Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais - podcast cover

Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

Dr. Michael Gervaiswww.findingmastery.com

Dive into the minds of the world’s greatest athletes, leaders, thinkers, and doers with Dr. Michael Gervais—a high performance psychologist and world-renowned expert on the relationship between high performance and the mind. Dr. Gervais’s client roster includes Super Bowl winning NFL teams, Fortune 50 CEOs, Olympic medalists, internationally acclaimed artists, and more.

On Finding Mastery, Dr. Gervais sits down with the best at what they do, like David Goggins, Brene Brown, Toto Wolff, soccer legend Abby Wambach, neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella — translating their life stories, mental skills, and personal practices into applicable tools you can use to unlock your potential.

Walk with us to the edge of human possibility and learn what you are capable of. New episodes every Wednesday.

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Episodes

Decoding Disruptors: Cindy Eckert, CEO at The Pink Ceiling

Decoding Disruptors takes a deep dive into the minds of extraordinary women who have disrupted the narrative in their businesses, industries, and communities. The team at Finding Mastery , Compete to Create , and Microsoft worked together to bring this series to life. I had the chance to interview 9 amazing women, every conversation was filmed, and is currently available at decodingdisruptors.com . On the website you’ll also find a Disruptor Assessment — this quick assessment tool will help you ...

Feb 22, 202051 min

What Makes a Great Coach? | Hall of Fame Softball Coach, Sue Enquist

This week’s conversation is with Sue Enquist, UCLA Softball’s first All-American, National Champion, and Hall of Famer. In 2006, Sue concluded her storied 27-year career as head coach of the UCLA Bruins with a 887-175-1 (.835) record, making her the winningest softball coach among all active coaches. She is the only person in NCAA Softball history to win a championship as a head coach and a player. During her career, Sue produced 65 All-Americans and 15 Olympians. She has been inducted into six H...

Feb 19, 20201 hr 17 min

Courage, Risk, and Creative Expression | BASE Jumper, Chris McNamara

This week’s conversation is with Chris McNamara, a Big Wall Climber and ex-wingsuit BASE jumper. He is also the founder of OutdoorGearLab, one of the most popular outdoor gear review sites in the world. Outside Magazine has called Chris one of the world's finest climbers. Climbing Magazine once computed that three percent of Chris's life on earth had been spent on the face of El Capitan, an accomplishment that left friends and family pondering Chris's sanity. He has climbed El Capitan more than ...

Feb 12, 20201 hr 8 min

Decoding Disruptors: Bozoma Saint John, CMO at Endeavor

I'm excited to introduce you to our new series, Decoding Disruptors , a special edition of Finding Mastery, presented by Microsoft. For the past 8 years, Compete to Create and I have had the privilege of working with Microsoft, beginning with their CEO, Satya Nadella, and his executive team -- and then an additional 30,000 people across the company. Microsoft has radically transformed under Satya’s leadership, with his emphasis on building a culture around mindset, inclusion, and diversity, to e...

Feb 08, 20201 hr 11 min

The Relationship Between Fear and Inner Drive | Big Wave Surfer, Mark Mathews

This week’s conversation is with Mark Mathews, a world-class big wave surfer, Red Bull Athlete and Surf Contest Director. He’s made a living at the intersection of danger and excitement and knows all too well the crippling grasp of fear. While in Tasmania, fifteen feet in front of a cliff in cold, shark infested waters, Mark hit a reef and instantly blacked out. Terror engulfed every inch of his being. Neck braced and hospital-ridden, he didn’t know if he could ever surf again. At that moment, M...

Feb 05, 20201 hr 20 min

Exploring Human Potential | Explorer, Colin O'Brady

This week’s conversation is with Colin O'Brady, an explorer and elite endurance athlete, who has set multiple records and pushed the boundaries of what we understand to be possible. He was a previous guest on Finding Mastery – episode 36 – and I’m excited to have him back on to talk about his latest feat, the world's first solo, unsupported and completely human powered crossing of Antarctica. Previous to this, he set speed records for the Explorers Grand Slam and the Seven Summits. The Explorers...

Jan 29, 20201 hr 23 min

The Art of Managing Fear | Tony Blauer

This week’s conversation is with Coach Tony Blauer, who’s been in the martial art, self-defense, defensive tactics, and combatives industry for over four decades. Tony founded Blauer Tactical Systems (BTS) in 1985 and it has grown into one of the world's leading consulting companies specializing in the research and development of performance psychology, personal safety, and close quarter tactics & scenario-based training for law enforcement, military, and professional self-defense instructor...

Jan 22, 20201 hr 48 min

Unlocking Your Creative Potential | Photographer, Chase Jarvis

This week’s conversation is with Chase Jarvis, an award-winning artist, entrepreneur, and one of the most influential photographers of the past 20 years. His expansive work ranges from shooting advertising campaigns for companies like Apple, Nike, and Red Bull; to working with athletes like Serena Williams and Tony Hawk, to collaborating with renowned icons like Lady Gaga and Richard Branson. In 2013 Chase contributed to the Pulitzer-Prize winning New York Times story, Snowfall, and in 2014, ear...

Jan 15, 20201 hr 17 min

The Power of Observation and Expression | Ultra Runner, Katie Arnold

This week’s conversation is with Katie Arnold, a longtime journalist and an elite ultra runner. Katie was the 2018 Leadville Trail 100 Run champion. For those of you unfamiliar with Leadville, it’s an Ultramarathon held annually on rugged trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado, through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The race course climbs and descends 15,600 feet, with elevations ranging from 9,200-12,620 feet – the elevation and terrain makes this an incredibly difficult course. Kati...

Jan 09, 20201 hr 15 min

Putting Principles Into Action | NFL Legend, Jim Zorn

This week’s conversation is with Jim Zorn, a former NFL quarterback and coach who currently serves as head coach and general manager of the Seattle Dragons of the second incarnation of the XFL. Jim was the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks during their first eight seasons as a franchise and is a Seattle legend. He’s known as one of the more prolific scrambling quarterbacks of his day and was the second Seahawk ever inducted into the team’s “Ring of Honor” in 1991. Jim also coached in...

Dec 26, 20191 hr 15 min

How the Microbiome Impacts Your Quality of Life | Seed Co-Founder, Raja Dhir

This week’s conversation is with Raja Dhir, the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Seed Health, a microbial sciences company pioneering applications of bacteria to impact human and environmental health. Now some of you may already be familiar with what the microbiome is but for those who aren’t, I’ll share a brief summary of it via Harvard’s School of Public Health. Picture a bustling city on a weekday morning, the sidewalks flooded with people rushing to get to work or to appointments. Now imagine this a...

Dec 18, 20191 hr 14 min

The Key to a Better Night's Sleep | The Sleep Doctor, Dr. Michael Breus

This week’s conversation is with Dr. Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist, better known as the “Sleep Doctor.” Michael is both a Diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He was one of the youngest people to pass the Board at age 31 with a specialty in Sleep Disorders. Michael was also recently named both the Top Sleep Specialist in California by Readers Digest, and one of the 10 most influential people in sleep. Sleep is critical ...

Dec 11, 20191 hr 13 min

Be A Champion in Victory and Defeat | Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer, Missy Franklin

This week’s conversation is with Missy Franklin, a five-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FINA World Swimmer of the Year. Missy retired from swimming in December of 2018 after an incredible career. In 2011, she established herself as one of the top swimmers in the world when she won five medals – three of them gold – at the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Missy won four gold medals and one bronze medal. Missy’s performance in the 200-meter ba...

Dec 04, 20191 hr 6 min

Authenticity, Risk, and Adjusting | Recording Artist and Composer, Stephan Moccio

This week’s conversation is with Stephan Moccio, a producer, composer, recording artist and musician behind some of music’s most massive, inescapable global hits. In 2013, Stephan co-penned the quintuple-platinum song “Wrecking Ball” with Miley Cyrus. Following the song’s success, Stephan quickly became one of the industry’s most sought-after and in-demand producers and songwriters, going on to co-write and co-produce the two end credit songs for the film Fifty Shades of Grey : the quintuple-pla...

Nov 27, 20191 hr 16 min

Exhausting Every Moment | NFL Legend, Ronnie Lott

This week’s conversation is with NFL Hall-of-Famer Ronnie Lott. Ronnie has been a champion and a leader his entire life. After graduating high school in 1977, Ronnie went on to the University of Southern California where he helped his team win the 1978 national championship. He was a unanimous All-American and team captain in 1980 and graduated in 1981 with a degree in public administration. Shortly thereafter, he became the first-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers. His legendary footba...

Nov 22, 201945 min

Hard Work, Resiliency, and Sacrifice | Surfer, Mick Fanning

This week’s conversation is with Mick Fanning, a professional surfer from Australia, regarded as one of the best surfers ever. Mick won the ASP World Tour in 2007, 2009 and 2013 and is the living embodiment of professional surfing. He’s spent the better part of two decades as one of the biggest gravitational forces on the Tour, racking up 22 Tour wins, 11 Top 5 finishes in addition to those three World Titles. For over 20 years Mick’s schedule has been dictated by event dates and locations — and...

Nov 15, 20191 hr 39 min

Self-Discovery and Acceptance | Triathlete, Angela Naeth

This week’s conversation is with Angela Naeth, currently ranked among the top triathletes in the world with 3 sub 9-hour Ironman performances. Angela is a multiple 70.3 and Ironman Champion and has 30+ podiums at the 70.3 and Ironman distances. If you're not familiar with the 70.3, that's the total distance in miles for what's considered a half-ironman. A full ironman triathlon is 140+ miles (consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.22-mile marathon run, raced in that orde...

Nov 06, 20191 hr 25 min

Following Your Intuition | Comedian, Brian Volk-Weiss

This week’s conversation is with Brian Volk-Weiss, the founder and president of Comedy Dynamics. Brian stands at the forefront of comedy’s evolution in the 21st century. Since the launch of Comedy Dynamics in 2008, he has guided the award-winning brand to becoming the nation’s largest independent producer and distributor of one-hour comedy specials, while initiating innovative partnerships with Amazon, ROKU, and HULU—where it ranks as one of the platform’s top three most popular comedy channels....

Oct 30, 20191 hr 23 min

Living with Alignment | NFL Player, Tyler Lockett

This week’s conversation is with Tyler Lockett, a football player who currently plays Wide Receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. Tyler was drafted by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and played college football at Kansas State, where he broke multiple records. This is the first time I’ve had a current member of the Seahawks on the podcast and it was a special conversation. Both Tyler’s father, Kevin, and uncle, Tyler, were star football players at Kansas State and went on to p...

Oct 23, 20191 hr 22 min

Seizing the Moment | Director and Photographer, Corey Rich

This week’s conversation is with Corey Rich, a director and photographer. Corey has built a life and career around his passions for travel, adventure, and telling stories with his camera. With a background in rock climbing and photojournalism, Corey’s work spans a range of genres, from iconic still imagery for leading editorial publications, to television spots and films, to directing high-production-value commercial projects for Fortune 100 companies. Corey recently released “ Stories Behind th...

Oct 16, 20191 hr 18 min

Pete Carroll on The Art of Coaching (Live)

This week’s conversation comes from the Finding Mastery Live that we recently hosted in Seattle with Seattle Seahawks head coach, Pete Carroll. In 2009, a mutual friend put Coach Carroll and I together for dinner and instantly, I knew it was right. We were talking about ancient principles, we were talking about modern science, we were talking about really collectively, how do you help people pursue their potential? It was stimulating and we knew much of the same research. We're interested in som...

Oct 09, 20191 hr 20 min

Competition, Olympic Greatness, and Transitions | Apolo Ohno

This week’s conversation is with Apolo Anton-Ohno, an eight time Winter Olympics Medalist and a flat out legend in short track speed skating. . With two gold, two silver, and four bronze medals, Apolo is the most decorated American Olympian at the Winter Olympics. Apolo remains involved in the Olympic movement as an ambassador to the Olympic Games, the Special Olympics, and also serves as a broadcaster for NBC. In addition, he is on the 2026/2030 Winter Olympic bid committee for Salt Lake City, ...

Oct 02, 20191 hr 50 min

The Essence of Becoming | Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon

This week’s conversation is with Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon, a former university professor and researcher who now designs curriculum for Precision Nutrition. She focuses on helping people make meaningful change through the Precision Nutrition Coaching and coaching Certification programs. Krista is also the author or co-author of several books, with the latest being Why Me Want Eat: Fixing Your Food Fuckedupitude. Krista likes to think of nutrition coaching as this pathway into a larger life project ...

Sep 25, 20191 hr 30 min

Slowing Down the Aging Process | Dr. David Sinclair

This week’s conversation is with Dr. David Sinclair, a professor in the Department of Genetics and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School, where he and his colleagues study longevity, aging and how to slow its effects. More specifically, their focus is on studying sirtuins—protein-modifying enzymes that respond to changing NAD+ levels and to caloric restriction—as well as metabolism, neurodegeneration, cancer, cellular reprogramming, and more. ...

Sep 19, 20191 hr 40 min

Katie Zaferes, #1 Triathlete in The World

This week’s conversation is with 2016 Olympian Katie Zaferes, the #1 ranked triathlete in the world. Katie recently captured her first ITU World Triathlon Series title. The world title is years in the making for Katie, who finished fifth in the ITU World Triathlon Series in 2015, fourth in 2016, third in 2017 and second in 2018. A native of Hampstead, Maryland, Katie began her career as a cross country and track and field athlete in high school. Katie competed in track and field and cross countr...

Sep 11, 20191 hr 11 min

Tero Isokauppila, Four Sigmatic Founder

This week’s conversation is with Tero Isokauppila, the founder of Four Sigmatic , a wellness company helping people nourish their bodies inside and out. Tero grew up in Finland working on his family’s farm. He earned a degree in Chemistry, Business, and a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition at Cornell. I’m stoked to be partnered with Tero and Four Sigmatic and I think you’ll see why in this podcast-- I can honestly say this was one of the more unique conversations I’ve had since we fired up Fin...

Sep 04, 20191 hr 42 min

Meb Keflezighi, Long Distance Runner

This week’s conversation is with Meb Keflezighi, the only runner in history to win the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon and an Olympic medal. Known all over the world by his first name, Meb is a four-time Olympian and history’s oldest marathoner to qualify for the US Olympic team. Meb was born in the East African nation of Eritrea, a beautiful land torn by war at the time of his birth. He arrived in Southern California at age 12 without knowing a word of English. Through running, Meb ...

Aug 28, 201957 min

Jemele Hill, Senior Staff Writer for The Atlantic

This week’s conversation is with Emmy Award winning journalist, Jemele Hill. Jemele is the co-founder of Lodge Freeway Media and a Senior Staff writer for The Atlantic. She was previously the chief correspondent and senior columnist for The Undefeated, ESPN’s content initiative exploring the intersections of sports, race and culture. Prior to joining The Undefeated, Jemele co-anchored SportsCenter with Michael Smith. In August 2018, the National Association of Black Journalist awarded Jemele wit...

Aug 21, 20191 hr 32 min

Nolan Bushnell, Creator of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese

This week’s conversation is with inventor and entrepreneur Nolan Bushnell. In 1972 Nolan Bushnell created an industry when he founded Atari and gave the world Pong , the first blockbuster video game. Today his design credo—that games should be “easy to learn and difficult to master”—is inspiring a new generation of developers. A prolific entrepreneur, Bushnell has started more than 20 companies, including Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater, Catalyst Technologies, the first Silicon Valley incub...

Aug 14, 20191 hr 18 min

DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love, NBA Stars on Mental Health

This week’s conversation is with NBA stars DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love and it’s unique. It comes from a live panel we did at Aspen Ideas Festival a few weeks back. Presented by the Aspen Institute in partnership with The Atlantic, the Aspen Ideas Festival is the nation’s premier, public gathering place for leaders from around the globe and across many disciplines to present and discuss the ideas and issues that both shape our lives and challenge our times. I was invited to host a panel on menta...

Aug 07, 201956 min
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