Mental Training Lab

Pete Kadushin, PhD
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Master your mental game with the Mental Training Lab, hosted by Pete Kadushin. With 15 years of coaching experience and a PhD in performance psychology, Pete digs deep each episode to provide practical tools and expert insights so you can perform your best when it matters most. Enhance your focus, harness stress, and overcome challenges whether you’re an athlete, leader, or high-performer. Subscribe to learn how to elevate your game in work, play, and life.

  1. Bad Advice: Discipline > Motivation

    4D AGO

    Bad Advice: Discipline > Motivation

    On this week's solocast I'm taking a hard look at the way motivation and discipline are talked about online — and why a lot of the popular advice actually works against long-term performance. You’ve probably seen the posts: discipline beats motivation, motivation is weak, success is just showing up no matter what. It all sounds tough and inspiring… until you actually try to live it. And then burnout, inconsistency, and frustration start creeping in. So let's unpack the fundamental misunderstanding behind those messages and explain why discipline without motivation is like a car without gas. Discipline isn’t the enemy, but it’s not the fuel either. I break down: What discipline actually is (and what it isn’t)A practical, usable definition of motivationWhy framing discipline as punishment leads to burnoutHow self-determination theory explains the different “flavors” of motivationWhy elite performers don’t rely on just one source of driveHow to build a hybrid system that keeps you consistent and resilientWhen being “disciplined” actually means backing off instead of pushing harder If you’ve ever felt like you should be more disciplined, or wondered why motivation seems to disappear right when you need it most, this episode will help you reframe both — without shame, without hype, and with tools you can actually use. As always, if something here resonates (or if you disagree), I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at drkcoaching.com and let me know what landed. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Learn more about The Mental Training Lab Connect with Pete on Instagram | LinkedIn | Website Subscribe to the podcast on Apple | Spotify This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    24 min
  2. Turning the Mic Around: Pete Kadushin on Meaning, Mindfulness, and Mental Performance

    JAN 20

    Turning the Mic Around: Pete Kadushin on Meaning, Mindfulness, and Mental Performance

    What happens when the Mental Training Lab host hands over the mic? I’m your host Pete Kadushin, and in this special reverse interview episode, I’m interviewed by psychiatrist, meditation teacher, and longtime contemplative practitioner Holly Rogers. The conversation grew organically out of our previous episode together, one that sparked more questions, deeper curiosity, and the realization that it was time to balance the scales. Together, Holly and I explore how contemplative practices like mindfulness and meditation have shaped my personal life and professional path—from grad school, to working with elite athletes, to my current role in learning and development with the Chicago Blackhawks. I open up about vulnerability, presence, impermanence, and why mental performance work increasingly feels like sacred work rather than a set of techniques. This episode is an honest, reflective look at what it means to practice what we teach. And how slowing down, paying attention, and trusting the process can lead to more meaningful performance, deeper relationships, and work that truly lights us up. Whether you’re a coach, athlete, leader, or simply someone curious about how contemplative practices can change the way you show up in the world, this conversation offers insight, humanity, and permission to explore your own path with a little more trust. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Learn more about The Mental Training Lab Connect with Pete on Instagram | LinkedIn | Website Subscribe to the podcast on Apple | Spotify This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    1h 1m
  3. "No Big Deal"

    JAN 6

    "No Big Deal"

    In today’s solocast, I explore one of my favorite mental training mantras: “No big deal.” We look at how quickly we label experiences as good or bad, and how those judgments (often made without the full story) can quietly hijack our nervous system, emotions, and performance. Using a classic Zen parable alongside examples from sport, I unpack how unexamined thoughts start to feel like reality, and what happens when we learn to loosen our grip on them. We also examine how “no big deal” isn’t about dismissing your experience, but about creating space to feel what you feel, unhook from unproductive thinking, and re-orient toward your values and intentions so you can stay present and perform what’s actually in front of you. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Learn more about The Mental Training Lab Connect with Pete on Instagram | LinkedIn | Website Subscribe to the podcast on Apple | Spotify This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    14 min
  4. From Self-Criticism to Self-Compassion: How Mindfulness Changes Performance with Dr. Holly Rogers

    12/16/2025

    From Self-Criticism to Self-Compassion: How Mindfulness Changes Performance with Dr. Holly Rogers

    In this episode of Mental Training Lab, I sit down with psychiatrist, meditation teacher, and author of The Mindful Twenty-Something,  Dr. Holly Rogers. We’re breaking down how mindfulness and meditation can transform our relationship to the present moment, performance, and our lives as a whole.  Holly has spent decades working with college students, emerging adults, and high performers, helping them use Vipassana (mindfulness) meditation not as a relaxation tool, but as a mental training and nervous system regulation practice. We dig into what mindfulness actually is (and isn’t), why it’s not about “clearing your mind” and more about expanding your stretch zone so you don’t tip into overwhelm when it matters most. We also get personal. I share how these practices have helped me transform my relationship with self-criticism, including a moment where I found myself unexpectedly in tears on the cushion, able to meet a younger version of me, and his “wrestler mindset” with compassion instead of judgment. Holly brings in 30 years of clinical experience to bust the myth that being kinder to yourself will make you soft or lazy and explains why she’s never once seen that happen. If you’re an athlete, coach, or high performer who’s curious about mindfulness, meditation, self-compassion, performance, and resilience, this conversation offers practical tools, science-backed insight, and very human stories to help you start (or restart) your own practice in a doable, sustainable way. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Learn more about The Mental Training Lab Connect with Pete on Instagram | LinkedIn | Website Subscribe to the podcast on Apple | Spotify This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    1h 2m
  5. From Fear to Freedom: Skiing and the Art of Acceptance

    12/02/2025

    From Fear to Freedom: Skiing and the Art of Acceptance

    In today's solocast, we hit the slopes and explore the transformative power of acceptance through my own experience of learning to ski.  We touch on how embracing the possibility of injury actually unlocked my ability to be present to the joy of skiing, and 10x'd my skill level after a decade away from the sport. We also look at some of the reliable barriers to acceptance and outline a couple of practices to help create more acceptance in your life. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Learn more about The Mental Training Lab Connect with Pete on Instagram | LinkedIn | Website Subscribe to the podcast on Apple | Spotify This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    23 min
  6. Safety, Stress, and Performance: Megan Bartlett on Rethinking How We Coach Under Pressure

    11/18/2025

    Safety, Stress, and Performance: Megan Bartlett on Rethinking How We Coach Under Pressure

    How does stress impact the experience of sport? In this episode of the Mental Training Lab, I sat down with Megan Bartlett, founder of the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport, educator, and faculty member of NM Sport, to explore the fascinating intersection of stress science, sport performance, and human development. Megan’s work brings together neuroscience and coaching practice through what she calls biological respect. It’s the recognition that our stress responses aren’t independent choices, and instead we need to collaborate with our physiology! Together, we talk about how coaches can design environments that support athletes’ nervous systems, build resilience, and foster true psychological safety. Megan shares practical, science-based strategies that anyone can use to help athletes regulate, recover, and thrive under pressure. Topics include how relationships buffer stress, how humor and structure aid regulation, and why well-being and performance aren’t opposites, rather, they’re inseparable. If you’ve ever wondered how to help your athletes (or yourself) perform better and feel better, this conversation will change how you think about training, recovery, and what it really means to create high performance environments. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Learn more about The Mental Training Lab Connect with Pete on Instagram | LinkedIn | Website Subscribe to the podcast on Apple | Spotify This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    1h 8m
  7. What's the Worst that Could Happen?

    11/04/2025

    What's the Worst that Could Happen?

    Today's solocast explores the role that negative visualization can play in generating gratitude, wonder, and a connection to the present moment. I share a vivid story from my early days as a mental performance coach, and outline practices that can support you in appreciating your current capacity in a way that will support your growth and best performance. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Learn more about The Mental Training Lab Connect with Pete on Instagram | LinkedIn | Website Subscribe to the podcast on Apple | Spotify This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    19 min
  8. Practicing What We Preach: Dr. Ryan Hamilton on High Performance, Self-Awareness, and Pushing Limits

    10/21/2025

    Practicing What We Preach: Dr. Ryan Hamilton on High Performance, Self-Awareness, and Pushing Limits

    In this episode of the Mental Training Lab, I sit down with Dr. Ryan Hamilton, someone who truly lives the work he teaches. Ryan is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of New Brunswick, a certified mental performance consultant, and the mental performance coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Canadian National Team. Ryan embodies what it means to truly practice what we preach in the world of high performance. He deep dives on a couple of stories from his time working with elite athletes, and shares what it really looks like to walk the talk when it comes to growth, resilience, and relevance. Ryan also shares lessons from his own most recent endurance quest: a 24-hour ultra-marathon challenge that pushed him to the limits of both his body and mind. We get into what that experience taught him about self-awareness and why stretching beyond our comfort zones ultimately makes us better coaches, leaders, and humans. So if you are a coach, consultant, athlete, or anyone who works in a high-performance environment, take a listen. This conversation will challenge you to reflect on your own growth, your blind spots, and your capacity to lead by example. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Learn more about The Mental Training Lab Connect with Pete on Instagram | LinkedIn | Website Subscribe to the podcast on Apple | Spotify This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    1h 19m
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About

Master your mental game with the Mental Training Lab, hosted by Pete Kadushin. With 15 years of coaching experience and a PhD in performance psychology, Pete digs deep each episode to provide practical tools and expert insights so you can perform your best when it matters most. Enhance your focus, harness stress, and overcome challenges whether you’re an athlete, leader, or high-performer. Subscribe to learn how to elevate your game in work, play, and life.

Information

  • Creator
    Pete Kadushin, PhD
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mental Training Lab
  • Show Website
    Mental Training Lab