In this episode of The Game Changer Unlocked, Bryan Fetzer sits down with Nate Thompson—sports executive, founder of the CONNECT Conference, and creator of The Lab in Los Angeles. Nate shares his journey from Major League Baseball to building elite communities that connect sports, business, technology, and leadership. Discover how relationships, mindset, discipline, and innovation shape high performance in today’s competitive world.

The conversation dives into sports tech, networking, entrepreneurship, athlete development, creative leadership, and the future of performance spaces ahead of major events like the Olympics, World Cup, and Super Bowl in Los Angeles. Nate also reveals valuable career advice for young professionals looking to break into the sports industry and explains how meaningful connections create long-term success.

In this powerful episode of The Game Changer Unlocked aired on 05-06-26, host Brian Fetzer sits down with renowned sports psychologist Professor Adam Nichols from the University of Hull to explore mental toughness, stress management, resilience, and peak performance. Discover how elite athletes like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant thrived under pressure, why mindset matters in sports and business, and the coping strategies top performers use to succeed. Learn practical techniques for handling stress, improving focus, building resilience, and enhancing leadership performance in athletics, business, and everyday life. Professor Nichols also shares insights from his upcoming book on sports psychology and coaching. A must-watch episode for athletes, coaches, business leaders, and anyone looking to perform at their best under pressure.

• (00:00:00) - Game Changer Unlocked
• (00:01:29) - Adam Nichols
• (00:02:08) - Exploring stress and performance in sports psychology
• (00:03:55) - How do athletes handle pressure?
• (00:08:36) - What patterns have you seen consistently in high-performing individuals?
• (00:10:59) - One Simple Way to Manage Stress and Pressure
• (00:12:21) - Performance Psychology
• (00:15:15) - Why Do Some Athletes Perpetuate Under Pressure?
• (00:16:59) - How to handle stress in the workplace?
• (00:18:55) - What's the most effective Coping Strategy for athletes?
• (00:20:16) - How to Manage Stress
• (00:23:05) - Mental Fitness: Coaches and their environments
• (00:31:00) - Mental health in youth sports
• (00:33:18) - Where to Find Out More About The Book
• (00:34:53) - How to Cope with Pressure in Business and Sport
• (00:35:51) - Do Athletes Have an Advantage in the Business World?
• (00:37:40) - How to Build a More Resilient Team?
• (00:39:38) - How to manage stress in the workplace
• (00:43:01) - The Importance of Failure
• (00:44:25) - Adam Nichols

In this powerful episode of The Game Changer Unlocked (aired 04-29-26), host Bryan Fetzer sits down with renowned sports psychologist Professor Adam Nichols to uncover the science behind performing under pressure. Discover proven strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and unlock peak performance in sports, business, and everyday life.

Learn how elite athletes handle adversity, why mindset is the key differentiator at the highest level, and practical techniques like breathing, focus, and preparation that you can apply immediately. Nichols also shares insights on mental toughness, coaching impact, and how leaders can create high-performing environments.

• (00:00:00) - Game Changer Unlocked
• (00:01:29) - Adam Nichols
• (00:02:08) - Exploring stress and performance in sports psychology
• (00:03:55) - How do athletes handle pressure?
• (00:08:36) - What patterns have you seen consistently in high-performing individuals?
• (00:10:59) - One Simple Way to Manage Stress and Pressure
• (00:12:21) - Performance Psychology
• (00:15:15) - Why Do Some Athletes Perpetuate Under Pressure?
• (00:16:59) - How to handle stress in the workplace?
• (00:18:55) - What's the most effective Coping Strategy for athletes?
• (00:20:16) - How to Manage Stress
• (00:23:05) - Mental Fitness: Coaches and their environments
• (00:31:00) - Mental health in youth sports
• (00:33:18) - The Game Changer
• (00:34:53) - How to Cope with Pressure in Business and Sport
• (00:35:51) - Do Athletes Have an Advantage in Business?
• (00:37:40) - How to Build a More Resilient Team?
• (00:39:38) - How to manage stress in the workplace
• (00:43:01) - The Importance of Failure
• (00:44:25) - How to Handle Pressure