The High Performance Zone

Gerry Valentine is an executive coach and the author of The Thriving Mindset - Tools for Empowerment in a Disruptive World . Gerry grew up in poverty in 1970s New York but went on to receive an Ivy League education and pursue a successful corporate career. He has extensive leadership experience in senior positions in Fortune 100 companies, and through his writing and his coaching work, he strives...

AJ Andrews, aka “the Beyoncé of Softball,” is a professional softball player, TV sports analyst, and the first woman to receive the prestigious Rawlings Gold Glove Award. AJ is also an entrepreneur, a motivational speaker, and the host of the Barrier Breaking Women podcast, which celebrates and elevates the achievements of inspirational women in sport and business. She is an incredible athlete wit...

Today, I interview one of my heroes, former USAF Colonel and recipient of the Air Force Cross, Thomas Kirk Jr. Tom served his country with courage and distinction and went on to build an extraordinary life for himself outside of the military. Since leaving the Air Force, he’s lived in multiple countries, started several businesses, and worked as a financial planner, a real-estate investor, a jazz...

Today, I dive deep into the psychology and experience of pleasure with Dr. Jia Gottlieb, the author of aah…; The Pleasure Book. Dr. Jia is a medical doctor and a lifelong student of yoga and meditation who takes a holistic approach to health and happiness. His mission is to help people understand and experience more pleasure and stop feeling guilty about doing what makes them feel good. He points...

This week on the High-Performance Zone podcast, I’m excited to introduce you to award-winning content creator, community engagement leader, and world-class table tennis player Justin Bookey. Justin has worn many hats throughout his career; he’s been a lawyer, a marketing strategist, and a filmmaker, but he’s currently focusing on his role as CEO and Chairman of PongFit, a nonprofit that promotes f...

Thank you for tuning into the High-Performance Zone podcast. Today, I want to introduce you to Chad Hymas, who The Wall Street Journal describes as one of the ten most inspirational people in the world. Twenty-one years ago, Chad was injured in an accident that left him paralyzed.  Despite his injuries, he managed to turn his life around and develop a career as a motivational speaker and author. B...

This week on the High-Performance Zone, I sit with ex-UFC fighter and mixed martial arts expert Eliot ‘The Fire’ Marshall. Eliot reveals how The Karate Kid movie sparked his interest in martial arts as a young boy and explains how his success at jujitsu helped him to find friends and gain social acceptance as a teenager. He recounts his experience of growing up as the child of an inter-racial and...

Joining me today on the High-Performance Zone podcast is cognitive scientist Jacquelyn H. Berry, Ph. D. Jacquelyn specializes in studying how humans build expertise and researches how they interact with computer interfaces and learn to use technology. Jackie loves to help people find their calling and live in alignment with their purpose. Her book Find Your Carrot: Stop the Foolishness, Get on wit...

Welcome to the High-Performance Zone Podcast, where we unpack the process and mindset of greatness. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to my fellow warrior and former Navy SEAL, Mark Divine. Mark is the founder of Unbeatable Mind, a program that combines elements of Zen meditation with Navy SEAL kick-assery to help people achieve extraordinary results and get beyond whatever is holding them back....

Guest: Bill Palmer Show Live-with: “You cannot climb a ladder with both hands clasped to your ass.” Topics Covered in this Episode: Advanced Sales Methodologies How NOT to use Linkedin Challenger Sales What does RNT mean?  Creating an echo chamber for your customer Counter-tactics in Sales The difference between change and transformation Applying the OODA loop to sales The ONE thing all sales peop...

Guest: Kate Eckman Show Live-with: “A mantra: What’s best for me is either already here, or it’s on its way.” Topics Covered in this Episode:  Better quality of life through cognitive science How gratitude can change your brain The importance of SEEING everyone at their core How suicide changed Kate’s life forever Transforming pain into positive experience The invincibility of the spirit Fitness a...

Bio : Greg Wells is a performance physiologist, a scientist, an athlete and an author. He is the CEO and founder of Wells Performance , a global consulting firm on a mission to elevate how we live our lives at work and in life.  He has worked with some of the highest-performing individuals on the planet, including Olympic and world champions and elite organizations including General Electric, BMO,...

Bio :Steve is the founder of "Gratitude At Work" - a happiness company founded in 2006. His work with human resources professionals, directors, managers and CEO’s has grown into work with leaders across Canada and into the United States – shifting corporate cultures by helping teams bring more gratitude to work each day. And these grateful people spend more time thriving and less time su...

Guest Name: Dr. Michael Lewis Show Live-With: Don't try to be someone else; be the best version of yourself. Bio: Michael Lewis is an orthopedic surgeon at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. He has been Chief of Staff at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Skokie Hospital. He also was named best teacher of the year at Rush University Medical Center. He has also been an orthopedic consulta...

Guest: David Horsager Show Live-With: “The more you seek pleasure for pleasure’s sake, the less you get.”  Bio : David Horsager is the CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute and a global authority on helping leaders and organizations become THE most trusted in their industry. David is… • inventor of the Enterprise Trust Index™ • director of global trust study: The Trust Outlook™ • AND national bes...

Guest Name: Clint Pulver Bio: Clint Pulver is an Emmy Award-winning, motivational keynote speaker, author, musician, and workforce expert. Clint was known for years as “The Undercover Millennial”, a project that had him doing years of direct research on employee engagement and retention. Clint is a fun, dynamic, entertaining, no-stress speaker. A Professional Drummer for over 20 years, he's p...

Guest Name:Kraig Kann Show Live-With: “You can’t preach to anyone, unless you can get them into the church.” Bio:  Kraig Kann is former lead anchor and studio host for NBC Sports’ Golf Channel, Kraig attained his lifelong dream of becoming a network broadcaster. He then progressed to Chief Communications Officer for the LPGA where he was part of a dynamic leadership team that raised the organizati...

Guest: John Brady Show live-with : “Reality is magic, there is nothing normal about it.” Bio:    John Brady was an executive director for the Lillian Vernon Corporation from 1983 to 2001.  He studied and practiced meditation with Eido Shimano Roshi, an authentic master and lineage holder in the Rinzai tradition of Japanese Zen Buddhism.  John was on the board of directors of The Zen Studies Societ...

Guest: Eric Bellamy Show live-with : “The will to win is not nearly important as the will to prepare to win.” Bio: Eric Bellamy is Fannie Mae’s Enterprise Risk – Chief of Staff and Director. As the Chief of Staff, Mr. Bellamy plans and organizes all administrative, financial and operational activities for the Chief Risk Officer. He also organizes and prioritizes critical issues and requires inform...

Show Live With: “ I don’t know what the next chapter is going to be, but i've known the author for a long time, so I know its going to be good. ' Bio:  Bret enlisted in the Air Force and served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He went on to serve as CEO of a CSG with 4,000 employees. Bret was known for expanding the revenue and scope of CSG exponentially.  He was responsible for negoti...

Show Live With: “We don’t hire staff, we recruit family.” Bio: Markus Thesleff is an award-winning serial entrepreneur with two decades of continuous international success in hospitality as an owner, operator, advisor, and consultant. He has received numerous awards including, Restaurateur of the Year for Middle East & Africa in 2014, 2016 and consistently included in the Caterer Power 50 and...

Guest Name: Geshe Michael Roach Bio:   Geshe Michael Roach (born December 17, 1952) is the first American to have been awarded the degree of Geshe, or Master of Buddhism, after more than 20 years of study in Tibetan monasteries. He has used this training to become a prominent international teacher, businessman, philanthropist, author, educator, public speaker, textual scholar, and musician. Geshe...

Guest Name: Brian "Doc" Schmidt Bio: Dr. Brian Schmidt is the track doctor at Sonoma Raceway, and the Trauma Director at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the largest non-university trauma center in California. Dr. Schmidt has 40 years of experience in the field of medicine, and was mentored by legendary surgeon Bill Blaisdell.  Show Live-With:   “You’re only as good as your last meal.” Chef...

Show Live-With: “We’re not FROM the Earth, we are OF Earth.” Bio: Ron Garan is a NASA astronaut, an F-16 fighter pilot, an author and a former resident of the International Space Station. In his career in space, Ron traveled more than  71 million miles around the earth during 2,842 orbits. Since his retirement, Ron has shared his unique perspective on the planet with millions of people. Through hi...

Show Live-With: “Im not going to be the one to tell myself no. I will prioritize a dream and a vision and put my heart into it. ” Bio:  Barber is decorated with many awards and accolades under her belt. She’s an Illinois-native and a mechanical engineering major, hoping to join the Marine Corps after time at the Academy.         +    She is a  walk-on sprinter and hurdler of the Navy Women’s Varsi...