The Mind Mountain Podcast
Jake Johnstone from The Mind Mountain delves deep into the inner psyche, tools, and tactics of Mountain Bikers from all walks of life to uncover what it takes to push personal boundaries in the sport we love - through a mental performance lens. Whether it’s pro racers, ambassadors, or coaches, this podcast breaks down stigmas and normalizes conversations around mindset, emotions, and the mental side of riding. The goal? To help you ride stronger, more confidently, and have more fun on the trails, more often. *Formerly known as the Grit With Wisdom Podcast
Episodes
In this episode of the Mind Mountain Podcast, I sit down once again with my good friend Michael Sousa - a seasoned coach, guide, and freeride mentor from Whistler, BC. With nearly two decades of experience on the steeps and jumps of the Sea to Sky, Mike shares what it’s like coaching everything from first-time riders to up-and-coming mtb professionals.
We dive deep into the psychology of progression, fear management, and how to tru...
In this episode, we sit down with Alex Cairns, a former Paralympian sit-skier who’s now carving his own path in adaptive mountain biking. From technical climbs to Squamish’s iconic slabs, Alex shares how his approach to sport is rooted in calculation and control rather than reckless abandon. We explore his journey from ski racing to MTB, the nuances of adaptive trail design, and how mindset plays a critical role in both performance...
In Episode 48 of Grit with Wisdom, we’re diving headfirst into the mental and practical side of managing risk in mountain bike racing. Jake is joined by two special guests: Dylan Smith, organizer of the iconic Squamish Enduro, and Matthew Smith, a medical risk expert from Canadian Outdoor Medical Consulting.
We cover everything from choosing the right course for your skill level to situational awareness, the concept of 'risk cr...
Today on the podcast, I got to hang out with Dr. Ryan Darcy to dive into the intersection where neuroscience meets mountain biking. Ryan’s a neuroscientist, president of NeuroCatch, and—like the rest of us—a stoked mountain biker.
We chatted about everything from the science behind flow states, personal anecdotes from Ryan's riding experiences, and actionable advice on concussion protocols and brain health. Whether y...
In this episode of Grit With Wisdom, I sit down with Alex Chapellier, a mountain biker, mechanic, photographer, and videographer. Alex shares his journey from growing up in France, where he was captivated by any two wheels, to living his mountain biking dreams in British Columbia, Canada. He talks extensively about his passion for mountain biking, the importance of mental performance, and how he transitioned from behind the camera ...
We had the incredible opportunity to spend the week at the 2024 Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival in Whistler, where we mingled with some of the world’s top riders!
Tune in for an insider's view into the lives of MTB athletes, pushing their limits at the highest level.
In episode 2, we caught up with an insightful bunch of riders in the village and on the course during the Adaptive DH, Garbanzo DH, and Red Bul...
We were lucky enough to spend the week in Whistler at the 2024 Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival, where we connected with some of the best riders in the world!
Take a listen to get a peak into the world of mtb athletes, performing at the highest level.
In this episode, we caught up with as many riders as we could in the pits of the RockShox Canadian Open DH, on the Stevie Smith Memorial, 1199 DH track.
K...
Join us today for an insightful episode featuring Ian Lowe, the Executive Director of the Squamish Off Road Cycling Association (SORCA), which recently celebrated its 32nd year. For over 20 years, Ian has personally been a driving force in the mountain biking community, bringing his extensive background in leadership, management, and community volunteering to the forefront.
Ian's passion for mountain biking and his vibrant comm...
We're back for a brand new season of the podcast, and to celebrate our 3rd year, we have an extra special guest. Today, I sit down with Squamish local legend, Greg Day.
Greg has a rich history in mountain biking, starting with racing XC and going on to compete in hundreds of races, becoming the Overall Champion of the BC Bike Race three times.
As a former school teacher and competitive skier, Greg has a diverse perspective acros...
On today's episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ciaran King, an elite Downhill Mountain Biker turned Certified High-Performance coach.
Ciaran's journey has been marked by challenges, including significant injuries and confidence battles. Yet, he's transformed these obstacles into sources of motivation.
Now, he's committed to passing on his hard-earned insights to the next generation of riders...
In this episode, I catch up with Louise-Anna Ferguson, better known as Lou,
Originally from Fort William, Scotland, Lou now calls Queenstown, New Zealand, her home, where she's immersed in the thriving mountain biking scene.
Lou's approach to the sport is all about letting her riding skills do the talking. Her passion for uplifting everyone in the community shines through, whether she's leading Women's progressio...
In this episode, we caught up with Natasha Bradley, an English rider making waves in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Natasha is a standout multidisciplinary rider known for her infectious enthusiasm and versatility across BMX, Enduro, Freeride, and DH racing.
A true force to be reckoned with, she secured the 'true blue' award at the Dark Horse Women’s freeride event last year, and more recently won the annual ...
This episode of the podcast brings you an engaging conversation with my friend and fellow coach, Piyush Chavan.
Hailing from India, Piyush started his mountain biking journey as part of a tight-knit group of riders. After cutting his teeth in downhill races in Nepal, he found inspiration to embrace a biking lifestyle in New Zealand, drawn by the allure of the mountain playground that is Queenstown.
During the co...
On this episode, I sit down with Steve Vanderhoek. Steve is a North Shore-born and bread mountain biker, trailbuilder and a professional firefighter/paramedic.
He is known for building and riding some of the most precise, exposed, and high-consequence lines in the area, and along with his long-time partner Kelsey Toevs, makes some of the most creative and jaw-dropping mtb films around. (Hear from Kelsey in the previous episode).
Today on the podcast I got to chat with Kelsey Toevs. Kelsey is a professional filmmaker and photographer based out of North Vancouver.
Growing up in Lynn Valley, Kelsey has been combining her passion for Mountain Biking, Snowboarding, and filmmaking since a young age.
When she met her longtime partner in crime, local free-rider Steve Vanderhoek, they combined forces and set out to help each other push their creative boun...
In this episode, I catch up with Nate Spitz. Nate is one of the most creative and talented mountain bikers in the Sea to Sky and has a lot of wisdom to share.
Originally from New Hampshire on the east coast of the USA, Nate grew up skiing, and when he wasn’t doing that he was riding bikes and learning an impressive bag of tricks.
He now lives and works here in Squamish, sharing his skills and passion through Yoann Barelli’s Into...
After almost 20 years of honing his skills on the steep and technical trails of BC he has dedicated the summer to learning air tricks on his mountain bike.
On this episode, I got to interview Squamish local, Blake Rowsell.
Blake is a professor at Capilano University who teaches a variety of outdoor recreation programs. He also has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Mountain Bike Tourism in BC having completed his master's degree on the topic.
We dive straight into Blake's personal journey with Mountain Biking, discussing some of the tools he has picked ...
In this episode, we hear from Yoann Barelli. For those that aren't familiar, Yoann hails from Nice in the south of France and has been racing Mountain Bikes since the tender age of 7 years old. From there he went on to have numerous successes, including becoming the French Elite DH champion in 2004, and multiple podium finishes in the Enduro World Series after that.
Over the past few years, we have seen Yoann pivot t...
In this episode, I chat with Greg McDonnell. Greg is a sports fanatic, an avid mountain biker, and is also a registered clinical counsellor. He grew up on the North Shore and has been riding bikes for as long as he can remember.
When he moved to Whistler 20 years ago, he started racing mountain bikes, and alpine ski mountaineering which enhanced his growing interest in the mental side of performance.
Fast forward to today,...
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