Hollywood Stuntman & Psychologist Brian Hite: Mastering Mental Toughness and High-Stakes Performance

In this powerful episode of Pre-Zero Sports Talk, host Sid Bensalah sits down with Brian Hite, a Hollywood stuntman turned performance psychologist, to explore the mindset behind high-stakes environments. With over 30 years of experience in dangerous stunts and high-pressure moments, Brian has translated lessons from the stunt world into tools for building resilience, mental toughness, and focus in sports, military, and corporate settings.

Brian delves into the relationship between pressure, stress, and perception, revealing how preparation and mindset can turn fear into confidence. He explains how to manage energy activation levels for optimal performance and why understanding risk is key to decision-making under pressure.

From behind-the-scenes stories of death-defying stunts to practical strategies for leaders and athletes, this episode is packed with insights on staying present, overcoming fear, and thriving when everything’s on the line.

00:00 – Introduction: From Hollywood stunts to psychology
01:00 – Brian’s early career and unique path
02:00 – The overlap between psychology and stunt performance
03:30 – Building mental resilience in high-stakes settings
07:40 – Applying performance psychology across fields
17:00 – Defining pressure vs. stress
21:00 – The FACT model: Focus, Arousal, Confidence, Tenacity
25:00 – Adapting to unpredictable situations
31:00 – The illusion of pressure
37:00 – Managing energy activation levels
43:00 – Preparation as a tool for resilience
50:00 – Risk assessment in real life
58:00 – Lightning Round: Dangerous stunts, myths, mindset hacks
01:06:00 – Final insights and actionable advice

Whether an athlete, a leader, or simply navigating high-pressure situations, this conversation will inspire you to redefine challenge and unlock your mental strength.

Learn more about Brian’s work at brianhiteglobal.com.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Brian Heid: Hollywood Stuntman Turned Psychologist
• 0:54 Brian's Early Life and Career Beginnings
• 1:54 The Intersection of Psychology and Stunts
• 3:27 High Stakes Performance and Mental Resilience
• 4:47 Realizations and Academic Pursuits
• 7:41 Applying Mental Skills Across Life
• 17:04 Defining Pressure and Stress
• 20:58 Focus, Arousal, Confidence, and Tenacity (FACT)
• 24:57 Adapting in Unpredictable Situations
• 30:51 The Illusion of Pressure
• 35:26 Energy Activation Levels and Performance
• 37:04 Understanding Energy Activation Levels
• 39:23 The Role of Pressure and Stress
• 43:10 Preparation and Resilience
• 50:26 Risk Assessment in Real Life
• 57:24 Lightning Round: Dangerous Stunts and Career Insights
• 1:05:36 Final Thoughts and Advice