Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Performance Pep Talk
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Performance Pep Talk
Performance Pep Talk episodes
- Burnout for Artists: What to Do When you Can't Take a Break (Ep. 33)
Burnout is a struggle for most singers, actors, musicians, and entrepreneurs. The constant responsibilities (day job shifts, auditions, rehearsals, running your own business) pile up until you have nothing left. Most people say "take a break." But what do you do when you don't have the choice?
In this episode of Performance Pep Talk, we discuss why burnout is so hard to recover from once you're in it, three things to prioritize for stress management when a real break isn't an option, and a 5-minute daily self-care practice to help you show up for your next shift, rehearsal, or audition without running yourself into the ground.
Want to take your mental prep to the next level?
Grab your FREE GUIDE to building a science-backed pre-performance routine HERE.
Connect with me!
On Instagram
On my Website
9 min - DO IT NERVOUS: Center the Body and Channel your Energy (Ep. 32)
You have one bad performance experience as a singer, actor, and performer, and suddenly, you're not just afraid of performing, you're afraid of getting nervous again.
In this episode, Sophie shares a two-step plan of action for the moment panic starts creeping in, helping to bring you back to the present and redirect nervous energy instead of suppressing it.
A great episode for singers, musicians, and performers who are ready to take back control and stop letting nerves run the show.
Want to take your mental prep to the next level?
Grab your FREE GUIDE to building a science-backed pre-performance routine HERE.
Connect with me!
On Instagram
On my Website
9 min - Stuck in a Worry Spiral Before an Audition? Here's How to Refocus and Recenter (Ep. 31)
Stuck in a worry spiral pre-audition? Wondering "What if I forget the lyrics?" "What if I don't book this?" "What if I never book again?" If your brain spirals into worst-case scenarios the second you sit down in the holding room, this episode is for you.
We break down how future-focused worry affects the brain, and we walk you through a simple, repeatable mindfulness exercise to anchor back into the present moment before you walk into the room.
A great episode for actors, singers, and musicians ready to stop spiraling in the waiting room and start focusing on what's actually in their control.
Want to take your mental prep to the next level?
Grab your FREE GUIDE to building a science-backed pre-performance routine HERE.
Connect with me!
On Instagram
On my Website
8 min - Defining your Self-Worth beyond Performance (Ep. 30)
One good audition and you feel unstoppable. One rough rehearsal and you're lying awake wondering if you even deserve to be there. If you're a singer, musician, or performer who feels like your sense of self-worth rises and falls with every audition, callback, or note from a director, this episode is for you.
In this episode, we break down the research on why tying self-worth to performance doesn't just hurt emotionally, it actually works against your performance too, and we share concrete shifts to build a sense of worth that doesn't collapse on a bad day.
A great podcast episode for actors, singers, and musicians ready to stop letting their performance identity be defined by the quality of their performance.
Want to take your mental prep to the next level?
Grab your FREE GUIDE to building a science-backed pre-performance routine HERE.
Connect with me!
On Instagram
On my Website
12 min - How to Stay Focused during Auditions and Stop Worrying about What Other People Think About You (Ep. 29)
Distracted in the audition room because you’re worried about whether the people behind the table like you?
Feel like you’re constantly trying to people-please, and it’s making you feel ungrounded and insecure?
In this Episode of Performance Pep Talk, we unpack WHY we tend to get distracted during auditions (from mind-reading the people behind the table to hyperfixating on our own mistakes), AND we discuss a method to help you REFOCUS your energy on something more productive.
It’s perfect for actors, singers, and musicians ready to stop people-pleasing and finally enjoy auditioning.
Want to take your mental prep to the next level?
Grab your FREE GUIDE to building a science-backed pre-performance routine HERE.
Connect with me!
On Instagram
On my Website
12 min - Social Media Comparison for Artists: Escape the Spiral (Ep. 28)
You're feeling good after a great audition or lesson and then you open your phone and see someone from your program just booked a huge role. Suddenly, you're spiraling, wondering if you'll ever get there. In this episode, Sophie breaks down the psychology of upward comparison and the spotlight effect: why social media comparison hits so hard, and why so many performers hesitate to post their own work out of fear of judgment. Plus, a guided reset for the next time you're triggered by someone else's highlight reel, or afraid to share your own work online. This is the perfect episode for actors, singers, and musicians ready to stop letting a post decide how they feel about their talent.
Want to take your mental prep to the next level?
Grab your FREE GUIDE to building a science-backed pre-performance routine HERE.
Connect with me!
On Instagram
On my Website
9 min - Handling Rejection: A Performer's Guide (Ep. 27)
Rejection hurts no matter what level you are as a performer. But it's not just the "no" that gets you; it's the anticipation before you even walk in the room, scanning faces for signs you're about to be rejected.
In this episode, Sophie breaks down the psychology of rejection sensitivity and three truths to hold onto before, during, and after every audition, plus a guided grounding exercise for the moments right before you walk into the room. This is a great episode for actors, singers, and musicians ready to stop letting the fear of "no" make it difficult to enjoy the audition or stay present in the room.
Want to level up your Pre-Show Routine?
Grab your FREE GUIDE to building a science-backed pre-performance routine HERE.
Connect with me!
On Instagram
On my Website
8 min - When You're Feeling Behind as an Artist: Managing Imposter Syndrome (Ep. 26)
That feeling of "I should be further along by now" is something most actors, singers, and musicians have experienced. But where does this feeling actually come from?
In this episode, Sophie unpacks the psychology behind why so many performers carry the pressure of an internalized timeline and shares helpful reflections to help you catch yourself before you spiral into self-doubt.
Great when you're stuck in a cycle of comparison, self-doubt, or worry that you'll never be good enough.
Listen to Episode 22: Imposter Syndrome as a Performer: Why You Feel like a Fraud and What You Can Do About It
Grab your FREE GUIDE to building a science-backed pre-performance routine HERE.
Connect with me!
On Instagram
On my Website
10 min - Stop Fighting your Nerves: Why Nerves aren't your Enemy (Ep. 25)
Every singer, musician, or performer has had the thought, "Don't be nervous." Hoping that by willing their nerves away, they will suddenly disappear. Unfortunately, the science proves otherwise, and suppression can actually make the nerves even MORE intense.
So what can we do instead? In this episode, we break down how to embrace the nerves instead of fighting them, and walk you through a pre-show mindset reset that will redirect your focus and channel that extra energy in a positive direction.
Want to level up your pre-show ritual?
Grab your FREE GUIDE to building a science-backed pre-performance routine HERE.
Connect with me!
On Instagram
On my Website
9 min - How to Motivate Yourself as a Performer (Ep. 24)
What should you do when you don't feel like performing, when the auditions feel stale, and when you're reaching burnout but still have a show to do?
This week on Performance Pep Talk, we're going to address why motivation can be so difficult to find AND how to show up authentically anyway. We break down what is actually happening when you hit the wall, why "faking it til you make it" is actually making it worse, and what you can practically do to find your way back to yourself, even on the hardest days.
We close with a gentle grounding sequence to help you release the pressure, find your anchor, and walk onstage confidently no matter the circumstances.
Perfect for singers, actors, musicians, and any performer who has ever had to show up and perform when the tank is feeling empty and performing feels stale.
Grab your FREE GUIDE to building a science-backed pre-performance routine HERE.
Connect with me!
On Instagram
On my Website
12 min
About Performance Pep Talk
From the publisher's feed
No more allowing stage fright, negative thought spirals, and self-doubt to run the show. Performance Pep Talk is your go-to tool if you’re a performer, actor, singer, or speaker who wants to feel…
centered and confident walking onstage. Hosted by mental performance coach Sophie Adickes (M.A. Psych, M.M., ICF ACC), each 10-minute episode blends psychology and practical tools to help you calm nerves, quiet imposter syndrome, and reshape your self-talk pre-performance. Because resilience, confidence, and self-belief aren’t personality traits, they’re skills you can train.