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Building the Elite Podcast

Dr. Daniel Cooper: The Psychology of High Performance - Ep. 118

03 Sep 2025

Description

Dr. Daniel Cooper is a human performance and behaviour specialist who focuses on improving individual and team performance in high-pressure, high-consequence environments. He provides a unique perspective that sits at the intersection of real-world experience, academic research, and high-performance development. His experience encompasses over 18 years of service within the Australian Special Operations community, as well as academic studies in physiology, PhD research on performing under pressure, and current studies in neuroscience. In addition to high-performance coaching in professional sports and personal pursuits in extreme ultra-endurance events, Daniel has also worked within law enforcement as a frontline skills trainer, assisting in the development and delivery of strategic command programs.Follow Dr. Cooper:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-cooper-phd-3725194a/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancooper_phd/Timestamps:00:21 Introduction to Dr. Daniel Cooper01:35 Where in Antarctica is Dr. Daniel Cooper Going?02:54 What Distance Record is Dr. Cooper Going for?03:42 What are the Logistics for a Trip to Antarctica?04:58 What Does the Food Look Like?07:09 Starting Weight for a Sled08:22 Getting Out of the Special Air Service08:49 Dr. Cooper's Area of Research09:39 Under Pressure You Fall to the Level of Your Instructor12:24 What Operators Do Wrong When They Become Instructors14:32 What's Dr. Cooper's Take on the Post-Engagement Scan?18:47 The "Rule of Pretending" in Training Exercises 23:17 "Procedure Monkey" Meaning24:06 Letting Situations Go Wrong in Training27:35 Balancing Adaptability, Productivity and Challenges31:44 The Impact of Shame in Training Practices34:58 Mental Toughness is Misunderstood40:58 How a Unit Should View Their Team and the World Around Them46:05 Difference Between Character and Capability49:38 More Effective Evaluating in the Special Air Service53:40 Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence, PCDE's01:03:03 Linear vs Non-Linear Motor Skill Development01:12:54 Desirable Difficulties to Train Recall Skills01:13:53 Dr. Coopers Book Recommendation01:14:53 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 01:16:26 Outro

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