Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

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...

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...