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Listen "CommUnity Corner: Ep 5: Mark McLaughlin"
Episode Synopsis
Fear, Philosophy, and Wrestling: A Conversation with Dr. Mark R. McLaughlin (Neurosurgeon & Trenton Youth Wrestling Co-Founder)
In this episode of CommUnity Corner, Coach Nicolas Cabrera sits down with Dr. Mark R. McLaughlin—neurosurgeon, author of Cognitive Dominance, and co-founder of Trenton Youth Wrestling—to explore how wrestling becomes a laboratory for courage, how philosophy sharpens performance under pressure, and why service to others is the highest form of mastery.
Dr. McLaughlin shares lessons from the operating room and the wrestling room: dismantling fear, thinking clearly in chaos, and building strong kids through mentorship, structure, and love.
Recorded at UFC Gym North Brunswick (1846 US-1, North Brunswick, NJ).
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Topics & Timestamps
00:00 Intro & purpose of the show
02:52 The path to neurosurgery (from college wrestling to medicine)
05:51 Philosophy + medicine: learning how to think
08:56 Cognitive Dominance: decision-making under pressure
11:49 Fear vs. performance (and how to dismantle it)
17:58 Lessons from the OR you can use on the mat
20:55 What remains after fear? Love, clarity, service
28:24 Wrestling as a “fear laboratory” for youth
35:08 Coaching as a two-way street
39:32 Building Trenton Youth Wrestling & community impact
43:53 Service mindset and veteran advocacy
47:57 Redefining “success” in wrestling
50:46 Call to action: support Trenton Youth Wrestling
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Guest
Dr. Mark R. McLaughlin, MD — Neurosurgeon, author of Cognitive Dominance, and co-founder of Trenton Youth Wrestling.
Learn/Support
• Trenton Youth Wrestling – search online for the official site and ways to volunteer or donate
• Book: Cognitive Dominance by Mark R. McLaughlin
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About CommUnity Corner
Hosted by Nicolas Cabrera (Diesel Athletics Academy). We highlight leaders who build stronger communities through athletics, education, and service.
Subscribe & Connect
If this conversation helped you, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and share with a coach, parent, or athlete who needs it.
—
Key Quotes
• “The wrestling mat is a fear laboratory.”
• “When you dismantle fear, what shows up isn’t just courage—it’s love.”
• “Success is leaving the mat a more positive force in the world.”
In this episode of CommUnity Corner, Coach Nicolas Cabrera sits down with Dr. Mark R. McLaughlin—neurosurgeon, author of Cognitive Dominance, and co-founder of Trenton Youth Wrestling—to explore how wrestling becomes a laboratory for courage, how philosophy sharpens performance under pressure, and why service to others is the highest form of mastery.
Dr. McLaughlin shares lessons from the operating room and the wrestling room: dismantling fear, thinking clearly in chaos, and building strong kids through mentorship, structure, and love.
Recorded at UFC Gym North Brunswick (1846 US-1, North Brunswick, NJ).
—
Topics & Timestamps
00:00 Intro & purpose of the show
02:52 The path to neurosurgery (from college wrestling to medicine)
05:51 Philosophy + medicine: learning how to think
08:56 Cognitive Dominance: decision-making under pressure
11:49 Fear vs. performance (and how to dismantle it)
17:58 Lessons from the OR you can use on the mat
20:55 What remains after fear? Love, clarity, service
28:24 Wrestling as a “fear laboratory” for youth
35:08 Coaching as a two-way street
39:32 Building Trenton Youth Wrestling & community impact
43:53 Service mindset and veteran advocacy
47:57 Redefining “success” in wrestling
50:46 Call to action: support Trenton Youth Wrestling
—
Guest
Dr. Mark R. McLaughlin, MD — Neurosurgeon, author of Cognitive Dominance, and co-founder of Trenton Youth Wrestling.
Learn/Support
• Trenton Youth Wrestling – search online for the official site and ways to volunteer or donate
• Book: Cognitive Dominance by Mark R. McLaughlin
—
About CommUnity Corner
Hosted by Nicolas Cabrera (Diesel Athletics Academy). We highlight leaders who build stronger communities through athletics, education, and service.
Subscribe & Connect
If this conversation helped you, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and share with a coach, parent, or athlete who needs it.
—
Key Quotes
• “The wrestling mat is a fear laboratory.”
• “When you dismantle fear, what shows up isn’t just courage—it’s love.”
• “Success is leaving the mat a more positive force in the world.”
More episodes of the podcast CommUnity Corner
CommUnity Corner: Ep 4: Mike Bertram
28/09/2025
CommUnity Corner: Ep 3: Brendan Buckley
15/09/2025
CommUnity Corner: Ep 2: Wilbur Pan
02/09/2025
CommUnity Corner: Ep1: Christopher Manente
25/08/2025
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