Henning Thrien: The Mind Games of Elite Athletes

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]

From Oxford Mathematician to Cycling World Record Holder - Vittoria Bussi

In todays episode of Going Mental, Jan Frodeno sits down with cycling world record holder Vittoria Bussi. The first woman in history to ride more than 50 kilometers in one hour. But Vittoria’s story goes far beyond cycling. A former Oxford PhD mathematician, Vittoria shares how losing her father changed the direction of her life, how she turned pain into performance and why obsession became her greatest strength. Vittoria also explains how she built her own independent project outside traditional cycling structures, why she repeated one-hour simulations every single week in training and what it really feels like to push the human body to its absolute limit. This is a raw and inspiring conversation about elite performance, mental strength, grief, purpose and what it truly means to go mental. Enjoy! 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/discount/FRODENO10?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_term=goingmental 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. Produced by Podstars by OMR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Norwegian Method: Science vs. Soul – Kristian Blummenfelt

What drives someone to race four major triathlons across two and a half continents in just six weeks — and still come out sharper on the other side? In this episode, Jan sits down with Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion Kristian Blummenfelt to decode the mindset of the "Norwegian Terminator." Kristian opens up about his "kamikaze" racing schedule, the devastating mental basement of a bad race, and why his deepest fuel isn't the joy of winning, but a fear of loss. Jan also shares a personal angle: after his 2022 crash and surgeries, Blummenfelt became one of the reasons he wanted to come back — to race him one more time in 2023.They dive deep into the split with his long-time coach, the transition to being self-coached, and the truth behind the 103 VO2 Max rumors. From the aggressive racing style of his hero Alistair Brownlee to the high-stakes "barking" in the Olympic village, this is a raw look at the methodology and the madness required to redefine the limits of human endurance. Enjoy! The Pod by Eight Sleep is a smart mattress cover. Optimize your recovery and wake up full of energy with Eight Sleep’s personalized temperature regulation, the secret to your deep sleep. Use code JANFRODENO at https://www.eightsleep.com/de/janfrodeno/ to save up to €350 off your order. 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. Produced by Podstars by OMR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Eliud Kipchoge: The Philosopher of Running

For this conversation, Jan sits down with the greatest marathoner of all time, Eliud Kipchoge. They explore the mindset that led to the historic sub-two-hour marathon and why Eliud believes that records don't belong to individuals, but to the sport itself. Eliud shares his profound wisdom on the purity of running, explaining why he still lives and cleans in a simple training camp despite his global success. They discuss the "heavy load" of preparation, how to maintain focus in an age of distraction, and his rule for the next generation. A conversation that serves as a blueprint for anyone looking to push their own boundaries, whether in sport or in life. Enjoy! Get Your Own CANYON GRAIL Ready to hit the gravel? Grab Jan’s bike of choice and save extra on your next adventure! Offer: Extra 5% OFF all Canyon Grail models. Bonus: This code stacks! It is valid even on top of already discounted bikes.*** Code: FRODENO5GRAIL Shop here: canyon.com [www.canyon.com] 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. [www.TheFeed.com] That’s GOINGMENTAL for 15% off your first purchase. ***Legal Terms & Conditions: This voucher code is valid online on www.canyon.com between 9 April 2026, 00:01 CET and 20 April 2026, 23:59 CET. The promotion applies a 5% discount to all models of the Grail bike family. It cannot be redeemed in conjunction with any other discount code and excludes Factory Outlet bikes. It cannot be redeemed in conjunction with bike leasing. The discount cannot be applied retroactively and applies only to products available at the time of purchase. Cannot be redeemed for cash and resale is prohibited. Canyon reserves the right to terminate or change the terms of this promotion at any time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]