In a world where choices seem endless, could it be that our 'free will' is nothing more than an illusion? When it comes to things like choosing a morning run over an extra hour of sleep, opting for an apple instead of that enticing pint of ice cream, or quitting your job on a whim… …What's truly guiding these decisions? Is it willpower, biology, environment, or perhaps a unique strength of character we've built over time? Or… could it be something else entirely, something beyond our contro...
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 28 min
Have you ever felt the overwhelming pressure to be perfect in an imperfect world? To excel in every aspect of life in a society that is constantly demanding more? Welcome to the club. Thomas Curran has dedicated his career to understanding the complex and often elusive personality trait of perfectionism. A professor of psychology at the London School of Economics, Thomas’s research delves deep into the roots of perfectionism – exploring how it develops and its profound impact on mental health. H...
Oct 11, 2023•55 min
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we sit down with the inspirational Paula Schneider, CEO of Susan G. Komen®, to explore her awe-inspiring journey through uncharted waters in both leadership and her personal battle against breast cancer. Paula exemplifies how true grit and relentless self-belief can overtake fears and redefine how you approach success in every aspect of life. This rich conversation explores: How Paula navigated a deadly breast cancer diagnosis and the power she found in...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Could improv comedy be the key to unlocking human potential? Our guest today isn't just tossing around this idea—he's used the alchemy of the improv stage to forge groundbreaking strategies that are sure to ripple through business, sport, and life itself. Let's set the stage for Kelly Leonard. His title—Vice President of Creative Strategy, Innovation, and Business Development—only begins to capture his role at The Second City. And this isn't just any theater. It's a global comedy powerhouse that...
Sep 27, 2023•1 hr 22 min
Welcome to the 11th installment of our Ask Me Anything series. The purpose behind these AMAs – is to hear from YOU and have conversations… to explore the topics and questions that you have been wrestling with on your path to becoming. The goal is to expand on the themes, lessons, and best-practices we’ve discussed on the Finding Mastery podcast in order to make them even more applicable to your own life. We’re back with our favorite co-host—O’Neil Cespedes—and today, we cover some really interes...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Why do some people excel in the toughest of conditions while others fall short? This age-old question finds its answer in the lives and experiences of today’s guests: Rich Diviney and Brent Gleeson, both former Navy SEALs and known authors, speakers, and human performance consultants. Drawing on their background in Naval Special Warfare, Rich and Brent share their unique perspective on the blend of adaptability, resilience, and vulnerability required to achieve peak performance. But this w...
Sep 20, 2023•2 hr 37 min
Success - in any arena - often demands a delicate dance between fearlessness, finesse and dedication. Mikaela Shiffrin, a true luminary in alpine skiing, has mastered this equilibrium like no other. With an astounding 88 World Cup wins to her name, Mikaela stands as the greatest alpine skier in history. Period. She's a two-time Olympic Champion, seven-time World Champion, and five-time Overall World Cup champion. But Mikaela's influence extends far beyond the slopes. In 2023, Time Magazine recog...
Sep 13, 2023•55 min
When it feels like the whole world has written you off, do you give in or keep going? Today's guest, Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Geno Smith, kept going. After spending 10 seasons in the NFL—enduring frustrating injuries, several trades, and the threat of becoming a “lifetime backup quarterback” —Geno stepped in as starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks last season. With the media deeming this as a “rebuilding year” for the Seahawks, Geno put forth a stellar performance that surprised man...
Sep 06, 2023•52 min
Step into the riveting world of Tu Lam, whose journey from war-torn Saigon to becoming a Green Beret is a tale of courage, resilience, and modern-day samurai wisdom. Born amidst chaos, he escaped Vietnam's turmoil, eventually finding a new life in America. Enthralled by stories of elite warriors, he chased his dream, enlisting in the US Military right after high school. Deploying to over 20 countries, including conflict zones in the Philippines, Iraq, and Libya, Tu's career spanned 22 years of d...
Aug 30, 2023•2 hr 30 min
Today, we’re really excited to share the 10th installment of our Ask Me Anything (AMA) series! Thanks for coming along this journey with us over the last 10 months—sending in your questions and sharing your notes of appreciation. It’s an honor to sit down and film each video. We’re stoked on this 10th AMA and all the excellent questions we received. Our co-host, O’Neil Cespedes, is back again to make sure we keep it real. In this video, we dive into topics like: How to find your purpose Wh...
Aug 28, 2023•46 min
Imagine being suspended in the cosmos, gazing down at Earth, experiencing a sense of freedom that transcends gravity's pull. It’s an almost impossible task to pinpoint the most interesting thing about this week’s guest… she’s a remarkable human who’s never met a dream she didn’t turn into reality. Anousheh Ansari is an extraordinary entrepreneur, engineer, and trailblazer who has etched her name in history as the first self-funded woman – as well as the first Iranian and Muslim woman – to journe...
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 1 min
When you talk to yourself, are you listening? What are the thoughts that dominate your thinking? Do they empower you? Elevate you? Connect you to something bigger than yourself? Jon Gordon believes that how you answer these questions is critical to how you show up as a leader, a teammate, a spouse or a friend. Simply put: your performance and your relationships move in the direction of your strongest thoughts. He’s best known as an author, but Jon doesn’t just write books. He li...
Aug 16, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Sleep is fundamental to our survival. It’s kind of like oxygen, yet most of us don’t view these essential functions through the same lens. In order to perform at our best, live long & healthy lives, and to explore our potential… we have to put the same value on sleeping that we do breathing. Lucky for us, our guest today does exactly that - Dr. Aric Prather is a renowned professor, sleep scientist, clinical psychologist, and head of one of the world’s most successful sleep clinics at U...
Aug 09, 2023•1 hr 26 min
I think it’s fair to say we all know a thing or two about stress. Hopefully we’ve all found a practice (or several) to help us manage it. Our guest today has gone a few steps further… Dr. David Rabin – Dr. Dave as he’s better known – has dedicated much of his life’s work as a neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and innovative health tech entrepreneur to studying the impacts of chronic stress and developing groundbreaking approaches to stress management, treatment-resistant illnesses, and our bodies’ i...
Aug 02, 2023•53 min
Today, we’re really excited to share the 9th installment of our Ask Me Anything (AMA) series! The purpose behind these conversations - behind these AMAs – is to hear from you … to explore the topics and questions that you have been wrestling with on your path to becoming. The goal is to expand on the themes, lessons, and best-practices we’ve discussed on the Finding Mastery Podcast in order to make them even more applicable to your own life. This time around, our co-host O’Neil Cespedes an...
Jul 31, 2023•57 min
Today’s guest gives us a behind the scenes look at one of modern business’s greatest corporate turnarounds. When Oscar Munoz became CEO of United Airlines in 2015, this global organization was anything but united – and its reputation was in free fall. Oscar's journey at United began with a whirlwind of challenges and it's through those experiences that he gained invaluable insights into the power of listening, learning, empathy and resilience. In this conversation, we dive into Oscar’s first 100...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Wellness has become a buzzword and it can feel like we’ve lost its true meaning. While the industry is overflowing with “experts” touting the latest and greatest in self-care, this week’s guest has a different approach – Candice Kumai believes that when it comes to wellness practices, newer isn’t always better, and there’s good reason ancient wisdom often endures the test of time. As a 12-time award-winning writer, classically trained chef, and former TV host, Candice made her mark in seve...
Jul 19, 2023•1 hr 3 min
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-...
Jul 12, 2023•1 hr 13 min
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...
Jul 06, 2023•1 hr 6 min
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 perf...
Jul 05, 2023•50 min
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 jo...
Jun 28, 2023•1 hr 19 min
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 overworked Grappling with the need to prove yourself to others How to build culture and hire appropriately The difference between high performance and mastery Fe...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 9 min
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 O...
Jun 21, 2023•2 hr 55 min
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 li...
Jun 14, 2023•1 hr 7 min
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 le...
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 19 min
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 ...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 18 min
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.&nb...
May 24, 2023•2 hr 35 min
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 podc...
May 22, 2023•1 hr 10 min
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 le...
May 17, 2023•1 hr
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 bestsell...
May 10, 2023•1 hr
