Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

For the players on the field, the Super Bowl is the ultimate test of skill and composure. But just above them, in the broadcast booth, another high-stakes performance is unfolding—one with no second chances, no instant replay, and no room for error. In this episode of The Game Inside the Games , Dr. Michael Gervais sits down with Greg Olsen, former NFL star turned Emmy-winning broadcaster, to unpa...

The Super Bowl is more than just a game—it’s a test of mindset, resilience, and the ability to perform under the brightest lights. In this special Game Inside the Games series, Dr. Mike is joined by NFL legends Greg Olsen and Brandon Marshall to explore the unseen psychological battles that define champions.  Kicking off the series, Mike breaks down one of the most pivotal moments in Super Bo...

What does it take to foster confidence, independence, and resilience in the next generation?  Missy Testerman is 2024’s National Teacher of the Year. Her insights, honed over three decades of teaching elementary schoolers in rural Tennessee, have impacted not just classrooms but the entire educational landscape. Missy has a unique gift for transforming challenges into opportunities—both for h...

What if the way you think about failure has been holding you back? What if reframing failure could be a major breakthrough to unlocking your potential? Today’s guest is Dr. Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor and one of the world’s foremost authorities on leadership, psychological safety, and the transformative power of failure. Her research has redefined how teams thrive, how innov...

What if the key to achieving your biggest goals in 2025 and beyond isn’t about willpower—what if it's about building the right habits? Today, we are super excited to re-release one of our favorite episodes from the Finding Mastery vault – one of our earlier conversations with James Clear. Why this episode, and why now? … As we near the end of January, it’s a great time to check in on the inte...

What does it take to create stories that resonate with millions—and what can those stories teach us about ourselves? Meg LeFauve, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of Pixar’s Inside Out and Inside Out 2 , has spent her career unlocking the magic of storytelling. But her insights go far beyond the screen. Meg is a master of exploring vulnerability, collaboration, and iteration—essential elements...

What if compassion isn’t just a nice to have—but a game-changer for high performance? Dr. James Doty is a world-renowned neurosurgeon, a clinical professor at Stanford, and the founder of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). He’s also the NYT bestselling author of Into The Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of...

Is the real battle for mastery fought outside of us—or within—and what does it take to win that fight every day? I’m so excited for this week’s guest, Steven Pressfield. Steven is a bestselling author and thought leader on creativity, known for his groundbreaking works like The War of Art and The Legend of Bagger Vance .  Steven’s journey is a testament to perseverance—he didn’t publish his f...

Happy New Year! The start of the year is such an exciting time – it’s a natural opportunity to reset, ground ourselves, and re-align with who we are… and who we want to become. In the spirit of the New Year, we have a very special episode for you today – many of you who listen to the podcast may not be aware that Finding Mastery has a whole other very exciting side to our business. With the help o...

Happy Holidays Today, we’re doing something a little bit different – I wanted to take a moment to reflect on something I think many of us experience this time of year: joy, connection, and—if we’re being honest– the holidays can be a time for big emotions. They have this incredible way of amplifying everything. The fun feels extra fun, and the challenging moments?... They can feel extra chall...

What if suffering wasn’t just something to endure but a tool to unlock your full potential?  Today’s guest is Sean Waxman—a renowned strength and conditioning coach, former Olympic weightlifter, and author of the transformative book Suffer Smarter . He’s also been a close friend for nearly 30 years and someone I constantly enjoy learning from. Sean’s journey is one of resilience, transformati...

Can transforming thoughts and beliefs lead to measurable changes in your health and wellbeing? I’m thrilled to share this week’s conversation with Dr Joe Dispenza. Dr Joe is a New York Times best-selling author, researcher, lecturer, and corporate consultant, known for his transformative teachings on the power of the mind to heal and shape reality.  Since 2010, Dr Joe has partnered with renow...

What if the most important part of a young athlete’s experience is the car ride home?  Today, I’m excited to share a special conversation I had with football legend Greg Olsen on his podcast, Youth Inc.  For those who aren’t familiar, Greg is a football broadcaster for FOX Sports and 3x pro-bowler tight-end who played in the NFL for 14 seasons.  Now – alongside his career as a broad...

How does an integrative approach to living “the good life” - one that blends mental, physical, and spiritual development — help to unlock new levels of human potential?  That’s a big question.  To help us answer it, I am honored to welcome one of my own mentors to the podcast for this week’s conversation – Dr. Cristina Versari .  Cristina is a pioneer in the world of sports psycholo...

What does it take to cultivate a mindset that thrives on challenge and discomfort?... To have the courage to be radically honest with yourself to experience extraordinary growth? And how can having that courage lead to personal growth and winning multiple times on the world-stage? Today we’re joined by the legendary Kerri Walsh Jennings. Kerri is a five-time Olympian with three gold medals and one...

What happens when athletes translate their competitive edge and discipline from sports into the business world? Today, we have an extraordinary guest—Jeff Byers. Jeff is a former NFL player turned entrepreneur, cofounder, and CEO of Momentous, a leading company in human performance nutrition.  With a unique background in professional sports and business, Jeff is passionate about translating t...

Today, we are stoked to share Volume 25 of Finding Mastery’s Ask Me Anything. Joining us, as always, is our co-host O’Neil Cespedes, and today’s AMA is a little bit different – instead of having O’Neil read your questions, we had you call in to ask questions yourselves. We loved this format, it was great to hear some of your voices, and we dove into some really fun concepts like: Combating burnout...

What if the pursuit of happiness is making us miserable? On the podcast today to help us answer that question is Dr. Arthur Brooks. Arthur is a Harvard professor, social scientist, and bestselling author known for his work on well-being, leadership, and human flourishing.  His journey is anything but traditional—starting out as a professional musician before transitioning to academia, where h...

How do we navigate all the changes that come with radical growth – the fortunes, the fame, social challenges…all while staying true to ourselves? Today’s guest is Deryck Whibley, lead singer and guitarist for the iconic punk rock band Sum 41 . Over two decades, Sum 41 has sold over 15 million records, earned Grammy nominations, and won numerous awards, including a Juno for Group of the Year. Known...

What makes rational people adopt irrational beliefs? And, what can we do to bridge the growing divide in society? Here to help us answer those questions is today’s guest, Dr. Dan Ariely. Dan is a renowned behavioral economist, Duke University professor, and author, known for his groundbreaking research on human decision-making, irrationality, and the psychology behind beliefs and behavior.  I...

Wondering how to create time for your life priorities when it’s not part of your employer’s culture? Then this is the AMA for you. Back once again is my co-host O’Neil Cespedes, and in today’s conversation, we get into topics like: How to design your own life based on *your* priorities  Bridging the gap between who we were in our younger years and who we’re becoming. The hidden dangers in giv...

Today’s episode is a special one. It wasn’t recorded in our studio, but live from Balboa Theater in San Diego for a Live Talks LA event, where I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with one of the most influential thinkers of our time: Malcolm Gladwell. This conversation was so much fun – we explored his writing process, the lessons he learned from his father about effort and resilience, an...

What if your biggest risk in life is playing it safe?  Today, I am stoked to welcome back to the podcast one of the most dynamic voices in the creative world, Chase Jarvis.  Chase is an award-winning photographer, entrepreneur, and the founder of CreativeLive, a leading online learning platform that has supported millions of creators worldwide. As a thought leader in the creative industr...

How did studying military dolphins lead to a breakthrough in human health? Our guest today, Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, is a scientist, entrepreneur, and veterinarian with a remarkable story – one that begins with dolphins and leads to groundbreaking discoveries about human health. Her research with Navy dolphins led to the discovery of C15, an essential fatty acid with the potential to revolutioni...

How can something as simple as your breath unlock greater resilience, enhance performance, and transform how you navigate high-stress moments? Our guest today is Brian Mackenzie, a human performance expert and pioneer in the field of breathwork, endurance, and stress adaptation. And he’s back for the second time on the podcast.  As the founder of Shift Adapt, Brian's innovative training metho...