In 2008, Dr. David Rock of the NeuroLeadership Institute developed a "brain-based model for collaborating with and influencing others." The model is based on neuroscience research that implies there are five very specific areas of the human social experience that influence our behavior by activating either our brain's reward or threat circuits. And when it comes to interacting with others, doing things that activate the threat circuits will cause you (and the relationship) to stumble every singl...
Jun 23, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 23
When I was in my early twenties, someone introduced me to the idea of the 'sandwich approach' to communication—an approach that is apparently hotly contested. Who knew? Certainly not me ... until a few years ago. So whether you are familiar with it or not, whether you regularly use it or avoid it like the plague, I've had a "revelation" about this method that I think you'll find both interesting and helpful! Take a listen and let me know what you think. Extra points if your feedback uses the san...
Jun 07, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 22
This is the third and final episode in a special miniseries titled The “A–R–T” (ART) of Everyday Diplomacy. If the GOAL of diplomacy is to “Think WIN/WIN,” as Stephen Covey would say, then achieving that goal is where the ART comes in. In the first episode, we looked at the letter A, which is the value of Active listening, why hearing and listening are NOT the same, and some practical ways to become an Active listener. In the second episode we talked about the letter R—what it means to build Rap...
May 20, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 21
We’re in the midst of a special miniseries titled The A.R.T. of [Everyday] Diplomacy. Some of the biggest stumbles I’ve had in my life—both personal and professional—were the times when I failed to be diplomatic in tenuous situations, so I thought this series could be helpful to you as well. The GOAL of diplomacy—in most if not all cases—is to “Think WIN/WIN,” as Stephen Covey says in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. To use diplomacy and “Think WIN/WIN” is often the KEY to reaching an ag...
May 11, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Some of the biggest stumbles I’ve had in my life—both personal and professional—were the times when I failed to be diplomatic in tenuous situations. But have you ever *REALLY* thought about what it means to be diplomatic, to behave LIKE a diplomat? Until recently, I had not. So I did some research, and painfully compared what I was learning to what I already knew from my own past failures. One of the most popular quotes I could find on the subject is from 1920s sports writer Walter Trumbull who ...
May 04, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 19
I recently had a real "A-HA!" moment that I want to share with you, a realization that for me was both extremely simple and elementary, but also seriously profound: NOTHING is impervious to change. A rushing stream or river can wear away their banks and beds to become massive canyons that are miles long and even hundreds of feet deep. Wind can blow sand into towering dunes 1,300 feet high or turn jagged mountains into smooth rocks. The right temperature can liquify just about anything from ice (...
Apr 23, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 18
It’s fairly common these days to hear people talk about toxic thought patterns living deep inside our brains and how these toxic thoughts can impact our lives. But what I DON’T hear people talking about is the role that music can play in both creating and combatting toxic strongholds. And once you understand the science, you'll realize that may be one of the most overlooked mistakes we make in regards to our mental health and stability.
Apr 13, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 17
When it comes to making sure you stick the landing—oftentimes your results come down to how well you are able to control yourself when you get put to the test. But as you've probably already figured out, self-control can be a monumental task at times. Everyone has at least one area of life that seems to be a constant struggle. Most of us have multiple areas of weakness. But what if the problem isn't how much Herculean power you can demonstrate in controlling a certain area of your life, but how ...
Apr 05, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Developmental psychologists say that babies don’t have what we would think of as self-awareness until somewhere around 18 months. When they look in a mirror, they see another baby, not themselves. Same with most animals. But eventually, we figure out that what we are seeing is really ourselves, and—interestingly enough—that's also where the hard work of self-control begins. In some classic experiments, psychologists found that when people were placed in front of a mirror, or told that their acti...
Mar 30, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 15
When we lose a loved one, the pain we experience can feel overwhelming, confusing, and truly unbearable. With such a roller coaster of emotional responses, we can find ourselves wondering if the pain will ever end. Add to that the fact that grief is messy, complicated, and extremely personal: Those messy emotional experiences just can’t be tucked into neat, linear stages. But they can be recognized and worked through as we learn to live and cope with a loss. The first step may very well be recog...
Mar 24, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 14
If you were to randomly ask 10 people whether making decisions would deplete their willpower and make them vulnerable to temptation, most of them would probably say no, or, at least, not that they know of... Yet the reality is that decision fatigue is very real, and it influences the behavior of me, you, and everyone you know, every day. Sadly, though, few of us are even aware of it. And that’s a real tripping hazard. In this episode, I cover the basics of how decision fatigue works as well as t...
Mar 16, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Psychologists, coaches, and pretty much anyone involved in human improvement all seem to agree: The first step in anything that involves self-control (which means practically everything) is to set clear goals. But here’s the interesting thing about that: Setting goals isn’t really a problem for most people. We all have goals, even the least disciplined among us. So, the problem for most of us, researchers say, is not a lack of goals but rather TOO MANY of them! Oh, and we're also WAY TOO fussy a...
Mar 09, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 12
According to Dr. Roy Baumeister, author of WILLPOWER: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength , in their early eagerness to chart the brain as the human equivalent of computers chips and circuits, most psychologists had neglected one mundane but essential part of the machine: the power cord. In a computer, chips and circuit boards are useless without a source of energy. And so is the brain. Research has shown that a drop in that energy source correlates to low self control in both children and...
Mar 02, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In today's world, where temptations, distractions, and opportunities to stumble can make us feel like we are in an endless obstacle race, it can seem as if our willpower is under constant siege, and at times, non-existent. But, we have more tools available than we know. In this episode, I take a look at just some of the abundant science behind willpower. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW to make sure you never miss an episode! Also, if someone comes to mind who you think might be encouraged by this episode (or p...
Feb 23, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 10
It seems like everywhere we turn these days, someone somewhere is passing judgment. And it really doesn't matter if it is about something serious or ridiculous: that judgment can be really painful. So we work overtime to create and keep a space that is "free of judgment, negativity and draining energy"? But is that really the most productive solution? I think surfers may know the answer! Please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW to make sure you never miss an episode! Also, if someone comes to mind who you think ...
Feb 15, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 9
When pursuing your dreams, you don't need to make giant, monumental strides forward with every single effort. In fact, you can learn to be a leader, a winner, and an inspiration to others at every level along your journey, no matter where you are! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW to make sure you never miss an episode! Also, if someone comes to mind who you think might be encouraged by this episode (or podcast), share it with them. By doing so, you might just provide them with the simple spark t...
Feb 08, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Every single one of us has a whole laundry list of things that make us feel like failures, like we just aren't good enough or smart enough or talented enough. It's in those times that understanding "The Learning CURVE" is most critical. Your breakthrough may be closer than you think! Don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button to make sure you never miss an episode! Also, leave a review, and then help a friend by sharing this podcast with them. By doing so, you might just provide them with the sim...
Feb 01, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Have you ever wondered how cats (and apparently, squirrels) always seem to land on their feet? They can actually turn themselves the right way around during a fall in order to land safely. They can even do it BLINDFOLDED! Their secret isn't really a secret at all ... and you and I can learn to do the same! Don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button to make sure you never miss an episode! Also, leave a review, and then help a friend by sharing this podcast with them. By doing so, you might just pr...
Jan 25, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 6
You may not find this in any textbooks, but psychologists and neuroscientists alike now know that the human brain is really a lot like ... Play-Doh.
Jan 19, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 5
What do you do when your button gets pushed and you find your inner man suddenly hurtling through the air, out of control, whisked away by an angry soul tsunami?
Jan 14, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Unfortunately, far more often than not, the Four Ds of Abnormal Psychology do a really good job of summing up what the media considers “newsworthy”—deviant, dysfunctional, distressing, and dangerous. And having your mind constantly flooded with this kind of information can create a sense of panic that leaves you overwhelmed and anxious.
Jan 08, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In 1999, former pro wrestler and governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura, said “Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers.” Is he right? Here's my 5-minutes worth on the idea.
Jan 07, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to the "Stick the Landing" podcast. Each episode is designed to give you practical, useful tips on how to make sure you always land on your feet, regardless of whether or not your took a leap of faith or got tossed in the air by life's circumstances.
Jan 05, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
