Henning Thrien: The Mind Games of Elite Athletes

Pressure, Panic Attacks and One of Cycling's Greatest Comebacks - Demi Vollering

Fresh off one of the most remarkable victories in professional cycling, Demi Vollering joins Going Mental to unpack the mindset behind her dramatic Giro d'Italia Women comeback. Just days after completing an extraordinary Grand Tour triple, Demi opens up about the final stage that changed everything, why she was willing to risk losing her podium place to win it all and the mentality that allows her to thrive when the pressure is at its highest. Jan and Demi dive into the defining moments of her career, including racing with a broken back at the Tour de France Femmes, dealing with panic attacks in competition, overcoming external expectations and why she believes movement is one of the most powerful tools for mental health. From the mountains of the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France to the deeper lessons about resilience, identity and courage, this is an honest conversation about what it really takes to become one of the greatest cyclists in the world. Enjoy this episode! Ryzon offers high-performance, fairly produced endurance apparel for triathletes, cyclists, and runners. The brand is globally recognized for combining technical innovation with a clean, timeless design. Use the code “FRODENO10” to save 10% at Ryzon (valid until October 31, 2026). More: ⁠⁠https://ryzon.net/en-int?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_term=demi [https://ryzon.net/en-int?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_term=demi] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Why Success Feels Empty at the Top - Scott DeRue

Scott DeRue has climbed Mount Everest, completed the Seven Summits, led global businesses through crisis and now serves as CEO of Ironman. In this episode of Going Mental, Scott shares the leadership lessons he learned on the world's highest mountain, why reaching the summit is often the easy part and how high performers navigate uncertainty, risk, and pressure. We dive into Scott's journey from a small town in North Carolina to becoming a professor, business leader, Everest climber and ultimately the CEO of Ironman. Along the way, we explore purpose, resilience, decision-making under extreme conditions and why the most meaningful growth happens outside your comfort zone. Scott also reflects on what it means to "go mental"— not as losing control, but as finding clarity and focus when everything around you feels chaotic. Enjoy this episode! PILLAR Performance provides science-backed, clinically dosed micronutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Their supplements focus on optimizing recovery, sleep, and immunity without unnecessary fillers. If you want to give it a try, use the code GOINGMENTAL at pillarperformance.shop — or, for North American listeners, at TheFeed.com. That’s GOINGMENTAL for 15% off your first purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Broken Bones, Tour Wins & Why Happiness Beats Pressure - Tom Pidcock

What does it take to win Olympic gold after breaking your collarbone  just weeks before the Games? In this episode of FRODENO GOING MENTAL, Jan Frodeno sits down with Tom  Pidcock. The two-time Olympic Champion, Tour de France stage winner,  Cyclocross World Champion and one of the most exciting riders in professional cycling reveals the mindset that helped him recover from devastating injuries, manage chronic knee pain and perform under immense pressure. He explains why he walked away from one of cycling's biggest teams, how  he rebuilt confidence with his new team and what the Tour de France is  really like from the inside. The conversation dives deep into resilience, motivation, mental health, identity, expectations, leadership, and the challenge of staying happy while competing at the very highest level. Enjoy this episode! Ryzon offers high-performance, fairly produced endurance apparel for triathletes, cyclists, and runners. The brand is globally recognized for combining technical innovation with a clean, timeless design. Use the code “IRONMAN10” to save 10% at Ryzon (valid until July 31,  2026). https://ryzon.net/en-int?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_term=pidcock [https://ryzon.net/en-int?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_term=pidcock] PILLAR Performance provides science-backed, clinically dosed micronutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Their supplements focus on optimizing recovery, sleep, and immunity without unnecessary fillers. If you want to give it a try, use the code GOINGMENTAL at pillarperformance.shop — or, for North American listeners, at TheFeed.com. That’s GOINGMENTAL for 15% off your first purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Henning Thrien: The Mind Games of Elite Athletes

In this episode, Jan opens up a deeply personal chapter by sitting down with his own sports psychologist, Henning Thrien. Henning has spent the last 15 years working at the intersection of human vulnerability and elite performance, including guiding athletes through the high-pressure cooker of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Pulling back the curtain on the raw emotional reality of world-class sports, he shares fascinating, extreme insights from his practice. Jan and Henning discuss Henning’s self-definition of being a "mental trash can" for performers, why true growth is fundamentally impossible without embracing discomfort, and how the greatest champions handle the brutal contrast between deep pre-race anxiety and laser-focused autopilot. It’s an honest, unfiltered masterclass on what happens when superhumans face their very human limits and how they manage their needs to deliver when it matters most. Enjoy this episode! Produced by Podstars by OMR PILLAR Performance provides science-backed, clinically dosed micronutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Their supplements focus on optimizing recovery, sleep, and immunity without unnecessary fillers. If you want to give it a try, use the code GOINGMENTAL at pillarperformance.shop — or, for North American listeners, at TheFeed.com. That’s GOINGMENTAL for 15% off your first purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Nino Schurter: Winning for 20 Years

Olympic Champion and MTB legend Nino Schurter joins Going Mental for a deep conversation about pressure, flow, motivation and longevity. Nino reflects on a career that shaped modern mountain biking. From Olympic gold and World Championship titles to the mental challenges of staying on top for over two decades. A fascinating conversation about mindset, resilience and what truly drives champions. Enjoy! PILLAR Performance provides science-backed, clinically dosed micronutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Their supplements focus on optimizing recovery, sleep, and immunity without unnecessary fillers. If you want to give it a try, use the code GOINGMENTAL at pillarperformance.shop — or, for North American listeners, at TheFeed.com. That’s GOINGMENTAL for 15% off your first purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]