The Cognitive Athlete Podcast

Clint Rahe - The Cognitive Athlete
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Training your brain like an athlete. The Cognitive Athlete Podcast helps leaders, thinkers, and doers achieve sustainable peak performance without burnout. Hosted by Clint Rahe - leadership expert, speaker, and author of The Cognitive Athlete - the show blends neuroscience, psychology, and lessons from sport, the military, and business. Each episode delivers practical tools and stories to help you manage energy, sharpen focus, and build resilience so you can perform at your best when it matters most.

  1. 4D AGO

    Rebuilding Focus (Properly)

    Episode 4 — Rebuilding Focus (Properly)Season 2 · Week 4 of the 10-Week Cognitive Athlete Training Cycle If your focus feels off lately, you’re not broken — you’re normal. In this episode, Clint explains why focus doesn’t magically return just because you’ve slowed down. After long periods of pressure and cognitive load, your brain adapts by scanning and reacting instead of concentrating deeply. The good news?Focus isn’t a personality trait. It’s a trainable skill. This week in the 10-week cycle, we rebuild depth — not by forcing longer hours or relying on caffeine — but by practising short, clean windows of deliberate attention. You’ll learn: Why sustained pressure fragments attention Why structure comes before focus The difference between depth and duration A simple 3-step focus training method you can implement today This isn’t about productivity hacks.It’s about retraining your cognitive system step by step. Focus isn’t something you find.It’s something you train. Grab your copy of The Cognitive Athlete — Out Now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit ⁠⁠thecognitiveathlete.com.au ⁠⁠for free tools and resources to help you improve your energy, focus, and performance.

    9 min

  2. FEB 8

    Designing Your Cognitive Year - Why Flat-Out All Year Is a Losing Strategy

    EPISODE 3 — DESIGNING YOUR COGNITIVE YEAR Why Flat-Out All Year Is a Losing StrategySeason 2 · Week 3 of the 10-Week Cognitive Athlete Training Cycle Most people don’t have a performance problem.They have a design problem. In Episode 3, Clint Rahe zooms out and asks a simple but confronting question: 👉 What’s your season? In sport, high performance works because there are defined seasons, training blocks, peak moments, and recovery periods.In work and leadership, the unspoken plan is often the same: Be flat-out all year and hope for the best. This episode marks Week 3 of the 10-week Cognitive Athlete training cycle, where the focus shifts from reacting week to week to designing performance properly. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “flat-out all year” quietly destroys cognitive performance How the brain actually responds to sustained pressure Why rhythm isn’t balance — it’s intelligent sequencing How high performers alternate push and recovery to sustain output 🧠 Key Insight:Your brain works in cycles.When intensity never drops, performance eventually does. 🎯 Week 3 Training Focus:Design the next 10 weeks — not the whole year. You’ll be guided through four actions: Define your next 10-week training block Identify one or two peak demand periods Deliberately plan a lower-intensity window (Optional) Use the periodisation planning tool to create rhythm, not chaos ⚠️ Important rule for Week 3:Do not aim for balance.Aim for intentional imbalance. Flat-out all year isn’t strength.Rhythm is. Grab your copy of The Cognitive Athlete — Out Now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ⁠⁠⁠ Visit ⁠thecognitiveathlete.com.au ⁠for free tools and resources to help you improve your energy, focus, and performance.

    9 min

  3. FEB 1

    Energy Before Goals - Why Energy, Not Discipline, Is the Real Constraint

    EPISODE 2 — ENERGY BEFORE GOALS Why Energy, Not Discipline, Is the Real ConstraintSeason 2 · Week 2 of the 10-Week Cognitive Athlete Training Cycle When motivation fades, most people reach for discipline. They try harder.Push longer.Force themselves through. In Episode 2, Clint Rahe explains why that instinct is usually wrong — and why energy, not discipline, is the real constraint on performance. Drawing on his experience in the RAF and the shock of transitioning into civilian and corporate life, Clint unpacks a critical reframe: 👉 Discipline assumes a full tank. When energy is low, focus drops, patience shortens, decision quality declines and no amount of willpower fixes that. This episode marks Week 2 of the 10-week Cognitive Athlete training cycle, shifting the focus from pace to energy availability. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why discipline feels hard when energy is low (and why that’s not a character flaw) The difference between structure and self-control Why elite environments manage load instead of blaming effort How energy acts as the true currency of cognitive performance 🎯 Week 2 Training Focus:Protect fuel before trying to perform. You’ll be guided through three practical actions: Track energy twice a day Identify one consistent energy leak Install one simple energy-protection rule ⚠️ Important rule for Week 2:Do not try to be more disciplined.This week is about protecting energy — not burning it faster. You don’t need more discipline.You need more energy. Grab your copy of The Cognitive Athlete - OUT NOW 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ⁠⁠⁠ Visit ⁠thecognitiveathlete.com.au ⁠for free tools and resources to help you improve your energy, focus, and performance.

    8 min

  4. JAN 25

    The New Year Trap: Why Motivation Isn’t Enough

    EPISODE 1 — THE NEW YEAR TRAP Why Motivation Spikes Fail — and What High Performers Do InsteadSeason 2 · Week 1 of the 10-Week Cognitive Athlete Training Cycle Every January, motivation spikes.And every February, it fades. In the opening episode of Season 2, Clint Rahe explains why this isn’t a discipline problem — and why relying on motivation is one of the biggest traps high performers fall into at the start of the year. Drawing on his experience as a Physical Training Instructor in the RAF and decades working with leaders under pressure, Clint introduces the foundation of this season: 👉 Motivation is a spike, not a strategy. This episode marks Week 1 of a structured 10-week cognitive training cycle — and the focus isn’t pushing harder.It’s stabilising your pace before the year runs away from you. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why New Year motivation always fades (and why that’s biology, not weakness) The real New Year trap most leaders fall into: starting too fast Why high performers rely on rhythm and structure, not willpower How elite performers pace energy instead of sprinting into burnout 🎯 Week 1 Training Focus:Stabilise your pace. Stop the energy bleed. You’ll be guided through three simple, practical actions: Remove one unnecessary commitment Set one hard stop each day Write one sentence that accurately describes the year you’re entering ⚠️ Important rule for Week 1:Do not plan the year yet.This is about getting your bearings before deciding where to go. This episode sets the foundation for the entire season — helping you slow down just enough to build sustainable momentum. 🎧 New episodes weekly.Welcome to Season 2 of The Cognitive Athlete Podcast. Order The Cognitive Athlete — in stores NOW👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ⁠⁠⁠ Visit ⁠thecognitiveathlete.com.au ⁠for free tools and resources to help you improve your energy, focus, and performance.

    8 min

  5. SEASON 2 TRAILER

    The Cognitive Athlete Podcast — Season 2 Trailer

    The Cognitive Athlete Podcast — Season 2 Trailer What if this year wasn’t about pushing harder…but about training smarter? Welcome to Season 2 of The Cognitive Athlete Podcast. Hosted by Clint Rahe, coach, speaker, and author of The Cognitive Athlete, this season is built around one simple idea: High performance isn’t accidental. It’s trained. Season 2 follows a 10-week cognitive training cycle designed to help you reset after the holidays, rebuild focus, manage energy, and create sustainable momentum — without burning out by February. Across the season, you’ll explore: Why New Year’s resolutions fail (and what actually works) How to plan your year like an elite athlete How to rebuild focus, manage stress, and protect your energy Why recovery, transition, and rhythm matter more than motivation How to make this year sustainable — not just impressive This isn’t about hacks.It’s not about hustle.And it’s definitely not about doing more. It’s about training your brain the same way athletes train their bodies — with intention, structure, and recovery. If you’re a leader, thinker, or doer who wants to perform at your best without running yourself into the ground, this season is for you. New episodes drop weekly.Welcome to Season 2.

    2 min

  6. 12/21/2025

    Priming for Big Moments: How Cognitive Athletes Switch On When It Matters Most

    Priming for Big Moments: How Cognitive Athletes Switch On When It Matters Most Big moments don’t reward last-minute adrenaline.They reward preparation, composure, and state control. In this episode of The Cognitive Athlete Podcast, Clint explores one of the most overlooked skills in high performance: priming — the ability to deliberately switch on, slow down, and show up ready when the pressure is on. Drawing on experience from elite sport, the military, and neuroscience, Clint shares a powerful story from working with St Helens Rugby League — where championship performance wasn’t left to chance, superstition, or motivation, but built through intentional pre-performance rituals. In this episode you’ll learn: Why you can’t cram your way into clarityHow your nervous system determines performance before skill kicks inWhat the RAF taught Clint about arriving early and state managementThe neuroscience behind breathwork, visualisation, and focusHow the first 30 seconds in a room shape your entire performanceA simple 5-minute priming ritual you can use before any high-pressure moment Whether you’re walking into a presentation, a difficult conversation, a pitch, or a keynote, this episode will help you stop rushing, start priming, and perform with calm confidence. Because you don’t rise to the level of the moment.You rise to the level of your state. Pre-order The Cognitive Athlete — in stores 29 December 2025 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ⁠⁠ Visit thecognitiveathlete.com.au for free tools and resources to help you improve your energy, focus, and performance.

    8 min

  7. 12/14/2025

    Energy > Time: Why Managing Your Energy Beats Managing Your Time

    Energy > Time: Why Managing Your Energy Beats Managing Your Time Most people think productivity is about squeezing more into the calendar. But here’s the truth: you don’t need more hours — you need more energy. In this episode of The Cognitive Athlete Podcast, Clint breaks down one of the biggest mindset shifts in high performance: stop managing the clock and start managing your cognitive energy. You’ll hear a story from early in Clint’s corporate career — a day where he learned firsthand that time means nothing if your brain isn’t switched on. Then we dive into the neuroscience behind energy peaks, cognitive fatigue, circadian rhythms, and why your “brain battery” drains so quickly in modern work. In this episode you’ll learn: ✅ Why time is constant but energy is cyclical ✅ How your prefrontal cortex (your mental engine) tires across the day✅ The role of circadian rhythm in shaping your performance ✅ Why certain tasks drain you more depending on your cognitive style ✅ How to map your personal energy rhythm using the 3×3 Energy Mapping Method ✅ How aligning tasks with your peak energy windows can transform your output Clint also shares his own peak-performance window and how one expensive filing-cabinet disaster proved the importance of timing your deep work. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re brilliant at 3:30 p.m. but useless at 9 a.m., this episode explains why and how to finally work with your brain, not against it. Because the secret to high performance isn’t managing your minutes. It’s managing your energy. Pre-order The Cognitive Athlete — in stores 29 December 2025 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ⁠ Visit thecognitiveathlete.com.au for free tools and resources to help you improve your energy, focus, and performance.

    8 min

  8. 12/07/2025

    Sleep Like It’s Your Superpower

    Think you can perform at your best on five hours of sleep? Think again. In this episode of The Cognitive Athlete Podcast, Clint dives into one of the most underrated performance tools leaders have: sleep. Drawing on military experience, NASA research, and the neuroscience of high performance, Clint breaks down why sleep isn’t rest — it’s repair. You’ll hear a story from his time on deployment in the Middle East, where loadmasters mastered the art of “strategic napping” long before corporate life glamorised exhaustion. Then we unpack why elite performers treat sleep as a competitive advantage — and why you should too. In this episode you’ll learn: ✅ Why the famous “NASA Nap” boosts performance by 34% ✅ How sleep transforms memory, creativity and emotional control ✅ Why your brain literally cleans itself overnight ✅ The hidden link between poor sleep and poor decision-making ✅ How to build a simple, science-backed sleep system to improve daily performance Whether you’re leading teams, running a business, or juggling a high-pressure workload, this episode will help you upgrade your energy, sharpen your thinking, and stabilise your mood — all by mastering the habit you already do every day. Because great days don’t just start with great intentions. They start with great sleep… and occasionally, a well-timed nanna nap. 📘 Pre-order The Cognitive Athlete — in stores 29 December 2025 👉 ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ Visit thecognitiveathlete.com.au for free tools and resources to help you improve your energy, focus, and performance.

    8 min
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About

Training your brain like an athlete. The Cognitive Athlete Podcast helps leaders, thinkers, and doers achieve sustainable peak performance without burnout. Hosted by Clint Rahe - leadership expert, speaker, and author of The Cognitive Athlete - the show blends neuroscience, psychology, and lessons from sport, the military, and business. Each episode delivers practical tools and stories to help you manage energy, sharpen focus, and build resilience so you can perform at your best when it matters most.

Information

  • Creator
    Clint Rahe - The Cognitive Athlete
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Clint Rahe - The Cognitive Athlete
  • Show Website
    The Cognitive Athlete Podcast