High Performance Mindset | Learn From World-class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches About Mindset

In this episode of High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra dives into the science of worry—and how to take back control of your mind and energy. Drawing on research from Dr. Robert Leahy, she shares that 85% of what we worry about never actually happens. Even more powerful: when our fears do come true, we tend to handle them better than expected.   Cindra unpacks why our brains are wired to worry—usually about the people and priorities we care most about—and how unchecked worry can steal our joy, drain our energy, and keep us stuck in the future. She then shares three practical strategies to reduce worry: Notice and label your thoughts instead of reacting to them. Schedule a “worry window” to contain anxious thinking. Let go of perfectionism and the need to plan for every possible outcome. The episode closes with a calming power phrase to carry with you: “I quiet my mind and return to the present.” REQUEST A FREE MENTAL BREAKTHROUGH CALL WITH DR. CINDRA AND/OR HER TEAM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MENTALLY S

I’m thrilled to bring you a high-energy, insight-packed conversation with the dynamic and fearless Anne Bonney. After moving 27 times, attending 13 different schools, living on four continents, and navigating six distinct careers, Anne has turned change into her comfort zone.  She’s a keynote speaker, leadership trainer, and emotional intelligence expert who helps individuals and organizations embrace discomfort, lead courageously, and ignite positive momentum in their teams. In this episode, Anne shares her personal journey of mastering change, along with actionable strategies to lead through transition, elevate emotional intelligence, and conquer tough conversations.  How to turn discomfort into a leadership advantage The three steps every leader needs to navigate change What emotionally intelligent leadership looks like during tough transitions How to handle difficult conversations without avoiding or escalating them Ways to build a fired-up team culture that performs under pressure Anne’s energy is cont

This week when you notice yourself overthinking or believing a thought that doesn’t serve you, use The Truth Meter. Your mind tends to lie to you to keep you safe and small. Instead, take control of your mind and choose a different thought that would serve you right now. Your mind does not control you, you can control your mind! Quote of the Week: "You don’t have to believe every thought you think." — Byron Katie Power Phrase of the Week: “I choose my thoughts. I create my reality."

Dr. Amy Climer teaches teams and organizations how to increase their creativity so they can maximize innovation. She works with forward-thinking organizations such as the Mayo Clinic, Stanford University, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Amy is the author of the best-selling book Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results. She is also host of The Deliberate Creative Podcast, where she shares practical advice and strategies to help leaders build innovative teams. Amy has a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change and is a Certified Speaking Professional. In this episode, Amy shares her powerful “Deliberate Creative Spectrum,” and she unpacks her three-part model explains how psychological safety fuels innovation.  Cindra and Amy discuss: Why creativity is essential for organizational relevance and survival The Deliberate Creative Spectrum: from destructive to scalable teams The three essential elements of creative teams Brainstorming guidelines for creativity: suspend judgment, co

In this episode of the High Performance Mindset podcast, Dr. Cindra explores the power of belief and how it shapes our future. Using Simone Biles’ inspiring story as a launch point, we discuss how your vision for your life begins with what you choose to believe about yourself. When you get clear on your vision, you can align your daily actions and mindset to match that future. This episode encourages you to replace self-doubt with empowering beliefs and reminds you that your potential is limitless when you believe it before you see it.  Power Phrase of the Week: “I am becoming the person my dreams require.”   Quote of the Week: “Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.” – Oprah Winfrey

Robyn Hatcher is a powerhouse keynote speaker and communication expert who once created drama for a living as a soap opera writer and actor. Now, she’s on a mission to eliminate drama from the workplace and help leaders and professionals communicate with clarity, confidence, and purpose. With a rich background that includes writing for All My Children and One Life to Live, acting on TV and stage, Robyn brings a unique perspective to communication and leadership. She’s a Certified Speaking Professional, a Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, and the author of Standing Ovation Presentations, where she introduces her transformative ActorTypes communication-style system. In this episode, Robyn and I talk about:  How to Own Your Power Her Drama Triangle,  Why we Experience Drama Her LOVE Formula for Reducing Drama Other Strategies to Reduce Unnecessary Drama  HIGH PERFORMANCE MINDSET SHOWNOTES FOR THIS EPISODE REQUEST A FREE MENTAL BREAKTHROUGH CALL WITH DR. CINDRA AND/OR HER TEAM CONNECT WITH RO

In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff unpacks the power of optimism and why training your brain to spot opportunity in the face of difficulty is essential to building grit. Drawing from legendary moments like Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game,” she explains how mindset shifts fuel resilience. Cindra introduces a simple mental tool called the Three Ops Strategy to help you find fresh paths forward, even in the middle of setbacks. Power Phrase of the Week: “I choose optimism. I train my mind to see the opportunity.” Quote of the Week: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” - Winston Churchill  

On today’s episode, we’re joined by a truly inspiring guest—Frank Kitchen, a Certified Speaking Professional and High-Performance Motivation Expert. Frank is known for helping individuals and organizations think, act, and perform at their highest level.  Frank’s journey as a speaker began with a major life pivot—he was fired from his job on Father’s Day weekend. Instead of letting that setback define him, Frank made a courageous choice: he pursued his dream of becoming a full-time professional speaker. Today, his story of resilience and mindset mastery captivates audiences. In our conversation, Frank shares how he teaches others to: How to “Flip Your Mindset”  Ways to “Cook Up the Results You’re Hunger For”  How to live his Live F.R.E.S.H. philosophy And other powerful strategies to stay motivated, overcome challenges, and live with purpose Frank is also a bestselling author, mentor, and community leader—and his passion for helping others grow shines through in every word. This is a conversation ful

In this episode of the High Performance Mindset podcast, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff explores the concept of flow, a mental state of complete absorption and peak performance, drawing on insights from sport psychologist Dr. Sue Jackson, who collaborated with Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the pioneer of flow research. The episode highlights how flow occurs when we are fully engaged in meaningful tasks, using our skills to the fullest while staying present in the moment. Cindra outlines three key barriers to flow and encourages you to identify activities where you naturally lose track of time and feel energized, while learning to trust the process and stay focused on the present.  The episode wraps with a motivating reminder that flow, like a muscle, strengthens with mindful practice. This Week's Power Phrase: "I will stay in the present trusting that everything unfolds perfectly."

Joining us is Alex Hodgins, a visionary mental performance consultant and inspiring speaker who’s spent his career helping athletes, teams, and leaders rise to the occasion when it matters most. Alex specializes in building high-performance systems that don’t just withstand pressure, they thrive in it. For eight years, Alex was the Head of Mental Performance for the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team, guiding them to Olympic bronze in Rio 2016 and an unforgettable gold in Tokyo 2020. Currently, he brings his expertise to the NHL as the Head of Mental Performance for the Vancouver Canucks, and he’s also working with the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy, Canada’s Ski Cross Team, and elite performers across both sport and corporate arenas. He’s a lifelong learner, passionate about helping others tap into their potential, and he calls the beautiful Pacific Northwest home. In this episode, Alex and Cindra discuss: The key ingredients behind high-performing team cultures Practical strategies for staying composed und

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra explores the power of positivity and how cultivating positive energy creates a psychological advantage in teams, businesses, and relationships.   Research shows that positivity enhances engagement, problem-solving, and resilience, with high-performing teams and successful relationships maintaining a strong positive-to-negative interaction ratio.   To harness this power, Dr. Cindra suggests shifting focus to strengths, building a culture of positivity from the top down, and priming yourself for positivity each morning through gratitude, visualization, and Power Phrases.   By choosing positivity intentionally, we rewire our brains for success, motivation, and deeper connections.    This Week's Power Phrase: "I am a source of positive energy. I inspire, uplift, and bring out the best in myself and those around me. My mindset fuels success and possibility."   Quote of the Week: "When you focus on the good, the good gets better." – Abraham Hicks

Today we have an incredible guest who embodies leadership, influence, and the power of storytelling—Ty Bennett. Ty is a dynamic entrepreneur, CEO, bestselling author, and world-renowned speaker who has built three multi-million dollar businesses across different industries. As the Owner & CEO of the largest Ninja Warrior Gym in the world, he knows a thing or two about resilience, strategy, and high performance. Ty’s entrepreneurial journey started in his 20s when he and his brother built a direct sales empire, generating over $20 million in annual revenue and impacting leaders across 37 countries. As the founder of Leadership Inc., Ty is on a mission to help leaders cultivate influence, build exceptional relationships, and challenge the status quo. His books—including Partnership is the New Leadership and The Power of Storytelling—are shaping the next generation of business leaders, even being used in courses at MIT. In this episode, Ty shares: The latest results of his newest study on high performance i

Dr. Cindra explores the power of self-discipline and how understanding dopamine can help us build better habits. Sharing her own experience of struggling to finish her book Beyond Grit, she explains how visualizing her audience reignited her motivation. Self-discipline, she says, is the ability to take action even when we don’t feel like it—yet our brains are wired for instant gratification, making it difficult to stay on track. To make discipline easier, Dr. Cindra suggests attaching small, immediate rewards to challenging tasks, using habit tracking, and visualizing success to stimulate dopamine release. By training our brains to associate discipline with rewards, we can turn self-discipline into second nature and overcome procrastination for good. Quote of the Week: "We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret." — Jim Rohn

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra highlights the crucial role of self-compassion in achieving success, using Serena Williams as an example of how elite performers embrace setbacks with kindness rather than self-criticism.   Drawing on Dr. Kristen Neff’s research, Dr. Cindra outlines three key elements of self-compassion: self-kindness, recognizing common humanity, and practicing mindfulness. By making self-compassion a habit, you can bounce back stronger, reduce stress, and enhance performance.    Power Phrase this Week: “I am kind to myself. I am doing the best I can. I got it next time!”   Quote of the Week: "Self-compassion is not a luxury; it's a necessity for growth. Embracing our imperfections is what helps us rise stronger." — Kristin Neff

Welcome back to the High Performance Mindset Podcast! Today, we’re diving deep into the world of mental performance with a special guest who works at the highest levels of sport and business. Joining us is Michael Urban, the Director of Mental Performance for the L.A. Clippers. With a career dedicated to coaching elite athletes, coaches, and corporate leaders, Michael specializes in evidence-based mental skills training to help individuals sharpen their focus, enhance resilience, and unlock their full potential. Before working with the Clippers, Michael played a key role in developing the mental performance program at Clemson Athletics, where he worked closely with student-athletes and coaches to strengthen their mindset for success. Beyond sports, he also brings his expertise to the corporate world, guiding executives and CEOs to build a high-performance mindset in business. With a Master’s in Kinesiology with a focus on Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior from the University of Tennessee and his certificati

In this episode of the High Performance Mindset Podcast, we dive deep into the power of self-awareness and how to silence your inner critic. That disempowering voice—often fearful, judgmental, or angry—holds many of us back. But here’s the truth: your inner critic lies to you. Instead of accepting its negativity, we can train ourselves to challenge it. By consciously replacing limiting thoughts with empowering and truthful statements, we shift our mindset toward confidence and success. This week, we challenge you: Every time you hear your inner critic, pause. Acknowledge it. Then replace it with the truth. Growth starts with self-awareness—let’s rewire our thinking and unlock high performance from the inside out! Power Phrase of the Week: “I talk to myself powerful instead of listening to my inner critic.” Quote of the Week: “Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” - Brene Brown

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alan Chu, a leading expert in sport psychology, mindfulness, and self-compassion. As an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Dr. Chu helps athletes, executives, and high performers unlock their full potential by leveraging positive psychology approaches. We explore the science and application of self-compassion—why it matters, how to practice it, and how it enhances motivation and resilience. Dr. Chu also shares insights on mindfulness, self-determination theory, and strengths-based approaches to managing stress, overcoming setbacks, and improving performance. If you're looking for practical strategies to lead with self-compassion, sharpen your mindset, and sustain motivation, this episode is for you! Tune in for game-changing insights that will help you perform at your best—both in sports and life. HIGH PERFORMANCE MINDSET SHOWNOTES FOR THIS EPISODE CONNECT WITH DR. CHU HERE: MatchupPerforman

In this episode, Dr. Kamphoff shares why we experience compassion and how to break free from it. Power Phrase of the Week: "I focus on my own journey and growth. I celebrate my progress." Quote of the Week: "A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms." – Zen Shin

Welcome to High Performance Mindset, the podcast where we dive into mental strategies to help you be your best more often. Today, we have a truly special guest—someone who plays a pivotal role in helping elite athletes navigate the mental side of the game. Joining us is Kerry Guest, the Mental Health Specialist for the Arizona Diamondbacks, a leader in the field of sport psychology and mental well-being. Kerry’s work is all about helping athletes understand and master their emotions so they can perform at their best—both on and off the field. In a high-pressure sport like baseball, mental resilience can be the difference between good and great. And that’s where Kerry comes in, guiding players through the ART of emotions—a model built around Acknowledging, Regulating, and Tolerating emotions. In this conversation, we’ll dive deep into: ✅ Where emotions come from and why they matter ✅ The power of emotional awareness in high performance ✅ How athletes and leaders can buy into the process of understanding their

The World’s Best choose courage instead of fear. They feel the fear, but don’t let it keep them from doing what they want to, have to, or were designed to do. This Week’s Power Phrase: “I embrace my fear and choose courage.” Quote of the Week: “Risk more than others think is safe. Dream more than others think is practical.”—Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbuck