The Mind Mountain Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Rich McLennan, one of the leaders behind the SportSense remote coaching app and host of the SportSense Podcast.

We dive into the mental side of mountain biking - using cues, commitment, rhythm, and internalized feeling to perform in high-stakes gravity sports. Rich shares stories from a ski trip in Japan and reflects on lessons from his decade on Canada’s speed skating national team.

We talk about how adult riders can progress safely through small, calculated increments, measure themselves against their own goals rather than others, and use fa...

In this episode, I’m joined by Matt Lowell - mountain bike operations specialist, global guide with H+I Adventures, and a longtime friend from our days coaching together on Vancouver’s North Shore  

Since leaving BC and intentionally “moving to” (not back to) Scotland, Matt has stepped into a new chapter - helping shape world-class mountain bike experiences across the globe while building a life in the Scottish Highlands.

In this conversation, we dive into:

On today’s episode of podcast, I sit down with Joaquin Madrid - operations manager and lead guide at RideHub in Squamish, BC.

Originally from Santiago, Chile, Joaquin’s journey into mountain biking started at 16 with sketchy city trails, downhill racing, and plenty of crashes. After stepping away from the sport, diving deep into rock climbing, and eventually rediscovering bikes through guiding and freeriding, Joaquin built a new relationship with riding - one rooted in skill development, self-trust, and community.

Now based in Squamish, Joaquin brings over a decade of outdoor industry experience and a calm...

In this episode, I sit down with Ross Dunlop, a Scottish-born mountain bike and snowboard coach who’s spent the last 20 years in Whistler and co-founded the SportsSense app.

We dive into the mental side of riding - hesitation, commitment, reading terrain, and staying strong when things get tough. Ross shares his journey from Scotland to Canada, from snowboarding instruction to year-round coaching, and how his thinking around progression has evolved.

We talk about using frustration as a positive sign of growth, breaking down skills like manuals, managing confidence and risk, and how a coach’s en...

I switched seats recently and was interviewed by Rich from the Sportsense podcast. Enjoy! 

------

Jake Johnstone is the founder of The Mind Mountain and a premier MTB coach based in Squamish, BC. 

Jake has carved out a unique niche by bridging the gap between technical skill and high-performance psychology. Having successfully transitioned from seasonal coaching to year-round programming, he serves as a best-in-class case study for the future of the coaching industry.

Expect to learn why facing your fears - like the journey from zero to backflip - is a no...

Welcome back to a brand new season of The Mind Mountain Podcast! In this episode, we dive deep into the mental performance side of mountain biking with our guest, Ollie Hooper. 

Ollie, originally from Bristol, UK, now lives in Canada, where he is a director, part-owner, mountain bike coach and guide at RideHub in Squamish. 

He shares his journey of moving to Canada to chase his mountain biking dreams, his experience in racing, and how he transitioned into coaching. Ollie also discusses his mindset strategies for dealing with fear and doubt, the importance of community, an...

In this special episode of The Mind Mountain Podcast, recorded at the Maydena Bike Park on the final days of our Tasmania Mountain Bike Expedition, Jake sits down with Mark and Brendan from Tailored Trails to dive into all things riding bikes in Tasmania.

You’ll also hear from a few of our amazing expedition guests who share their favourite trails, key takeaways, and standout moments from the expedition. 

Along the way, Jake, Mark, and Brendan share practical mindset tips, tools, and strategies, and discuss the most common skills they find themselves teaching riders in Tas...

In this wrap-up episode, we celebrate the challenging and enlightening journey of the Facing Fear: Zero to Backflip project. 

Reflecting on the progress from Episode 8, we discuss the highs and lows, including a significant injury that turned into a valuable learning experience. Join me and coach Mike Sousa as we delve into the importance of seeing the broader perspective, the courage to face big goals, and the gratitude for community support and expert guidance. Despite setbacks, the journey has been full of wisdom and growth, setting the stage for future endeavours. 

Special thanks to Norco No...

In this episode of the Mind Mountain Podcast, we chat with the tallented Emmy Lan. Emmy, a national titleholder with impressive elite race results, shares her journey in mountain biking. We explore how she maintains fun and light-heartedness during back-to-back races, the importance of internal focus over external comparisons, and balancing life with racing. This episode uncovers Emmy’s mental strategies, her approach to training on and off the bike, and the significance of small goals and patience in achieving peak performance. Join us for insights, tips, and inspiring stories for anyone chasing progression on or off the trails.

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 truly build lasting confidence on the bike. We also reveal a new project - a mini-series documenting the journey of facing my fears and...

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 and progression. This one’s packed with insight, grit, and a good dose of trail talk.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲
https://bit.ly/MAMTBchat 👇

𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 👇
https://www.themindmountain.com/podcast

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲?

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 creep,' and why blue flow trails see a surprising number of incidents on race day. Whether you’re preparing for the Squamish Enduro, tackling your first race, or j...

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 you’re a weekend warrior or a pro rider, tune in to learn how to ride safer and sharper.

Ryan also breaks down how NeuroCatch's portable brain scanner is changing...

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 to being an influential rider in his own right.

Alex dives into the details of his early days of riding and racing, including how learning to ride on...

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 Bull Joyride events.

A big shout out to @vinceh03_ and @grooverinvancouver for fi...

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.

Keep an eye out for episode 2 dropping next week, with interviews spanning riders and events from across the...

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 community spirit have made him a well-known figure, known for his creative race costumes and commitment to making racing inclusive and fun. In this episode, we delve into Ian's journey into mountain biking, exploring...

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 across education and competition. These days, he runs Daytime Cycling, offering unique spin classes, full-service bike maintenance, and...

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. With a keen focus on promoting positive mental health and performance in mountain biking, Ciaran not only shares his experiences but also offers actionable tools and guidance to help you reach your peak performance.<...

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 progression camps or participating in freeride events.

Fresh from her debut season on the global racing circuit, which included stops at the DH World Cup, Crankworx, and the Red B...

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 McGazza Fest crainless race - as well as putting on an impressive show at the Dream Line freeride jam.

In this episode, we delve into:

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 conversation, we touch on:

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). 

After recovering from a year-long string of injuries that occurred while riding his own North Shore feature, the pair went on the win the 2023 C...

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 boundaries in the Mountain Biking scene. 

With an impressive portfolio of work too large to list here, Kelsey has gone from filming Steve's stunts pur...

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 The Gnar coaching company, and also through a multitude of free...

On today's episode,  we have Michael Sousa. Mike is a passionate Mountain Biker, Instructor, Guide, and Filmmaker based in Whistler, BC.

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. 

As well as this personal exploration, Michael recently gained his Level 3 PMBIA coaching qualification which for those that aren’t aware, is the gold standard of Instructor training and no easy feat.

He has also been part of numerous Filmmaking projects, perhaps most notable are the...

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 up along the way that help him manage his own Mental Health and thrive as an Educator, Dad, Husband, and engaged community member.

When Blake...

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 towards free riding, getting creative, and of course, having loads of fun! He shares this incredible passion and energy through his coaching Business, Into 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, Greg has worked in the mental health and performance space for over 30 years and has owned his own private psychotherapy practice h...

Today on the show, I got to head out for a rip with Jo Peters. We rode one of her favorite trails here in Squamish, Two Stroke Smoke, and then sat down for an insightful conversation.

Jo is active in the mountain bike community as a coach, volunteer, and enduro racer. She also works full-time as an RMT and is an expert when it comes to the Mind/Body/Bike connection. 

Coaching-wise, Jo runs her own foundation called Jo and Co. - which aims to make MTB more accessible to women in British Columbia. Along w...

Today's episode is a little different. I felt called to introduce myself, or re-introduce myself to new and old listeners alike since we have seen our audience base expand a lot in recent times! (A huge thank you to you all for listening)

So join me as I talk a little bit about my background in the Mountain Bike coaching industry, my passion for all things Mountain Sports, and how I got into the Mental aspect of performance. 

As always, I'd love to hear from you with any feedback, suggestions, or guests you'd like to h...

Today on the show I’m sitting down with Adam Van Luu, a Squamish local Physiotherapist and Concussion Specialist.

Through his clinic which is part of Union Health & Performance,  Adam works with people ranging from everyday enthusiasts, all the way up to elite-level athletes including a lot of the Blueprint crew.

Outside of work, Adam is an avid Mountain Biker, Climber, and Trail Runner.

This has been a conversation I’ve been wanting to have for a long time now, as I feel like by now we all know how important it is...

On this episode of the show, I went for a ride and sat down for a chat with North Vancouver local and freeride legend, among many other things, Geoff Gulevich who is otherwise known as, 'Gully'.

Geoff’s longtime career as a Professional Mountain biker has been filled with impressive highlights, remarkable comebacks from injuries, and a continued dedication to sharing his passion and expertise with others.

Most notably, Geoff has solidified himself among MTB Stardom with appearances in legendary bike films like New World Disorder, the Kranked series, and Follow Me...

In this special episode of the Grit With Wisdom Podcast, we headed to  @WhistlerBlackcomb for one of the most exciting days of the year, Whismas. With both excitement and nerves running high among the crowd, we set about getting a real voice of the people, to understand some of the different ways we can operate mentally in the Bike Park.

We got a whole bunch of unique and entertaining answers when asking riders: 
- Is giving it 100% faster? Or riding at 80 or 90%?
- Is slow smooth?
- Should Mountain bikers learn how to crash or...

Today on the show we have Geoff Livingston. Geoff is a North Vancouver local Mountain Biker, Photographer, Dad, and Cancer Survivor.

Having been through some incredibly tough circumstances, Geoff sheds an interesting perspective on what it means to be a mountain biker, and what is important in life. We talk about the mental rollercoaster of going from his highest high, completing the Great Divide - a 4350km bike ride, to being diagnosed with cancer and what he has learned along the way.

In his professional life, Geoff is an entrepreneur at heart and is in...

Today on the show we have an avid biking enthusiast - Jarrad Connolly! Hailing from the sunny shores of Newcastle on the Central Coast of Australia, Jarrad has been living and breathing bikes since he took his first steps. He's got a passion for all things two-wheeled and believes that it's not about fancy gear, it's about the pure joy of riding.

Jarrad's journey in the biking world started early, racing BMX and tearing it up on motorcycles before he even hit six years old. By the time he was eight, he was already racing motorbikes, and...

Joining us today on the show is Matt Smith, a critical care flight paramedic, and a professional first responder educator.

Matt's journey has taken him across Canada and the US, from the Yukon to Wyoming, and he has held an array of exciting jobs, including  working as a raft guide, and ski instructor. 

These days, Matt spends much of his time running bike and ski specific wilderness first aid courses through his business Canadian Outdoor Medical Consulting, as well as providing risk management and medic services to races, events, and outdoor guiding companies. But that's no...

On today's episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Nick VanEgmond from Bicycle Broker Insurance. What's really cool about this conversation is that Nick has found a way to blend his love for riding, racing, and traveling with his entrepreneurial spirit.

Drawing from his own experiences racing on the global enduro circuit, Nick identified the gaps in coverage and decided to fill them by building Canada's first insurance brokerage exclusively for the cycling community. From everyday enthusiasts to pro racers, YouTubers, and coaches like myself, they offer insurance solutions that cater to mountain...

A few weeks ago we headed back out to the trails for the 2023 Squamish Enduro to find out more about the perceptions, mental tools, and challenges that riders face during Enduro Races here in BC.

Listen in as we gain a broad perspective from a mixed bag of riders including pro racers all the way down to your everyday enthusiasts.

We received a range of interesting and entertaining answers on the following topics - 

On today's episode, I got to have a chat with Christina Chappetta. Christina is a bit of a local legend in the Whistler mountain biking community, known for her incredible energy and passion for the sport. 

With her background in enduro racing and current role as a video producer and presenter at PinkBike, Christina has a wealth of firsthand knowledge about the highs and lows of mountain biking.

During our conversation, we dive into Christina's philosophies for a successful and fun ride, as well as the tactics she uses to stay present and level-headed when f...