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The Performance Project — Where Psychology Meets Growth

The Performance Project — Where Psychology Meets Growth

by Chloe Parsons-Cohn

Society & Culture

Season 5

The Mid-Year Reset: The Psychology of Starting Over (And Why Most People Quit Too Soon)

It's the middle of the year, and for a lot of people, that means one of two things: you're either proud of the progress you've made, or you're wondering where the version of yourself you planned to become went. But what if the problem isn't that you've failed? What if you're just expecting change to happen faster than it actually does? In this episode of The Performance Project, we're diving into the psychology of starting over, why our brains love fresh starts, why old habits are so difficult to break, and why most people quit before their hard work has a chance to pay off. We'll talk about the Fresh Start Effect, identity-based habits, the invisible phase of growth, and why becoming your best self takes far more patience than social media makes it seem. This isn't about waiting for a new year, a Monday, or the perfect moment to begin. It's about understanding how real change happens and learning how to stay consistent long enough to see it. Because sometimes the biggest transformation isn't starting over. It's refusing to quit.

Season 4

The Psychology of Freedom: What the Fourth of July Can Teach Us About Independence

Hi! I am so sorry I missed the last episode last week, but I have been working hard to rebrand this podcast to make it the best possible for your viewers. In this Fourth of July special, The Performance Project ( that will be the new name of the podcast- coming out soon,) explores a question that goes beyond fireworks, parades, and celebrations: What does it really mean to be free? Many people think freedom is simply having more choices, but psychology tells a more complicated story. In this episode, we examine how the brain responds to autonomy, why unlimited freedom can sometimes leave us feeling overwhelmed, and how self-control, purpose, and intentional decision-making play a major role in our sense of independence. You'll learn why freedom isn't just about what we're allowed to do—it's also about our ability to direct our attention, manage our habits, and make choices that align with our goals. Through real-life examples involving school, technology, sleep, and everyday decision-making, we'll explore what freedom looks like in practice and what it means for performance and well-being. Join us as we look beyond the fireworks and uncover the psychology of freedom.

The Summer Reset Guide

n this episode of Digital Childhood, Chloe talks about burnout, overstimulation, dopamine, habits, routines, emotional resets, and the psychology behind why summer can become the perfect opportunity to reconnect with yourself and rebuild your life intentionally. After months of school stress, constant stimulation, pressure, notifications, and mental exhaustion, a lot of people enter summer feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, and burnt out without fully realizing why. This episode explores: why people feel mentally exhausted after the school year the science behind dopamine, habits, and neuroplasticity how overstimulation affects focus, motivation, and emotions why resets work psychologically how your environment shapes your mindset the importance of protecting your attention and nervous system realistic ways to reset your habits, routines, and mindset this summer and how to become the best version of yourself without chasing perfection Because a real reset isn’t about becoming someone completely different overnight. It’s about creating an environment where the best version of you can finally grow.

Why You’re Always Stressed (And What It’s Actually Doing to Your Brain)

In this episode, Chloe talks about stress, overstimulation, dopamine, emotional regulation, overthinking, and the neuroscience behind why modern life leaves so many people feeling overwhelmed all the time.

The Hidden Power of Self-Respect

In this episode of Digital Childhood, Chloe talks about self-respect, confidence, identity, emotional regulation, discipline, habits, and the psychology behind how the way you treat yourself slowly becomes the way you see yourself. A lot of people think confidence is the answer—but sometimes the deeper issue is self-respect. Because self-respect affects: the habits you tolerate the way you handle emotions your boundaries your routines your mindset your self-worth and the way you move through the world This episode explores: what self-respect actually is what low self-respect looks like psychologically the science behind self-image and identity how habits shape the way your brain sees you why discipline can become a form of self-care how social media affects self-worth and how to stop abandoning yourself emotionally Because confidence isn’t just believing in yourself. It’s learning to treat yourself like someone worth protecting.

Memorial Day, Gratitude, and the Psychology of Appreciating Life

Memorial Day is about remembrance, reflection, gratitude, and appreciating the things people often overlook in everyday life. But in a world filled with constant comparison, pressure, overstimulation, and endless scrolling, gratitude has actually become psychologically harder for people to feel. In this episode of Digital Childhood, Chloe talks about the psychology and neuroscience of gratitude, how comparison changes the brain, why modern life trains people to focus on what they lack, and how gratitude can completely change the way people experience life emotionally. This episode explores: the neuroscience of gratitude dopamine, serotonin, and the nervous system how social media affects appreciation why comparison destroys presence the connection between gratitude and mental health emotional resilience and perspective how gratitude affects focus, stress, and emotional wellbeing why peaceful, reflective moments matter psychologically and how Memorial Day reminds people to slow down and appreciate life more deeply Because honestly? A grateful brain experiences life differently than a constantly dissatisfied brain. 🎙️ Digital Childhood is a podcast about growing up in a digital world and learning how to become the best version of yourself through psychology, mindset, habits, emotional intelligence, and understanding how your brain actually works.

How to Be Dangerously Calm in Any Situation

In a world designed to overstimulate you, staying calm becomes a form of power. In this episode of Digital Childhood, Chloe talks about emotional control, overstimulation, stress, confidence, nervous system regulation, and why calmness might be one of the most important skills you can build. We live in a world filled with constant noise—notifications, pressure, comparison, social media, and endless stimulation—and over time, that affects the way we think, react, focus, and handle emotions. This episode explores: why people feel emotionally overwhelmed now the psychology and neuroscience behind stress and reactivity how overstimulation affects your brain why calm people often become the most confident and disciplined how emotional regulation changes your habits, focus, and relationships and how to become mentally stronger without becoming emotionless Because being calm doesn’t mean you don’t feel emotions. It means your emotions don’t control your life.

The Year I Started Understanding Myself

I just turned 13, and this episode is a reflection on everything I learned at 12. From discipline and self-respect to motivation, focus, and learning how to understand yourself, this year changed the way I think about habits, confidence, and growth. It’s not about having everything figured out—it’s about learning how to build yourself step by step, making better choices, and starting to understand what actually matters to you. This episode is honest, reflective, and focused on what it really means to grow up and start becoming who you want to be.

How to Actually Find When You Study Best (And Use It to Your Advantage)

📝 DESCRIPTION (Apple Podcasts) Do you actually know when you study best—or are you just guessing? In this episode of Digital Childhood, we break down how to figure out your ideal study time based on your energy, focus, and natural rhythm—and why different people perform better at different times of day. Whether you focus best in the morning, afternoon, or at night, this episode will help you understand how your brain works and how to use it to your advantage. Plus, I share my personal experience with studying at night and why it works for me. Because the goal isn’t to force yourself into someone else’s routine—it’s to build one that actually works for you.

What 30 Days of Consistency Does to Your Brain, Body, and Mind

I tried a 30-day challenge—2-minute plank, 3-minute wall sit, 60 sit-ups in under 1:30, plus daily journaling. But this isn’t just about fitness. In this bonus episode of Digital Childhood, I break down what actually changes when you stay consistent for 30 days—from your mindset and discipline to your brain, habits, and physical strength. Are challenges actually helpful, or do they just create pressure? And how do you use them in a way that actually improves your life?

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