The Growth Project

In this Growth Spurt, Dr. Drew Brannon explores why high standards are crucial to achieving goals. While people often dedicate time to setting ambitious targets, they often overlook the everyday behaviors they allow or tolerate. Goals can be well designed, but low standards quietly undermine progress. Dr. Brannon explains how the standards you hold yourself and your team to ultimately determine pe...

In this conversation, Drs. Milt Lowder and Gabby Caviedes explore the concept of emotional fitness , which is the ability to understand, manage, and use emotions productively under pressure. They explain why emotional regulation is a defining trait of high performers and how it directly impacts decision-making, relationships, and resilience. The discussion highlights the critical difference betwee...

In this Growth Spurt, Dr. Gabby Caviedes introduces practical post-failure protocols to help you respond more effectively after mistakes. She reframes failure as information, not identity, and explains why high performers don't avoid failure, they recover from it faster. Using a simple three-step process (regulate, reframe, reengage), this episode offers a clear, repeatable approach for learning f...

In this conversation, Drs. Drew Brannon and Milt Lowder explore the idea of legacy and what we're truly leaving our children and those we influence. While rooted in parenting, this discussion applies whether or not you have kids. They unpack how children pay far more attention to what we do than what we say , examine the "invisible curriculum" we pass down without realizing it, and invite honest f...

In this Growth Spurt, Dr. Gabby Caviedes reframes how we think about rest and recovery, not as something you earn, but as a critical performance habit. She explains why high performers often treat recovery as optional, how lack of rest quietly limits growth, and offers a simple, practical framework for building sustainable recovery routines. This episode challenges productivity guilt and shows how...

Who you believe you are quietly shapes everything you do. In this conversation, Drs. Milt Lowder and Gabby Caviedes explore how identity informs behavior, decision-making, and personal growth. They unpack the importance of owning your values, building a healthy and empowering self-concept, and resisting the pressure to constantly do more, choosing instead a more intentional, values-aligned way of...

We're excited to introduce the Growth Spurt, our new weekly short-form series designed to complement the full-length episodes of The Growth Project. These bite-sized episodes are built to jumpstart your Monday morning and help power your week with practical insight and clarity. In our first Growth Spurt, Dr. Drew Brannon breaks down the importance of properly timing and balancing intensity and con...

Feeling stretched thin? In this episode, Drs. Drew Brannon and Gabriela Caviedes discuss one of the most powerful tools for managing your time: boundaries. They explain why better time management starts with better decisions, not more hours, and how setting boundaries protects your time, energy, and emotions and can dramatically reduce burnout. You'll gain insight into how boundaries create struct...

Building on the last two episodes focused on reflection and taking action, Drs. Drew Brannon and Gabby Caviedes address what often happens next: losing momentum. Most people begin the year with clarity and intention, but slowly drift off the path toward their goals. In this conversation, they unpack why progress fades and why consistent tracking matters. You'll learn how to monitor results, make t...

Building on their previous conversation in Episode 361 about closing out the year well, Drs. Drew Brannon and Milt Lowder turn their focus to what comes next: action. While reflection creates awareness, awareness without action can actually increase anxiety. In this episode, they unpack why so many goals and resolutions fade and share what it takes to make real, lasting change. You'll learn practi...

As the year comes to a close, how you reflect can shape how you move forward. In this episode, Drs. Drew Brannon, Milt Lowder, and Gabby Caviedes unpack why a simple but intentional year-end process is one of the most powerful tools for personal and professional growth. They discuss the value of setting aside focused time to review what went well, what didn't, and what you learned along the way. L...

What if the same mental skills that elevate athletes could transform how leaders and teams perform at work? In this conversation, Drs. Milt Lowder and Gabby Caviedes explore how sport psychology seamlessly applies to the corporate world. Sport is a microcosm of life, teaching resilience through adversity, composure in success, accountability, and the power of teamwork. From handling pressure to su...

In this episode, Dr. Milt Lowder and Dr. Gabby Caviedes unpack The Power of Visualization, a proven mental skill that activates the same neural pathways as physical practice. They walk through how to visualize effectively: setting the right environment, building rich detail, writing your script, choosing your perspective, and even including adversity. They also highlight common mistakes and the co...

In this episode, Dr. Milt Lowder sits down with Michelle Seaver, President of Greenville, Spartanburg, and Cherokee Counties for United Community Bank, to explore how true leadership is rooted in community impact. Michelle shares how her approach to banking extends far beyond financial services, focusing on uplifting people, strengthening local institutions, and fostering long-term prosperity acro...

In this Thanksgiving special episode, Drs. Drew Brannon, Milt Lowder, and Gabby Caviedes explore the transformative power of gratitude. They break down what gratitude truly means, share simple daily practices you can start today, and unpack the science-backed benefits for your mind and body. The trio also invites you to join a 21-day gratitude challenge designed to help rewire your brain toward mo...

In this episode, Dr. Milt Lowder sits down with Kathy Ligon, Founder & CEO of HINGE Advisors, to explore how leaders can scale without losing sight of their mission. Drawing on 40+ years in educational operations and more than 400 completed transactions, Kathy shares hard-earned lessons on building value rooted in purpose, people, and community. She unpacks how to grow responsibly, navigate transi...

In this episode, Drs. Milt Lowder and Gabriela Caviedes unpack why stress isn't always the enemy; it's often a signal for growth. They explore how to reframe your relationship with pressure and use it to fuel focus, motivation, and performance readiness. Drawing from both psychology and physiology, they explain what happens in your body under stress and share practical tools to manage it more effe...

Confidence isn't something you're born with, it's something you build. In this episode, Drs. Drew Brannon and Gabriela Caviedes unpack the truth about confidence as a skill you can sharpen over time. They explore what strengthens and erodes it, the myths that hold people back, and the mindset and tools that help confidence become a steady foundation rather than a fleeting feeling. Tune in to learn...

In part two of this series, Dr. Drew Brannon and Dr. Gabriela Caviedes move from awareness to application, exploring how to incorporate mental rest into your daily life. They discuss the four key types of rest (detachment, relaxation, control, and variety) and share practical strategies for finding balance in a busy world. Discover how intentionally creating space for mental rest can become a comp...

You can't perform your best if your mind isn't getting the rest it needs. Dr. Drew Brannon and Dr. Gabriela Caviedes kick off a two-part series on mental rest, exploring how the demands we face each day shape our energy, focus, and well-being. In this episode, they unpack the three primary types of demands, physical, cognitive, and emotional, and share what it takes to truly detach, relax, and reg...

We're excited to welcome the newest member of the AMPLOS team and co-host of The Growth Project , Dr. Gabriela "Gabby" Caviedes. In this episode, Dr. Milt Lowder sits down with her to explore the story behind her path into the world of mental performance. Gabby shares formative experiences in sport, pivotal moments of growth, and the philosophy that guides her work today. Join us as we get to know...

Six weeks into the college football season, Drs. Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer break down the shifting landscape of the game. Referencing Lane Kiffin's recent remark that "dynasties are over," they explore what's fueling the new era of parity and razor-thin margins across college football. With talent and resources more evenly spread than ever, the mental game has become the true differentiator, p...

After four appearances, Dr. Kimberly Shaffer officially holds the record as the most frequent guest on The Growth Project , but this time she's switching roles. In a special twist, Kim steps in as host and turns the spotlight on her husband, Dr. Cory Shaffer. From his early influences and career path to the lessons learned along the way, this candid conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at...

What does it take to lead with vision, consistency, and purpose in college basketball? In this episode, Dr. Cory Shaffer sits down with Clemson Men's Basketball Head Coach Brad Brownell. Together, they dive into Coach Brownell's leadership philosophy and his approach to building and sustaining culture. From the challenges of guiding young athletes to the values that drive success both on and off t...

What does it take to step onto the mound with confidence? In this episode, Dr. Milt Lowder and Dr. Cory Shaffer dive into the psychology of pitching, exploring mindset, focus, and resilience under pressure. They break down the mental strategies that help pitchers succeed and reveal how these same principles can be applied to everyday challenges. Whether you're an athlete, leader, or parent, discov...