Finding Mastery: Conversations With Michael Gervais

Blackjack! Welcome to Volume 21 of Finding Mastery’s Ask Me Anything. We’re back once again with our entertaining and insightful co-host – O’Neil Cespedes – and in today’s conversation, we explore topics like:How to show our kids that we’re invested in their success without pressuring themThe real meaning of “potential” and how to nurture itThe dangers of cognitive bias Finding a healthy level of FOPO, and avoiding FOPO’s dark sideHow to move forward from trauma without looking backWhat it means to work from the inside outAnd so much more…And as always, we have a lot of fun with this. You’ll hear about my regrettable diet as a college student, and what O’Neil learned in his disastrous audition for The Lion King.These AMAs are some of our favorite episodes. Your insightful questions both challenge and inspire us… they allow us to go deeper into the core principles we talk about here… it’s awesome. Keep them coming.With Fire,MG and the FM Team-----WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel.Connect

Today, we have a really special episode that takes us to the heart of high-stakes performance and leadership. Our Finding Mastery team recently had the incredible privilege of embarking on a unique mission: we flew to Japan and then took a cargo plane out to the USS Ronald Reagan, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier currently patrolling the volatile waters of the South China Sea.Imagine being one of nearly 6,000 sailors and pilots on board, operating in an environment where tensions are high, and combat could become a reality at any moment. How do you maintain a state of constant readiness and cohesion?To address this challenge, our team – including Olympic mindset coaches Dr. Nicole Davis and Kaya Turski, UFC champion Vitor Belfort, and world-renowned climber Tommy Caldwell – conducted 12 intensive workshops. We worked with everyone from the Carrier Strike Group leadership to the pilots to the crew managing the nuclear reactors, focusing on resilience, adversity management, and high-performance m

Today, we've got a really special conversation for you.Our guest today is a real trailblazer… A boundary breaker in the world of ballet… An incredibly special human… She went from living in motel rooms to performing on the world’s biggest stages… She is the legendary Misty Copeland.Misty’s journey from living in motel rooms to becoming the first African American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre is nothing short of inspiring.Misty started ballet at the late age of thirteen and rose to perform lead roles in iconic productions like Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet. During her meteoric rise, she was also featured on the covers of Time, ESSENCE, and Women's Health. Misty didn’t just enter the ballet world; she transformed it, merging classical finesse with her powerful narrative. She has not only shattered ceilings but also redefined what safety and success look like in the arts.Misty’s influence extends well beyond dance, collaborating with artists like Taylor Swift, Camila Cabello and H.

If you’re familiar with professional hockey, you likely know the name Zdeno Chara (also known as, ‘Big Zee’). He’s the legendary 6-foot-9 defenseman, enforcer, and team captain of the Stanley Cup-winning Boston Bruins who was a dominant force in the NHL for an incredible 24-season career.He also represented his home country of Slovakia in numerous world championships and three Olympics.What you might not know is that humility, kindness, and leading by example are the cornerstones of his leadership philosophy. Not what you think when you consider his legendary status in the rough-and-tumble world of pro hockey.You also may not know that since retiring from the NHL, Zee has not slowed down – he’s competed in 8+ marathons, a half iron man, and a 50K race. Not typical for someone with Zee’s monstrous 6’9” build.  That’s the thing about Zee – he’s more than meets the eye.In our conversation we discuss how he puts his philosophy into practice:How good days as well as bad days are opportunities for learnin

What would we do without all of our modern conveniences? Things like instant access to food, water, clothing, information, and entertainment. Science, chemistry, and technology have made our lives bigger, better, faster and - well, more convenient.The question is… at what cost?Returning to the podcast this week is Darin Olien, health entrepreneur, activist, podcaster, co-host of the number one Netflix docuseries Down to Earth with Zac Efron, and author of bestsellers like SuperLife and Fatal Conveniences.Darin says the chemicals and systems that process our food, our water, what we wear --  basically everything we consume -- is killing us and destroying the planet.That’s a big statement. And a pretty shocking one, at that. But it didn’t come out of nowhere – Darin’s been traveling the world, sounding this alarm for decades with real concern for our collective health and the planet’s future.And if he's intense about exposing the problems, he's even more passionate about finding the solutions.In our c

What defines a true champion? Is it winning? Or… is it a way of living?While winning games and striving to be the best are parts of it, there's so much more beneath the surface. It’s not just about the technical skills honed through relentless practice—rep after rep, day after day. Exceptional athletes are forged through a deeper, more holistic approach.In this episode of the Finding Mastery podcast, we dive into the essence of becoming your best self with Dr. Jerry Lynch – a renowned author, guide, coach, and sport psychologist who has mentored athletes and teams across a variety of sports including basketball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and golf.With an impressive portfolio of 17 books (yes, 17!), including The Way of the Champion - one that I’ve handed out to more athletes and parents than any other - Jerry’s philosophy goes beyond physical training and into… you guessed it… the inner game.He emphasizes daily spiritual and emotional development, cultivating qualities like courage, resilience, integrity, and

Happy Monday! Today we’re excited to share Volume 20 of Finding Mastery’s Ask Me Anything. As always, we have so much fun during these AMAs – we love these conversations because we get to wrestle with the questions that matter most to you… and they inspire personal introspection in us as well. They’re incredible. We’re back with our co-host – O’Neil Cespedes – and in today’s we explore:The roses - and thorns - of vulnerability and opennessHow to use the power of your imaginationNavigating change in professional relationshipsControlling the controllables (and what those controllables are)Flow StateThe art and impact of great storytellingAnd so much more…Keep those questions coming in! Kindly email info@findingmastery.net to submit!With Fire,MG and the FM Team-----WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel.Connect with us on our Instagram.Order my book, "The First Rule of Mastery" HERE!For more information and shownotes from every episode, head to findingmastery.com.To check out our exclusive

What does it mean to have power, courage and integrity? We throw those words around a lot when talking about athletes or people we admire. Many times it’s justified – but how many truly possess these traits even when the chips are down? Today on the podcast is a human that embodies those three words fully. Her name is Kara Goucher. You might recognize her as an Olympic runner, the third place finisher in the Boston and New York Marathons, and ranked as one of the fastest female distance runners in American history. That’s power.And, there's something even more notable to recognize her for – in 2019 and 2023 Kara was instrumental in exposing doping and sexual abuse at the Nike Oregon Project. She put her career and reputation on the line to go up against one of the biggest corporations in the world. That’s courage. And integrity. Full stop.  Kara put it all in writing in her newest book: The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team.

Movement—however you do it—is an essential part of being human. And I believe being able to move well, for as long as possible, is a staple of living “the good life.”That’s why I am excited to introduce a guest today who is committed to helping people do just that – Scott Perkins. Scott is the Founder & CEO of pliability – a company that is helping people move better ________ through their yin yoga inspired mobility training. However, Scott was not always known as the “fitness guy” – in fact, far from it. In this conversation, we explore his journey from taking college classes at age 12 to starting his first business at 18 to acquiring what is now pliability by the age of 25. However, for the first six years at its helm, Scott was 60 pounds overweight and he was sacrificing his health for what he thought was “success.”Then… he made a change.In this conversation, you’ll hear from a person who was grinding, burnt out, overwhelmed, but eventually found a better way – and now, Scott is on a mission to sh

We all know about FOMO, or the Fear Of Missing Out. We’re scrolling through our social media feeds, and there it is: post after post of a friend who’s somewhere exotic, having a great time, or at an exciting new job… and we’re not. We can’t help but compare our lives with people who seem to be doing so much more.The result can be an uptick in anxiousness, distress, grinding to “keep up” and sometimes FOMO can even stop us from taking action…that feeling of being overwhelmed. FOMO – the acronym and the idea – really struck a nerve in the social media age. Not only is it now in the Merriam Webster dictionary, but it’s spawned a whole slew of related acronyms: FOBO (Fear of Better Options), JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) and even inspired me to coin the term FOPO, the Fear Of People’s Opinions.Today on the podcast is writer and entrepreneur Patrick McGinnis, who invented the term FOMO back in the early 2000s. He did it flippantly, but then the idea took off, and he’s been owning it and studying it ever since.Pat

Can profitable businesses change the world for good?John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market, has proven the answer is a resounding YES… for the last four decades. John grew a single ‘hippy grocery store’ in Austin, Texas, into a global chain with $22 billion in annual sales and 540 locations worldwide.And he did it all with an unwavering commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, showing us all what’s possible when entrepreneurs embrace positive values and transformative leadership.His pioneering and widely influential books, Conscious Capitalism and Conscious Leadership, serve as blueprints for integrating ethical values into successful businesses.And his most recent book, The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism, gives us an intimate look inside the personal and spiritual journeys that fueled his groundbreaking approach.In this conversation, John shares insights from his personal transformation—from spirituality to psychedelics – along with the milestones of his experien

In this 19th installment of our Ask Me Anything with high performance psychologist Dr, Michael Gervais, we explore topics like:- How to re-define failure- Why facing your deepest pains can be transformative- How to overcome defensiveness in order to establish meaningful connections- Why parents need to focus on more than their child's academic achievementsAnd so much more…We love these conversations and it’s because we get to wrestle with the questions that matter most to you. They’re incredible. Thank you for challenging us with great questions…. and keep them coming.We hope you enjoy Volume 19 of Finding Mastery's "Ask Me Anything."With Fire,MG-----WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel.Connect with us on our Instagram.Order my book, "The First Rule of Mastery" HERE!For more information and shownotes from every episode, head to findingmastery.com.To check out our exclusive sponsor deals and discounts CLICK HERESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy

Imagine what it takes to land an $80 million fighter jet on a moving target — in the middle of the ocean — at night.The extreme precision, split-second timing, and unwavering focus required for such a feat are beyond the grasp of ordinary experience.Our guest today, Commander Kristen Findlay (née Hansen), knows precisely what it takes to land an F/A-18 Super Hornet on an aircraft carrier – in rough seas and in the dark, where every decision can have monumental consequences.Kristen is a distinguished Naval aviator whose career spans two decades of sustained high performance in military service. She’s accumulated over 2,700 hours of flight time, 66 combat sorties over Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, and just under 500 carrier landings. As a prior TOPGUN instructor  - yes, just like the movie - and current Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (The “Flying Eagles”) she leads and trains some of the Navy’s most elite pilots.Kristen's career experience now extends to Hollywood, where she served a

Does hypnosis really work? That word has become a bit taboo in scientific circles. It brings to mind magicians, black and white spinning spirals, and traveling sideshows and cheap tricks. “You are getting very sleepy” does not have a strong scientific foundation.Or… does it? In truth and practice, hypnosis can be so much more.That’s why I’m thrilled to share this conversation with Dr. David Spiegel, professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford School of Medicine and researcher in psycho-oncology and the neurobiology of therapeutic hypnosis.Dr. Spiegel is a pioneer in the research on hypnosis. His work over the past several decades is foundational - helping patients overcome deep-seated trauma, work through fears and anxieties, build new habits, break existing ones, and even guide cancer patients through the pain of treatment and recovery using hypnosis.Now, this isn’t the hypnosis that you see on daytime television, with swinging pocket watches and heavy eyelids. It’s a science of the mind-body connection, an

Today we have a very special conversation.As we chart our path through life, there are those rare anchors that help to hold us steady and also point us to new horizons. In this special conversation, I have the privilege of introducing you to my mentor and someone who has been a guiding force in the lives of countless individuals across a spectrum of industries for over forty years. Gary DeBlasio has this incredible knack for unlocking potential in people. It’s incredible how he does it. And he’s been doing it with leaders in aerospace, healthcare, elite sports and academia for decades. Gary's wisdom is earnestly earned. I’ve had an upfront seat on how he works – the alone, internal work that he’s done for himself, is one of the greatest investments he’s provided to his larger community. He is a bellwether for me. His approach to mentorship—being both a teacher and a student, listening deeply to one's inner voice, and fostering a connection with something greater—has profoundly shaped my own path.Tod

Formula One racing may seem like a 'sit-down' sport to some, but the reality is that race car drivers are anything but sedentary. World-class F1 auto racing pushes the limits of human endurance, focus, reaction time, and risk – requiring competitors to face incredibly intense physical and mental challenges.In the open cockpit of a Formula One car, drivers (or “pilots” as they are often known) must maintain razor-sharp concentration at speeds approaching 220 miles per hour and withstand G-forces rivaling those experienced by astronauts during launch. And they do it all on top of a grueling global 30-week-per-year international travel schedule.Driver performance is as crucial as vehicle engineering. And to reach sustained superior performance, Formula One athletes often work with coaches who guide them to excel both on and off the course.In this episode, we sit down with a dear friend of mine, Patrick Harding, a distinguished performance coach for Formula One Racer Alex Albon.Patrick’s extensive background in p

Think back to the most pivotal moments of your life… What parts of you did you bring forward? Which parts did you hold back? How did these experiences shape your way of being?These questions lie at the heart of our conversation today with Nastia Liukin, a gold medal gymnast whose name is etched in history for winning the All-Around title at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Beyond her monumental achievements – including tying the record for the most gymnastics medals won by an American in a single Olympic Games with FIVE medals – Nastia's journey is one of relentless pursuit, resilience, and the courage to redefine success.In this episode, Nastia reveals the significant moments of her career – from a pivotal conversation with Kobe Bryant that reshaped her self-perception, to the standing ovation that followed what she considers to be her worst performance.Nastia’s lived experience shows us all how to find meaning and success beyond external achievements. And she continues to walk her talk.We dive deep into the dynam

How good are you at really communicating? In a world drowning in words, how do you make your words matter?I'm not talking about small talk or working a room or the gift of gab. I'm talking about the kind of communication that works on a deeper level – a level where we truly connect, challenge, grow with, and inspire each other.Back on the podcast this week is Charles Duhigg, who's spent a career in journalism diving into what makes humans do what they do – and today, he’s here to talk about what it takes to be a ‘Supercommunicator’. Charles is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the New York Times and the New Yorker, and he's written two best-sellers about personal excellence that mesh neuroscience with great storytelling and practical tools: The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better.Charles’ newest book is Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. And this one's a little different -- instead of focusing on how we can maximize our own personal abilities, this one is all ab

Explore powerful strategies to conquer public speaking anxiety with Dr. Michael Gervais and O'Neil Cespedes in this insightful AMA episode, delving into personal growth, purpose-based identity, and the untapped potential of the human mind.We also explore topics like:Practical insights for managing anxiety and nervesHow to be your own tuning fork of excellenceCreating space in your life for experimentation and exploration Putting yourself in positions of power in your own lifeHow to shift from a performance-based to a purpose-based identity.And so much more…Thank you for the great questions, and... stay curious! If you have any questions for the next AMA's, email info@findingmastery.com.Wishing you an epic week.With Fire,Mike-----WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel.Connect with us on our Instagram.Order my book, "The First Rule of Mastery" HERE!For more information and shownotes from every episode, head to findingmastery.com.To check out our exclusive sponsor deals and discounts&

With every season of sport, we witness various feats of greatness -- and getting to witness a true dynasty (and what it takes to get there) can be once in a generation.That’s why I am super excited to share a fresh version of our previous conversation with the 2024 National Championship winning basketball coach, Dawn Staley.As you might know, this past Sunday, Dawn led South Carolina to their 3rd national championship in the past 7 years to top off a perfect, undefeated season. Dawn also rightfully earned the 2024 Naismith Coach of the Year Award. What a year.As if that wasn’t enough, South Carolina also became the first team in the past 25 seasons to reach the Final Four (let alone go undefeated) without returning any starting players from last year – an amazing testament to Dawn’s leadership, and the culture she has built.When you listen to this conversation from 2021, it will be no surprise to you how - and why - she is considered one of the best to ever do it.I think we all have a lot to learn from Dawn’s