COGNELITE

Jess Hanson, CMPC
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Welcome to the Cognelite Podcast, your go-to resource for mastering the mental side of sports. Hosted by Jess Hanson, Certified Mental Performance Consultant, this podcast is designed for coaches, athletes, and parents who want to build confidence, resilience, and a winning mindset. Whether you're a coach shaping the next generation of athletes, an athlete striving for peak performance, or a parent looking for ways to support your child’s mindset, this podcast gives you the mental tools to succeed. 🎧 New episodes drop regularly - subscribe now and gain the mental edge!

  1. APR 28

    The Inner Voice of an Athlete - Self Talk | With Kiley Smith

    In this solo episode, Kiley Smith breaks down one of the most powerful, and often overlooked, mental performance skills: self-talk. From the thoughts that run through your head before a game to the way you respond after mistakes, your inner voice has a direct impact on confidence, focus, and performance. Kiley goes beyond the typical “just be positive” advice and dives into what self-talk actually looks like for athletes. She explains the different types of self-talk, how to recognize whether it’s helping or hurting your performance, and gives practical, actionable steps to start improving it immediately. Whether you’re an athlete looking to perform with more confidence, or a parent or coach wanting to better support the athletes in your life, this episode gives you tools you can start using right away. Because at the end of the day, the one voice you hear the most is your own. 🛜 cognelite.net 📧 info@cognelite.net 📲 @cognelite

    21 min

  2. MAR 24

    How to Use Visualization: Turning Mental Reps into Real Performance

    Visualization is one of the most talked-about mental skills in sports, but most athletes aren’t actually taught how to use it. In this episode, Jess breaks down what visualization really is, why it works (including how it activates the same neural pathways as physical movement), and how it can improve confidence, focus, reaction time, and emotional control. More importantly, she walks through exactly how athletes can apply it in real situations, from learning new skills and remembering plays to building confidence, preparing for pressure, and staying sharp during injury or time off. If you’ve ever been told to “just visualize it” but didn’t know what that actually meant, this episode gives you a clear, step-by-step way to start using it as part of your training. This episode is designed for athletes to apply directly, and for parents and coaches to better understand how to support them in building this skill. Connect with us: cognelite.net | info@cognelite.net | @cognelite

    25 min

  3. FEB 24

    A Look on the Inside

    What actually happens in mental performance work? In this episode, Jess Hanson and Kylie Smith take you inside the process, from how sessions are structured, action plans, how sessions evolve over time, and how we actually make an impact in athletes with 1:1 work. Whether you're a parent, coach, or athlete curious about mental performance training, this conversation breaks down what to expect and how we build confidence, resilience, and consistency in sport.

    34 min

  4. JAN 27

    Fear of Failure: From Threat to Challenge (and How to Stop Holding Back)

    Fear of failure shows up in more athletes than you think, and it doesn’t always look like “I’m scared.” Sometimes it looks like holding back, playing tight, low motivation, emotional blow-ups after mistakes, or constant comparison to teammates. In this episode, Kiley (Cognelite Consultant) interviews Jess (Cognelite Founder + CMPC) on what fear of failure really is, why it’s often the root of confidence and performance issues, and how it quietly impacts effort, joy, and long-term development. You’ll learn practical strategies athletes can use right away, including: Threat vs. challenge: how to reframe big goals so they feel motivating, not paralyzing How to define what “failure” actually means (and reality-check worst-case scenarios) The “what if” game and how to flip it from negative to productive Visualization and chasing goals toward something (instead of running away from fear) Simple in-the-moment tools for resetting after mistakes with self-talk + presence cues Plus, Jess shares how parents and coaches can support athletes without adding pressure—through better conversations, balanced expectations, healthy language, and creating environments where mistakes are part of growth. If you’ve ever felt stuck, scared to mess up, or like you’re “counting yourself out,” this episode is your reset, especially heading into a new season (or a new year) of goals that should be a little scary. Connect with us: cognelite.net @cognelite info@cognelite.net

    50 min

  5. 12/30/2025

    Deliberate Practice: How to Train With Purpose

    What does intentional practice actually look like and how do you make sure you’re getting better instead of just getting reps? In this episode, COGNELITE mental performance consultant Kiley Smith sits down with John Ritzen, Head Women’s Golf Coach at Chardon State College and author of The Golf Workbook: A Practice Plan to Improve Your Game, to break down the difference between “hit and hope” practice and training with real purpose. You’ll hear practical takeaways for athletes, coaches, and parents, including: Why quality reps beat quantity reps (and how to stay mentally engaged in practice) Block vs. variable practice and how changing targets builds real skill How to create a simple pre-shot routine that locks in focus (even during practice) Why managing expectations is a mental skill How to handle emotions mid-competition (yes, even “scream into a towel”) Coaching + parenting tips: how to support athletes without turning every moment into instruction Whether you’re a golfer or not, this conversation is packed with transferable tools for performing under pressure and building a practice plan that actually translates to competition.

    54 min

  6. 12/03/2025

    From Super Bowl 50 Champion to the Treatment Table: Pressure, Identity, & Injury Recovery with David Bruton

    In this episode, Jess sits down with Super Bowl 50 champion and former Denver Broncos safety David Bruton, now a physical therapist and owner of Between the Lines PT, to talk about what really happens behind the scenes of elite performance, injury, and transition out of sport. David shares openly about his journey from Notre Dame to the NFL, becoming a young father, getting cut, dealing with concussions, and ultimately choosing to walk away from football for his long-term health and his kids. They dive into how David handled the pressure of “your job is on the line in four hours,” the mindset shift that turned him into a difference-maker on special teams, and how he’s now using that same experience to support injured athletes in the clinic every day. In this conversation, they explore: What it actually feels like to play under intense performance pressure in the NFL How failure, film study, and missed opportunities shaped David’s mental game Navigating identity beyond “just an athlete” and finding a new purpose after sport The emotional side of injury, from grief and coping to fear of re-injury Why confidence, self-talk, and giving yourself grace can speed up the rehab process How PT and mental performance can work together to help athletes return stronger, physically and mentally If you’re an athlete, parent, or coach supporting someone through injury or big transitions in sport, this episode is packed with real, honest insight and encouragement that you are more than your stats, your jersey, or your season. Get in touch with David Bruton and Between the Lines: https://betweenthelinespt.com office@betweenthelinespt.com 720-649-0090

    44 min

  7. 10/28/2025

    Concussions & Mental Performance: Beyond the Injury

    Concussions aren’t just “bumps on the head.” They’re brain injuries that ripple into focus, confidence, decision-making, and emotions, which are all things athletes rely on to perform. In this episode of the Cognelite Podcast, Mental Performance Consultant Kiley Smith sits down with Dr. Danny Mistry to unpack what happens in the brain during a concussion and how recovery is strongest when medical care and mental performance work together. You’ll hear how skills like regulating emotions, rebuilding attention, and “controlling the controllables” support return-to-play decisions, protect wellbeing, and help athletes feel like themselves again. ✅ What You’ll Learn What’s actually happening in the brain during a concussion and why recovery timelines differ The most common physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms to watch for How anxiety, mood, and confidence are affected and what to do about it Practical mental performance tools (breathing, attention resets, self-talk, routines) that aid recovery How a multidisciplinary team (medical + therapy + mental performance) accelerates safe return to school/work/sport What athletes, parents, and coaches can control (reporting symptoms, following protocols, smart progressions) 🎧 Tune in to understand concussions through both a medical and mental performance lens so athletes can heal well, return safely, and compete with confidence. Get in touch with us: @Cognelite | Cognelite.net | info@cognelite.net Dr. Dilaawar (Danny) Mistry, MD, MS, ATC Aasha Brain Clinic | danny@drmistrymd.com

    58 min

  8. 09/30/2025

    Staying Present: Helping Athletes Focus and Thrive with Mindfulness

    In sports, it’s easy for athletes to get caught in the past or lost in what’s coming next. But their best performance happens when they’re fully present. Staying present isn’t just about focus; it’s about learning how to tune into the moment, let go of distractions, and trust their training. And one of the most effective ways to build that skill is through mindfulness. In this episode of the Parent Power Huddle, Jess Hanson, Certified Mental Performance Consultant and founder of Cognelite, explores how parents and coaches can help athletes develop the mental skill of presence—so they can stay locked in, bounce back quickly, and find more joy in the game. ✅ What You’ll Learn What it really means to stay present—and why it’s so hard in sports How mindfulness supports performance, confidence, and resilience Signs your athlete may be mentally checked out or distracted Mindfulness tools athletes can use on and off the field (breathing, body scans, 5 senses check-ins, cue words, and more) Why staying present helps athletes enter "flow" states and recover from mistakes How parents and coaches can model mindfulness and reinforce it with small, consistent practices Whether your athlete tends to overthink, fixate on mistakes, or feel pressure to be perfect, this episode will give you tangible ways to help them reset, refocus, and return to what matters most: the moment they’re in. 🎧 We release new episodes every month!Be sure to follow us on Instagram @Cognelite or reach out anytime at info@cognelite.net.

    21 min
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About

Welcome to the Cognelite Podcast, your go-to resource for mastering the mental side of sports. Hosted by Jess Hanson, Certified Mental Performance Consultant, this podcast is designed for coaches, athletes, and parents who want to build confidence, resilience, and a winning mindset. Whether you're a coach shaping the next generation of athletes, an athlete striving for peak performance, or a parent looking for ways to support your child’s mindset, this podcast gives you the mental tools to succeed. 🎧 New episodes drop regularly - subscribe now and gain the mental edge!

Information

  • Creator
    Jess Hanson, CMPC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jess Hanson, CMPC
  • Show Website
    COGNELITE