TJ Lavin joins Miesha Tate for an honest conversation about BMX, brain injury, intuition, and the mental side of performing under pressure. TJ opens up about his early rise in BMX, winning King of Dirt after being added to the contest as a favor, the strange confidence and “premonitions” he felt before major wins, and the pressure that can make even elite athletes lock up. He also reflects on his near-fatal 2010 crash, two-week coma, and the process of relearning basic skills like walking, talking, writing, counting money, and tying his shoes.
Along the way, Miesha and TJ talk about life in Las Vegas, dog rescue, The Challenge, hosting without a teleprompter, Justin Gaethje’s mindset, repeated head trauma, and recovery tools like hyperbaric oxygen. This is a grounded, wide-ranging conversation about preparation, instinct, resilience, and learning to listen to yourself.
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Chapter Markers
00:00 – TJ Lavin’s Story & The 2010 Crash
01:58 – Homeless Jack, Scooters & Vegas Life
06:03 – Pilates, Motherhood & Core Recovery
07:39 – Fostering Puppies & Rescue Dogs
10:27 – TJ’s Dogs & Animal Rescue Work
12:47 – The Challenge, Leroy & Las Vegas
15:41 – Hot Yoga, Recovery & Slowing Down
24:12 – How BMX Started
26:33 – King Of Dirt & Early BMX Breakthrough
35:55 – Premonitions, Pressure & Winning
45:01 – Rivalries, Mental Blocks & Failure
55:49 – Hosting The Challenge Without A Teleprompter
01:16:57 – Brain Injury, Memory & Relearning Basics
01:20:07 – Hyperbaric Oxygen & Recovery
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