The Athletes Zone Podcast
Episodes
#67 The "Crazy vs. Quitter Trap and the Secret to Making Elite Decisions
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk about the "Crazy vs. Quitter" trap, the double standard where you’re called "crazy" for taking risks but...
#66 The Truth About Mistakes and How to Bounce Back Fast
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One mistake can ruin an entire performance but it doesn’t have to.In this episode, I talk about why mistakes can completely derail your performance ...
#65 Top 3 Mental Strength Moments at the World Athletics Championships
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The World Athletics Championships in Tokyo just wrapped up last weekend and in this episode I lay out my Top 3 moments of mental strength.You’ll hea...
#64 Mental Training That Works at Every Level (Elite or Recreational)
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m sharing how I use mental training now when I compete for fun compared to when I was an elite athlete and the simple tools that ...
#63 5 Signs It Is Time For A Mindset Upgrade
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m sharing five clear signs that your mindset might be holding you back from your best performances. These are patterns I’ve see...
#62 5 Myths That Mess With Your Confidence
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I unpack the five biggest myths about confidence that that quietly wreck athletes’ confidence and performance.If your self-belief f...
#61 Caisa-Marie Lindfors: “This is not the time to doubt yourself”
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Caisa-Marie Lindfors is a Swedish Olympian and European discus finalist, currently deep in prep for her second World Championships.We unpack her comeb...
#60 Eygló Sturludóttir: "I didn't want to have an excuse"
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Weightlifting rising star, Eygló Fanndal Sturludóttir, is back on the podcast, now as a European Champion! So much has happened since our last chat ...
#59 Crushing it in training but choking in competition? Here is why and what to do!
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m tackling the incredibly frustrating problem of crushing it in training only to choke when it comes to game day.If you are an at...
#58 3 Ways to Build Your Mental Edge This Summer
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I shared why this summer is a golden opportunity for improving your mental game, whether you're competing or in your off-season.M...
#57 What I've Learned Recently (And How It's Changing Things Here)
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m sharing what I have been up to lately, my biggest takeaway from the sport psychology studies I just finished, and how all of th...
#56 3 Simple Steps to Stay Calm Under Pressure and Deliver Your Best Performance
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m sharing 3 simple steps to stay calm under pressure and perform your best when it matters most.These strategies made a huge diff...
#55 Emma Pallant-Browne: "A happy athlete is a fast athlete"
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emma Pallant-Browne is a two-time Ironman World medalist, three-time Duathlon World Champion and Aquathlon World Champion. She has won more Ironman 70...
#54 5 Tips to Improve Faster Without Training More
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re diving into 5 simple tips that can help you improve faster without adding more hours to your training. These strategies are a...
#53 How to Stay Injury-Free Using Research-Backed Strategies
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m exploring the science behind preventing injuries and how you can take control of your training and mindset to stay injury-free....
#52 4 Science-Backed Ways To Recover From Injuries Motivated And Mentally Strong
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m sharing 4 science-backed ways to stay motivated and mentally strong when dealing with an injury. Injuries can be tough, but wit...
#51 6 Most Common Goal Setting Mistakes And How To Avoid Them In 2025
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I'm uncovering the six most common goal setting mistakes that might be holding you back and how you can avoid making those mistakes. ...
#50 Sam Kendricks: "60% of pole vault is mental and the rest is in your head"
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Kendricks is a pole vaulting legend, a two-time World Champion, and an Olympic bronze and silver medalist. He holds the American record of 6.06 me...
#49 Emma Tall: "To reach your full potential you need to be a little bit crazy"
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emma Tall is a Swedish top CrossFit athlete, celebrated for her standout performances at the CrossFit Games, including an impressive 11th place finish...
#48 Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir: "There are no limits to how far you can get if you push yourself"
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir is an Icelandic football legend who has made waves playing for top clubs like Wolfsburg, Lyon and Juventus. She is now play...
#47 Grant Benzel (memes4throwers): “All athletes are different and I can't coach them all the same way”
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Grant Benzel is the creative mind behind memes4throwers, an Instagram page that humorously captures the throwers' culture. As a former athlete turned ...
#46 The 6 Biggest Lessons from My Journey to Three Olympic Games
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I'm sharing with you the 6 biggest lessons I learned on my journey to three Olympic Games. Want to know what competing at the highest...
#45 How to Build Unshakeable Confidence
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we're diving into the juicy topic of building unshakable confidence. Discover why confidence matters, what affects it, and how you ca...
#44 How to Handle Mistakes and Get Better
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we're tackling the art of handling mistakes and turning them into growth. I shared my four step process of how you can deal with maki...
#43 This is what it takes to consistently perform when it matters
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I explore what it truly takes to perform consistently at your best. I shared insights into the journey towards mastering confidence a...
#42 The Zone Academy: Your Ultimate Mental Training Plan!
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm beyond excited to introduce The Zone Academy—a game-changing membership for athletes ready to elevate their mental game. Discover how this progr...
#41 Thriving Under Pressure: How Mental Coaching Transforms Athlete Performance
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I delve into the transformative power of mental coaching for athletes facing high-pressure moments. Drawing from my own experiences a...
#40 Why Your Training Success Doesn't Translate to Competition and What to Do About It
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you struggling to showcase your true capabilities in competitions? In this episode, I delve into a common challenge faced by many athletes: Why do...
#39 Janek Õiglane: "When I focus on fun instead of results I perform at my best"
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janek Õiglane is the European Championships bronze medalist in decathlon from 2022. He recently secured 5th place at the Paris Olympics with a person...
#38 Dr. Paige Roberts Sport Psychology Consultant: "Athletes often push down trauma, only for it to catch up with them in high-pressure moments"
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Paige Roberts is a distinguished sports psychology consultant and energy optimisation expert. With a rich background in Exercise Science, Social W...
#37 The 7 Most Mentally Demanding Sports (In My Opinion)
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I discussed which sports (in my opinion) challenge the mind the most and why. I shared my reflections and insights on the mental dema...
#36 Paris Olympics Highlights: The Mental Game Behind the Medals
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I reflect on the top moments of mental strength from the Paris Olympics. I highlight the incredible mental resilience that athletes d...
#35 Mackenzie Little World Bronze: "You can either crumble or sit there and do your best"
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mackenzie Little is the World Championships bronze medalist in javelin from 2023 and a medical doctor. At the time of our interview, she was in the pr...
#34 Visualisation Part 5: Boosting Motivation
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the final episode of our visualisation series! In this episode, I dive into specific and practical steps on how to use visualisation to boo...
#33 Visualisation Part 4: Injury Recovery
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After discussing competition preparation in Episode #32, I’m now focusing on how to use visualisation to speed up recovery from injuries. Learn how ...
#32 Visualisation Part 3: Competition Preparation
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the third part of our visualisation series! After discussing overcoming mental blocks in Episode #31, I’m now shifting my focus to prepar...
#31 Visualisation Part 2: Overcoming Mental Blocks
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the second part of our visualisation series! After discussing skill mastery in Episode #21, I’m now shifting my focus to overcoming menta...
#30 Lina Müze-Sirma: “Our Character Develops The Most In The Hardest Part Of Our Career“
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lina Müze-Sirma is the European U23 Champion in javelin from 2013 and multiple World and European finalist. She finished 8th at the European Champion...
#29 Hilmar Örn Jónsson: "It's just a feeling you are chasing"
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hilmar Örn Jónsson is the Icelandic record holder in hammer throw and European Championships finalist in 2022. With a career spanning three World Ch...
#28 Kara Winger 5x Olympian??
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kara Winger is back! And she is going to try to go for her 5th (!!) Olympics! I had to talk to her about this and share that conversation with you. I ...
#27 Chase Jackson 2x World Champion: "My goal is to show girls there's not just one way to be an athlete"
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chase Jackson, the double World Champion and two-time Diamond League winner in the women's shot put, joined me for a conversation you don't wa...
#26 Guðni Valur Guðnason: "I always come back better from an injury"
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Guðni Valur Guðnason was a European Championships finalist in 2022 and has the Icelandic record in discus throw with 69.35 m, just shy of the magic ...
#25 Baldvin Magnússon: "Running Is Incredibly Simple"
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Baldvin Þór Magnússon is the European U23 bronze medalist from 2021 in the 5000 m and holds the Icelandic records in 1500 m, 3000 m, 5000 m and 10 ...
#24 My First Weightlifting Competition: Behind The Scenes
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this unique episode I share the story behind my debut weightlifting competition. From the decision to suddenly compete in a new sport, to the menta...
#23 Christian Taylor 2x Olympic Champion: "I needed to find my calm"
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Christian Taylor is a triple jump legend with an impressive track record: two Olympic gold medals, four World Champion titles and the second longest j...
#22 Dagný Brynjarsdóttir: "Mentally I'm way better after I became a mom"
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dagný Brynjarsdóttir is a professional football player for West Ham United and a key player in the Icelandic national team. She has represented Icel...
#21 Visualisation Part 1: Mastering Skills
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Visualisation is a powerful tool to take your performance to the next level. Join me in this series as we explore how to harness its power for differe...
#20 Getting Started with Mental Training: 7 Steps to Kickstart Your Performance Journey
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the roadmap to kickstart your mental training journey in this episode. Whether you're looking to embark on this journey solo or seek expe...
#19 Dr. Hafrún Kristjánsdóttir Sport Psychologist: Her Work with Me as an Athlete
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready because this episode is special! I had my former sport psychologist, Dr. Hafrún Kristjánsdóttir, join me to really unpack and analyse the...
#18 Is your perfectionism killing your performance?
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a perfectionist? In this episode we confront the detrimental effects of perfectionism in athletes. Learn to recognise the red flags indicating...
#17 Guðlaug Edda Hannesdóttir: "I am a human first"
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Guðlaug Edda Hannesdóttir is Iceland's best triathlete, the 2018 Aquathlon World Champion and looking to qualify for the Paris Olympics. We talk...
#16 Game Day Focus: Mental Preparation Techniques
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is all about mastering competition preparation. After dedicating countless hours to training, you want your hard work to shine through on...
#15 Valgarð Reinhardsson European finalist: "How can this injury make me better?"
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Valgarð Reinhardsson is a European Championships finalist on vault from 2018, World Cup finalist and is currently in the final stages of trying to qu...
#14 Under the Skin: Athletes' Silent Struggle with Body Image
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I address a sensitive subject: Body Image issues among athletes. The pressure to conform to certain physical standards and the relentl...
#13 Eygló Fanndal Sturludóttir Euro U23 Champion: "Performance in competition is 80% mental"
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the powerhouse from Iceland, Eygló Fanndal Sturludóttir. This rising star not only clinched the European U23 Weightlifting Champion title in th...
#12 Process Over Outcome: Strategies for Peak Performance
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what it really means to focus on the process? In today's episode I broke down what that truly entails in real-world scenarios and ex...
#11 Kelsey Barber 2xWorld Champ: "Mental training got me where I am"
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kelsey Lee Barber is the Olympic bronze medalist from Tokyo 2021 and the only woman in history who has successfully defended her World title in javeli...
#10 Axelina Johansson Worlds finalist: "Mental part is as important as the physical part"
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Axelina Johansson is a World Championships finalist, NCAA champion and one of the best shot putters in the world at only 23 years old. Despite her you...
#9 Turn Failure Into Success
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode I talked all about how you can turn a failure into success. I shared my 7 practical tips to avoid feeling like you failed, turn...
#8 How and Why You Should Train Your Mental Game!
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode I discuss mental training. I share my 5 basic methods to train your mind and discuss all the benefits you as an athlete will ge...
#6 Kristín Þórhallsdóttir Worlds silver: "Don't be so goddamn serious!"
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kristín Þórhallsdóttir is multiple World and European Championships medalist in classic powerlifting. She competes in -84 kg category and has an i...
#7 Maria Andrejczyk Olympic silver: "It's good sometimes to fail"
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Maria Andrejczyk is the Olympic silver medalist in javelin from Tokyo 2021 and finished 4th in Rio 2016. Her best of 71.40 m makes her the 3rd best ja...
#5 New Years Resolutions Done Right
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the time of year when so many are setting New Year's Resolutions or simply goals for the upcoming year. In this episode I give you 6 tips ...
#2 Kara Winger 4x Olympian: From 12 years without improving to dreams coming true!
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kara Winger is a 4x Olympian, '22 World Championships silver medalist in javelin, Diamond League winner, American record holder and the list goes ...
#4 Thomas Röhler Olympic Champion: "Frustration is energy lost"
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thomas Röhler is the Olympic Champion in javelin from 2016 and European Champion in 2018. His best of 93.90 m makes him the 3rd best javelin thrower ...
#3 Anton McKee 3x Olympian: The Viking mentality
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anton Sveinn McKee is a 3x Olympian and going for his 4th in Paris. He is also a double World Championships finalist and just took silver in the 200 m...
#1 Meet Your Host and Dive into The Athletes Zone!
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of the Athletes Zone Podcast you get to know me, your host and triple Olympian Ásdís Hjálmsdóttir Annerud. I talk about my p...