Demystifying Mental Toughness
Episodes
300 Owning Your Journey: Personal Responsibility, Success Redefined & Thriving on Loan
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this milestone episode #300 of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David Charlton is joined by former Newcastle United defender and current ...
299 Emotional Flexibility & Versatility: Inside the Minds of Professional Footballers on Loan
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, host David Charlton is joined by former professional footballer and coach, and current A...
298 Run Your Race: The Power of Consistency, Faith, and Mental Strength
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the second part of our conversation David Charlton speaks with endurance athlete, coach, and world record holder Pierce Showe, who completed 153 co...
297 How Endurance Challenges Build Mental Toughness – Lessons from Pierce Showe
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this powerful episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David sits down with endurance athlete, coach, and world record holder, Pierce ...
296 How to Take Control of Your Emotions: Building Your Personal Playbook for Confidence and Calm
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the second part of our conversation, David Charlton talks with anxiety and fear coach Matt Young about why emotional control and emotional mastery ...
295 Taking Control Of Your Emotions: Lessons from Ex-Footballer and Anxiety Coach Matt Young
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David Charlton speaks with Matt Young, an anxiety and fear coach and former professional footballer,...
294 The 3-Second Reset: How Stuart Barnes Helps Cricketers Perform Under Pressure
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
High performance in cricket and sport in general is about far more than technical ability. In this episode of The Demystifying Mental Toughness Podca...
293 How Cricket Coaches Build Mental Toughness: High Challenge, High Support with Stuart Barnes
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, I'm joined by Stuart Barnes, Bowling Coach at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. With ove...
292 Breaking Barriers in Sport: Culture and Inclusion in India & the Middle East
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is the second part of my discussion with Gayatri Bhushan, co-founder of Mind Matter Performance. We go onto continue to explore the ...
291 From India to the Premier League: Sport Psychology, Belonging & Barriers in Global Sport
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for an inspiring episode as we welcome Gayatri Bhushan, HCPC-registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, who shares her deeply personal journe...
290 Stop Focusing On Results: Developing Life Skills Through Sport
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the second part of a dialog with Parents in Sport founder, Gordon MacLelland, the conversation goes onto discuss the importance of resilience and n...
289 How To Support Children To Enjoy A Positive Relationship With Sport
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 289 of Demystifying Mental Toughness, the founder of Parents in Sport, Gordon MacLelland, shared his journey from having a promising sports...
288 How To Overcome Intense Emotions From Football
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a continuation of last week's conversation, David Charlton and Duncan O'Brien discuss the impact of shame on athletes, particularly footballers. ...
287 Is A Blame Culture In Team Sports Helpful For Performance?
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Charlton and Duncan O'Brien discuss the emotional challenges in football, focusing on blame, shame, guilt, and anger in this week's episode of D...
286 How To Understand Neurodiversity Better In Football Refereeing
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, the conversation delves into the experiences of a neurodiverse referee, referee educator and coach, Nathan Sherratt, the owner of The Third Tea...
285 Football Coaches: How To Help Neurodiverse Players Thrive
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode David Charlton and his colleague Adam Batstone emphasised the importance of psychological support in football and sport coaching wi...
284 What's To Come This Summer – Contemporary Issues in Sport
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Charlton introduces the next phase of the "Demystifying Mental Toughness" podcast, where episodes will address various contemporary issues, incl...
283 How To Help A Swimmer Who Is Online A Lot Checking His Rivals Out
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, the case study that David Charlton and his colleague Colm O'Donoghue discuss is connected to a 16-year-old swimmer who spends a lot of time onl...
282 How To Help An Emotional Tennis Player Perform Better
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, David Charlton and his colleague Colm O'Donoghue discussed a case study of a 12-year-old tennis player who struggled with her emotion...
281 How To Help The Golfer Who Searches For The Perfect Swing
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does the perfect golf swing exist? NO. Does the perfect golf swing equal lower scores in golf? NO – Yet many golfers continue to strive to attai...
280 How To Help A Golfer Who Struggles Playing Strokeplay
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Charlton hosts the Demystifying Mental Toughness podcast with his colleague and a fellow competitive amateur golfer, Colm O'Donoghue today. C...
279 How To Help A Cricketer Overcome Selections Difficulties
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, in episode #279 David and Gerard discuss the challenges faced by a 12-year-old cricketer named Amir (pseudonym), who is a leg spinner struggli...
278 How To Help Young Athletes Who Are Distracted By Shouty Coaches Subtitle:
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, #278 David and Gerard discuss the impact of a shouty coach on an 18-year-old rugby player named Tom (pseudonym). They explore ho...
277 How To Help An Extra Competitive Footballer
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In episode #277 David and Gerard Fitzgerald discussed how to help shift the focus of an extra competitive footballer or athlete, using the example of ...
276 How To Help A Footballer Who Focuses Too Much On Other People
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today marks the start of an 8-episode series where David Charlton is joined by a colleague. Gerard Fitzgerald features in this episode, as well as t...
275 Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast – What happens next?
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After a short break from creating and broadcasting episodes of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, in episode #275, David discusses a change in...
274 How You Can Challenge Yourself To Feel More In Control
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast #274, we focus in on the control and challenge measures from Professor Peter Cloug...
273 How To Improve Your Mental Toughness For Team Sports
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The "Demystifying Mental Toughness" podcast episode #273, hosted by David Charlton, features insights from various team sports coaches and athletes, o...
272 Sport Coaches: 15 Tips To Help You Become A Better Coach
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's podcast episode #272, focuses on helping coaches develop themselves and improve their relationships with their athletes, in turn, positively i...
271 25 Ways To Improve Your Mental Toughness
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! Why not make 2025 one of your best years to date? To do so if you focus some attention on improving your mental toughness by creating ...
270 11 Ways To Build Your Mental Fortitude
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's podcast episode #270, many of our fabulous guests share some tips so that you can build your mental fortitude and consistently perform well...
269 Do You Want to Make Next Year a Great Year? Why Contact A Sport Psychologist!
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode #269 David addresses the question, "What Can I Expect When Working With A Sport Psychologist" for the final time as this episode marks the ...
268 Confidentiality: Ethical Considerations for Sport Psychologists
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode David explores the importance of confidentiality when working as a Sport Psychologist when supporting clients. He discusses how...
267 How to Help Sports Coaches Navigate Anxiety
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode #267 of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David discusses the role of a Sport Psychologist in helping coaches manage anxiety. He differentiate...
266 How to Help Sports Coaches Cope With Pressure and Stress Better
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today David considers the statement: "Coping strategies: You'll develop tools to manage pressure and stress" where he focuses on supporting coaches to...
265 How to Help Sports Coaches Self Regulate Their Emotions
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Sophia Jowett's has conducted a lot of research into understanding the interpersonal dynamics between coaches and athletes and is instrument...
264 How to Enhance Focus, Motivation and Confidence
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ensuring that your focus is placed on helpful things, that you stay motivated during difficult times and that your confidence levels remain steady and...
263 30 Further Ideas to Aid Your Performance and Psychological Well-Being
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to episode #263 of the Demystifying Mental Toughness podcast. This week's episode features lessons from the world of business and entrepreneur...
262 50 Ideas to Aid Your Performance and Psychological Well-Being
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode #262 of Demystifying Mental Toughness due to unforeseen circumstances David includes a large number of inspiring take home messages from gu...
261 Why Are The Sporting Goals That You Set Yourself Not Helping You
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of David's exploration surrounding ChatGPT's and its response to the question What Can I Expect When Working With A Sport Psychologist, Davi...
260 What Can I Expect When Working With A Sport Psychologist – Part 1
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today David starts the first of a series of episodes where he looks into ChatGPT's explanations about the field of sport psychology and adds further d...
259 The "I MUST FEEL CONFIDENT" to perform well myth
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 259 of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David discusses why thinking that you must feel confident to perform well is unhelpful. ...
258 Football: How To Overcome Mental Blocks To Improve Your Dribbling Skills
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A common goal when supporting attacking football or soccer players, is overcoming mental blocks when dribbling with the ball in football. This is the ...
257 Should I Change My Pre-Shot Routine To Get Better
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 257 of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David discusses pre-shot routines in sport. With an emphasis on golf, and the importance ...
256 The Immature Brain: How To Help An Emotional Child
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, David focuses on the emotional control aspect of mental toughness. Where he discusses the emotional states that children ma...
255 3 Tips To Overcome The Fear Of Rejection
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 255 of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David discusses the fear of rejection, particularly in the context of how it can hinder s...
254 How Can I Perform Better More Consistently?
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you welcome challenges and see them as an opportunity to learn? Or do you rarely adapt your routines and fall into the trap of making the same mist...
253 You MUST get up at 4am to be a SUCCESS
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you were to get up at 4am every morning, never had a day off and dedicated your life to one cause or goal would you be fully effective? David Cha...
252 Helping Out Of Contract Professional Footballers
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David Charlton discusses the psychological impact on professional footballers who are out of contract, a common issue in the summer months. These play...
251 How To View Big Events As A Challenge
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Olympics in Paris has recently finished and produced some remarkable performances from many different athletes. Yet for some this Olympics was u...
250 Optimising Your Potential By Understanding Your Nervous System Better
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode I welcomed Ruth Chiles and Dr Alessia Bruno back on the show, where they discuss helping individuals achieve their hidden potential...
249 Understanding Workplace Collaboration In Coaching In Team Sports
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's conversation revolves around the challenges of collaboration in coaching in team sports. Where Assistant Professor Dr Edward Hall and I disc...
248 Embracing Fear And The Dreaded Yips
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The "yips" is a word that strikes fear into many golfers, cricketers, darts players and many other performers. With the yips, comes huge emotional ...
247 David Charlton Gets Grilled By Tom Jones
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I chat with Tom Jones, the founder of Cricket Coach 365 and the University of Manchester Men's Cricket First Team Coach. Tom go...
246 How To Deal With The Highs And Lows Of Sport
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emma Raducanu is a great example of someone whose career was on an upward trajectory, after winning the US Open tennis championship in 2021, aged 18 y...
245 How To Overcome The Fear Of Winning
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
During the Wimbledon tennis tournament this week there will many players who are faced with great opportunities to win matches yet will struggle to cl...
244 How To Deal With Playing Out Of Position In Football
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Currently the European Football Championships are taking place and there has been a lot of talk in the media and with fans about some of England's foo...
243 How I Would Help Rory McIlroy Win The British Open
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On Sunday June 16th at Pinehurst Golf Course in North Carolina, Rory McIlroy had a great opportunity to win the US Open and break his 10 year major tr...
242 What Is The Difference Between Mental Toughness And Resilience #BITESIZE
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're now 4 years on since the creation of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast therefore David Charlton the host of the podcast made the decisio...
241 How To Cultivate A Limitless Mindset #BITESIZE
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this BITE-SIZED episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, Dr. Bob Winters, an internationally recognised sport psychologist who has sup...
240 How To Transfer Your Skills From Training to Competitive Situations #BITESIZE
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do athletes work with a Sports Psychologist? One of the biggest reasons is that they struggle to transfer their skills from training to competitiv...
239 How To Overcome Batting Woes In Cricket #BITESIZE
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cricket is a unique sport where despite being a team sport it can also be argued to be an individual sport. One of the biggest challenges is batting...
238 Are You Really Committed To Your Craft? #BITESIZE
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Penny Mallory was the first woman to drive in the world rally championships. On her way to do so she showed immense commitment to her craft and made...
237 How To Distance Yourself From Your Thoughts #BITESIZE
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever believe you are your thoughts? Do you often take your thoughts way too seriously? If so you'll enjoy today's podcast episode as my guest...
236 How To Use ACT and Mindfulness When You've Got Lots Of Time To Think #BITESIZE
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In different sports such as golf and cricket, athletes can be placed in situations where they have a lot of thinking time. Too much thinking time for ...
235 How To Use ACT To Improve Your Coaching In Sport #BITESIZE
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many athletes, golfers or people in everyday life take their thoughts too seriously. They then get caught up overthinking and it causes havoc with t...
234 How To Combat Overthinking In Sport #BITESIZE
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How often in sport do you see an athlete make the wrong decision under pressure? Often I'd say! Even at the highest level in elite professional sport....
233 How To Help A Young Footballer Overcome Fear
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the last of this 3 part series created for parents of young adults and kids who play football or soccer I discuss how fear can wreck a youngsters f...
232 How To Remain Composed As a Goalkeeper Under Pressure #BITESIZE
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is the most mentally challenging position on the football or soccer pitch? Many people would argue it's the goalkeeper. Common psychological ...
231 The Relationship Between Self Esteem, Fun and Football Performance
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the second of 3 episodes created for parents of young people who play football I carry on the conversation about enjoyment on the football pitch. ...
230 How To Help Perfectionists Recapture The Fun Part Of Their Sport #BITESIZE
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today, with my colleague Dr Alessia Bruno we discuss the downsides to perfectionism and how many athletes can get obsessed by their sports, training h...
229 How To Help a Kid Who Isn't Enjoying Their Football
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first of 3 episodes created for parents of kids who play football with their enjoyment and the possibility of quitting playing football th...
228 Lessons From Overconfident Golfers That Can Help You Perform Better
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of golfers lack confidence and trust in their ability to execute shots and putts and shoot the scores that they are capable of. As a result, t...
227 How To Improve Football Coaches And Player Relationships
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A football coaches role is multi-faceted from being knowledgeable about tactics and technical aspects of the game to being well versed in their unders...
226 Helping Athletes Who Have Strong Physiological Responses To Fear #BITESIZE
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fear is evident in every sport and affects athletes and performers differently. From overthinking to strong physiological responses in an athlete's bo...
225 How To Offer Footballers Process Driven Feedback In Training
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's very easy as a football coach to offer short snippets of praise such as "great goal" or "good pass." However, is this actually helpful for the ...
224 How To Help Professional Rugby Players Perform Better Under Pressure #BITESIZE
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode #224 of Demystifying Mental Toughness, I share part of a conversation with Aaron Walsh a Mental Performance Coach with many Elite Professio...
223 What Is Helpful And Unhelpful About Outcome Talk
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In and around most football clubs you'll hear statements like "this is a MUST win game today," "we HAVE to get 3 points today" or "great GOAL". It's...
222 How To Help Athletes Who Freeze Under Pressure #BITESIZE
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hypoarousal – what is it in a performance context? It is our freeze response, when our mind and body shuts down when we are faced with significant p...
221 How To Use Pre Performance Routines When The Pressure Is On #BITESIZE
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today episode, I'm joined by former international cricketer and Senior Leadership Coach, Jeremy Snape. Jeremy and I discuss pressure, where he expl...
220 How To Build Mental Health Literacy In Your Organization #BITESIZE
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's short episode, Dr Paul Gorczynski who has worked with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) shares his knowledge of mental health liter...
219 Golfers: How To Improve Your Putting With A Quiet Eye Approach
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many golfers get drawn into overthinking situations and overanalysing technique which leads to indecision and a lack of trust in putts and shots. Ov...
218 Mental Toughness In Football: How To Deal With Criticism #BITESIZE
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's short BITE sized episode HCPC Registered Sport Psychologist, Michael Caulfield tells me about the challenges and pressures that elite profe...
217 How A Marginal Gains Approach Can Help You Perform Better #BITESIZE
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Marginal gains is an approach that was created by Dave Brailsford with British Cycling which led to many years of success. It's an holistic approac...
216 Self-Care: How to Prioritise Rest and Recovery #BITESIZE
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Commitment is the ability to make and keep our promises which some people can find difficult. Especially as our journeys are often littered with cha...
215 How Ice Swimming And Cold Immersion Can Help You Take Control Of Your Destiny
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David talks to Team GB Ice Swimmer, and Owner of H2O Trails, Fenwick Ridley. We chat about ice swi...
214 How To Create Helpful Eating Habits To Benefit Your Sport Performance
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ellen McDermott an Elite Professional Cyclist and Performance Nutritionist, shares her journey from novice to becoming an elite profe...
213 How To Set Yourself Up For Success In 2024?
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today, in our first episode of 2024 I am joined by Sandro Forte, an inspirational professional speaker, author and successful entrepreneur. We discu...
212 33 Ideas That Will Optimise Your Performance
29 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to episode #212 of Demystifying Mental Toughness! This is the second part of two specially created episodes over the festive period to show ...
211 25 Ideas that will boost your Performance and Mental Health
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to episode #211 of Demystifying Mental Toughness. Today we bring you the 1st of 2 compilation episodes over the festive period. The key ta...
210 Why Breathwork is so Powerful
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thought about whether you breathe properly? Or do you take breathing for granted as something that we as living humans do automatically?...
209 How To Create Better Decision Makers On The Football Pitch
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mental toughness development is all about helping people deal with pressure better. In general, you'll see sports psychology practitioners advocate ...
208 How To Help Footballers Ensure That They Keep Their Foot On The Pedal When Their Team Is Winning
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, in the last of this 10-part series for footballer or soccer players, coaches and parents, I talk more about managing expectations, this time wh...
207 And Breathe: How To Prevent, Manage and Master Difficult Conversations
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In business and sporting organisations conflict is widespread and there is a need for leaders and managers to be able to prevent, manage and master di...
206 How To Help Footballers Play To Their Optimum In Big Matches
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 206, I add a further step to what I discussed in the previous episode, 204, when I talked about managing expectations. The situation I cons...
205 Rehabilitation And Returning To Sport: How To Support Injured Athletes
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's podcast episode looks at how we as Sports Psychologists support injured athletes. My guest, Dr Carl Bescoby, the Injury Psychologist, goes on ...
204 How To Help Footballers Manage Their Expectations
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A phrase you often hear from football managers, coaches and pundits is that football and soccer players "need to manage their expectations." You also ...
203 How Boxing Can Help You Build Up Your Levels Of Resilience
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 203 of The Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast features Jack Sunderland, a former professional boxer, currently a boxing coach and entrepren...
202 How To Help Footballers Who Struggle With Fear Of Failure
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 202, the 7th of our 10-part series I build on the previous episode, and again I look to help the footballer who places too much attention o...
201 Even The Mentally Tough Can Find Things A Struggle Without Self Awareness
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is a special, landmark episode as we enter the 200's! As a result, I decided to clip out some bite-sized bits from previous episodes f...