Finding Mastery: Conversations With Michael Gervais

Michealene Risley is an award-winning writer, director and human rights activist. In This Episode: -Being a “master” of empathy -Why she’s hesitant to include dominance in the definition of mastery -Growing up with dark secrets that she wasn’t initially prepared to face -How slamming her hand in a car door proved to be a life altering moment -Why her childhood experiences have given her a keen eye for picking up on other people’s emotions and past experiences -Making a documentary in Zimbabwe and being thrown in jail -Why the hardest moment in her life was her not being true to her family mission -Comparing and contrasting external success vs. the internal experience See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Max Baumann is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of The Chill Group, Inc., makers of JUST CHILL® beverages as well as the Founder & President of BASEMAKERS, LLC, an outsourced sales management company in the food and beverage industry. In This Episode: - Philosophy behind his company Just Chill - Why he dropped out of college - The moment when he realized he needed to give up a dream - Growing up in the shadow of his father’s success - What heart means to him - Seeing everyone stressed out at the airport and realizing there was a problem - How he got into the Wharton Fellows Program - A relentless pursue to understand from other people and books - Creating mutually beneficial relationships See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Drew Bledsoe was a star quarterback at Washington State University before he skipped his senior year to go professional. In 1993, he was the No. 1 NFL draft pick and joined the New England Patriots. After nearly eight years he was traded to the Buffalo Bills, then moved to the Dallas Cowboys, before retiring in 2007. Post NFL, Bledsoe pursued a longtime aspiration of owning a winery, which would allow him to combine his passion for fine wine and love of the Walla Walla Valley. In This Episode: -How his parents fueled his curiosity growing up -Why public speaking was the most important class he ever took -The moment where his mentality on going for it changed forever -Why a strong family structure allowed him to not be afraid of failure -Why football was never on the list of his top 3 goals -Putting an emphasis on the minutia on and off field -The most important interview question he asks -How he dealt with losing his job to Tom Brady -Leadership in understanding when people needed a hug vs. the whip -Visualiz

Vern Gambetta is recognized internationally as an expert in training and conditioning for sport having worked with world-class athletes and teams in a wide variety of sports. In This Episode: -Learning to control his temper growing up -Being impacted by his dad’s strong worth ethic and mom’s appetite for learning -Not wanting to be labeled anything but “a coach” -Being fascinated by what it takes to be the best in the world -The importance of knowing what it takes to prepare -How he helps people focus on the present moment -The common qualities he sees in great coaches -Finding the right work/life balance -Learning to enjoy the moment rather than focus on what’s next See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lee Clow has been making this thing called “advertising” for more than 40 years. He started at Chiat Day in Los Angeles when there were 10 people and 2 accounts and has been there ever since. In This Episode: -Growing up adopted post WWII -Identifying his passion for art early on -The meaning of “applied art” -How the advertising agency shifted to mavericks leading the way -Looking for the things he could become obsessive about -Why he was drawn to advertising -How the idea originated for the Apple Genius Bar -Finding the romance in advertising, looking for the emotional center of a brand -From form to formless – having a disruptive nature -Working closely with Steve Jobs and why “impute” mattered -Why he’s most proud of the relationships along the journey -Behind the scenes of Apple’s “Think Different” campaign -Needing resiliency to overcome the downside of the advertising business -Finding ideas in listening See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com

Paul Assaiante, current coach of the Men's Squash team at Trinity College, is known for his unique achievement as the “winningest coach in college sports history”, winner of 15 NCAA Championships titles, and 22-year dedication as squash coach. In This Episode: -Obsessing over the outcome at an early age -Identifying his calling.. to be a college coach -Why he’s more fascinated by losing than winning -Utilizing practice as a time for failure -Why practice is everything -Teaching kids to value the process over outcome -What proper preparation looks like -The awesome power of now -Why people fail to perform under the lights -Pride vs. ego -How he gets in his own way -His philosophy… the ship must move forward -Observation as his mindfulness practice See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Caroline Leaf is a cognitive neuroscientist with a PhD in Communication Pathology specializing in Neuropsychology. Since the early 1980‘s she has studied and researched the Mind-Brain connection. In This Episode: -The difference between the mind and the brain -Why it mattered that people believed in her growing up -How to increase awareness of thoughts -The mind as an iceberg: explaining the conscious vs. unconscious parts of your mind -The process in which one atomizes their thoughts -Why we are naturally wired for love -Non-judgmental framework as a component of optimal mindset -The toxic thoughts that get in people’s way -The time it takes to form a habit See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anders Ericsson is a Swedish psychologist and Conradi Eminent Scholar and Professor of Psychology at Florida State University who is internationally recognized as a researcher in the psychological nature of expertise and human performance. In This Episode: -His early yearning to understand how knowledge was generated -Seeking a deeper context for learning beyond retaining information -The key to mastering a domain -How his research differs from Malcolm Gladwell's 10k hours rule -Creating “representations” to explore further expertise -The true meaning behind deliberate practice -Difference between expertise and mastery -The ideal method for learning and practice -Applying deliberate practice to less quantifiable facets of life -Whether external rewards are important for motivation See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kai Lenny is one of the world’s most complete watermen. Be it kiteboarding, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, big-wave surfing, or anything else in the water, Kai does it, and does it well. In This Episode: -His parents leading by example rather than telling him what to do -Learning to rise to the occasion from an early age -Not being afraid to stand out -Fighting perfectionism -The difference between achievement and purpose -Nature understanding him the way people can’t -The powerful relationship he shares with music -When time stands still among the waves -What it’s like surfing Mavericks -The space between hesitation and commitment -Finding flow in the water -Setting goals and working harder than anyone else around him -How he keeps calm under water after a wipeout -Wishing he could turn it on and off better -Emotions as his greatest gift and downfall See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ryan Holiday is a media strategist and prominent writer on strategy and business. After dropping out of college at nineteen to apprentice under Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power, he went on to advise many bestselling authors and multiplatinum musicians. In This Episode: -The concept of parent-child fit and why it was missing for him -Finding the people who understood him in college -Learning under Robert Greene -His method for ideating and organizing thoughts Why his work can be exhilarating and exhausting -The on-going journey to find inner peace The destructiveness of one's “ego” -How his experience at American Apparel create an intersection of his intellectual work and personal life -His love for stoicism See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This conversation is with Dan Harris, who most of you know as a co-anchor of “Nightline” and the weekend edition of “Good Morning America” on ABC News -- or 20/20 -- or -- from his New York Times best selling book: 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress without Losing My Edge and Found Self-Help That Actually Works. Dan has faced the public tension, in a panic attack that happened on live television. In This Episode: -Embracing not taking himself too seriously -Finding love in meditation -The humbling nature of sharing insight with others -The difference between pleasure and happiness -His method for showing gratitude -Surrendering to the process of meditation -Learning from his parents via “show, not tell” -Dealing with not being as smart as his parents and brother -Risk taking integrated in his DNA -The moment before and after his panic attack on live TV -Becoming aware of the triggers for his panic attacks -Having a pre-disposition for anxiety -The emotions around not being nominated

Michael Gervais gives his initial thoughts from the last three weeks spent at the Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

James Bond, co-founder of Undefeated, is one of the most recognized and well-curated sneaker boutiques in the world. In This Episode: -Growing up mixed race in a tough Philadelphia neighborhood -The impact his grandpa had on his sense of style -Abusing alcohol & drugs from the early age of 11 -Dealing with anger growing up -Wanting to be someone he wasn’t -Moving from Philadelphia to LA and his introduction into sneaker heads -How he got into show business -Evolving from shoes to a designing a clothing line -What triggers his creativity -The importance of valuing family See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anthony Ervin is a U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist, former world record holder in the 50 freestyle, and former World Champion in the 50 and 100 freestyle. In This Episode: -His relationships with others and the water -Family structure growing up and why he wanted to stand out as the middle child -Suffering from turrets and struggling to control his own body -Channeling his anxiety into swimming -What a good coach means to him -Winning a gold medal at 19 and not being ready for the spotlight -How he saw himself vs. the way the media portrayed him -Drugs and alcohol impacting his ability to perform -Expecting to win his first Gold medal in the relay and letting down his teammates -Approaching competition with an optimistic vs. pessimistic mindset -How he became free of past failure -The cost of his success -His contribution to the sport of swimming See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stephanie Labbe is the goalkeeper for the Canadian Women's National Soccer Team and is headed to Rio for the Olympics. In This Episode: -Picking between sports growing up -Why she supports children playing multiple sports -Striving to be a positive influence and avoiding being an “energy vampire” -What it feels like to be her best -Confronting her coach after being left off the national team -The positive qualities her parents instilled in her -The mental battle that comes with being a goalkeeper -The strategies she’s implemented to live in the moment -Understanding which triggers get her in her own way -Stepping away from the game to identify what she’s truly passion about -Being aware of which things she can control in her life See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Yeung is a noted environmental advocate and founder of Green Monday, an innovative social venture that takes on on climate change, food insecurity, health issues and animal welfare with a diverse platform that shifts individuals, communities, and corporations towards sustainable, healthy, and mindful living. In This Episode: -Learning the cost of success from his father at an early age -Figuring out things on his own during childhood -Why he believes in always finding a way to give back to others -What inspired him to create the Green Monday movement -The impact an animal diet has on the environment -Why failure is no longer part of his vocabulary -His ideal mindset and where mindfulness comes into play -How he approaches his mindfulness training -Living mindfully vs. training mindfully -Focusing on the present moment -Channeling business for good -Challenging others to take one action -The success of Green Monday and his vision for the future See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor

On May 27th, 2016, Colin broke two mountaineering world records; he claimed the speed records for both the Seven Summits (132 days) and the Explorers Grand Slam (139 days), climbing the tallest mountain on each continent and skiing the last degree of latitude to the North and South Poles. In This Episode: -Embracing growing up in a mixed family -Putting in just enough effort to get by in his early life -The transition from doing something for fun to doing it as a profession -Adapting to a new environment at Yale -Traveling the world after college -The moment that changed his life – a severe burn in Thailand -Fulfilling his goal of competing in a triathlon -The meaning of Beyond72 -The intensity of the journey to the South Pole -Summiting Everest under harsh conditions -Consistency as a key to breaking the record -Why mental fortitude is so important -Being flexible when chaos ensued See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jimmy Smith, Founder and CEO of Amusement Park Entertainment, is a creator, who has faced down adversity and celebrates both the humanness and spirituality of people. He has earned countless awards for his work as a Writer and Creative Director for Nike at Wieden + Kennedy, Executive Creative Director at BBDO and most recently, Gatorade’s Group Creative Director at TBWA\Chiat\Day LA. In This Episode: -Striving for diversity within Amusement Park -The story behind Nike Freestyle -Putting the “G” in Gatorade -Identifying the right people to work with -How Nike lost out on Space Jam and what it says about risk taking -Clients not actually wanting to take the risks they claim they are willing to -Heaven sent with Luke Aikens and why he’s comfortable with what’s at stake -Why he listens to others even when he disagrees -Belief as a word that cuts to the center of himself -Why living his live in uncomfortable spots allows him to deal with his inner critic See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor

Jimmy Smith, Founder and CEO of Amusement Park Entertainment, is a creator, who has faced down adversity and celebrates both the humanness and spirituality of people. He has earned countless awards for his work as a Writer and Creative Director for Nike at Wieden + Kennedy, Executive Creative Director at BBDO and most recently, Gatorade’s Group Creative Director at TBWA\Chiat\Day LA. In This Episode: -Enduring racism as a child and how it shaped him -Why he doesn’t have hatred in him -Refusing to take no for an answer -Where he developed confidence from -Racism in the ad agency world -How he filters through what a great idea is -Figuring out what he was good at -His 1st ad campaign -The importance of having African-American role models to look up to -Working through his relationship with God -Stresswood as a defining moment in his life See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This conversation is with Nicole Davis. Nicole represented the United States at the 2008 Olympics and 2012 Olympics, helping USA to a silver medal both times. She was also part of the US team that won the 2014 World Championships. In This Episode: -Learning the hard way about the appropriate time to confront a coach -Focusing on what is controllable -Enduring a difficult family dynamic growing up -The impact domestic abuse had on shaping her as a person -The cost of her competitive edge as a child -The difficulty in embracing the good that comes from constant failure -Finding the thing that makes sense to you -Her ability to pick up a new skill quickly -The lonely journey that separates an Olympian from other athletes -Why it’s ok if something is difficult -Her approach to practicing mindfulness -The pressure of the Olympics and how she responded -Importance of understanding where confidence comes from See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#