The Athlete's Porch | The Power of Self Talk

Success Leaves Clues with Jon Karcich · Mar 8, 2026 · 13m

Self talk might be the most powerful coach an athlete has.

In this episode of The Athlete’s Porch, Jon Karcich breaks down the science and psychology behind self talk and why elite athletes train the voice inside their head.

From Tom Brady and Kobe Bryant to Tiger Woods, Steph Curry, Rafael Nadal, and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, the best competitors use simple cues and internal dialogue to control their focus and performance.

Jon explains the concept of “ironic rebound” — why telling yourself “don’t mess up” can actually increase mistakes — and how elite athletes replace negative internal…