In this solo voice note, Dr. Tricia shares her thoughts on one of the biggest stories in modern poker history—Leo Margets making the final table of the 2025 WSOP Main Event. Tricia breaks down why this milestone matters far beyond the headline and explores the deeper psychological impact of: Representation and identity in poker Long-term resilience and performance How moments like this shape the future of the game What you can learn from Leo’s composure and mindset Mental Game Resources: 🧠 Feel...
Jul 15, 2025•2 min
In this episode, Gareth and Tricia tackle a timely listener question: What do most players get wrong when preparing for the World Series of Poker (WSOP)? If you’re gearing up for the WSOP (or any major poker series) and want to avoid common pitfalls, this conversation is for you. They discuss: Why tying your self-worth to poker results is so dangerous: How linking your identity to wins and losses leads to emotional swings and burnout – and ways to keep your confidence steady regardless of outcom...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 7 min
In this episode, Gareth and Tricia dive into a powerful listener question from Martin—a poker player with ADHD—who’s struggling to find motivation and structure for his study and play routines. If you've ever wrestled with procrastination, guilt, or balancing poker with real-life responsibilities, this conversation is for you. They explore: Why tight deadlines help some players (especially those with ADHD) hyperfocus Parkinson’s Law and how it impacts poker study and productivity How dopamine dy...
Mar 27, 2025•44 min
In this solo voice note, Dr. Tricia Cardner breaks down Phil Hellmuth’s recent announcement that he’s skipping the 2025 WSOP Main Event—claiming it’s become too much of a mental grind. Is the Main Event really an endurance test now? What role does mental stamina play in long tournaments? How can you prepare to go deep when the pressure is on? Tricia shares insights from performance psychology, discusses the impact of aging on decision-making, and gives practical tips to help you build your menta...
Mar 22, 2025•4 min
Are you into this idea? Comment on Spotify or tag @gazelligpoker or @drtriciacardner on X and let us know.
Mar 09, 2025•3 min
Poker on the Mind - Episode 194: Transitioning from MTTs to Cash Games with Gareth James & Dr. Tricia Cardner 💡 Main Topic: Transitioning from MTTs to Cash Games Listener question from Alex: " I'm grinding mid-stakes MTTs but struggling to adjust to the open-ended nature of cash games. How can I adapt my mindset and study habits? " 🔑 Key Takeaways: Mindset Shifts: MTTs have clear structure and end goals; cash games are open-ended. Focus on process goals (hands played, time blocks) rather t...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 11 min
Welcome to Episode 193! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. The hosts continue their WSOP/SCOOP prep series in this episode by interviewing world renowned poker professional Daniel Negreanu. Topics discussed in this episode include: A brief overview of Daniel’s new approach for 2024 & how it’s paying off How Daniel prepares off the table for WSOP How he handles the wide range of player types...
May 31, 2024•58 min
Welcome to Episode 192! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. The hosts continue their WSOP/SCOOP prep series in this episode by interviewing poker professional, coach, and podcaster Carlos Welch. Topics discussed in this episode include: A brief overview of his journey from recreational to professional poker player & WSOP bracelet winner How he determines which events offer the most value at ...
May 24, 2024•1 hr 23 min
Welcome to Episode 191! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. The hosts continue their WSOP/SCOOP prep series in this episode by interviewing poker professional, coach, and streamer Bryan Paris. Topics discussed in this episode include: What a day in the life of Bryan looks like now that he has a wife and kids How he schedules and maintains a consistent playing schedule and study habit How to put ...
May 11, 2024•37 min
Welcome to Episode 190! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. The hosts kick off a WSOP/SCOOP prep series in this episode by interviewing poker professional, coach, and author Dara O’Kearney. Topics discussed in this episode include: Preparing for live events by optimizing sleep, diet, and other lifestyle factors An exploration of WSOP milestone satellites and how they differ from a regular satell...
May 03, 2024•52 min
Welcome to Episode 189! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts continue their exploration of high-performance poker with a specific focus on “bouncebackability” also known as the art of resilience. Topics discussed in this episode include: A deep dive into the research on resilience The research findings regarding the ability to bounce “forward.” The importance of post-tr...
Feb 09, 2024•31 min
Welcome to Episode 188! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts continue their exploration of high-performance poker with a specific focus on high-performance physiology. Topics discussed in this episode include: A deep dive into the most critical physiological aspects of high performance: sleep, diet and exercise The research findings regarding the differences in sleep to...
Feb 02, 2024•32 min
Welcome to Episode 187! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts continue their exploration of high-performance poker with a specific focus on knowing your Achilles heel and developing strategies for dealing with it. Topics discussed in this episode include: A deep dive into the most common Achilles heel: procrastination How task-aversion leads to negative emotions The role...
Jan 26, 2024•29 min
Welcome to Episode 186! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts continue their exploration of high-performance poker with a specific focus on developing the right mindset. Topics discussed in this episode include: The difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset & how they relate to developing a high-performance mindset How to use mental contrasting to avoid...
Jan 19, 2024•27 min
Welcome to Episode 185! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts continue their exploration of high-performance poker with a specific focus on winning systems and habits. Topics discussed in this episode include: The power of atomic habits & the 4 laws of behavior change How to use implementation intentions and temptation bundling to make it easier to create and stick t...
Jan 12, 2024•29 min
Welcome to Episode 184! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts explain that they are going to serialize the podcast into themes. This first theme is going to be around designing for and achieving high poker performance. Topics discussed include: What high-performance poker is and how to best achieve it How to use commitment and motivation to increase your odds of success ...
Jan 05, 2024•29 min
Welcome to Episode 183! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts discuss a question sent in by Georgina who wanted our advice on maximizing her study. Topics discussed include: Things to think about when studying for MTTs in particular How to determine the best areas to put your attention on The importance of an accountability group & peer support How to use the Feynman...
Dec 08, 2023•34 min
Welcome to Episode 182! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts discuss a question sent in by Barry who wanted our advice on managing his emotions at the table - and specifically about berating players via the chatbox. Topics discussed include: Why awareness is the first step in managing emotions Being aware of the “shoulds” and entitlement Focusing on the process, not the...
Nov 24, 2023•31 min
Welcome to Episode 181! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts discuss a question sent in by Matt who wanted our advice on managing a downswing early on one’s poker career. Topics discussed include: Being able to assess ability and separate that from your results How to manage your thoughts, feelings, and responses to get the results you want The difference between our fe...
Nov 03, 2023•29 min
Welcome to Episode 180! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts discuss a Twitter comment by Lewis who asked about the mental game leaks associated with losing a good chunk of his bankroll in one weekend. Topics discussed include: Determining what is a good value MTT How to manage your roll so you don’t run out of money The difference between a budget and a bankroll The me...
Oct 20, 2023•28 min
Welcome to Episode 179! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts answer a question from Armin which is “How do I memorize preflop ranges?” Topics discussed include: The difference between memorizing and truly learning How to study so you learn the “why” behind your actions Why you must strengthen your theoretical basis in order to excel at poker Why you need logic Resources...
Oct 06, 2023•39 min
Welcome to Episode 178! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, Gareth makes a big announcement and then the hosts answer a listener question about how to focus when there is so much to study and limited time and ADHD tendencies. Topics discussed include: The ADHD traits that can make study challenging Ways to prioritize study materials Productivity strategies including: time blocki...
Sep 22, 2023•31 min
Welcome to Episode 177! MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts go back in time and talk about Tricia’s WSOP 2023! Topics discussed include: The payouts and how heavily weighted the WSOP payouts are The physical layout of the WSOP along with info on how long it can take to move rooms Why you must win your flips to do well at WSOP (and any MTT really!) Food recommendati...
Sep 02, 2023•38 min
Welcome to Episode 176! In this episode, MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, the hosts discussed their recent poker escapades including Gareth’s time playing SCOOP and Tricia’s recent visit to The Lodge. Topics discussed include: The role of variance in results and how it can be hard to tell if it was just bad luck or if poor play was to blame Whether or not Hendon Mob results a...
Jun 24, 2023•32 min
Welcome to Episode 175! In this episode, MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, we answered a question from several listeners who want to know how to deal with being discouraged and de-motivated by the long journey to becoming a pro (or semi-pro). Topics discussed include: The importance of your ideal self and your real self matching up Habits to develop and optimized identity Bein...
Jun 12, 2023•37 min
Welcome to Episode 174! In this episode, MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, we answered an anonymous question from a listener who wants to know how to deal with the let down that can come after doing well in an event. Topics discussed include: What post achievement depression is and reasons why it’s so common The underlying neurological reasons for a post achievement let-down B...
Apr 14, 2023•48 min
Welcome to Episode 173! In this episode, MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, we discussed Gareth’s study plan/strategy for the upcoming SCOOP series. Topics discussed include: What poker immersion can look like and how to implement it The best ways to train & study for SCOOP and other events like it Avoiding the tactic of “procrasti-planning” Ways to train for mindset in add...
Apr 07, 2023•41 min
Welcome to Episode 172! In this episode, MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, we discussed a question from Larry who wants to go pro but who suffers from procrastination specifically related to studying. Topics discussed include: ● The psychological reasons why we procrastinate including fear of failure, fear of uncertainty, fear of looking stupid and fear of success ● The best w...
Apr 01, 2023•38 min
Welcome to Episode 172! In this episode, MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, we discussed a question from Russell who wants to go pro but who suffers from procrastination specifically related to studying. Topics discussed include: ● The psychological reasons why we procrastinate including fear of failure, fear of uncertainty, fear of looking stupid and fear of success ● The best...
Mar 24, 2023•37 min
Welcome to Episode 170! In this episode, MTT Coach Gareth James and Peak Performance Mindset Coach Dr. Tricia Cardner are back discussing all things poker strategy & mindset. In this episode, we discussed a question that has been popping off in Tricia’s facebook group about how Phil Hellmuth’s antics affect other players - especially recreational ones. Topics discussed include: ● How & why Phil uses his personality as a marketing tactic ● A couple of hand examples where players targeted ...
Mar 17, 2023•43 min
