In this fascinating and high-energy episode, I interview Traci Brown—ranked the #3 body language expert in the world and a go-to voice on lie detection, deception, and influence. A former elite cyclist turned deception detection expert, Traci brings a rare combination of athletic discipline and forensic insight to her work.

Traci is a frequent television guest featured on CBS, NBC, and Nancy Grace, and is the author of How to Detect Lies, Fraud and Identity Theft. She works with businesses, financial groups, and law enforcement to prevent fraud, protect profits, and make better decisions under pressure. In this episode, Traci shares practical strategies to read people more accurately, ask better questions, and spot deception before it costs you.

You’ll learn:

• Why detecting deception is a leadership skill—and how to sharpen it

• The body language differences between big and small lies

• How lie detection can accelerate business results and reduce losses

• Everyday signs of deception that are easy to miss—and how to catch them

• How to use body language to gain the truth from customers, coworkers, and clients

Traci also discusses her new book and how her experience as a U.S. National Cycling Team member helped shape her ability to “read between the lines.” Whether you're hiring, selling, or simply trying to understand people better, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you lead and decide with clarity.

🔹HIGH PERFORMANCE MINDSET SHOWNOTES FOR THIS EPISODE 🔹 Learn more about Traci Brown and her work🔹 Get your copy of How to Detect Lies, Fraud and Identity Theft🔹 Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra and/or her team🔹 Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute

Love the show? Rate and review the podcast—and you might hear your name on the next episode!

 

In this episode, we explore one of the most powerful mindset tools high performers use: reframing.   You’ll hear the inspiring story of Spanx founder Sara Blakely and how her father helped her see failure as a sign of courage and growth.   We break down how reframing allows you to reinterpret challenges with strength and optimism, turning setbacks into comebacks and adversity into fuel.   You’ll learn:

• What reframing really is and why it’s essential to high performance.
• Practical questions and tools to help you shift your perspective in real-time.
• Everyday examples—from tough conversations to public speaking—where reframing can give you an edge.

  Whether you’re an athlete, coach, educator, or executive, this episode will help you see challenge through a new lens—and move forward with clarity and confidence.   Power Phrase: “I see challenge through the lens of growth. I flip the frame to fuel my strength and stride forward.”

Quote of the Week: “When you change your story, you change your power.” – Brené Brown

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In this science-backed and practical episode, I interview John Edwards—executive coach, speaker, and founder of The Edwards Groups. With a background in neuroscience and years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies, John shares powerful insights on how to navigate stress, lead with presence, and thrive through change.

John’s approach blends neuroscience with leadership strategy to help high performers build resilience, expand their influence, and lead confidently in complex environments. In this conversation, he breaks down why our brains are wired for stress, how to rewire for strength, and what it means to be a standout leader in today’s rapidly evolving workplace.

You’ll learn:

• Why your brain’s default setting is stress—and what you can do to override it

• The neuroscience behind executive presence and how to grow your influence authentically

• How to boost cognitive capacity and resilience through better daily habits

• What a “chaos point” is—and how to lead your team through uncertainty

• Practical strategies for navigating change, conflict, and ambiguity with clarity and calm

John also shares a roadmap for change leadership and how you can put executive presence on “autopilot” by rewiring habits and emotional patterns. This episode is essential listening for anyone who wants to lead with more resilience, clarity, and confidence—especially in high-pressure environments.

🔹 HIGH PERFORMANCE MINDSET SHOWNOTES FOR THIS EPISODE 🔹 Learn more about John Edwards and The Edwards Groups🔹 Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra and/or her team🔹 Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute

Love the show? Rate and review the podcast—and you might hear your name on the next episode!

 

In this episode of the High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff challenges you to dream bigger and pursue bold, gritty goals—even if they feel just out of reach.

She shares compelling research from Harvard and insights from performance psychology that show how stretch goals—ambitious targets that push you beyond your current limits—can fuel creativity, persistence, and breakthrough performance. The key is believing the goal is possible and tying it to a powerful “why.”

Cindra also draws on wisdom from her conversation with Caroline Adams Miller, author of Getting Grit, about the value of pursuing hard goals that demand risk, discomfort, and long-term effort. These are the kinds of goals that spark real growth.

You’ll learn:

• Why stretch goals create clarity, focus, and passion

• How top performers connect long-term dreams to daily actions

• What to do when doubt creeps in and tempts you to play small

• Why writing down your goals can be a game changer

This episode is a reminder that dreaming big isn’t just for vision boards—it’s a discipline. And you deserve to pursue goals that challenge and inspire you.

Power Phrase This Week: “I pursue bold goals because greatness lives just beyond my comfort zone.”

Quote of the Week: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” — Norman Vincent Peale

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In this inspiring episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Alden Mills—former Navy SEAL platoon commander, championship rower, best-selling author, inventor, and entrepreneur. Alden’s life is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. From overcoming childhood asthma to leading Navy SEAL teams and building a $95M business with the Perfect Pushup, Alden shares how the unstoppable mindset shaped every chapter of his extraordinary journey.

Alden is the author of Be Unstoppable, Unstoppable Teams, and Unstoppable Mindset, and was named Entrepreneur magazine’s #1 virtual speaker. In this episode, he reveals the mental strategies that helped him turn adversity into advantage, failure into fuel, and vision into impact.

You’ll learn:

• Why being “unstoppable” is a choice—and how to practice that choice daily

• The story behind the mantra: “No one defines what you can and can’t do”

• How Navy SEAL leadership skills apply directly to business, family, and life

• The CARE Loop framework and how to build high-trust, high-performing teams

• The 8 essential actions from Be Unstoppable, including “Plan in Pencil” and “Understand Your Why”

Alden also unpacks how setbacks have fueled his biggest comebacks and what mental toughness means at the highest levels of performance. Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or chasing a personal goal—this episode will help you unlock your unstoppable potential.

🔹HIGH PERFORMANCE MINDSET SHOWNOTES FOR THIS EPISODE 🔹 Learn more about Alden Mills and his books🔹 Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra and/or her team🔹 Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute

Love the show? Rate and review the podcast—and you might hear your name on the next episode!

 

In this inspiring episode of the High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff explores how optimism can turn adversity into advantage.   She shares a powerful story of a collegiate athlete who, after a devastating ACL injury just before nationals, chose to reframe the setback as a new beginning. Her shift in perspective led her to mentorship, sport psychology, and a new purpose: becoming a mental performance coach.   Cindra breaks down how optimism isn’t naive positivity—it’s an active choice to find meaning in difficulty. Backed by science, she discusses the many benefits of optimism, including increased resilience, creativity, persistence, and even longer life expectancy. Research from Harvard shows that optimistic leaders and entrepreneurs outperform their peers in both business and recovery from failure.   You’ll also learn about the Three OPP Strategy from Beyond Grit, a practical mental tool to help you reframe challenges.   This week’s power phrase: “Setbacks don’t define me. I see the opportunity in the obstacle."   Quote of the week: “Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.” — Noam Chomsky   Tune in to learn how to train your brain for optimism—and why that mindset is your performance advantage.

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In this engaging episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff talks with Stacey Hanke—nationally recognized communication expert, keynote speaker, and author of Influence Redefined and Influence Elevated. Stacey challenges the common myths around influence and shares how true influence isn’t about charisma or likability—it’s about showing up consistently with presence, clarity, and connection.

Stacey is the founder of Stacey Hanke Inc., where she equips leaders and teams with the tools to communicate more effectively in high-stakes environments. Her work with Fortune 500 companies, NFL teams, and top-level executives offers real-world strategies for building trust and leading with credibility, even when feedback is limited or unclear.

You’ll learn:

• The biggest misconception people have about influence—and what it really takes

• Stacey’s 6-part Influence Elevated model for lasting impact

• Why self-awareness is the foundation of powerful communication

• The connection between confidence and your ability to speak up under pressure

• Daily rituals and mindset shifts to lead with authenticity and consistency

Stacey also shares how elevated presence leads to stronger connections and greater influence, plus one tool you can start using today to transform how you come across. If you want to level up your leadership and communication, this episode is a must-listen.

HIGH PERFORMANCE MINDSET SHOWNOTES FOR THIS EPISODE 🔹 Learn more about Stacey Hanke and her work🔹 Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra and/or her team🔹 Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute

Love the show? Rate and review the podcast—and you might hear your name on the next episode!

 

In this episode of the High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff explores one of the most powerful mindset shifts we can make: choosing the meaning we assign to our experiences.   She shares a story of coaching a senior executive who was initially devastated after being passed over for a promotion. But by reframing the experience and asking, “How is this happening for me?”, the executive discovered a more aligned, fulfilling path—and ultimately created a new role within her company that better matched her strengths. The meaning she gave the event became her fuel for growth.   Cindra explains that successful people condition their minds daily to see opportunity in difficulty. They deliberately choose empowering meanings—not because it’s easy, but because it leads to greater resilience, clarity, and long-term success.   You’ll learn:

• Why your brain is wired to avoid pain and how to override that instinct
• The difference between interpreting challenges as happening to you vs. for you
• How to reframe past and current experiences for growth
• Key questions to ask yourself to reassign empowering meaning

Cindra also shares her own story of turning a personal professional setback into a powerful realignment moment—and why choosing the right meaning can change not just your outcomes, but your identity and future.   This Week’s Power Phrase: “I see the opportunity in every difficulty. Life is happening for me not to me.”   Quote of the Week: “Life is simple. Everything happens for you, not to you. Everything happens at exactly the right moment, neither too soon nor too late.” — Byron Katie

Welcome back to the High Performance Mindset Podcast, the show where we explore what it takes to show up fully and perform at your best—mentally and emotionally—every single day. I’m Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, and I’m so grateful you’re here.

Today’s guest is someone who lives and breathes mental performance. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kristofer Kracht, a championship coach, professor, entrepreneur, and highly respected mental performance expert with over 25 years of experience. Kris is known for his vulnerability, energy, and contagious passion for helping others grow.

He currently serves as the Director of Mental Performance for Washington State University Football, where he empowers athletes to thrive under pressure and train their minds to match their physical talent. He’s also worked with elite programs at South Dakota State, Creighton, Winona State, and several others across the country.

In this episode, Kris shares what he’s teaching athletes most often, how he helps players thrive under pressure, and a simple performance number system that builds self-awareness and accountability. 

We dive into practical tools like breathing and refocusing techniques, and why hallway conversations matter more than you think. Kris also reflects on his personal journey—from studying applied sport psychology to shaping the culture at Washington State Football.

Let’s get into it. Here’s my conversation with Kristofer Kracht.

HIGH PERFORMANCE MINDSET SHOWNOTES FOR THIS EPISODE

LISTEN TO OUR CONFIDENCE FOR ATHLETES FREE WEBINAR

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In this episode of the High Performance Mindset, we dive into the power of emotional agility—the skill of being present with your emotions without letting them take the wheel.

Backed by cutting-edge research, we explore how processing and labeling emotions can reduce distress, enhance performance, and improve your ability to lead and live with purpose.

You’ll learn:

• Why emotional agility is a key to resilience, leadership, and well-being.
• The three essential steps to becoming emotionally agile: noticing, labeling, and choosing action aligned with your values.
• How to shift from “I am anxious” to “I’m noticing I feel anxious”—and why that subtle reframe matters.
• Why emotions are data, not directives—and how that mindset gives you back control.
• Whether you're an athlete, leader, or high achiever under pressure, this episode will help you respond with intention, not reactivity, and become the kind of person who leads with clarity and confidence.

Power Phrase: “My emotions inform me, not define me.”

Quote of the Week: “You don’t have to believe everything you feel.” — Dr. Susan David

REQUEST A FREE MENTAL BREAKTHROUGH CALL WITH DR. CINDRA AND/OR HER TEAM

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Love the show? Rate and review the show for Cindra to mention you on the next episode.