The Brian Cain Mental Performance Mastery Podcast

In this episode of The Mental Performance Mastery Podcast, Brian continues a tribute series to one of his mentors and a mental performance coaching icon, Harvey Dorfman.   Al Leiter pitched in Major League Baseball from 1987-2005, was a 2x All-Star, a 3x World Series Champion, and New York Mets Hall of Famer.  Leiter worked closely with Harvey and attributes a lot of his success over his career to his work on the mental game with Harvey. In this episode Al & Brian discuss: The moment Al knew he needed help with mental performance The 3 day think tank that Al and Harvey at his house in Prescot, Arizona Getting clarity on your job as a pitcher Being mentally and physically prepared to execute a pitch What made Harvey so special in Al’s eyes The listen and call you on your shit balance Professional athletes need and want to hear the truth Getting down to straight talk How you feel vs. how you behave Harvey’s two two processes for development Controlling what you can control Self-promotion vs. doing the work as a mental performance coach Al’s advice for mental performance coaches Conversations, Content and Careers - The Life and Legacy of Harvey Dorfman is a series in which Brian interviews former players and staff who had their careers positively impacted by Harvey.  Go inside the conversations, the content and the careers forever changed by one of the greatest mental performance coaches who ever lived. Check out Harvey’s Books on Amazon 📕The Mental Game of Baseball 📕The Mental Keys to Hitting 📕The Mental ABCs of Pitching 📕Coaching The Mental Game 📕Copying It Down 📕Each Branch, Each Needle 📕Babbling Echoes 📕Persuasion of My Days Brian Cain, MPM, the World’s leader in Mental Performance Coaching brings you practical tips, techniques, stories strategies, meditations and motivations every day that you can use to close the gap from where you are to where you want to be with The Mental Performance Daily Podcast.   Be sure to subscribe wherever you are listening to this podcast, leave us a review, and engage with Brian on social media @BrianCainPeak  ⌚Lean More About Pison, The World’s First Cognitive Performance App and Wearable 🎤 Follow Brian’s Mental Performance Daily Podcast 💻 Join Brian’s MPM Coaches Certification Insiders List & Save $200 ⚾ Take Brian’s FREE Baseball Masterclass

In this episode of The Mental Performance Mastery Podcast Reflect & Refocus, Brian discusses what Mental Performance Coaches can do to help their athletes return to play from injury. In this episode Brian shares 10 ways you can help your athletes during a return to play from injury. 1. Goal Setting for Rehab Progress: Encourage them to set specific, measurable, and realistic goals related to their rehab progress, focusing on what they can control. This keeps them motivated and provides structure. 2. Visualization and Imagery: Teach the athlete to use mental imagery to “rehearse” their sport. Visualizing movements, techniques, and successful performances can help maintain muscle memory and increase mental toughness. 3. Mindfulness and Meditation: Introduce mindfulness techniques to help them stay present and manage the emotional challenges of being injured. It can improve emotional regulation, reduce stress, and improve focus during recovery. 4. Developing Self-Awareness: Use journaling or reflective practices to increase their awareness of their mental and emotional states. This can help them understand their mental habits and areas for growth. 5. Positive Self-Talk: Help the athlete develop a positive internal dialogue, even during challenging times. This reinforces resilience and combats negative thoughts associated with injury. 6. Cognitive Restructuring: Teach them how to reframe negative or unproductive thoughts (e.g., “I’m missing out” to “I’m using this time to build mental strength”). This fosters a growth mindset. 7. Confidence Building: Work on confidence by reviewing past successes, identifying strengths, and setting small, achievable mental goals. This helps them regain belief in their abilities during recovery. 8. Resilience Training: Encourage mental toughness training by discussing setbacks as opportunities for growth. Use adversity stories or case studies from other athletes who’ve overcome injury. 9. Maintaining Team Connection: Encourage them to stay involved with the team, whether by attending practices, engaging with teammates, or taking on a mentorship role. This keeps them connected and mentally engaged. 10. Focus on Skill Development: Work on building mental skills such as focus, concentration, and emotional regulation. Use this time to train these areas, as they will be useful when they return to competition. Each strategy helps the athlete stay mentally sharp while navigating the psychological challenges of injury recovery. Brian Cain, MPM, the World’s leader in Mental Performance Coaching brings you practical tips you can use as a mental performance coach to help your athletes close the gap from where they are to where they want to be and to maximize their potential. Be sure to subscribe wherever you are listening to this podcast, leave us a review, and engage with Brian on social media @BrianCainPeak  🎤 Follow Brian’s Mental Performance Daily Podcast 💻 Join Brian’s MPM Coaches Certification Insiders List & Save $200 👍 Take Brian’s FREE 3 Day Coaches Mini-Course 💪 Take Brian’s FREE 3 Day Athletes Mini-Course

In this episode of The Mental Performance Mastery Podcast brought to you by Pison, Brian is joined by Lansing Community College Head Baseball Coach Steven Cutter.  Coach Cut has led the Stars to 2 Juco College World Series Appearances and the #2 overall best winning percentage in Juco Baseball the last 3 years. In this Podcast Brian and Coach Cut discuss: Coach Cut’s unique journey into coaching baseball and mental performance Attraction to mental performance Stacking bricks and building consistency Growth vs. fixed mindset and using Carol Dweck’s mindset achievement Modeling theory and the process of development, caught vs. taught The importance of time management, organization, and intentionality of process Journals that players can use for the season and life The importance of setting core principles of Uncommon, Selfless, and Excellence Climbing a mountain with no summit The dangers of complacency Compete to a standard, not a scoreboard The mindset of Compete with vs. competing against Cognitive performance and work with Pison The combination of cognitive training and mental performance training You have to learn and be it before you can teach it Eliminating The G Word from your program Be sure to subscribe wherever you are listening to this podcast, leave us a review, and engage with Brian on social media @BrianCainPeak  👉Connect with Coach Cut on Instagram 👉Connect with Coach Cut on X 👉Connect With Coach Cut At His Website ⌚Lean More About Pison, The World’s First Cognitive Performance App and Wearable 🎤 Follow Brian’s Mental Performance Daily Podcast

In this episode of The Mental Performance Mastery Podcast, Brian discusses why you should work with a Mental Performance Coach.  👉Athlete or parent of an athlete? ⁠Join Brian’s exclusive one-on-one coaching program⁠ ✅ Be sure to subscribe wherever you are listening to this podcast, leave us a review, and engage with Brian on social media @BrianCainPeak  ⌚Learn More About Pison, The World’s First Cognitive Performance App and Wearable

Donovan Santas, a veteran in professional baseball with extensive experience as a strength and conditioning coach, dives deep into the evolution of athletic training. He discusses how baseball-specific conditioning has transformed, emphasizing the growing focus on mental performance. Topics explored include cognitive assessments, fatigue management, and the significance of breath control in performance. Donovan also shares insights on the impact of sleep and shares personal anecdotes, including a shift toward healthier lifestyles to optimize athletic recovery.

The discussion centers around helping athletes transition from a perfectionist mindset to one focused on progress. Key strategies include emphasizing the process over outcomes and setting realistic, flexible goals. Normalizing mistakes as part of growth and practicing self-compassion are crucial. Visualization techniques for handling imperfection and developing routines for letting go are also highlighted. Mindfulness practices and celebrating effort over results round out the insightful tips for fostering a healthier mental performance.

Dive into the world of self-talk and discover how it can empower athletes. Explore strategies like reframing negative thoughts and using affirmations for motivation. Learn the importance of mental imagery and cue words to simplify complex ideas. Uncover techniques like shadow reps and the Friend/Teammate Technique to foster self-compassion. Reflect on the power of What If versus What Is to enhance performance. Get ready to transform your coaching approach and help athletes win the battle within!

In this episode of The Mental Performance Mastery Podcast brought to you by Pison, the world's first cognitive performance tracker, Brian is joined by Military Scientist Alison Brager Ph.D.   Alison is one of the world’s leading authorities on sleep science, fatigue management, and elite performance. Her ability to blend science with action and application is second to none and in this podcast, she shares science-backed practical tips anyone who wants to be elite can use to gain an edge.. In this Podcast Brian and Alison discuss: Alison’s training tips for fatigue management and optimal performance Pison the world's first cognitive performance tracker. The mental aspects of NASCAR driving Active recovery techniques you can use for improved performance How to improve sleep performance and the stages of sleep The GO-NOGO Test, PVT, and their predictive impacts on performance The Combined Goal of 25% Deep Non REM and 25% REM Sleep The Use of Pink Noise for advanced sleep The importance of structure and time management in recovery  Her book Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain The NCAA Mental Health program and issues with mental health Kobe Bryant, Video Games and Reaction Time Training Be sure to subscribe wherever you are listening to this podcast, leave us a review, and engage with Brian on social media @BrianCainPeak  👉Connect with Alison Brager Ph.D. on Instagram  👉Connect with Alison Brager Ph.D. on X ⌚Lean More About Pison, The World’s First Cognitive Performance App and Wearable 🎤 Follow Brian’s Mental Performance Daily Podcast

Explore ten dynamic tips to supercharge your focus! Start by setting clear, manageable goals and eliminating distractions in your environment. Discover how mindfulness and meditation can sharpen your concentration. Learn the effectiveness of taking structured breaks using the Pomodoro Technique. Prioritize tasks with the Eisenhower Matrix for better clarity. Plus, maintain a healthy lifestyle, stay hydrated, and utilize focus-enhancing tools for improved performance.

Mark Budzinski, the dedicated 1st Base Coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, shares insights on maximizing mental performance through The 5Ps of Peak Performance: Preparation, Perspective, Present Moment Focus, Performance, and Pison. He highlights the importance of mindfulness and being present, particularly how family can reshape one’s perspective. Bud discusses the value of after-action reviews for continuous learning and the evolution of the mental game, emphasizing effective use of technology to enhance cognitive performance and player development.