Eighty Percent Mental

3.15 - The Psychology of... The Fight

It’s brutal. It’s violent. It’s two people trying to hit each other until one of them can’t hit back any more… but it's a sport that has always had, and still has, huge appeal.  What is it that makes athletes want to take up boxing in the first place? What kind of mindset does it take to get in the ring? What are the mental skills and strategies that might help prepare an athlete to compete in a sport like this? Which is the best Rocky film? Dr Pete Olusoga explores all of that and more in this episode of the Eighty Percent Mental podcast, alongside pro boxer, Jordan “The Thrill” Gill, and Strength & Conditioning Coach and Co-founder of Boxing Science, Danny Wilson. Two guests who, between them have an absolute ton of experience in the fight game, although in slightly different roles, which made for a fascinating insight into the Psychology of The Fight. 

• Follow Jordan Gill on Instagram: @itsjordangill 
• Jordan Gill: Next Generation: @jgnxtgen 
• Follow Danny Wilson on Instagram: @wilson_boxingscience 
• Follow Boxing Science on Instagram: @boxingscience 
• Check out Boxing Science here: boxingscience.co.uk 

3.14 - The Psychology of... The Skies

If you’re nervous about flying, imagine the nerve required to fly a 25ft plane through a 30ft window at 250mph. In this episode of EightyPercentMental Dr Pete Olusoga speaks with veteran Red Bull Air Race competitor and champion aerobatics pilot, Mike Goulian, and gets the perspective of veteran Mental Performance Coach, Dr Adam Naylor, on the psychology underpinning some of Mike’s most memorable performances. This really is theory to practice at its best as we discuss precision, focus, acceptance, team culture, golf, and screaming in cars, and how Mike and Adam formed an incredible partnership to achieve excellence in the skies.

• Follow Mike Goulian on Instagram: @mike_goulian
• Mike's website: mikegoulian.com
• Mike Goulian Aviation: mikegoulianaviation.com
• Follow Dr Adam Naylor on Twitter: @ahnaylor

3.13 - The Psychology of... The Sea – with Team Ace of Blades

In this episode of EightyPercentMental, Dr Pete Olusoga talks to Kit Windsor and Laura Langton, exactly 50% of Team Ace of Blades, the all-women crew set to row (and definitely not sail) unsupported across the Atlantic in December 2023. Laura and Kit talk about the mental challenges of being on the waves for over a month, the mental preparation that’s going into such a huge undertaking, their hopes and fears, and the very real possibility of a Marlin sticking its nose where it’s not wanted.  

Find out more about the team, the charities they’re supporting, and how you can support them, including contributing to their epic, 3000-track playlist, by going to www.teamaceofblades.com 

• Follow the team on Twitter: @TeamAceOfBlades 
• Follow the team on Instagram: @teamaceofblades 

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3.12 - EPM Special: Physical 100 (with Miracle Nelson)

If you haven’t seen Netflix’s Physical 100, then you’re missing out! One hundred contestants in top physical shape compete in a series of gruelling challenges to claim the honour – and cash prize – as the last one standing. The challenges required strength, skill, stamina, but also a tremendous amount of mental effort. For this special episode, Dr Pete Olusoga managed to grab an interview with one of the contestants, the one and only Miracle Nelson, about his mental approach to the competition, and his journey form Nigerian dance competitions to Korean Netflix shows! 

• Follow Miracle on Instagram: @itz_mkay 
• Follow Miracle on YouTube: @Nelsonmiracle_ 
• Follow Miracle on Tiktok: @Nelsonmiracle 

3.11 - The Psychology of... The Student Athlete

In this episode, Dr Pete Olusoga explores the Psychology of The Student Athlete. How do high-school, college, and university students balance studying with sports while trying to make it as an athlete, pursue excellence in academics, all while going through a pretty intense period of personal growth and self-discovery? 

To find out, Pete talks with Dr Duncan Simpson, Director of Personal Development at IMG Academy in Florida, Coach Weylu Chang, head of boys' tennis at the Academy, and Atakhan Karahan, up-and-coming tennis star from Turkey and IMG student-athlete. 

• Dr Duncan Simpson on Twitter: @SportPsychDunc 
• IMG Academy website: imgacademy.com 
• IMG Acedemy Remote Mental Performance Coaching: www.imgacademy.com/plus 
• IMG Academy Personal Development: imgacademy.com/boarding-school/personal-development 

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3.10 The Psychology of... Strength

In this episode of the #EIghtyPercentMental podcast, Dr Pete Olusoga talks with International Weightlifter and multiple British record holder, Jenny Tong about the Psychology of Strength. Just a great conversation about identity, motivation, confidence, and whether toilet paper should go over or under.  

Jenny Tong is a GB International Weightlifter, multiple British record holder and BWL Pathway and National Youth Coach. She also has Master's degree in Law from York University, works as a Pathway Coach, runs Sheffield’s award-winning weightlifting club, and is Non-executive Director for Athlete Experience at British Weightlifting.

• Jenny Tong on Twitter: @JennyT_811 
• Jenny Tong on Instagram: @jennyt811 

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3.09 - EPM Special: Sport and Social Justice

There is a long history of sports leading the way on a number of different social issues. For decades, our sporting heroes have been torn down, vilified, and ostracised for standing up for what they believe in and fighting for issues that go beyond the sports arena. While some people were supportive when Gary Linker spoke out about the government’s asylum policy in 2023, others were quick to roll out the old trope that sport and politics don’t mix. But sport and politics do mix. So the conversation about sport and social justice is an important one.  

In this episode of EightyPercentMental, Dr Pete Olusoga talks with Amna Abudllatif and Shaista Aziz, two-thirds of the award winning Three Hijabis who launched a petition last year in the wake of the Euro finals to ban racists from football. Also joining the conversation about the importance and the power of sport in social change is Lecturer and researcher in Exercise Physiology and Strength & Conditioning, Dr John Fernandes, who is well known for his anti-discrimination work in academia and sport.  

• Amna Abdullatif on Twitter: @AmnaAbdul1983 
• Shaista Aziz on Twitter: @shaistaAziz 
• The Three Hijabis on Twitter: @THijabis 
• The Three Hijabis website: www.threehijabis.com 
• Dr John Fernandes on twitter: @DrJFTFernandes 

3.08 - The Psychology of... Success

Success and winning are often thought of as synonymous, but if you’re not first, does that really make you last? We live in a society that is constantly trying to sell us a very specific version of what success should look like and in this fascinating episode of EightyPercentMental, Dr Pete Olusoga is joined by Olympic rower, author, and speaker, Cath Bishop, world-leading trampoline coach, Paul Greaves, and Sport & Exercise Scientist, Sidd Sampla, to explore what success really means and how we can start to think about success differently in a world where results really do matter. 

Cath Bishop is an Olympic rower, former British diplomat in the Foreign Office, now a leadership and culture coach working in organisations inside and outside sport, and author of ‘The Long Win: The Search for a Better Way to Succeed’,

Paul Greaves is a world leading Trampoline coach with a career spanning over 20 years. He has produced athletes to represent Great Britain on the world stage, including the current World and European Champion and Double Olympic Medallist Bryony Page.

Siddarth Sampla is a BASES Sport & Exercise Scientist specialising in Psychology. Currently working within motorsport at Izone Peformance (based at Silverstone) supporting drivers with the mental side of the sport

• Cath Bishop on Twitter: @thecathbishop
• More about Cath: cathbishop.com
• The True Athelte Project: thetrueathleteproject.org
• Paul Greaves on Twitter: @paulgraves01
• Sidd Sampla on Twitter: @PsychSidd

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3.07 - The Psychology of... The Singer

What a special episode this is! Dr Pete Olusoga is joined for a fascinating conversation on the psychology of performance by the queen of British soul, Beverley Knight, MBE. An awarding winning recording artist and musical theatre actress, Beverley has been a mainstay of British and world music scene for over two decades and offers some intriguing insights into the world of performance. Also appearing in this episode, and bringing a psychological perspective is Dr Kaori Araki, chief Sport and performance psychology consultant at CORAZON Co., Ltd. Kaori is a retired professor and taught sport psychology in Singapore and Japan for 18 years, and worked alongside Eddie Jones during Japan’s infamous 2015 Rugby World Cup run. This one was such a pleasure to record and hopefully you’ll enjoy listening! 

• Beverley Knight on Twitter: @Beverleyknight 
• Beverley Knight website: beverleyknight.com 
• Beverley Knight on Instagram: @beverleyknight 
• Dr Kaori Araki on Twitter: @arakikaori 
• Dr Kaori Araki on Research Gate: researchgate.net/profile/Kaori-Araki 

3.06 - The Psychology of... Stage & Screen

The stars are out as Dr Pete Olusoga explores the psychology of stage and screen with the wonderful British actor (and Coronation Street veteran), Shobna Gulati. Joining them is Psychologist and Lecturer at Lancaster University, Dr David Tod, for a fascinating conversation about the psychology of acting. What are the mental processes involved in preparing for and taking on an acting role? How can performers manage the intense scrutiny that goes with their jobs? Find out, in this brilliant episode of EightyPercentMental. 

• Shobna Gulati on Twitter: @ShobnaGulati 
• Shobna Gulati on Instagram: @shobnagulati 
• Contact Dr David Tod: d.tod1@lancaster.ac.uk 

3.05 - EPM Special: Live from AASP in Fort Worth, Texas!

Eighty Percent Mental host, Dr Pete Olusoga, attended the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Annual Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. As well as winning an award for Distinguished Public Communication, Outreach, and Awareness for producing this very podcast, Dr Pete spent time talking with conference attendees, including the one and only Professor Bob Weinberg (of Weinberg & Gould fame!), about the latest research, techniques, and approaches in the world of sport and performance psychology. Also featuring in this episode: Duncan Simpson, Director of Personal Development at IMG Academy, Dr Amber Shipherd from Texas A&M University Kingsville, Dr Adam Naylor, Leader of Performance Psychology at Deloitte, and a bunch of other amazing people! 

• Duncan Simpson on Twitter: @SportPsychDunc
• Dr Amber Shipherd on Twitter: @DocShipherd
• Dr Adam Naylor on Twitter: @ahnaylor
• Visit the AASP Website: appliedsportpsych.org

3.04 - The Psychology of... Speed

Continuing the mission to explore the psychological aspects of performance, Eighty Percent Mental host Dr Pete Olusoga explores ‘The psychology of... Speed’ with two-time World Superbikes Champion, James Toseland. Also featuring Sport Psychologist, Shameema Yousuf, this episode explores the motivation, the risk, the psychological skills involved in going really, really fast! 

• James Toseland on Twitter: @JamesMToseland 
• Toseland Music: toselandmusic.com 
• Shameema Yousuf on Twitter: @Empower2Perform 
• Shameema’s website: empower2perform.com 

 

3.03 - The Psychology of... Dance

In this episode of EightyPercentMental, Dr Pete Olusoga gets to grips with ‘The Psychology of... Dance’ with Kit Holder, First Soloist with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Dr Sanna Nordin-Bates, Associate professor in sport psychology, at the Swedish School of Sport & Health Sciences in Stockholm. What are the mental challenges involved in such a creative art form? Find out in this inspiring episode of EightyPercentMental. 

Kit Holder has been a professional ballet dancer for over 20 years, touring throughout the UK and internationally. He has also choreographed professionally and holds a Master's Degree in Choreography. In additional to his work in dance he is now in the final year of an undergraduate degree in Psychology. 

 

Dr Sanna Nordin-Bates is a Chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society, teaches performance psychology to athletes and coaches, dancers and teachers, and is a world-leading authority on the psychology of dance 

• Kit Holder on Twitter: @KitHolder 
• Dr Sanna Nordin-Bates on Twitter: @DancePsychSanna 

• Check out Sanna’s new book: https://us.humankinetics.com/collections/vendors?q=Sanna%20Nordin-Bates 

3.02 - The Psychology of... The Coach

This episode is pure gold. With the help of two special guests, Coach Marc Steutel and Dr Kristen Dieffenbach, Dr Pete Olusoga investigates ‘The Psychology of... The Coach’. How do coaches incorporate sport and performance psychology into their coaching? How can coaches be vulnerable and authentic in their practice? How can psychologists and coaches work most effectively together? All of this and more is discussed in what turned out to be an incredible conversation.  

Coach Marc Steutel is the Lead Assistant Coach for the Great Britain Senior Men’s National Team and Head Coach of the Newcastle Eagles, one of the most successful franchises in the history of British Basketball. Dr Kristen Dieffenbach knows more about the psychology of coaching than just about anyone on the planet. She is the president of the United States Center for Coaching Excellence (USCCE) and serves on the research committee for the International Council on Coaching Excellence (ICCE). Dieffenbach’s areas of teaching, research and consultancy expertise include coaching education, professional issues in coaching, ethics in coaching, and performance enhancement 

• Coach Marc Steutel on Twitter: @steutel10 
• Newcastle Eagles: newcastle-eagles.com 
• Dr Kristen Dieffenbach on Twitter: @DrDCoachScience 
• Dr Kristen Dieffenbach @ WVU: appliedcoaching.wvu.edu/faculty/kristen-dieffenbach 

3.01 - The Psychology of... Endurance

Welcome back to Series 3 of Eighty Percent Mental. In this series (or season if you’re American), Dr Pete Olusoga is going to explore some different areas of performance – and not necessarily just sport performance. In this first episode, Dr Pete talks to endurance athlete, Greg Hewitt, and Sport Psychologist, Dr Amy Whitehead, about The Psychology of Endurance. Why do people put themselves through the pain of ultra-marathons, adventure races, and ironman triathlons? What are the psychological skills, strategies, and attributes that help get athletes through a race that lasts a full week or more? Find out in this episode of The Eighty Percent Mental Podcast.

• Dr Amy Whitehead on Twitter: @A_whitehead1
• Greg Hewitt on Instagram: @greghewitt_._