742: Winning More and Living Better: Mindset and Leadership with Zach Brandon, Mental Performance Coach and Founder of MVP Mindset Consulting
Release Date: 04/14/2026
750: The Power of Small Wins
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares the story behind Hank’s Hope, a project inspired by her father’s 51-day fight in the ICU and the “win wall” her family created to capture small victories each day. Cindra explores why celebrating small wins is essential for building confidence, resilience, and hope. Drawing from performance psychology and confidence research, she explains how focusing on progress—not perfection—helps train your brain to recognize growth and build belief in yourself. In This Episode: Why small wins matter The difference between “the gap”...
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749: Translating Performance Across Sport and Business with Dr. Armin McCrea-Dastur
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 Dr. Armin McCrea-Dastur—leadership and performance consultant, Founder of Diamond Consulting, and expert in both business and sport psychology—to explore what it takes to perform at a high level across every environment. Drawing from more than 30 years of experience in leadership development, organizational performance, and sport psychology, Armin shares a unique perspective on how the skills developed in athletics directly translate into success in business and life. From working with global...
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748: Train Your Trust
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
“Trust yourself, you know more than you think you do.” – Benjamin Spock What if the biggest thing holding you back… isn’t your ability, but your trust in it? In this episode, we dive into a powerful question high performers face all the time: “Have I done enough, and can I trust it when it matters most?” You’ll hear a real story from an elite athlete preparing for a major moment, and the simple shift that changed everything. We explore: Why self-trust is a skill (not something you’re born with) How hesitation and overthinking quietly...
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747: Building Self-Compassion Without Losing Your Edge with Danae Frentz, Mental Performance Consultant
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 Danae Frentz—a mental performance professional and self-compassion researcher—to explore a powerful idea that challenges how many high achievers think: being hard on yourself isn’t what drives success—self-compassion is. Drawing from nearly a decade of research and applied work in sport and performance psychology, Danae shares how self-compassion helps athletes and performers regulate emotions, recover from setbacks, and sustain high performance without burnout. She explains that self-compassion isn’t...
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746: Designing a Life You Want
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
“Let them judge. Let them misunderstand. Let them doubt you.” – Mel Robbins After seeing Mel Robbins live, I left with three questions I can’t stop thinking about: 👉 What if nothing in your life changed in 5 years? 👉What’s your Plan B? 👉And… what would you do if you didn’t care what people thought? In this episode, we unpack how these questions reveal what you really want and what’s holding you back. Inspired by Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. 💬 Power Phrase: “Let them think...
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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...
info_outlineIn 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 mutually exclusive and instead offers a framework for pursuing both with intention.
Throughout the conversation, Zach breaks down what separates great coaches and leaders from the rest—especially when it comes to building belief, confidence, and trust within teams. He explains how the best performers respond under pressure, why identity plays a critical role in performance, and what it truly means to “lead yourself first.”
You’ll also hear practical tools from his “Coach’s Playbook,” including strategies to reset after mistakes, quiet the inner critic, and help individuals move through plateaus. Zach emphasizes that growth starts with awareness—and that small, intentional shifts in mindset can create powerful momentum.
This episode is a reminder that sustainable success is built from the inside out. When you strengthen how you think, lead, and respond, you don’t just perform better—you live better, too.
You’ll Learn:
• What drives high performance at the elite level
• How great coaches build belief and confidence in others
• What separates those who rise under pressure from those who shrink
• A practical tool to improve how you show up immediately
• How to reset after mistakes and manage your inner critic
• Why leading yourself first is essential for leading others
• How identity shapes performance—and how to intentionally build it
Zach is also a featured speaker at the upcoming Mental Performance Summit, where he’ll share more in his session: “The Coach’s Playbook: Strategies for Winning More and Living Well.”
👉 Learn more and register here: www.mentalperformancesummit.org
Episode Resources & Links
Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute:
https://mentallystronginstitute.com/
Register for the Mental Performance Summit: www.mentalperformancesummit.org
Follow Zach Brandon on X: (4) Zach Brandon (@MVP_Mindset) / X
Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra or her team:
https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/
Download our Confidence Research Study:
https://confidencestudy.com/