Finding Mastery: Conversations With Michael Gervais

As a cultural scientist, passionate traveler and science journalist, Kayt Sukel has no problem tackling interesting (and often risky) subjects spanning love, sex, risk taking, neuroscience, travel and politics. In this episode: -Her fascination with the brain -Applying to college at any early age -Conditioned learning vs. guided discovery -Little movements forward to take you the distance -Working through curiosity -Importance of having freedom to explore as a child -What is it about sex that drives us -Sex vs. love -Ideas on monogamy -Thoughts on risk taking -Common threads risk takers share -Reaching the edge of danger -Neurology of the brain and its relation to risk -Turning off the overthinking part of your brain -Why curiosity guides her life -How people can become better at risk taking -Which mental skills are most important -How the mind reacts to threat -How you can make your kids better risk takers See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pri

Fire in the eyes. What does that thought conjure up for you? Katie Holloway describes it as what she feels like when she's at her best. She outlines how she thinks and trains her mind to advance her abilities to become more resilient in the face of adversity. Katie is a competitor. In this episode: -Growing up with one leg in pain and externalizing her frustrations -Family involvement throughout childhood -Persevering through constant bullying -What strength means to her -Becoming comfortable in her own skin -Finding her purpose -Her burning desire to prove others wrong -The meaning behind “heart” -Inviting stress into her life to grow -What it’s like having one leg -The rewards of embracing who you are -Implementing imagery to improve one’s craft -Surrounding yourself with the right people -Dealing with her inner critic -The ideal competitive mindset -Her biggest fear on the court -Habits that have allowed her to be the best in the world See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy

Congressman Tim Ryan knows how to laugh — and — how to serve. He’s designed his life efforts to help our country be better. I hope you’ll enjoy both in this podcast. In this episode: -Dealing with public skepticism of corruption in politics -How grit helped him win his first election -Defying the odds and taking chances -Inspiring others to work hard with him -Dealing with the heartbreak of a career ending football injury -The meaning of being a leader -Why he cares about politics -Transforming education with a new common core -The importance of new forms of energy -Meditation practices -Why sports lessons can become life lessons See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nate graduated high school unsure about his path in life. Looking for a challenge and to make a difference, he made his way to the Darfur region of Sudan to help in the refugee camps. The experience, coupled with his memories of 9/11, inspired him to enlist in the U.S. Army as a Special Forces candidate, and he became one of 11 from his class of 150 to graduate with a Green Beret. He has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning a Bronze Star for heroism in combat. In this episode: His role in Waterboys Why veterans can make an impact in 3rd world countrie What you can do to make a difference The importance of water Transitioning from military to sports Going for it with the Seahawks Coping with falling short of a goal Why it’s never too late to go after what you want Merging veterans and players for a common cause See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some people think about adventure — and others make their life a living adventure. Nate graduated high school unsure about his path in life. Looking for a challenge and to make a difference, he made his way to the Darfur region of Sudan to help in the refugee camps. The experience, coupled with his memories of 9/11, inspired him to enlist in the U.S. Army as a Special Forces candidate, and he became one of 11 from his class of 150 to graduate with a Green Beret. He has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning a Bronze Star for heroism in combat. In this episode: -Appreciating the Process -Being fueled by negative energy -Why you can’t be afraid to fail -Looking up to his father -Why he got into trouble as a kid -The “Blue Collar” Way -The challenges of giving your children everything or nothing -Embracing change and becoming uncomfortable -What motivated him to go to Darfur -Confidence v. Cockiness -Having a purpose -Why making a difference is important to him -Outworking everyone else -Utilizing self-talk -Tr

John Donahoe served as president and chief executive officer of eBay Inc. from 2008-2015. In this role, he was responsible for growing each of the company's business units, which included eBay Marketplaces, PayPal and Skype. In this episode: -Notion of servant leadership -Being a purpose driven leader -Growing from adversity -Figuring out what’s right for you -The right fit – team ethos -Facing down fear -How success in team sports and business aren’t so different -Emulating his father -Balancing his professional and personal life -Qualities of those who sustain success over time -The importance of grit -The constant process of understanding who he is -Meditation and why “Buddha Nature” is important to him See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Liz Wiseman shares her insights and research on the art and science of leadership. She walks us through her journey that has allowed her to understand how leaders can diminish or multiply the genius in others. In this episode: -How her childhood and relationship with her father shaped her -Observing the different types of leadership in the workplace -Creating an environment where people excel vs. shrink -Space between action and intention -Coping with a tough boss and having the grit to overcome it -Courage to leave the corporate world -Defining intelligence -Intelligence as a tool or a weapon -Struggling with “letting go” -Traits of the multiplying vs. diminishing boss -Disciplines of multiplying leaders -The importance of how one leads in the home -Identifying someone’s native genius -Understanding when to be big and small See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What allows one man to move from elite sport (NFL) to elite special forces (Navy SEALs) to serial entrepreneurship? Clint Bruce shares his approach toward life and performance, and his search for elite. In this episode: -Transitioning from SEAL team to business -The importance of performance from the neck up -Business as a delayed gratification -The difference between a profitable and provisional business -Clint's three businesses and what they represent -Knowing who he is -Building a team vs. a tribe -Becoming a tribal person -Coping with pain -Why being blessed is a by product of doing well for others -Defining risk -Meaning of gratitude See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Imagine there was a global award for what you do, whatever you are most passionate about: parenting, marketing, coaching, law, giving to others, teaching, etc. Imagine being recognized as being THE BEST in the world at that endeavor- the single best. In this conversation we learn from Carli Lloyd. She is just that person. In this Episode: -Significance of winning the FIFA Player of the Year award -Picking up the game of soccer at a young age -Believing her raw talent would always be enough -Being on the verge of walking away from the game -The impact trainer, James Galanis, had on her life -Using the disappointment of loss to tap into the inner-will to bear down and focus deeper -Striving for greatness and never settling -The double-edge sword of perfectionism -Why she wouldn't be where she is without her mental approach See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you've ever thought, “If I would have known then, what I know now, I’d shift gears in a heartbeat” — or — If you've ever wanted to shift gears and blaze a new path, but quickly stepped on the excitement by saying," It's just too late now, I've got too many responsibilities” -- or — if you've ever wanted to make a radical shift in your business, but were afraid of what others might think -- you're going to flat out love Rich, and I hope this conversation. Rich set out to figure out his place in the world, and ultra-endurance sport was a way for him to do just that. In this episode: -Using sport as a means to discover true purpose -How work ethic helped bridge the talent gap -The effect of growing up in an achievement oriented household -Coping with social awkwardness and low self-esteem -Fighting an addiction to alcohol & drugs -Living a double life -Becoming vulnerable -Quitting a corporate job and listening to the voices inside -Pushing boundaries -Righteousness and its relation to mastery -Finding o

Steven Kotler, a New York Times best-selling author and award-winning journalist, teaches us about "going for it" -- and the path through chronic pain that has led him to explore the neurobiology of flow. Kotler is the cofounder and Director of Research for the Flow Genome Project, an international organization, dedicated to putting flow state research onto a hard science footing. In this episode: -How dealing with lime disease led to discovering flow -Overcoming injury as a skill and finding a way forward (grit) -Writing as his main pipeline into flow -Framework for allowing him to be fully committed to the now -Creativity and passion as triggers for flow -Focusing on the things that produced the most flow in his life  -Making a list of all the things that already work for him -Starting the day in flow -Quitting when you are most excited  -Physical vs. Social Risks -Divorcing self from results -Removing the transitions -Turning fear into a compass -Finding the right language to connect with anyone -The formu

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering if you’ve made the mistake of trading your deepest talents — for the security of a good-paying-gig — I think you’ll appreciate the shift that Jon Gordon made mid-stride on his career path. Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous NFL, NBA, MLB coaches and teams, Fortune 500 companies, school districts, hospitals and non-profits. Show Notes: 8:02: Where he got his writing ability "Looking back, I realized you had to lose a goal to find your destiny" 12:10 20:12: How faith drives him 32:15: How he dealt with the loss of his mother 39:25: Process of changing his career from a restaurant owner to an author "I believe when you're open and you're willing and you're just willing for the possible, the possible comes" 43:19 50:30: His thoughts on Ernest Hemingway's quote "Write drunk, edit sober" 55:26: Detailing the process of getting his manuscript into publication 1:02:08:

Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey is the first female and first Polynesian to become an explorer for the National Geographic Society. She has made it her mission to find, preserve and share the knowledge and traditions of indigenous populations before they disappear. Show Notes: 8:43: Where she found her passion for understanding ancient traditions and ancient wisdoms "True masters have nothing to prove to anyone" 10:27 19:20: Determining whether your psychological model or the environment is off "The most powerful thing we can do, each of us, is to find stillness" 23:40 27:20: People who have influenced her and who she was able to learn from 37:47: The best place to bring yourself to when you're unraveling 43:42: How she was able to travel the world for six months without speaking and the tales of her journey 57:17: How to create depth within yourself "Whatever story we choose to tell, if we choose wisely, the story becomes the medicine for others" 1:01:46 1:04:00: How to define an explorer 1:08:20: Habits that are abso

The path toward mastery requires honoring what is true. Often times what is true can be intensely painful. Kevin Levrone walks us through his journey of loss, grief, turmoil, love, commitment, and risk -- which eventually lead to being inducted into the hall of fame for his craft. Kevin has much to teach. His humility, honesty, and courage to be vulnerable in this conversation is as refreshing and inspiring as you would hope. Kevin is former American IFBB professional bodybuilder and now entrepreneur. Show Notes: 12:03 When his path began to become the best in the world 21:15: Taking his pain out on bodybuilding 30:15: Why he wouldn't change anything in his life 37:05: Gift of faith "I'm willing to endure the pain for the results" 37:20 49:50: Steroids on the world stage 1:02:08 Mental aspect of weightlifting 1:11:41 How he kept himself mentally strong 1:20:04 Why he's hard on himself 1:28:53 Facing a terrible injury and responding 1:36:25 Most effective inner message that allowed him to recover 1:45:05: Deci

The origin of the word "compete" emphasizes the notion of striving together (as compared to striving against). Author Ashley Merryman takes a deep dive into the science of competition - and reveals practical strategies people can use to "become better." There's an art to bringing the mechanics of science to life, and Ashley uses storytelling to illuminate the application of good science. Show Notes: 12:11: The quest to always be better 16:27: How she became interested in what she does today 21:19: Extroverts vs. introverts 27:58: Different types of risk-taking "Women are really good at calculating their odds of success and men are really good at ignoring them." 32:36 "The benefit of competition isn't the win...the benefit of competition is improvement... it's improvement in the moment" 37:23 44:01: Why competition is important 50:58: Relevant neurotransmitters for competition "I always thought that motivation was sort of the gas in your car that got you to your goal" 53:12 1:03:43: Why trophies shouldn't be g

As the fable goes — there are three paths for each us, to become: The Old Fool: the person who chased external rewards and pleasures. The Bitter Old Fool: the person who chased external rewards, but didn’t get enough. The Wise: the person who searched for insight and wisdom. Likewise, the path of mastery captures deep understanding and insight -- it's not a path that is laying a bet now, by investing in a craft, for payment or recognition at some later time. The spoils of victory might just happen, but the orientation of the intent is paramount. Today we are becoming overwhelmed with the need for instant reward, immediate verification that we are significant -- as a misguided attempt to satiate our thirst for meaning and belonging -- rather, we are propelling ourselves toward an emptiness that can only be filled by temporary pleasures. Our need to belong, to understand, to explore, to connect to others and the world around us, to know safety and to know risk, to express and create are foundational to the hum

One of the accelerants to growth is surrounding ourselves with people that have insight…..another accelerant is going down the path of developing insight within yourself. Dave Phillips has done, and is doing, both of those. He has devoted the past 25 years to becoming a world-class coach. He is one of the most sought after golf instructors in the country and is rated one of the Top 100 Teachers in the country by Golf Magazine. Show Notes: 6:45: Coming to America at a young age and quickly getting a passion for golf "I found my way... just by watching other players and trying and learning and going to different teachers and so on and so forth" 9:17 "The very best players in the world, they know what they're good at" 9:38 12:22: How he was able to fit in as the new kid all the time "The ones that succeed the best, especially under pressure, they tend to be able to separate themselves from their situation. It's almost like they've got an outer body experience, where they can see things from a higher perspective

In this conversation we learn from Ariana Kukors, who is a USA Olympic Swimmer, current American Record holder and former World Record holder in the 200-meter individual medley (long course). A 2-Time World Champion, Kukors has won a total of seven medals in major international competition- two golds, three silvers, and two bronze spanning a 10-year national team career. After barely missing the 2008 Olympic Team, she set out to explore a deep understanding of her mind and craft. The result was a 2009 World Title and a berth on the 2012 Olympic Team. If you're wanting to better understand the nuances of a psychological framework that supports growth in the face of failure, you'll enjoy where this conversation goes. Show Notes: 5:16: Having everything you could want in a childhood and being active 9:42: How her upbringing made her an olympian “I was a competitive kid and I didn’t win a lot when I was little” 10:57 16:04: Impact of having a serious competitor when growing up “Eventually [Katie and I] ended up t

Luke Tyburski has designed the past three years of his life to push the limits of what “we” think to be possible. He’s designed an event to test his mental and physical skills over the course of 12 days, which has been named the Ultimate Triathlon. He’s trained for it for 3 and half years. On October 20, Luke will be taking on a never before attempted challenge- a 1250 miles in 12 day swim, cycle, and run adventure from Morocco to Monaco; The Ultimate Triathlon. Show Notes: 8:15: Life as a journeyman in soccer 12:41: Reasoning for doing the ultimate triathlon "Once I've made up my mind that I'm going to do something, that's it, I'm like a steamroller, I just go for it and do everything I need to do to be able to achieve that." 15:44 24:15: Why he feels what he is doing just needs to be done "During endurance sports...your legs and bodies and shoulders are always going to be in pain...but for me, it's...being comfortable with being uncomfortable" 25:54 28:54: Finding the limits and why he wants people to join

Imagine working to optimize the human performance strategies and outcomes for an entire nation’s elite sport efforts. It’s challenging enough to do so for an elite sport franchise, let alone an entire country. In this conversation with Keith Power, he shares with us how he’s structuring his efforts on high performance for Malaysia. He provides insights on how to align groups of people to pull in one direction. He breaks down his understanding of the art and science of human optimization. Show Notes: 3:27: Growing up in London and how sport influenced his early life "My passion has always been trying to be the best I can possibly be" 5:51 8:15: Getting offered to coach bobsled for the UK and becoming youngest coach at Olympics 13:04: How to get an athlete to balance external motivation "I coached myself most of the time [since] I was 18 years old" 13:58 "I don't think it's about teaching, it's about creating an environment in which people can learn and can make good choices for themselves" 17:29 21:46: Why con