Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

What happens when your biggest obstacle isn’t the mountain—it's your own self-doubt? Sasha DiGiulian is one of the world’s top rock climbers and a pioneer in the sport—with multiple first female ascents, national titles, and a world championship under her belt. Sasha’s unique approach to navigating fear, risk, and doubt is masterful. In this conversation, you’ll hear how Sasha balances the tension...

How much control do we really have over our emotions? And what if the key to mastering them is easier than you think? This week’s conversation is a special one. It was recorded in front of a live audience at Live Talks Los Angeles , where I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Dr. Ethan Kross , one of the world’s leading experts on emotion and self-control. He’s a pioneering psychologis...

What if one of the unlocks for living “the good life” lies in the simple act of giving, even when you have nothing?   Today's guest is an icon of entrepreneurship, resilience, and generosity - John Paul DeJoria - a cofounder of not one but two billion dollar companies, Patrón Tequila and Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products. What you might not know, though, is that before building billion-do...

What happens when everything you’ve built your identity around—your talent, your success, your career—comes crashing down? Ryan Leaf’s story is one of the most dramatic arcs in professional sports. Once the No. 2 overall draft pick behind Peyton Manning, Ryan saw his NFL career unravel under the weight of expectations, addiction, and ultimately, prison. And here’s what makes his story powerful—he...

How do the best in the world channel the intensity of their emotions—like frustration, anxiety, and love—into creative power that impacts the world? Serj Tankian is a Grammy-winning artist, activist, and frontman of the iconic rock band System of a Down . Known for his dynamic vocals and thought-provoking lyrics, Serj blends creativity, activism, and mindfulness into his music, poetry and art – al...

What does it mean to develop mastery of self and mastery of craft? That’s a foundational question. Today, I’m really excited to welcome back to the podcast, one of the great minds of our time—Robert Greene. You probably know Robert as the author of some of the most influential books on human behavior— The 48 Laws of Power , Mastery , and The Laws of Human Nature .  Today, we go beyond the pag...

In this fast-evolving business landscape, how do leaders turn setbacks into opportunities for growth? Today, I’m thrilled to share this conversation with Deb Cupp—the President of Microsoft Americas. Deb embodies the best of leadership – and I don’t say that lightly. I’ve had an up-close view of how she works – she comes alive at the intersection of staying customer-centric while being able to sca...

How do a UFC fighter, Olympic skier, and extreme climber manage high pressure moments?  This is an episode unlike any we’ve done before. Last summer you may remember that a few members of the Finding Mastery Team, along with Olympian and X-Games Champion Kaya Turski, UFC Champion Vitor Belfort, and famed climber Tommy Caldwell, went aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, a nuclear-powered aircraft car...

The Super Bowl can mark the pinnacle of a team’s journey—but when the final whistle blows, another game begins: the game of transition. For NFL players, the end of a season isn’t just about the scoreboard—it’s about identity, loss, and what comes next. Some teams prepare for this reality. Others ignore it, only to face the reality later. In this episode of The Game Inside The Games , Dr. Mike and...

For two weeks, players are surrounded by relentless media, soaring expectations, and the weight of a lifetime of preparation. Some rise under the pressure. Others crumble. In this episode of The Game Inside the Games , Dr. Michael Gervais and Brandon Marshall unpack what makes the Super Bowl build-up so uniquely intense—and how the best athletes train their minds to handle the noise. From managing...

The Super Bowl isn’t always won by the best team—it’s won by the team that adapts when everything falls apart. In this episode of The Game Inside the Games , Dr. Michael Gervais and Greg Olsen break down the hidden battle of the Super Bowl—the fight to stay mentally agile when the game doesn’t go as planned. Greg shares firsthand insights from Super Bowl 50, where he faced Peyton Manning and the D...

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...