Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To Cover
Podcast Mentions

Choke What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To

Sian Beilock

Why do the smartest students often do poorly on standardized tests?Why did you tank that interview or miss that golf swing when you should have had it in the bag?Why do you mess up when it matters the most—and how can you perform your best instead?

Podcasts 3
Quotes 15
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Freakonomics Radio

Podcast

Freakonomics Radio

Sian Beilock, president of Barnard College, wrote a book called 'Choke', which focuses on how and why humans choke under pressure.

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I've defined choking as worse performance than you'd expect from an individual, given that there is high pressure or stakes associated with the situation.

— Episode: 341. Why We Choke Under Pressure (and Ho...

Episode: 341. Why We Choke Under Pressure (and How Not To)

Sian Beilock, president of Barnard College, wrote a book called 'Choke', which focuses on how and why humans choke under pressure.

"

I've defined choking as worse performance than you'd expect from an individual, given that there is high pressure or stakes associated with the situation.

Hidden Brain

Podcast

Hidden Brain

The host and the author discussed the book across several episodes, emphasizing its explanation of why people choke under pressure and the central role of working memory. They highlighted vivid examples, such as a famous golfer’s collapse, and suggested that early skill learning can protect against choking. The conversation presented the title as a valuable resource for understanding and managing performance anxiety.

Highly Recommended

Episode: You 2.0: Overcoming Stage Fright

It was discussed and summarised in the podcast, exploring the psychology of choking under pressure and how working memory plays a key role in this phenomenon.

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In your book, Choke, you tell the story of the French golfer, Jean Van Der Velde at the British Open in 1999.

You write in the book that the key is to have brain power at your disposal, but be able to turn it off when that brain power is a problem.

She's also the author of Choke, What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To.

Episode: You 2.0: Overcoming Stage Fright

It was discussed in relation to choking under pressure, how even experts can crumble under stress, and explored the role of working memory in this phenomenon.

"

In your book, Choke, you tell the story of the French golfer, Jean Van Der Velde at the British Open in 1999.

You write in the book that the key is to have brain power at your disposal, but be able to turn it off when that brain power is a problem.

So my research and others have shown that when people learn actually really early, they often are protected from choking in these sorts of especially motor skills.

Sian Bailock is a psychologist and the newly elected president of Dartmouth College. She's also the author of Choke, What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To.

Episode: Stage Fright

It was discussed how the book details the science behind 'choking under pressure' and the role of working memory, with examples of athletes and situations where it occurs.

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In your book, Choke, you tell the story of the French golfer Jean van der Weld at the British Open in 1999.

You write in the book that the key is to have brain power at your disposal but be able to turn it off when that brain power is a problem.

Psychologist Sian Bailock is president of Barnard College. She's also the author of Choke, What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To.

So my research and others have shown that when people learn actually really early they often are protected from choking in these sorts of especially motor skills.

No Stupid Questions

Podcast

No Stupid Questions

Angela mentioned the book 'Choke' and a study within it on expressive writing, suggesting it aids in emotion regulation and performance under pressure, which might have helped her in college.

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I'm thinking about like the yurky Dodson curve... I think was first posited at the turn of the 20th century

— Episode: 146. How Do You Avoid Freezing Under Pre...

Episode: 146. How Do You Avoid Freezing Under Pressure?

Angela mentioned the book 'Choke' and a study within it on expressive writing, suggesting it aids in emotion regulation and performance under pressure, which might have helped her in college.

"

I'm thinking about like the yurky Dodson curve... I think was first posited at the turn of the 20th century

there's a research study by Sian Bailak who's a scientist as well known as any scientist who's studied choking and wrote a book called Choke on the science of high pressure performance

expressive writing may help individuals develop insights that can aid emotion regulation and perceive control of stressful situations thereby offloading worries and freeing cognitive resources that can be used to optimize performance

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.