You Don't Know Jack

About You Don't Know Jack

Life is hard. Let’s prepare for it. You Don’t Know Jack is a performance psychology and resilience podcast hosted by Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus, two leading experts in human performance, mental toughness, and stress mastery. With decades of experience coaching Olympic athletes, elite performers, executives, and high-achievers, Jack and Haley explore what it really takes to stay strong when pressure is high and the stakes are real. This show blends sport psychology, performance science, leadership coaching, and real-life stories into practical tools you can use immediately. Each episode tackles the challenges people actually face: Career transitions and burnout Confidence under pressure Emotional control and resilience Motivation, focus, and consistency Rebuilding after failure or setbacks Performing when it matters most Whether you’re an athlete, business leader, entrepreneur, or anyone trying to level up, this podcast gives you clear strategies to stay composed, committed, and capable, especially when life pushes back. Expect honest conversations, expert coaching, and real-world performance tools designed to help you: Handle pressure without breaking Think clearly in difficult moments Build mental toughness that lasts Show up with confidence when it counts Because success isn’t a finish line, it’s how you respond when things get hard. This is the show that prepares you now, so you’re ready later.

Publisher

Dr. Jack Groppel & Dr. Haley Perlus

Category

business · health & fitness · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Jan 2026

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   How to Have Difficult Conversations With Your Coach or Leader

   What do you do when you want more playing time, feel overlooked by your coach, or believe your boss favors someone else? In this episode of You Don't Know Jack, Dr. Haley Perlus presents Dr. Jack Groppel with three situations athletes and employees commonly face when communicating with their coaches and leaders. Together, they explore how to approach difficult conversations, ask for greater responsibility, navigate perceived favoritism, and communicate when you're questioning whether your coach or leader believes in you. Whether you're an athlete fighting for playing time, an employee seeking more opportunities, or a leader looking to better understand your team, this conversation offers practical insights for communicating more effectively. Three situations. Jack's advice. Conversations worth having. Subscribe to You Don't Know Jack for conversations about performance, mental toughness, leadership, and preparing for life's challenges. Life is hard. Let's prepare for it.

2. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Goal Setting What Works, What Doesn’t, and What Actually Drives Performance

   Goal setting is supposed to improve motivation, focus, and performance, but what happens when your goals actually start working against you? In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of goal setting. We break down when goals help, when they create unnecessary pressure, and why knowing WHAT you want and WHY you want it may not be enough. From outcome goals and performance goals to the daily behaviors that actually move you forward, this conversation challenges some traditional goal-setting advice and offers a more practical approach to achieving meaningful results. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, leader, or simply working toward something important, you’ll learn how to use goals without letting the goal get in the way of your performance. Life is hard. Let’s prepare for it. Subscribe to You Don’t Know Jack for conversations about performance, mindset, resilience, purpose, and preparing for the moments that matter. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljR1VVOUxFTEEyUmhJOUU0MG5YZlNHeHxBSTVJdTVzWXZ6RlZOTlNObXNJMTFxMzVELXAzNmJXS01ObnVENnlWc21oVWZhdE5JTEFMeVdockhRdDFGWUczVE85LXp0MWM3aDV3UVdhSTZYM3Fld2cwcUZMWVNLRkNibDZq&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjackgroppel.net%2F&v=MXDBlUCsttY) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRjhKOVRBU0tzOEhmeEdmMlpjeGthN3xBSTVJdTV1d1lGRm1YY2RCQ1FzV0x0MGgtb0dmcHh1MGR2aTdzUF9ISUdpNzQ5LXE1d3FKZ3pLdUk1ZklhME05a3RuWS01VkVZUGNFTzVQVHh6UENrVk95cU4xb24zMkxRNS1R&q=https%3A%2F%2Fdrhaleyperlus.com%2F&v=MXDBlUCsttY) To connect with Evolve Leadership: https://evolveleadership.com/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljR1k3U3JNR3dPM2FLcTA4SHYzSVZ0UXxBSTVJdTV1NmMzRDNWdW9UeVFhV2tfLUUyVkRFdkNFUHh5MlVhTXdsdC1UTU03QjZsS1huZG8yMjdBVHpTSF9NSEdOaXgzejYtb1ZEVVJrVHFGcTh4TEt3ZWc3ek4tWC14dWFl&q=https%3A%2F%2Fevolveleadership.com%2F&v=MXDBlUCsttY)

3. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Stay Curious, Stay Young: How Childlike Curiosity Improves Performance & Happiness

   When was the last time you approached life with the curiosity of a child? Somewhere along the way, we become so focused on achieving, succeeding and getting things right that we forget how to play, explore and simply enjoy the experience. In this episode of You Don't Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore the power of childlike curiosity and its role in performance, happiness, longevity and living a fulfilling life. We discuss how staying curious can help us embrace new experiences, continue learning, find joy in everyday moments and bring more fun into our personal and professional lives. Whether you're an athlete, leader, parent or simply someone who wants to get more out of life, this conversation is a reminder that growing older doesn't mean losing your sense of wonder. Life is hard. Let's prepare for it. Subscribe to You Don't Know Jack for conversations about performance, purpose and living a meaningful life. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://jackgroppel.net/) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://drhaleyperlus.com/)

4. 

   9 Sept 2026

   What Great Performers Do Differently (And How to Learn From Them)

   What can you actually learn from watching someone who is great at what they do? Whether it’s an elite athlete, coach, speaker, or leader, we often see the finished performance—but we miss the small behaviors and patterns that make that performance possible. In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus break performance down into four dimensions: physical, emotional, mental, and purpose. We explore how to become a more active observer by looking for the details: How do great performers move? How do they respond to mistakes? Where do they direct their attention? What patterns show up consistently? And what can their behavior under pressure reveal about who they are and what matters to them? One of Jack’s biggest lessons from decades of studying world-class performers: The greatest performers make simple unbelievably good. We also discuss emotional regulation, body language, focus, the power of the pause, purpose, coaching, and why the best performers never stop being students. Because getting better isn’t only about doing more. Sometimes it starts with learning how to watch. Subscribe for more conversations about performance, leadership, resilience, and what it takes to prepare for the hard things in sport, work, and life. Life is hard. Let’s prepare for it. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://jackgroppel.net/) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://drhaleyperlus.com/)

5. 

   24 Aug 2026

   Train for Hard Things Before Life Gets Hard

   What if training for hard things isn't just about preparing for the challenge you know is coming, but preparing yourself for the challenges you don't? In this episode of You Don't Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore what happens when we intentionally train ourselves to experience discomfort, pressure, anxiety, and higher levels of arousal rather than always trying to avoid them. Sometimes we know exactly what we're preparing for - like climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Other times, the real value of the training doesn't reveal itself until life gives us something we never anticipated. Jack and Haley share personal examples of how deliberately doing hard things has influenced the way they perform, respond to pressure, and navigate life. They also dig into research often associated with flow, but this conversation isn't really about achieving flow. It's about what may happen when we train in higher arousal and anxiety zones and develop greater capacity to perform there. In this episode: • Why intentionally doing hard things matters • Training for challenges you know are coming • How training prepares you for challenges you can't anticipate • The relationship between arousal, anxiety, and performance • Why the goal isn't always to eliminate discomfort • How Jack and Haley intentionally train themselves • How physical training can build psychological capacity • What mental toughness looks like when life doesn't go according to plan You can't prepare for everything that's going to happen. But you can prepare yourself to handle more of what happens. Life is hard. Let's prepare for it. Subscribe for weekly episodes on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, and mental strength. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/

6. 

   10 Aug 2026

   The Coaching Room: Volume 2 | Real Challenges, Real Solutions

   We know recovery matters. So why is it so hard to actually do it? We know comparing ourselves to others can pull us out of our own experience. So why do we keep looking sideways? And if flow is supposed to be the ideal performance state, why can chasing it actually make performance harder? In Part 2 of our Real-Life Coaching series, Haley puts Jack on the spot with real challenges athletes, performers, and high achievers face every day. Together, we unpack: ✔ Why knowing you need recovery isn’t enough to make you recover ✔ How to stay in your own experience instead of getting lost in someone else’s ✔ Why making flow the goal can work against you ✔ How to recognize and take advantage of a clutch state ✔ What procrastination may actually be telling you—and how to move through it These are real mental blocks from real people—and they’re challenges most of us can recognize in ourselves. Jack and Haley don’t pretend to have every answer. They challenge each other, share what they’ve learned, and explore practical ways to navigate the moments when our own minds get in the way. Because life is hard. Let’s prepare for it. 🎯 Want to take this further? To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://jackgroppel.net/) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://drhaleyperlus.com/) 👍 Like this video, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to perform at their best under pressure.

7. 

   3 Aug 2026

   The Thinking Traps That Sabotage Performance

   Have you ever known you could make the shot... and still missed when it mattered most? Why doesn't telling yourself, "I've made this hundreds of times" always work under pressure? In this episode of You Don't Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore the thinking patterns that quietly undermine performance in sport, business, and everyday life. You'll learn how distorted thinking shapes emotions, confidence, and decision making, including: • Catastrophizing • Overgeneralization • Polarizing • Perfectionism • Personalization We also unpack why affirmations sometimes help and why they sometimes don't. Simply repeating positive statements isn't enough if your brain doesn't believe them under pressure. Using real performance examples, including the pressure packed free throw, we discuss how to challenge irrational thoughts, build believable confidence, and develop a mindset that performs when the stakes are highest. Whether you're an athlete, coach, leader, parent, or simply someone who wants to think more clearly under pressure, this episode offers practical tools you can use immediately. Life is hard. Let's prepare for it. 🎯 Want to take this further? To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rVF9wYnZ5UUh5d2gyVm5uLUdYZGtTZHxBR3JiS2FsMGVzZWVaM3pkMXR3eFliMTk2S2p5ZGVHYjNqX3hTTW9xeVMxOUpRVTdnQTltVGxSeTRTbmpUQnJ5cEpXRUNDQ254cldobURObFpQeTVJNXZkSDlqeE9nWWs0OFd5&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjackgroppel.net%2F&v=08dPrB1hzUA) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rUjFXSlZydHdfWWdkck9kZHZUdnZ1RXxBR3JiS2FuWGtDb2J5QlNHYmdfUHdtMzE5V1ljUFJ0dmtnemhBVnVuU0Z1UEhXVmhlNVBNWXlRLUpUalBac3hFSWhPeUtGVmVzaVNBS3NjRk5hLXpoTTFUVGxua1BHalhtS1Et&q=https%3A%2F%2Fdrhaleyperlus.com%2F&v=08dPrB1hzUA) 👍 Like this video, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to perform at their best under pressure.

8. 

   20 Jul 2026

   Overthinking? Here's Why You Get Stuck (And How to Move Forward)

   Have you ever known exactly what you wanted to do... but couldn't seem to take the next step? Whether it's making a decision, having a difficult conversation, competing under pressure, or chasing a goal, many of us get stuck in what psychologists call analysis paralysis. In this episode of You Don't Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore why overthinking happens, what your brain is trying to accomplish, and how to break the cycle without ignoring your instincts. Together, they discuss: ✅ Why intelligent people often overthink ✅ The neuroscience behind analysis paralysis ✅ The difference between strategic thinking and overthinking ✅ Practical tools to move from hesitation to action ✅ How athletes, business leaders, and high performers learn to trust themselves under pressure. If you've ever felt stuck waiting for the "right" decision, this conversation will help you understand what's happening and what to do next. Life is hard. Let's prepare for it. Want to take this further? To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://jackgroppel.net/) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://drhaleyperlus.com/)

9. 

   6 Jul 2026

   Control the Controllables: Why It's So Hard (And How to Train It)

   People hear the phrase "control the controllables" all the time. Coaches say it. Leaders say it. Psychologists say it. But almost nobody explains how to actually train that skill. In this episode of You Don't Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore why our minds naturally gravitate toward things we cannot control and why that's completely human. They discuss the psychology behind attention, stress, uncertainty, and performance, then share practical exercises that help you redirect your focus to what truly influences your results. Along the way, they share personal stories, coaching experiences, and plenty of laughs while breaking down one of the most important mental skills in sport, business, and everyday life. Whether you're an athlete, coach, executive, entrepreneur, or simply trying to handle life's uncertainty with more confidence, this episode gives you practical tools you can start using immediately. In this episode you'll learn: ✅ Why our brains obsess over things outside our control ✅ Why "just focus on the controllables" isn't enough ✅ Exercises that strengthen your ability to redirect attention ✅ How elite performers respond when life feels unpredictable ✅ Practical ways to improve focus, confidence, and resilience Life is hard. Let's prepare for it. 🎯 Want to take this further? To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ 👍 Like this video, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to perform at their best under pressure.

10. 

    15 Jun 2026

    The Words We Live By: Lessons from Lyrics, Movies, and Life

    What can a baseball movie, a country song, a Disney character, and Helen Keller teach us about navigating life? In this episode of You Don't Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus share some of the quotes, lyrics, and movie lines that have stayed with them over the years—and why. These aren't just memorable words. They're reminders about resilience, purpose, courage, curiosity, relationships, and showing up when life gets hard. Together, they explore how simple phrases can become powerful tools for handling pressure, overcoming setbacks, embracing uncertainty, and living with intention. Because sometimes the right words at the right time can change the way we see everything. In this episode: √ Why certain quotes stay with us for a lifetime √ Lessons from movies, music, and everyday life √How to use borrowed wisdom to navigate challenges √ The role of perspective during difficult moments √ Turning inspiration into action Life is hard. Let's prepare for it. Subscribe for weekly episodes on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, mental strength, and living well while performing at a high level. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://jackgroppel.net/) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://drhaleyperlus.com/)

11. 

    1 Jun 2026

    The Coaching Room: Volume 1 | Real Challenges, Real Solutions.

    This episode launches a recurring series on You Don't Know Jack. As a performance psychology coach, Dr. Haley Perlus has the privilege of working with athletes, executives, leaders, and high performers from all walks of life. While every person and situation is unique, many of the challenges they face are remarkably universal. In this episode, Haley brings a collection of anonymous real-world coaching stories to Dr. Jack Groppel. Together, they unpack the obstacles, pressures, doubts, fears, and decisions these individuals are navigating and explore practical strategies, tools, and perspectives that can help. From confidence struggles and performance anxiety to identity, purpose, resilience, relationships, and leadership, these conversations reveal what it means to face life's inevitable challenges with courage and intention. Whether you're an athlete, business professional, leader, parent, or simply someone trying to navigate a difficult season, you'll likely hear a story that resonates with your own experience. Because the goal isn't just to hear how others overcome adversity. It's to discover what these moments are asking of you. Life is hard. Let's prepare for it. 🎯 Want to take this further? To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://jackgroppel.net/) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://drhaleyperlus.com/) 👍 Like this episode, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to perform at their best under pressure. References: Evolve Leadership: https://evolveleadership.com/ (https://evolveleadership.com/) Venus Williams Addresses the 2026 LMU Undergraduate Commencement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stk5ApEO_4g

12. 

    20 Apr 2026

    What No One Tells You About Mentorship

    What is a mentor… really? In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Haley Perlus and Dr. Jack Groppel break down what mentorship actually looks like beyond the buzzword. But this conversation is different. This podcast is built on a real mentor–mentee relationship. Jack is the mentor. Haley is the mentee. Every episode is a live, unfiltered exchange of perspective, experience, and growth from both sides of that relationship - something you don’t typically hear. This isn’t a conversation about mentorship. It’s mentorship happening in real time. In this episode, we talk about: What a mentor is (and what it is not) The real responsibilities of both mentor and mentee How to find and approach the right mentor How to build a relationship that actually works Why mentorship can accelerate your growth in sport, business, and life This isn’t about waiting for someone to guide you. It’s about learning how to engage, ask better questions, and take ownership of your development. Because the right mentorship doesn’t just give you answers. It changes how you think. If you are serious about growth, performance, and becoming your best, this conversation matters. Subscribe for more conversations on performance, mindset, and what it really takes to succeed under pressure.

13. 

    6 Apr 2026

    Visualization Isn’t Positive Thinking | Train Your Brain Like an Elite Performer

    Visualization is one of the most talked about mental skills in performance… and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Haley Perlus and Dr. Jack Groppel break down what visualization actually is, why it works, and how to use it to improve performance, build real confidence, and manage anxiety under pressure. This is not about “seeing success” or positive thinking. This is about training your brain and nervous system to execute when it matters most. You’ll learn: ✅ The 2 biggest mistakes people make when visualizing ✅ The neuroscience behind mental rehearsal and performance ✅ How visualization builds confidence through evidence, not wishful thinking ✅ Why visualization helps regulate anxiety instead of eliminate it ✅ The difference between symbolic imagery, process imagery, recovery imagery, and preparation imagery ✅ How to actually train visualization like a skill If you want your body to perform, you need to get your mind there first. Because your body goes where your mind leads. 🎯 Want to take this further? To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://jackgroppel.net/) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://drhaleyperlus.com/) 👍 Like this video, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to perform at their best under pressure.

14. 

    23 Mar 2026

    Why High Performers Don’t Fear Mistakes (They Recover Faster)

    Mistakes are unavoidable in sport, business, and life, but how you respond to them is what separates high performers from everyone else. In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Haley Perlus and Dr. Jack Groppel break down the psychology of mistakes and why striving for perfection isn’t the goal, becoming a great recoverer is. You’ll learn: √ Why mistakes don’t have to shake your confidence √ How to recover quickly and refocus in the moment √ What you can actually control (and what you can’t) √ How the meaning you give mistakes creates unnecessary fear √ Why purpose clarity changes how you handle setbacks √ Practical tools to reset and move forward immediately If you want to perform with confidence, even after things go wrong, this episode will give you a competitive edge.

15. 

    9 Mar 2026

    How High Performers Manage Fear Under Pressure

    How High Performers Manage Fear Under Pressure In this episode of the You Don’t Know Jack podcast, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore the psychology of fear and how it affects performance, confidence, and decision-making under pressure. They break down what fear really is, why it shows up when the stakes are high, and how it can quietly influence our thoughts and actions if we let it dominate our mental space. In this conversation, we discuss common types of fear including: • Fear of failure • Fear of success • Fear of not belonging • Fear of judgment and expectation Most importantly, we share strategic tools to manage fear and build the one quality that consistently counteracts it: confidence. You’ll learn how to: • Build confidence through preparation and action • Keep fear from occupying the primary space in your mind • Reframe fear so it becomes information instead of limitation • Perform and lead effectively even when fear is present This episode is for athletes, performers, leaders, and anyone striving for competitive excellence and peak performance under pressure. Because the truth is: fear never fully disappears, but it doesn’t have to be in charge. Subscribe for weekly conversations on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, and mental toughness. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://jackgroppel.net/)To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://drhaleyperlus.com/)

16. 

    6 Mar 2026

    Pressure to Perform: How Early Influences Shape Us

    Pressure is unavoidable, but how you interpret it determines whether it sharpens your performance or drains your energy. In Episode 2 of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore how early pressure influences, especially from parents and authority figures, shape the way we respond to expectations later in life. Both Jack and Haley felt pressure from their fathers, but in very different ways. In this conversation, they unpack how those early experiences influenced confidence, motivation, self-belief, and performance under stress, and how you can learn to use pressure as fuel instead of letting it create distraction, anxiety, or doubt. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why pressure isn’t the enemy, it's the invitation (says Haley) • How early pressure experiences shape your mindset today • The difference between pressure that sharpens focus vs. pressure that creates anxiety • How to identify your own pressure story • Practical ways to convert pressure into clarity, confidence, and performance Whether you’re an athlete, leader, coach, or high performer, this episode will help you better understand your relationship with pressure, and how to work with it instead of against it. Subscribe for weekly episodes on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, mental strength, and living well while performing at a high level.

17. 

    6 Mar 2026

    The Stress–Recovery Cycle: The Missing Link in High Performance

    High performance cannot exist without both stress and recovery. In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Haley Perlus and Dr. Jack Groppel explore why stress is not the enemy, but an essential part of growth, adaptation, and performance, and why recovery is what allows stress to actually work for you rather than against you. We break down the biology of stress and recovery, explain why burnout happens when recovery is missing, and discuss how elite athletes, business leaders, and high performers can build intentional recovery “doses” into demanding lives. From active recovery and energy management to sustainable performance in work and sport, this conversation reframes stress as a vital signal and recovery as a performance skill. Whether you’re an athlete, executive, or someone feeling stretched by life, this episode will help you understand how to train, work, and live in a way that supports long-term performance, not exhaustion. Topics include: • Stress and recovery as a biological cycle • Why burnout is a recovery problem, not a motivation problem • Active recovery vs passive recovery • How to incorporate recovery into high-pressure work environments • Sustainable performance in sport, business, and life Subscribe for weekly episodes on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, and mental strength. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://jackgroppel.net/) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://drhaleyperlus.com/)

18. 

    23 Feb 2026

    Bad Advice That’s Hurting Your Performance | Mindset Myths Debunked

    Some of the most popular success advice may actually be hurting your performance. In this episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus break down common mindset phrases like “fake it till you make it,” “failure is not an option,” and “get 1% better every day.” These ideas sound motivating, but are they actually helpful? Drawing from decades of experience in performance psychology and coaching elite athletes, leaders, and high performers, Jack and Haley explain what works, what doesn’t, and why real growth is more nuanced than popular slogans suggest. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why common motivational advice can backfire • What actually builds confidence and resilience • How to think about failure in a healthy, productive way • The difference between sustainable growth and performance pressure • Better mindset strategies that truly support high performance If you want practical, honest guidance, not clichés, this episode is for you. Subscribe for weekly conversations on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, and mental toughness. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ (https://jackgroppel.net/) To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/ (https://drhaleyperlus.com/)

19. 

    26 Jan 2026

    Find Your Purpose: How Meaning, Fulfillment, and Performance Actually Work

    What’s the point of success if you don’t feel fulfilled? In this first episode of You Don’t Know Jack, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Haley Perlus explore purpose, meaning, and why they matter for performance, happiness, and resilience. Jack shares how discovering purpose through the School of Knox helped shape his life and leadership, and Haley explains how having the right mentor saved her years (maybe decades) of trial and error while building a career that is both successful and meaningful. Together they break down: √ Why purpose is not “soft,” but essential for performance √ How meaning drives motivation, energy, and resilience √ Why fulfillment and success don’t have to compete √ How to find direction in your own life and career Whether you’re an athlete, professional, or someone searching for what’s next, this episode gives you a clearer way to think about purpose, growth, and living well while performing at a high level. Subscribe for weekly episodes on performance psychology, resilience, leadership, and mental strength. To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel: https://jackgroppel.net/ To connect with Dr. Haley Perlus: https://drhaleyperlus.com/

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