Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

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...

Today, we have a really special episode that takes us to the heart of high-stakes performance and leadership. Our Finding Mastery team recently had the incredible privilege of embarking on a unique mission: we flew to Japan and then took a cargo plane out to the USS Ronald Reagan, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier currently patrolling the volatile waters of the South China Sea. Imagi...

Today, we've got a really special conversation for you. Our guest today is a real trailblazer… A boundary breaker in the world of ballet… An incredibly special human… She went from living in motel rooms to performing on the world’s biggest stages… She is the legendary Misty Copeland. Misty’s journey from living in motel rooms to becoming the first African American female principal dancer at the Am...

If you’re familiar with professional hockey, you likely know the name Zdeno Chara (also known as, ‘Big Zee’). He’s the legendary 6-foot-9 defenseman, enforcer, and team captain of the Stanley Cup-winning Boston Bruins who was a dominant force in the NHL for an incredible 24-season career. He also represented his home country of Slovakia in numerous world championships and three Olympics. What you...

What would we do without all of our modern conveniences? Things like instant access to food, water, clothing, information, and entertainment.  Science, chemistry, and technology have made our lives bigger, better, faster and - well, more convenient . The question is… at what cost? Returning to the podcast this week is Darin Olien, health entrepreneur, activist, podcaster, co-host of the numbe...

What defines a true champion? Is it winning? Or… is it a way of living? While winning games and striving to be the best are parts of it, there's so much more beneath the surface. It’s not just about the technical skills honed through relentless practice—rep after rep, day after day. Exceptional athletes are forged through a deeper, more holistic approach. In this episode of the Finding Mastery pod...

Happy Monday! Today we’re excited to share Volume 20 of Finding Mastery’s Ask Me Anything. As always, we have so much fun during these AMAs – we love these conversations because we get to wrestle with the questions that matter most to you… and they inspire personal introspection in us as well. They’re incredible. We’re back with our co-host – O’Neil Cespedes – and in today’s we explore: The roses...

What does it mean to have power, courage and integrity?  We throw those words around a lot when talking about athletes or people we admire. Many times it’s justified – but how many truly possess these traits even when the chips are down? Today on the podcast is a human that embodies those three words fully.  Her name is Kara Goucher. You might recognize her as an Olympic runner, the thir...

Movement—however you do it—is an essential part of being human. And I believe being able to move well, for as long as possible, is a staple of living “the good life.” That’s why I am excited to introduce a guest today who is committed to helping people do just that – Scott Perkins. Scott is the Founder & CEO of pliability – a company that is helping people move better ________ through their yi...

We all know about FOMO, or the Fear Of Missing Out. We’re scrolling through our social media feeds, and there it is: post after post of a friend who’s somewhere exotic, having a great time, or at an exciting new job… and we’re not. We can’t help but compare our lives with people who seem to be doing so much more. The result can be an uptick in anxiousness, distress, grinding to “keep up” and somet...

Can profitable businesses change the world for good? John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market, has proven the answer is a resounding YES… for the last four decades .  John grew a single ‘hippy grocery store’ in Austin, Texas, into a global chain with $22 billion in annual sales and 540 locations worldwide. And he did it all with an unwavering commitment to sustainability and ethical prac...

In this 19th installment of our Ask Me Anything with high performance psychologist Dr, Michael Gervais, we explore topics like: - How to re-define failure - Why facing your deepest pains can be transformative - How to overcome defensiveness in order to establish meaningful connections - Why parents need to focus on more than their child's academic achievements And so much more… We love these conve...

Imagine what it takes to land an $80 million fighter jet on a moving target — in the middle of the ocean — at night. The extreme precision, split-second timing, and unwavering focus required for such a feat are beyond the grasp of ordinary experience. Our guest today, Commander Kristen Findlay (née Hansen), knows precisely what it takes to land an F/A-18 Super Hornet on an aircraft carrier – in ro...

Does hypnosis really work?  That word has become a bit taboo in scientific circles. It brings to mind magicians, black and white spinning spirals, and traveling sideshows and cheap tricks. “You are getting very sleepy” does not have a strong scientific foundation. Or… does it? In truth and practice, hypnosis can be so much more. That’s why I’m thrilled to share this conversation with Dr. Davi...

Today we have a very special conversation. As we chart our path through life, there are those rare anchors that help to hold us steady and also point us to new horizons. In this special conversation, I have the privilege of introducing you to my mentor and someone who has been a guiding force in the lives of countless individuals across a spectrum of industries for over forty years.  Gary DeB...