You Don't Know Jack

Dr. Jack Groppel & Dr. Haley Perlus

Life is hard. Let’s prepare for it. You Don’t Know Jack is a performance psychology and resilience podcast hosted by Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus, two leading experts in human performance, mental toughness, and stress mastery. With decades of experience coaching Olympic athletes, elite performers, executives, and high-achievers, Jack and Haley explore what it really takes to stay strong when pressure is high and the stakes are real. This show blends sport psychology, performance science, leadership coaching, and real-life stories into practical tools you can use immediately. Each episode tackles the challenges people actually face: Career transitions and burnout Confidence under pressure Emotional control and resilience Motivation, focus, and consistency Rebuilding after failure or setbacks Performing when it matters most Whether you’re an athlete, business leader, entrepreneur, or anyone trying to level up, this podcast gives you clear strategies to stay composed, committed, and capable, especially when life pushes back. Expect honest conversations, expert coaching, and real-world performance tools designed to help you: Handle pressure without breaking Think clearly in difficult moments Build mental toughness that lasts Show up with confidence when it counts Because success isn’t a finish line, it’s how you respond when things get hard. This is the show that prepares you now, so you’re ready later.

Episodes

  1. Jul 6

    Control the Controllables: Why It's So Hard (And How to Train It)

    People hear the phrase "control the controllables" all the time. Coaches say it. Leaders say it. Psychologists say it.   But almost nobody explains how to actually train that skill.   In this episode of You Don't Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore why our minds naturally gravitate toward things we cannot control and why that's completely human. They discuss the psychology behind attention, stress, uncertainty, and performance, then share practical exercises that help you redirect your focus to what truly influences your results.   Along the way, they share personal stories, coaching experiences, and plenty of laughs while breaking down one of the most important mental skills in sport, business, and everyday life.   Whether you're an athlete, coach, executive, entrepreneur, or simply trying to handle life's uncertainty with more confidence, this episode gives you practical tools you can start using immediately.  In this episode you'll learn: ✅ Why our brains obsess over things outside our control ✅ Why "just focus on the controllables" isn't enough ✅ Exercises that strengthen your ability to redirect attention ✅ How elite performers respond when life feels unpredictable ✅ Practical ways to improve focus, confidence, and resilience   Life is hard. Let's prepare for it.   🎯 Want to take this further? To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/   👍 Like this video, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to perform at their best under pressure.

    Control the Controllables: Why It's So Hard (And How to Train It)

  2. Jun 15

    The Words We Live By: Lessons from Lyrics, Movies, and Life

    What can a baseball movie, a country song, a Disney character, and Helen Keller teach us about navigating life? In this episode of You Don't Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus share some of the quotes, lyrics, and movie lines that have stayed with them over the years—and why. These aren't just memorable words. They're reminders about resilience, purpose, courage, curiosity, relationships, and showing up when life gets hard. Together, they explore how simple phrases can become powerful tools for handling pressure, overcoming setbacks, embracing uncertainty, and living with intention. Because sometimes the right words at the right time can change the way we see everything. In this episode: √ Why certain quotes stay with us for a lifetime √ Lessons from movies, music, and everyday life √How to use borrowed wisdom to navigate challenges √ The role of perspective during difficult moments √ Turning inspiration into action Life is hard. Let's prepare for it. Subscribe for weekly episodes on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, mental strength, and living well while performing at a high level. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/

    The Words We Live By: Lessons from Lyrics, Movies, and Life

  3. Jun 1

    The Coaching Room: Volume 1 | Real Challenges, Real Solutions.

    This episode launches a recurring series on You Don't Know Jack. As a performance psychology coach, Dr. Haley Perlus has the privilege of working with athletes, executives, leaders, and high performers from all walks of life. While every person and situation is unique, many of the challenges they face are remarkably universal. In this episode, Haley brings a collection of anonymous real-world coaching stories to Dr. Jack Groppel. Together, they unpack the obstacles, pressures, doubts, fears, and decisions these individuals are navigating and explore practical strategies, tools, and perspectives that can help. From confidence struggles and performance anxiety to identity, purpose, resilience, relationships, and leadership, these conversations reveal what it means to face life's inevitable challenges with courage and intention. Whether you're an athlete, business professional, leader, parent, or simply someone trying to navigate a difficult season, you'll likely hear a story that resonates with your own experience. Because the goal isn't just to hear how others overcome adversity. It's to discover what these moments are asking of you. Life is hard. Let's prepare for it. 🎯 Want to take this further? To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ 👍 Like this episode, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to perform at their best under pressure. References: Evolve Leadership: https://evolveleadership.com/ Venus Williams Addresses the 2026 LMU Undergraduate Commencement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stk5ApEO_4g

    The Coaching Room: Volume 1 | Real Challenges, Real Solutions.

  4. Apr 20

    What No One Tells You About Mentorship

    What is a mentor… really? In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Haley Perlus and Dr. Jack Groppel break down what mentorship actually looks like beyond the buzzword. But this conversation is different. This podcast is built on a real mentor–mentee relationship. Jack is the mentor. Haley is the mentee. Every episode is a live, unfiltered exchange of perspective, experience, and growth from both sides of that relationship - something you don’t typically hear. This isn’t a conversation about mentorship. It’s mentorship happening in real time. In this episode, we talk about: What a mentor is (and what it is not) The real responsibilities of both mentor and mentee How to find and approach the right mentor How to build a relationship that actually works Why mentorship can accelerate your growth in sport, business, and life This isn’t about waiting for someone to guide you. It’s about learning how to engage, ask better questions, and take ownership of your development. Because the right mentorship doesn’t just give you answers. It changes how you think. If you are serious about growth, performance, and becoming your best, this conversation matters. Subscribe for more conversations on performance, mindset, and what it really takes to succeed under pressure.

    What No One Tells You About Mentorship

  5. Apr 6

    Visualization Isn’t Positive Thinking | Train Your Brain Like an Elite Performer

    Visualization is one of the most talked about mental skills in performance… and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Haley Perlus and Dr. Jack Groppel break down what visualization actually is, why it works, and how to use it to improve performance, build real confidence, and manage anxiety under pressure. This is not about “seeing success” or positive thinking. This is about training your brain and nervous system to execute when it matters most. You’ll learn: ✅ The 2 biggest mistakes people make when visualizing ✅ The neuroscience behind mental rehearsal and performance ✅ How visualization builds confidence through evidence, not wishful thinking ✅ Why visualization helps regulate anxiety instead of eliminate it ✅ The difference between symbolic imagery, process imagery, recovery imagery, and preparation imagery ✅ How to actually train visualization like a skill If you want your body to perform, you need to get your mind there first. Because your body goes where your mind leads. 🎯 Want to take this further? To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ 👍 Like this video, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to perform at their best under pressure.

    Visualization Isn’t Positive Thinking | Train Your Brain Like an Elite Performer

  6. Mar 23

    Why High Performers Don’t Fear Mistakes (They Recover Faster)

    Mistakes are unavoidable in sport, business, and life, but how you respond to them is what separates high performers from everyone else. In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Haley Perlus and Dr. Jack Groppel break down the psychology of mistakes and why striving for perfection isn’t the goal, becoming a great recoverer is. You’ll learn: √ Why mistakes don’t have to shake your confidence √ How to recover quickly and refocus in the moment √ What you can actually control (and what you can’t) √ How the meaning you give mistakes creates unnecessary fear √ Why purpose clarity changes how you handle setbacks √ Practical tools to reset and move forward immediately If you want to perform with confidence, even after things go wrong, this episode will give you a competitive edge.

    Why High Performers Don’t Fear Mistakes (They Recover Faster)

  7. Mar 9

    How High Performers Manage Fear Under Pressure

    How High Performers Manage Fear Under Pressure In this episode of the You Don’t Know Jack podcast, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore the psychology of fear and how it affects performance, confidence, and decision-making under pressure. They break down what fear really is, why it shows up when the stakes are high, and how it can quietly influence our thoughts and actions if we let it dominate our mental space. In this conversation, we discuss common types of fear including: • Fear of failure • Fear of success • Fear of not belonging • Fear of judgment and expectation Most importantly, we share strategic tools to manage fear and build the one quality that consistently counteracts it: confidence. You’ll learn how to: • Build confidence through preparation and action • Keep fear from occupying the primary space in your mind • Reframe fear so it becomes information instead of limitation • Perform and lead effectively even when fear is present This episode is for athletes, performers, leaders, and anyone striving for competitive excellence and peak performance under pressure. Because the truth is: fear never fully disappears, but it doesn’t have to be in charge. Subscribe for weekly conversations on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, and mental toughness. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/

    How High Performers Manage Fear Under Pressure

  8. Mar 6

    Pressure to Perform: How Early Influences Shape Us

    Pressure is unavoidable, but how you interpret it determines whether it sharpens your performance or drains your energy. In Episode 2 of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore how early pressure influences, especially from parents and authority figures, shape the way we respond to expectations later in life. Both Jack and Haley felt pressure from their fathers, but in very different ways. In this conversation, they unpack how those early experiences influenced confidence, motivation, self-belief, and performance under stress, and how you can learn to use pressure as fuel instead of letting it create distraction, anxiety, or doubt. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why pressure isn’t the enemy, it's the invitation (says Haley) • How early pressure experiences shape your mindset today • The difference between pressure that sharpens focus vs. pressure that creates anxiety • How to identify your own pressure story • Practical ways to convert pressure into clarity, confidence, and performance Whether you’re an athlete, leader, coach, or high performer, this episode will help you better understand your relationship with pressure, and how to work with it instead of against it. Subscribe for weekly episodes on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, mental strength, and living well while performing at a high level.

    Pressure to Perform: How Early Influences Shape Us

  9. Mar 6

    The Stress–Recovery Cycle: The Missing Link in High Performance

    High performance cannot exist without both stress and recovery. In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Haley Perlus and Dr. Jack Groppel explore why stress is not the enemy, but an essential part of growth, adaptation, and performance, and why recovery is what allows stress to actually work for you rather than against you. We break down the biology of stress and recovery, explain why burnout happens when recovery is missing, and discuss how elite athletes, business leaders, and high performers can build intentional recovery “doses” into demanding lives. From active recovery and energy management to sustainable performance in work and sport, this conversation reframes stress as a vital signal and recovery as a performance skill. Whether you’re an athlete, executive, or someone feeling stretched by life, this episode will help you understand how to train, work, and live in a way that supports long-term performance, not exhaustion. Topics include: • Stress and recovery as a biological cycle • Why burnout is a recovery problem, not a motivation problem • Active recovery vs passive recovery • How to incorporate recovery into high-pressure work environments • Sustainable performance in sport, business, and life  Subscribe for weekly episodes on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, and mental strength.  To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/  To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/

    The Stress–Recovery Cycle: The Missing Link in High Performance

  10. Feb 23

    Bad Advice That’s Hurting Your Performance | Mindset Myths Debunked

    Some of the most popular success advice may actually be hurting your performance. In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus break down common mindset phrases like “fake it till you make it,” “failure is not an option,” and “get 1% better every day.” These ideas sound motivating, but are they actually helpful? Drawing from decades of experience in performance psychology and coaching elite athletes, leaders, and high performers, Jack and Haley explain what works, what doesn’t, and why real growth is more nuanced than popular slogans suggest. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why common motivational advice can backfire • What actually builds confidence and resilience • How to think about failure in a healthy, productive way • The difference between sustainable growth and performance pressure • Better mindset strategies that truly support high performance If you want practical, honest guidance, not clichés, this episode is for you. Subscribe for weekly conversations on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, and mental toughness. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/

    Bad Advice That’s Hurting Your Performance | Mindset Myths Debunked

  11. Jan 26

    Find Your Purpose: How Meaning, Fulfillment, and Performance Actually Work

    What’s the point of success if you don’t feel fulfilled? In this first episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore purpose, meaning, and why they matter for performance, happiness, and resilience. Jack shares how discovering purpose through the School of Knox helped shape his life and leadership, and Haley explains how having the right mentor saved her years (maybe decades) of trial and error while building a career that is both successful and meaningful. Together they break down: √ Why purpose is not “soft,” but essential for performance √ How meaning drives motivation, energy, and resilience √ Why fulfillment and success don’t have to compete √ How to find direction in your own life and career Whether you’re an athlete, professional, or someone searching for what’s next, this episode gives you a clearer way to think about purpose, growth, and living well while performing at a high level. Subscribe for weekly episodes on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, and mental strength. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/

    Find Your Purpose: How Meaning, Fulfillment, and Performance Actually Work

  12. Trailer

    You Don't Know Jack_trailer

    Life is hard. Let’s prepare for it. You Don’t Know Jack is a performance psychology and resilience podcast hosted by Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus. Together they bring decades of experience helping Olympic athletes, executives, and high performers stay confident, focused, and effective under pressure. Each episode blends sport psychology, leadership coaching, and real-world stories into practical tools for handling stress, building mental toughness, and performing when it matters most. You’ll learn how to: Stay composed under pressure Build resilience after setbacks Improve confidence and focus Manage stress and burnout Lead yourself through challenge Whether you’re an athlete, business leader, or anyone pushing for your next level, this podcast gives you the mindset and skills to keep moving forward when life gets hard. This isn’t hype. This is how people really perform under pressure. Subscribe for weekly episodes on mental toughness, resilience, and high performance.

    You Don't Know Jack_trailer

Trailer

About

Life is hard. Let’s prepare for it. You Don’t Know Jack is a performance psychology and resilience podcast hosted by Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus, two leading experts in human performance, mental toughness, and stress mastery. With decades of experience coaching Olympic athletes, elite performers, executives, and high-achievers, Jack and Haley explore what it really takes to stay strong when pressure is high and the stakes are real. This show blends sport psychology, performance science, leadership coaching, and real-life stories into practical tools you can use immediately. Each episode tackles the challenges people actually face: Career transitions and burnout Confidence under pressure Emotional control and resilience Motivation, focus, and consistency Rebuilding after failure or setbacks Performing when it matters most Whether you’re an athlete, business leader, entrepreneur, or anyone trying to level up, this podcast gives you clear strategies to stay composed, committed, and capable, especially when life pushes back. Expect honest conversations, expert coaching, and real-world performance tools designed to help you: Handle pressure without breaking Think clearly in difficult moments Build mental toughness that lasts Show up with confidence when it counts Because success isn’t a finish line, it’s how you respond when things get hard. This is the show that prepares you now, so you’re ready later.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Jack Groppel & Dr. Haley Perlus
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    You Don't Know Jack