Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

The noise at the Super Bowl can be overwhelming—tens of thousands of voices colliding into a single roar. But the loudest voice a player hears isn’t coming from the stands. It’s the one inside their own head. In this episode of The Game Inside the Games, Dr. Michael Gervais and All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall sit down with former NFL MVP Cam Newton to explore one of the most overlooked forc...

The Super Bowl isn’t just a physical game — it’s a psychological one. In this special Game Inside the Games episode, Dr. Michael Gervais is joined by NFL coach Matt Patricia and former All-Pro Brandon Marshall to unpack one of the most defining moments in Super Bowl history: Malcolm Butler’s game-winning interception. This episode explores what it looks like to perform under pressure when the whol...

What does it mean to live wisely in a loud, distracted, and often reactive world? Ryan Holiday— bestselling author and modern Stoic philosopher— returns to explore how wisdom actually works… not as a theory or a prize of age, but as a daily practice of reflection, humility, and courage. Ryan breaks down why wisdom takes work, how Stoic philosophy applies to modern parenting and leadership, and why...

What if the real risk to our health isn’t aging itself, but becoming metabolically weak? Dr. Gabrielle Lyon — physician, researcher, and one of the leading voices redefining how we think about health and longevity — shares why muscle sits at the center of lasting strength, energy, and vitality. In this wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Michael Gervais, she explores why health isn’t something to m...

What changes when anxiety shows up—and you stop trying to outrun it, and start learning how to work with it? Dan Harris—journalist, bestselling author, and host of 10% Happier—returns to Finding Mastery to explore practical ways to work with anxiety. Dan unpacks how meditation, compassionate self-talk, and exposure built his capacity after a panic attack on live TV—and why curiosity is a powerful...

If you’re trying to be productive, what if the answer isn’t to do more… but to do less, better? On today’s episode, we welcome back Cal Newport — Georgetown computer science professor, bestselling author of Deep Work and Slow Productivity , and one of the most influential voices on focus, sustainable achievement, and the hidden costs of our digital lives. Cal and Dr. Mike pick up where their first...

The most powerful way to enter a new year is not with resolutions, but with a deeper understanding of how to connect with the people who matter most. As we close out the year, the Finding Mastery team is taking time to rest, re-calibrate and reflect — practicing the same principles we talk about on this podcast.  So today, we’re sharing a conversation from the Finding Mastery Vault with two l...

What if the greatest gift you could offer this season isn’t something you buy—but rather the way you choose to meet yourself and others—with kindness? As we pause new releases over the holidays, the Finding Mastery team is taking time to rest, reflect, and be with our loved ones — because we believe relationships are part of the practice of mastery itself. So today, we’re re-releasing a powerful,...

What would change if you stopped trying to push through fatigue — and instead learned what your biology is trying to tell you? On today’s episode of Finding Mastery , we sit down with entrepreneur, author, and biohacking pioneer Dave Asprey — founder of Bulletproof, Upgrade Labs, and widely regarded as the father of the modern biohacking movement. This is Dave’s second time on the podcast, and it’...

What if the future of work isn’t about technology at all — but about unlocking more humanity in each other? On today’s episode, we sit down with Kathleen Hogan , Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Microsoft, and one of the key architects behind the company’s cultural reinvention. Kathleen helped lead Microsoft’s shift from a “know-it-all” to a “learn-it-all” culture — embedding empathy,...

What does it really mean to live with courage and conviction? On today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. John Amaechi — organizational psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and the first openly gay NBA player. Along his journey, John always set out to be himself in a world that repeatedly told him he was too big, too soft-spoken, too smart, too different.  In this conversation, John...

What if the most powerful thing you can do for your health isn’t diet or exercise — but investing in the people you love? Today’s episode is from the Finding Mastery Vault — a timeless conversation with Dr. Robert Waldinger , psychiatrist, Harvard professor, Zen master, and Director of the world’s longest-running scientific study on happiness. In this conversation, we explore the science of connec...

What if the key to becoming a champion isn’t about chasing wins—but knowing when to pause, prioritize the inner work, and trust that the rest will follow? On today’s episode, filmed in front of a live audience at California Surf Club, we sit down with Caroline Marks — the 2023 World Surf League Women’s Champion and 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist. By 23, Caroline has already reached the pinnacle of her...

What if real success is measured not by what you achieve, but by how deeply you give? On today’s episode, we sit down with Gary Sinise—Emmy Award–winning actor and director best known for his roles in Forrest Gump , Apollo 13 , and CSI: New York , and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation —to explore his lifelong arc from self to service. Gary takes us back to the accidental spark of belonging he...

Welcome to a special Monday episode on the Finding Mastery channel. Every once in a while, we come across a story or a person that moves us in a profound way — and this is one of those moments. Recently, I was invited by Aaron Lazar to join him on his new podcast, Impossible Dreams . Aaron is an incredible human — a Broadway and television actor, singer, and storyteller — who’s facing ALS with ext...

What if your biggest competitive advantage isn’t how technologically advanced you are — but how psychologically agile your teams are? On today’s episode, we sit down with Matt Garman — CEO of Amazon Web Services — to dig into the leadership frameworks behind one of the world’s most innovative companies. We cover his “one-way vs. two-way doors” decision model, why “minimum lovable product” beats pe...

What if the real challenge of creativity isn’t coming up with ideas… but creating the conditions where people believe in them enough to fight for them? Today, we sit down with Neal Arthur, Global CEO of Wieden+Kennedy , the iconic creative agency behind culture-shaping work from Nike’s “Just Do It” to Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. Neal leads one of the world’s most inventive creative agencies, yet his...

What if the key to deeper connection isn’t in what you say — but in how your body speaks, listens, and moves? On today’s episode, we sit down with Vanessa Van Edwards — behavioral researcher, bestselling author, and founder of Science of People. A self-described “recovering awkward person,” Vanessa turned social anxiety into a science-backed toolkit anyone can use to improve communication, connect...

What if instead of chasing a seat at the table, you built an entirely new game — and the world fell in love with it? On today’s episode, we sit down with Jesse Cole, founder and owner of the Savannah Bananas and creator of Banana Ball. Jesse has built one of the most extraordinary, fast-growing sports movements by breaking every rule in the book. In an era where attention is the hardest currency,...

What if being overlooked; dismissed as too slow or too average, was actually the foundation for becoming one of the greatest of all time? On today’s episode, we sit down with Luc Robitaille; Hockey Hall of Famer, NHL’s all-time leading left-wing scorer, Stanley Cup champion, and President of the LA Kings . Recorded live at the California Surf Club, Luc pulls back the curtain on the mindset that ca...

What if the very thing you’ve been hiding from the world is actually the doorway to real connection? On today’s episode, we sit down with legendary comedian, TV host, actor, and producer Howie Mandel - best known for Deal or No Deal , America’s Got Talent , and decades of stand-up. But the real story isn’t what Howie does. It’s how he thinks. In this candid and deeply human conversation, Howie sha...

What if your deepest insecurity could become the catalyst for building something extraordinary? On today’s episode, we sit down with Giorgos Tsetis - engineer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Nutrafol . As a young model, Giorgos faced the fear of hair thinning head-on and made a radical choice: to engineer a healthier, science-backed path. That choice would eventually serve millions and build a bi...

What does it take to win an Olympic medal—while navigating the mental and emotional rollercoaster of the Games? On today’s episode, Dr. Gervais sits down with Olympic silver medalists Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes, their legendary coach Marcio Sicoli, and moderator David Belasco to go behind the curtain of Team Canada’s incredible 2024 beach volleyball run. This is more than a sport...

What if your success as a leader, parent, or partner depends less on IQ — and more on emotional intelligence? On today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Travis Bradberry — best-selling author and one of the world’s leading voices on emotional intelligence (EQ). With over 5 million books sold, including his latest The New Emotional Intelligence , Dr. Bradberry has spent decades studying how EQ shapes...

What if our deepest human needs, for connection and belonging, hold the real answers for navigating a world racing ahead with technology? On today’s episode, we sit down with Simon Sinek, globally renowned thinker, bestselling author, and long-time friend of the show.  Back for a second conversation with us, Simon brings his trademark clarity and storytelling to the questions that matter most...