In this episode, we dive into the message of Chapter 10 of my book Pure Unadulterated Guts: BEING PRESENT. If you're constantly thinking about what's next or regretting what’s behind, you're missing the most important moment—this one. Learn how presence can change your performance, your relationships, and your life.

🎙️ Listen now.

📘 Inspired by Chapter 10 from Pure Unadulterated Guts.

In this episode of Mindset Matters, we explore Chapter 10 – The Power of Presence from my book Pure Unadulterated Guts.

When the world screams for multitasking and constant hustle, the real edge comes from presence — being fully in the moment. Whether you're under the lights, in the boardroom, or at the dinner table with your kids… presence wins.

🎧 This episode is a call to slow down, lock in, and be where your feet are.

📘 Book: Pure Unadulterated Guts

🎙️ Host: Riley Jensen

💡 Topic: Chapter 10 – The Power of Presence

This episode dives deep into Part 4 of my book Pure Unadulterated Guts, exploring what it really takes to unlock elite mindset and motivation. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone chasing growth, this is your wake-up call. Tune in and tap into the mental toughness it takes to go all in.

The Power of Connection – Pure Unadulterated Guts Chapter 9

Description:

In this episode of Mindset Matters, we dive into Chapter 9 of my book Pure Unadulterated Guts — where we explore the strength that comes from relatedness and social support. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or everyday warrior, knowing who you lean on could be the difference between burnout and breakthrough.

Listen, reflect, and take inventory of your support system. Because guts aren’t just about going solo — they’re also about going together.

📖 Book: Pure Unadulterated Guts

🎙️ Host: Riley Jensen

💡 Topic: Chapter 9 – Relatedness and Support

In this powerful episode, I dive deep into Chapter 9 of Pure Unadulterated Guts — exploring the science and soul behind why human connection and support systems are absolutely essential for high performance.

Whether you’re a coach, parent, athlete, or high performer — your relationships are your rocket fuel.

Listen now to learn:

Why isolation kills momentum

How to build true support systems

What elite performers do to stay connected

🔥 New Episode Out Now 🔥

In this week’s episode of Mindset Matters, we dive into Chapter 8: Competence from my book Pure Unadulterated Guts.

Competence isn't about perfection—it's about preparation, repetition, and owning your craft. Whether you're a QB, CEO, or student, this chapter is for anyone trying to master their arena.

🎧 Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/riley-jensen-425842551/episode-257-competence-beats-confidence?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&si=17802094051f45e89d5c1b35e1c98522

📘 Grab the Book Here: Pure Unadulterated Guts, https://www.amazon.com/PURE-UNADULTERATED-GUTS-Insights-Vulnerability-ebook/dp/B0CM42P3F5

Competence > Confidence.

In this week’s Mindset Matters podcast, we’re breaking down what really separates the greats from the average.

Confidence? It’s a feeling.

Competence? It’s earned.

From Messi’s left foot to Rodman’s rebounds to Brady’s focus—this episode (inspired by Chapter 8 of my book Pure Unadulterated Guts) dives deep into how you build competence and lean on it when the lights come on.

Scotty Edwards | Faith, Football, and the Power of Perseverance”

In this episode of Mindset Matters, Riley sits down with Stanford safety Scotty Edwards for a powerful conversation about football, faith, and the mental game of life. Scotty opens up about returning from an LDS mission, the challenges of chasing athletic and academic goals, and the importance of effort—even when results don't come easy. From handling social media pressure to finding motivation through Rocky Balboa and Rick Ross, Scotty’s story is a blueprint for perseverance, balance, and self-belief. A must-listen for athletes, parents, and anyone pursuing excellence on or off the field.

5-Minute Podcast Script:

Title: Competence Over Confidence—Why Your Past Victories Matter More Than You Think

Welcome back everybody, you’re listening to the Mindset Matters podcast, I’m your host Riley Jensen and today I want to talk about past victories matter more than you think.

Today, I want to talk about something that I believe changes everything—not just in sports, but in business, relationships, and life:

Competence.

Not confidence.

Competence.

A lot of people confuse the two.

Confidence? It comes and goes.

One day you wake up feeling like you can conquer the world. The next day—maybe after a bad game, a rough meeting, or just a sleepless night—you wonder if you’ve got what it takes.

But competence—competence is different.

Competence is knowing deep down, “I’ve done hard things before. I can do hard things again.”

It’s not about a feeling—it’s about evidence.

Here's a quick exercise for you—if you’ve ever worked with me one-on-one, you’ve heard this before:

Grab a pen.

Write down three things—three moments where you faced something tough and came out stronger.

It could be a game-winning moment.

It could be bouncing back from injury.

It could even be how you handled a tough family situation.

That list?

That’s your competence list.

It’s your receipt that you’ve overcome challenges—and you can do it again.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite movie scenes from Gattaca.

Vincent, the underdog, beats his genetically superior brother in a swim out in the ocean. His brother asks, “How did you do it?”

And Vincent says something very important to his brother in this moment:

“I never saved anything for the swim back.”

That right there—that’s competence in action.

It’s the refusal to be defined by limitations—whether those are external labels or the doubts in your own head.

Here’s where it gets interactive:

I want you to think of one area in your life right now where you’re hesitating.

Maybe you’re waiting to feel “motivated” before you start something.

Maybe you’re doubting your ability because you’ve had some setbacks.

Now, ask yourself:

✅ Have I ever overcome something hard before?

✅ Have I ever succeeded when the odds weren’t in my favor?

✅ Have I ever surprised myself with resilience?

If the answer is yes—and for most of you it is—then you don’t need to wait for motivation.

You need to lean on your competence.

In sports, we talk a lot about “the zone”—that magical state where everything feels effortless.

But let me tell you something I’ve learned working with elite athletes:

No one lives in the zone.

No one can replicate it perfectly every time.

What separates the great from the average isn’t that they’re in the zone all the time—it’s that they can win with their B or C game because they trust their competence.

I’ll leave you with this challenge:

Write down a competence list.

Choose one thing this week where you’ll act—not because you’re 100% confident—but because you’re competent.

You don’t need perfect conditions.

You don’t need to be the biggest, fastest, strongest.

You need to remember:

You’ve done hard things before.

You can do hard things again.

You don’t need permission to be great. So stop waiting, and get to work!

This episode is inspired by Chapter 8 of my book, Pure Unadulterated Guts.

If this resonated with you, I’d love for you to check out the book and share this episode with someone who could use a reminder of their own greatness.

“Commitment Is More Than a Choice”

Welcome back everybody, you’re listening to the Mindset Matters podcast, I’m your host Riley Jensen and today I want to talk about how commitment is more than a choice.

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to rise to the top, while others—equally talented—stay stuck in place? The answer often isn’t talent or luck. To me, It’s commitment.

Let me tell you a story I often share with my athletes and business clients.

There was once a young man with a dream job—he got his foot in the door at a prestigious company. For five years, he worked harder than anyone: first one in, last one out, always making sure the boss noticed. He was motivated. He was determined. And when a supervisor position finally opened up—he applied with confidence.

But he didn’t get it. The job went to someone who had only been there six months.

Fuming, he stormed into his boss’s office demanding to know why. The boss paused, then asked him to do something simple: go buy some oranges for his wife. Frustrated but obedient, the man came back with a bag of oranges—any kind, didn’t matter to him. Task done.

Then the boss gave the same task to the man who got the promotion. That employee made a call to the boss’s wife to ask what the oranges were for. Found out she was making juice. Asked the grocer which oranges were best for juicing—Valencia, by the way—negotiated a bulk discount, and even dropped the oranges off at her house on the way back.

See the difference?

Both followed instructions.

Only one committed to the task.

The truth is: motivation gets you started, but commitment gets you results. And commitment isn’t just about making a choice—it’s about owning that choice.

👉 Think about your own life for a moment:

Are you just going through the motions?

Are you waiting to “feel motivated” before you take action?

Or are you willing to choose your path—and then commit to it fully?

This is where Autonomy, one of the three pillars of Self-Determination Theory, comes into play. Autonomy is what I call the “I Choose” factor. And the more you actively choose your path, the more likely you are to stay the course when it gets hard.

I often say:

✅ Choose your love—and then love your choice.

It’s easy to choose something when it’s exciting. But real commitment is shown when it’s no longer new or easy.

Here’s how to build deeper commitment in your life starting today:

Stop overthinking. Over-analysis kills action. Get clear, get moving.

Know yourself. Strengths, weaknesses—own them all. Growth starts with honesty.

Write it down. A goal unwritten is just a wish.

Tell someone you trust. Accountability fuels follow-through.

Care—genuinely. Care about your work. Care about others. Care about your impact.

And here’s the key: Be authentic.

When you make choices that align with who you really are—your values, your passion, your intuition—you tap into a powerful fuel source. You don’t need motivation when your choices are authentic. You need commitment.

I think of my grandfather, Clark Owen Thompson—a man who wore many hats, from grocery store owner to insurance salesman. He wasn’t the wealthiest man. But he was authentic. He chose his path, he loved his choices, and he left a legacy of kindness, humor, and hard work. Ten of his great-grandchildren now carry his name. That’s impact. That’s a life well-lived.

So today, I’m challenging you:

✅ Challenge 1: Pick two things you want to get done this week. Give yourself a reasonable deadline. Then do them. Small wins build momentum.

✅ Challenge 2: Start aligning your words with your actions. If you say you’re going to do something—show up and do it, with excellence. Don’t just grab any oranges. Find the best ones.

Remember:

Motivation comes and goes.

Commitment is a choice you make—and keep—every single day.