

The Mental Golf Show
Josh Nichols
Host Josh Nichols shares from his own 20 years of competitive and golf psychology coaching experiences, along with years of learning psychology, as well as interviews with players, coaches, and experts in the golf industry, all with the goal of helping you think better on and off the golf course.
*This podcast is not meant to apply to every individuals’ mental health. And not all opinions expressed by guests reflect Josh’s opinions and experiences.
*This podcast is not meant to apply to every individuals’ mental health. And not all opinions expressed by guests reflect Josh’s opinions and experiences.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 18, 2025 • 59min
265: Carly Hunt - How Your Brain Shapes Golf, Pain, and Performance
📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement
🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice
🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.
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What if your pain wasn’t just a body problem, but a brain and golf problem? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Carly Hunt—Mid-Am Golfer/Pain Psychologist and author of Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain—to talk about how golf can both ease and amplify pain, why “it’s all in your head” is a terrible (and wrong) message, and how the brain’s alarm system actually works. We get into practical tools for playing with ongoing pain, navigating fear of re-injury, dealing with the identity grief of not being the golfer you used to be, and how to shift from fighting your body to working with it so you can keep playing the game you love.
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Carly Hunt's links:
Carly Hunt's Book: Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain: How to Harness the Power of the Mind-Body Connection - https://www.amazon.com/Train-Your-Brain-Beat-Chronic/dp/1462558526
Pain Reprocessing Therapy - https://www.painreprocessingtherapy.com
The Pain Psychology Center - https://painpsychologycenter.com/therapy-techniques
Carly on LinkedIn
Carly on Instagram
Email Carly
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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Nov 11, 2025 • 12min
264: How to Lean Into Golf Discomfort, Not Eject
Discover how to tackle the mental game of golf when things don't go as planned. Explore exposure therapy, which helps build confidence through facing anxiety-inducing shots. Learn a step-by-step routine for entering pressure situations and how to expand your tolerance for discomfort. Josh emphasizes the importance of neutrality over forced positivity and advises mapping your mental challenges. Find out how to track your progress and develop a multi-round plan to confront discomfort, ultimately enhancing your performance.

15 snips
Nov 4, 2025 • 58min
263: Paul Salter - Fear, Confidence, and the Secret to Consistent Golf Success
Paul Salter, a mindset and performance coach specializing in hypnotherapy, shares insights into achieving consistent success in golf. He discusses the importance of committing to mastery over mere choice and the power of language in enhancing self-talk. Paul emphasizes the significance of building confidence through action and unlearning limiting beliefs that often stem from childhood experiences. He also addresses managing fear and expectations, balancing obsession with relationships, and how golf mirrors personal growth.

Oct 28, 2025 • 6min
262: Caddie Yourself into Full Commitment
Learn how to become your own caddy and gain a mental edge on the golf course. Discover the importance of commitment in your shots and how external self-talk can guide you to make confident decisions. Josh delves into the neuroscience behind speaking your thoughts, explaining how it calms your brain and enhances performance. Transitioning from caddy mode to player mode can boost your trust and commitment in each swing. Get practical tips for creating your own pre-shot routine to foster confidence and play freely.

Oct 21, 2025 • 1h 31min
261: Dr. Doug Tataryn - Inadequacy, Self-Betrayal, and Core Beliefs are Affecting Your Golf Game
Dr. Doug Tataryn, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Bio-Emotive Framework, shares insights on how emotional history impacts golf performance. He discusses the Four Facets of Human Transformation and the interplay between childhood experiences and golf. Doug reveals how addressing feelings of inadequacy can enhance a golfer's swing and explores the role of emotional processing in achieving balance. With practical applications, he emphasizes the connection between golf, personal growth, and the importance of recognizing one's core feelings.

Oct 14, 2025 • 1h 9min
260: Bruce Chalas - College Golf Recruiting and Performing Under Intense Pressure
Special guest Coach Bruce Chalas and I talk all about college golf, the psychological demands of college golf, and the recruiting process for junior golfers. So if you’re a junior golfer, college player, a parent of one, or a coach helping players navigate this stage, this one’s for you.
And even if you’re not in that world, it’s still a really cool peek behind the curtain at how high-level players get noticed, develop, and play great golf under pressure.
Bruce Chalas is the head coach of the Boston University women’s golf team and he’s been there for 17 years.
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Junior Girls Golf Clinic: https://bostonuniversitygirlsgolfclinic.com/
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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
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Get more from Josh Nichols:
The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.
PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com.
Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.
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Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Oct 8, 2025 • 10min
259: FundaMENTALS - Handle Pressure Better in Three Simple Steps
Welcome to Episode 3 of the FundaMENTALS series, where Josh Nichols will be walking through the core components of a good mental game.
This week: Handling Pressure
On this episode, I want to talk about that feeling in your chest, that slight tremor in your hands, that racing thought pattern that can suddenly appear when the stakes feel higher. Something that every golfer deals with on the course, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned tournament player, and whether you realize it or not: pressure.
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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
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Get more from Josh Nichols:
The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.
PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com.
Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.
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Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

4 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 8min
258: Jayne Storey - Relaxed Readiness, Inner Quietude, and the Deeper Dimensions of Golf
Jayne Storey, a writer and meditation expert, explores the fusion of spirituality and golf. She discusses how letting go and embracing flow can enhance performance, turning the game into a spiritual practice. Jayne delves into the concept of 'relaxed readiness,' connecting Tai Chi principles to achieving calmness under pressure. The conversation highlights the importance of trusting your body and recognizing when to step back, allowing true skill to emerge. Discover how golf can be a path for self-expression and inner fulfillment.

Sep 23, 2025 • 8min
257: FundaMENTALS - Confidence: Durable vs. Fragile
Confidence in golf often feels like it comes and goes with your scorecard. But what if there’s a way to build confidence that doesn’t vanish after a bad hole or a bad round? In this episode, we’ll explore where true confidence really comes from—and why most golfers never find it.
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Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
-----
📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
-----
Get more from Josh Nichols:
The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.
PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com.
Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.
-----
Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

7 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 57min
256: Mike Berland - Redefining Success, Making Golf More Inclusive, and Finding Joy in the Game Again
Mike Berland, a strategic advisor and author of *Not About Golf: The Life Changing Joy of Playing the Game*, emphasizes the joy of golf over mere improvement. He discusses the importance of managing expectations and finding mental clarity, sharing grounding exercises for focus. Berland highlights golf as a social connector and advocates for making the sport more inclusive through modernizing formats and technology. His insights aim to rekindle love for golf, encouraging players to enjoy the game without the pressure of performance.


