Focus Freedom Flow Podcast

From anxiety, fear and pressure… to mindfulness, flow and self-belief.In this conversation, Adrien Plavsic opens up about his journey through elite hockey, mental struggles, identity, meditation, retirement and what it truly means to become a warrior — on and off the ice.Former NHL player and Olympic silver medalist, Adrien shares how years of deep inner work taught him something no arena ever could: life is already enough, exactly as it is.For years, he chased freedom through performance, achievement and success — only to discover that what he was truly looking for was never outside of himself.Today, as a father, coach, speaker and entrepreneur, he brings everything he has lived through — the highs, the pressure, the anxiety, the awakening — into the work he does with athletes. Not simply to help them become better players. But to help them become more fully themselves.A deep conversation about the inner game behind performance, the relationship with fear, the search for meaning, mindfulness and what it means to live and compete with presence.⏱️ Timeline :00:00:00 — Introduction00:01:47 — How Plavsic’s youth shaped him00:04:00 — His struggle and coping with anxiety00:05:40 — How fear is conditioned and how it diminishes happiness00:07:35 — His college years and being drafted at 1800:10:48 — His growth from Canada to the USA00:13:20 — His pro experience and “stepping in the arena”00:16:13 — Managing the ego while switching leagues00:18:55 — The inner game: sensitivity, emotions and meditation00:21:03 — His advice to young athletes00:21:45 — How to go through the storm00:28:34 — Axel shares how he faces his fears00:31:08 — How to shift focus when stuck in emotions00:33:10 — “Fake it until you make it” — awakening the warrior within00:35:20 — What is a pro mentality?00:37:15 — Finding flow and learning to trust yourself00:41:27 — What is mindfulness?00:45:20 — Self 1 vs Self 200:46:00 — How to stay mentally hungry00:50:10 — Are elite athletes crazy?00:51:10 — The importance of our relationship with the unknown00:51:50 — How to keep believing in ourselves00:54:00 — Plavsic’s transition to Europe01:00:30 — The power of mantras01:02:25 — Plavsic’s transition into retirement01:08:05 — The importance of connection and solitude01:12:50 — How do you want to be remembered?01:13:40 — The power of mindfulnessMore on Adrien : 🌐 Adrien’s website : https://adrienplavsic.com/💼 Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienplavsic/📸 Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/adrienplavsic/🎙️ Focus Freedom & Flow is an academy helping athletes explore performance, mindfulness, and mental development. 🌐 https://www.focus-freedom-flow.ch/ 💪 Want to build a consistent mental training routine with other athletes? Join us in the Mental Training Lab : https://www.skool.com/focus-freedom-and-flow-7254/about 🚀 Connect with us: 🎧 Previous episodes: https://www.focus-freedom-flow.ch/podcast 📩 Newsletter : https://www.focus-freedom-flow.ch/ ▶️ YouTube: / @focusfreedomflow 👉 Subscribe for more content on mental training, sports psychology, focus, breathing, visualization, mindset, and sustainable performance. #MentalTraining #Mindset #Mindfulness #Performance #SportsPsychology #AthleteMindset #MentalPerformance #PeakPerformance #Meditation #Breathwork #EmotionalIntelligence #MentalHealth #Podcast #FocusFreedomFlow

We’re thrilled to share this powerful episode of the Focus Freedom & Flow Podcast with Coach D Williams.Join us for a deep and eye-opening conversation on mental training and mental hygiene. Coach D, Axel, and Jackson openly share their experiences, insights, and transformations.In this episode, you’ll discover:• Why mental training is essential for performance and well-being • What “mental hygiene” really means • How to start and implement a consistent practice • The challenges athletes face when developing their mental game • The powerful benefits of mindfulness and emotional awareness

✨ Plus, Coach D guides us through her signature 533 meditation practice live in the episode.Coach D, a Brooklyn native also known as “The Mental Hygienist,” is on a mission to transform how we approach youth mental health. She works closely with coaches and youth leaders, empowering them with tools and education around mental hygiene. As the founder of Get Fit Fly Right, she combines mindfulness, CBT, and breathwork practices to support both performance and emotional intelligence development.Since 2020, GFFR has:• Trained over 500 youth leaders in TAP mental hygiene• Supported more than 2,000 young people• Delivered 500+ workshops in meditation, Athletic Yoga, and TAPOver the past three years, Coach D has also been featured as a guest speaker at events with the NBA, Jr. NBA, and the NYC Department of Education.⏱️ Timeline00:00:00 – Intro00:01:38 – Coach D’s Journey00:09:11 – What do young people need most today?00:10:40 – Coach D’s mission and method00:20:40 – The importance of “stopping” and mindfulness00:26:00 – Transformations Coach D has witnessed00:31:40 – The importance of vulnerability and emotions00:37:20 – A powerful transformation story00:43:55 – Why mental skills are still overlooked00:47:04 – Axel’s experience with meditation00:50:45 – The fear of being “soft”00:56:15 – How to start mental hygiene01:01:25 – Guided 533 Meditation01:08:55 – How athletes can implement this01:14:47 – Just breathe01:16:30 – Final words01:17:40 – “Just Breathe” video✨ More on Coach D Williams:Website : https://www.getfitflyright.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/getfitflyright/Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachdgetfitflyright/🧘‍♀️ Watch the beautiful “Just Breathe” video showcasing her work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_Rbv8pkFAA🎙️ Focus Freedom & Flow is an academy helping athletes explore performance, mindfulness, and mental development.https://www.focus-freedom-flow.ch/💪 Want to build a consistent mental training routine with other athletes? Join us in the Mental Training Lab.https://www.skool.com/focus-freedom-and-flow-7254/about🚀 Connect with us:Previous episodes: https://www.focus-freedom-flow.ch/podcastNewsletter : https://www.focus-freedom-flow.ch/YouTube: / @focusfreedomflow👉 Subscribe for more content on mental training, sports psychology, focus, breathing, visualization, mindset, and sustainable performance.#MentalTraining #Mindset #Mindfulness #Performance #SportsPsychology #AthleteMindset #MentalPerformance #PeakPerformance #Meditation #Breathwork #EmotionalIntelligence #MentalHealth #Podcast #FocusFreedomFlow #CoachDWilliams

Dans cet épisode du Focus Freedom & Flow Podcast, nous recevons Maï Houlmann, ancienne danseuse professionnelle.

Elle nous partage avec beaucoup d’authenticité et de clarté son parcours, marqué par une immersion très jeune dans le monde exigeant du haut niveau et des environnements professionnels.

Elle revient sur les défis, les pressions et les réalités souvent invisibles du monde de l’élite.

Maï explique également comment la méditation est devenue aujourd’hui un pilier essentiel de son bien-être et de son équilibre personnel.

Un épisode inspirant et nécessaire pour toutes les personnes intéressées par le sport d’élite, la gestion de la pression, et l’importance de prendre soin de son mental — un élément encore trop souvent sous-estimé, pourtant central dans la performance durable.

🔗 En savoir plus sur Maï Houlmann : 

Instagram : www.instagram.com/mai_trainer_

Linkedin : linkedin.com/in/maï-h-2303b4a1

Site Web : https://www.mai-houlmann.com

🌿 Son application BreathePilot :
Respirez mieux, une minute à la fois.

Le travail sur écran tend à rendre la respiration superficielle et à maintenir une tension constante. BreathePilot vous aide à retrouver un rythme plus calme grâce à des rappels subtils et des sessions guidées intégrées à votre journée — sans perturber votre quotidien.

👉 https://www.breathepilot.com

⏱️ Timeline :

00:00 – Introduction00:46 – Son parcours de danseuse06:45 – Concours d’entrée au Ballet Béjart09:00 – Le passage à l’équipe professionnelle10:35 – La réalité du monde pro12:30 – L’entraînement mental était-il présent ?15:50 – Le rôle du mental au Béjart17:00 – L’arrivée de la méditation18:55 – Les débuts dans le yoga et la méditation21:00 – Le flow et la précision dans la danse27:40 – Transformer l’échec en apprentissage33:55 – L’injustice et la prise de recul37:10 – Comment mieux vivre la pression39:00 – Son expérience à l’étranger40:55 – La fin d’un rêve, un nouveau départ44:40 – Construire une nouvelle identité47:50 – Se connaître et trouver la paix51:55 – La méditation au quotidien55:30 – Pourquoi la méditation est sous-estimée dans le sport56:50 – La pleine conscience en mouvement59:50 – Message à la Maï de 17 ans

What truly helps athletes grow — not only as performers, but as human beings?

Charles is the first Mental Performance Coach at @Morgan State University in Baltimore, where he works with the women’s basketball team. He is on a mission to help athletes develop not only the mindset to perform under pressure, but also the awareness, values, and purpose that allow them to thrive in sport and in life.

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, he shares:


• The power of being authentically yourself in sport


• Key insights about the elite mindset


• Practical mental techniques athletes can use under pressure


• The importance of values, purpose, and connection in performance


• Why mental training is essential for athletes, coaches, and parents

If, like us, you believe that mental health and mental training deserve a bigger place in sports, we hope this conversation contributes — even in a small way — to that movement.

🙏 Feel free to share this episode with athletes, coaches, parents, and anyone passionate about performance and human growth.

🎧 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FocusFreedomFlow

Connect With Charles on LinkedIn :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-bell-m-s-433615162/

Instagram Coach Charles (@tapin.cb) •

https://www.instagram.com/tapin.cb/

Website:

https://athletesuntapped.com/coach-profile/charles-b

Dans cet épisode du Focus Freedom & Flow Podcast, nous recevons Anne-Rita Bertschy, psychologue du sport, ancienne sportive d’élite en équitation et spécialiste de la préparation mentale des athlètes.Un épisode essentiel pour les athlètes, coachs, parents de jeunes sportifs et professionnels de la performance.Anne Rita accompagne des sportifs de tous niveaux en cabinet à Lausanne et en suivi individuel ou collectif. Son approche combine psychologie du sport, entraînement mental, respiration, visualisation et travail avec les chevaux.

In this episode of the Focus Freedom & Flow Podcast, we sit down with former NBA and MLB performance coach Mike Franco to explore how professional sports organizations incorporate mental training into their daily environment.Mike has worked with elite organizations such as the Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, and Texas Rangers, helping athletes and coaches build identity, routines, leadership, and resilience under pressure.This conversation goes beyond hype and motivation. We explore presence, team culture, leadership, and the simple systems that help athletes show up consistently — even when the stakes are high.Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or leader, you’ll find practical insights to bring more clarity, resilience, and intention into your own performance journey.🎯 What you’ll learn in this episode:• How mental training is implemented inside NBA & MLB organizations• Why identity and daily systems matter more than motivation• How elite athletes define “how they show up”• The role of mindfulness and presence in high performance• Supporting individuals while building strong team culture⏱ Podcast Timeline01:30 – Who is Mike Franco, and how did you get into performance coaching?04:25 – The books that shaped your thinking05:15 – First impressions joining the Dallas Mavericks07:05 – What was expected when arriving in Dallas09:20 – Why trust is everything in professional sports10:00 – The biggest early challenge with the Mavericks11:38 – How Mike’s role evolved across the Mavericks, Rangers & Magic15:20 – The most important mental skills for pro athletes17:43 – The systems and routines elite players rely on20:20 – How NBA players choose how they show up daily23:00 – Aligning with a head coach’s vision26:55 – Working with the Orlando Magic staff29:30 – How coaches can manage pressure33:00 – Integrating mental skills without adding to a full schedule37:00 – Teaching mindfulness to an entire team37:50 – Evaluating mindset during the draft process42:30 – Why some top draft picks don’t pan out44:25 – The pressure of Game 7 and preparation47:07 – Handling doubt at the highest level48:40 – What makes Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Dončić truly great50:25 – One thing people misunderstand about mental training51:55 – Do all professional athletes train their minds?52:45 – Final thoughts56:00 – Is psychology the next frontier in sports performance?57:00 – Where to learn more about Mike’s work🎙️ Focus Freedom & Flow is a podcast exploring mental training, mindfulness, and performance through honest conversations with athletes, coaches, and leaders who want to grow — on and off the field.Thank you for being part of this journey.If this resonates with you, subscribing is one of the simplest ways to support the work we share here.🤝 Connect with Mike Franco Stay Locked In Crash Course: https://mikefrancocoaching.kit.comMike’s website: https://mikefrancocoaching.com/Mike’s LinkedIn:   / mfranco-coach   🚀 Connect with us and Focus Freedom & FlowPrevious episodes: https://www.focus-freedom-flow.ch/pod...Subscribe to our newsletter: www.focus-freedom-flow.chJackson’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jackson-ferguson-3353162a4Axel’s LinkedIn:   / axel-louissaint  

Dans cet épisode du Focus Freedom Flow Podcast, nous accueillons Yoan Granvorka, joueur professionnel de basketball. Son parcours — de la Suisse à la France, jusqu’aux try-outs avec les Phoenix Suns en NBA — montre à quel point l’entraînement mental est devenu essentiel pour réussir dans le sport de haut niveau.

À 28 ans, Yoan partage comment il a appris à gérer la pression, dépasser ses blocages, développer un mindset solide, et cultiver un état d’esprit serein basé sur la connaissance de soi et l’amour inconditionnel. Une conversation puissante pour tous ceux qui s’intéressent à la performance mentale, la résilience, la confiance et le développement personnel sportif.

Graham Betchart breaks down the core of elite mental performance through TAP — Trust, Accept, Be Present. We dive into his signature concepts like Next Play Speed, the ability to reset instantly, and What’s Important Now as a compass under pressure.

He explains why failure is essential, how top athletes rebound after mistakes, and what it truly takes to stay grounded in high-stakes moments — a fast, practical, and inspiring exploration of the mindset behind greatness.

Mathieu Brégégère, préparateur mental de champions olympiques, partage une conviction profonde : l’échec n’est pas une fin, mais un allié. Dans cet échange puissant, il explique pourquoi nous pouvons rebondir de tout, comment la vulnérabilité devient une force, et en quoi comprendre que “tout est travaillable” est une arme mentale redoutable. Une conversation essentielle pour toute personne qui cherche à performer durablement, dans le sport comme dans la vie.