Best Josh Alcaraz Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 191 - Tough Losses 36:08

3h ago36:08

36:08

Some losses are tougher to digest than others, and in this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can handle tough losses in the best possible way. They start by defining different types of tough losses such as losses in big events, losses in close matches, losses when it feels personal, losses against weaker players, and losses when a …

1
Ep. 190 - US Open 2024 | Sinner, Sabalenka, Fritz, and Pegula 48:22

1d ago48:22

48:22

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2024 US Open through the lens of sport psychology and mental skills. Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to win the women's singles championship while Jannik Sinner defeated Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to win the men's singles championship. The hosts talk about the various upsets of the tourna…

1
Ep. 189 - Commit to Your Game Plan 51:03

9d ago51:03

51:03

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the necessity of trust and commitment to a game plan by looking at the concept in three ways: 1) how players can develop their playing style and game plan long-term, 2) committing to a game plan going into a match, and 3) trusting the game plan and committing to it between points. Tennis IQ Patreon Page: http…

1
Ep. 188 - Beware! Anger is a Pleasurable Emotion 50:58

24d ago50:58

50:58

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss anger and what people often get wrong about it. The conversation is based on an article entitled “4 Things About Anger Everyone Should Know." The co-hosts review their thoughts on each of the four things noted in the article and provide practical implications of understanding anger for tennis players. Article…

1
Ep. 187 - Is the SMART Goals Framework Overrated? 40:18

1M ago40:18

40:18

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the differences between “SMART goals” and “open goals”. They outlined the benefits and drawbacks of the popular “SMART goals” approach and introduced open goals as an alternative. Additionally, they reviewed process goals, learning goals, and other concepts related to the goal setting and attainment process. …

1
Ep. 186 - How Your Brain Actually Works 42:08

2M ago42:08

42:08

Is it true that each of us has a 'reptilian' brain within our human brain? Where do our emotions come from? In this episode, Josh and Brian debunk some myths about the brain and explain how emotions are constructed. Knowing how this actually works can be very beneficial for tennis players. Papers noted in this episode: The Theory of Constructed Emo…

1
Ep. 185 - Peter Clarke on the Transition from Tennis to Business 1:02:07

2M ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Peter Clarke is a former professional tennis player who was born in Ireland, and moved to Australia at the age of 6 where he developed his game to become one of the best juniors in the country. He went on to play professional tennis on the ATP Tour, and as a professional player, he achieved a career high world ranking of 229 in 2002. It was during …

1
Ep. 184 - Wimbledon 2024 Recap | Alcaraz, Djokovic, Krejčíková, Paolini 34:10

2M ago34:10

34:10

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. On the women’s side, Barbora Krejčíková defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, and on the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4). The co-hosts review various sport psychology themes relating to the champions, the finalists, and other top players …

1
Ep. 183 - Addressing Irrational Beliefs and Self-Talk 39:25

3M ago39:25

39:25

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the impact of irrational self-talk. Examples of this type of self-talk involve words and phrases such as ‘have to’, ‘need to’, ‘supposed to’, ‘should’, ‘must’, etc. These phrases add pressure and make it harder for tennis players to be at their best. The hosts reviewed how irrational self-talk originated, and…

1
#10 - A Return to Roland Garros - Alcaraz v Zverev in Review 22:24

3M ago22:24

22:24

The Alcaraz v Zverev French Open Final was an epic see-saw of a tennis match, and in this brief retrospective episode, we share our thoughts on the 2024 final with the benefit of hindsight. ... Spread the word about the show and we'll give you a shout on the Pod. https://JCALdigital.org https://www.instagram.com/beergardensports/ ... Episode Theme …

1
Ep. 182 - Lessons from Roger Federer at Dartmouth 43:47

3M ago43:47

43:47

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss Roger Federer’s recent commencement address at Dartmouth College. His address included three “lessons” which are: 1) “effortless” is a myth, 2) it’s only a point, and 3) life is bigger than the court. The co-hosts examine how these three “lessons” relate to various sport psychology themes that tennis players …

1
Ep. 181 - Rick Macci and Champion Mindsets 1:07:36

3M ago1:07:36

1:07:36

In this episode, Brian and Josh were joined by Rick Macci, and their conversation touched on a number of topics related to sport psychology and the mental aspect of tennis. Over the past 40 years, Rick Macci has had the distinction of having trained and worked with a “Who’s Who” of tennis players including Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Andy Rodd…

1
Ep. 180 - Thoughts on Roland Garros 2024 - Alcaraz and Świątek 50:35

3M ago50:35

50:35

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss their thoughts on the 2024 French Open (Roland-Garros). They review Iga Świątek's performance in the tournament which culminated with a 6-2 6-1 victory in the women's championship match over Jasmine Paolini. Additionally, the co-hosts talked about Carlos Alcaraz’s win in the men's final over Alexander Zverev …

1
Ep. 179 - Developing Your Mental Scorecard 39:02

3M ago39:02

39:02

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of creating and using a “mental scorecard”. This concept is popular in golf. and the co-hosts discuss how tennis players can apply it to their own games. By using a mental scorecard, players can remind themselves of the main controllable factors that they’re trying to focus on, and can also hold t…

1
#9 - Djokovic's Early Form at Roland-Garros & Nadal v Zverev was a Round 1 Blockbuster (p2/3) 16:11

3M ago16:11

16:11

Part 2/3. Djokovic's Early Form at Roland-Garros Nadal v Zverev was Awesome Quality Spread the word about the show and we'll give you a shout on the Pod. https://JCALdigital.org https://www.instagram.com/beergardensports/ ... Episode Theme Song is 'Fight Night' by Soundridemusic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P76knk9dAkI - check out their YT Chann…

1
#8 - I've Got A Problem! Lousy French Open Coverage & Tommy Paul's Trucker Hat (p1/3) 18:33

3M ago18:33

18:33

Part 1/3. New Segment Alert! I've Got A Problem! Culphman: Lousy French Open Coverage on Australian Free-to-Air. Josh: Tommy Paul's Trucker Hat. Spread the word about the show and we'll give you a shout on the Pod. https://JCALdigital.org https://www.instagram.com/beergardensports/ ... Episode Theme Song is 'Fight Night' by Soundridemusic https://w…

1
Ep. 178 - Be More Concerned with Your Present Than Your Past or Future 44:14

4M ago44:14

44:14

"Never confuse yourself by visions of an entire lifetime at once. That is, do not let your thoughts range over the whole multitude and variety of the misfortunes that may befall you, but rather, as you encounter each one, ask yourself, ‘What is there unendurable, so insupportable, in this?’ You will find that you are ashamed to admit defeat. Again,…

1
#7 - Wildcards | Darwin Blanch & Big Name Byes - Conspiracy Corner with Culphman 20:29

4M ago20:29

20:29

https://JCALdigital.org https://www.instagram.com/beergardensports/ Wildcards as a concept in 2024. Darwin Blanch gets the tap on the shoulder, and then gets destroyed by Nadal. Big Names getting Byes in early rounds of non-Slam Tournaments. Spread the word about the show and we'll give you a shout on the Pod. ... Episode Theme Song is 'Fight Night…

1
Ep. 177 - Don't Fake It Till You Make It. Instead, "Act As If." 41:06

4M ago41:06

41:06

In this episode, Brian and Josh discussed the role of identity and self-image on tennis and performance. The co-hosts examined the connection between identity, behavior and feelings, and differentiated between two pathways and the consequences of each. The two pathways are 1) starting with developing our identity which leads to certain behaviors an…

1
Ep. 174 - The Stockdale Paradox and Tennis 36:41

4M ago36:41

36:41

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the “Stockdale Paradox” and how it relates to tennis. The co-hosts review the background of Jim Stockdale and consider whether they believe this “paradox” is in fact a paradox or not. They talk about the link between accepting reality and optimism, and the necessity for tennis players to be able to do both. T…

1
#6 - Rublev Wins Madrid | Thiem's Retirement | Novak's History of Odd Occurrences 40:54

4M ago40:54

40:54

https://JCALdigital.org https://www.instagram.com/beergardensports/ Rublev Wins the Madrid Masters 1000. Dominic Thiem announces his retirement. Novak's History of Odd Occurrences (the Water Bottle Incident 2024). Spread the word about the show and we'll give you a shout on the Pod. ... Episode Theme Song is 'Fight Night' by Soundridemusic https://…

1
#5 - A Motivated FAA | Jan-Lennard Struff Wins Munich | Mpetshi Perricard & French Tennis 29:23

4M ago29:23

29:23

https://JCALdigital.org https://www.instagram.com/beergardensports/ How FAA and other Pros in his position build and maintain motivation. Jan-Lennard Struff Wins Munich. Mpetshi Perricard & French Tennis. Spread the word about the show and we'll give you a shout on the Pod. ... Episode Theme Song is 'Fight Night' by Soundridemusic https://www.youtu…

1
Ep. 176 - Dave Bailey - The Impact of Footwork on the Mental Game 1:05:40

5M ago1:05:40

1:05:40

Dave Bailey is the world’s leading expert in tennis movement and footwork, and the creator of The Bailey Method. In his professional career, Dave has spent over 30 years studying the footwork and movement patterns of the top tennis professionals, viewing more than 18,000 video clips of professional players in action – carefully observing and docume…

1
#4 - Ruud Wins Barcelona | Nadal vs Lehecka | Félix Auger-Aliassime Lifts at the Madrid Open 33:51

5M ago33:51

33:51

https://JCALdigital.org https://www.instagram.com/beergardensports/ Part 1 of a 2 part series on the Clay Court Masters Events. In this episode we cover: Casper Ruud wins Barcelona, and gets his revenge on Tsitsipas on the finals rematch. Jiri Lehecka shows off his full arsenal against Nadal in Madrid. Félix Auger-Aliassime has a return to form and…

1
Ep. 175 - Becoming a Relentless Competitor Like Rafael Nadal 41:33

5M ago41:33

41:33

Relentlessness is a virtue that all tennis players should practice, and it is a virtue that Rafael Nadal (and others) has embodied throughout his playing career. Never giving up, and playing your game no matter the score are examples of relentlessness in action. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss what it means to be relentless, the challenges …

1
#3 - Casper Ruud's Form | Dimitrov on Clay | Our Picks to Win Roland-Garros 2024 (p2/2) 17:08

5M ago17:08

17:08

https://JCALdigital.org https://www.instagram.com/beergardensports/ Part 2 of a 2 part series on the Clay Court Masters Events. In this episode we cover: Casper Ruud's Return to Form. Dimitrov's Chances on the Clay. Our (Current) Picks to Win Roland-Garros Spread the word about the show and we'll give you a shout on the Pod. ... Episode Theme Song …

1
#2 - Ideal Clay Court Athletes | Tsitsipas Wins Monte-Carlo | Nadal's Return (p1/2) 22:19

5M ago22:19

22:19

https://JCALdigital.org https://www.instagram.com/beergardensports/ Part 1 of a 2 part series on the Clay Court Masters Events. In this episode we cover: The Ideal Clay Court Athlete. Tsitsipas wins Monte-Carlo, but can he win the French Open? Nadal's return to the Tour. Spread the word about the show and we'll give you a shout on the Pod. ... Epis…

1
Ep. 173 - Athlete Centered to Athlete Ownership 42:49

5M ago42:49

42:49

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the transition from an athlete-centered perspective to one of athlete ownership. This concept is particularly important for junior players as they strive to take more ownership of different aspects of their tennis journey while they progress. By taking more of an athlete ownership approach, young athletes lea…

1
#1 - Djokovic & Sinner on Clay | Alcaraz Injury | Zverev at #5 | Shelton, Berrettini, Hurkacz 45:15

5M ago45:15

45:15

https://JCALdigital.org https://www.instagram.com/beergardensports/ In this inaugural episode, Josh Liston and The Culphman bring their passion and expertise to the mic, discussing the intricacies of Tennis that often go unnoticed. From the striking power of Sinner and Alcaraz; to the mental fortitude of The BIG 3; to the resilience of Zverev, the …

1
Ep. 172 - Why You Need to Commit to Your Routines 36:35

6M ago36:35

36:35

In tennis, there are a number of routines and rituals that players can use to bring out their best performances. However, not all players use routines as effectively as they could. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss some of the challenges with using routines, and offer suggestions for how to commit to these important practices. Tennis IQ Patre…

1
Ep. 171 - What to Do When Things Are Not Working 39:07

6M ago39:07

39:07

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss what tennis players can do when nothing is working for them in a match. The co-hosts examine different strategies and tools that tennis players can use in these moments, and also consider broader mindsets and perspectives that can be helpful to apply in these situations. Topics discussed include going back to…

1
Ep. 170 - Ryan Harrison and the Philosophy of Better Player, Better Results 1:00:24

6M ago1:00:24

1:00:24

Ryan Harrison is a former professional tennis player and Head Coach at Harrison Tennis Academy. With a playing career spanning over 15 years on the ATP Tour, Ryan Harrison stands as a Grand Slam Champion, clinching the Roland Garros men’s doubles title in 2017 with Michael Venus. His journey in professional tennis has seen him reach a career-best s…

1
Ep. 169 - Dr. Cathy Utzschneider on Goal Achievement and a Fulfilling Life 56:53

6M ago56:53

56:53

Dr. Cathy Utzschneider is the founder of the coaching practice, MOVE! - a method of goal achievement that helps all kinds of coaches and executives assist others with their goals. Cathy's 25 years of experience as a national- and world-class masters athlete, as well as her doctoral dissertation on goal achievement and excellence, support the method…

1
Ep. 168 - Motivation and Self-Determination Theory 39:00

7M ago39:00

39:00

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss different aspects of motivation relative to self-determination theory, and how tennis players can be clear about what motivates them in terms of competence, autonomy, and relatedness (basic psychological needs). They also examine how people are generally motivated by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic f…

1
Ep. 167 - The Value of Studying Your Success 30:42

7M ago30:42

30:42

It's commonly believed that tennis players learn more from their losses than their wins. But is that actually true? In this episode, Josh and Brian highlight the benefits of studying your wins and your best performances. Don't take those successes for granted; learn to replicate them. Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/…

1
Ep. 166 - The Value of Experimentation in Your Training 42:10

7M ago42:10

42:10

In this episode, Brian and Josh discussed how tennis players can be experiments and students on their tennis journey. The co-hosts examined the ways that tennis players can benefit by experimenting more, and how experimenting rather than committing to changing/fixing things tends to be easier because it doesn’t present a permanent change. This prot…

1
Ep. 165 - Wanting to Win and Playing to Win Are Not the Same 31:08

7M ago31:08

31:08

Before a match begins, everyone wants to win, but maintaining that desire throughout the match is not easy. Similarly, we all want to play to win during a match, but that has its own challenges. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the relationship between the "desire to win" and "playing to win," and the challenges associated with each. Tennis …

1
Ep. 164 - What You Can Learn from the Netflix Movie Hustle 34:40

8M ago34:40

34:40

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss various sport psychology themes from the Netflix movie Hustle. The movie stars Adam Sandler as a NBA scout who identifies a talented basketball player from Spain, and then brings him to the United States. The movie includes various themes related to mental performance including work ethic needed to get to the…

1
Ep. 163 - Australian Open 2024 | Sinner, Medvedev and Sabalenka 1:06:39

8M ago1:06:39

1:06:39

The 2024 Australian Open has wrapped up with Aryna Sabalenka winning the women’s singles title over Zheng Qinwen 6–3, 6-2, and Jannik Sinner winning the men’s singles title over Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the finals of the women’s and men’s singles championships, review the performances of other…

1
Ep. 162 - Ryan Redondo and his Tennis Mission/Purpose 56:11

8M ago56:11

56:11

Ryan Redondo is CEO/GM of Youth Tennis San Diego and the Barnes Tennis Center, as well as Tournament Director of the San Diego Open WTA 500. He comes from a long tradition of tennis players in his family, and he is a former college and professional player. After his playing career, he went into coaching, both privately and at the collegiate level. …

1
Ep. 161 - The Benefits of Viewing Tennis as a Team Sport 39:57

8M ago39:57

39:57

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the different contexts that tennis can be understood as a team sport. They discussed three main situations in this episode. First, they talked about situations where training is done as a team which includes in academies, high school teams, college teams, and adult league teams. Next, they discussed the roles…

1
Ep. 160 - Addressing Self-Limiting Beliefs and Attitudes 43:46

9M ago43:46

43:46

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss common self-limiting beliefs that tennis players often hold, and approaches that players can take to address and change these beliefs over time. The co-hosts talk about the importance of awareness of self-talk, the benefits of journaling, and detail the process that tennis players can go about to adjust and i…

1
Ep. 159 - Top Things We Learned in 2023 55:07

9M ago55:07

55:07

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the top things they learned from 2023 and their top takeaways from the year. These include tennis-specific learnings and takeaways from 2023, as well as general lessons from the past year. They also announced a special event on December 28th at 8 pm EST / 5pm PST. This event will include an "Ask Me Anything" …

1
Ep. 158 - Is Your Self-Worth Based on Performance? 41:08

9M ago41:08

41:08

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss an article from Fast Company, written by Kevin Lake and Dr. Michael Gervais , “The psychological pitfalls of tying self-worth and happiness to performance”. The co-hosts outline the main points from the article, talk about the benefits of establishing a purpose-based identity, and discuss the practical implic…

1
Ep. 157 - Learning from the Lifestyle Challenges of Professional Players 50:23

10M ago50:23

50:23

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the lifestyle challenges of professional tennis players. This conversation is based on an article in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology by Saul J. Shrom, Jennifer Cumming & Sarah-Jane Fenton titled “Lifestyle Challenges and Mental Health of Professional Tennis Players: an Exploratory C…

1
Ep. 156 - The Performance Impact of Increasing Tolerance of Discomfort 51:22

10M ago51:22

51:22

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of tolerance as a mental skill. This includes both physical tolerance (pain, withstanding physical training, playing in heat, etc.) as well as emotional tolerance. The co-hosts discuss how applying mental tools such as self-talk, visualization, and journaling can be helpful for building toleran…

1
Ep. 155 - Becoming Grittier On and Off the Court 49:01

10M ago49:01

49:01

In recent years, the concept of Grit has been popularized in performance contexts through the work of Angela Duckworth. But what is grit? How can you become grittier? Is this actually a useful concept for tennis? Josh and Brian discuss these questions and more so that you can take practical steps toward developing a healthier brand of grit on and o…

1
Ep. 154 - Improving Your Motivation 48:31

10M ago48:31

48:31

Motivation is the driver of our energy and the source of our reward. It's not unusual for tennis players to experience issues with their motivation, and in this episode, Josh and Brian examine ways for players to strengthen their purpose and drive for playing tennis. Purpose, passion, and goals are a few of the topics discussed. Tennis IQ Patreon P…

1
Ep. 153 - Matt Futterman of The Athletic | Narratives in Tennis 1:06:19

11M ago1:06:19

1:06:19

Matt Futterman is a staff writer at The Athletic where he covers tennis and Olympic sports. In addition to covering tennis, Matt delivered award-winning investigative reporting for The New York Times, writing a series in 2020 called “Sledhead” that examined the dangers that sliding sports, particularly bobsled and skeleton, pose to the brain. Matt …

1
Ep. 152 - Should I Vent My Anger On Court? 33:04

11M ago33:04

33:04

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss whether venting is an effective way to handle anger. They review research from Brad J. Bushman at Iowa State University on this topic and his paper “Does Venting Anger Feed or Extinguish the Flame? Catharsis, Rumination, Distraction, Anger, and Aggressive Responding”. The co-hosts examine whether this researc…

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