We’re often told to “just be yourself” but under pressure, that advice can fall apart.

In this episode, we explore the psychology of alter egos and why high performers across sport, leadership, and the arts have intentionally used them to access focus, confidence, and emotional control when it matters most.

An alter ego isn’t about pretending or being fake. It’s a context-specific identity, a way to access parts of yourself that already exist but don’t always come online under stress. Used well, alter egos reduce performance anxiety, create emotional distance from self-doubt, and support steadier nervous system responses in high-stakes situations.

We’ll look at how public figures like David Bowie, Kobe Bryant, and Conor McGregor have spoken about using deliberate personas or performance identities, not to escape who they are, but to meet the demands of their environment.

You’ll also learn:
• why “just be yourself” isn’t always helpful under pressure
• how alter egos support focus and emotional regulation
• the difference between healthy identity strategy and avoidance
• how to create an alter ego that integrates... not fragments you

This episode is for anyone who knows what they’re capable of, but struggles to access it consistently when the pressure is on.

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