Episode 25

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Published on:

30th Jun 2025

Talk Like a Champion: Mastering the Art of Confident Self-Talk

Master Your Self-Talk: The Ultimate Guide to Boosting Confidence with P3 Thinking

What if the voice inside your head was your biggest fan instead of your harshest critic? In this episode of Confident Calm Clutch Car Ride Conversations, host Valerie Alston explores the powerful, yet often overlooked tool of self-talk to boost confidence. She introduces the P3 method—Purposeful, Productive, and Possibility-focused thinking—to train your inner voice to be your best teammate. Learn practical strategies like the AIR Technique (Awareness, Interruption, Replacement) to reshape your internal dialogue and improve mental toughness, resilience, and confidence. Whether you're a parent or a young athlete, this episode provides actionable insights to perform your best in any situation. Tune in to transform your self-talk and build lifelong skills, one car ride at a time.


00:00 Introduction to Self-Talk for Confidence

01:42 The P3 Approach: Purposeful, Productive, and Possibility Focused Thoughts

04:38 Effective Self-Talk Strategies: The AIR Technique

07:47 Proactive Self-Talk: Training Your Brain

10:00 Affirmations and Positive Self-Talk

13:16 Parental Support: Encouraging Productive Thoughts

15:15 Discussion Prompts and Final Thoughts

Download the FREE Mental Skills Journal here


Discussion questions:

  1. What kind of things do you say to yourself during a game or practice? Would you say those same things to a teammate?
  2. Can you come up with one “anchor phrase” that helps you refocus when things aren’t going well?
  3. How do you think your self-talk changes when you're confident vs. when you’re struggling?
  4. As a parent, how can I model or reinforce positive self-talk for you?


Thanks for joining me on Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations! If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a moment. Share it with other parents or coaches who could use a little extra inspiration on the go.

For exclusive tips, tools, and updates join my newsletter at www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter 

For more specific tips on building mental toughness, buy my book Confident, Calm and Clutch: How to build confidence and mental toughness for young athletes using sports psychology

Parents join my Facebook group to Help Your Athlete Gain Mental Toughness for Parents

Have an idea for a topic? Submit your idea here.

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com

Follow Me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666

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About the Podcast

Car Ride Conversations For Sports Families
Conversation prompts for building mentally tough young athletes while you drive
The ultimate podcast for parents, coaches, and young athletes who want to unlock the secrets to mental toughness, confidence, and resilience. Whether you're on your way to practice, a big game, or just tackling the daily grind, these bite-sized episodes are designed to spark meaningful conversations to equip young athletes with actionable tools to thrive in school, sports and life while building strong relationships with their parents, one car ride at a time.

Hosted by Valerie Alston, former D1 athlete, sport psychology expert, and resilience coach, each episode dives into key topics like building effective self-talk, staying calm under pressure, and bouncing back from setbacks. With real-life stories, practical tips, and relatable insights, you'll discover how to support your athlete's journey while strengthening your connection along the way.

Buckle up and join us for a ride full of inspiration, growth, and the skills needed to become Confident, Calm, and Clutch!

Questions? Comments? Ideas?
✉️ Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com

Follow Me On:
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666

✨ For exclusive tips, tools, and updates, join my newsletter:
📬 https://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter


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About your host

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Valerie Alston

Drawing from a rich background as a former D1 softball player and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, she boasts over 15 years of experience dedicated to teaching and training Soldiers in the intricate art of mental toughness and resilience. As a distinguished author and coach, she brings a unique perspective to the realm of performance enhancement. Currently, her passion lies in empowering today's youth, leveraging her expertise to build and foster resilience through sports and mental toughness training, ensuring the next generation thrives in both their athletic pursuits and broader life challenges. With a comprehensive approach to athlete development, she extends her expertise to parents and coaches. Committed to enhancing understanding, she collaborates with them to impart valuable insights on building the mental toughness of young athletes, fostering an environment that nurtures resilience and unleashes their full potential.