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Wee Chat with Thomas Barr, 2016 Olympic 400m hurdler

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WELCOME TO WEE CHATS WITH BRILLIANT PEOPLE

In this Wee Chat we talk to Thomas Barr, the current Irish National record holder of the 400m hurdles and a 2016 Olympian in Rio. He talks about “coming into his own” in the last 4 years and experiencing competitive success as an elite runner.

He is a four time Irish National Champion in the 400m men’s hurdles and in the fall of 2015 won a gold medal at the World University Games, and was awarded European Athlete of the Month. Also in that year, he was named Irish Athlete of the Year. Thomas was a semi-finalist in the 2014 European Senior Athletics Championship and in 2013 he placed 8th in the U-23 European Track and Field Championship. He graduated from the University of Limerick with a degree in Engineering, and continued there to earn his Master’s degree in Sport Performance. Thomas competes in the 400m hurdles starting on Monday, August 15 at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio.

Thomas has experienced brilliant success by learning to combine his friendly, social nature with purposeful, performance focus to compete at the elite world stage. In studying his craft, Thomas has developed the mental awareness of what potential factors will impact his race and uses mental skills such as visualization to assist his performance.
Join us and listen how this and more have helped Thomas Barr’s path to enjoying brilliant performances.

For Thomas Barr biography check out http://weechats.com/thomas-barr-2016-olympic-400m-hurdler

Wee Chat with Dr. Leslie Sherlin – Neuroscientist

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In this Wee Chat we talk with Dr. Leslie Sherlin, one of the leading neuroscientists in sport psychology. He has spent numerous years studying many brains in his pursuit of identifying what neurological components separate elite athletes from regular people. This pursuit has led to his work being featured on networks like ESPN and CNN as well as partnering with Red Bull. By having an understanding in neuroscience, sport psychology and clinical psychology, Dr. Sherlin incorporates techniques which support which psychological and physiological states. He talks about his own process for performance and how he uses certain techniques like reflection and introspection to evaluate his own work/performance. Join us and listen to how this and more have helped Dr. Sherlin’s path in looking for the unknown in various great and brilliant minds.

Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/leslie-sherlin-neuroscientist for more information about Dr Sherlin.

Wee Chat with Matthew Arlidge – Writer and Author

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In this Wee Chat we talk to author and writer, Matthew Arlidge or as he is better known in the crime drama/thriller novel community, MJ Arlidge. He has worked in television for the last 15 years, specializing in high end drama production. Arlidge has produced a number of prime-time crime serials for ITV in the last five years, and is currently working on a major adaptation of The Last of the Mohicans for the BBC. He is now a very popular crime novelist having written various novels like Eeny Meeny and The Doll’s House. In this Wee Chat He discusses the mental preparation he uses like motivation to write his novels along with his unique process of planning each novel. His latest book Liar Liar has been released this month in the US after receiving much praise in the UK.

Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/matthew-arlidge-writer/

Wee Chat with Gwendolyn Mok – Pianist

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In this Wee Chat we talk to Dr. Gwendolyn Mok, a world renowned pianist and current Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at San Jose State University School of Music and Dance. She is a New York native who loves playing the piano and learning about their history as well. Her passion for performing has rewarded and allowed her to perform on various stages around the world. In this chat she talks about the mental side of being a professional pianist and performer. Gwen mentions how preparation is important to her along with her pre-performance routine which at times can include a pan! Listen to her also discuss the similarities and differences between athletes and musicians. Enjoy this Wee Chat with Gwendolyn Mok.

Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/gwen-mok-pianist/

Wee Chat with Steve Poltz – Musician

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In this Wee Chat we talk to Steve Poltz, a Canadian born singer and songwriter. We have all at one point or another probably heard one of his songs on TV or the radio as his songs have been amongst the longest running ever on the Billboard Top 100 and they regularly appear in movie soundtracks, television shows, and even the odd commercial. He talks to us backstage before a gig at Slim’s in San Francisco about the mental side of being a professional musician. He mentions how he prefers to have uncertainty rather than a set playlist for his shows and with no routines. This transfers to his shows where the crowd, along with him, do not know what to expect; he only relies on what is in his control, which is the music. This is an excellent skill that we love working on with performers. He makes each show unique in order to keep things spontaneous for himself and the audience. Listen to how he credits his success to the positive thinking that was taught to him by his father, this is a great example for us interested in mental skills for performance. This Wee Chat was a lot of fun, so enjoy listening to Steve Poltz’s brilliance and his many stories!

Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/steve-poltz-musician/

Wee Chat with Jose Lambert – Tennis Coach

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In this Wee Chat we talk to Jose Lambert, tennis coach at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Jose knows the IMG Academy pretty well due to being one of their players in his younger days. Knowing the culture and expectations it takes to be a player for IMG has helped Jose bring that experience into his own coaching style. He likes to “walk the walk” in order to serve as a role model for his players not just physically but mentally as well. Jose recognizes the importance that visualization plays in coaching and can help prepare them for anything that may happen during the day.

Lambert has been with the IMG Academy Bollettieri Tennis program for almost thirty-five years. First as a player and then as a coach, Lambert played a major role in the development of the tennis program at IMG Academy. He served as a traveling coach for Monica Seles, and Jim Courier. He has also worked with other tennis greats like Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova and currently does some coaching with Kei Nishikori. Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/jose-lambert-tennis-coach/ for more information about Jose and his work as a top tennis coach.

Wee Chat with Catherine Arlidge – MBE, Violinist for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

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In this Wee Chat we talk to Catherine Arlidge, MBE. She is a violinist and presenter for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England. Since starting to play the violin at the age of 5 Catherine has gone on to achieve many accolades throughout her career. In January 2016 Catherine was awarded a prestigious MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list, for services to music education. In her career she has started various programs to help use music as an educational outlet, whilst also continuing to play for the CBSO.

In her Wee Chat she talks about what it is like to work with some of the best conductors in the world, like Sir Simon Rattle, the difference between striving to be a top performer as a violinist versus being a team player in the collective of an orchestra, being an ambassador for some of the greatest art known to us, she also touches on what her 3 Ps of preparation are and she talks about what she does to counter nerves before performing. She discusses the excitement that music brings to her and especially being able to convey that to young audiences in her teaching. Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/catherine-arlidge-MBE-violinist/ for more information about Catherine and her work as a violinist.

Wee Chat with Neal Huntington – Baseball General Manager

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As the baseball season has just started again we talk in this Wee Chat to Neal Huntington, General Manager of the Major League baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Neal has been in this position since 2007 and has helped the organization became a force to be reckoned with in Major League Baseball (MLB). He gives us insight on the mental side of being a leader and the importance of balance in its many forms. Teams in the MLB are starting to realize the importance of the mental side of the game and Neal embodies resilience through his work as the GM and describes how he rides the waves. We also learn a little more about his family and his philosophy on being a good leader. Alison interviewed him at the end of a weekend Think Tank that she took part in at their training ground in Bradenton, Florida. So sit back and enjoy this Wee Chat over a cup of tea with the brilliant Neal Huntington.

Check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/neal-huntington-general-manager/ for more information about Neal and his work as a GM.

Wee Chat with Dr. Mitch Abrams – Sport Psychologist

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In this Wee Chat, we talk to Dr. Mitch Abrams, who is a sport psychologist and national expert on anger management. His knowledge on anger management has led him to be sought after by many athletes, teams, and organizations to help provide more insight on this important topic and how to best to address it. Mitch is based in New Jersey where he works as a Clinician Administrator for University Correctional Health Care, which is part of Rutgers University. In this role he oversees mental health services for five of the state prisons in New Jersey and coordinates the forensic track for pre-doctoral internships. His other focus is his private sport psychology practice which he has established for more than 20 years now. This interview took place on the JFK University campus in Pleasant Hill, California, right after he gave a day workshop to the Master’s students in Sport Psychology. So enjoy this Wee Chat over a cup of tea with the brilliant Mitch Abrams and check out www.weechats.com/brilliant-people/mitch-abrams-sport-psychologist/ for more information about Dr. Abrams.

Wee Chat with The Brothers Comatose – band

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In this Wee Chat, we talk to The Brothers Comatose, a “Fun folk/bluegrass/Americana rowdy string band with a party vibe” (their own description of themselves!). This is our first interview with a whole band (and the 18 month old Charlie helped out) and what fun it was! Over a cup of tea and some British biscuits, they talked about their secret to traveling together and still getting on, the difference between performing in small bars and bigger venues, what they do to warm up, the role of alcohol in performance, and how they get their game face on! Enjoy this Wee Chat with the brilliant and exciting Brothers Comatose.
If you would like to learn more about The Brothers Comatose and how to connect with them directly, check out http://weechats.com/brilliant-people/the-brothers-comatose-band for more information.