The Mental Golf Show

273: Dr. Gio Valiante - Fear, Flow, and Mastery vs. Ego

I had the great honor of hosting Dr. Gio Valiante for a conversation that had me thinking from the moment he started talking. Something about the way Dr. Gio explains things makes me feel like golf is on the one hand deep and rich and complex, but on the other hand incredibly simple and fundamental to who we are as humans. His grasp of human psychology is aspirational, so it's no wonder he's been a pillar of the golf psychology arena for decades.
I know you'll enjoy this episode, and I'm confident you will leave this episode with a deeper understanding of your golf game as well as yourself and why you do what you do on and off the course.
Topics:
Is Fear the Root of Most Mental Game Problems in Golf?
Fear, Flow, and the Full Spectrum of Golf Psychology
What Fear Does to Skill, Decision-Making, and Performance
Why Golf Creates Fear: Social Judgment and the Human Brain
Mastery Orientation vs. Ego Orientation in Golf
How Golf Shifts from Love of the Game to Results and Approval
Embarrassment, Shame, and the Conditioning of Fearful Golf
Why Ego-Driven Golf Makes Flow States Unlikely
What It Means to Compete in Golf—and Who You’re Really Competing Against
Playing the Golf Course: Targets, Process, and Task Focus
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Dr. Gio Valiante's books on Amazon:
Fearless Golf: Conquering the Mental Game
Golf Flow: Master your mind, Master the course
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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.
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🏋️‍♂️ Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!
📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 
 

272: Matt Myers - How to Make Golf Fitness Stupid Easy (Q1 2026)

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I worked with Matt Myers at Nerd Fitness for the entirety of 2025 as my personal trainer. But far beyond building workout plans and keeping me accountable to nutrition goals, he was a partner on a journey. I know for a fact I would be so far off course from where I started 2025 had I been trying to go it alone. I can say without exaggeration that Nerd Fitness has changed my life.
Matt and I want to do quarterly updates through 2026, so this is Q1 2026 Update.
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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.
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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

271: 10 Lessons 2025 Taught Me (and What I’m Carrying Into 2026)

I've done a goal-setting episode at the end of every year for the past 6 years, but I don't think I've ever done a review of the year that just ended. This episode will show you a simple, proven way to review your year (or your day or your round of golf) that you can and should use. And I of course set some golf and podcast goals for 2026, which I think can help you do the same.
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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.
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🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.
📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

270: Steve Wheatcroft - The Unseen Struggles of Being a PGA Tour Player

Steve Wheatcroft played professional golf for 19 years, almost all of those on the Korn Ferry and PGA Tour. In this episode we get into the experiences he had, the fallout of retiring, and the journey since. 
Topics discussed:
The Silence After Professional SportsIdentity Beyond the GameThe Balance of Passion and ProfessionLearning to Practice EffectivelyThe Journey of Becoming a GolferSelf-Perception and Mental ChallengesLessons Learned and Advice for OthersThe Humor in Golf: A Lighthearted ApproachThe Feeling of Not Belonging: A Personal JourneyAspirations and Realities: The Golfing DreamThe Pressure of Early Success: A Cautionary TaleThe Long-Term View: Sustainability in Golf CareersIdentity Beyond Golf: Finding Self-WorthReflections on the Book: Cocktails and Range BallsThe Identity Crisis After GolfStruggles with Alcoholism and DepressionThe Journey to RecoveryFinding Purpose Through StorytellingTransitioning from Professional GolfThe Mulligan Foundation: A New HopeWriting for Change: The Power of a Story
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Steve Wheatcroft's links:
Book: Cocktails and Range Balls: One's Too Many, Ten's Not Enough
The Mulligan Foundation
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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.
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🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.
📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

269: Best of The Mental Golf Show (2025)

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.
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This year has been a monumental one for The Mental Golf Show. It's the most interviews I've ever done (33 up to this point) and I feel like my skill as an interviewer has drastically improved across this year, and certainly over the life of the podcast.
So with guest episodes in mind, I wanted to pull out some of my favorite nuggets from interviews in 2025. I wanted to include so many more than this, but I also wanted the episode to be about an hour long so I landed on 9 guest nuggets (I said 8 in the pod intro, pardon my bad counting skills).
Below are all the guests and their episode number so you can go back and listen to their full episode:
Webb Simpson: What confidence is made of, how to grow it, and what hurts Webb's confidence (Episode 242)
Dan Abrahams: How to get the most out of your ABCD Game (Episode 239)
Jayson Nickol: Getting comfortable going low and eliminating “Anyway Shots” (Episode 238)
Ross MacLeod: Is putting the most important part of the game? (Episode 244)
Mike Booker: The difference between a “Tournament Golfer” and a “Golfer Who Plays Tournaments” (Episode 241)
Gary Waters: The benefit of detaching yourself from your results (Episode 254)
Lou Stagner: Where should players set their stat benchmarks? (Episode 236)
Jim Waldron: What and how much should we be thinking about during the golf swing? (Episode 245)
Dawn Grant: How do you maximize joy on the golf course? (Episode 250)
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🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice
🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.
📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.
📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

268: Will Knauth - Why You Need Swing Thoughts to Play Good Golf

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.
🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice
🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.
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Will Knauth is a +5 handicap U.S. Mid-Amateur competitor, a PhD student in Theoretical Statistics and Time Series Analysis, and he has opinions on how to play better golf. In this episode, you'll hear those opinions.
I'm confident you'll leave here knowing more about the game with real things to try and having changed your thinking on different parts of golf.
Will is one of my favorite guests because he has no skin in the game--he's not pushing or selling anything, he's not trying to build a personal brand... he's just a good golfer who's incredibly smart. I think you'll enjoy it.
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Topics discussed:
Two and a Half Years of Fighting the Hooks
The Physics of Pushing vs. Pulling: Finding a New Swing Feel
Swing Thoughts on the Course: Why Mental Chatter Isn't the Enemy
Block Practice vs. Random Practice: The Internal Dialogue
The Music Analogy: Distraction and the Sequence of Thoughts
Bridging the Gap: Taking Your Range Game to the Course
The Bottom of the Pendulum: Knowing When to Change Swing Thoughts
Peaking for the US Mid-Am: Timing Your Game
The Tale of the 13: A US Mid-Am Disaster
Making Golf Work with a Demanding Life: Commitment and Sacrifice
Time vs. Efficiency: There's No Substitute for Hours
The Choice to Stay Competitive: What Are You Willing to Give Up?
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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.
📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

267: David Buck - Transform Your Game with Truth and Joy

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.
🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice
🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.
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David Buck is a former professional playing pro who’s competed on the Canadian Tour, mini tours, and traveled extensively across North America and internationally chasing the game. He now operates an engaged community through his brand Big Swing Kings, where he blends humor and real coaching, swing roasts, and totally unique ways of thinking about the game. And he says he does this all with the intent to help players play better and enjoy the game more.
You can find David at these places:
Youtube: Big Swing Kings
TikTok: bigswingkings
Instagram: bigswingkings
Website: bigswingkings.com
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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.
📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

266: FundaMENTALS - Expectations: The Psychology That Makes Good Golf Harder

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.
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In this FundaMENTALS episode, we look at how expectations add tension and narrow your options, and why shifting to clear standards helps you swing with freedom. I cover the basic brain mechanics, a simple process to use before each shot, and a few practical course examples. The goal is steadier decision-making and more durable confidence.
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🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice
🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.
📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

265: Carly Hunt - How Your Brain Shapes Golf, Pain, and Performance

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement
🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice
🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.
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What if your pain wasn’t just a body problem, but a brain and golf problem? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Carly Hunt—Mid-Am Golfer/Pain Psychologist and author of Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain—to talk about how golf can both ease and amplify pain, why “it’s all in your head” is a terrible (and wrong) message, and how the brain’s alarm system actually works. We get into practical tools for playing with ongoing pain, navigating fear of re-injury, dealing with the identity grief of not being the golfer you used to be, and how to shift from fighting your body to working with it so you can keep playing the game you love.
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Carly Hunt's links:
Carly Hunt's Book: Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain: How to Harness the Power of the Mind-Body Connection - https://www.amazon.com/Train-Your-Brain-Beat-Chronic/dp/1462558526
Pain Reprocessing Therapy - https://www.painreprocessingtherapy.com
The Pain Psychology Center - https://painpsychologycenter.com/therapy-techniques
Carly on LinkedIn
Carly on Instagram
Email Carly
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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

264: How to Lean Into Golf Discomfort, Not Eject

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.
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How do you lean in when the round of golf starts going sideways? It’s so easy to eject mentally and just go through the motions.
Let's dive into the concept of Exposure Therapy as a tool to build your mental resilience.
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FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement
📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.
Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.
Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.
Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com.
PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.
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Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.