PODCAST · society
Locker Room Power
by David Sammel
Think Clearly Under Pressure Pressure changes thinking—and thinking determines performance. In Locker Room Power, David Sammel draws on 35+ years coaching elite athletes, CEOs and high performers to explore how the best make better decisions when the stakes are highest. Through conversations with exceptional guests and insights from inside the coaching box, you’ll learn to think more clearly, perform more consistently and discover how much further you can go without sacrificing what matters most.
Episodes
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How to Perform Under Pressure in Sports and Business
In Part 2 of his conversation with Ron Cox, David Sammel takes the hot seat as Ron turns the questions toward leadership, mindset, and high performance. They explore what separates talented individuals from true leaders, why leading by example matters, and how self-talk, confidence, and clarity...
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From Bullied to the Boardroom: Ron Cox on Leadership, Resilience & Success
In Part 1 of this conversation, David Sammel speaks with Ron Cox about his remarkable journey through adversity, resilience, and leadership. Ron shares how being raised by his grandparents shaped his values, how battling a rare illness led him to Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits, and how his experiences...
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How to Stay Calm and Perform Under Pressure
In this solo episode, David Sammel explores why nerves are not something high performers need to eliminate. After 35 years of working with elite athletes, CEOs, and other high performers, David has seen that even the best performers get nervous before moments that matter. The difference isn’t how...
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What High Performers Can Learn About Self-Awareness
In Part 2 of this conversation, Jonathan Cave flips the mic and puts David Sammel in the hot seat with a series of deep and unexpected questions. David opens up about his deepest fear, what he would change about his past, the lessons he learned through his coaching journey, and the impact of…
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Why High Achievers Struggle With Inner Fulfillment
In Part 1 of this conversation, David Sammel speaks with Jonathan Cave about his journey from a successful legal career to discovering the importance of inner alignment, fulfillment, and peace. Jonathan shares what he learned from working with high-performing entrepreneurs, why external success...
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Why Successful Leaders Secretly Feel Like Frauds - And The 5 Step Fix
In this solo episode, David Sammel explores why imposter syndrome often appears just as you’re stepping up, achieving more, and entering a new level of performance. Rather than seeing self-doubt as proof that you don’t belong, David explains why it can actually be a sign that you’re growing. He...
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How to Handle Pressure, Regret and Big Life Decisions
In Part 2 of this conversation, the tables are turned as Phyllis Borenstein interviews David Sammel about the lessons he's learned from decades of coaching elite athletes and navigating high-pressure environments. David reflects on career-defining moments, the opportunities he wishes he’d…
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The Mindset Behind 40+ Years of Success in Real Estate
In Part 1 of this conversation, David sits down with South Florida real estate expert Phyllis Borenstein to explore what it takes to build a career that lasts. Drawing on decades of experience, Phyllis shares how relationships, consistency, and a passion for helping people have been the…
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Why Clarity Disappears Under Pressure (And How to Get It Back)
In this solo episode, David Sammel explores one of the most overlooked challenges of leadership and high performance: losing access to your best thinking when pressure hits. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience coaching professional athletes and leaders, David explains why clarity isn't...
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The Biggest Lie High Performers Tell Themselves
In Part 2 of their conversation, Navid Nazemian turns the tables and puts David Sammel in the hot seat to explore the mindset, habits, and decision-making processes that separate sustained high performers from those who struggle to maintain success. Drawing on decades of experience coaching elite...
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How Great Leaders Handle Pressure and Uncertainty
Part 1 of David’s conversation with Navid Nazemian explores leadership, pressure, resilience, and the mindset required to navigate major life and career transitions. From leaving Iran at 13 years old to building a global executive career, Navid shares the defining experiences that shaped his...
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Why I’m Changing My Podcast After 5 Years
In this solo episode, David Sammel reflects on the reality of growth, change, and stepping into discomfort — both personally and professionally. Nearly six months after moving from the UK to Florida after 46 years, David shares the emotional side of starting over and why meaningful transitions...
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Why High Performers Lose Confidence as They Improve
In this solo episode, David Sammel explores why confidence often becomes more fragile as we improve. Through relatable examples and practical insight, he explains how high performers can become trapped by perfectionism and lose sight of how far they’ve already come. David shares a powerful…
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How Top Tennis Players Handle Failure and Pressure
In this second part of the conversation, David and Millie Rajecki explore the mindset required to perform under pressure and keep improving at the highest level. Drawing from lessons inspired by Richard Krajicek, they break down why success isn’t about having a perfect game—but about building a...
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From College Courts to Wimbledon: Milly Rajecki's Road to Pro Tennis
She wasn't the chosen one. Nobody predicted she'd make it this far.Milly Rajecki went from barely playing singles in college to competing at Wimbledon two years in a row. In this episode of Locker Room Power, David Sammel sits down with Milly to unpack the brutal truth behind what it really takes...
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35 Years of Pro Coaching Proved This One Thing About Success
Stop blaming your talent for your lack of results. Most high-performers are putting in the effort, but they’re missing the architecture to sustain it.The Transformation:In this solo episode, David Sammel pulls back the curtain on the 5 massive mistakes he’s been making and reveals the…
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The Billionaire’s Dream: How to Win Under Extreme Pressure | Nick Hague
What is the one thing billionaires would pay millions for, but can never truly buy? In this second episode of the Locker Room Power (LRP) Podcast, David Sammel and Nick Hague (host of World's Greatest Business Thinkers) dive into the mental architecture required to perform when the stakes are at...
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Building World-Class Networks and Mastering Sportsmanship | Nick Hague
Does being "comfortable in your own skin" give you a competitive edge? In this episode of the Locker Room Power Podcast, David Sammel and Nick Hague pull back the curtain on how to navigate the high-stakes world of professional tennis and global business. They discuss why being "comfortable in…
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Stop Losing to Yourself: The Stress Energy Map
Is your ambition actually killing your performance? Most high-performers believe that constant "hustle" is the path to winning. In reality, they are trapped in the Overdrive Zone, a state of high energy and high stress that feels like success until it leads to total depletion. In this solo…
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Hamish Kerr | Why I Stopped Being "Happy to be There."
What truly drives elite performance?In this episode of The Locker Room Power Podcast, Olympic Champion Hamish Kerr flips the microphone and interviews David Sammel about the mindset behind coaching, progress, and high performance.The conversation explores what truly motivates athletes and leaders...
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Hamish Kerr: The Olympic Champion Mindset | Why Real Champions Never Stop Competing
What separates an Olympic champion from everyone else? In this episode of The Locker Room Power Podcast, Olympic Gold Medalist Hamish Kerr shares the mindset that drives elite performance and why true competitors never stop pushing their limits. Hamish opens up about the famous Olympic high jump...
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Why You Can’t Switch Off Under Pressure (And How Elite Performers Fix It) | David Sammel
What actually happens when your mind won’t switch off before a big moment?In this solo episode, David Sammel breaks down a real situation with a player dealing with overwhelming pressure before competition and the simple mental framework that helped him reset, regain control, and perform.This…
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Melissa Maddock: The Real Reason You’re Bad at Time Management
What if the real problem isn’t time… but how you value your tasks?In this conversation, David Sammel breaks down a powerful shift in thinking that changes how you approach time, work, and productivity.Most people don’t struggle with time management; they struggle with respecting what needs to be...
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Melissa Maddock on Building a Social Media Career: Tennis Player to Global Film Travel Creator |
How do you turn a passion into a full-time career?In this episode of Locker Room Power, Melissa Maddock shares how her journey from competitive tennis and coaching led her to become a full-time social media creator, traveling the world to famous film locations.What started as posting Harry Potter...
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Matt Cardle on Fame, Freedom & Music | From X Factor to the Truth Behind the Industry
What if everything you’ve been told about success and the music industry isn’t the full story?In this powerful rerun episode, X Factor winner Matt Cardle joins David Sammel for an honest conversation about fame, artistic freedom, and staying true to yourself in an industry driven by pressure and...
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Marcus Daniell | The Truth About Parenting Young Athletes
In Week Two of this conversation, Marcus Daniell turns the tables and puts David Sammel in the hot seat to talk about one of the most sensitive and misunderstood areas in sport: parenting young athletes. David shares decades of experience working with elite performers and junior players, breaking...
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Marcus Daniell: How Elite Athletes Master Pressure, Purpose & Life After Sport
In this powerful Week One conversation, David Sammel sits down with Olympic medallist and High Impact Athletes founder Marcus Daniell to explore what it really takes to perform when pressure is highest and how elite athletes translate that mindset into life and leadership beyond sport. Marcus...
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Why Pressure Is the Secret Weapon of Elite Performers (In Sport & Business)
In this solo episode, David Sammel breaks down what elite performers do differently when pressure is highest and why clarity, not motivation, is the real competitive edge. Drawing on decades of experience with world-class athletes, Wimbledon champions, and Premier League organizations, David…
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Adam Maddock | The Focus Mistake Almost Every Player Makes
In this episode, Adam Maddock interviews David Sammel on what truly separates elite performers from the rest. David explains why focus is often misunderstood, why great players obsess over their base level, and how consistency, not intensity, drives long-term success. A practical conversation for...
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Adam Maddock | A Coaching Career Without Shortcuts
What does it really take to build a sustainable coaching career? Adam Maddock joins David Sammel to discuss his path through junior tennis, elite academies, and leadership roles, sharing honest insights about development, mentorship, and why most people underestimate the time required to grow. A...
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The Quiet Habit That Decides Your Future (Most People Ignore It)
In this solo episode of Locker Room Power, David Sammel reflects on self-awareness, belief systems, and the quiet choices that shape our future. As the year closes and a new chapter begins, David explores why examining our beliefs isn’t optional it’s a responsibility. Drawing from life…
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Barry Cowan Interviews David Sammel: Anxiety, Pressure & Elite Performance
In this episode of Locker Room Power, Barry Cowan turns the tables and interviews David Sammel on the mental realities of elite performance. David breaks down how top athletes manage pressure, why high performers live close to anxiety, and how confidence is built through resilience, endurance…
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Barry Cowan: Life After Tennis, Reinvention & Staying Relevant Under Pressure
Barry Cowan knows what it means to walk away from elite sport and build a second career that lasts. In this episode of Locker Room Power, Barry Cowan joins David Sammel to talk about the real transition athletes face after competition ends. From his journey as a professional tennis player to...
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Chad Dunn Interviews David Sammel: Mindset, Discipline & Turning Pain Into Power
In this powerful conversation, Chad Dunn sits down with David Sammel to explore elite mindset principles that help athletes and leaders turn pain into power. They dive into discipline, emotional control, resilience, and the mental tools required to perform under pressure in sport and in life. A...
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Self-Awareness = Power | Locker Room Power
In this solo episode of Locker Room Power, David Sammel dives deep into one of the most overlooked foundations of performance: true confidence. Not the loud kind… but the kind that comes from self-honesty, consistency, and taking ownership of your habits, especially when life feels difficult.…
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Chad Dunn | Mind Over Everything
In this powerful episode of Locker Room Power, David Sammel sits down with Chad Dunn, a former BMX rider, business owner, and survivor of addiction, prison, and deep personal transformation. Chad shares his journey from chasing adrenaline and bad decisions to rebuilding his life, launching a...
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How Athletes Turn Focus Into Leadership Strength | David Sammel
What if the real separator between good and great is not talent, but how you manage your mind? In this solo episode, David Sammel explains why mental fitness is the foundation of both elite performance and business leadership. He breaks down discipline thinking, emotional management, and the…
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Barry Scollo | How Athletes Succeed in Business Leadership Roles
Is your athletic mindset holding you back or launching your next career? Discover the athlete-to-business transition as David Sammel unpacks why timing, self-awareness, and leadership discipline drive success beyond sports. Learn the principles top performers use to navigate sports management...
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Barry Scollo | How To Go From Sport To Leadership Success
How do you turn the competitive edge of sport into clarity and control in business? From high-performance tennis to business leadership, discover the frameworks that transform athletic drive into direction and results. David Sammel and Barry Scollo reveal how mindset, resilience, and “go for it”...
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The Power of Coaching for Athletes and Leaders | David Sammel
Discipline is not born. It is forged through reflection, challenge, and feedback. In this episode of Locker Room Power, David Sammel, former professional tennis coach turned leadership mentor, explains why everyone needs a coach, from world-class athletes to business executives. David reveals how…
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Stefanie Teichmann | From Setbacks to Strength in Business Leadership
After a setback, what separates elite performers from everyone else? In this episode, David Sammel and Stefanie Teichmann unpack how resilient leaders turn challenges into growth. Learn how empathy, bravery, and self-awareness create stronger teams and sharper decision-making under pressure, from...
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Stefanie Teichmann | Trusting Your Gut: Decision-Making for Modern Leaders
When the title disappears, who are you as a leader?Stefanie Teichmann shares how leaving global brands like McKinsey, Nike, and Google sparked a deeper journey into self-awareness, courage, and authentic leadership. From trusting your gut to leading through AI-driven change, she reveals how…
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From Athlete to Executive: Founder Playbook
Every leader starts as a beginner. In this solo episode, David Sammel reveals why bravery, failure, and delegating to star players define authentic leadership. Learn how pressure-tested decision-making frameworks and a high-performance mindset fuel business success. From athlete to executive,...
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Delmont Madison | Mastering Change for Team & Leadership Success
What if success scares you more than failure? In this reverse interview, David unpacks how fear of success blocks leaders and athletes, and why self-awareness and emotional intelligence create lasting growth. Discover how to reframe failure, build resilient team culture, and embrace the mindset...
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Delmont Madison | From Athlete to Coach: Leadership Lessons
What transforms athletes into resilient leaders? David Sammel and Delmont Madison explore emotional well-being, mentorship, and life transitions that shape peak performance. From pivotal personal moments to the power of guidance, they reveal lessons that sharpen decision-making and build…
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The Clarity Advantage: Reflection Strategies for Leaders
What if your greatest business edge isn’t working harder, but reflecting deeper? In this episode of Locker Room Power, Olympic coach David Sammel unpacks the Clarity Advantage, why deep reflection fuels sharper decision-making, stronger leadership, and business growth without distraction.…
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Ian MacDonald | Identity, Coaching & How Great Players Think
In this episode, David Sammel and Ian MacDonald explore what truly shapes a player’s identity, how mindset influences performance, and why modern tennis demands more than just strengths and style. David shares powerful lessons from years of coaching, including the importance of communication,...
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Ian MacDonald | Leadership: How Ian is building Bath Academy
Barry Cowan joins David to unpack the real story behind his coaching journey — from being an overlooked junior player to becoming a leader who develops champions. In this conversation, Barry shares: • How early setbacks shaped his coaching philosophy • The mentors who pushed him to grow • Why...
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The Clarity Advantage: Why Simplicity Wins
What if the secret to winning—whether in sport or business—wasn’t talent, luck, or even hard work, but clarity? In this episode of Locker Room Power, performance coach David Sammel explores the clarity advantage—the power of having a simple, unwavering game plan. Drawing lessons from Novak...
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Shelagh Brayshaw | Regret, Choices & Life Lessons
Shelagh Brayshaw interviews David about regret, intuition, life lessons, travel stories, and how choices shape who we become. A reflective and honest conversation filled with perspective and experience. Key takeaways: Trust your gut instincts, even when fear of judgment holds you back. Travel…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Think Clearly Under Pressure Pressure changes thinking—and thinking determines performance. In Locker Room Power, David Sammel draws on 35+ years coaching elite athletes, CEOs and high performers to explore how the best make better decisions when the stakes are highest. Through conversations with exceptional guests and insights from inside the coaching box, you’ll learn to think more clearly, perform more consistently and discover how much further you can go without sacrificing what matters most.
HOSTED BY
David Sammel
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Locker Room Power have?
Locker Room Power currently has 265 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Locker Room Power about?
Think Clearly Under Pressure Pressure changes thinking—and thinking determines performance. In Locker Room Power, David Sammel draws on 35+ years coaching elite athletes, CEOs and high performers to explore how the best make better decisions when the stakes are highest. Through conversations with...
How often does Locker Room Power release new episodes?
Locker Room Power publishes regularly with 265 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Locker Room Power?
You can listen to Locker Room Power on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Locker Room Power?
Locker Room Power is created and hosted by David Sammel.
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