Will Trubridge - Freediving & Mental Mastery
Drawing from his record-breaking freediving career, Will Trubridge shares how cultivating awareness and what he calls a “mental immune system” can help us face fear, expand the mind, and live with greater clarity and presence.
You can also listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other major podcast platform. Here it is in video format if you prefer:
Episode Overview
World champion freediver Will Trubridge has explored the deepest parts of the ocean—and the mind. In this episode of The FitMind Podcast, Will shares the mental techniques and insights he’s developed from diving to extreme depths on a single breath.
Will explains how breathwork serves as both a physiological tool and a gateway to deeper states of awareness and presence. He introduces his idea of the “mental immune system”, a set of cognitive and emotional skills that allow us to stay calm under pressure, just as his survival depends on remaining composed hundreds of feet below the surface.
We discuss:
How freediving reveals the nature of consciousness and the mind’s limits.
Practical breathwork techniques that reduce stress and improve focus.
The science behind how the human body and brain adapt to extreme environments.
Strategies for strengthening your mental immune system to face life’s challenges.
If you’ve ever wondered what the mind experiences 100 meters below the surface, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into human psychology and performance from someone who has pushed himself to extraordinary depths, both physically and mentally.
P.S. — If you’re serious about starting or deepening your meditation practice, check out the FitMind meditation app.
Will Trubridge Bio
Will Trubridge is a six-time world champion freediver and an 18-time world record holder, best known for becoming the first person to dive over 100 meters (328 feet) deep without fins or a breathing apparatus. Raised in New Zealand, Will has dedicated his life to exploring both the physical and mental frontiers of human performance.
Beyond his record-breaking dives, Will teaches the principles of breathwork, mindfulness, and psychological resiliency through his writing and courses. His work bridges the science of freediving with universal lessons about consciousness, awareness, and the mind-body connection, inspiring people to cultivate what he calls a “mental immune system” for navigating life’s challenges.
Show Notes
00:00 | Intro to Will Trubridge
01:21 | Will’s Background & Early Freediving
04:59 | Role of Breathwork
09:43 | Physiological Adaptations Underwater
14:16 | Overcoming Fear and Mental Barriers
19:41 | Consciousness in Freediving
26:23 | Parallels to Meditation
31:59 | Limits of the Mind
39:56 | The Mental Immune System
43:59 | Practical Mental Techniques
50:26 | Applying Freediving Lessons to Life
54:53 | Science of Freediving
1:01:31 | Mind-Body Connection
1:09:41 | Awareness Training & Breathwork Exercises
1:14:59 | Closing Insights
Website: https://www.williamtrubridge.com
Mental Immune System: https://mentalimmunesystem.com