Content

Here you’ll find a collection of our work—blog posts we’ve written, podcasts we’ve recorded, and features where we’ve shared our perspective.

We write and talk about the mental side of sport and performance: from building confidence, resilience, and focus, to navigating setbacks, pressure, and self-doubt. We explore how athletes can develop mental skills that support both performance and wellbeing—learning to manage nerves before competition, bounce back from setbacks, stay motivated through tough training blocks and find joy in the process of chasing ambitious goals.

Through conversations, written pieces, and guest appearances, our aim is to make mental performance tools practical, actionable, and accessible for athletes and high performers alike.

Two people sitting at a white desk with laptops in front of them.
Two people smiling and talking at a round table with laptops, coffee mug, and plant.

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build. This blog breaks down the ‘Confidence Loop’ and shows you how to reignite momentum when you hit a wall.

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Elite performance isn’t based on one variable—it’s a blend of weather, effort, sleep, pressure, and more. Learn how to avoid evaluate your performance more fully.

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One tough moment doesn’t decide the outcome. Stay present, keep rewriting the narrative, and don’t write the game report until the final whistle.

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Bryce Hoppel entered the Olympic 800m final with the world expecting a medal—but he finished fourth. Read what it taught him about identity and pressure, and why his mindset matters for us all.

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We’ve all felt that sting — someone else’s progress making us second-guess our own. But what if you could flip the script? Click the link below to learn how.

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Think rest is just when you’ve earned the day off? Think again. In this article, we explore why recovery is the performance tool many athletes overlook—from managing training stress to showing up sharp on your next big effort.

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Emotions aren’t good or bad — they’re contextual. The key is knowing when they’re helping you grow and when they’re holding you back. In this post, we explore how athletes can find the right context and duration for their emotions.

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The right mindset can make you perform like a pro. This blog shares how one simple question can shift you from a reactive rookie to a composed veteran.

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Failure isn’t the end—it’s your next opportunity. By reframing setbacks as feedback instead of flaws, you can turn disappointment into growth.

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Every moment is a choice—not just a trigger. Learn how reframing your narrative gives you control over how you respond, no matter the circumstances.

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What if what you thought was a mistake on the field wasn’t really your fault — but proof that someone else just outplayed you? Learn how ‘The Mirror Play’ flips the mental game in sports.

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After a stress fracture nearly derailed a promising race season, I didn’t just heal my body—I rebuilt my mindset. In this post I share how I leaned into small habits and mental strategies, and came back stronger than ever.

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You can’t always change the cards you’re dealt—but you can learn to stack the deck. In this post, we share how mental preparation helps you influence the hand you’re holding.

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Fast and Free Podcast

Fast and Free is where running meets mindset. Hosted by coaches and registered psychotherapists Brant and Elaina, this podcast shares tools on confidence, focus, race prep, and resilience. Whether you’re chasing your first 5K or a marathon PR, you’ll learn how to train your body and mind to perform your best.

Image of Thomas Hobbs and Brant Stachel. The text reads: “From Youth Champion to Olympic Hopeful”. The Fast and Free Podcast.

In the first episode of the Fast and Free podcast, Brant sits down with Dr. Cassidy Preston, founder of CEP Mindset and one of the top sport psychologists in North America.

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In this episode, Brant sits down with one of Canada’s fastest-rising marathoners, Thomas Nobbs. With personal bests of 63 minutes in the half and 2:15 in the marathon, Thomas is chasing the dream of representing Canada at the LA 2028 Olympics.

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In this episode, Brant sits down with ultrarunner, coach, and Team RunRun co-founder Matt Urbanski to explore the mental and physical mechanics of going long—really long..

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In this episode, Brant and coach Jess Hadley break down how Jess overcame the dreaded late-race fade and discovered the power of intensity discipline to unlock marathon breakthroughs.

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In this episode, Brant sits down with runner and coach, Martina Nadeau. Brant and Martina dive into the psychological side of injury recovery—navigating phantom pains, running by effort instead of pace, and learning to trust your body again.

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In this episode, Elaina and Brant dive into why mentorship is essential in sport and in developing great coaches. They share lessons from their mentors and what it takes to build athletes for the long run - not just the next race.

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