Mind Game

The reason you struggle with bad habits or anxiety doesn't stem from a lack of willpower—it's likely because you aren't hacking your brain properly. From daily routines to anxious tendencies, many of our behaviors seem beyond our control, but psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Judson Brewer has the answers for finding more agency in our minds. Brewer, the Director of Research and Innovation at Br...

Mind Game: Cam Avery, Tame Impala  He left a promising junior golf career to chase the rockstar dream, and it came true. Cam Avery has played bass for Tame Impala for the last decade while also producing solo records and playing alongside big-time acts like Arctic Monkeys. Now Avery is back playing competitive golf and documenting his journey along the way. He joins Mind Game to discuss the grind...

Steven Pressfield spent 20 years writing and pitching books to publishers without success. His breakthrough came in 1995 with The Legend of Bagger Vance . Five years later, he released The War of Art , a bestseller that introduced the concept of resistance—a mysterious force that hinders us from doing our work and realizing our potential. Whether exploring the greatest golf match that never happen...

Twenty years ago, Nick Kokonas had one of the best meals of his life. Instead of giving compliments to the chef, he offered to open a restaurant with him—something Kokonas had no experience in. That restaurant became Alinea, a paradigm-shifting dining experience that would win three Michelin stars and best restaurant in America in its first year. Since then, Kokonas has opened another Michelin-sta...

Whether it’s Kobe, Michael or Tiger, it always comes back to the fundamentals. That is according to J.A. Adande, the Director of Sports Journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. In this episode of Mind Game, Adande is joined by his former student Casey Bannon to discuss Adande's remarkable 30-year media...

The body is not a machine, nor a temple. It is an infinitely complex and unique system, and according to Dr. Ralph Esposito, Chief Science & Nutrition Officer at AG1, it’s one we know less about than we think. Dr. Ralph is a naturopathic physician and gut health expert, and he joins host Casey Bannon to discuss the science behind whole-body wellness. Rather than broad-spectrum advice, Dr. Ralp...

On Christmas Day in 2018, American endurance athlete Colin O’Brady woke up in a tent, by himself, in the middle of Antarctica. He hadn’t seen another human being in 50 days. He hitched up his sled, fell into a flow state bordering on hallucination, and walked 77 miles without stopping to become the first person to cross Antarctica on foot and unassisted. Since achieving this feat, O’Brady has set...

If you know ball, have a teenage daughter or have seen a commercial in the last six months, then Jason Kelce needs no introduction. He’s currently one of the most famous people on Earth, and arguably one the most likable. But there’s a lot more than meets the eye with the 13-year NFL veteran and media personality. Behind the shirtless dancing, beer-chugging and howling laughter is a serious, thoug...

A 30-plus year career at the highest level of surfing, 11 world titles, and an incalculable impact on his sport and beyond: A case can be made that nobody has ever been more dominant at their sport than Kelly Slater. Another could be made that he is one of the best pro athletes-turned-golfers on the planet. Slater joins Mind Game to discuss his path to greatness, communicating with the ocean, stru...

Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman emperor, once wrote: “You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all.” It’s doubtful Aurelius ever landed a perfect pitch on the downslope of the collar only to watch it rocket 40 feet past the pin, but his philosophy for life does apply to golf. Few today are more qualified to speak on Stoicism than Massimo Pigliucci. He is a...

A case of the throwing yips ended Jason Kuhn’s promising baseball career. He pivoted and became a decorated Navy SEAL operator and sniper. In his post-Special Forces career, he’s turned his training into a bulletproof mental system that has led Lucas Glover back into the winner’s circle, Atlanta Braves pitcher Tyler Matsek to a World Series save and other teams of all kinds to winning the SEAL way...

“Everyone wants to be great, until it’s time to do what greatness requires.” Joshua Medcalf has made a career by turning the path to greatness into best-selling stories. On this episode of Mind Game, the sports psychologist/ author joins host Casey Bannon to discuss what greatness actually requires, the benefits of being uncomfortable, how he went from a 15 handicap to a +3 in a few short years, a...

Julie Elion’s nickname on Tour is “Stealth,” because the most in-demand psychologist in the game doesn’t disclose her clients or grant many interviews—until now. Wyndham Clark, Max Homa and Justin Thomas have all revealed they are working with Elion on their mindset using her holistic, goal-driven approach to building self-belief. Just a day removed from working with all three at the 2023 Ryder Cu...

Focus on one big goal at a time. Say no more than you say yes. Be more productive by being less busy. Sahil Bloom is a writer, entrepreneur and creator who inspires millions daily with bite-sized nuggets of wisdom and life hacks. On this episode of Mind Game, jBloom gives host Casey Bannon his playbook on time management, the benefits of imposter syndrome, making one good decision at a time, choos...

Since the Super Bowl era began in 1967, only 800 men have started an NFL game at quarterback. Kyle Allen is in that elite club. He joins host Casey Bannon on this week's episode of Mind Game to discuss the physical, mental, emotional and leadership skills required to play the most coveted and challenging position in professional sports. Support this podcast by becoming a member of The Golfer's Jou...

The brain processes roughly 70,000 thoughts per day. With 100 billion neurons connected nearly 500 trillion different ways, it’s without question the most important club in your bag. In this new podcast series from The Golfer's Journal , we’ll hear from high performers, academics and experts across a wide range of disciplines, all offering mental models, hacks and insights to help in your search f...