Finding Mastery: Conversations With Michael Gervais

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

Dr. Mike sits down with actor Michael Rosenbaum to answer YOUR questions on psychological safety, therapy, motivation, passion, and so much more.Welcome back to another Ask Me Anything on Finding Mastery… I keep saying it - but it’s an honor to answer the questions you’re all sending in. I’m really excited about this one. Michael Rosenbaum - a friend of Finding Mastery - has dropped in for today’s AMA. Michael is an actor, comedian, podcaster, and all-around incredible human. He’s famously known for portraying Lex Luthor on the Superman TV series, Smallville, and has recently entered the Marvel Universe - in Guardians of the Galaxy.He  hosts his own podcast, Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum - In this AMA, we dive into psychological safety, therapy, living with passion, and what to do when your motivation is running thin.Your questions took us to some fascinating places -  and we have some fun at the end when Michael trots out his Adam Sandler impression, reveals why he left Smallville,

Former Navy SEAL Command Master Chief, Pete Naschak, details what it means to be a resilience shepherd, how high performing teams operate, and the importance of an adaptable mindset.More:Pete served for 21 years as a Navy SEAL, where he held various operational & leadership positions and participated in military contingency operations around the world. Now, Pete has taken what he learned as a leader of one of the most elite & high-performing military units, and founded Performance Activation – a company specializing in leadership development, mission enhancement, team performance, and resilience training for top tier companies, pro sport teams, and individuals. Pete and I have had the pleasure of working together at companies like Nike, Red Bull, Under Armour, and Microsoft – I’m always fascinated by his insights and approach to helping others thrive. Most importantly, I have an incredibly high regard for Pete as a human. He is resilient, optimistic, a great teammate, a problem-solver,

Paralympic athlete and 17-time medalist Oksana Masters shares her extraordinary journey of perseverance and triumph - from a life-saving adoption to winning Paralympic gold - offering insight and inspiration for anyone seeking to overcome obstacles and discover their own superpowers.More:Oksana Masters is a 17x Paralympic Medalist.Oksana has competed in each of the last six Paralympic Games (both summer & winter), and has brought home medals in four different sports – rowing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, and cycling. That is legit.Following the Beijing Paralympics in 2022, Oksana became the most decorated US Winter Paralympian or Olympian ever.This conversation could have focused solely on Oksana’s Paralympic triumphs, but that would have missed the true depth of her story - and she has an unbelievable story. It’s the story of a girl who spent her earliest years growing up in three corrupt and abusive orphanages in Ukraine – a girl who was born with radiation poisoning from Chernobyl and lost both

Baseball America’s MLB Coach of the Year, Donnie Ecker, shares his heart-forward approach to coaching and leadership.Donnie Ecker is a highly respected and accomplished Major League Baseball (MLB) coach who is entering his second season as bench coach and offensive coordinator for the Texas Rangers. Before his tenure with the Rangers, Donnie was recognized as Baseball America’s 2021 MLB Coach of the Year when he helped lead the San Francisco Giants to a franchise record 107 wins and 241 home runs. However, this is not a conversation about baseball. Donnie’s expertise is in biomechanics and analytics – but it’s his people-first philosophy and ability to help his players work from the inside out that makes his coaching style so powerful and effective. I love how he’s navigated the tension between taking care of himself and taking care of those around him. Best of all, it’s forged in a great life story. Donnie has skills that we can all learn from and try to implement in our own lives – in business, sp

"I learned how to live, at a death camp."Dr. Edith Eger, a Holocaust survivor, clinical psychologist, and best-selling author shares the powerful lessons she learned from surviving Auschwitz and how she inspires individuals to live a life of fulfillment, happiness, and freedom.More on Dr. Eger:At the age of 16, Edie and her family were sent to Auschwitz – Edie’s parents were killed not long after arriving… but with bravery and incredible courage, Edie helped keep her and her sisters alive. After persevering through one of the greatest horrors in human history, Edie dedicated her life and career to helping others better understand trauma and overcome their limitations – helping them discover the power of self-renewal and achieve things they never thought possible. Her journey is awe inspiring, and her words of wisdom leave me hopeful and heartened that we can make it through even the darkest of times.We also have Jordan Engle here today – Edie’s grandson. Jordan is an accomplished storyteller in his own right,

This week, we’re really excited to share another installment of our Ask Me Anything series. In this episode, we cover confidence, anxiety, resilience, self-talk, the art of feedback, and much more.For this AMA, we brought in a friend of Finding Mastery’s to help facilitate the conversation — O'Neil Cespedes. O’Neil is an actor, an improv artist, a former member of the Groundlings Sunday Company, and he's got an epic new podcast called 3 Black Guys on a Couch. O'Neil brings a fresh perspective and a ton of energy to this conversation – we had a blast answering your questions together.I’m super grateful for our community and the opportunity to talk through some of the topics you all are wrestling with. As always, feel free to respond to this email with feedback or any questions you may have for future AMAs. Keep carving your unique path.-----You can also watch this conversation on our YouTube channel.Connect with us on our Instagram.For more information and shownotes from every episode, head to f

This week’s conversation is with Dave Asprey, an entrepreneur & tech innovator, four-time New York Times bestselling author, award-winning podcast host, and pioneer of the Biohacking movement. For those of you who have listened for a while, you know I’ve had issues with the term “hacking” – and at the same time, I’m fascinated by folks who create and disrupt. Having devoted decades of his life to elevating human performance and creating significant brands like Bulletproof and Upgrade Labs, I wanted to dig beneath the surface to better understand Dave, the human.In this conversation, we not only cover his insights about performance and longevity, but also how he’s disrupted an industry, what “biohacking” means to him, and what’s behind his quest to live to 180 years old.We go to some opinionated places -- it's always fun to hear from different perspectives – and as with any episode, I encourage you to listen with an open mind, and make informed decisions that are best for you.-----You can also watch t

This week, we’re doing something a little different – we are excited to re-release a fresh version of our 2019 conversation with the US World Cup and Olympic soccer legend, Abby Wambach. So – why are we re-releasing an episode? And why this conversation in particular? Because transitions are an increasingly prominent part of modern life. As the pace of change accelerates, so does our need to be able to eloquently adapt and adjust. And Abby has demonstrated mastery here.  She is an emblem for doing the inner work –  she’s moved from the sport world to the business world with grace while living aligned to her values throughout. So I’m really excited to bring her back to the forefront of our community.If you heard this conversation when it first came out a few years ago, it’s definitely worth revisiting. If you haven’t… you’re in for a real treat. We’d love to hear your feedback on this episode re-release. Hit us on social or send a note to info@findingmastery.net. If it resonates, we’d

Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries, Father Greg Boyle, guides us through the Homeboy Way - a life full of love, clarity, and unshakable goodness.More on Father Greg:Father Greg Boyle is an American Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry program in the world.Each year over 10,000 former gang members and previously incarcerated people come through Homeboy Industries’ doors where they are given hope, training, and support to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community.Father Boyle is a recipient of the California Peace Prize, has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame, and was named a “Champion of Change” by President Obama in 2014. He is also the author of three acclaimed books, including his 2010 New York Times bestseller, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.Father Boyle is a rare example of someone who embodies altruism in its purest form – he is an emblem for hope, compa

Paul Rabil is back! (on the podcast)In this week's conversation, legendary professional lacrosse player Paul Rabil opens about his mindset, his inner critic, starting the PLL, and what it takes to be the best in the world at your craft.More on Paul:Paul Rabil is a former professional lacrosse player and co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). You might remember Paul from his first appearance on Finding Mastery back in 2019 – that’s episode #167 if you want to check it out.For those unfamiliar, Paul is widely regarded as one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time. Over his playing career, Paul won two NCAA National Championships at Johns Hopkins, three league MVP awards, appeared in 10 straight All-Star games, and is a two-time World Lacrosse Champion with Team USA. However, Paul’s legacy reaches far beyond his stature as a world-class player. In 2018, Paul co-founded the PLL, a new, improved, and more equitable professional lacrosse league – all while still competing as one of the bes

In this week's episode, author and journalist Anne Helen Petersen covers some of society’s most pressing workplace trends - like the burnout epidemic and the transition to hybrid work - and how we can all thrive in the modern workplace.This is a conversation for employers, employees, and managers alike on how we can optimize remote work – and re-examine what “work” means in the first place. More on Anne Helen:Anne Helen Petersen is a journalist, author, and cultural critic known for her writing on celebrity culture, feminism, the future of work, and media.Anne’s career took off as a senior Culture Writer at BuzzFeed where she wrote several viral articles on pop culture and celebrity analysis – however, in 2020 she left the mainstream to start up her wildly popular Substack newsletter, Culture Study.In some of her more recent work – including her latest book Out of Office – Anne thoughtfully covers some of society’s most pressing workplace trends like the burnout epidemic and the transition to hybrid work.Anne

The Grandmaster of Memory, Nelson Dellis, details why memory is an important skill to hone in on, and how to do just that.More on Nelson:This week’s conversation is with Nelson Dellis, a competitive memory athlete who is widely recognized as one of the world's leading experts in the fields of memory and mental fitness.Nelson is a 5X USA Memory Champion, a Grand Master of Memory, and holds several world records for memorization – including memorizing the most decks of cards in 30 minutes (9.02 decks), the most digits in 30 minutes (907 digits), and the most names in 15 minutes (235 names). Nelson is also an accomplished mountaineer – having summited Everest in addition to many of the world’s largest peaks – and is the founder of Climb For Memory, a non profit raising awareness for Alzheimer’s research by organizing mountain climbs around the world.As many of us are focused on the habits and changes we want to implement heading into the new year, I was really excited to learn more from Nelson about how mem