weechats's podcast

In this Wee Chat we talk with Elin Manahan Thomas, classical singer and Royal Wedding singer (by royal appointment!) for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle AKA the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. She covers many topics around the psychology of performing including being in the zone, the different colours of being in the zone, expressing emotions through music, her own performance anxiety challenges, performing without judgment, meditation and so much more! Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/elin-manahan-thomas-classical-singer for more information about Elin Manahan Thomas.

In this Wee Chat we talk to John Craigie, singer-songwriter musician. ​  John describes music as a "necessary expression" and a great release. He goes onto talk introspectively about his thoughts and feelings about his performances, how he reads the audience, copes with nerves and the joy it clearly brings him to be on the road and live and breathe his music. ​  Being in the present moment is a key aspect for his successful performances and something we know is important for many other top performers.  This was a really fascinating wee chat and​ ​we hope you love it as much as​ ​​we did chatting to John Craigie.  Tweet something to us one you have enjoyed this podcast @WeeChats

In this Wee Chat we talk again with 3xoff-road World Triathlon Champion, Lesley Paterson, and about the XTerra Worlds in Maui.  If you didn't tune into Part 1 yet, check it out on WeeChats.com first. In this part 2 of the conversation, she talks about knowing what works for her, and her normal pre-race routines, and the self-talk she uses to remind herself of the hard work she has put in while training. When facing the challenges that come during the race, Lesley focuses on letting go of the uncontrollable difficulties that come along the course, and fully committing to the controllable aspects of her race, which are pretty important from a psychological perspective. At one point during the race, Lesley specifically releases the focus of the outcome and allows her body to perform. In this Wee Chat she also talks about the lessons she takes away from her experience including the magic of actually doing the race.   So, enjoy this second part of this Wee Chat with Lesley Paterson as we celebrate her accomplishments on the elite stage as an off-road World Champion Triathlete.

In this Wee Chat from the vault from 2012 we talk with Lesley Paterson, three-time off-road World Champion triathlete as she reflects on her second world championship win in Maui. As an elite triathlete, Lesley has found her passion, competing and winning throughout the world, with her best events now coming in the off-road arena. She specializes in the Xterra races consisting of a lake or ocean swim, off-road biking, and a trail run.  In 2015 alone she accrued five 1st place Pro Women Xterra finishes, with winning both the men's and the women's division in the Laguna Beach Xterra course, she's totally amazing! 

In this Wee Chat we talk with Jessie Barr, Irish 2012 Olympian in the 4 x 400m relay team in London, and Irish National 400m Hurdle Champion from 2011-2013.  She participated in various sports from a young age and competed in track as just part of her normal sport and social routine, until she began to realize her current and potential ability, and that she could compete at a high level on the world stage. Jessie talks ​about gaining confidence through her later years of competing at the university and how important having that attitude is to her.  Although racing against others, her focus has consistently been on trying to improve her personal best, and she believes this outlook is part of what has served her well.  She comes from a family of accomplished track athletes as her brother and ​also a Wee Chat guest, 2016 Olympian Thomas Barr, ​​compet​ed​ in the finals of the 400m Men's Hurdles in Rio! ​He broke his own personal best, broke the national record and came 4th, which was such a great achievement and had the whole of Ireland jumping up and down. Enjoy this Wee Chat with Olympian Jessie Barr.

​In this Wee Chat we talk to Thomas Barr, the current Irish National record holder of the 400m hurdles and a 2016 Olympian in Rio.  He talks about  "coming into his own"  in the last 4 years and experiencing competitive success as an elite runner.

In this Wee Chat we talk with Dr. Leslie Sherlin, one of the leading neuroscientists in sport psychology.  He has spent numerous years studying many brains in his pursuit of identifying what neurological components separate elite athletes from regular people.  This pursuit has led to his work being featured on networks like ESPN and CNN as well as partnering with Red Bull. By having an understanding in neuroscience, sport psychology and clinical psychology, Dr. Sherlin incorporates techniques which support which psychological and physiological states.  He talks about his own process​for performance and how he uses certain techniques like reflection and introspection to evaluate his own work/performance.  Join us and listen to how this and more have helped Dr. Sherlin's path in looking for the unknown in various great and brilliant minds.

In this Wee Chat we talk to author and writer, Matthew Arlidge or as he is better known in the crime drama/thriller novel community, MJ Arlidge.  He has worked in television for the last 15 years, specializing in high end drama production. Arlidge has produced a number of prime-time crime serials for ITV in the last five years, and is currently working on a major adaptation of The Last of the Mohicans for the BBC.  He is NOW A VERY POPULAR CRIME NOVELIST HAVING WRITTEN various novels like Eeny Meeny and The Doll's House. IN THIS WEE CHAT He discusses the mental preparation he uses like motivation to write his novels along with his unique process of planning each novel.  His latest book Liar Liar has been released this month in the US after receiving much praise in the UK.

In this Wee Chat we talk to Dr. Gwendolyn Mok, a world renowned pianist and current Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at San Jose State University School of Music and Dance.  She is a New York native who loves playing the piano and learning about their history as well.  Her passion for performing has rewarded and allowed her to perform on various stages around the world. In this chat she talks about the mental side of being a professional pianist and performer.  Gwen mentions how preparation is important to her along with her pre-performance routine which at times can include a pan! Listen to her also discuss the similarities and differences between athletes and musicians. Enjoy this Wee Chat with Gwendolyn Mok.

In this Wee Chat we talk to Steve Poltz, a Canadian born singer and songwriter.  We have all at one point or another probably heard one of his songs on TV or the radio as his songs have been amongst the longest running ever on the Billboard Top 100 and they regularly appear in movie soundtracks, television shows, and even the odd commercial. He talks to us backstage before a gig at Slim's in San Francisco about the mental side of being a professional musician.  He mentions how he prefers to have uncertainty rather than a set playlist for his shows and with no routines.  This transfers to his shows where the crowd, along with him, do not know what to expect; he only relies on what is in his control, which is the music. This is an excellent skill that we love working on with performers.  He makes each show unique in order to keep things spontaneous for himself and the audience.  Listen to how he credits his success to the positive thinking that was taught to him by his father, this is a great example for us interested in mental skills for performance. This Wee Chat was a lot of fun, so enjoy listening to Steve Poltz's brilliance and his many stories!

In this Wee Chat we talk to Sam Chase from The Sam Chase band fame. Sam is a San Francisco native who talks about how important the audience is for a performer and how they form a reciprocal relationship. He covers his views on how failure is not necessarily bad and is sometimes necessary in life. He also discusses how he prepares for his shows, which is a very interesting listen indeed! For fans of his music, we also asked him about his love of bones in his songs. So join us on this for this Wee Chat that took place in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. As mentioned on their website, "The Sam Chase has a voice like a Nun on the lam with a mouthful cigarettes and curse words in a lonely bar, drunkenly dancing next to a broken jukebox. His songs are scribbled, not written, on lipstick and sweat stained motel bedsheets because he likes the way the ink bleeds. His guitar runs on diesel and leaks like the morning after too much Whiskey. His is a show you'll probably want to tattoo on your body so everyone will know that you knew him before he was cool." Sam and his band hail from San Francisco, California Sam and his band, whom he lovingly refers to as The Untraditional, have been on this musical journey for many years now.  In 2012, came the release of their long awaited first studio album, THE SAM CHASE WILL LEAD US TO VICTORY. It took the group all across these United States and back to their home in the Bay Area. The album was a hit and fans came calling for new music. So the band dove head first into writing and preparing a new album. In late May of 2013 THE SAM CHASE WILL NEVER DIE was released.   Once again the band struck gold and produced a great album which was well received. As of the early hours of 2016, Sam and the band have gone back into the studio and laid down 13 brand new tracks.  The new album "Great White Noise" is out now http://thesamchase.bigcartel.com/product/the-sam-chase-the-untraditional-great-white-noise-cd  Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/sam-chase-singer/ for more information about Sam and his band.   

In this Wee Chat we talk to Jose Lambert, tennis coach at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.  Jose knows the IMG Academy pretty well due to being one of their players in his younger days.  Knowing the culture and expectations it takes to be a player for IMG has helped Jose bring that experience into his own coaching style.  He likes to "walk the walk" in order to serve as a role model for his players not just physically but mentally as well.  Jose recognizes the importance ​that ​visualization plays in coaching and can help prepare them for anything that may happen during the day. Lambert has been with the IMG Academy Bollettieri Tennis program for almost thirty-five years. First as a player and then as a coach, Lambert played a major role in the development of the tennis program at IMG Academy. He served as a traveling coach for Monica Seles,​ and​ Jim Courier. He has also worked with other tennis greats like Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova​ and currently does some coaching with Kei Nishikori. ​ Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/jose-lambert-tennis-coach/ for more information about Jose and his work as a​ top​ ​ ​ tennis coach. 

In this Wee Chat we talk to Catherine Arlidge, MBE. She is a violinist and presenter for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England. Since starting to play the violin at the age of 5 Catherine has gone on to achieve many accolades throughout her career. In January 2016 Catherine was awarded a prestigious MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list, for services to music education. In her career she has started various programs to help use music as an educational outlet, whilst also continuing to play for the CBSO.  In her Wee Chat she talks about what it is like to work with some of the best conductors in the world, like Sir Simon Rattle, the difference between striving to be a top performer as a violinist versus being a team player in the collective of an orchestra, being an ambassador for some of the greatest art known to us, she also touches on what her 3 Ps of preparation are and she talks about what she does to counter nerves before performing. She discusses the excitement that music brings to her and especially being able to convey that to young audiences in her teaching.

As the baseball season has just started again we talk in this Wee Chat to Neal Huntington, General Manager of the Major League baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Neal has been in this position since 2007 and has helped the organization became a force to be reckoned with in Major League Baseball (MLB). He gives us insight on the mental side of being a leader and the importance of balance in its many forms. Teams in the MLB are starting to realize the importance of the mental side of the game and Neal embodies resilience through his work as the GM and describes how he rides the waves. We also learn a little more about his family and his philosophy on being a good leader. Alison interviewed him at the end of a weekend Think Tank that she took part in at their training ground in Bradenton, Florida. So sit back and enjoy this Wee Chat over a cup of tea with the brilliant Neal Huntington. Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/neal-huntington-general-manager/ for more information about Neal and his work as a GM. 

In this Wee Chat, we talk to Dr. Mitch Abrams, who is a sport psychologist and national expert on anger management. His knowledge on anger management has led him to be sought after by many athletes, teams, and organizations to help provide more insight on this important topic and how to best to address it. Mitch is based in New Jersey where he works as a Clinician Administrator for University Correctional Health Care, which is part of Rutgers University.  In this role he oversees mental health services for five of the state prisons in New Jersey and coordinates the forensic track for pre-doctoral internships. His other focus is his private sport psychology practice which he has established for more than 20 years now.  This interview took place on the JFK University campus in Pleasant Hill, California, right after he gave a day workshop to the Master's students in Sport Psychology. So enjoy this Wee Chat over a cup of tea with the brilliant Mitch Abrams and check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/mitch-abrams-sport-psychologist/ for more information about Dr Abrams. 

In this Wee Chat, we talk to The Brothers Comatose, a "Fun folk/bluegrass/Americana rowdy string band with a party vibe" (their own description of themselves!). This is our first interview with a whole band (and the 18 month old Charlie helped out) and what fun it was! Over a cup of tea and some British biscuits, they talked about their secret to traveling together and still getting on, the difference between performing in small bars and bigger venues, what they do to warm up, the role of alcohol in performance, and how they get their game face on! Enjoy this Wee Chat with the brilliant and exciting Brothers Comatose.

In this Wee Chat, which took place backstage at the great Philharmonic Hall of Liverpool, Alison talks to Mike Seal, who is an Associate Conductor for the CBSO (the prestigious City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra), and he also conducts for other top orchestras.

In this Wee Chat Ruby Biloskirka-Conley talks about her training from a young age as a classical pianist and how her life has changed since becoming a touring musician with shows such as American Idol, The Voice and Disney, and now she works as the Social Media Curator and Artist Relation manager at Roland Corporation. In this Wee Chat she describes what life is like on the road and how having a professional attitude around all aspects of preparation is the key to success. She gives top tips on how to focus and what to do when nervous before performing. She talks about having a healthy and positive mindset for a sustainable career in the music business. If you would like to learn more about Ruby's background, check out WeeChats.com for more information. Enjoy this Wee Chat over a cup of tea and some shortbread with Ruby Biloskirka-Conley. 

In this Wee Chat retired Lieutenant Commander Navy SEAL, Brian "Iron Ed" Hiner, talks about his life as a Navy SEAL, as a leader of SEAL basic and advanced training and how the principles he learned in this environment helped him be resilient and a leader. He is passionate about helping others and now offers up this vast experience base as a coach and consultant specializing in leadership, team building, mental toughness, resiliency and personal conflict resolution. His book First, Fast, Fearless: How to Lead Like a Navy SEAL is currently on the LA Times bestseller and describes not only what Navy SEALs go through in training, and during deployment, it also goes through how we can learn from these experiences for resilience and leadership. Enjoy this Wee Chat with this inspiring man. 

For those of you who are interested in elite rugby and/or learning more about pre-performance routines, in this Wee Chat J.J. Hanrahan describes in great detail what he uses for his kicking routine and how mental preparation and working with a sport psychologist has worked for him. J.J. has played successfully for Munster in Ireland for several years and in 2015 was signed to play for the top English club, Northampton Saints. Check out this Wee Chat and his great Irish accent while we drink tea in Limerick University in Ireland.

In this Wee Chat, I ask top tennis coach and analyst Brad Gilbert about the mental aspects of tennis, he also talks about how his 'Winning Ugly' book came about, what he thinks about preparation for big events and matches and how he has got players like Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray ready to face "every other day" at a grand slam event. He even talks about one of his pet peeves which is the attitude of the English to sports and he gives his thoughts on English football (soccer)! He finishes with a nod to his beloved Golden State Warriors who recently won the NBA title.  This was one of the most fun interviews to do, not just because of my love of tennis but also because of the antics of his dogs having much fun in the background! 

Dick Gould was the Men's Tennis Coach at Stanford University for 38 years from 1966–2004. His Stanford men's tennis teams won 17 NCAA Men's Tennis Championships, and 50 of his players won All-American honors. He was named the ITA-Wilson "Coach of the Decade" both for the 1980s and the 1990s. Players he has coached at Stanford include John McEnroe and Bob and Mike Bryan. In part 1 of this Wee Chat, Dick Gould (the Stanford University tennis coaching legend) talks about his background in tennis coaching, how he learned to be a great coach and how sport psychology can help tennis players and business people.  

Dick Gould was the Men's Tennis Coach at Stanford University for 38 years from 1966–2004. His Stanford men's tennis teams won 17 NCAA Men's Tennis Championships, and 50 of his players won All-American honors. He was named the ITA-Wilson "Coach of the Decade" both for the 1980s and the 1990s. Players he has coached at Stanford include John McEnroe and Bob and Mike Bryan. In part 2 of this Wee Chat, Dick Gould talks about how working with the players at Stanford was interesting because they were so different to each other. He talks about how he perceives the difference with those players who went on to be some of the best in the world, like John McEnroe and the Bryan brothers. As a Brit myself, I also asked him what he thinks about Andy Murray's game!  

Paul is a former top collegiate player for Stanford and went on to have an impressive pro career in tennis. He is now the Taube Family Director of the Men’s tennis team at Stanford University in California.  In this Wee Chat, Paul describes what mental preparation is to him, the mental training strategies he used as a player and what he wishes he used more as a player. He describes how he has now adapted to the intense world of being Head Coach of a top college tennis team after life on the pro tour and working in the corporate world. He gives advice for budding coaches. 

In this Wee Chat, the fabulous Tess Henley, singer-songwriter, describes her vibe, how much of her performances are mental games and how she mentally prepares for concerts; how she deals with nerves, how she focuses, plus the importance of social support in her life, and what soul really means to her.

Wayne Ferreira was ranked in the ATP’s top 15 tennis players of the world for over ten years with a highest ranking of six. He has multiple wins over Roger Federer (one of few players with a positive record against Roger), Pete Sampras, and John McEnroe; 26 career single titles; and a silver medal for South Africa from the Olympic Games in Barcelona.

In this Wee Chat, NBA veteran, Community Ambassador for the 2015 NBA champions Golden State Warriors and author Adonal Foyle, talks about the importance of mental training and the strategies he used as a player and now teaches as a consultant.

In this new episode of Wee Chats, it features Dr Barry Cripps, Alison's mentor. Here Barry discusses key aspects of mental preparation for success. As always, learn from the best in this Wee Chat.

In this new episode of Wee Chats, it features Chris McLachlin, renowned HS volleyball and basketball coach from HI and Stanford. Chris (or CMac) is well known as the High School basketball Coach for President Obama. Listen to hear about the mental aspects of the game that CMac thinks is important and to hear what he thinks the president has used later in life.

In this installment of Wee Chats with Brilliant People, David Choi, musician and songwriter, talks to Alison about what he does to prepare before a concert. This particular episode was recorded backstage about an hour before he performed in San Francisco in April 2015. He talks about mental strategies he uses, how an analytical mind can get in the way and how important his social support is. He reveals a couple of secrets even his die-hard fans don't even know about him!

In this final installment from the very first Wee Chat interview in 2011, Lesley Paterson, XTERRA off-road world champion talks about what life was like after winning the World Championship for the first time. She also gives advice for people who have achieved something big and how to move onto the next challenge. 

Wee Chat with Lesley Paterson, focusing on what happened during her first world champion win.

Part 2 of interview with Jeff Greenwald focuses more on his experiences as a top tennis player and what happened when he won ITF Senior World Championships. He talks about what strategies he used and how he kept his confidence high.

Jeff Greenwald is an internationally recognized sport psychology consultant, author and licensed therapist specializing in mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy. He has also been a world-ranked competitive tennis player. Jeff was ranked #1 in the world by the ITF in the men's 35 age division and #1 in the U.S. in singles and doubles by the USTA in 2002. He is the author of both Fearless Tennis and The Best Tennis of Your Life. Jeff has been an adjunct faculty member and supervisor at JFKU for graduate students in the sport psychology program. He earned his B.A. at the University of California at Santa Barbara and his Master's Degree in clinical psychology with a specialization in sport psychology from John F. Kennedy University. Jeff has been a guest speaker for numerous sports organizations and a consultant for the United States Tennis Association. He lives with his wife and two children in Marin County, in northern California. You can learn more about Jeff’s work at: www.jeffhgreenwald.com

Serge Gay Jr. is a Grammy nominaed visual artist.  Serge shares  - some of his mental processes as an artist - when his best mental process occurs and where his flow of ideas come from - thoughts on how to still do good art when not feeling great. - his advice to budding artists

In this Wee Chat, we interview with Chief Executive of the Lawn Tennis Association Roger Draper In this interview, you will learn how to prepare for a presentation and other big events how to perform under pressure and other conditions tips on how to be successful in business This interview was recorded on April 2012  

In this Wee Chat, we introduce Lesley Paterson. She is a Scottish triathlete who has won the XTERRA Triathlon World Championships. Why she is a triathlete and how it overcame her troubled  Her experience with kinaesethetic awareness How she achieves high performance on a bad day How she uses associative and dissociative strategies as an athlete