In this episode of Science in Sports, Simon is joined by Nick Rothwell — founding partner of Re-Tribe, former elite hockey player, TV host, and public speaker — for a powerful conversation that looks beyond traditional ideas of resilience in sport.
Drawing on insights from his presentation at the IIHF Symposium 2025 in Stockholm, Nick challenges the common narrative of “mental toughness” and explores why many high-performance systems are unintentionally undermining the very people they aim to develop.
Together, Simon and Nick discuss:
Why resilience alone isn’t enough — and may even be overvalued
The importance of environment, language, and nervous system regulation in true performance
How coaches can shift from control to connection
What it takes to build athletes who are not just strong, but whole
If you’re a coach, practitioner, or athlete looking to evolve your understanding of human performance, this episode offers both challenge and inspiration.
Nick Rothwell
📸 @mrnickrothwell
📸 @retribers
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nirothwell/
https://www.facebook.com/ReTribers/
https://www.facebook.com/nick.rothwell.77
Simon Heidenreich
📸 @heidenreich20
📸 @science_in_sports_
