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Stress as a Superpower: Turning Anxiety into Peak Performance

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Discover how changing your mindset about stress can transform your biology. Drawing from Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman's techniques, Kelly McGonigal's revolutionary research, and Alia Crum's mind-body studies, learn practical tools to convert racing hearts into performance fuel.

Stress as a Superpower: Turning Anxiety into Peak Performance
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How This Personalized Podcast Was Made

This podcast was created using BeFreed’s AI, based on selected books, the creator’s learning goals, and their preferred tone.

Reframing Your Reality: Part 1
link
https://hidden-brain.simplecast.com/episodes/reframing-your-reality-part-i
The peptidergic control circuit for sighing
link
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature16964
How to Make Stress Your Friend
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend
How to stay calm when you know you'll be stressed
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_levitin_how_to_stay_calm_when_you_know_you_ll_be_stressed
#700 — The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain
link
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-modern-wisdom-30936734/episode/700-dr-andrew-huberman--126947569/
Stress Inoculation Training: A Preventive and Treatment Approach
link
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315748931-10/stress-inoculation-training-donald-meichenbaum
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/burnout-by-emily-nagoski
The Geroscience Agenda: Toxic Stress, Hormetic Stress, and the Rate of Aging
link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7520385/
The Upside of Stress
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-upside-of-stress-by-kelly-mcgonigal
Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta‑analytic Review
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20668659/
The Stress Prescription: 7 Days to More Joy and Ease
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-stress-prescription-by-elissa-epel
Change your mindset, change the game
link
https://amara.org/videos/49V1XlWFSi5F/en/1556484/
Turning the Knots in Your Stomach into Bows: Reappraising Arousal Improves Performance on the GRE
link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2790291/
Does the Perception that Stress Affects Health Matter? The Association with Health and Mortality
link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3374921/
Reappraising Arousal Improves Cardiovascular and Cognitive Responses to Stress
link
https://www.ovid.com/journals/jepge/abstract/10.1037/a0025719~mind-over-matter-reappraising-arousal-improves
Tools for Managing Stress & Anxiety
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/tools-for-managing-stress-and-anxiety
Biobehavioral responses to stress in females: Tend-and-befriend, not fight-or-flight
link
https://docslib.org/doc/4844052/tend-and-befriend-not-fight-or-flight
Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal
link
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666379122004748
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers
link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Zebras_Don%27t_Get_Ulcers
Rethinking Stress: The Role of Mindsets in Determining the Stress Response
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23437923/
Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/peak-performance-by-brad-stulberg
The Biopsychosocial Model of Challenge and Threat: Using the Heart to Measure the Mind
link
https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/spc3.12052
Successful performance and cardiovascular markers of challenge and threat: A meta-analysis
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29680521/
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
link
https://www.befreed.ai/list/tom-bilyeu
Dr. Alia Crum: Science of Mindsets for Health & Performance
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/dr-alia-crum-science-of-mindsets-for-health-performance/
Enhancing versus Suppressive Effects of Stress on Immune Function
link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2790771/
Dr. Elissa Epel: Control Stress for Healthy Eating, Metabolism & Aging
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-elissa-epel-control-stress-for-healthy-eating-metabolism-and-aging
The effect of stress inoculation training on anxiety and performance
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9547044/
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Input question

How can I turn my stress and anxiety into performance fuel?

Podcast Style
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likes117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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comments12
likes108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments254
likes17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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starstarstarstarstar

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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comments96
likes4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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thumbsUp16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments37
likes483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments12
likes117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments12
likes108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments254
likes17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments96
likes4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments201
thumbsUp16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments37
likes483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
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