730: PUSH Past the Barriers: Turning Setbacks Into Setups for High Performance Johnny Quinn, Olympian
Release Date: 02/11/2026
745: Thinking Under Pressure with Max Pollack, Cognitive Performance Specialist with Special Forces
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Maximilian (Max) Pollack—a Cognitive Performance Specialist supporting U.S. Special Operations—to explore what it truly takes to think clearly, stay composed, and execute under extreme pressure. Drawing from his work with elite military operators, Max shares a powerful perspective: high performance isn’t just about toughness—it’s about training your mind and body to work together when it matters most. His expertise sits at the intersection of psychology, physiology, and performance, helping...
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744: The Power of Focus
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
What if the fastest way to change how you feel… isn’t changing your situation, but changing your focus? In this episode, Dr. Kamphoff shares how one simple shift in attention can instantly move you from frustration to clarity and confidence. When you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or “off,” it’s often not your circumstances, it’s where your mind is pointing. Learn how to take back control of your mental spotlight and direct it toward what fuels you. 🔑 In this episode: Why your focus determines your feelings How to break free from negative spirals quickly The...
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743: Elite by Choice: How Your Daily Decisions Shape High Performance with Lauren Johnson, Mental Performance Coach & Keynote Speaker
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with mental performance coach, keynote speaker, and founder of Lauren Johnson & Co, Lauren Johnson, to explore what it really means to become elite by choice. Lauren shares the pivotal story that shaped her career. After a job opportunity fell through, she found herself working at Starbucks, questioning her direction and waiting for something to change. A blunt interaction with a customer became the turning point. It forced her to recognize that she was waiting for opportunities instead of creating them. From...
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742: Winning More and Living Better: Mindset and Leadership with Zach Brandon, Mental Performance Coach and Founder of MVP Mindset Consulting
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Zach Brandon—performance and leadership coach, former Head of Mental Performance and Coach Development for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and founder of MVP Mindset Consulting—to explore what it really takes to thrive at a high level without sacrificing wellbeing. Drawing from his experience working with elite athletes, coaches, and leaders, Zach shares a powerful perspective: high performance isn’t just about winning more—it’s also about living better. He challenges the idea that success and wellbeing are...
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741: How to Speak with Confidence and Purpose with Jess Ekstrom, Founder of Mic Drop Workshop
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with entrepreneur, speaker, and author Jess Ekstrom to explore what it really takes to build confidence, find intrinsic motivation, and share your voice without losing yourself in the process. Jess is the founder of Mic Drop Workshop, where she has helped thousands of women become more confident speakers and step into their voice. Her upcoming book, Making It Without Losing It, focuses on how to stay grounded, purpose-driven, and intrinsically motivated in high-pressure, performance-based environments. At the heart...
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740: The Truth About Limiting Beliefs
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
Have you ever felt ready… until doubt showed up? In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares how limiting beliefs, thoughts we repeat until they feel true, can quietly derail performance. Drawing from her own running career, she reveals how nothing changed physically in a race, only her thinking did. Listen to this episode and learn how to question those thoughts, refocus on what’s true, and respond with confidence when it matters most. Key Takeaway: You don’t need to eliminate doubt, you just need to stop believing everything you think. Power...
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739: Train Your Mind. Perform Your Best.
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
“You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your training.” If you want to perform better under pressure, you have to train your mind. In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares how the Mental Performance Summit can help you build confidence, stay composed, and perform consistently, using the same tools as elite athletes and leaders. If there is one thing you attend this spring, let it be this! 💡 What You’ll Gain Confidence under pressure Clear, focused thinking Tools you can use immediately 🎤 Featuring Josh...
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738: How Great Coaches Build Belief: Lessons from Mountain West Coach of the Year Jason Eck, Head Football Coach, University of New Mexico Lobos
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with University of New Mexico Head Football Coach Jason Eck to explore what it truly takes to build belief inside a team. In his first season leading the Lobos, Coach Eck engineered one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football—leading the program to nine wins, a bowl game appearance, and Mountain West Coach of the Year honors after being projected near the bottom of the conference. But behind the wins is something deeper. Coach Eck shares how leadership, culture, and mindset shape the foundation of a...
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737: Calm in the Storm: High Performance Lessons from the Weather with Belinda Jensen, Chief Meteorologist at KARE 11 & Creator of Bel the Weather Girl
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Belinda Jensen—Chief Meteorologist at KARE 11, science communicator, children’s book author, and beloved “Bel the Weather Girl”—to explore what it takes to perform under pressure when the stakes are high and the forecast is uncertain. With more than three decades on live television, Belinda shares how she manages stress and decision-making during severe weather events, when clarity, calm, and trust matter most. She explains how high performers stay grounded when conditions change rapidly—and why...
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736: FOPO Is Stealing Your Confidence
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
Quote of the Week: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Why do we care so much about what other people think, and how is it impacting our confidence? In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff and Lisa talk about FOPO — the Fear of Other People’s Opinions, a term coined by performance psychologist Michael Gervais. When we let outside voices guide our decisions, our confidence shrinks and we start playing small. You’ll hear why comparison is one of the fastest...
info_outlineIn this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Johnny Quinn—U.S. Olympian, former professional football player, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of PUSH: Breaking Through the Barriers—to explore what it really takes to move forward when life doesn’t go as planned.
Johnny shares his remarkable journey of being cut from the NFL multiple times, losing millions in contracts, suffering a career-altering knee injury, and ultimately redefining his identity beyond the game. Rather than letting setbacks define him, Johnny explains how one powerful question—“What’s next?”—became the catalyst that led him to represent Team USA in bobsled at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Throughout the conversation, Johnny breaks down the invisible barriers that hold high performers back, the difference between a setback and a setup, and how daily mindset choices shape our response to change, loss, and uncertainty. He also connects lessons from elite sport to leadership and organizational culture, explaining how accountability, resilience, and discomfort are essential ingredients for sustained high performance.
This episode is a powerful reminder that confidence isn’t about certainty—it’s about adaptability, ownership, and the courage to keep pushing forward when the path changes.
You’ll Learn:
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How to respond when your identity, plans, or goals fall apart
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Why asking “What’s next?” is a powerful performance mindset
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The difference between a setback and a setup for growth
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How daily mindset practices build resilience and confidence
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What elite sport teaches us about leadership, culture, and accountability
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How to break through mental barriers that keep you stuck
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Johnny’s definition of confidence—and how to cultivate it
Episode Resources & Links
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Learn more about Johnny Quinn:
https://www.johnnyquinnusa.com/ -
Order PUSH: Breaking Through the Barriers:
https://www.johnnyquinnusa.com/push/ -
Download our 2025 Confidence Crisis Study:
https://confidencestudy.com/ -
Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra or her team:
https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/ -
Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute:
https://mentallystronginstitute.com/