688: Thriving Under Pressure: Mental Performance Lessons from College Football with Kris Kracht, Director of Mental Performance for Washington State University Football
Release Date: 07/07/2025
715: Do More, More Naturally: David Kolbe on the Power of Instinctive Strengths
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
Today on the High Performance Mindset, I’m joined by someone who has spent his entire life helping people work with their natural strengths instead of fighting against them. David Kolbe, CEO of Kolbe Corp, has literally grown up inside the Kolbe Concept — a system that helps leaders, teams, and organizations unlock instinctive strengths and achieve sustainable productivity. David is an author, strategist, and the visionary behind many of Kolbe Corp’s most transformative tools, including the original algorithm for the Kolbe A Index. Over the years, he has helped thousands of professionals...
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714: Stop the Overwhelm
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
If you’ve ever ended a day exhausted but unclear on what you actually accomplished, this episode is for you. Overwhelm and busyness have become the new norm. Many of us confuse being busy with being productive—which leaves us drained, and doubting ourselves. In today’s episode, Cindra and Lisa explore the mental game of prioritization and how high performers stay focused on what truly matters. You’ll learn why prioritization is so hard, how clarity and completion fuel confidence, and what mindset shift is necessary to create real work–life harmony. We...
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713: The Freedom to Perform with Dr. Karen MacNeill, Mental Performance Coach and Keynote Speaker
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In today’s episode, Dr. Cindra is joined by Dr. Karen MacNeill — former Team Canada athlete and world-renowned mental performance consultant who has supported Olympians, executives, and high-pressure teams across multiple Olympic Games. Karen shares what competing taught her that no textbook ever could, and takes us inside the “pressure ecosystem” of the Olympic Games — revealing what athletes, coaches, and staff need most when the lights are brightest. She and Cindra discuss practical, in-the-moment resets to stay grounded under pressure, the most common thinking traps before big...
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712: Finding A Purpose That Powers You
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode, Dr. Cindra and Lisa explore one of the greatest drivers of motivation, resilience, and fulfillment: your WHY. Every one of us knows what we do in work and life…but very few of us stay deeply connected to the purpose behind it. When we lose sight of our why, stress rises and joy fades. When we own our why, we push through challenges, show up energized, and feel aligned with what truly matters. What You’ll Learn • Why purpose fuels confidence, performance, and grit • The difference between WHAT you do and WHY you do it • Why chasing only...
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711: Flip the Script on Negativity
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
Opening Quote: “Don’t let the noise of others’ negativity drown out your inner voice.” — Steve Jobs Overview: In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff and Lisa explore how to rise above negativity—both from within and from others. Whether it’s the self-criticism that follows a mistake or the draining energy of negative people, negativity can quietly chip away at our confidence and performance. Cindra explains the science behind our natural negativity bias and shares practical strategies to help you retrain your mind to focus on what fuels you, not what frustrates you....
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710: The Power of Grit: Why Perseverance Beats Talent
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode, we dive into the power of grit—the ability to keep showing up, stay committed, and persevere even when things get tough. Grit is more than talent or luck; it’s the number one predictor of long-term success in life, work, and sport. You’ll hear the inspiring story of J.K. Rowling, who overcame rejection and struggle before building one of the most successful book series in history. We’ll explore why grit matters, how it shows up in athletics and everyday life, and most importantly, how you can strengthen your own grit to achieve your long-term vision. Grit is the...
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709: Leading Across Cultures: Building a Global Mindset with Victoria Rennoldson
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode of the High Performance Mindset podcast, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Victoria Rennoldson, an award-winning coach, speaker, and facilitator specializing in global leadership, communication, and cultural intelligence. As the CEO and Founder of Culture Cuppa and host of a top-ranked podcast with over 145 episodes, Victoria shares practical wisdom on how leaders can communicate confidently and collaborate effectively across cultures. Cindra and Victoria explore what it truly means to be a global leader in today’s interconnected...
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708: Rewriting the Voice Inside Your Head
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode, Dr. Cindra dive into one of the biggest barriers to confidence and high performance: the inner critic. You know that harsh voice that nitpicks, second-guesses, and drains your energy? Learn how to recognize it, challenge it, and replace it with empowering self-talk that fuels your purpose and potential. Dr. Cindra shares a real coaching story of an NFL kicker who learned to notice, name, and swap his inner critic — transforming his mindset and performance. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to calm your body, reframe your thoughts, and strengthen your...
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707: Why Winning Teams Think Differently
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
What separates good teams from great ones? It’s not just talent or IQ—it’s the culture they create together. In this episode of The High Performance Mindset Podcast, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares the mental strategies and research that reveal why the best teams think differently. You’ll discover why positivity and psychological safety are essential for high performance and how you can lead yourself and others with a stronger, more confident mindset. Dr. Cindra unpacks Google’s Project Aristotle and Barbara Fredrickson’s research on the Positivity Ratio,...
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706: Inner Excellence: How to Master Your Ego and Expectations with Bestselling Author, Jim Murphy
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
Welcome to The High Performance Mindset Podcast, where we help you master your mindset to gain the high performance edge. My name is Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, and today I am thrilled to share my conversation with Jim Murphy—author of Inner Excellence. You might have heard about Jim’s book on January 12 when AJ Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles was reading his book on the slide lines of a NFL Game. To be honest, I thought to myself, I have read so many performance psychology books, how will this one be different? But after a recommendation from a colleague, I read the book this summer and loved...
info_outlineWelcome back to the High Performance Mindset Podcast, the show where we explore what it takes to show up fully and perform at your best—mentally and emotionally—every single day. I’m Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, and I’m so grateful you’re here.
Today’s guest is someone who lives and breathes mental performance. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kristofer Kracht, a championship coach, professor, entrepreneur, and highly respected mental performance expert with over 25 years of experience. Kris is known for his vulnerability, energy, and contagious passion for helping others grow.
He currently serves as the Director of Mental Performance for Washington State University Football, where he empowers athletes to thrive under pressure and train their minds to match their physical talent. He’s also worked with elite programs at South Dakota State, Creighton, Winona State, and several others across the country.
In this episode, Kris shares what he’s teaching athletes most often, how he helps players thrive under pressure, and a simple performance number system that builds self-awareness and accountability.
We dive into practical tools like breathing and refocusing techniques, and why hallway conversations matter more than you think. Kris also reflects on his personal journey—from studying applied sport psychology to shaping the culture at Washington State Football.
Let’s get into it. Here’s my conversation with Kristofer Kracht.
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