NO BS Podcast | Hyrox Training and Peak Performance Tips
The NO BS Performance Podcast, hosted by coach Brian Stokes, focuses on performance coaching and resilience strategies. It features conversations with elite athletes and experts, sharing real stories and practical advice on training and physical fitness. The show emphasizes endurance, HYROX, and hybrid training, with a no-nonsense approach to improving mindset and performance.
Episodes
Ep:36 - When Success Becomes a Trap | Mental Resilience for Business Owners | Peter Boolkah
Peak performance and mental resilience can help you succeed—but can also keep you stuck. Business coach Peter Boolkah joins Brian to unpack the Hamster Wheel Trap: when discipline, hard work and taking responsibility make a business depend entirely on its owner. Drawing on more than 20 years of coaching and his book, 'Your Business Sucks', Peter explains how high performers can build a bus
Ep:35 - “Do It Again” — The Old-School Secret to Strength & Mental Toughness | Jake Shannon
What does it actually take to become physically and mentally tough and have modern athletes overcomplicated performance?In this episode of the NO BS Performance Podcast, Brian sits down with Jake Shannon, founder of Scientific Wrestling, creator of the Macebell and long-time student of legendary British Catch Wrestling coach Billy Robinson.Jake shares the old-school lessons that shaped his approac
Ep:34 - Performance Under Pressure | The Cascade Effect of Elite Athlete Mistakes | Silvia Rizzo
Why do capable people make catastrophic mistakes under pressure and why does one error snowball into several? In this episode of the NO BS Performance Podcast, Brian Stokes sits down with international Grand Prix dressage rider Silvia Rizzo to explore the psychological cascade that derails elite athletes when pressure rises. Drawing on Silvia's elite sport experience and Brian's background
Ep: 33 - Performing When Tired | Elite Athlete Mindset Beyond Excuses
What does elite athlete mindset actually look like when you're tired, under pressure, and things aren't going your way? Former professional cricketer and high-performance coach Jim Allenby joins Brian on the NO BS Performance Podcast for a straight-talking conversation about what separates talented people from those who can perform consistently at the highest level. After 15+ years and 400 profess
Ep:32 - You Don't Rise to the Occasion - You Fall to Your Training | Elite Performance | Jamie Elizondo
How do elite athletes perform under pressure when fatigue, doubt and discomfort kick in? Grey Cup-winning coach, Jaime Elizondo joins Brian to explore mental toughness, resilience, confidence and the preparation required to perform when it really matters.Drawing on 25 years in professional and college football, Jaime explains why motivation isn't enough, how to train decision-making under pres
Ep:31 - Hard Work Isn't Enough | Peak Performance Through Discipline | Jeff Lazaros
What separates elite performers from hardworking burnouts? Alan Lazaros, Founder of Next Level University, learned the hard way: after a near-fatal car accident forced him to rebuild, he discovered that discipline, not motivation is what drives real results. In this episode, Brian and Alan unpack the mental toughness strategies, peak performance mindset shifts, and the systems that separate people
Ep:30 - Neurodiversity as Competitive Advantage | Human Performance Redefined | Ania Hulsman
Performance coaching for neurodivergent athletes often gets overlooked, but ADHD can be a massive advantage in human performance. In this episode, Ania Hulsman reveals how elite athletes with ADHD leverage their unique neurology for peak performance in endurance sports and HYROX. Discover the training strategies, mental resilience tactics, and performance coaching breakthroughs that transform ADHD
Ep:29 - When Mindset Isn't Enough | Rewiring Performance Patterns with Kristin Rivas
Mindset and mental resilience are non-negotiable for elite athletes, until they work against you. In this episode, Brian explores how high performers' disciplined mindset can trap them in stress patterns, and why nervous system regulation is the missing piece most performance coaches ignore. Kristin Rivas, a brain-based hypnotherapist and TEDx speaker, shares her breakdown-to-breakthrough story: l
Ep:28 - Peak Performance Under Pressure | Mental Resilience from Boxing to HYROX | Bruce Babashan
Mental toughness and peak performance separate elite athletes from the rest, especially under pressure. Olympic boxing coach Bruce Babashan shares the exact mental resilience framework he uses to prepare fighters for split-second decisions in the ring. Learn how to rewire your mindset for race day, manage fatigue-driven breakdowns at the wall ball station, and execute when it matters most, whether
Ep:27 - From 73 Surgeries to Elite Mindset | Jay Setchell's Unbreakable Mental Toughness
Mental toughness and elite mindset aren't built overnight—they're forged through systems. At 76, former US Marine Jay Setchell has survived three deaths, 73+ surgeries, paralysis, and traumatic brain injury. Yet he leads businesses, raises adopted twins, and inspires thousands. In this episode, we uncover the mental resilience framework and Marine Corps discipline that let him rebuild his identity
Ep:26 - The Addiction Nobody Talks About | When Discipline Becomes Self-Destruction
In this episode of the No BS Performance Podcast, Brian discusses the fine line between discipline and obsession in fitness. He reflects on his personal journey with exercise addiction, the impact of AFib on his training, and the importance of recovery. Brian emphasises the need for athletes to listen to their bodies and redefine what success means in their training routines.
Ep:25 - 7 Performance Principles That Shape Winning Athletes | Discipline & Mindset
What separates high performers from everyone else?After 25 episodes of conversations with Royal Marines, elite athletes, coaches and everyday people pushing their limits, I've realised that success almost always comes back to the same core principles.In this milestone solo episode, I share the seven performance principles that have shaped my coaching philosophy through over 30 years of military se
Ep:24 - Mental Toughness Strategy | Former Royal Marine Pete Leahy on Resilience
Most athletes quit mentally long before their bodies reach their limit. In this episode, mental resilience expert and former Royal Marine Pete Leahy shares the exact psychological triggers that make elite performers push through pain, pressure, and doubt and the practical strategies you can use to recognise when your mind is giving up and how to override it. Learn how to build the peak performance
Ep:23 - Why You're Closer Than You Think | The Perseverance Mindset
Most people quit their biggest goals just before the breakthrough. In this episode, Brian explores the perseverance mindset that separates elite athletes from the rest, why the middle of any journey (HYROX training, business, relationships) is where dreams die, and the one mental resilience shift that changes everything. Real stories from high performers who almost quit, and exactly why you're pro
Ep:22 - Motivation Isn't Enough | The Mental Toughness Strategy That Actually Works
Motivation is the lie holding you back from peak performance. In this episode, Brian Stokes breaks down the mental toughness strategies elite athletes and military performers use instead, diving into why discipline, systems, and mental resilience beat inspiration every single time. Discover the framework that separates serious HYROX racers from casual dreamers and unlock the real secret to sustain
Ep:21 - The Outcome Trap | Why Parents Sabotage Young Athletes' Growth
Parents often sabotage young athletes by chasing outcomes instead of fostering passion. In this episode, Brian explores the biggest kids fitness mistake and how elite athlete parents actually think about development, resilience, and long-term performance. Real strategies to build mentally tough, joy-focused competitors.
Ep:20 - Life Lessons From HYROX | Recovery, Community & Mindset at 54
At 54, Brian Stokes competed at the HYROX World Championships and learned more about life than performance. In this episode, Brian reflects on HYROX training, recovery strategies, and the elite athlete mindset that matter most, why health beats competition, why community amplifies resilience, and why comparison is the thief of joy. Discover the mental toughness framework that separates sustainable
Ep:19 - Recovery Weeks Done Right | Endurance Training for Long-Term Performance
Recovery and endurance sports training aren't passive, they're strategic. After a Triathlon, HYROX or endurance event, your recovery week determines whether you adapt stronger or regress. Brian Stokes walks through the exact training strategies elite athletes use: active recovery pacing, when to avoid intensity, how to manage fatigue without losing fitness, and structuring your return to training
Ep:18 - Junior HYROX | Is Functional Fitness Training Safe for Kids?
Junior HYROX | Is it actually good for kids? We cut through the hype on functional fitness training for young athletes. Brian Stokes breaks down whether HYROX training is developmentally appropriate, what coaches and parents need to know, and how to safely introduce hybrid training to kids without burning them out. Real talk on kids fitness from a former Royal Marines Commando.
Ep:17 - Peak Performance Under Pressure | Military Mindset & Elite Athlete Resilience | JD Tremblay
Peak performance under pressure isn't about toughness alone. In this episode, JD Tremblay reveals what extreme endurance and military environments teach us about resilience under pressure, recovery mistakes, and elite athlete mindset. Discover why high performers crumble, the line between discipline and self-destruction, and what sustainable peak performance actually looks like, no BS.
Ep:16 - Mastering The Grind | How Boring Training Strategies Build Peak Performance
Elite athletes aren't built on flashy workouts, they're built on the boring stuff. In this episode, Brian Stokes breaks down why mastering training strategies and consistent fundamentals separate peak performers from the rest. Drawing on his military commando background, discover the unglamorous discipline, periodisation, and daily habits that create true elite athletic resilience. If you're chasi
Ep:15 - Mental Toughness Under Pressure | Why High Performers Thrive
Mental toughness and resilience under pressure are what separate good athletes from elite performers. In this episode, Brian reveals why pressure actually unlocks human potential and why most modern training environments remove it completely. Drawing on his military background, racing experience, and coaching insights, discover how controlled adversity builds the mental resilience you need to exce
Ep:14 - Functional Fitness For Kids | Why Traditional Programs Fall Short
Most kids' fitness programs miss the mark, they're disconnected from real performance. In this episode, Brian Stokes breaks down why traditional youth fitness fails and reveals the functional fitness methodology that builds genuine athletic resilience, endurance athlete mindset, and physical fitness that actually transfers to life. If you're coaching young athletes or want to understand what peak
Ep:13 - The Community Effect in HYROX Training | Athlete Mindset Unlocked
Why do athletes push harder in HYROX training than they ever do alone? This episode explores the real science behind group fitness accountability, structure, and community and how hybrid training environments unlock peak performance. Brian sits down to unpack the HYROX community effect, drawing on functional fitness training principles, military unit cohesion lessons, and athlete mindset research
Ep:12 - Recovery, Resilience & Elite Performance | Jaco van Gass Part 2
In this second part, Brian continues the conversation with Jaco van Gass, diving into the journey of rebuilding after life-changing injury and what it really takes to reach the top of elite sport.Jaco shares how he adapted both physically and mentally in the early stages of recovery, and how sport became a vehicle for purpose and progression. From exploring different pathways in adaptive sport to
Ep:11 - When Everything Changes | Military Mindset & Human Performance (Jaco van Gass)
In this powerful first part, Brian sits down with Paralympic gold medallist and former Paratrooper Jaco van Gass to explore the early stages of his journey, from military life to the life-changing moment in Afghanistan that altered everything.Jaco shares his path into the Paras, the mindset required for military service, and the reality of deployment. He then opens up about the day of the IED expl
Ep:10 - When Your Heart Fails Mid-Race | Resilience & Smart Training Calls
In this solo episode of the No BS Performance Podcast, I break down a real moment from racing where something didn’t feel right and why it turned out to be more serious than just fatigue.Mid-race, my heart lost rhythm. Not just high effort… but completely out of sync.This episode is a straight-talking look at:What AFib actually is (without the medical jargon)How it felt in the middle of a raceThe
Ep:9 From Rowing to HYROX: Training Strategies for Extreme Endurance | Mike Ellicock
Most people wouldn’t even attempt rowing around the UK.Mike Ellicock did it.In this episode, we break down what it really takes to push through extreme endurance challenges, from rowing around Britain to chasing marathon records and now stepping into HYROX.This is a conversation about real performance, not theory.We get into mindset, resilience, fuelling, and what separates those who keep going fr
Ep:8 - From Royal Marines to Olympic Bobsleigh: Elite Performance with Lee Johnston
Lee Johnston built his elite performance foundation as a Royal Marines Commando, then proved it works across three Olympic Games and 12 British bobsleigh championships. Now coaching international teams, he reveals exactly how military discipline, long-term consistency, and pressure protocols create world-class athletes. In this episode, we unpack the systems behind peak performance, from how top c
Ep:7 - Building Resilience After Combat | Dan Holder's PTSD to Peak Performance
One of the most powerful conversations I’ve had, this one goes deep.Royal Marines commando Dan Holder reveals how military performance discipline, PTSD recovery, and extreme endurance sports converge to unlock elite athlete mindset. In this raw conversation, discover the unexpected link between combat resilience and peak performance—and how redefining your limits changes everything. Real strategi
Ep:6 - VO2 Max & Zone 2 Training | Why Your Aerobic Engine Matters More Than You Think
Most endurance athletes overlook a crucial factor that can unlock their full potential, yet many get it wrong by overtraining or neglecting personalised data that could prevent burnout. In this episode, I break down simple, evidence-based strategies to optimise your aerobic engine, improve recovery, and avoid the danger of overtraining, all without overcomplicating your routine.Discover why VO2 ma
Ep:5 - Hormonal Cycles & Strength Endurance | Women's Peak Performance Coaching | Sarah Killeen
Women over 35 don't need to accept performance plateaus, they need smart adaptation. In this episode, Brian Stokes talks with women's strength and fat loss coach Sarah Killeen about how hormonal cycles, aging, and lifestyle factors influence peak performance for female athletes. Sarah breaks down practical strength training techniques, recovery optimization, and resilience strategies that actually
Ep:4 - Training Strategies Gone Wrong: RED-S, HA & Recovery with Abi Oakman
In this episode of the No BS Performance Podcast, Brian Stokes sits down with Abby Oakman to talk about Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA).Abi shares her personal journey, from pushing hard in training to realising something wasn’t right. She opens up about the warning signs, the physical and psychological impact of low energy availability, and
Ep:3 - Race Setbacks and Resilience | Emotional Recovery Strategies
Brian Stokes breaks down how elite athletes handle race disappointments without spiraling or ignoring lessons. In this NO BS conversation, learn the emotional management framework, performance analysis checklist, and structured training approach that separates resilience from denial, so setbacks become fuel instead of roadblocks.
Ep:2 - Royal Marines Mindset | Military Performance & Resilience with Wayne Sanderson
In this episode I’m joined by Wayne Sanderson - SandoWe talk about training, mindset and performing when it matters, whether that’s in sport, work or everyday life.Expect a relaxed conversation covering background, lessons learned and what actually works when it comes to staying strong, capable and consistent.If you enjoy the episode, share it with someone who trains properly and follow the podcas
Ep:1 - NO BS Performance | Building Elite Athlete Mindset From Day One
No BS performance, training and mindset.Performance coaching from someone who's actually been tested.** Hosted by Brian Stokes, former Royal Marines Commando and HYROX competitor, this is the podcast for people serious about resilience, endurance athlete mindset, and peak performance. No sponsored nonsense. No gimmicks. Just honest conversations with elite athletes, coaches, and high performers fr
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