Mental Toughness Podcast With Dr. Rob Bell

Matt Sandlin is an endurance athlete and winner of the 2026 Prairie On Fire Backyard Ultra, where he pushed through 43 yards—nearly 180 miles—to become the last runner standing. His remarkable performance is a powerful example of mental toughness, resilience, and faith.

1:06 The Hinge Moment That Altered the Course of His Life

5:07 The 100-Mile Race That Changed Everything

7:50 The Hinge Moment That Changed His Running Career

10:48 Training to “Own the Night”

15:22 Finding God in the Quiet Miles

20:44 The Prayer Before Prairie on Fire

24:04 Experiencing the Holy Spirit During the Race

30:14 Just Get to the Next Tree

36:49 Using Running to Reflect Christ

41:35 Focus Only on the Light in Front of You

Don't forget you can also follow Dr. Rob Bell on Twitter or Instagram!

Follow At:

X @drrobbell

Instagram @drrobbell

5 Mental Toughness Advantages for Financial Advisors:

https://pages.drrobbell.com/

If you enjoyed this episode on Mental Toughness, please subscribe and leave a review!

Dr. Rob Bell

Exclusive Podcast Partner:

Morton Brown Family Wealth

https://mortonbrownfw.com/ 

Morton Brown Family Wealth is the Presenting Partner of The Mental Toughness Podcast with Dr. Rob Bell. Sponsorship of this podcast does not imply endorsement of the views, opinions, products, or services expressed by individual guests.

Webb Simpson, 2012 U.S. Open Champion, seven-time PGA TOUR winner, a former Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup competitor, shares insights on faith, mental toughness, hinge moments, and high performance.

2:42 The Origin of the Bible Caddie Podcast and a Friendship Built Through Golf and Faith

7:37 How Studying the Bible Shapes the Mental Approach to Life and Competition

11:39 Titus 3:3–7: A Favorite Bible Passage About Grace, Mercy, and Faith

14:21 How Fatherhood Deepens the Understanding of God’s Love

16:54 Living a Life That Others Are Watching

19:29 The Caddie Relationship That Helped Build Mental Toughness and Belief

23:46 Returning to a Long-Term Mindset Instead of Chasing Short-Term Results

25:12 Why Belief, Fundamentals, and Mental Toughness Have to Work Together

28:13 The Impact of Wake Forest Coach Jerry Haas On and Off the Golf Course

30:40 “Pleased, But Never Satisfied”: The Drive to Keep Getting Better

33:25 HINGE MOMENT: The Question That Changed the Mindset at the 2012 U.S. Open

35:00 Winning the U.S. Open by Focusing on the Process, Not the Leaderboard

39:33 Total Commitment: Why a Decision Means Eliminating Every Other Option

41:41 HINGE MOMENT: The Struggles That Made the 2018 PLAYERS Championship Victory So Meaningful

46:36 Remembering the Feeling of Walking to the 17th Hole at TPC Sawgrass

48:37 Why Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups Create a Different Kind of Pressure

52:28 Fight, Resolve, and the Spirit of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team

57:25 What Makes Scottie Scheffler a Once-in-a-Generation Golfer

Don't forget you can also follow Dr. Rob Bell on Twitter or Instagram!

Follow At:

X @drrobbell

Instagram @drrobbell

5 Mental Toughness Advantages for Financial Advisors:

https://pages.drrobbell.com/

If you enjoyed this episode on Mental Toughness, please subscribe and leave a review!

Dr. Rob Bell

Exclusive Podcast Partner:

Morton Brown Family Wealth

https://mortonbrownfw.com/ 

Morton Brown Family Wealth is the Presenting Partner of The Mental Toughness Podcast with Dr. Rob Bell. Sponsorship of this podcast does not imply endorsement of the views, opinions, products, or services expressed by individual guests.

Kim Lewellen is the Head Coach of Women’s Golf at Wake Forest University, where she has built one of the nation’s premier collegiate programs. Since taking over in 2018, she has led the Demon Deacons to the program’s first NCAA National Championship in 2023, multiple ACC Championships, and numerous conference and national honors. She is widely recognized for her leadership, competitive excellence, and ability to develop athletes both on and off the course.

01:03 Living the Dream: Coaching and Connection at Wake Forest

02:52 No One Gets There Alone: Why Relationships Matter

04:38 Leaving 10 Minutes Early Can Change Someone’s Life

08:32 HINGE MOMENT: The 15 Seconds That Changed a Coaching Career

13:07 Mental Toughness: Don’t Overvalue a Bad Shot

14:40 The Power of the Debrief in Coaching and Performance

16:30 How an ACC Loss Helped Fuel a National Championship

23:43 Staying Present When the Pressure Is Highest

25:40 Winning Feels Better Than Having Won

28:08 Build Your Armor When Things Are Going Well

30:49 Two Rules for Building a Championship Culture: Be Kind and Work Hard

33:00 What Separates Elite Performers: Persistence and the Process

35:14 Building Confidence and Keeping Doubt From Taking Over

37:07 Giving Athletes Ownership of Their Development

44:51 When Elite Athletes Start Asking, “Am I Good Enough?”

49:37 The “Just One More” Mental Toughness Mindset

Don't forget you can also follow Dr. Rob Bell on Twitter or Instagram!

Follow At:

X @drrobbell

Instagram @drrobbell

5 Mental Toughness Advantages for Financial Advisors:

https://pages.drrobbell.com/

If you enjoyed this episode on Mental Toughness, please subscribe and leave a review!

Dr. Rob Bell

Exclusive Podcast Partner:

Morton Brown Family Wealth

https://mortonbrownfw.com/ 

Morton Brown Family Wealth is the Presenting Partner of The Mental Toughness Podcast with Dr. Rob Bell. Sponsorship of this podcast does not imply endorsement of the views, opinions, products, or services expressed by individual guests.

Eric Ciano  is the Director of Strength and Conditioning for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now entering his 17th NFL season, he previously spent 15 years with the Buffalo Bills, where he was named the NFL Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 2020. He was also while strength and conditioning leadership roles at Georgia Tech, Tennessee, and Louisiana Tech. 

0:58 The Hinge Moment That Led to an NFL Strength & Conditioning Career

2:43 Winning a National Championship and Building Championship Culture

3:27 Leadership Lessons from Legendary Strength Coach Johnny Long

4:19 Building Mental Toughness Through Accountability and Standards

5:37 Daily Habits That Create High-Performance Athletes

6:38 How Mental Toughness Is Built Every Single Day

8:03 Building Confidence During an 0–8 NFL Season

9:10 Creating a Winning Team Culture with the Buffalo Bills

10:49 The "13 Seconds" Game and Recovering from Heartbreak

13:47 Leadership, Recognition, and Bringing Out the Best in People

15:33 Using Competition to Build Mental Toughness and Accountability

19:24 Why Talent Without Discipline Never Creates Champions

21:37 Getting Fired After 15 Years in the NFL and Moving Forward

24:21 Mental Toughness When Life Doesn't Go According to Plan

25:54 Leadership Lessons from Nearly Two Decades in the NFL

27:41 Why Passion Still Separates Great Athletes from Good Ones

28:43 What's Wrong with Youth Sports and Athlete Development Today

30:14 Calvin Johnson and the Habits of Elite Performers

33:02 Daily Training, Longevity, and Performing at a High Level

35:08 Purpose, and Life Beyond Football

Don't forget you can also follow Dr. Rob Bell on Twitter or Instagram!

Follow At:

X @drrobbell

Instagram @drrobbell

5 Mental Toughness Advantages for Financial Advisors:

https://pages.drrobbell.com/

If you enjoyed this episode on Mental Toughness, please subscribe and leave a review!

Dr. Rob Bell

Exclusive Podcast Sponsor:

Morton Brown Family Wealth

https://mortonbrownfw.com/ 

Morton Brown Family Wealth is the Presenting Partner of The Mental Toughness Podcast with Dr. Rob Bell. Sponsorship of this podcast does not imply endorsement of the views, opinions, products, or services expressed by individual guests.

Sam Hawley is the owner of Zero Gravity Media, a brain cancer survivor, and an accomplished Spartan Race athlete. He shares how resilience, faith, and mental toughness helped him overcome life's greatest challenge while building a thriving creative business.

02:07 The Stage 4 Brain Cancer Diagnosis That Changed Everything

06:53 Preparing for Brain Surgery at Duke University

13:43 Recovery, Walking Again & Mental Resilience

19:10 Faith, Family & Finding Hope Through Adversity

24:35 Signs, Purpose & Life After Cancer

30:24 Sobriety, Addiction & Personal Transformation

37:14 Gratitude, Faith & Living as a Warrior

43:32 Mental Toughness Lessons from Surviving Cancer

46:45 Final Advice: Embrace Adversity & Live with Purpose

Don't forget you can also follow Dr. Rob Bell on Twitter or Instagram!

Follow At:

X @drrobbell

Instagram @drrobbell

5 Mental Toughness Advantages for Financial Advisors:

https://pages.drrobbell.com/

If you enjoyed this episode on Mental Toughness, please subscribe and leave a review!

Dr. Rob Bell