The Growth Project

In Part 2 of their conversation, Dr. Cory Shaffer and Major League pitcher Michael Roth dive deeper into the concept of mastery—exploring how Michael defined it during his baseball career and how that definition has evolved since stepping away from the game. This episode offers a rare look inside the mindset of a professional athlete, with powerful insights on what it takes to pursue excellence bo...

In part one of this two-part series, Dr. Cory Shaffer sits down with former University of South Carolina baseball legend and Major League pitcher Michael Roth. Together, they explore the early roots of Michael's baseball journey, the deeper purpose that fueled his drive, and how he navigated the challenges and transitions on his path to the big leagues. Roth's story offers a compelling look into t...

In this episode, Drs. Cory Shaffer and Katie Nichols take a deep dive into the concept of  mastery —what it is, how to pursue it, and why it matters. They begin by exploring the importance of discovering a sense of calling or purpose, and the risks of pursuing success without deeper meaning. From there, they unpack the critical role of mentorship and the three key phases along the path to mastery:...

In this episode, Dr. Cory Shaffer sits down with Rick Franzblau, Director of Olympic Sports Strength & Conditioning at Clemson University, for a powerful conversation on mindset and performance. Rick shares the "light bulb moment" that changed how he viewed mental performance training, why collaboration is essential in a high-performance model, and how he works to instill a mastery mindset in his...

In this episode, Dr. Cory Shaffer sits down with Rudy Cox, former Clemson Baseball player and current assistant coach at Furman, to explore his transition from player to coach. Rudy shares how lessons from his playing days inform his approach to coaching, leadership, and developing others. He also offers his personal definition of a growth mindset and how he brings it to life in his work with athl...

In this episode, Drs. Katie Nichols and Cory Shaffer explore the theme of adversity and failure through the lens of Ryan Holiday's The Obstacle Is the Way . Drawing on the timeless principles of Stoic philosophy, they break down three essential elements for navigating challenges: perspective, action, and will . With practical insights and real-world examples, this conversation offers a framework f...

In this episode, Dr. Drew Brannon sits down with Dr. Nicholas Beck to take a fresh look at the concept of mental toughness. Drawing from Dr. Beck's extensive research, they explore why mental toughness is not a fixed trait but a dynamic, context-driven capacity that can be developed in all of us. Their conversation challenges outdated assumptions and highlights practical ways to grow stronger thro...

In this episode, Dr. Katie Nichols sits down with Clemson Women's Basketball Head Coach Amanda Butler for a candid and inspiring conversation about adversity, resilience, and leadership. Coach Butler reflects on her coaching journey, including the painful moment of being fired by her alma mater on her birthday, and how that setback ultimately shaped the leader she is today. Now the 2024 ACC Women'...

In this episode, Drs. Milt Lowder and Cory Shaffer continue their deep dive into the topic of mental toughness. They begin by unpacking why mental toughness is such a challenging concept to define, then turn to a foundational study in sport psychology (Jones et al., 2002) that identifies key traits of mentally tough performers. Focusing on three of those core characteristics, they explore how thes...

In this episode, Drs. Drew Brannon and Katie Nichols break down two essential elements leaders must embrace to build mentally resilient teams, exploring what it takes to foster grit, composure, and confidence in the face of adversity. Whether you're coaching athletes or leading in the workplace, this conversation offers practical strategies for developing toughness that lasts.

In this episode, Dr. Cory Shaffer sits down with professional golfer Doc Redman for an inside look at his journey through the ranks of competitive golf. Doc shares how his definition of success has shifted over time and how staying grounded in process and routine has helped him navigate the highs and lows of life on tour. This conversation offers valuable perspective on growth, resilience, and wha...

In this episode, we revisit some of the standout moments from our April conversations, all centered around the theme of focus . Highlights include practical takeaways from our team of performance psychologists as well as insights from special guest Art Seaver, CEO of Southern First Bank, on leading with clarity and intention. Whether you're looking to sharpen your own focus or lead others more eff...

In this episode, Drs. Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer continue their conversation on focus, diving into how and why it shifts in high-pressure moments. They explore what it takes to stay locked in when the stakes are high, highlighting the role of routine, process, and presence. You'll also hear practical techniques for calming the mind and body when stress threatens to take over.

In this episode, Drs. Drew Brannon and Milt Lowder explore practical strategies for strengthening focus and prioritizing what truly matters. They discuss how leaders can create environments that eliminate distractions, foster attention, and support high performance. The conversation also touches on Kliff Kingsbury's unconventional approach to team meetings with the Arizona Cardinals—sparking a bro...

In this episode, Dr. Milt Lowder is joined by Art Seaver, CEO of Southern First Bank, for a meaningful conversation about values-driven leadership. Art shares the guiding principles that have shaped his life and leadership—and how those values have fueled Southern First's growth and culture. Together, they explore the power of service, acting with intention, and staying aligned with what you belie...

In this episode, Drs. Drew Brannon and Milt Lowder unpack the power of aligning individuals and teams around a clear set of core values. They explore how values serve as the foundation for team culture, how they connect to the standards you uphold, and why this alignment is essential for personal and collective growth. Whether you lead in sports, business, or education, this conversation offers pr...

In this episode, Drs. Drew Brannon and Katie Nichols explore three core fundamentals of positive coaching. Drawing on her impactful work at the University of Missouri, Dr. Nichols unpacks practical strategies that help leaders bring out the best in their teams. Whether you're leading in athletics, business, or any other arena, these principles offer valuable guidance for creating a culture of trus...

In this episode, Dr. Drew Brannon sits down with Coach Scott Fountain, Special Teams Coordinator at the University of Georgia. With 28 years of coaching experience, Coach Fountain has been a key figure in the Bulldogs' recent success. He shares the story of how his passion for football took root, the intentional vision he set for his life and career, and the strategies he uses to navigate the dema...

In this episode, Drs. Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer define purpose and take a deep look into how having clarity on why  you do something influences how  you do it and  what  you will sacrifice for it. Drew and Cory want to challenge you to revisit your purpose - your 'why' - so that you can live your life with more meaning and intent.

In this episode, Dr. Drew Brannon sits down with Ron Courson, Senior Associate Athletic Director and Director of Sports Medicine at the University of Georgia. Ron is a world renowned expert who has cared for elite level athletes for nearly 30 years. In this discussion, Ron talks about lessons learned over the course of his career and his observations of how setbacks such as injury can play a signi...

In this episode, Drs. Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer discuss a topic that everyone is familiar with as we flip the calendar to a new year: personal growth. Specifically, Drew and Cory will focus on  obstacles to growth - some of the main reasons why change does not occur despite our best intentions and why many goals fail. They will highlight three main obstacles to individual development: an unwil...

In the final episode of the Project Aristotle series, Drs. Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer discuss the remaining variables that Google found to be characteristic of their most effective teams: meaning and impact. Listen in to learn about how having a 'why' drives meaning, and how coaches and managers can help their players and team members feel the impact and purpose of their contributions.

Picking up where they left off in Part 1, Drs. Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer dig deeper into Project Aristotle and discuss two additional variables that Google found to be present in their most effective teams: dependability/structure and clarity. They define and discuss these terms, talk about how coaches and leaders can develop these traits within their teams, and explore what happens when depen...

For the first part of a three part series, Drs. Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer discuss Google's Project Aristotle - an internal investigation into what separates the highest performing teams at Google. This research has produced insights into a concept known as psychological safety, which Drew and Cory expand on throughout their discussion, including what it's like to be on a psychologically safe t...

Join Drs. Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer for a thought provoking episode as they dive into the often overlooked but essential piece of the high performance equation: recovery. The conversation examines how recovery is an essential component of creating lasting growth, how to identify when you need recovery, what recovery is and is not, and why recovery is vital for everyone, regardless of your occu...