Excellence Is a Process and Not a Result - Brad Stulberg

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