The Growth Project

In this captivating episode, join Jack Podlesny, former University of Georgia football player turned Minnesota Vikings placekicker, as he sits down with Dr. Drew Brannon, UGA's esteemed sport pyschologist. Jack recounts his unconventional journey to professional football and reflects on the invaluable lessons he learned along the way: the power of patience, the significance of gratitude, and the u...

Sometimes, we can hinder our growth and become our own worst enemy when trying to reach our objectives. In an exploration of winning the battle within yourself, Drs Cory Shaffer and Brian Selman emphasize the significance of positive self-talk in achieving victory. They stress the impact of self-talk on your mindset and actions, and provide practical methods for enhancing it, such as positive affi...

Discover how to become more productive and achieve your goals with practical advice from Drs Milt Lowder and Drew Brannon. With years of experience in the fields of business and psychology, they draw upon a wide range of real-world examples to help listeners understand the factors that impact productivity and how to overcome common barriers. From developing a stronger self-awareness to setting bet...

Fear is often seen as a negative emotion, but it can also be a powerful tool for personal growth and transformation. Drs Cory Shaffer and Brian Selman explore the power of fear and how reframing it can help us achieve our goals. Whether you're just starting out or already well on your way, this conversation offers valuable insights and inspiration on how to harness the power of fear for personal g...

Dr. Drew Brannon and the newest member of our team, Dr. Brian Selman, discuss the three types of people that leaders should be wary of: those who are satisfied with "good enough," those who believe that "no one will know" if they cut corners, and those who refuse to take responsibilitiy by saying "it's not my fault." These attitudes can be detrimental to an organization's success and it's critical...

With the Boston Marathon right around the corner, Drs Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer thought it would be fitting to discuss the importance of running your own race in the more figurative sense. One of the quickest ways to sabotage your race, literally or figuratively, is by being overly focused on what other people are doing and getting caught up in comparison. They share the vital components neces...

Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, it's critical for growth and development to become more coachable and receptive to feedback. Drs Milt Lowder and Cory Shaffer explore the importance of being open to coaching, receiving feedback with a growth mindset, and actively seeking out constructive criticism. They also provide practical tips and strategies to become better at receiving fee...

What does it really mean to coach someone? How is coaching different from criticizing? Drs Milt Lowder and Cory Shaffer share how to adopt a coaching approach and discuss why coaching, which centers around relationships and development, is more impactful than criticizing, which often leaves people feeling diminished and limits growth.

Have you ever been part of an extraordinary team? What does it feel like to be part of a team with exceptional communication and collaboration? Dr. Cory Shaffer talks about how powerful teams are formed and sustained with Dr. John Ross, professor, corporate trainer, and author of Team Unity: A Leader's Guide to Unlocking Extraordinary Potential . They discuss what Dr. Ross has learned from studyin...

The principles and lessons learned through sports often help us develop the necessary skills to succeed in any area of life. Dr. Drew Brannon talks with Dr. Chris Carr, the Director of Performance Psychology and Team Behavioral Health Clinician for the Green Bay Packers, about Chris' impressive career and the techniques he's applied to drive measured improvement in athletes' physical and mental pe...

How have the stops on your journey contributed to who you are today? Dr. Cory Shaffer talks with Kosha Irby, Chief Marketing Officer for the Clemson University Athletic Department, about his eclectic life and career in the live marketing industry and how the amalgamation of these experiences and saying 'yes' to new opportunities has contributed to his personal and professional growth.

The desire to excel is worthwhile and commendable, but on the path to achieving greatness it can be difficult to tell when the line has been crossed between commitment, which is necessary to achieve excellence, and obsession, which results in an unhealthy balance between the pursuit of the goal and the other important parts of life. Drs Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer discuss the distinction between...

We're mixing up the format with this episode to answer some of the most commonly asked questions we receive from our listeners and clients. Dr. Milt Lowder answers questions around who we are as an organization and what we do, but, more importantly, he answers questions related to our philosophy and the fundamentals of what we believe around human performance and behavior. As always, our goal is t...

Most people link pain to a physical injury, but the experience of pain is also deeply rooted in the mind; our perspective and approach to managing pain can have a huge influence on its overall impact. Dr. Cory Shaffer talks with Dr. John Lefebvre, Professor of Psychology at Wofford College and trained clinical psychologist specializing in topics related to physical and mental health, about Dr. Lef...

When aiming to achieve greatness or reach a challenging goal, people will often hear "be about the process" or "just focus on the process" as guidance to stay present and avoid getting caught up in unhelpful internal thoughts about the past or future. This is great advice, but what does "the process" look like? What are the elements that you can control that will set you up for success? Drs Milt L...

The pursuit of excellence is very expensive; it's never promised, but it is attainable. People typically think of the word expense in monetary terms and, although that is a piece of the puzzle, the word applies much more broadly here to mean that sacrifices will have to be made mentally, emotionally, and physically. Drs Milt Lowder and Drew Brannon discuss how pursuing and achieving excellence req...

Regardless of industry, one common aspiration shared by the majority of people is the desire to become successful. Acquiring talented people unquestionably strengthens the team, but there are many practices that can be put into place that will help drive success regardless of talent level. Drs Milt Lowder and Drew Brannon break down ten factors that everyone can apply that will increase the likeli...

Each January we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s incredible legacy and dream for equality, a notion that is just as relevant today and one that should always be at the forefront of our collective consciousness. Drs Milt Lowder and Cory Shaffer reflect on Dr. King's lasting impact and, using his vision as the baseline for the conversation, share three key lessons gleaned from Dr. King's power...

Those who reach the pinnacle of their field are typically doing something different than their competition. Dr. Milt Lowder talks with Dr. Drew Brannon, sport psychologist for the University of Georgia football team, about the culmination of elements that resulted in the UGA football team winning the National Championship for the second year in a row, including Coach Kirby Smart's growth mindset,...

We all experience challenges, failures, and struggles in life; what separates those who falter from those who triumph is often how the person perceives the obstacle. Is it seen as an insurmountable roadblock or an opportunity to learn and grow? Kyle Wright, starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, experienced his share of strenuous times in his MLB journey, and talks with Dr. Cory Shaffer about ho...

With 2022 coming to a close, we wanted to revisit clips from ten of our most listened to episodes from throughout the year. We're grateful for the stimulating internal conversations, all the incredible guests, our expanding and loyal listener base, and the opportunity to help you pursue better and maximize your potential. Thank you for listening, we're excited for what's to come in 2023.

Once children enter our lives, personal time often becomes even more valuable and scarce. To help parents and those with busy schedules maintain balance and make the most of their limited time, Brandon Swan, firefighter and former CrossFit Games athlete based in Australia, created Dad Hours to help people train smarter, not harder. Dr. Cory Shaffer and Brandon discuss the origin of Dad Hours, how...

What gets in the way of excellence? What causes teams to underperform? No one sets out to be mediocre, but many people regularly fall short of goals and aspirations for a multitude of reasons. Drs Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer explore these questions and provide five common road blocks that get in the way of achieving greatness.

Henry David Thoreau championed pursuing dreams fearlessly by writing, "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." This enterprising and visionary approach to life is a perspective put into practice by David Baker, co-owner of Methodical Coffee. Dr. Milt Lowder and David t...

It's the holiday season, which, in addition to spending time with family and friends, also typically means lower productivity at work and coasting through the rest of the year. This creates a unique opportunity to build a gap between you and your competition by continuing to work effectively and intentionally through December. Drs Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer provide four suggestions that will no...