# Episode 369: Stop “Thinking Positive”: Nervous System, Pressure, and Performance with Vince Malts

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/flex-diet-podcast-880226/episode-369-stop-thinking-positive-nervous-system-pressure-and-performance-with-vince-malts
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/flex-diet-podcast-880226/episode-369-stop-thinking-positive-nervous-system-pressure-and-performance-with-vince-malts.md
Podcast: [Flex Diet Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/flex-diet-podcast-880226)
Published: 2026-02-19T17:23:55+00:00
Episode link: https://flex-diet-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-369-stop-thinking-positive-nervous-system-pressure-and-performance-with-vince-malts-weJ_w4sn
Audio file: https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/53e3d261-c5f9-44f9-a22d-bab6ffed6551/2ea3e4d9-cc52-4227-aaaf-5243dca4406b/episodes/audio/group/6473e5c6-1606-43d7-9aa4-ad0c51183362/group-item/94edfb72-6090-46ce-9f9b-33c51ac0dbb6/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=_12E74LS
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/flex-diet-podcast-880226/episodes/episode-369-stop-thinking-positive-nervous-system-pressure-and-performance-with-vince-malts
Duration seconds: 4221

## Resource

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my good buddy Vince Maltz, a high-performance mindset coach who works with NHL players, Division I athletes, and elite performers. We dig into what “mindset training” actually looks like in real life, beyond the clichés, and why it’s inseparable from physiology, recovery, and nervous system regulation. We also get into the modern performance environment: fake expertise, too many voices in the kitchen, and why big organizations adapt slowly. Vince breaks down centralized vs. decentralized leadership, how athletes can learn to think for themselves inside a system, and why being a “nerd” at your sport is becoming a competitive advantage. From there, we hit practical tools: how athletes move from conscious competence to unconscious competence faster, why distributed cognition matters in team sports, and what individuals can do today to improve performance through breathing, cold exposure, communication, and environment. Sponsors: Shiftwave: https://shiftwave.co/drmiketnelson - Save $300 with the link above. Note: This is an affiliate link. Daily Fitness Insider Newsletter: https://flex-diet.kit.com/bfa1510fa8

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/flex-diet-podcast-880226/episodes/episode-369-stop-thinking-positive-nervous-system-pressure-and-performance-with-vince-malts/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/flex-diet-podcast-880226/episode-369-stop-thinking-positive-nervous-system-pressure-and-performance-with-vince-malts.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.