In this episode of Just A Cup, host Bryan Fetzer welcomes Vin Infante, LMSW, a mental-performance and executive coach, licensed psychotherapist, entrepreneur, and former FDNY firefighter. Vin’s career has placed him in some very different rooms—from mental-health facilities and therapy sessions to the firehouse and conversations with founders, executives, and organizational leaders. Those experiences have shaped his straightforward approach to understanding pressure, adversity, identity, and sustainable success. Bryan and Vin discuss the important relationship between mental health and mental performance. While the two are connected, they are not interchangeable. Mental performance is not about ignoring stress, suppressing emotions, or pretending everything is fine. It begins with understanding what is happening internally and developing the awareness and tools to respond more effectively. The conversation also examines what resilience really looks like. Resilience is often portrayed as simply pushing harder, but Vin explains why genuine resilience also requires honesty, recovery, perspective, and the willingness to address what is happening beneath the surface. Vin introduces his TMC Method, which combines elements of therapy, mentoring, and coaching. Rather than forcing every person or situation into a single approach, the model helps determine what kind of support is needed at a particular moment. Sometimes a person needs to understand the past. Sometimes they need guidance from someone who has walked a similar road. And sometimes they need a clear plan for moving forward. Bryan and Vin also explore how identity affects behavior, decision-making, confidence, and leadership. For high performers, success can create its own pressure. The higher someone climbs, the fewer people may fully understand what they are carrying. Without the right support and self-awareness, achievement can gradually become exhaustion. Other topics include emotional regulation, burnout, self-talk, personal responsibility, leadership under pressure, and the difference between appearing strong and actually becoming stronger. This episode offers an honest and practical conversation for athletes, coaches, founders, executives, and anyone trying to perform at a high level while protecting their mental well-being. There is plenty to unpack—fortunately, it still fits inside one cup. Episode Guide 00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Vin Infante 02:00 – Vin’s background and path into mental health 05:30 – Lessons from serving as an FDNY firefighter 09:00 – Mental health versus mental performance 12:30 – What resilience really looks like 16:00 – Identity, self-awareness, and personal responsibility 20:00 – The unseen pressure carried by high performers 23:30 – Leadership, emotional regulation, and decision-making 26:30 – Vin’s Therapy–Mentoring–Coaching Method 29:30 – Sustainable success and recognizing burnout 32:00 – Practical advice for becoming mentally stronger 34:00 – Rapid-fire questions and closing thoughts Topics Discussed Mental health and mental performance Building authentic resilience Performing and leading under pressure Identity and self-awareness Emotional regulation Confidence and internal dialogue Burnout among high achievers The psychological cost of success Therapy, mentoring, and coaching Personal responsibility without shame Recovering from setbacks Sustainable high performance Asking for help before reaching a crisis Becoming stronger through adversity Guest Links Vin Infante’s Official Website: https://www.vincentinfante.life/ Vin Infante on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vininfante/ Vin Infante on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fZMseVY_rM0 Listen and Watch Just A Cup on the Bleav Network: https://bleav.com/shows/just-a-cup/ Just A Cup on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachfetzjustacup Episode Credits Host: Bryan Fetzer Guest: Vin Infante, LMSW — Mental-Performance and Executive Coach, Licensed Psychotherapist, Entrepreneur, and Former FDNY Firefighter Additional Episode Notes This conversation is intended for education and general awareness. It is not a substitute for individualized therapy, diagnosis, or professional mental-health care. Enjoyed the episode? Follow Just A Cup, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need the reminder that strength is not about carrying everything alone. For guest suggestions, partnerships, or show inquiries, connect with Bryan through the Bleav show page or his social-media channels. Hashtags #JustACup #VinInfante #MentalPerformance #MentalHealth #MentalResilience #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #EmotionalRegulation #Burnout #HighPerformance #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #Bleav Social and Contact Footer Bleav – Just A Cup: https://bleav.com/shows/just-a-cup/ YouTube – Just A Cup: https://www.youtube.com/@coachfetzjustacup Bryan Fetzer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachfetz/ Bryan Fetzer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachfetz/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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