#2364 - Brandon Epstein

Steven Pressfield

Indexed context: The host mentions 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield to emphasize the concept of self-suppression and the resistance that prevents individuals fro…

Indexed context: The host discusses the importance of mental resilience for fighters, particularly after setbacks like knockouts. They mention 'The High Performance P…

Indexed context: The host mentions 'The Success Code' as a resource for athletes to overcome mental barriers and rebuild their confidence after setbacks. The book pro…

Guest: Brandon Epstein

Episode summary

Brandon Epstein is a mental performance coach, speaker, and author of several books, the most recent of which is "The Success Code: "Programmed to Fail: How to Break Through Your Mental Block and Achieve Greatness." www.thebrandonepstein.com WORKING KNIVES FOR WORKING PEOPLE. PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA. https://www.montanaknifecompany.com/ Don’t miss out on all the action - Download the DraftKings app today! Sign-up at https://dkng.co/rogan or with my promo code ROGAN. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 9/29/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

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Steven Pressfield

The host mentions 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield to emphasize the concept of self-suppression and the resistan…

Steven Pressfield

The host mentions 'The War of Art' to illustrate the concept of self-suppression and the resistance people face when…

Transcript mentionCard

The host discusses the importance of mental resilience for fighters, particularly after setbacks like knockouts. They…

The host mentions 'The Success Code' as a resource for athletes to overcome mental barriers and rebuild their confide…

the core wound

The host mentions 'The Core Wound' to emphasize the importance of addressing deep-seated emotional issues that can af…

Breath

James Nestor

The host discusses the connection between breathing patterns and anxiety, particularly in high-pressure situations li…

Transcript mentionCard

Can't Hurt Me

David Goggins

The host highlights the disparity between the popularity of Goggins' book and the actual implementation of its teachi…

mental barriers in sports(3)placebo effects in surgery(2)self-suppression and resistance(2)breathing and anxiety(1)breathing and performance(1)discipline and willpower(1)elite athlete mindset(1)

The host mentions 'The Success Code' as a resource for athletes to overcome mental barriers and rebuild their confide…

Transcript mentionCard

Book mentions11

Media mentions1

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What is #2364 - Brandon Epstein about?

Summary, books mentioned, source context, and timestamps for #2364 - Brandon Epstein on The Joe Rogan Experience.

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What are the main takeaways from #2364 - Brandon Epstein?

These themes are drawn from the indexed episode description and linked mentions for #2364 - Brandon Epstein.

The conversation centers on mental barriers in sports.
A second recurring theme is placebo effects in surgery.
Referenced books include The War of Art by Steven Pressfield and The High Performance Playbook.
Related interests include Individuals struggling with motivation and self-doubt and Athletes and coaches seeking mental performance improvement.

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Which books are mentioned in #2364 - Brandon Epstein?

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, The High Performance Playbook, and The Success Code are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to source cards and timestamps where available.

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Mention types

Deep Dive(6)Passing Reference(3)Critical Analysis(1)Highly Recommended(1)

Related interests

Individuals struggling with motivation and self-doubtAthletes and coaches seeking mental performance improvementAthletes and coaches looking to enhance mental resilienceAthletes and coaches seeking to improve mental performanceAthletes and individuals interested in mental performanceIndividuals seeking to improve their discipline and mental toughness.

Books Mentioned

The full list below is ranked by how useful each mention is to a listener: stronger recommendation language, clearer source context, and better timestamp support rise first.

Steven Pressfield

Best for Individuals struggling with motivation and self-doubtOften cited around self-suppression and resistance

Indexed context

Steven Pressfield has an amazing book called The War of Art. And it's about that suppression that you put on yourself, that weird, and he calls it resistance.

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Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: self-suppression and resistance

For: Individuals struggling with motivation and self-doubt

Indexed context: Steven Pressfield has an amazing book called The War of Art.

The host mentions 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield to emphasize the concept of self-suppression and the resistance that prevents individuals from pursuing their true passions. The book serves as a guide for overcoming these internal barriers and encourages listeners to take action towards their aspirations.

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Steven Pressfield

Transcript mention

Best for Individuals struggling with motivation and self-doubtOften cited around self-suppression and resistance

Indexed context

It's about that suppression that you put on yourself, that weird, and he calls it resistance. Yes. And, you know, he talks about summoning the muse and deciding that you're a professional and show up every day.

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: self-suppression and resistance

For: Individuals struggling with motivation and self-doubt

Indexed context: Steven Pressfield has an amazing book called The War of Art.

The host mentions 'The War of Art' to illustrate the concept of self-suppression and the resistance people face when trying to pursue their passions. Pressfield's insights on overcoming these barriers resonate with the host's discussion about the importance of following one's natural inspiration.

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Best for Athletes and coaches seeking mental performance improvementOften cited around mental barriers in sports

Indexed context

The speaker mentions 'The High Performance Playbook' as part of their discussion on approaches to different occupations and life applications.

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: mental barriers in sports

For: Athletes and coaches seeking mental performance improvement

Indexed context: So the high performance playbook for... yeah, for eliminating mental barriers and scaling your career relationships and health.

The host discusses the importance of mental resilience for fighters, particularly after setbacks like knockouts. They mention 'The High Performance Playbook' as a resource for overcoming mental barriers and improving various life aspects.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Best for Athletes and coaches looking to enhance mental resilienceOften cited around mental barriers in sports

Indexed context

The speaker discusses their book, 'The Success Code', which focuses on eliminating mental barriers and scaling various aspects of life.

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: mental barriers in sports

For: Athletes and coaches looking to enhance mental resilience

Indexed context: So this book, how long does it take you to write it? Like six months.

The host mentions 'The Success Code' as a resource for athletes to overcome mental barriers and rebuild their confidence after setbacks. The book provides a structured approach to assessing and improving various aspects of life, which can be particularly beneficial for those in high-pressure environments like sports.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

the core wound

Best for Athletes and coaches seeking to improve mental performanceOften cited around elite athlete mindset

Indexed context

The speaker discusses a concept referred to as 'the core wound', which relates to personal trauma and its impact on confidence.

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: elite athlete mindset

For: Athletes and coaches seeking to improve mental performance

Indexed context: The worst thing that ever happened to you is the worst thing that ever happened to you.

The host mentions 'The Core Wound' to emphasize the importance of addressing deep-seated emotional issues that can affect an athlete's confidence and performance. By identifying and clearing these core wounds, athletes can enhance their self-belief and overall mental resilience.

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Breath

James Nestor

Transcript mention

Best for Athletes and individuals interested in mental performanceOften cited around breathing and anxiety

Indexed context

James Nestor's book when he talks about holotropic breathing and all different you I've done a bunch of it yeah I've had like legit trips from breathing.

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: breathing and anxiety

For: Athletes and individuals interested in mental performance

Indexed context: Don't you think that's probably constricted breathing though?

The host discusses the connection between breathing patterns and anxiety, particularly in high-pressure situations like jujitsu. They mention 'Breath' by James Nestor to highlight the importance of understanding and improving one's breathing for better mental and physical performance.

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Can't Hurt Me

David Goggins

Best for Individuals seeking to improve their discipline and mental toughness.Often cited around discipline and willpower

Indexed context

The speaker discusses how millions of people read David Goggins' book and questions why so few can replicate his example of discipline and willpower.

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Sentiment: Critical Analysis

Trigger: discipline and willpower

For: Individuals seeking to improve their discipline and mental toughness.

Indexed context: The speaker discusses how millions of people read David Goggins' book and questions why so few can replicate his example of discipline and willpower.

The host highlights the disparity between the popularity of Goggins' book and the actual implementation of its teachings by readers. This raises questions about the challenges of adopting such a high level of discipline in everyday life.

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Transcript mention

Best for Athletes and coaches looking to improve mental resilienceOften cited around mental barriers in sports

Indexed context

The success code. Well, it was a year, but with that it was yours. The high performance playbook for eliminating mental barriers and scaling your career relationships and health.

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: mental barriers in sports

For: Athletes and coaches looking to improve mental resilience

Indexed context: So this book, how long does it take you to write it? Like six months.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Breath

James Nestor

Best for Athletes and individuals interested in performance psychologyOften cited around breathing and performance

Indexed context

The discussion references James Nestor's book where he talks about holotropic breathing and different experiences related to breathing exercises.

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: breathing and performance

For: Athletes and individuals interested in performance psychology

Indexed context: Don't you think that's probably constricted breathing though?

The host mentions 'Breath' by James Nestor in the context of discussing how constricted breathing can affect performance and anxiety. This highlights the importance of breath control in managing physical and mental states during high-pressure situations.

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Program to Fail

Best for Individuals interested in psychology and medical outcomesOften cited around placebo effects in surgery

Indexed context

You rebranded the book? Yeah. What's it called on Spotify? Program to fail.

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: placebo effects in surgery

For: Individuals interested in psychology and medical outcomes

Indexed context: Yeah, but the question is like, would they have healed anyway without it?

The host briefly mentions the book 'Program to Fail' in the context of discussing the placebo effect and its implications in surgical outcomes. This reference highlights the importance of belief in healing and the potential for mindset to influence recovery.

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Program to Fail

Transcript mention

Best for Individuals interested in psychology and health outcomesOften cited around placebo effects in surgery

Indexed context

So just look up brand ups and you'll find the book. What do you mean? You rebranded the book? Yeah. What's it called on Spotify? Program to fail.

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: placebo effects in surgery

For: Individuals interested in psychology and health outcomes

Indexed context: Yeah, but the question is like, would they have healed anyway without it?

The host briefly mentions the book 'Program to Fail' while discussing the placebo effect in surgical outcomes. This reference highlights the importance of belief in healing, suggesting that mindset may play a crucial role in recovery.

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Find on Amazon

Book picks by email

Get more book picks with podcast context.

The War of Art

The Joe Rogan Experience · 1:05:51

Indexed context: The host mentions 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield to emphasize the concept of self-suppression and the resistance that prevents individuals fro…

The High Performance Playbook

The Joe Rogan Experience · 2:10:31

Indexed context: The host discusses the importance of mental resilience for fighters, particularly after setbacks like knockouts. They mention 'The High Performance P…

The Success Code

The Joe Rogan Experience · 2:10:29

Indexed context: The host mentions 'The Success Code' as a resource for athletes to overcome mental barriers and rebuild their confidence after setbacks. The book pro…

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Mentioned at 1:05:51

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Steven Pressfield

The host mentions 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield to emphasize the concept of self-suppression and the resistance that prevents individuals f…

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Mentioned at 2:10:31

Check price on Amazon Jump to mention

The host discusses the importance of mental resilience for fighters, particularly after setbacks like knockouts. They mention 'The High Performance…

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Mentioned at 2:10:29