299 Emotional Flexibility & Versatility: Inside the Minds of Professional Footballers on Loan
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, host David Charlton is joined by former professional footballer and coach, and current Assistant Loans Manager at Newcastle United, Peter Ramage, who pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like for young players when they go out on loan. We talk about the often-unseen side of the loan pathway: adapting to new environments, dealing with being away from family, handling uncertainty and change, and the social-media comparison trap that many players fall into. Peter provides real world insight from his time at clubs like...
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298 Run Your Race: The Power of Consistency, Faith, and Mental Strength
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In the second part of our conversation David Charlton speaks with endurance athlete, coach, and world record holder Pierce Showe, who completed 153 consecutive half marathons to raise awareness about health and nutrition. Together, they explore what it really means to run your race in sport, business, and life. Pierce shares his philosophy of focusing on your own journey, avoiding the comparison trap, and finding strength through faith and purpose. He also talks about how goal setting and discipline form the foundation for consistent growth and long-term success, lessons that resonate...
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297 How Endurance Challenges Build Mental Toughness – Lessons from Pierce Showe
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this powerful episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David sits down with endurance athlete, coach, and world record holder, Pierce Showe. From a lacrosse player to completing gruelling 200-mile ultra marathons, Pierce shares his journey of developing resilience, faith, and belief through extreme endurance. Pierce opens up about how early life challenges shaped his hunger for growth, the defining moment that unlocked his belief system, and why mental toughness isn’t something you’re born with and it’s built through hardship, practice, and reflection. He and...
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296 How to Take Control of Your Emotions: Building Your Personal Playbook for Confidence and Calm
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In the second part of our conversation, David Charlton talks with anxiety and fear coach Matt Young about why emotional control and emotional mastery is the key to lasting confidence and calmness under pressure. Matt challenges the common idea that we can only manage our emotions. Instead, he explains how emotions like anxiety, fear, or procrastination are learned traits that serve a purpose. By understanding why they appear, athletes and coaches can start to take ownership and use their emotions intentionally rather than reactively. Drawing parallels between sport and everyday...
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295 Taking Control Of Your Emotions: Lessons from Ex-Footballer and Anxiety Coach Matt Young
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David Charlton speaks with Matt Young, an anxiety and fear coach and former professional footballer, about how emotional control can help athletes and coaches achieve lasting freedom and confidence, on and off the pitch. Matt shares how his playing career at Southampton and other clubs exposed deep insecurities and a constant need to control outcomes including; selection, performance, and judgment from others. That same drive for control, he explains, often leads athletes into anxiety, superstition, and burnout. True freedom, he argues, comes...
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294 The 3-Second Reset: How Stuart Barnes Helps Cricketers Perform Under Pressure
Demystifying Mental Toughness
High performance in cricket and sport in general is about far more than technical ability. In this episode of The Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, I’m joined by Stuart Barnes, Bowling Coach at Warwickshire County Cricket Club, for the second part of our conversation. Together we explore the unique pressures cricketers face and how coaches and psychologists can work hand in hand to support player growth, confidence, and resilience. The Player at the Centre Stuart highlights the importance of a joined-up approach between coaches, psychologists, and teammates, with the athlete...
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293 How Cricket Coaches Build Mental Toughness: High Challenge, High Support with Stuart Barnes
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, I’m joined by Stuart Barnes, Bowling Coach at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. With over 27 years of coaching experience, Stuart shares fascinating insights into the demands of elite cricket, the brutal nature of today’s schedules, and the importance of balancing challenge with support. We dive into how coaches can help players thrive under pressure, the role of self-awareness and process, and why some athletes fear success. Stuart also discusses the fine line between surviving and thriving in professional sport—and what...
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292 Breaking Barriers in Sport: Culture and Inclusion in India & the Middle East
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Today’s episode is the second part of my discussion with Gayatri Bhushan, co-founder of Mind Matter Performance. We go onto continue to explore the importance of being curious and open to learn about the experiences of others in sport. Gayatri goes onto share further insights from India and the Middle East, where cultural, social, and gender barriers can put limits on opportunities for different athletes, participants and coaches. Key Learning Points: · The discussion highlighted the significant impact of Premier League Football...
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291 From India to the Premier League: Sport Psychology, Belonging & Barriers in Global Sport
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Join us for an inspiring episode as we welcome Gayatri Bhushan, HCPC-registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, who shares her deeply personal journey into the world of sports psychology. Born in India and now based in New Delhi, Gayatri reflects on her early years as a national-level 400-metre athlete and the pivotal challenges she faced, from performance pressures to the lack of mental health support. Her story of searching for guidance—often in vain—sparked a passion for ensuring no athlete is left without support, especially young girls navigating the complex intersection of sport and...
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290 Stop Focusing On Results: Developing Life Skills Through Sport
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In the second part of a dialog with Parents in Sport founder, Gordon MacLelland, the conversation goes onto discuss the importance of resilience and normalising failure in sports when communicating with children. Such discussions between parents, coaches and children can help kids develop positive coping mechanisms. David and Gordon also touched on the potential risks of early specialisation in sports at a young age, such as burnout, overuse injuries and the potential to drop out from the sport altogether. The benefits of diversifying sports participation and the...
info_outlineHappy New Year! Why not make 2025 one of your best years to date? To do so if you focus some attention on improving your mental toughness by creating better routines and habits you can give yourself a great chance.
In this NEW episode, a number of our excellent guests offer many helpful and inspiring suggestions. Points of note relate to understanding the stories that you tell yourself about certain situations, events and abilities, how to find your passion and purpose, being authentic and true to yourself, considering who you surround yourself with and many more things.
Key Learning Points:
· Reflect on your own narrative and find ways to make it more empowering.
· Create a real and imaginary "board of directors" of mentors and inspirational figures to provide guidance.
· Identify your routines and habits, how you spend your time, and make relevant adjustments.
· Embrace fear and use it as a tool for growth.
· Identify and manage your character traits that can hold you back.
· Prioritise personal development and spend time working on yourself.
Connect with David Charlton
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Relevant Podcast Episodes To Improve Your Mental Toughness as Relayed in Episode 271
Ep001: Doug Strycharczyk – The Importance of Mental Toughness
Ep028: Peter Clough MBE – Why is Mental Toughness Important?
Ep035: Dr John Perry – Thrive, Don’t Just Survive 2021
Ep037: Penny Mallory – World Class Thinking, World Class Behaviour
Ep041: Paul McGee – How to Develop Interpersonal Confidence
Ep065: Dr Amy Izycky – Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport
Ep066: Marilyn Okoro – Mental Health and Resilience: Lessons from an Olympic Medalist
Ep068: Andrew Nicholson – How Hard Is It To Become A Tour Professional Golfer?
Ep075: Grant Phyphers – How to Rebuild Your Identity
Ep098: Jon Bartlett – Do You Know Your Why?
Ep113: Polly Brennan – The Relationship Between Mental Fitness, Mental Health and Mental Toughness
Ep213: Sandro Forte – How To Set Yourself Up For Success In 2024?
Other Valuable Resources To Improve Your Mental Toughness