Finding Mastery: Conversations With Michael Gervais

What is it like staring down the barrel of a 70-foot wave? How do we challenge ourselves to do bigger and riskier things in life? How do we take the first step towards something that seems unimaginable at first?One of the best big wave surfers and risk takers on the planet, Kai Lenny has found true freedom in the powerlessness that comes with confronting one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular monsters – the big wave. As a multi-disciplinary athlete who surfed his fist wave at four-years-old, Kai has successfully conquered various water-based disciplines, earning him the title of a true waterman. Whether it's big-wave surfing, kiteboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, or hydrofoiling, Kai's unmatched skills and unwavering determination have led him to become a trailblazer in each field. Kai’s list of world championship honors include being an eight-time SUP Surfing World Champion, VICE KSP Kiting World Champion, two-time Molokai to Oahu Foil Boarding World Champion and World Record Holder, Molo

Welcome to PART TWO of our conversation with Vice Admiral John Mustin. If you missed part one of the conversation, I strongly recommend you go back and check that one out first. It’s the episode immediately preceding this one in your feed.Episode Description:What is it like to lead 59,000 people? What if those people are spread out all over the world? What does readiness as a leader look like? Chief of Navy Reserve (CNR), Vice Admiral John Mustin, knows exactly what it’s like and he leads with a singular, laser-guided priority in mind: warfighting readiness. When it comes to performing at the highest level, Vice Admiral Mustin is steadfast in his belief that individual performance is informed by both competence and character. We’ll find out how he helps instill these traits in his force and the challenges that come with it. Vice Admiral Mustin has an extraordinary grasp on leadership philosophy, communicating effectively across large organizations, and using his civilian experiences to inform strate

Welcome to PART ONE of our conversation with Vice Admiral John Mustin. What is it like to lead 59,000 people? What if those people are spread out all over the world? What does readiness as a leader look like? Chief of Navy Reserve (CNR), Vice Admiral John Mustin, knows exactly what it’s like and he leads with a singular, laser-guided priority in mind: warfighting readiness. When it comes to performing at the highest level, Vice Admiral Mustin is steadfast in his belief that individual performance is informed by both competence and character. We’ll find out how he helps instill these traits in his force and the challenges that come with it. Vice Admiral Mustin has an extraordinary grasp on leadership philosophy, communicating effectively across large organizations, and using his civilian experiences to inform strategy within his military career – and he’s generous enough to share some of his insights with us around both organizational and personal high performance. We covered so much ground in o

Where do I begin with the man who only needs one name?Moby has been a prominent figure in the music scene for decades – a punk rocker-turned-electronica artist who has sold over 20 million records worldwide, Moby’s genre-defying soundscapes have captivated audiences around the globe, earning him Grammy nominations, a devoted fanbase, and countless other accolades. Beyond his musical success, Moby is also an activist, a filmmaker, and an author – as you’ll hear about in this conversation, his journey has been one of profound introspection, self-discovery, and relentless pursuit of personal growth.Lindsay Hicks brings her own unique brilliance to the table – she is a passionate environmentalist and sustainability expert, recognized for her collaboration with Moby to amplify the message of climate change activism. Together, Moby and Lindsay have formed an extraordinary partnership, blending their passions for music, activism, and thought-provoking conversations into the recently launched Moby Pod. In this c

Today, we’re really excited to share the 8th installment of our Ask Me Anything (AMA) series.The ever-insightful and entertaining O’Neil Cespedes is back to co-host this month’s AMA and – per usual – we have some fun diving into your questions. On this episode, we chat about:  What to do if you’re feeling burnt out and overworkedGrappling with the need to prove yourself to others How to build culture and hire appropriatelyThe difference between high performance and masteryFeeling like you’re “behind” in lifeAnd, one question to chew on… Are you a thermostat? Or a thermometer?Lastly – as always – reply to this email with feedback or any questions you have for future AMAs. Wishing you an epic week.With Fire, Dr. Mike-----You can WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel.Connect with us on our Instagram.For more information and shownotes from every episode, head to findingmastery.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a

How can we ensure that we function optimally and feel great as we age? What makes a durable human? How do we combat the effects of our modern, more sedentary ways of being on our body’s need for activity?  These are a few of the questions that this week’s guest, Dr. Kelly Starrett, can help us answer. Known as a “mobility pioneer,” Kelly’s career as a doctor of physical therapy has led him to some extraordinary places. He consults athletes and coaches from the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, US Olympic Team and CrossFit; he works with elite military personnel; and he consults with world-leading corporations on employee health and well-being. Kelly’s work, however, is not limited to coaches and athletes – he believes that every human being should know how to move and be able to perform basic maintenance on themselves.The author of two best-selling books, “Becoming a Supple Leopard” and “Ready to Run,” and co-founder of the mobility training platform, The Ready State, Kelly’s work offers comprehensive tools and f

2x World Cup Winner and 3x Olympic Medalist Julie Foudy discusses the importance of finding joy, championing the future of women's sports, and unlocking the true power of being an extraordinary teammate and parent.“Success comes when you are a great teammate and work your ass off. People want to be around you and they know that you got their back. You're in the foxhole with them. That's the greatest place they could be, because you're going to take care of them and vice versa.”Julie Foudy's list of achievements is nothing short of awe-inspiring. As a two-time FIFA World Cup Champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, she has left an indelible mark on her field. However, her impact extends far beyond her accolades – Julie is also a dominant and energizing voice in the world of women’s sports. On camera, she lends her talents as an ESPN analyst and commentator; and off, she’s a former President of the Women’s Sports Foundation and a tireless advocate for young f

Paul Annacone, legendary tennis coach to Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, offers his approach to collaborative coaching and a guide to playing, thinking, and being the best you can be.“How good are you on your average days? My mantra is: Every player has a handful of great matches during their career, and a handful of garbage. The rest is who you are. Show me who you are in the middle.”More on Paul:20-time Grand Slam winner, Roger Federer and 14-time Grand Slam winner, Pete Sampras, have at least one common thread in their tennis careers and he happens to be our guest for this episode.Paul Annacone is a former touring professional tennis player who began his coaching career in 1995 working with the legendary Pete Sampras. Since then, he’s become one of the most respected mentors in the game, coaching Federer, Tim Henman, Sloane Stephens and, currently, one of USA’s top-ranked players, Taylor Fritz.Paul’s book Coaching For Life: A Guide to Playing, Thinking, and Being the Best You Can Be, is an autobiographical

This episode of Finding Mastery features the one and only, Apolo Ohno. A 2019 inductee into the Olympic Hall of Fame, Apolo still holds the title for most decorated American at the Winter Olympics with 8 medals as a short track speed skater. However, after hanging up his skates in 2010, Apolo found himself struggling with purpose, and confused about how he was going to navigate his transition from sport.His bestselling book, Hard Pivot: Embrace Change, Find Purpose, Show Up Fully, details this journey while offering up five golden principles for practical and psychological steps toward success. Apolo has walked the walk and I can’t wait to share his insights around navigating transitions, the constant pursuit of new goals, and how managing energy and attitude are integral to high performance.-----You can WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel.Connect with us on our Instagram.For more information and shownotes from every episode, head to findingmastery.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.

This week’s conversation is with Phil Kornachuk, a highly-trained military expert with 22 years of service in the U.S. Army Special Ops Command.  After serving with both the 2nd Battalion Rangers and the Green Berets, being deployed 12 times, and receiving a Silver Star – the 3rd highest award for valor in combat – Phil decided to leave his military career behind and channel his experience into a new kind of mission: helping people and businesses forge high performance leadership skills. Indexing on self-mastery, mindset training and resilience, Phil’s passion for developing purpose-driven leaders and high performing teams has taken the form of executive coaching, 1-on-1 training, hands-on workshops and even back-country expeditions through his company StoneWater Training. Phil and I share the belief that there are no shortcuts, and you’ll hear all about how this high school dropout who grew up on a dairy farm in Ontario, Canada cultivated a mental toughness and leadership acumen that’s even mo

We're back! And on a Monday! Volume 7 of our Ask Me Anything series... let's do this.High performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais jumps into the Mastery Lab to answer YOUR questions about the art of listening, flow state, how (and when) to be vulnerable, navigating conflict in intimate relationships, the major problems with the self-help industry, and so much more.We’re stoked to announce that we’re going to be splitting the Ask Me Anything (AMA) series off from our regular Wednesday podcasts to its own spot—once-a-month on Mondays now.This means you’ll see the AMA show up on your podcast feeds on a Monday and the regular podcast programming will continue on Wednesdays!-----You can WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel.Connect with us on our Instagram.For more information and shownotes from every episode, head to findingmastery.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What sets humans apart? Technology and healthcare futurist Jamie Metzl dives into the intersection of artificial intelligence and humanity, why learning and creativity are crucial, and what it really means to be optimistic.This week’s conversation is with leading geopolitical expert and technology futurist, Jamie Metzl, a returning guest to the podcast we’re so happy to welcome back. Jamie boasts degrees from Brown (undergrad), Harvard (law), and Oxford (Ph.D), but that may just be the least interesting thing about him. He’s served in the U.S. State Department, and on the National Security Council, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the World Health Organization expert advisory committee on human genome editing. He’s also been called “the original COVID-19 whistleblower” as a leading advocate for a full investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.His bestselling book, Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity, is a groundbreaking exploration of the future of our

Called the “Einsteins of Love,” Drs. John and Julie Gottman share their insights and strategies for building love and long-lasting relationships, offering a deep dive into the science of what makes relationships work - and thrive.John and Julie have been studying love for over five decades; they’ve compiled data on thousands of couples, all in service of one goal: to identify the building blocks of a good relationship. Their latest book, The Love Prescription, is a New York Times bestseller, detailing a simple but powerful 7-day plan to transform your relationship. There’s a reason they’ve been called “The Einstein of Love” and “the dean of marriage experts.” John was named one of the Top 10 Most Influential Therapists of the past quarter-century by the Psychotherapy Networker. Julie was named Washington State Psychologist of the Year and received the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from Psychotherapy Networker. Together they’ve co-authored many bestselling books and founded The Gottman Institute an

This week’s conversation is with Steven Kotler, a best-selling author, journalist, and one of the world’s leading experts on flow and human performance. Steven has spent three decades teaching people how to achieve peak performance, and of late, putting his own advice into practice as documented in his newest book, Gnar Country: Growing Old, Staying Rad. In it, Steven challenges us to test our own limits as he himself sets out to become an expert skier at age 53. Using his understanding of embodied cognition and flow science, he puts theories and his own body to the test in order to challenge the perceived limitations of peak performance as we get older. He’s authored fourteen books, eleven of which are New York Times bestsellers. He’s been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize twice, appeared in over 100 publications, and his work is translated into over 50 languages; and yet, Steven’s appeal comes from far more than a list of very impressive accolades. While endeavoring to help others be at their be

There is power in your pain, but how do you use it? Is narcissism required to be successful? Why is vulnerability seen as a weakness?This week, we’re really excited to share the sixth installment of our Ask Me Anything (AMA) series. It’s such a blast filming these and answering your questions. On AMA #6, we dive into some very real topics like the power of pain as it ignites both purpose and growth, if narcissism is necessary for success, how underdogs make for good company, and why a simple question like “how are you?” helps us explore our relationship to our own authenticity.  For this AMA, I’m stoked to welcome back a dear friend of Finding Mastery’s — actor, improv artist, and host of his own podcast, O’Neil Cespedes. O’Neil dropped by to bring his curiosity and candor to a really awesome conversation. It’s an incredible honor to answer the questions you’re all sending in, and they continue to lead us to some extremely rich and insightful places. As always, feel free to email info@find

Why is talking about money so taboo? How does money affect our relationships? What role does psychology play in personal finance? Can you master your money?Ramit Sethi, a personal finance expert and best-selling author, joins the podcast this week to share his insights on the psychology of money, what living your “rich life” means, and the importance of creating systems to achieve financial success.Ramit Sethi is an American entrepreneur and self-proclaimed financial adviser. The founder of GrowthLab.com, owner of IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com, and owner and co-founder of PBworks, a commercial wiki website, he’s also the author of a 2009 New York Times bestseller called I Will Teach You to Be Rich.Ramit’s non-traditional messaging around money and his practical wisdom for generating wealth are now the subject of a new Netflix series entitled How To Get Rich, premiering April 18th, 2023. In it, he teaches that “you can’t live a rich life without taking control over your money,” but with the caveat that you don’t h

George Mumford, a.k.a. The Mindfulness Performance Whisperer, digs into the dynamics of successful teams, the formula for unlocking your potential, and how dark moments can lead to our greatest revelations.George Mumford is a renowned author, coach, speaker, and elite performance expert. George is a legend amongst… well, more legends. Over his career, George’s clientele has consisted of world’s bests like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, Shaquille O’Neal, countless other NBA stars, and a never-ending list of Olympians, CEOs, and artists. All of these elite performers have worked personally with George to embrace their greatness, unlock their potential, and in the art of being human. George has channeled his life’s work into two books: The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance and  Unlocked: Embrace Your Greatness, Find the Flow, Discover Success. In these, he uses both instructional wisdom as well as stories of personal pain and addiction to celebrate the challenge of being com

While there are no secrets to living the Good Life, Dr. Robert Waldinger is one of the most - if not THE most - qualified individuals to speak on what living the Good Life really means and how we can all build more meaningful connections. This conversation is so meaningful. Pulling on 85 years of research, we dive deep into what truly makes us happy, fulfilled, and resilient in the face of life's challenges. From the power of relationships and the importance of purpose to the art of mindfulness and the impact of social comparison, we explore practical strategies for living a more meaningful and satisfying life.-----Dr. Robert Waldinger is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, Harvard professor, Zen master, and the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development – the world’s longest and most comprehensive study on human happiness. For over eight decades this incredible study has followed the lives of thousands of participants in an effort to investigate and identify what makes people flourish – all of which

Broadcaster, journalist and endurance athlete Charlie Webster details her near death experience, her process of post-traumatic growth, and how it shaped her perspective on perseverance, mental health and the motivation to keep pushing forward.Charlie is incredible, and her body of work is… extensive, to say the least. She was the first woman to host a televised Boxing World Heavyweight Title Fight, has hosted or produced at least seven different podcasts, created a TV documentary for BBC, has run 14 marathons and competed in 3 ironman triathlons – and that is just scratching the surface of her incredible life story. In 2016, Charlie was put on life support and given 24 hours to live. Charlie pushes the edges in everything she does. She understands deep pain, and how to work with it, which is one of the reasons I wanted to have her on. We dive right in to explore what drives her. What is she working towards? And how does she take care of herself amidst a life of constant “doing” and high achievement?

Violence and virtue. The Goodness Paradox. Why are humans capable of being the nicest, but also the nastiest, of all species?Join host Dr. Michael Gervais as he sits down with Richard Wrangham, biological anthropologist and author of "The Goodness Paradox," to discuss the intricate relationship between violence and virtues, and how understanding this connection can lead to a more compassionate and just society. Dr. Wrangham shares his research on the evolution of human behavior, challenging common assumptions about our species and shedding light on the complex interplay between our inherent tendencies towards aggression and our capacity for empathy and altruism.Richard’s research has fundamentally changed our understanding of human evolution & behavior, and it was great to learn from him in this conversation.You might wonder how a talk about humanity’s virtue and violence is relevant to thinking about human performance. Understanding humanity’s roots is fundamental to better understanding how we can reach