Neuroscientist: “Your brain gets tired BEFORE your body ever does.” (Here's how to hack it.)

What if your brain, not your body, was the first thing to quit on you? Dr. Scott Frey — neuroscientist, performance coach, and founder of Cerebral Performance — joins us for a masterclass on mental fatigue, central fatigue, and the neuroscience of high performance. From dopamine addiction to stress overload, from breathwork to neuroplasticity, this conversation uncovers the hidden mechanisms that dictate whether you break down… or break through. If you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone who performs under pressure — this might be the most important conversation you listen to this year. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro: Mental vs. Central Fatigue 05:45 - Why your brain gets tired before your body 12:20 - Dopamine, serotonin, and performance highs/lows 15:40 - Adrenaline: friend or enemy? 22:10 - Why stress narrows your focus (and how to fix it) 35:25 - Breathing as a performance tool 46:50 - How identity tied to performance makes you fragile 52:32 - Training the brain like a muscle (neuroplasticity) 1:12:45 - Real world examples: athletes under pressure 1:21:10 - Mental tapering: recovery for the mind 1:28:30 - Mindfulness and default mode network explained 1:35:15 - The future of neuroscience in sport ✨ Key Takeaways Mental fatigue reduces performance across endurance, strength, and focus. Stress narrows attention, hurting decision-making and awareness. Breathing techniques can immediately shift you into a calmer state. Neuroplasticity proves you can train your brain like any other muscle. True resilience means detaching your identity from your results. 📌 Guest Info Learn more about Dr. Scott Frey and Cerebral Performance: 🌐 cerebralperformance.com 📧 [email protected] #failfirstpodcast #scottfrey #pickleballpodcast #pickleball #highperformance #overthinking #braintraining #athletemindset #mentalfatigue #diaryofaceo #modernwisdom