What Pressure Does to the Brain and Body

Conversation with Josh Sprague

Text me your thoughts! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2117208/fan_mail/new] In this episode, I sit down with Josh Sprague—an endurance athlete whose journey is defined by consistency, resilience, and a deep understanding of the mental side of performance. Josh has competed in hundreds of endurance events, including triathlons, trail races, and ultra-distance challenges. But what makes his perspective so valuable isn’t just the volume of races—it’s the mindset required to keep showing up, to manage discomfort, and to stay engaged when the physical and mental demands start to peak. His approach reflects years of experience pushing through long distances, adapting in real time, and building the discipline to keep going when it’s hard. In our conversation, we talk about what endurance sports teach us about discipline and long-term growth, how to stay consistent when motivation fades, and what it really takes to navigate setbacks without losing momentum. We also get into the role of mental toughness—what it actually looks like in real time—and how training your mind becomes just as important as training your body. Josh also shares how his experience as an athlete led him to build businesses rooted in real-world problem-solving, including Orange Mud (https://orangemud.com) and Seven Clay (https://sevenclay.com), both shaped directly by his experiences in endurance sports and hands-on execution. This episode is for athletes, coaches, and anyone looking to better understand how resilience is built—not in one big moment, but through the daily decision to keep showing up. Support the show [https://www.paypal.me/nassimebrahimi] Website: https://www.becomingmystrongerme.com/ [https://www.becomingmystrongerme.com/] IG: @strongerme [https://www.instagram.com/strongerme/] TikTok: @becomingmystrongerme  [https://www.tiktok.com/@becomingmystrongerme]

Performing When It Counts

Text me your thoughts! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2117208/fan_mail/new] Performing under pressure isn’t about rising to the moment—it’s about returning to what you’ve trained. In this episode, Coach Nassim brings the Pressure, Stress, and Nerves mini-series to a close by focusing on how athletes actually execute when it matters most. Drawing from research on pre-performance routines, attention control, and self-regulation, this conversation breaks down why performance often drops under pressure—and what helps athletes stay consistent. You’ll learn how routines create stability, how attention shifts in high-stakes moments, and why the ability to reset between plays is one of the most important performance skills athletes can develop. The episode also offers practical ways to simplify focus, reduce overthinking, and stay connected to execution. This episode is essential for athletes, coaches, and parents who want to understand how to translate preparation into performance—especially when the stakes are highest. Support the show [https://www.paypal.me/nassimebrahimi] Website: https://www.becomingmystrongerme.com/ [https://www.becomingmystrongerme.com/] IG: @strongerme [https://www.instagram.com/strongerme/] TikTok: @becomingmystrongerme  [https://www.tiktok.com/@becomingmystrongerme]

Nerves and Anxiety

Text me your thoughts! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2117208/fan_mail/new] Nerves don’t mean something is wrong—they mean something is happening. In this episode, Coach Nassim breaks down what athletes actually experience in high-pressure moments, exploring the science behind nerves, anxiety, and arousal. Drawing from the Yerkes-Dodson Law and multidimensional anxiety theory, this conversation reframes anxiety as a natural and often helpful part of performance—not a flaw to fix. You’ll learn the difference between physical activation and mental worry, why anxiety shows up differently for every athlete, and how interpretation—not elimination—shapes performance. The episode also introduces simple ways to recognize what you’re feeling and respond more effectively in the moment. This episode is essential for athletes, coaches, and parents who want to better understand nerves, reduce unnecessary fear around anxiety, and build a healthier, more effective relationship with pressure. Support the show [https://www.paypal.me/nassimebrahimi] Website: https://www.becomingmystrongerme.com/ [https://www.becomingmystrongerme.com/] IG: @strongerme [https://www.instagram.com/strongerme/] TikTok: @becomingmystrongerme  [https://www.tiktok.com/@becomingmystrongerme]

What Pressure Does to the Brain and Body

Text me your thoughts! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2117208/fan_mail/new] Pressure isn’t just the moment—it’s how your brain interprets the moment. In this episode, Coach Nassim kicks off the Pressure, Stress, and Nerves mini-series by breaking down what actually happens in the brain and body when athletes feel pressure. Drawing from stress appraisal theory, challenge vs. threat research, and the psychophysiology of stress, this conversation explains why two athletes can experience the same situation completely differently—and how that impacts performance. You’ll learn how the brain evaluates pressure, why your body’s response is not a mistake but a performance system activating, and how interpretation shapes whether pressure helps or hurts. This episode gives athletes, coaches, and parents a foundational understanding of pressure—so it’s no longer something to fear, but something to understand and work with. If you’ve ever wondered why pressure feels the way it does, this episode provides clarity, language, and a science-backed way to think about it. Support the show [https://www.paypal.me/nassimebrahimi] Website: https://www.becomingmystrongerme.com/ [https://www.becomingmystrongerme.com/] IG: @strongerme [https://www.instagram.com/strongerme/] TikTok: @becomingmystrongerme  [https://www.tiktok.com/@becomingmystrongerme]

Conversation with Ramon Lara

Text me your thoughts! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2117208/fan_mail/new] In this episode, I sit down with Ramon Lara—a UEFA B licensed football coach and mental performance trainer whose work bridges technical development and the psychology of high performance. Ramon brings a global perspective to the game, shaped by his experiences coaching in professional environments and learning across international football cultures. His approach goes beyond tactics—focusing on how players think, process, and respond in high-pressure moments. He shares practical insights and reflections from his journey that will challenge how you think about coaching, training, and development—on and off the field. This episode is for athletes, coaches, and parents who want to better understand how the mental side of the game shapes performance, consistency, and long-term growth. Connect with Ramon: Ramon Lara | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramon-lara-b84383156/] Support the show [https://www.paypal.me/nassimebrahimi] Website: https://www.becomingmystrongerme.com/ [https://www.becomingmystrongerme.com/] IG: @strongerme [https://www.instagram.com/strongerme/] TikTok: @becomingmystrongerme  [https://www.tiktok.com/@becomingmystrongerme]