Willpower vs Whypower- Max Rooke

If you’re tired of working harder and getting the same results… this episode is for you.
 

Most people don’t fail because they lack effort.
They fail because they repeat the same thinking, habits, and identity—year after year—with new goals but the same outcomes.
Today on the Crackin’ Backs Podcast, we go beyond motivation to expose the invisible mental patterns that quietly control discipline, confidence, and performance under pressure.
 

We’re joined by Max Rooke, peak performance coach, author, speaker, and Associate Head Coach at Pepperdine University Women’s Soccer, to break down the real mental game reset successful people need in 2026.
 

In this episode we explore:

• Why your habits, identity, and thinking—not effort—determine your results

• The mental patterns that sabotage confidence, focus, and execution

• What top performers fear more than failure

• How nervous system regulation beats willpower every time

• The one internal skill that separates clutch performers from quiet collapsers

• Three daily mental habits that actually rewire confidence and self-trust

• How breakthrough moments change everything—if you lean in
   

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, entrepreneur, or high-achiever quietly struggling with self-doubt, performance anxiety, or inconsistency, this conversation will change how you think about success, identity, and the mental work that actually matters.

About Max Rooke
 

Max Rooke is a performance coach, author, speaker, and Associate Head Coach for Pepperdine University Women’s Soccer, specializing in helping high performers master the mental game of confidence, decision-making, and consistency. He’s the author of Max Moments: Powerful Lessons to Help You Break Through From Good to Great, a book of impactful insights designed to shift thinking and elevate performance. His Life 2 The Max philosophy supports top performers, leaders, and teams in redefining success and living with clarity and purpose.
 

 Learn more and get Max’s book here: HERE
 

Max Moments book & breakthrough journal: 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