The Mindset Behind Greatness: Why Elite Performers Are Still Evolving- Dr. Amy Athey

What if greatness isn’t something you’re born with… but something you grow into?
 

On today’s episode of the Crackin’ Backs Podcast, we sit down with one of the nation’s leading minds in performance psychology: Dr. Amy Athey, Chief Wellbeing Officer at the University of Arizona, former NCAA athlete, and trusted mental performance advisor to Olympians, Special Forces operators, professional athletes, and high-pressure CEOs.
 

Dr. Athey has spent decades inside the mindset of the world’s highest achievers — and her message is both powerful and radically freeing:

Greatness isn’t fixed. Talent isn’t destiny. The truly elite are simply… still evolving.
 

In this eye-opening conversation, we dive deep into:
 

•  The biggest myth about talent and greatness — and why believing it is dangerous for your potential

•  How elite performers fall in love with the process, especially when results stall

•  Why reflection is a performance superpower (and what the “action of reflection” actually looks like in real life)

•  How Olympians and executives keep going when motivation dies

•  The role of connection, purpose, and community in building mental resilience

•  Self-compassion vs. inner fire — how to stay driven without destroying yourself

•  The internal shift that separates those who crumble from those who evolve after injury, loss, burnout, or failure

•  And the personal moment that forced Dr. Athey herself to evolve — reshaping her work and her mission
   

This episode is a must-listen for athletes, coaches, clinicians, leaders, and anyone chasing high performance without sacrificing wellbeing. If you want to understand what truly drives greatness — and how to build it within yourself — this conversation will change the way you train, think, and live.
 

Learn more about Dr. Amy HERE
 

We are two sports chiropractors, seeking knowledge from some of the best resources in the world of health. From our perspective, health is more than just “Crackin Backs” but a deep dive into physical, mental, and nutritional well-being philosophies.
 

Join us as we talk to some of the greatest minds and discover some of the most incredible gems you can use to maintain a higher level of health. Crackin Backs Podcast