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. 3d ago

    Control Your Emotions Before They Control Your Decisions

    Season 3 Episode 7 — Control Your Emotions Before They Control Your Decisions Why Pressure Quietly Changes Leadership Behaviour Pressure changes people. Not permanently. But behaviour shifts. Patience shortens.Urgency increases.Listening drops.And often, leaders don’t realise it’s happening until the consequences show up. In Episode 7 of Season 3, Clint explores one of the most important performance skills in leadership: Recognising emotional drift before it starts driving behaviour. Using real-world leadership examples, coaching insights, and practical strategies, this episode unpacks how pressure quietly changes the way we communicate, make decisions, and lead others. Inside this episode:Why pressure changes behaviour before it changes resultsThe hidden leadership trap of going "down and inward" under pressureHow emotional drift impacts teams, culture, and decision-makingWhy smart, capable leaders sometimes behave very differently under loadThe importance of recognising your personal red flags before they create problemsYou'll also learn three practical Week 7 actions: 1️⃣ Identify your personal pressure red flags2️⃣ Notice when you're going down and inward instead of up and outward3️⃣ Name the emotion before making an important decision Because emotions aren't the enemy. They're information. The key is making sure they don't become the decision-maker. Pressure doesn't create character. It reveals it. And it reveals your emotional state even faster. SPECIAL INVITATION If you want to work with me directly I have a few open spots available for the next 10 week training cycle.Click here to bok a time to discuss and see if we are a good fit: 👉⁠⁠https://calendly.com/clint-rahe/30min⁠⁠ 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. May 31

    When Your Day Blows Up… What Stays True?

    Season 3 Episode 6 — When Your Day Blows Up… What Stays True? Why High Performers Rely on Standards, Not Perfect Days Ever started the day with a great plan… …and by 9:15am everything changed? Urgent emails.Meetings running over.Unexpected problems.Pressure increasing. In this episode, Clint explores what happens when reality turns up — and why the best performers don’t rely on perfect days. They rely on standards. Drawing on lessons from elite sport, leadership coaching, military training, and personal experience, this episode unpacks why pressure often makes people abandon the exact habits helping them perform. Inside this episode: • Why pressure makes people drift away from good habits• The hidden cost of abandoning routines under pressure• Why high performers rely on performance anchors, not perfect plans• How standards create stability when the day gets messy• A simple shift to improve consistency under pressure You’ll also get three practical Week 6 training actions: 1️⃣ Identify your performance anchors2️⃣ Notice what disappears first when pressure rises3️⃣ Learn how to reset and get back to rhythm quickly Because high performance isn’t about having perfect days. It’s about what stays true when things stop going to plan. Pressure doesn’t test the plan. It tests the standard. Special Invitation If you want to work with me directly I have a few open spots available for the next 10 week training cycle starting on 27th July 👉 Click here to book a time to discuss and see if we are a good fit: https://calendly.com/clint-rahe/30min Grab your copy of The Cognitive Athlete — Out Nowhttps://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ Visit thecognitiveathlete.com.au for free tools and resources to help improve energy, focus, and performance.

    10 min

  3. May 24

    Why You Feel Busy But Get Nothing Done

    Why Constant Switching Is Killing Your Performance Ever finished a day thinking: “I’ve been flat out… but what did I actually get done?” That’s not laziness. And it’s probably not motivation either. More often than not… It’s cognitive overload. In Episode 5 of Season 3, Clint explores one of the biggest hidden performance killers in modern work: Constant switching. Meetings.Emails.Notifications.Teams messages.Interruptions.Competing priorities. Individually, they don’t seem like much. But together? They overload the system. Drawing on lessons from elite sport, military training, and leadership coaching, this episode breaks down why overload quietly destroys decision quality, focus, patience, and performance over time. Inside this episode: • Why mental overload is different from simply being “busy”• The hidden cognitive cost of constant task switching• Why professionals often mistake a load problem for a time problem• How high performers protect bandwidth — not just time• Why overload gradually erodes performance without you noticing You’ll also get three practical Week 5 training actions: 1️⃣ Identify your biggest cognitive drain2️⃣ Protect one uninterrupted thinking block this week3️⃣ Remove one unnecessary source of mental switching Because overloaded people rarely perform at their best. And sometimes… It’s not the workload that breaks performance. It’s the overload. If you want to work with me directly I have a few open spots available for the next 10 week training cycle.Click here to bok a time to discuss and see if we are a good fit: 👉⁠⁠https://calendly.com/clint-rahe/30min⁠⁠ Grab your copy of The Cognitive Athlete — Out Now👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecognitiveathlete.com.au ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for free tools and resources to help you improve your energy, focus, and performance.

    8 min

  4. May 17

    The 30-Second Pause That Changes Everything

    Why High Performers Learn to Switch Gears When pressure increases… most people speed up. They talk faster.Think faster.React faster. And often… performance drops. In Episode 4 of Season 3, Clint explores one of the simplest — yet most overlooked — performance skills under pressure: The pause. Drawing on lessons from military weapons training, leadership coaching, and elite performance, this episode unpacks why the best performers don’t rush into pressure. They deliberately switch gears. Because sometimes the highest performance move… is the pause before the response. Inside this episode: • Why pressure naturally speeds behaviour up• The hidden cost of reacting instead of responding• How military training teaches deliberate gear-switching under pressure• Why breathing acts as a reset button for performance• A simple technique elite performers use to regain composure quickly You’ll also get three practical Week 4 training actions: 1️⃣ Identify one moment this week where composure matters2️⃣ Practise a deliberate reset before pressure arrives3️⃣ Notice when pressure speeds you up — and use it as your cue to pause Because performance under pressure isn’t accidental. It’s trained. And often, the difference between reacting… and performing well… is a deliberate pause. If you want to work with me directly I have a few open spots available for the next 10 week training cycle.Click here to bok a time to discuss and see if we are a good fit: 👉⁠⁠https://calendly.com/clint-rahe/30min⁠⁠ 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

  5. May 10

    Sometimes the Best Decision Is No Decision

    Season 3 Episode 3 — Decision Quality Under Pressure Why Fast Isn’t Always High Performance Sometimes the best decision…is to make no decision. In Episode 3 of Season 3, Clint explores what happens to decision quality when pressure, fatigue, frustration, and cognitive overload start building throughout the day. Because most professionals don’t actually have a decision-making problem. They have a decision environment problem. Drawing on coaching conversations, leadership examples, military lessons, and high-performance sport, this episode unpacks why people often make their worst decisions when they’re operating in the wrong state. Inside this episode: • Why decision quality drops under pressure• The difference between reacting and thinking• How fatigue changes judgement and emotional control• Why high-performance environments protect decision conditions carefully• The hidden danger of speeding up when pressure increases You’ll also hear a real coaching example where one simple question prevented a reactive leadership decision that could have had major consequences. Plus three practical Week 3 actions to improve decision quality immediately: 1️⃣ Identify when your decision fatigue point appears during the day2️⃣ Deliberately slow down one important decision this week3️⃣ Ask yourself: “Am I reacting… or thinking?” before responding under pressure Because high performers don’t just make decisions faster. They protect the conditions their decisions are made in. If the state is off…the decision will be too. If you want to work with me directly I have a few open spots available for the next 10 week training cycle.Click here to bok a time to discuss and see if we are a good fit: 👉⁠⁠https://calendly.com/clint-rahe/30min⁠⁠ 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

  6. May 3

    Pressure Doesn’t Change You. It Reveals You.

    Season 3 Episode 2 — Your Default Under Pressure Why Pressure Reveals Your Patterns Pressure doesn’t create behaviour. It exposes it. In Episode 2 of Season 3, Clint explores one of the biggest hidden performance challenges in leadership and high-pressure environments: Your default response under load. Drawing on a real coaching experience with a senior executive preparing for a high-stakes ministerial briefing in Canberra, this episode unpacks how pressure changes behaviour — often without people even realising it. Because under pressure: • pace increases• listening reduces• emotional reactivity rises• decision-making narrows• psychological safety disappears And most professionals never stop long enough to observe the pattern. Inside this episode: • Why experience alone does not equal composure under pressure• How pressure-testing and rehearsal expose behavioural drift early• Why senior leaders need preparation more — not less• How military-style rehearsal builds awareness under load• The hidden impact of language escalation and emotional contagion in leadership You’ll also get three practical Week 2 training actions: 1️⃣ Identify your pressure triggers2️⃣ Observe your default behavioural responses3️⃣ Rehearse a more deliberate response before pressure arrives Because Cognitive Athletes don’t aim to eliminate pressure. They train themselves to operate more deliberately inside it. Pressure doesn’t create behaviour.It exposes what has been trained. If you want to work with me directly I have a few open spots available for the next 10 week training cycle.Click here to bok a time to discuss and see if we are a good fit: 👉⁠⁠https://calendly.com/clint-rahe/30min⁠⁠ 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.

    10 min

  7. Apr 26

    The Knowing–Doing Gap: Why Pressure Changes Behaviour

    Season 3 Episode 1 — The Knowing–Doing Gap Why Information Doesn’t Change Behaviour Most professionals already know what to do. The problem is…pressure changes behaviour. In the first episode of Season 3, Clint explores one of the biggest performance traps in modern work: the gap between knowing something intellectually and actually executing it when pressure hits. Because information alone doesn’t create behavioural change. Rehearsal does. Drawing on lessons from military training, leadership development, and real-world coaching conversations, this episode breaks down why people often default to old habits under pressure — even when they know the right framework, strategy, or approach. Inside this episode: • Why pressure exposes trained behaviour — not knowledge• The difference between learning theory and rehearsing execution• How military training uses repetition and scenario practice to build composure• Why knowledge workers consume huge amounts of information but rarely train behaviour• A real coaching example of preparing for a difficult performance conversation under pressure You’ll also get three practical Week 1 actions to begin training behaviour more deliberately: 1️⃣ Identify one behaviour that changes under pressure2️⃣ Rehearse your response before the pressure moment arrives3️⃣ Review where behaviour drifted at the end of the day Because high performers don’t just consume better information. They rehearse better behaviours. 🎙️ Season 3 — Perform When It Counts If you want to work with me directly I have a few open spots available for the next 10 week training cycle. Click here to bok a time to discuss and see if we are a good fit: 👉⁠https://calendly.com/clint-rahe/30min⁠ 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.

    10 min

  8. Season 3 Trailer

    Season 3 Trailer — Perform When It Counts

    Season 3 Trailer — Perform When It Counts Most people don’t have a performance problem. They have a decision problem. Because when things are calm… structured… predictable…anyone can perform. But that’s not where it counts. It counts when the pressure hits.When everything feels urgent.When the day blows up… and you still have to make the right call. That’s where performance breaks. Season 3 of The Cognitive Athlete Podcast is where we move beyond building the system… and start applying it when it actually matters. This season goes deeper into: • Decision-making under pressure• Managing cognitive load in real time• Holding your standard when things get messy• Creating the space to pause before you react Because high performance isn’t built on your best days. It’s built on the days when things don’t go to plan. If you’ve followed the journey so far, this is the next step: From knowing…to operating differently. 🎙️ Season 3 — Perform When It Counts Follow the podcast and get ready for the next 10-week cycle. If you want to work with me directly I have a few open spots available for the next 10 week training cycle. Click here to bok a time to discuss and see if we are a good fit: 👉https://calendly.com/clint-rahe/30min 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.

    2 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
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Clint Rahe - The Cognitive Athlete
  • Show Website
    The Cognitive Athlete Podcast