Locker Room Power

Hosted by David Sammel

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256

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Locker Room Power with David Sammel Join author, coach, and performance consultant David Sammel for powerful weekly episodes that sharpen your mindset and unlock your potential. From insightful interviews where guests also interview David - to short, punchy solo shows, this no-nonsense podcast delivers proven strategies, myth-busting truths, and coaching insights that work in the real world. With experience coaching Olympians and international athletes, David brings a unique mix of practical wisdom, storytelling, and humour. Whether you’re chasing goals or clarity, Locker Room Power will get you thinking and taking action. 🌐 www.davidsammel.com

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60 recent

June 11, 2026Episode 2735 min

The Biggest Lie High Performers Tell Themselves

In Part 2 of their conversation, Navid Nazemian turns the tables and puts David Sammel in the hot seat to explore the mindset, habits, and decision-making processes that separate sustained high performers from those who struggle to maintain success.Drawing on decades of experience coaching elite athletes, including Olympians, David shares why decisive action often matters more than perfect decisions, how prolific winners continue evolving after major achievements, and why tying your entire identity to performance can become a hidden trap. Together, David and Navid dive into leadership, pressure, ambition, and the mental habits that help high performers continue growing long after their biggest victories.🎙️ Locker Room Power with David SammelMindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.Connect with Navid:⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Website⁠Stay connected with David:⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠

May 28, 2026Episode 27247 min

How Great Leaders Handle Pressure and Uncertainty

Part 1 of David’s conversation with Navid Nazemian explores leadership, pressure, resilience, and the mindset required to navigate major life and career transitions. From leaving Iran at 13 years old to building a global executive career, Navid shares the defining experiences that shaped his approach to growth, adaptability, and high performance.David and Navid also discuss emotional control under pressure, trust inside leadership teams, meditation, decision-making, and why past success never guarantees future success. A thoughtful and practical conversation for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating change.🎙️ Locker Room Power with David SammelMindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.Connect with Navid:LinkedIn, WebsiteStay connected with David:⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠

May 27, 2026Episode 2712 min

Why I’m Changing My Podcast After 5 Years

In this solo episode, David Sammel reflects on the reality of growth, change, and stepping into discomfort — both personally and professionally. Nearly six months after moving from the UK to Florida after 46 years, David shares the emotional side of starting over and why meaningful transitions often take longer and feel harder than we expect.He also opens up about exciting new chapters ahead: launching his first Florida masterclass, continuing to develop his AI digital brain, and evolving the future of the podcast itself. After five years of weekly episodes, David explains why he’s shifting to a biweekly format to create deeper conversations that genuinely help high performers move forward. Honest, thoughtful, and grounded, this episode is a reminder that uncertainty and growth often arrive together.🎙️ Locker Room Power with David SammelMindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.Stay connected with David:⁠⁠Website⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠

May 14, 20267 min

Why High Performers Lose Confidence as They Improve

In this solo episode, David Sammel explores why confidence often becomes more fragile as we improve. Through relatable examples and practical insight, he explains how high performers can become trapped by perfectionism and lose sight of how far they’ve already come.David shares a powerful mindset shift: instead of focusing on what’s missing, learn to build on the success you’ve already created. This episode is a reminder that mistakes are part of growth, progress matters more than perfection, and maintaining perspective is one of the keys to long-term confidence and performance.🎙️ Locker Room Power with David SammelMindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.Stay connected with David:⁠Website⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠

April 30, 202615 min

How Top Tennis Players Handle Failure and Pressure

In this second part of the conversation, David and Millie Rajecki explore the mindset required to perform under pressure and keep improving at the highest level. Drawing from lessons inspired by Richard Krajicek, they break down why success isn’t about having a perfect game—but about building a winning “package” around your strengths, while learning to reframe failure, handle setbacks, and trust your ability to cope with challenges.Meet my guestMillie Rajecki is a rising British tennis player known for her resilience, self-awareness, and competitive mindset. With experience in both collegiate and professional tennis, she offers a grounded perspective on growth, handling pressure, and navigating the ups and downs of the sport.🎙️ Locker Room Power with David SammelMindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.Connect with Millie Rajecki:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millierajecki/Stay connected with David:Website, Spotify, Instagram, Facebook

April 23, 202635 min

From College Courts to Wimbledon: Milly Rajecki's Road to Pro Tennis

She wasn't the chosen one. Nobody predicted she'd make it this far.Milly Rajecki went from barely playing singles in college to competing at Wimbledon two years in a row. In this episode of Locker Room Power, David Sammel sits down with Milly to unpack the brutal truth behind what it really takes to turn pro.0:00, The Hook: "It's a pretty brutal journey."0:51, Who is Milly Rajecki? Her story from Nottingham to Wimbledon.2:19, How tennis shaped her as a person, not just a player.3:52, "You're a loser every week." The truth about pro tennis.5:01, The difference between analysing a loss and just dwelling on it.7:23, Winning streaks: the real secret to climbing the rankings.8:10, who inspired her to make the sacrifices necessary to go pro.10:28, Why she was never "the chosen one" and how she defied everyone.13:41, The summer that changed everything: 7am sessions in 35-degree heat.17:15, When should you invest in a full-time travel coach?19:31, David's advice for any 16-year-old who wants to play pro tennis.22:31, Milly's two superpowers on court.25:54, How she went from being fearful of pressure to thriving under it.28:07, CLIP MOMENT: Pressure points mean you are winning.🎙️ Locker Room Power with David SammelMindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.Connect with David:WEBSITE:INSTAGRAM:Millie RajeckiINSTAGRAM: #lockerroompower #tennispodcast #protennis #davidsammel #tennismindset #womentennis #tennismotivation #itftennis #wimbledon #mentaltoughness #tenniscoaching #athletemindset #collegetennis #tennislife #highperformancemindset #sportspodcast #tennisplayer #tennistraining #tenniscommunity

April 16, 20268 min

35 Years of Pro Coaching Proved This One Thing About Success

Stop blaming your talent for your lack of results. Most high-performers are putting in the effort, but they’re missing the architecture to sustain it.The Transformation:In this solo episode, David Sammel pulls back the curtain on the 5 massive mistakes he’s been making and reveals the "Performance System" shift that separates elite athletes from everyone else. Whether you’re on the court or in the boardroom, learn why you need a plan before you need a player.Key Takeaways:The Talent Myth: Why 35 years in pro locker rooms proved that "not being good enough" is rarely the problem.Architecture vs. Effort: How to stop "improvising" under pressure and start executing a pre-planned system.Clarity Before Action: The exact framework David is using to overhaul his own performance standards.Timestamps:0:00, The Hook: "I’ve been doing this wrong."0:30, Why hard work alone fails.1:05, The job of a High-Performance Coach.4:49, The danger of "interesting discussions" vs. great content.6:17, CLIP MOMENT: You are running a performance system.7:23, The real gap: It’s almost always a system.Connect with David:WEBSITE: INSTAGRAM:

April 8, 202627 min

The Billionaire’s Dream: How to Win Under Extreme Pressure | Nick Hague

What is the one thing billionaires would pay millions for, but can never truly buy?In this second episode of the Locker Room Power (LRP) Podcast, David Sammel and Nick Hague (host of World's Greatest Business Thinkers) dive into the mental architecture required to perform when the stakes are at their highest.Using the powerful story of a professional player facing Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon, Nick and David break down how to reframe nerves as a privilege and why "total belief" is the only thing that keeps you from cracking when your opponent is waiting for a weakness.What you will learn in this episode:The Billionaire’s Dream: Why elite pressure is a reward for your hard work, not a threat to your success.The "Cracking" Point: How to maintain your composure when your opponent is actively looking for signs of doubt.The Enjoyment Factor: Why "doing things right" leads to better performance through genuine enjoyment.Mastering Response Time: How to take a breather and prevent impulsive reactions in the heat of the moment.Connect with David:WEBSITE:YOUTUBE:APPLE PODCAST:Nick Hague:WEBSITE:APPLE PODCAST:YOUTUBE:#DavidSammel #HighPerformance #BusinessStrategy #TennisCoaching #Networking #ProMindset #LockerRoomPower #Nickhague

April 2, 202635 min

Building World-Class Networks and Mastering Sportsmanship | Nick Hague

Does being "comfortable in your own skin" give you a competitive edge?In this episode of the Locker Room Power Podcast, David Sammel and Nick Hague pull back the curtain on how to navigate the high-stakes world of professional tennis and global business. They discuss why being "comfortable in your own skin" is the ultimate competitive advantage and how a foundation of kindness can open doors that talent alone cannot.What you will learn in this episode:The Networking Edge: How to build top-tier relationships by being open-minded and saying "yes" to the right opportunities.The Specialist Trap: Why acknowledging what you don't know is the key to hiring and working with the best in the world.Sportsmanship as a Strategy: Lessons from the top (like Roger Federer) on maintaining humility while dominating your field.Professional Longevity: How to transition from a sports-focused upbringing into a long-term, successful career in business.About David Sammel: David is a high-performance coach and author of the SAML Method, helping top-tier athletes and leaders find clarity under pressure.Connect with David:WEBSITE:INSTAGRAM: Nick Hague: WEBSITE:INSTAGRAM: APPLE PODCAST: #NickLTP #DavidSammel #HighPerformance #BusinessStrategy #TennisCoaching #Networking #ProMindset #LockerRoomPower

March 26, 20265 min

Stop Losing to Yourself: The Stress Energy Map

Is your ambition actually killing your performance?Most high-performers believe that constant "hustle" is the path to winning. In reality, they are trapped in the Overdrive Zone, a state of high energy and high stress that feels like success until it leads to total depletion.In this solo episode, David Sammel introduces the Stress Energy Map, a psychological framework built over 35 years of coaching elite athletes. He reveals why "mental toughness" isn't about control, but about Response Time, how fast you can switch from the "Negative Wolf" back into the version of yourself that can handle the pressure.Key Takeaways:The Four Zones: Why most people "drift" while champions "choose" where they live.The Overdrive Trap: Why you cannot out-hustle depletion forever.Which Wolf Wins?: The secret to feeding the habits that sustain elite performance under pressure.Mental Quicksand: How to use specific mental triggers to pull yourself out of emotional downward spirals.About David Sammel: David is a high-performance coach and author of the SAML Method. His philosophy is simple: success comes from clarity of mind under pressure.Chapters: 0:00 - Which Wolf Are You Feeding? 0:46 - The 4 Zones of the Stress Energy Map 1:30 - The Danger of the Overdrive Zone 3:42 - The Secret to Elite Response Time 4:30 - Building Habits Under PressureWEBSITE :INSTAGRAM :#davidsammel #highperformance #mentaltoughness #stressmanagement #sportspsychology #championmindset #lockerroompower #samlmethod