Episode 1084 - Shauna Duggins

Mental Prep

Shauna Duggins shares how mental preparation is crucial for performing stunts, often involving overcoming fear and mental blocks. She explains that while gymnasts often face mental blocks, in stunts, it's about trusting your physical capabilities and the team around you. Shauna recounts a time when she was asked to perform an 80-foot high fall, having only done 50 feet before, and how she practiced over a weekend to mentally prepare for the challenge 1.

It's funny, as I've had less fear and stunts than I did in gymnastics, gymnasts are very known to have mental blocks.

--- Shauna Duggins

Her approach involves practicing until the fear subsides and the skill becomes second nature, emphasizing the importance of mental readiness in high-risk situations 2 3.

   

High-Risk Stunts

Performing high-risk stunts requires not only mental preparation but also physical resilience and trust in the team. Shauna describes the experience of being lit on fire for a stunt, highlighting the meticulous preparation involved, such as wearing fire retardant layers and understanding the dynamics of the burn 4. She also recounts a high-stakes driving stunt on "Fast Five," where quick thinking and trust in her fellow stunt driver, Corey Eubanks, were crucial to avoid disaster 5.

The hardest burn is to actually stand and do nothing and just burn because the fire just comes up under you into your face.

--- Shauna Duggins

In another instance, Shauna faced an underwater panic during a stunt, demonstrating her ability to remain calm and problem-solve under pressure, ultimately finding her way to safety 6.