The Mindset Advantage Poker Podcast

Summary Leah Hauer didn't know the rules of poker until mid-2024. A year later, she left her job in London to try going pro, giving herself a year of savings as a stop-loss, and she films the whole thing on her YouTube series I Quit My Job for Poker. In this episode, Stephen and Leah talk about what it's like to go through the pro journey in front of an audience: the pressure to show wins, how to handle the comment section, and a tough five-week Vegas trip where she made a final table in her first ladies event and then bricked the rest. Stephen shares how he coaches players through the reality of tournament variance, why "I don't want to feel emotions" isn't a realistic goal, and a practical system for structuring study so it actually sticks. In this episode How Leah went from complete beginner to quitting her job, and why she chose to document it Making content and playing poker at the same time, and the pressure to only show the wins Choosing between cash and tournaments, and why Stephen sees cash as a smart foundation Her Vegas ladies festival trip, and coming to terms with a roughly 15% in-the-money rate Why negative emotions are part of the job ("wanting to surf without any waves") Knowing when to skip a tournament, and telling ordinary nerves apart from real reasons not to play Why study still matters at low stakes: you can't exploit a deviation from GTO if you don't know what GTO is Stephen's study framework: play some online so your coach can see your full game, work on your three biggest leaks each quarter, and use mind maps, flashcards, and five-minute "teach it back" videos Leah's goals: becoming the biggest female poker content creator and winning enough to live on poker alone Mentioned in this episode GTO Wizard Grit by Angela Duckworth Mastery by Robert Greene Darren Elias's advice: if you have doubts about playing a tournament, don't play it About Leah Hauer Leah left her job in London to become a professional poker player and documents the journey on her YouTube series I Quit My Job for Poker. She is also a GGPoker UK and Ireland ambassador. Find her as Leah Hates Poker on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahhatespoker Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahhatespoker/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/leahhatespoker All her links: https://hoo.be/leahhatespoker

In this episode Monika shares how she shifted from a promising pharmacology/science path into poker because it felt more merit-based and rewarding long-term skill over connections, with supportive family conversations and a "plan B" degree behind her. She credits her biggest leap to pandemic-era routine and repetition, plus dropping her "lone wolf" ego to seek feedback and mindset coaching, especially after burnout and difficult WSOP summers in Las Vegas. She explains the tradeoffs of being a streamer (doors opened, resilience gained, but slower poker progress and more mental strain) and says her current focus is live poker growth through disciplined habits and detailed hand-by-hand reflection.   Click here to get the full show notes and resources from this week's episode

In this episode Dr. Bryce Appelbaum examines neuro-optometry as a performance discipline, reframing vision as a brain-based, trainable system rather than simply eyesight. Bryce shares how functional vision influences attention, pattern recognition, emotional regulation, fatigue, and decision-making under pressure, drawing from his own childhood transformation and his work with elite athletes, medical patients, and professional poker players. The discussion highlights the distinction between eyesight (clarity) and vision (how the brain processes visual information), explaining how stress, screen use, and fatigue narrow perception and degrade performance. The central takeaway is that optimizing the eye-brain connection is a largely untapped lever for sustained high performance, particularly in mentally demanding, screen-heavy environments like poker.   Click here to get the full show notes and resources from this week's episode

In this episode, Mateos shares his journey from casual COVID-era home games to playing poker professionally, emphasizing that his growth came not from a single breakthrough but from years of obsession, trial and error, and learning how to learn. He discusses how active deliberate study replaced passive consumption. How documenting his struggles and progress on social media helped him build a personal brand during a difficult downswing, and how success milestones often failed to deliver lasting fulfillment. Throughout the conversation Mateos reflects candidly on burnout, identity, and motivation, ultimately highlighting the importance of process over outcomes, community over isolation, and aligning daily actions with personal values as the real foundation for long-term performance. Click here to get the full show notes and resources from this week's episode

In this episode, JWIN shares his journey from corporate success to life as a high-stakes professional poker player. He explains why leaving a secure career wasn't as reckless as it seemed and how mindset, not luck, determines long-term success in poker. Jay reflects on overcoming major downswings, building mental resilience, and the importance of structured study routines. He also highlights the challenges of balancing poker with family life and offers honest advice to those considering going pro, urging them to pursue it for love of the game, not the illusion of freedom.   Click here to get the full show notes and resources from this week's episode

Vlastimil, a former law student turned professional poker player, shared his journey from accidentally discovering poker during law school to becoming a dedicated cash game player. He discussed the challenges of transitioning from low to high stakes, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle changes, including better money management and a healthier routine. Vlastimil highlighted the significance of mental preparation, such as meditation, visualization, and physical exercise, in enhancing his performance. He also stressed the value of investing in personal development and seeking professional help to improve both the mental and physical aspects of his game.    Click here to get the full show notes and resources from this week's episode  

Meet Sam, a 27-year-old poker player, shared his journey from gaming to poker, highlighting his meteoric rise from casual play to high-stakes tournaments. He emphasized the importance of networking and mentorship, noting a pivotal realization that collaboration accelerated his growth. Sam discussed overcoming a significant downswing by maintaining good bankroll management and leveraging small victories. He credited his mental strength, developed through meditation, gratitude practices, and mental coaching, as crucial to his success. Sam also underscored the value of a positive mindset and enjoying the journey, rather than focusing solely on results.  

A Game Poker Office Hours Webinar w: Stephen Baker on October 17th

Today's guest is Henrik Johansson. Henrik, a former high-stakes poker player, discussed his early poker journey, starting at age 13 and progressing to playing at the highest levels. He emphasized his strategy of shallow stacking and the mentorship from "Luck 123," which focused on bankroll management, tilt control, and table selection. Henrik transitioned out of poker due to lack of motivation and founded Temple, a real estate company aiming to help young people become homeowners by renting apartments with the option to buy. Temple's innovative model addresses housing affordability and has attracted interest from major investors.   Click here to get the full show notes and resources from this week's episode

Meet Andrijana Gligoric, known as "Lija," a professional poker player from Serbia, now living in Malta. Her poker passion started in university while studying electrical engineering, playing in cash games with friends. After college, she moved to Malta, began streaming her gameplay on Twitch, and quickly built a large following. As a key member of Team Global and nicknamed "Cash Game Queen," Andrijana streams almost daily and is preparing to compete in the World Series of Poker.   Click here to get the full show notes and resources from this week's episode