#2364 - Brandon Epstein

Steven Pressfield

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

James Nestor

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

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

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…

James Nestor

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

Transcript mentionCard

The High Performance Playbook

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

Transcript mentionCard

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

the core wound

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

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

Program to Fail

The host briefly mentions the book 'Program to Fail' while discussing the placebo effect in surgical outcomes. This r…

Transcript mentionCard

Book mentions7

Media mentions1

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What is #2364 - Brandon Epstein about?

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

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The conversation centers on mental barriers in sports.
A second recurring theme is breathing and anxiety.
Referenced books include The War of Art by Steven Pressfield and Breath by James Nestor.
The strongest audience signal points to Individuals struggling with motivation and self-doubt and Athletes and individuals interested in mental performance.

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Which books are mentioned in #2364 - Brandon Epstein?

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, Breath by James Nestor, and The Success Code are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

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Mention sentiment

Deep Dive(4)Critical Analysis(1)Highly Recommended(1)Passing Reference(1)

Audience signals

Individuals struggling with motivation and self-doubtAthletes and individuals interested in mental performanceAthletes and coaches looking to improve mental resilienceAthletes and coaches seeking mental performance improvementAthletes and coaches seeking to improve 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 quote context, and better timestamp support rise first.

Steven Pressfield

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

“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

Key quote: “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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James Nestor

Transcript mention

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

“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

Key quote: “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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Transcript mention

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

“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

Key quote: “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 is crucial for athletes facing challenges.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

The High Performance Playbook

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

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

View mention details

Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: mental barriers in sports

For: Athletes and coaches seeking mental performance improvement

Key quote: “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.

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the core wound

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

“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

Key quote: “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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Can't Hurt Me

David Goggins

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

“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.

Key quote: “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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Program to Fail

Transcript mention

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

“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.”

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Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: placebo effects in surgery

For: Individuals interested in psychology and health outcomes

Key quote: “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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The War of Art

The Joe Rogan Experience · 1:05:51

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

Breath

The Joe Rogan Experience · 22:39

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

The Success Code

The Joe Rogan Experience · 29:08

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

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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 22:39

Check price Jump to mention

James Nestor

The host discusses the connection between breathing patterns and anxiety, particularly in high-pressure situations like jujitsu. They mention 'Brea…

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Mentioned at 29:08