Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

Ever wonder how top leaders shape organizational culture or how to turn criticism into fuel for success? You're in for a treat. Back once again is my friend and co-host, O’Neil Cespedes – these AMAs are some of our favorite episodes. Your questions are always insightful, and allow us to dig deeper into the core principles we discuss here every week. In today’s conversation, O’Neil and I explore: H...

Today, we’re venturing deep into the wild with someone whose life’s work challenges us to reconnect with the essence of nature and, in doing so, rediscover our own humanity. Our guest today is Craig Foster—a renowned filmmaker, photographer, and naturalist whose immersive experiences in the wild have captivated millions. Craig is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking documentary My Octopus Tea...

Today, we’re diving deep with someone who redefines what it means to excel — the legend, Gabby Reece.  Gabby was Nike’s first female spokesperson, she’s a successful entrepreneur with her husband Laird Hamilton, a best-selling author, and a former supermodel named one of the "Five Most Beautiful Women in the World" by Elle Magazine. As if that wasn’t enough, she also played professional beach...

Kids who grow up playing American football dream of doing a few things: winning the Heisman Trophy; being a top NFL draft pick; winning a Super Bowl, and… in their wildest dreams… perhaps even winning a Super Bowl MVP. Our guest today is one of the rare few who made all of those dreams a reality – Desmond Howard.  Desmond’s career is a highlight reel of jaw-dropping plays at the University of...

There's an age-old question: Are humans fundamentally good or evil? Are we hardwired towards greed and cynicism... or towards compassion and goodness? Our guest today, Dr. Jamil Zaki, is a leading psychologist and empathy researcher who has dedicated his career to exploring this question. He believes that humans are fundamentally good – and he has the science to back it up. Jamil is at the forefro...

When was the last time you felt completely free? Not just “happy”.. but you felt a profound sense of clarity and calm from within? Dr. Emma Seppälä has spent over a decade proving that this state of inner freedom – which she refers to as “sovereignty” – is not only achievable but essential for our wellbeing. Emma is a psychologist, best-selling author, and leading researcher in the science of happ...

A few months back, we recorded our first ever AMA in front of a live audience in New York City. The energy in the room was incredible, and it brought a whole new level of depth and spontaneity to the conversation.  Your favorite co-host, O'Neil Cespedes, and I dove headfirst into the questions that matter most to you. And this time, it wasn’t just us talking—our audience had a chance to steer...

Why do some memories seem to stick with us forever while others just… fade away? The ideal person to help us wrestle with this question is Dr. Charan Ranganath, a renowned memory researcher with a unique approach to improving our memories. Instead of working to remember more , he suggests we should work to remember better. Charan has spent more than 25 years as a professor of psychology and neuros...

"Love is not a feeling, it's an ability." - Sharon Salzberg Can we really change the world by changing how we relate to our own thoughts? Our guest this week, Sharon Salzberg, has spent five decades proving we can. Sharon is a pioneer in meditation and New York Times bestselling author who brought mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation into the mainstream in America nearly 50 years ago. Sharon...

All good things must come to an end… In our closing episode of The Game Inside The Games , gold medalist Nastia Liukin and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais reflect on the most inspiring moments of the series and The Games in Paris.  They discuss pivotal stories from Paris – from Simone Biles and Suni Lee’s comeback to Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikeç’s casual precision, Noah Lyles...

It’s moments before the biggest competition of your life… you’re rattled by something your coach just said… you have one minute alone to yourself before go time. You look in the mirror… What do you say to yourself to get in the zone – to ground yourself – before the race begins? On Day 13 of The Game Inside The Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais sit down with Summer Sanders, a two-time g...

Rowing is a sport that brings the mind into play like no other. When they are maxing out their physical capacity, completely mentally drained, and have little left in the tank – how do they summon the internal resources to push through? On Day 12 of The Game Inside the Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais sit down with rowing legends – and brothers – Martin and Valent Sinkovic, who recentl...

You work your whole life towards one goal… and you come up short by a fraction of a second. How do you bounce back from that? How do you move forward? On Day 11 of The Game Inside The Games , gold medalist Nastia Liukin and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais explore the psychological and emotional complexities that athletes face when they fall just short of a gold medal or podium.&n...

In the high-pressure world of elite sport, the unwavering support of loved ones can be both a powerful boost and a perilous distraction. In this episode of The Game Inside The Games , Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais explore the significant impact that family and friends can have on an athlete’s performance at The Games. They discuss how the presence of loved ones, while a vital source of enc...

Rejection, resilience, and unexpected glory: a tale that proves it's never too late to rewrite your story. On Day 9 of The Game Inside The Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais sit down with Alev Kelter, a remarkable athlete who not only just won the first medal in USA Women’s Rugby history, but has represented the U.S. in three different sports. Alev shares her journey from facing the hear...

“It took me 16 years to heal from being an Olympian.” That is a remarkable statement.  On day 8 of T he Game Inside The Games , Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais sit down with former Olympian swimmer Katie Hoff to explore the pivotal moments of her Olympian experience. Katie reflects on her journey from a young prodigy to a two-time Olympian, discussing the psychological challenges she fa...

It’s time to meet the moment.  In Part 2 of this riveting conversation on The Game Inside The Games , Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais continue their deep dive into the psychological intricacies of women's gymnastics. Building on their previous discussion about the preparation and lead up to the Women’s All Around Final, this episode focuses on the different components of this iconic eve...

For an Olympian gymnast, a lifetime of preparation leads to a single event – an event that totals just four exhilarating minutes of performance, expression, and competition… an event that will either make or break their wildest dreams.  On Day 6 of The Game Inside The Games, gold medalist Nastia Liukin and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais uncover the intense psychological lan...

How do Olympians balance the tension between being roommates and supportive teammates one day - and fierce rivals the next?  On day 5 of The Game Inside The Games , Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais break down the psychological conflict athletes face when striving for their individual success while also supporting the success of their team - and offer a way forward. Nastia recounts her ow...

Are elite athletes a good population to teach us about mental health? Despite what coverage in the media might suggest… YES! Elite athletes have so much to teach us about how to work from the inside out. On Day 4 of The Game Inside The Games, five-time medalist Nastia Liukin and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais explore the topic of mental health in the context of one of the bigges...

Do other people’s expectations make or break an athlete’s Olympic dream? On day 3 of The Game Inside The Games , Dr. Michael Gervais and Nastia Liukin sit down with one of the most decorated athletes in skiing history, Lindsey Vonn, to explore how expectations impact performance.  Lindsey shares her journey as a world-class skier, discussing the mental and emotional challenges she faced throu...

Imagine if every email you sent – every phone call you took – was scrutinized, critiqued, and scored by the person who writes your paycheck. In day 2 of The Game Inside The Games , Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais explore the unique psychological challenges athletes face in judged sports like gymnastics.  They discuss how the constant evaluation by judges – even during pre-competition tr...

WELCOME TO... The Game Inside the Games, brought to you right from the heart of Paris. In the premiere episode of The Game Inside The Games , five-time Olympic medalist Nastia Liukin and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais explore the psychological challenges athletes face at the start of the Olympics.  If you had the biggest exam of your life tomorrow… would you go to a party t...

Our guest today is back for the third time – and with Ryan Holiday, each conversation seems to be better than the last. For those who aren’t familiar, Ryan is a bestselling author, host of the Daily Stoic podcast, and a thought leader who has become a leading advocate for modern Stoicism. For years now, Ryan has been on a journey to reveal how the teachings of ancient Stoic philosophers can integr...

Blackjack! Welcome to Volume 21 of Finding Mastery’s Ask Me Anything.  We’re back once again with our entertaining and insightful co-host – O’Neil Cespedes – and in today’s conversation, we explore topics like: How to show our kids that we’re invested in their success without pressuring them The real meaning of “potential” and how to nurture it The dangers of cognitive bias  Finding a he...