Out Of Your Mind with Sonja Schroeder

Episod

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  Sanah Kassam: Why There's No Self-Defense Without the Right Mindset 24.09.2026 56min

  What does it really mean to feel safe? To not driven by fear but grounded in empowerment?For this powerful conversation around personal safety and mindset I sat down with Sanah Kassam, one of the youngest female advanced firearms instructors in the world, a Level 2 Brown Belt Krav Maga instructor, and certified life coach. At just 26, Sanah has built her work around one belief: that real self-defense starts in the mind.We go deep into the psychology behind personal safety and how to train your mind. We talk about the mindset shift from victim to survivor, how to read a situation before it escalates, the colour-coded awareness framework used by law enforcement, and what it actually means to trust your gut.You'll walk away with practical tools to sharpen your situational awareness, to know what to do when you find yourself in a threatening situation, and a clear way to tell the difference between fear and intuition.We also get into how these principles translate well beyond physical safety — into decision-making, boundaries, resilience, and the importance of community.Whether you've ever questioned your own ability to protect yourself, doubted your instincts, or simply want to move through the world with more confidence — this conversation is for you.Hotlines if you need support:Police: 999, 911, 112Report a crime (DCI): 0800 722 203Gender-based violence: 1195, 1193Mental Health Support (e.g. Befrienders): 0722 178 177, 0800 220 000Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(01:53) Sanah's Background(04:24) Understanding Krav Maga(06:41) The Survivor Mentality(11:28) Training for Situational Awareness(16:44) Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs(18:13) Transformations Beyond Training(19:47) Neuroplasticity for Rewiring the Mind(21:50) Empowering Mindsets: From Victim to Survivor(23:56) Tailored Training for Individual Experiences(25:34) Understanding Stress Responses(26:38) What to Do in High-Stress Situations(28:46) Recognizing Easy and Hard Targets(30:52) Creating Distance and Awareness(33:34) Preemptive Strategies for Safety(35:54) Maintaining Clarity Under Stress(38:17) Intuition vs Stress Response(40:28) De-escalation Strategies(41:55) Long-Lasting Effects of Self-Defense Training(43:50) How the Training Transformed Sanah's Life(45:24) Dealing With Everyday Challenges(47:18) Building Mental Resilience(48:37) Importance of Community(50:43) Situational Awareness as a Mental Skill(52:14) No Self-Defense Without Mindset(53:17) Finding & Following SanahConnect with Sanah and Warrior Women Kenya:Instagram: @warriorwomen_kenya | @ileta_kenyaEmail: [email protected] / [email protected] Connect with Sonja:Instagram: sonjanaakorWebsite: https://www.naakorperformancecoaching.com/Email: [email protected] of Your Mind is hosted by Sonja Schroeder, a Mental Performance Coach. New episodes drop every 2 weeks. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review — it helps more people find the show.
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  Jason Dunford on the Olympics, New Paths, and What Success Means Now 10.09.2026 47min

  Jason Dunford made history as the first Kenyan swimmer to qualify for the Olympics by making the Olympic qualifying time. He broke an Olympic record in his heat in Beijing, earned a Commonwealth gold medal by a hundredth of a second, and trained at Stanford — under the same coaches he'd been studying on VHS tapes as a young swimmer in Nairobi. And yet, some of the most honest moments in this conversation aren't about the wins. They're about what his journey into the Olympics and the transition out of it was like.In this episode, Jason and Sonja dig into the mental side of performing at the highest level — the flow states that came and went, getting too caught up in the "what ifs," the importance of sleep and recovery, and what lessons he took from sport into business. They talk about the path after retirement, how useful therapy has been for him, and how he's come to redefine success on his own terms.In this episode we cover:What it felt like to be the first Kenyan swimmer to qualify for the Olympics on qualifying timeThe mental tools Jason tried — visualization, hypnosis and meditationWhat "being overawed" in the Olympic final felt like and what he'd do differentlyAn athlete's transition into business and why "good enough" was a challenge at firstHow identity is built around sport — and what happens when you transition outThe role of therapy, sleep, and support networks in a high-performance environmentHow he measures success nowChapters:(00:00) From Dreams to Reality: Jason's Olympic Journey(08:21) The Olympic Experience: Triumphs and Challenges(11:47) Using Mental Skills(19:07) The Challenges in Swimming(22:35) Life After the Olympics: Transitioning to New Goals(27:31) Transitioning From Swimming Into Business(29:21) Focusing Too Much on the Process and Details(30:53) Dealing With Challenges(32:09) Lessons Learned: The Impact of Swimming on Life(34:05) Taking Lessons From Swimming Into the Business World(37:14) Measuring Success Beyond Competition(37:56) Setting New Goals(41:48) Inspiring Others Through Personal Journey(43:21) Advice for Others Pursuing a Similar Path(44:19) How You Can Follow Jason's JourneyConnect with Jason:·      Instagram: samakimkuuConnect with Sonja:·       Website: https://www.naakorperformancecoaching.com/·       Instagram: sonjanaakorOut of Your Mind is hosted by Sonja Schroeder, a Mental Performance Coach. New episodes drop every 2 weeks. If you enjoyed this episode, please eave a review — it helps more people find the show.
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  What High Performers Are Really Struggling With Mentally, and What Actually Helps — Brett Mabberley 23.08.2026 1j 20min

  What do a former electrician, a prison psychologist, and a high-performance coach have in common? They're all the same person — and this week he's on the show.Brett Mabberley is an international high-performance coach, author and keynote speaker with over 22 years of experience coaching more than 2000 people across 30 plus industries. He's worked with world champion athletes, Fortune 500 CEOs, and Hollywood actors — and in this conversation he pulls back the curtain on his own journey and on what's really going on in the mind of a high performer.We get into the success paradox — why self-doubt doesn't get easier at the top, it gets louder. We talk about the mental strategies Brett uses ringside and on set to get world-class performers back into their zone when the pressure is at its highest. And Brett shares the story of the moment that nearly derailed his entire career.This one is honest, practical, and genuinely inspiring. Whether you're chasing extraordinary heights or quietly working on your own breakthrough, there's something in this conversation for you.Chapters:(00:00) Introduction to Brett Mabberley(01:41) Brett's Career Transition and Early Experiences(04:16) Working with Vulnerable Populations and in Prison(10:19) Transitioning to Coaching and Consulting(14:52) Challenges of High Performers: Self-Doubt & The Success Paradox(22:09) Strategies for High Performance(27:24) The Power of Routines in Performance(30:01) The Relationship Between Outcome Goals and Anxiety(31:52) Self-Talk and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs in Crucial Moments(34:36) Personal Challenges: Facing Fears and Imposter Syndrome(45:55) Rewiring Your Mind for Success(50:14) Key Mental Skills for High Performers(52:40) Finding Your Why: The Key to Motivation(54:40) Discipline vs. Motivation: The True Drivers of Success(57:49) Transformative Breakthroughs: Real-Life Client Stories(01:03:47) The Next Level: Expanding Coaching Beyond One-on-One(01:07:15) The Importance of Environment and Support Systems(01:07:51) Reframing Failure: Lessons Learned from Setbacks(01:10:59) The Role of a Mental Coach: Why Everyone Needs One(01:14:10) Taking Action: Brett's Book & The Coaching Room(01:17:36) Where to Find & Follow BrettConnect with Brett:Website: www.brettmabberley.comInstagram: brettmabberleyThe Coaching Room free 24-hour trial: https://www.thecoachingroom.online/brett-247-trialBook: New Levels, New Devils – Get it now on AmazonConnect with Sonja:Website: https://www.naakorperformancecoaching.com/Instagram: sonjanaakorOut of Your Mind is hosted by Sonja Schroeder, a Mental Performance Coach. New episodes drop every 2 weeks. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review — it helps more people find the show.