Frodeno Going Mental

Athlete mindset and dealing with public criticism are daily realities for Lucy Charles-Barclay. Because her swim strength usually puts her at the front of every race, she is constantly under the camera's lens, meaning every mistake is broadcast to the world and judged by "armchair coaches". Lucy shares how she developed a "thick skin" to stay focused on her peak performance and why she ultimately doesn't care about the opinions of those who don't understand the complexities of the sport.

The Pod by Eight Sleep is a smart mattress cover. Optimize your recovery and wake up full of energy with Eight Sleep’s personalized temperature regulation, the secret to your deep sleep. Use code JANFRODENO at https://www.eightsleep.com/de/janfrodeno/ to save up to €350 off your order.

PILLAR Performance provides science-backed, clinically dosed micronutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Their supplements focus on optimizing recovery, sleep, and immunity without unnecessary fillers.

If you want to give it a try, use the code GOINGMENTAL at pillarperformance.shop — or, for North American listeners, at TheFeed.com.

That’s GOINGMENTAL for 15% off your first purchase.

Produced by Podstars by OMR
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does a world champion handle the "terrible" feeling of the start gate? Downhill star Vali Höll joins Jan Frodeno to discuss the raw reality of racing at 80 km/h. From pre-race nausea and "survival mode" to navigating her team’s sudden bankruptcy , Vali reveals why she thrives under the pressure that makes her want to puke. It’s a candid look at the "handbrake" in her head and the mental shift required to stay at the top.

Enjoy the episode!

Ryzon offers high-performance, fairly produced endurance apparel for triathletes, cyclists, and runners. The brand is globally recognized for combining technical innovation with a clean, timeless design.

Use the code “ATHLETE10” to save 10% at Ryzon (valid until May 31, 2026).

More: ⁠⁠https://ryzon.net/en-int/discount/ATHLET10?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_term=goingmental.folge5

PILLAR Performance provides science-backed, clinically dosed micronutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Their supplements focus on optimizing recovery, sleep, and immunity without unnecessary fillers.

If you want to give it a try, use the code GOINGMENTAL at pillarperformance.shop — or, for North American listeners, at TheFeed.com.

That’s GOINGMENTAL for 15% off your first purchase.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s more dangerous: a 100-foot wave or a 30-year desk job? World record surfer Sebastian Steudtner joins Jan Frodeno to explain why he trained himself to pass out underwater just to "learn how to drown" without panic. From landlocked Germany to the massive swells of Nazaré, Steudtner reveals how he uses military-grade science to conquer the ocean’s most violent frontiers. It’s a masterclass in calculated risk, the "One Up" mentality, and why the greatest danger in life is simply staying still.

Ryzon offers high-performance, fairly produced endurance apparel for triathletes, cyclists, and runners. The brand is globally recognized for combining technical innovation with a clean, timeless design.

Use the code “ATHLET10” to save 10% at Ryzon (valid until May 31, 2026).

More: ⁠https://ryzon.net/en-int/discount/ATHLET10?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_term=goingmental.folge5

PILLAR Performance provides science-backed, clinically dosed micronutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Their supplements focus on optimizing recovery, sleep, and immunity without unnecessary fillers.

If you want to give it a try, use the code GOINGMENTAL at pillarperformance.shop — or, for North American listeners, at TheFeed.com.

That’s GOINGMENTAL for 15% off your first purchase.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jan sits down with performance expert, author and coach Brad Stulberg to explore what it really means to pursue excellence — in sport and in life.

Brad shares the philosophy behind his work on performance and human flourishing, from coaching elite athletes to teaching self-coaching at the University of Michigan. Together, Jan and Brad dive into the psychology of high performance, discussing everything from the Norwegian approach to youth sports to the tension between obsession and balance when chasing greatness.

They unpack ideas from Brad’s latest book on excellence, including the concept of the “identity house” — why the best performers need more than just one defining pursuit — and why excellence should be understood as a process, not just a result. Along the way, they tackle tough questions about identity after retirement, the cost of single-minded ambition, and whether becoming world-class requires a bit of madness.

It’s an honest conversation about ambition, identity, and the delicate line between going all in and losing yourself along the way.

Enjoy this episode!

Ryzon offers high-performance, fairly produced endurance apparel for triathletes, cyclists, and runners. The brand is globally recognized for combining technical innovation with a clean, timeless design.

Use the code “RACING10” to save 10% at Ryzon (valid until May 31, 2026).

More: https://ryzon.net/en-int/discount/RACING10?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_term=goingmental.folge3

PILLAR Performance provides science-backed, clinically dosed micronutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Their supplements focus on optimizing recovery, sleep, and immunity without unnecessary fillers.

If you want to give it a try, use the code GOINGMENTAL at pillarperformance.shop — or, for North American listeners, at TheFeed.com.

That’s GOINGMENTAL for 15% off your first purchase.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really take to win Olympic gold and why can it still feel empty?

In this episode of Frodeno Going Mental, Jan sits down with Olympic champion and two-time world champion Malaika Mihambo for a raw and deeply honest conversation about performance, pressure, identity and what success actually means when the lights go out.

Malaika shares how growing up in Germany and experiencing racism at a young age shaped her mindset and pushed her toward sport — not as a way to beat others, but as a way to understand herself. She explains why she doesn’t see competition as something external, but as an “inner championship” during a constant process of mastering body, mind, and emotion.

They dive into the defining moment at the Tokyo Olympics when Malaika fouled her first two jumps and had one final attempt left to make the final. Instead of spiraling, she sat down and meditated and produced the jump that ultimately led to Olympic gold. She opens up about why fear is a hindrance rather than fuel for her, how visualization is about feeling the morning after victory rather than the jump itself and why perfection is really just flexibility in disguise.

Enjoy this episode!

Ryzon offers high-performance, fairly produced endurance apparel for triathletes, cyclists, and runners. The brand is globally recognized for combining technical innovation with a clean, timeless design.

Use the code "IRONMAN10" to save 10% at Ryzon (valid until May 31, 2026).

More: https://ryzon.net/en-int/discount/IRONMAN10?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_term=goingmental.folge2

PILLAR Performance provides science-backed, clinically dosed micronutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Their supplements focus on optimizing recovery, sleep, and immunity without unnecessary fillers.

If you want to give it a try, use the code GOINGMENTAL at pillarperformance.shop — or, for North American listeners, at TheFeed.com.

That’s GOINGMENTAL for 15% off your first purchase.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices