Performance Intelligence

Fear isn’t weakness. It’s wiring. Your brain can’t tell the difference between a boardroom and a battlefield. A tough conversation can trigger the same survival response as a physical threat.
Performance psychologist Dr Scott Goldman explains why so many of our fears are rooted in primal instincts — and why they feel so intense, even when our lives aren’t actually at risk.
When you understand what your nervous system is really doing, you stop fighting fear… and start working with it.

Listen to the full conversation at #147.
Learn more about AIQ: https://aiq.team/
Connect with Dr Scott Goldman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgoldmanphd/

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Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/
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Face challenges the way your toughest opponent would. Dr Paul Taylor, expert in hardiness, shows how hardiness isn’t just a trait - it’s a mindset, a practice, and a way to confront life’s most difficult moments.
He shares how he approached open-heart surgery like going into battle, found mindfulness in a simple morning walk, and trains attention and resilience as essential life skills. Paul also explains why most resilience programs fall short, why wellbeing is both physical and psychological, and why medication is often the least effective way to manage depression.
If you want to face life’s toughest challenges without breaking, this is the mindset you need.
1:55 Paul needed hardiness to face serious heart problems, treating them as a worthy challenge and drawing on his lifelong training in resilience.
7:30 Approaching surgery like going into battle, confronting mortality, and choosing how to respond to life’s toughest moments.
13:50 Finding mindfulness in a simple morning walk and using small rituals to strengthen the mind.
16:30 Advice on attention control, including insights for Andrew’s arm injury and daily focus.
25:00 The science of hardiness—why it’s not an outcome but a way to navigate challenges.
29:30 Why many resilience programs fall short and what actually builds mental toughness.
32:00 Paul’s new book on hardiness, and why wellbeing is both physical and psychological.
35:30 Why medication is often the least effective way to address depression.
41:35 How normal human emotions have been over-medicated, and how Paul trains hardiness instead.
51:15 Pushing limits after surgery: doing 10 squats the morning after open-heart surgery to reclaim strength.
55:00 Applying hardiness in rehab and everyday challenges.

You can find Dr Paul at his website: https://www.paultaylor.biz/
or at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultaylor1971/
Buy a copy of Dr Paul's new book: https://www.paultaylor.biz/books

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/
Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.
Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/
Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/
Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast
If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

The best coaches don’t always give answers. They ask questions that make you think differently about yourself, your game, and the moment you’re in.
Aussie cricket legend, Michael Bevan, reflects on the coaching lessons he’s picked up over decades at the highest level — and why knowing what to ask, when to ask it, can be more powerful than any instruction. It’s a reminder that growth often starts with awareness, not advice.

NRL star Jake Trbojevic then shares what it’s like to be on the receiving end of that approach. He explains how Bevan’s questions helped him break out of familiar patterns in training, play with more freedom, and open up more honestly within his team.
A short listen on leadership, trust, and why the right question can change everything.

You can find Bevo at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bevo_michaelbevan/?hl=en
You can find Jake at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaketrbojevic/?hl=en

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/
Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.
Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/
Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/
Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast
If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Pressure doesn’t arrive politely. It doesn’t wait for confidence. It shows up when something matters.
For sports psychologist Dr Lisa Martin, the work isn’t about removing pressure or silencing the mind. It’s about understanding what happens when the moment tightens — and staying available rather than overwhelmed.
Through her work with elite athletes, including Ironman champion Ali Day, she’s seen how hypnosis, imagery, language, and expectation shape performance long before the moment arrives. The words used in preparation often become the voice people hear under pressure.
Pressure doesn’t ask you to feel ready. It asks what you’ve trained.

2:00 Imagery with Ali Day & why language matters
10:00 Hypnosis, pain, and what’s misunderstood
17:00 What “being ready” really means — and why most people aren’t
22:00 Pressure as a storm: run from it or step into it
30:00 ACT vs CBT and why acceptance beats control
38:00 Working with negative thoughts, values, and simple frameworks
51:00 Why mental skills must be trained early — and simplified under pressure
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88llj5YVcO4&t=2s
Find Dr Lisa Martin at:
Level One Psychology — https://www.levelonepsychology.com/
LinkedIn — https://au.linkedin.com/in/lisa-martin-phd-506067a

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/
Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.
Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/
Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/
Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast
If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Life on tour looks glamorous from the outside. On the inside, it can be lonely, exhausting, and unforgiving.
In this Bite Size from episode #154, Dr Bill Anseline shares why he built Hemisphere — a business designed to support touring musicians when their bodies and minds are under the most pressure.
From the long nights to the constant travel, Dr Bill explains what artists really need on the road, and why “leaving nobody behind” isn’t just a value, but a non-negotiable. This is a short but powerful insight into purpose-led work, mental health, and looking after people when the spotlight is on.

You can find Dr Bill at his website:https://drbillanseline.com.au/
Follow Dr Bill on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drbillanseline/?hl=en

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/
Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.
Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/
Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/
Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcast
If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.