Finding Mastery: Conversations With Michael Gervais

Welcome to Decoding Disruptors, a special edition of the Finding Mastery podcast presented without interruption by Microsoft.Decoding Disruptors takes a deep dive into the minds of extraordinary women who have disrupted the narrative in their businesses, industries, and communities. Every conversation was filmed and is currently available at decodingdisruptors.com.This conversation is with Theresia Gouw, a founder and partner at Acrew Capital and one of the most successful venture capitalists in the world.During her career, Theresia has helped finance and support some of the most successful companies of our time, being an early investor in Facebook, Trulia, Hotel Tonight, Forescout, and Imperva, among others.Time Magazine named her one of the 40 most influential minds in tech. Equally impressive, Theresia helped break the gender barrier in Silicon Valley.She was often the only woman in the room when she arrived in America’s tech capital…Her focus on the elements she could control, like preparat

This week’s conversation is with Hilaree Nelson.With a career spanning two decades that includes dozens of first descents through more than 40 expeditions to 16 different countries, Hilaree is the most prolific ski mountaineer of her generation. Some of these ‘firsts” in the world of ski mountaineering include linking two 8000m peaks (Everest and Lhotse) in one push, first ski descents on Baffin Island, a first American ascent and ski descent of Papsura peak in India , and a first ski descent of the 4th highest peak in the world, Lhotse. Hilaree is the Captain of the North Face Athlete Team, an active leader on climate with Protect Our Winters, and an avid proponent of wild places such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.She was also named by Men’s Journal as one of the most adventurous women of the last 25 years, as well as National Geographic’s 2018 Adventurer of the Year.In this conversation, Hilaree shares some key takeaways from her expeditions, where the wrong decision could mean the d

This week’s conversation is with Chip Conley, a boutique hotel entrepreneur who helped Airbnb's founders turn their fast-growing tech start-up into a global hospitality brand.After selling Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the company he started as a rebel entrepreneur at age 26, Chip wasn't sure what was next.He could have retired at age 52 but the young founders of Airbnb came calling.Chip served as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality & Strategy for four years — while also being CEO Brian Chesky’s mentor — and continues today as a Strategic Advisor to the company’s leadership.Chip wrote about that experience in Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder where he shares his unexpected journey at midlife — from CEO to intern.While writing Wisdom@Work, Chip was inspired to build the world's first "midlife wisdom school," the Modern Elder Academy, with a 3-acre oceanfront campus in Baja California Sur, Mexico.So why does Chip care so much about this idea of a “modern elder?”It’s because there were a few key points

This week’s conversation is with snowmobiling legend Levi LaVallee, a 13 time X Games Medalist, Snocross Champion, and World Record holderLevi first tasted podium success in 2004 when he won the HillCross snowmobile event at the Winter X Games, in Aspen, Colorado and then made the switch to Freestyle competition.At the 2008 Winter X Games, Levi took gold in both the Speed & Style and Freestyle events and was later named Best Male Athlete of the entire competition.He also made history when he became the first person to attempt a double backflip on a snowmobile at the 2009 Winter X Games.After soaring more than 15m into the air, he went long on the landing and was thrown from his sled upon impact. The attempt was so tantalisingly close to succeeding that many people considered it a great achievement.The X Games medals weren’t enough though -- in 2011, he took the torch from Travis Pastrana, Robbie Maddison and Rhys Millen for one of his greatest feats – Red Bull New Year No Limits.Levi jumped across the San

Welcome to Decoding Disruptors, a special edition of the Finding Mastery podcast presented without interruption by Microsoft.Decoding Disruptors takes a deep dive into the minds of extraordinary women who have disrupted the narrative in their businesses, industries, and communities. Every conversation was filmed and is currently available at decodingdisruptors.com.This conversation is with Shivani Siroya, who built a near-billion dollar business on the back of a simple belief: people are trustworthy.After holding jobs with big investment banks and with the United Nations, Shivani recognized a global problem: almost a third of the world doesn’t have access to credit because they have no way to build a credit score.Without credit, people can’t get home loans, small business loans, life improvement loans. It’s difficult to progress personally or professionally.So she did something about it.Shivani founded Tala, a smartphone lending app designed to provide access to credit to two billion people who have

This week’s conversation is with Garrett McNamara, an international big wave explorer known for discovering, pioneering and surfing the biggest wave in the world - The Everest of the Oceans - Nazaré, Portugal.Garrett also lead the iconic two-man team who rode tsunami waves generated by a 300ft calving glacier in Alaska and is the first and only foreigner to receive the Vasco da Gama Medal of Honor from the Portuguese Navy for his contributions to Portugal.He currently lives between Hawaii and Portugal with his family where he and his wife run the McNamara Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on providing children meaningful nature experiences, creating life long stewards of the Earth.In this conversation Garrett shares some incredible stories from his upbringing – which help make sense of how he became the man he is today.Garrett is known in the surf world for being a pioneer and a master of his craft.------Please support our partners!We're able to keep growing and creating content for YOU&

This week’s conversation is with Jeremy Jones, an accomplished filmmaker, entrepreneur, environmentalist and snowboarding pioneer.Jeremy is widely regarded as one of the most legendary big mountain riders and explorers of all time.Named a National Geographic “Adventurer of the Year” and ten times voted “Best Big Mountain Rider of the Year” by Snowboarder Magazine, Jeremy has starred in over a hundred snowboard movies and videos worldwide, including his highly acclaimed, foot-powered snowboarding trilogy Deeper, Further and Higher.He is the founder and CEO of award-winning Jones Snowboards, dedicated to the development of the highest quality backcountry snowboards and accessories.In 2007, Jeremy founded Protect Our Winters, a global cause uniting the winter sports community against climate change and was recognized in as a Champion of Change by President Barack Obama.In this conversation we discuss passion, risk, and managing stress.For Jeremy it comes down to understanding what the end goal is but not ge

Decoding Disruptors takes a deep dive into the minds of extraordinary women who have disrupted the narrative in their businesses, industries, and communities. The team at Finding Mastery, Compete to Create, and Microsoft worked together to bring this series to life. I had the chance to interview 9 amazing women, every conversation was filmed, and is currently available at decodingdisruptors.com.On the website you’ll also find a Disruptor Assessment— this quick assessment tool will help you measure your mindset skills and illuminates where you are on the road to becoming a disruptive business leader.We’re making a few of these conversations also available on the Finding Mastery podcast feed and this second conversation is with Cindy Eckert, a self-made serial entrepreneur.In the past ten years, Cindy has founded and sold two billion dollar pharmaceutical businesses.A modern day Erin Brockovich, Cindy took on the FDA – and won – to get approval of the first ever drug for low s

This week’s conversation is with Sue Enquist, UCLA Softball’s first All-American, National Champion, and Hall of Famer.In 2006, Sue concluded her storied 27-year career as head coach of the UCLA Bruins with a 887-175-1 (.835) record, making her the winningest softball coach among all active coaches.She is the only person in NCAA Softball history to win a championship as a head coach and a player.During her career, Sue produced 65 All-Americans and 15 Olympians.She has been inducted into six Hall of Fames including UCLA, Women’s Sport Foundation, USA Softball Hall of Fame, and National Fastpitch Coaches Association..Sue is also the recipient of multiple National Coach of the Year and Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors.This conversation is all about coaching – in any setting.Sue shares her insights on how to connect, inspire, and get the most out of those around you.------Please support our partners!We're able to keep growing and creating content for YOU because of their support. We believe in their missi

This week’s conversation is with Chris McNamara, a Big Wall Climber and ex-wingsuit BASE jumper.He is also the founder of OutdoorGearLab, one of the most popular outdoor gear review sites in the world.Outside Magazine has called Chris one of the world's finest climbers.Climbing Magazine once computed that three percent of Chris's life on earth had been spent on the face of El Capitan, an accomplishment that left friends and family pondering Chris's sanity.He has climbed El Capitan more than 80 times and holds nine big wall speed climbing records.Chris has also authored five guidebooks to rock climbing in Yosemite National Park and eight other climbing guidebooks.As a wingsuit BASE jumper, he claimed a slice of the "Golden Age of Wingsuit BASE first descents" by finding and jumping 10-plus significant new exits in the United States and Baffin Island.This conversation is about meaning, it’s about creative expression, it’s about risk.------Please support our partners!We're able to keep growing and creating conte

I'm excited to introduce you to our new series, Decoding Disruptors, a special edition of Finding Mastery, presented by Microsoft. For the past 8 years, Compete to Create and I have had the privilege of working with Microsoft, beginning with their CEO, Satya Nadella, and his executive team -- and then an additional 30,000 people across the company.Microsoft has radically transformed under Satya’s leadership, with his emphasis on building a culture around mindset, inclusion, and diversity, to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.  This series is the company’s initiative to celebrate 9 female industry leaders who have disrupted the narrative in their businesses, industries, and communities. We filmed each episode and created condensed clips based on their insights. You can watch them at decodingdisruptors.com.We've also decided to release a few of the episodes with extended footage on the Finding Mastery podcast feed – and in this

This week’s conversation is with Mark Mathews, a world-class big wave surfer, Red Bull Athlete and Surf Contest Director.He’s made a living at the intersection of danger and excitement and knows all too well the crippling grasp of fear.While in Tasmania, fifteen feet in front of a cliff in cold, shark infested waters, Mark hit a reef and instantly blacked out. Terror engulfed every inch of his being. Neck braced and hospital-ridden, he didn’t know if he could ever surf again.At that moment, Mark made a decision never to allow fear to overpower him again.Mark has deconstructed, fine-tuned, and personalized emotion and resilience techniques to successfully strengthen his mindset and sustain long term performance.These techniques have helped him win an unprecedented three consecutive Oakley Big Wave Awards and cement him as one of the best big wave surfers in the world.In this conversation, we discuss the strategies Mark’s developed to overcome fear and how you can apply them in your own life.And keep in mi

This week’s conversation is with Colin O'Brady, an explorer and elite endurance athlete, who has set multiple records and pushed the boundaries of what we understand to be possible.He was a previous guest on Finding Mastery – episode 36 – and I’m excited to have him back on to talk about his latest feat, the world's first solo, unsupported and completely human powered crossing of Antarctica.Previous to this, he set speed records for the Explorers Grand Slam and the Seven Summits.The Explorers Grand Slam involves climbing the tallest mountain on each continent and skiing the last degree of latitude to the North and South Poles – and Colin completed it in a mere 139 days.Colin also recently published a book called, The Impossible First, a bestselling adventure memoir.We cover so much in this conversation including what continues to drive him, his thoughts on human potential, and why he believes many people are settling, when they’re capable of so much more.I’m confident you’ll leave this conversation inspired.-

This week’s conversation is with Coach Tony Blauer, who’s been in the martial art, self-defense, defensive tactics, and combatives industry for over four decades.Tony founded Blauer Tactical Systems (BTS) in 1985 and it has grown into one of the world's leading consulting companies specializing in the research and development of performance psychology, personal safety, and close quarter tactics & scenario-based training for law enforcement, military, and professional self-defense instructors.His research on the neuroscience of fear and the startle-flinch lead to the development of the SPEAR System, a modern personal defense system based on physiology, physics, and psychology.It has been used by combative trainers all over the world for over 30 years.After decades of interviewing victims of violent encounters and studying violence, he then created the KNOW FEAR program which focuses on managing fear through self-awareness, resiliency and a 'movement' mindset.And so this conversation is about managing fear

This week’s conversation is with Chase Jarvis, an award-winning artist, entrepreneur, and one of the most influential photographers of the past 20 years.His expansive work ranges from shooting advertising campaigns for companies like Apple, Nike, and Red Bull; to working with athletes like Serena Williams and Tony Hawk, to collaborating with renowned icons like Lady Gaga and Richard Branson.In 2013 Chase contributed to the Pulitzer-Prize winning New York Times story, Snowfall, and in 2014, earned an Emmy nomination for his documentary, Portrait of a City.He also created Best Camera – the first photo app to share images to social networks, and is the founder of CreativeLive, where more than 10 million students learn photography, video, design, music and business from the world’s top creators and entrepreneurs.He also has a new book, Creative Calling, which debuted as an instant National Best Seller.I think you can probably infer what this conversation is about – it’s about creativity and more specifically

This week’s conversation is with Katie Arnold, a longtime journalist and an elite ultra runner.Katie was the 2018 Leadville Trail 100 Run champion.For those of you unfamiliar with Leadville, it’s an Ultramarathon held annually on rugged trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado, through the heart of the Rocky Mountains.The race course climbs and descends 15,600 feet, with elevations ranging from 9,200-12,620 feet – the elevation and terrain makes this an incredibly difficult course.Katie is also a contributing Editor at Outside Magazine and has written for many well respected publications including: The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Runner’s World, ESPN: The Magazine, Elle, and many others.She recently published a new book called: Running Home: A Memoir.Running is the through line, but her book and this conversation are about more than running – we discuss the power of observation, expression, and mindfulness.Running is just Katie’s way through those things, but anytime she references runni

This week’s conversation is with Jim Zorn, a former NFL quarterback and coach who currently serves as head coach and general manager of the Seattle Dragons of the second incarnation of the XFL.Jim was the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks during their first eight seasons as a franchise and is a Seattle legend.He’s known as one of the more prolific scrambling quarterbacks of his day and was the second Seahawk ever inducted into the team’s “Ring of Honor” in 1991.Jim also coached in the NFL from 1997 to 2012.In this conversation we discuss what led Jim to football, what he learned about the mental side of the game, and how to move past caring what others think of you.In Jim’s words: “I had to be willing to be embarrassed if I was going to try to get better.”That’s a really cool thought and Jim has so much wisdom and insight to share in this conversation.------Please support our partners!We're able to keep growing and creating content for YOU because of their support. We believe

This week’s conversation is with Raja Dhir, the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Seed Health, a microbial sciences company pioneering applications of bacteria to impact human and environmental health.Now some of you may already be familiar with what the microbiome is but for those who aren’t, I’ll share a brief summary of it via Harvard’s School of Public Health.Picture a bustling city on a weekday morning, the sidewalks flooded with people rushing to get to work or to appointments. Now imagine this at a microscopic level and you have an idea of what the microbiome looks like inside our bodies, consisting of trillions of microorganisms (also called microbiota or microbes) of thousands of different species.These include not only bacteria but fungi, parasites, and viruses. In a healthy person, these “bugs” coexist peacefully, with the largest numbers found in the small and large intestines but also throughout the body.The microbiome is even labeled a supporting organ because it plays so many key roles in promoting the

This week’s conversation is with Dr. Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist, better known as the “Sleep Doctor.”Michael is both a Diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine.He was one of the youngest people to pass the Board at age 31 with a specialty in Sleep Disorders.Michael was also recently named both the Top Sleep Specialist in California by Readers Digest, and one of the 10 most influential people in sleep.Sleep is critical to just about everything we want to do with our lives and I feel like we’re at a point where more people are starting to realize its importance.The thing is, there’s a lot of information currently circulating on sleep and it can be tricky sorting out which is the right research to follow.Michael believes the key to sleep is not necessarily about getting 8 hours a night, but rather understanding how much sleep your body needs and more importantly, what hours of the day your body is primed to function optimally.This is a fas

This week’s conversation is with Missy Franklin, a five-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FINA World Swimmer of the Year.Missy retired from swimming in December of 2018 after an incredible career.In 2011, she established herself as one of the top swimmers in the world when she won five medals – three of them gold – at the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai.At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Missy won four gold medals and one bronze medal.Missy’s performance in the 200-meter backstroke broke the world record in the event and also marked the first time that an American had won the event in 40 years.Missy was named “World Swimmer of the Year" and "American Swimmer of the Year" by Swimming World Magazine and earned the ESPY for "Best Female Olympian "in 2013 and "Best Female College Athlete" in 2015.Missy brought home another gold medal from the 2016 Rio Olympics for her performance in the 4 x 200 relay but viewed those Olympic Games as one of the most challenging experiences of her life.A shoulder