠Trade Pro Academy⁠⁠⁠Catch up with our earlier episodes: ⁠⁠⁠Mind Over Markets Podcast⁠⁠⁠Join our⁠⁠⁠ FREE trading room here⁠⁠⁠Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram here⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠Twitter here
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Apr 24, 2025 • 53min

The Market Most Traders Overlook — But Changed Everything for Me

In this episode, George shares his extensive journey in trading, starting from his early days learning Forex with his father to discovering the advantages of futures trading. He discusses the importance of risk management, the benefits of trading futures, including time freedom, leverage, and liquidity, and emphasizes the significance of having a solid trading plan. George also highlights the unique aspects of futures trading compared to stocks and Forex, making it an appealing option for traders. In this conversation, George discusses the advantages of futures trading, emphasizing the importance of order flow and liquidity. He debunks common myths surrounding futures, such as the perception of high risk and the belief that it's only for professional traders. George explains how futures can accommodate various trading styles and schedules, making it accessible for everyone. He encourages traders to define their goals and find a trading style that suits their lifestyle, ultimately highlighting the transformative potential of futures trading.TakeawaysGeorge started trading Forex at a young age with his father's guidance.He learned the importance of risk management in trading.Futures trading offers unique advantages over stocks and Forex.Time freedom is a significant benefit of trading futures.Leverage in futures can lead to high profits but also high risks.The micro futures product allows for lower risk trading.Liquidity in futures markets is unparalleled compared to other markets.Order flow is crucial for making informed trading decisions.George emphasizes the importance of a trading plan and discipline.Futures trading can be suitable for various trading styles and schedules. Liquidity is a crucial advantage in trading.Order flow provides insights into market dynamics.Futures trading can offer better data for decision-making.Volatility is driven by institutional repositioning.Risk perception can be managed through education and strategy.Futures trading is accessible to all, not just professionals.Understanding market structure is key to successful trading.Traders should define their personal trading goals.The right mindset can reduce perceived risks in trading.Futures can provide time freedom and flexibility in trading.Chapters00:00George's Journey into Trading07:00Discovering Futures Trading12:48Benefits of Trading Futures16:34Understanding Leverage and Margin in Futures23:01Liquidity and Order Flow in Futures Trading26:19The Power of Order Flow and Liquidity29:09Understanding Futures and Market Dynamics32:34Debunking Myths About Futures Trading39:46Who Should Consider Futures Trading?50:10Finding Your Trading Style and GoalsEpisode ResourcesWanna get funded and stay funded at a prop firm?  ⁠⁠Checkout this free course.⁠⁠Enjoying this podcast? We’d appreciate it if you can drop us a rating and review on ⁠⁠iTunes here⁠⁠Leave me a message or your question ⁠⁠on Speakpipe here⁠⁠Connect with our community online: ⁠⁠Trade Pro Academy⁠⁠Catch up with our earlier episodes: ⁠⁠Mind Over Markets Podcast⁠⁠Join our⁠⁠ FREE trading room here⁠⁠Follow me on ⁠⁠Instagram here⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠Twitter here
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Apr 17, 2025 • 39min

Right Back Into the Fire: My Trading Comeback During the 2025 Crash

In this episode, George shares his personal journey of returning to trading after a two-and-a-half-year break. He reflects on the challenges he faced, the lessons learned during his time away, and how he is reinventing his trading strategies to align with his new lifestyle as a family man. George emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between trading and family life, the role of ego in trading, and the significance of community engagement in the trading world. He encourages listeners to embrace change and to define their own identities as traders.TakeawaysGeorge took a two-and-a-half-year break from trading due to exhaustion and personal life changes.His return to trading was motivated by a desire for a lifestyle that aligns with his family values.Creativity plays a significant role in trading, similar to music production.He realized the importance of having a trading strategy that respects his time and peace.Ego can hinder a trader's performance and decision-making.Finding balance between trading and family life is crucial for long-term success.George's experience highlights the importance of community and support in trading.He encourages traders to reflect on their identities and motivations.The journey of trading is not just about financial success but personal growth as well.Engaging with the trading community can provide valuable insights and support. Chapters00:00 George's Comeback Journey to Trading06:36 Reinventing Trading Strategies for a New Lifestyle12:45 The Role of Ego in Trading18:31 Finding Balance Between Trading and Family Life24:08 Embracing Change and Personal Growth30:26 The Identity of a Trader: Who Am I?36:48 Engaging with the Community and Future DirectionsEpisode ResourcesWanna get funded and stay funded at a prop firm?  ⁠Checkout this free course.⁠Enjoying this podcast? We’d appreciate it if you can drop us a rating and review on ⁠iTunes here⁠Leave me a message or your question ⁠on Speakpipe here⁠Connect with our community online: ⁠Trade Pro Academy⁠Catch up with our earlier episodes: ⁠Mind Over Markets Podcast⁠Join our⁠ FREE trading room here⁠Follow me on ⁠Instagram here⁠ and on ⁠Twitter here
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Apr 10, 2025 • 1h 6min

Trading Through the Trump Tariff Market Crash

In this episode, the hosts discuss the current market turmoil, drawing parallels with historical market crashes. They explore the causes and effects of past crashes, including the dot-com bubble, the global financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding market volatility, trading strategies, and the impact of political decisions on financial markets. The hosts provide insights into how traders can navigate through turbulent times and the lessons learned from previous market downturns. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the complexities of tariffs, inflation, and the role of the Federal Reserve in shaping market dynamics. They discuss the impact of economic events on everyday life, the importance of long-term investment strategies, and the necessity of understanding political influences on the market. The dialogue emphasizes the need for traders to navigate fear and seize opportunities, while also highlighting the value of community support in trading.TakeawaysS&P is down 16% in just 45 days, indicating market volatility.While most people are losing money, the pros are surviving and thriving.The pressure of market volatility either breaks you or builds you.Position sizing is crucial in trading, especially during volatile times.Historical market crashes provide valuable lessons for current trading strategies.Crashes can be sharp and short; staying in the game matters more than perfect timing.The dot-com crash had a recovery time of seven years, highlighting the long-term impact of market downturns.The global financial crisis saw a 57% drop in 17 months, emphasizing the severity of financial crises.COVID-19 caused a 34% drop in just one month, showcasing the rapid impact of external events on markets.Recovery always comes; it just takes time, and understanding this can help traders remain calm during downturns. Understanding tariffs is crucial for traders.Inflation significantly affects everyday consumers.The Federal Reserve's decisions impact market stability.Long-term investment strategies can mitigate short-term volatility.Market fear can present unique buying opportunities.Political awareness is essential for informed investing.Community support is vital for traders during volatile times.Investing in ETFs can be a safer long-term strategy.Patience is key in navigating market downturns.Historical market events can inform future investment decisions.Sound Bites"S&P is down 16% in just 45 days.""This pressure either breaks you or builds you.""The global financial crisis saw a 57% drop in 17 months.""COVID caused a 34% drop in just one month.""Recovery always comes; it just takes time.""Don't trade alone. Join a community.""The Fed doesn't want to touch anything right now.""Inflation is really what hurts the everyday person.""Time in the markets, not timing the markets.""Fear is super extreme right now.""Don't think that you've missed the bottom.""Talk them off the ledge.""Greedy when people are fearful."Wanna get funded and stay funded at a prop firm?  Checkout this free course.Enjoying this podcast? We’d appreciate it if you can drop us a rating and review on iTunes hereLeave me a message or your question on Speakpipe hereConnect with our community online: Trade Pro AcademyCatch up with our earlier episodes: Mind Over Markets PodcastJoin our FREE trading room hereFollow me on Instagram here and on Twitter here

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