Episode Overview

In this episode, Sam sits down with performance and leadership coach Dan Haesler to explore how psychological skills used by elite athletes and teams can be adapted for firefighters, teachers and other high-pressure professions.

Dan traces his journey from a rugby-mad kid in the UK, to PE teacher, to leading work in positive psychology in NSW schools, to now working with NRL premiership teams, Olympians, and corporate leaders. Along the way he unpacks practical mental skills, leadership frameworks, and real stories from the Penrith Panthers, Samoa’s national team, and Jess Fox that map directly onto the realities of the fireground.

• 00:15 – Intro: Why mental skills for firefighters
• 01:14 – Meet Dan Haesler & his journey
• 09:52 – “Play Fearless” explained
• 13:40 – Mental toughness vs mental flexibility
• 20:47 – Living intentionally vs autopilot
• 29:39 – Inside the Penrith Panthers environment
• 40:53 – Imagery & mental rehearsal in action
• 55:48 – Jess Fox & reframing pressure: “I deserve to do my best”
• 1:03:38 – The Red–Blue Tool (red brain, blue brain, purple state)
• 1:06:33 – Recommended resources & closing thoughts

Resources & References Mentioned

Books

• The Act of Leadership: A Playbook for Leading with Humility, Clarity and Purpose – Dan Haesler
• Perform Under Pressure – Dr Ceri Evans (Red–Blue mind model)
• The Performance Paradox: How to Learn and Grow Without Compromising Results – Eduardo Briceño
• The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin

Podcasts

• Play Fearless Podcast – hosted by Dan Haesler
• Choiceology – hosted by Katy Milkman (behavioural economics & decision-making)
• The Sport Psych Show – hosted by Dan Abrahams (sports psych research & practice)

People & Ideas

• Martin Seligman – Positive psychology / wellbeing science.
• Carol Dweck – Growth mindset.
• Kerry/Ceri Evans – Red–Blue mind model (Perform Under Pressure).
• Eduardo Briceño – Performance vs Learning Zone, The Performance Paradox.

Tonga vs Samoa Nov 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNYffYrNhZM

Jess Fox - "I deserve to do my best!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hsw6Vn-zN0