Performance Neurology with Josh Turknett, MD

Josh Turknett, MD

Extraordinary minds are built from ordinary brains. This show is about how to build yours — and how to get out of its way when it counts.

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20 episodes
Updated July 24

Episodes20

Newest first

July 24 · 14 min
The Making Of A "Natural" (Bryan Sutton)
Bryan Sutton is one of the best flatpickers alive, and like most great players, he'll tell you the guitar just came naturally to him. In this follow-up to my conversation with Bryan, I dig into what's really behind the making of a "natural," and what it means for you. Links: Pre-order The Genius and the Impostor (out August 25): https://GeniusAndImpostor.com The full interview with Bryan Sutton: https://youtu.be/mF0MSRkrriM?si=oNmQxHoMon-UaRKT Instagram: @brainjojosh More at performanceneurology.institute
July 7 · 50 min
How 3x Grammy Winner Bryan Sutton Gets Out of His Own Way
Bryan Sutton is a three-time Grammy winner and one of the most-recorded session guitarists in Nashville, with credits from Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift to Dolly Parton and Doc Watson. Yet, he's driven home from sessions convinced he'd never work in the town again. In this conversation we get into how he built his playing growing up immersed in the mountain music of Western North Carolina, why performing under pressure is a completely separate skill from playing well, and the mental shift he uses to get out of his own way. Links: Pre-order The Genius and the Impostor: GeniusAndImpostor.com Take the Pressure Profile: PerformanceNeurology.institute/pressure-profile Bryan Sutton at ArtistWorks: ArtistWorks.com/Bryan-Sutton Bryan on Instagram: @bryansutton28 Josh on Instagram: @brainjojosh
June 26 · 11 min
The Genius Arc: How Nelson Dellis Beat the Panic Before His 6th Title
In this Genius Arc breakdown, Dr. Josh Turknett takes the story of Nelson Dellis — 6× USA Memory Champion and author of Everyday Genius — and runs it through the Genius and Impostor framework from his forthcoming book. You'll see how a man who says he "truly would have said my memory is average" built a championship-level skill from scratch, why five titles still couldn't stop his body from going into revolt before the sixth, and the reset that let him step on stage as "the most chill version of myself I've ever been." It's a clear, worked example of how capability is built, how pressure hijacks it, and how you get it back. Take the free Pressure Profile assessment (3 min): https://performanceneurology.institute/pressure-profile Pre-order The Genius and the Impostor: https://GeniusAndImpostor.com Read Brains, Banjos and Beyond: https://joshturknett.substack.com Nelson Dellis's book Everyday Genius: nelsondellis.com/everyday-genius Follow on Instagram: @brainjojosh Links: Pre-order The Genius and the Impostor: GeniusAndImpostor.com Nelson's Instagram: @nelzor Josh's Instagram: @brainjojosh Music by Jullienne Ellen (@julienneellencomposes)
June 19 · 37 min
How 6x Memory Champion Nelson Dellis Built His Memory From Scratch
Nelson Dellis can memorize a shuffled deck of cards in under 30 seconds, and he's won the USA Memory Championship six times. But he didn't start with a special memory. He built it from scratch, and he's adamant that nobody wins a memory competition on natural talent. In this conversation we get into how he actually trains, how watching his grandmother's decline from Alzheimer's set him on this path, and what it would take for you to build a memory like his. Links: Nelson Dellis's book Everyday Genius: nelsondellis.com/everyday-genius Pre-order The Genius and the Impostor: GeniusAndImpostor.com Nelson's Instagram: @nelzor Josh's Instagram: @brainjojosh Music by Jullienne Ellen (@julienneellencomposes)
June 12 · 7 min
Introducing Performance Neurology
Dr. Josh Turknett — neurologist and author of The Genius and the Impostor — introduces the show, the framework, and the two characters living inside your brain that determine whether you rise to the moment or fall apart. In this episode: What performance neurology is and how it differs from clinical neurology What's happening in your brain when you collapse under pressure Meet the Genius and the Impostor — two systems in your brain fighting for control What to expect from this podcast Links: Pre-order The Genius and the Impostor (August 2026): GeniusAndImpostor.com Learn more about Performance Neurology at performanceneurology.institute Subscribe to the newsletter: Brains, Banjos and Beyond on Substack Instagram: @brainjojosh
Mar 21, 2025 · 14 min
Why Anyone Can Play Music
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
Sep 27, 2024 · 14 min
Brainjo Bite: Why Perfect Practice Is Anything But Perfect
The book: "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
May 28, 2024 · 13 min
Brainjo Bite: The Real Reason We Practice
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
May 20, 2024 · 8 min
Brainjo Bite: How To Learn Like A Champ
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
Feb 5, 2024 · 11 min
Brainjo Bite Is Playing Music Hard?
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
Nov 18, 2023 · 12 min
Brainjo Bite: The Myth About "Discipline"
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
Oct 15, 2023 · 6 min
Brainjo Bite: Stop Comparing Yourself
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
Aug 28, 2023 · 13 min
Brainjo Bite: 5 Strategies For Achieving Your Musical Goals
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
Aug 7, 2023 · 21 min
Brainjo Bite: Can Music Save Your Brain?
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
Jul 3, 2023 · 14 min
Brainjo Bite: Should You Learn Multiple Styles Or Instruments?
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
Jun 5, 2023 · 16 min
Brainjo Bite: How Good Should You Get?
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book "Anyone Can Play Music: Unlock Your Musical Potential with the Laws of Brainjo" To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
May 26, 2023 · 9 min
27: Learn Songs Or Learn Skills? (Brainjo Bite)
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book The Laws of Brainjo: The Art & Science of Molding A Musical Mind To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
May 10, 2023 · 15 min
26: 5 Mistakes Of Beginning Musicians
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book The Laws of Brainjo: The Art & Science of Molding A Musical Mind To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
May 7, 2023 · 17 min
25: The Brain Of A Master Musician
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book The Laws of Brainjo: The Art & Science of Molding A Musical Mind To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy
May 4, 2023 · 12 min
24: 3 Ways To Use Your Recordings
For more on how to apply neuroscience to practice smarter, check out the book The Laws of Brainjo: The Art & Science of Molding A Musical Mind To learn more about music courses based on The Brainjo Method, head to brainjo.academy

Performance Neurology with Josh Turknett, MD

The Making Of A "Natural" (Bryan Sutton)

How 3x Grammy Winner Bryan Sutton Gets Out of His Own Way

The Genius Arc: How Nelson Dellis Beat the Panic Before His 6th Title

How 6x Memory Champion Nelson Dellis Built His Memory From Scratch

Introducing Performance Neurology

Why Anyone Can Play Music

Brainjo Bite: Why Perfect Practice Is Anything But Perfect

Brainjo Bite: The Real Reason We Practice

Brainjo Bite: How To Learn Like A Champ

Brainjo Bite Is Playing Music Hard?

Brainjo Bite: The Myth About "Discipline"

Brainjo Bite: Stop Comparing Yourself

Brainjo Bite: 5 Strategies For Achieving Your Musical Goals

Brainjo Bite: Can Music Save Your Brain?

Brainjo Bite: Should You Learn Multiple Styles Or Instruments?

Brainjo Bite: How Good Should You Get?

27: Learn Songs Or Learn Skills? (Brainjo Bite)

26: 5 Mistakes Of Beginning Musicians

25: The Brain Of A Master Musician

24: 3 Ways To Use Your Recordings