Pressure Is A Privilege: Dr. Mark Aoyagi On Mental Strength, 'Flow' & Why Elite Performers Struggle
5/12/202653 min
On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, Richard Taite sits down with sports and performance psychologist Dr. Mark Aoyagi to explore what truly separates elite performers from everyone else. From Olympic athletes to professional sports teams, Dr. Aoyagi has spent years helping high performers build confidence, resilience, and mental strength under pressure.
Together, they break down the psychology behind flow state, choking under pressure, fear of failure, confidence vs arrogance, and the mindset shifts that help people perform at their highest level. They also dive into the surprising overlap between elite athletes and addiction, explaining why perfectionism, anxiety, and obsession can drive both peak performance and self-destruction.
This conversation goes beyond sports — it’s about identity, purpose, pressure, and what happens when your self-worth becomes tied to performance.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMark Aoyagi· Guest0:00
You know, the same, the same characteristics, the same personality types that are driven to elite performance are the same ones that are driven to elite substance use, if you will.
Speaker 20:08
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Richard Taite· Host0:44
Today, on We're Out of Time, we're talking about performance, what separates people who break under pressure from those who rise. Dr. Mark Aubry-Agy is a sports and performance psychologist who's worked with Olympic athletes and elite teams, helping them build resilience, confidence, and mental toughness at the highest level. But this isn't just about sports. This is about pressure, identity, failure, and what happens in your head when everything is on the line. Doctor, it's great to have you here.
Mark Aoyagi· Guest1:18
Oh, thanks for having me. It's great to be here. Looking forward to the conversation.
Richard Taite· Host1:20
[clears throat] And you're a professor. Where are you professor again?
Mark Aoyagi· Guest1:23
At the University of Denver.
Richard Taite· Host1:25
That's great. That's fantastic. So before we get into it,