Episode Details

Doubt shows up for everyone, even the most decorated athletes. We invited bestselling author and two-time TEDx speaker Simone Knego to break down a simple, durable system for building confidence that actually holds under pressure. Her REAL method—respect yourself, embrace your failures, ask yourself what you want, and live without limits—turns confidence from a fuzzy feeling into a daily practice you can train like endurance, breath control, or pacing.

We start by redefining self-respect as the foundation of performance: recovery, sleep, and boundaries that protect your best work. Simone explains how setting limits at home, on teams, and at the office teaches others how to treat you. Then we reframe failure as data, not identity, and share practical ways to process a bad race or rough set without letting it define the next one. You’ll hear why giving yourself a “move on” date shortens the spiral and how to turn the inner critic into a useful coach.

Asking what you truly want might be the hardest—and most freeing—step. Masters swimmers and weekend warriors alike feel the pull of old identities and outside expectations. We explore how naming your real goals changes your training, stress, and satisfaction. Simone also shares her quick “Control Alt Delete” mindset reset: catch the thought, tell a better story, and delete beliefs that don’t serve you. It’s a powerful pattern interrupt when stakes are high.

Simone’s Kilimanjaro climb ties it all together. Training from flat Florida with breath-restriction work, loaded hikes, and strength, she learned to manage doubt one step at a time. On the mountain and during a painful descent, she discovered that going slower can reveal more—and that persistence is confidence in motion. We also talk openly about leaving an abusive relationship, repairing self-talk, and modeling respect for the next generation.

If you’re ready to build unshakeable confidence without burning out, this conversation offers clear tools you can use today. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a boost, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What part of the REAL method will you try first?

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com