Poker On The Mind

In this episode, Gareth and Tricia tackle a timely listener question: What do most players get wrong when preparing for the World Series of Poker (WSOP)? If you’re gearing up for the WSOP (or any major poker series) and want to avoid common pitfalls, this conversation is for you. They discuss:Why tying your self-worth to poker results is so dangerous: How linking your identity to wins and losses leads to emotional swings and burnout – and ways to keep your ...

In this episode, Gareth and Tricia dive into a powerful listener question from Martin—a poker player with ADHD—who’s struggling to find motivation and structure for his study and play routines. If you've ever wrestled with procrastination, guilt, or balancing poker with real-life responsibilities, this conversation is for you. They explore:Why tight deadlines help some players (especially those with ADHD) hyperfocusParkinson’s Law and how it impacts poker study and productivityHow dopamine dysregulation influences motivation and attentionGamified study tips like “poker sprints” ...

In this solo voice note, Dr. Tricia Cardner breaks down Phil Hellmuth’s recent announcement that he’s skipping the 2025 WSOP Main Event—claiming it’s become too much of a mental grind.Is the Main Event really an endurance test now?What role does mental stamina play in long tournaments?How can you prepare to go deep when the pressure is on?Tricia shares insights from performance psychology, discusses the impact of aging on decision-making, and gives practical tips to help you build your mental endurance ...

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Poker on the Mind - Episode 194: Transitioning from MTTs to Cash Games with Gareth James & Dr. Tricia Cardner💡 Main Topic: Transitioning from MTTs to Cash GamesListener question from Alex:"I'm grinding mid-stakes MTTs but struggling to adjust to the open-ended nature of cash games. How can I adapt my mindset and study habits?"🔑 Key Takeaways:Mindset Shifts:MTTs have clear structure and end goals; cash games are open-ended.Focus on process goals (hands played, time blocks) rather than outcomes.Redefine success as consistently ...

Welcome to Episode 193! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. The hosts continue their WSOP/SCOOP prep series in this episode by interviewing world renowned poker professional Daniel Negreanu.Topics discussed in this episode include: A brief overview of Daniel’s new approach for 2024 & how it’s paying offHow Daniel prepares off the table for WSOPHow he handles the wide range of player types at the WSOPThe ...

Welcome to Episode 192! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. The hosts continue their WSOP/SCOOP prep series in this episode by interviewing poker professional, coach, and podcaster Carlos Welch. Topics discussed in this episode include: A brief overview of his journey from recreational to professional poker player & WSOP bracelet winnerHow he determines which events offer the most value at WSOP & other propertiesHow to ...

Welcome to Episode 191! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. The hosts continue their WSOP/SCOOP prep series in this episode by interviewing poker professional, coach, and streamer Bryan Paris. Topics discussed in this episode include: What a day in the life of Bryan looks like now that he has a wife and kidsHow he schedules and maintains a consistent playing schedule and study habitHow to ...

Welcome to Episode 190! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. The hosts kick off a WSOP/SCOOP prep series in this episode by interviewing poker professional, coach, and author Dara O’Kearney.Topics discussed in this episode include: Preparing for live events by optimizing sleep, diet, and other lifestyle factorsAn exploration of WSOP milestone satellites and how they differ from a regular satelliteThe importance of consolidating your learning ...

Welcome to Episode 189! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts continue their exploration of high-performance poker with a specific focus on “bouncebackability” also known as the art of resilience. Topics discussed in this episode include: A deep dive into the research on resilienceThe research findings regarding the ability to bounce “forward.”The importance of post-traumatic growth to improving and feeling goodHow ...

Welcome to Episode 188! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts continue their exploration of high-performance poker with a specific focus on high-performance physiology. Topics discussed in this episode include: A deep dive into the most critical physiological aspects of high performance: sleep, diet and exerciseThe research findings regarding the differences in sleep totals between experts and amateursHow sleep helps with ...

Welcome to Episode 187! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts continue their exploration of high-performance poker with a specific focus on knowing your Achilles heel and developing strategies for dealing with it. Topics discussed in this episode include: A deep dive into the most common Achilles heel: procrastinationHow task-aversion leads to negative emotionsThe role rumination, avoidance, emotion-driven behavior, and self-criticism ...

Welcome to Episode 186! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts continue their exploration of high-performance poker with a specific focus on developing the right mindset. Topics discussed in this episode include: The difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset & how they relate to developing a high-performance mindsetHow to use mental contrasting to avoid being overly optimistic when ...

Welcome to Episode 185! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts continue their exploration of high-performance poker with a specific focus on winning systems and habits. Topics discussed in this episode include: The power of atomic habits & the 4 laws of behavior changeHow to use implementation intentions and temptation bundling to make it easier to create and stick to high ...

Welcome to Episode 184! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts explain that they are going to serialize the podcast into themes. This first theme is going to be around designing for and achieving high poker performance. Topics discussed include: What high-performance poker is and how to best achieve itHow to use commitment and motivation to increase your odds of successThe ...

Welcome to Episode 183! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts discuss a question sent in by Georgina who wanted our advice on maximizing her study. Topics discussed include: Things to think about when studying for MTTs in particularHow to determine the best areas to put your attention onThe importance of an accountability group & peer supportHow to use the Feynmann ...

Welcome to Episode 182! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts discuss a question sent in by Barry who wanted our advice on managing his emotions at the table - and specifically about berating players via the chatbox. Topics discussed include:Why awareness is the first step in managing emotionsBeing aware of the “shoulds” and entitlementFocusing on the process, not the resultsWhy ...

Welcome to Episode 181! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts discuss a question sent in by Matt who wanted our advice on managing a downswing early on one’s poker career. Topics discussed include: Being able to assess ability and separate that from your resultsHow to manage your thoughts, feelings, and responses to get the results you wantThe difference between our ...

Welcome to Episode 180! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts discuss a Twitter comment by Lewis who asked about the mental game leaks associated with losing a good chunk of his bankroll in one weekend. Topics discussed include: Determining what is a good value MTTHow to manage your roll so you don’t run out of moneyThe difference between a budget ...

Welcome to Episode 179! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts answer a question from Armin which is “How do I memorize preflop ranges?”Topics discussed include: The difference between memorizing and truly learningHow to study so you learn the “why” behind your actionsWhy you must strengthen your theoretical basis in order to excel at pokerWhy you need logicResourcesPreorder Gareth’s book The ...