Tennis IQ Podcast
Episodes
Ep. 248 - The Benefits of Using Constraints
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can benefit by taking a constraints led approach. They talk about constraints that tennis p...
Ep. 247 - Rethinking The Origins Of Greatness
14 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the origins of greatness in performance, and whether early specialization increases one's chances of becom...
Ep. 246 - The Impact of Mental Fatigue on Performance and Accuracy
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the impact of mental fatigue on tennis performance. Research on this topic includes a systematic review from 2...
Ep. 245 - A Critical Look at AI in Tennis
21 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications within tennis. The co-hosts discuss certain benefits of usin...
Ep. 244 - Turning Concepts Into Actions - That's Elite
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Brian and Josh discuss the concept of “knowing the nouns and practicing the verbs”. The co-hosts discussed how tennis players ough...
Ep. 243 - Mental Performance Themes at the 2026 Australian Open
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The 2026 Australian Open has wrapped up with Elena Rybakina winning the women’s singles title over Aryna Sabalenka 6–4, 4-6, 6-4, and Carlos Alcar...
Ep. 242 - The Long-Term Problem Of Playing With Fear
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can choose to become great or stay within their comfort zone and limit their growth. The co...
Tribute to Bill Tym - The Evolution of a Champion (Ep. 13)
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With the recent passing of Bill Tym, we wanted to re-release our interview with him from 2020 as a tribute to his legacy. Coach Tym was a major influe...
Ep. 241 - Don't Skip Out On Your Habits
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of habit consistency. Based on a chapter from Areté by Brian Johnson, they talked about why ju...
Ep. 240 - Emotional Intelligence and Performance
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss emotional intelligence and its impact on tennis performance. They define the term and cover its application to...
Ep. 239 - Mental Fortitude and Amanda Anisimova
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Based on an interview with The Guardian, Brian and Josh discuss some mental performance themes behind Amanda Anisimova's remarkable 2025 season.Li...
Ep. 238 - Attribution Theory and How We Explain Results
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss attribution theory and its impact on tennis performance. The co-hosts talk about how the interpretation of res...
Ep. 237 - Chris Harwood and the 5Cs
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Harwood, PhD is a Professor of Sport Psychology at Nottingham Trent University and an Honorary Professor of Loughborough University in the UK. H...
Ep. 236 - The Connection Between Passion and Performance
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the multi-faceted relationship between passion and performance (The Dualistic Model of Passion). The co-hosts ...
Ep. 235 - The Value of Precommitments in Tennis
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of precommitments as a means for setting intentions for coping with challenges and adversity. Tenn...
Ep. 234 - Do You Get Bored in Your Training?
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of embracing boredom and the mundane in an athlete’s journey towards improvement. They discus...
Ep. 233 - Unwrapping the Gift of Greatness
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how to attain greatness through adaptability and balance. The co-hosts discuss various chapters from Brian Joh...
Ep. 232 - Handling the Loss of Skill or Talent Level
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh talk about a recent article from the Journal of the Philosophy of Sport regarding "talent loss." The co-host...
Ep. 231 - Reframing Situations to Improve Performance
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh cover how tennis players can build the skill of reframing situations and shifting perspective. The co-hosts discuss wh...
Ep. 230 - Mental Performance Themes from US Open 2025 | Sabalenka, Anisimova, Alcaraz, Sinner
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh cover the 2025 U.S. Open Championships. They discuss various themes and sport psychology concepts that emerged from th...
Ep. 229 - Are Double Faults a Purely Technical Issue?
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss whether double faulting is solely a technical issue, a mental issue, or a combination of the two. Recently Coc...
Ep. 228 - The Necessity of Commitment and Enthusiasm on Your Tennis Journey
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the connection between commitment and enthusiasm. Using several quotes as inspiration, they review how tennis ...
Ep. 227 - Building Momentum and Breaking It
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of momentum in tennis. First, they define the term, then they discuss the research about momentum ...
Ep. 226 - Developing Wisdom As A Competitive Skill
09 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh utilize a recent article about Taylor Fritz as inspiration to discuss the path of wisdom for elite competitors. In the...
Ep. 225 - Handling Difficult Emotions Between Points
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh respond to a listener's question regarding resetting between points and handling emotions on the court. The co-hos...
Ep. 224 - The Necessity for Rest and Energy Management
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how to handle training and rest leading up to tournaments. They review how players can approach their tourname...
Ep. 223 - Wimbledon 2025 Mental Performance Themes | Sinner, Alcaraz, Swiatek, Anisimova
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. Iga Świątek won the women’s singles title over Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6,0...
Ep. 222 - The Benefits of Deep Breathing
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the impact of deep breathing for tennis players. They review the benefits of breathing from a scientific persp...
Ep. 221 - How to Use Time as a Tool to Benefit Your Game
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the benefit of going backwards or forwards in time to gain perspective and to perform better in the present. T...
Ep. 220 - Roland Garros 2025 | Gauff, Sabalenka, Alcaraz, and Sinner
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Roland Garros 2025 has wrapped up with Coco Gauff winning the women’s singles title over Aryna Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4, and Carlos Alcaraz winnin...
Ep. 219 - ADHD in Tennis with Dr Josephine Perry
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode focuses on ADHD in sport, and features an interview with Dr. Josephine Perry. Dr. Josephine Perry is a Chartered Sport Psychologist who w...
Ep. 218 - The Benefits of Positive Affect on Your Mental Toughness
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the benefits of generating positive affect on and off the court. According to PositivePsychology.com, “posit...
Ep. 217 - The Necessity of Mental Flexibility
17 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of mental flexibility. They review how mental flexibility can be a key to improving resilience, an...
Ep. 216 - The Two Words That Spark Anxiety
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss an article from Psychology Today by Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein entitled “The 2 Words That Spark Anxiety—and the...
Ep. 215 - Comparing Self-centeredness and Self-Awareness
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Inspired by the book, Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy, Brian and Josh contrast the concepts of self-centeredness and self-awareness. The co-hosts revie...
Ep. 214 - The Cardinal Virtue of Courage
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode's theme is the virtue of courage. Brian and Josh discuss courageous behaviors, why courage is an important virtue for tennis players,...
Ep. 213 - The Relationship Between Pressure and Errors
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh review an article from researchers at Exeter University who looked into how pro tennis players responded to high-press...
Ep. 212 - The Dance of the Doomed
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the “Dance of the Doomed." The Dance of the Doomed is a concept that Hall of Fame football coach Bill W...
Ep. 211 - Success Disease
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of Success Disease: a phenomena that can occur after achieving some level of success. Inspiration ...
Ep. 210 - Tennis Parenting Part 3 | Supporting the Competition Needs of Players
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In part three of their series on tennis parenting, Brian and Josh discuss how parents can support the competition needs of players before, during, and...
Ep. 209 - Tennis Parenting Part 2 | The Educational Needs of Tennis Parents
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh move on to part two in a three-part series on tennis parenting. They discuss the educational needs of tennis parents i...
Ep. 208 - Tennis Parenting Part 1 | The Difficulties of Tennis Parenting
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh start a three-part series on tennis parenting. For Part 1, they review the difficulties of tennis parenting, talk abou...
Ep. 207 - The Characteristics of Self-Actualizers
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss specific “Characteristics of the Self-Actualizer” from the work of humanistic psychologist, Abraham Maslow...
Ep. 206 - The Effects of Ratings and Rankings on Performance
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking too much about ratings and rankings can cloud your focus on the court. It’s difficult to stay in the moment when you are worried about the ...
Ep. 205 - Australian Open 2025 - Mental Performances Themes | Jannik Sinner, Madison Keys
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The 2025 Australian Open has wrapped up with Madison Keys winning the women’s singles title over Aryna Sabalenka 6–3, 2-6, 7-5, and Jannik Sinner ...
Ep. 204 - The Weight of Discipline vs. the Weight of Regret
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss a quote from motivational speaker, Jim Rohn (see quote below), on the topic of discipline and regret, and how ...
Ep. 203 - Zest and Flourishing
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss zest as a primary virtue for flourishing in tennis and beyond. To begin, they define the virtue of zest and ta...
Ep. 202 - The Paradox of the Ego
04 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss a concept known as "the paradox of the ego." In short, the paradox is that it is necessary to have a strong eg...
Ep. 201 - How to Play With Equanimity (A Balanced Mind)
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Josh and Brian draw inspiration from a quote by Marcus Aurelius related to recovering one's mental balance after being upset by circu...
Ep. 200 - What We Learned from 200 Episodes
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss their most important takeaways from the first 200 episodes of the Tennis IQ Podcast. Let us know what you have...
Ep. 199 - Using the "4 i Framework" to Design Your Practices
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the “4 i’s” of intentional practice. This is based on a model of intentional practice (article linked be...
Ep. 198 - Roger Writes a Letter to Rafa | Thoughts on Nadal's Legacy
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Prior to Rafael Nadal's last match at the 2024 Davis Cup, Roger Federer penned a letter in tribute to Rafa's legendary career and their shared journey...
Ep. 197 - Coaching and Self-Reliance on the Court
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of self-reliance on the tennis court. They talk about how tennis players can take responsibilit...
Ep. 196 - Dominik Hrbatý | Developing Your Brain & How to Beat Great Players
09 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh interview Dominik Hrbatý. Dominik Hrbatý is a former professional tennis player from Slovakia. He reached the semifi...
Ep. 195 - The Benefits of Slowing Down
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the benefits of slowing down. Slowing down begins as a perspective that then translates into action. The proce...
Ep. 194 - Embracing Pain, Uncertainty, and Hard Work
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can embrace pain, uncertainty, and hard work. The inspiration for this topic came from the ...
Ep. 193 - Bob Litwin and Living the Best Story of Your Life
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh talked with Bob Litwin about how to use storytelling and writing to improve your tennis and your life. Bob Litwin is a...
Ep. 192 - Playing Against Weaker Opponents and With Weaker Partners
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh respond to two questions from a listener. The first question was about how to handle playing against weaker opponents,...
Ep. 191 - Tough Losses
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some losses are tougher to digest than others, and in this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can handle tough losses in the best poss...
Ep. 190 - US Open 2024 | Sinner, Sabalenka, Fritz, and Pegula
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2024 US Open through the lens of sport psychology and mental skills. Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegu...
Ep. 189 - Commit to Your Game Plan
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the necessity of trust and commitment to a game plan by looking at the concept in three ways: 1) how players c...
Ep. 188 - Beware! Anger is a Pleasurable Emotion
31 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss anger and what people often get wrong about it. The conversation is based on an article entitled “4 Things A...
Ep. 187 - Is the SMART Goals Framework Overrated?
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the differences between “SMART goals” and “open goals”. They outlined the benefits and drawbacks of th...
Ep. 186 - How Your Brain Actually Works
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is it true that each of us has a 'reptilian' brain within our human brain? Where do our emotions come from? In this episode, Josh and Brian de...
Ep. 185 - Peter Clarke on the Transition from Tennis to Business
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Clarke is a former professional tennis player who was born in Ireland, and moved to Australia at the age of 6 where he developed his game to bec...
Ep. 184 - Wimbledon 2024 Recap | Alcaraz, Djokovic, Krejčíková, Paolini
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. On the women’s side, Barbora Krejčíková defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2...
Ep. 183 - Addressing Irrational Beliefs and Self-Talk
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the impact of irrational self-talk. Examples of this type of self-talk involve words and phrases such as ‘ha...
Ep. 182 - Lessons from Roger Federer at Dartmouth
29 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss Roger Federer’s recent commencement address at Dartmouth College. His address included three “lessons” w...
Ep. 181 - Rick Macci and Champion Mindsets
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh were joined by Rick Macci, and their conversation touched on a number of topics related to sport psychology and the me...
Ep. 180 - Thoughts on Roland Garros 2024 - Alcaraz and Świątek
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss their thoughts on the 2024 French Open (Roland-Garros). They review Iga Świątek's performance in the tou...
Ep. 179 - Developing Your Mental Scorecard
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of creating and using a “mental scorecard”. This concept is popular in golf. and the co-hosts ...
Ep. 178 - Be More Concerned with Your Present Than Your Past or Future
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Never confuse yourself by visions of an entire lifetime at once. That is, do not let your thoughts range over the whole multitude and variety of...
Ep. 177 - Don't Fake It Till You Make It. Instead, "Act As If."
18 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discussed the role of identity and self-image on tennis and performance. The co-hosts examined the connection between ...
Ep. 174 - The Stockdale Paradox and Tennis
18 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the “Stockdale Paradox” and how it relates to tennis. The co-hosts review the background of Jim Stockdale ...
Ep. 176 - Dave Bailey - The Impact of Footwork on the Mental Game
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dave Bailey is the world’s leading expert in tennis movement and footwork, and the creator of The Bailey Method. In his professional career, Dave ha...
Ep. 175 - Becoming a Relentless Competitor Like Rafael Nadal
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Relentlessness is a virtue that all tennis players should practice, and it is a virtue that Rafael Nadal (and others) has embodied throughout his play...
Ep. 173 - Athlete Centered to Athlete Ownership
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the transition from an athlete-centered perspective to one of athlete ownership. This concept is particularly ...
Ep. 172 - Why You Need to Commit to Your Routines
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In tennis, there are a number of routines and rituals that players can use to bring out their best performances. However, not all players use routines...
Ep. 171 - What to Do When Things Are Not Working
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss what tennis players can do when nothing is working for them in a match. The co-hosts examine different strateg...
Ep. 170 - Ryan Harrison and the Philosophy of Better Player, Better Results
23 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Harrison is a former professional tennis player and Head Coach at Harrison Tennis Academy. With a playing career spanning over 15 years on the AT...
Ep. 169 - Dr. Cathy Utzschneider on Goal Achievement and a Fulfilling Life
17 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Cathy Utzschneider is the founder of the coaching practice, MOVE! - a method of goal achievement that helps all kinds of coaches and executives as...
Ep. 168 - Motivation and Self-Determination Theory
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss different aspects of motivation relative to self-determination theory, and how tennis players can be clear abo...
Ep. 167 - The Value of Studying Your Success
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's commonly believed that tennis players learn more from their losses than their wins. But is that actually true? In this episode, Josh and Bria...
Ep. 166 - The Value of Experimentation in Your Training
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discussed how tennis players can be experiments and students on their tennis journey. The co-hosts examined the ways t...
Ep. 165 - Wanting to Win and Playing to Win Are Not the Same
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Before a match begins, everyone wants to win, but maintaining that desire throughout the match is not easy. Similarly, we all want to play to win duri...
Ep. 164 - What You Can Learn from the Netflix Movie Hustle
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss various sport psychology themes from the Netflix movie Hustle. The movie stars Adam Sandler as a NBA scout who...
Ep. 163 - Australian Open 2024 | Sinner, Medvedev and Sabalenka
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The 2024 Australian Open has wrapped up with Aryna Sabalenka winning the women’s singles title over Zheng Qinwen 6–3, 6-2, and Jannik Sinner winni...
Ep. 162 - Ryan Redondo and his Tennis Mission/Purpose
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Redondo is CEO/GM of Youth Tennis San Diego and the Barnes Tennis Center, as well as Tournament Director of the San Diego Open WTA 500. He comes ...
Ep. 161 - The Benefits of Viewing Tennis as a Team Sport
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the different contexts that tennis can be understood as a team sport. They discussed three main situations in ...
Ep. 160 - Addressing Self-Limiting Beliefs and Attitudes
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss common self-limiting beliefs that tennis players often hold, and approaches that players can take to address a...
Ep. 159 - Top Things We Learned in 2023
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the top things they learned from 2023 and their top takeaways from the year. These include tennis-specific lea...
Ep. 158 - Is Your Self-Worth Based on Performance?
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss an article from Fast Company, written by Kevin Lake and Dr. Michael Gervais , “The psychological pitfalls of...
Ep. 157 - Learning from the Lifestyle Challenges of Professional Players
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the lifestyle challenges of professional tennis players. This conversation is based on an article in the Inte...
Ep. 156 - The Performance Impact of Increasing Tolerance of Discomfort
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of tolerance as a mental skill. This includes both physical tolerance (pain, withstanding physi...
Ep. 155 - Becoming Grittier On and Off the Court
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, the concept of Grit has been popularized in performance contexts through the work of Angela Duckworth. But what is grit? How can you ...
Ep. 154 - Improving Your Motivation
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Motivation is the driver of our energy and the source of our reward. It's not unusual for tennis players to experience issues with their motivatio...
Ep. 153 - Matt Futterman of The Athletic | Narratives in Tennis
05 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Futterman is a staff writer at The Athletic where he covers tennis and Olympic sports. In addition to covering tennis, Matt delivered award-winni...
Ep. 152 - Should I Vent My Anger On Court?
29 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss whether venting is an effective way to handle anger. They review research from Brad J. Bushman at Iowa State U...
Best of Tennis IQ- Ep. 51 - Dr. Laura Swettenham on Stress, Coping, and Think Aloud
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Laura Swettenham is a sport and exercise psychologist from the UK, chartered with the British Psychological Society. She has experience working wi...
Ep. 151 - Jan Mühlfeit and Unlocking Human Potential
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brian and Josh interview Jan Mühlfeit. Jan Mühlfeit is a global strategist, executive coach, and the author of the bestselling busi...