What does it take to lead when the pressure is relentless and the stakes couldn’t be higher? In this episode, Tarek Michael-Chouja and Jay Headley sit down with Gareth Baber, Head Coach of Nissa Rugby in France and former Olympic gold medal-winning coach of the Fiji Rugby Sevens team. Together, they explore what it takes to build high-performing cultures, lead through uncertainty, and stay focused when expectations are at their highest. You’ll learn why daily habits matter more than outcomes, how shared purpose unites teams, and why authenticity and self-awareness are essential for sustained excellence. Listen now and get ready to build resilience, embrace pressure, and lead with clarity through every challenge.

If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review on this listening platform!

Connect with Gareth Baber:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-baber-a97b80a0?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gareth9baber/

Gareth's Recommended Books

• Leading with the Heart by Mike Krzyzewski
• Principles of High-Performing Teams by Steve J. Anderson

- Get 15% off our Mental Skills Training course. Simply go to Functional Training Institute and input 'PDM15' at the cart checkout: https://functionaltraininginstitute.com/mental-skills-training-for-coaches/
- Check out our best selling book Purpose Driven Movement by host Tarek Michael-Chouja and Dan Henderson: https://amzn.to/499x6nO
- Join Our Mailing List: https://sa319.infusionsoft.app/app/form/vowsignup

About Our Guest: Born and brought up in Cardiff, Wales. Professional playing career (7s and 15s) of over 12 years, and have been coaching for the last 19 years. Currently the Head Coach of Nissa Rugby in France. Enjoy working in high-performing environments in elite sport.

Podcast Production by Jamie Brooke.

We sometimes include links to products and services we find interesting. These may or may not be affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

This podcast is sponsored by ZIVA. Discover more at www.ziva.com.

Why do talented athletes underperform when it matters most? In this episode, Andrew Cipriano is a culture and mental performance coach who shares how to build player-led team culture and develop mental toughness in sport. You’ll learn about controlling emotions under pressure, shifting from outcome-based thinking to process-driven performance, and simple strategies to help athletes enter flow state consistently. Andrew shares real examples of turning struggling teams into top performers through mindset, accountability, and communication. If you’re a coach or athlete looking to improve consistency and confidence, this is for you. Listen now and get ready to unlock better performance.

If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review on this listening platform!

Our favourite quotable moments:

“Control what you can control. And then to see them come back show straight away.” - Andrew Cipriano

“For an emerging coach, don't worry about the wins and the losses. The losses are there to learn from.” - Andrew Cipriano

“Be honest and open and vulnerable with your players. Give them direct feedback.” - Andrew Cipriano

Resources:

Mind Starts Now’s Website: https://www.mindstartsnow.com.au

Mind Starts Now’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mind_starts_now/

Mind Starts Now’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-cipriano-11104b379/

Get 15% off our Mental Skills Training course. Simply go to Functional Training Institute and input 'PDM15' at the cart checkout: https://functionaltraininginstitute.com/mental-skills-training-for-coaches/

Check out our best selling book Purpose Driven Movement by host Tarek Michael-Chouja and Dan Henderson: https://amzn.to/499x6nO

Join Our Mailing List: https://sa319.infusionsoft.app/app/form/vowsignup

About Our Guest: Andrew Cipriano is a culture and mental performance coach and the founder of Mind Starts Now. With a background in semi-professional basketball coaching, Andrew works with athletes, teams and leaders to strengthen mindset, communication and high-performance culture. He supports programs across basketball environments within Basketball Victoria and is currently in conversations with clubs in the National Basketball League regarding future performance roles. Andrew also works with an international Australian cyclist, delivers wellbeing workshops in schools and supports business leaders and CEOs through performance coaching focused on mindset, leadership and resilience.

This podcast is produced by Brave Moon Podcasts.

We sometimes include links to products and services we find interesting. These may or may not be affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Related: how to build player led team culture, mental toughness training for athletes, how to get into flow state in sports, how to improve team culture in youth sports, process vs outcome performance coaching

This podcast is sponsored by ZIVA. Discover more at www.ziva.com.

Why does pain stick around even after your injury should be healed? In this episode, hosts Tarek Michael-Chouja and Jay Hedley sit down with Garrett Salpeter to break down how to retrain your nervous system for faster injury recovery and improved athletic performance. You will learn how the brain creates pain based on perceived threat, why traditional rehab can miss the real issue, and how to reduce protective tension, weakness, and fear-based movement patterns. This episode is especially useful for coaches, therapists, and athletes dealing with lingering pain or slow recovery. Listen now and get ready to reduce pain, improve movement, and recover with more confidence.

If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review on this listening platform!

Our favourite quotable moments:

“Pain is the brain's way of saying, ‘Hey, don't do that. Change your behavior. Don't use that area of the body.’” - Garrett Salpeter

“If you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them.” - Garrett Salpeter

“The thought is both an output, but in that feedback loop, goes back in as an input.” - Garrett Salpeter

Resources:

Garrett Salpeter’s Instagram

NeuFit’s Instagram

NeuFit’s Website

The NeuFit Method Book

Get 15% off our Mental Skills Training course. Simply go to Functional Training Institute and input 'PDM15' at the cart checkout: https://functionaltraininginstitute.com/mental-skills-training-for-coaches/

Check out our best selling book Purpose Driven Movement by host Tarek Michael-Chouja and Dan Henderson: https://amzn.to/499x6nO

Join Our Mailing List: https://sa319.infusionsoft.app/app/form/vowsignup

About Our Guest: Known as "The Health Engineer," Garrett combined his training in Engineering and Neuroscience to create NeuFit and the patented NEUBIE device. He and his team train doctors, therapists, and professional sports teams and universities in how to apply NeuFit with their patients and athletes, helping them use neuroscience to recover faster from injury and optimize performance. He is the best-selling author of the book The NeuFit Method and host of The Undercurrent Podcast.

This podcast is produced by Brave Moon Podcasts.

We sometimes include links to products and services we find interesting. These may or may not be affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Related: how to retrain nervous system after injury, why pain persists after injury healing, how to reduce chronic pain for athletes, nervous system recovery techniques for performance, how to overcome fear of movement after injury

This podcast is sponsored by ZIVA. Discover more at www.ziva.com.