What do elite performers, world-class cops, and Olympic athletes have in common? They train the mind as hard as the body. In this mind-expanding conversation, Travis Bader is joined by Jeff Johnsgaard, veteran police officer, Force Science Institute consultant, and founder of Training on Purpose by Design. Jeff has taught use-of-force and high-stakes performance across four continents and multiple tier-one units. But in this conversation, he pulls back the curtain, not just on tactics, but on the mental software upgrades that determine who thrives in danger and who shuts down. You’ll learn: How to reframe fear as fuel. Why most training creates failure under real pressure. The shocking truth about “slow trigger presses.” How elite operators pre-live critical incidents through mental rehearsal. Why your body can’t tell the difference between imagining and doing. What’s wrong with the way we teach cops, kids, and executives—and how to fix it. This one isn’t just for shooters or law enforcement. It’s for anyone who wants to perform better when it counts. 🔗 Learn more about Jeff’s work: https://www.onpurpose.training and follow him at https://www.instagram.com/jeff_johnsgaard/ 🎣 Silvercore Club members: Don’t miss 40% off Skeena Spey Lodge (act quick limited space) and Tiffany’s bacon recipe! 👉 Not a member yet? Visit Silvercore.ca/club ______ Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.trav Silvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors ____ 00:00 – Silvercore Club updates & member perks 02:00 – Jeff Johnsgaard introduction: Who he trains and why 06:45 – “I’m a software guy”: Why mindset beats gear 10:15 – Threat vs. Challenge: The mindset that rewires your physiology 14:00 – The turning point: When Jeff realized words were weapons 20:30 – Mental rehearsal saves lives: The traffic stop study 26:00 – Michael Phelps, Wayne Gretzky, and world-class visualization 32:30 – The trap of post-performance rumination 34:45 – Failure is feedback, not a flaw 37:15 – Motivation: The forgotten force multiplier 41:30 – Why “slow trigger press” ruined Travis’s shooting 45:45 – Own your grip, own your trigger 48:45 – The most dangerous training scar in law enforcement 52:00 – How Jeff taught his daughter to drive like a tactical thinker 56:45 – Translating this to business and leadership 01:01:00 – The power of pre-experiencing critical moments 01:06:30 – Feed-forward vs. feedback: Escaping toxic rumination 01:12:00 – Using emotion, breathing, and body anchors to perform 01:17:00 – Visualizing for peak performance vs. anxiety 01:23:30 – “Prehabilitation”: Training like a combat veteran—before the fight 01:27:00 – One truth Jeff would pass on if he had to start over 01:33:00 – The Circle of Excellence: Anchoring performance states 01:36:00 – Wrap-up and resources
