What if some of the traits that drive high performance – are also at the very core of narcissism? 

This week on Finding Mastery, we welcome clinical psychologist and narcissism expert Dr. Ramani Durvasula to explore one of the most complex psychological dynamics of our time.

Narcissism isn’t always loud or obvious. Dr. Ramani breaks down how narcissism lives on a spectrum, from subtle manipulation and gaslighting to full-blown disorders, and how it shows up in high performers, workplaces, relationships, and even within ourselves.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The 4 major types of narcissism and how gender influences their expression
• Why high achievers may unknowingly enable narcissistic tendencies
• How to recognize gaslighting, and why we often miss it
• Her 5-step framework for managing narcissistic relationships
• The cost of constantly accommodating others at the expense of your own wellbeing

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating tough personalities, leadership challenges, or recovering from emotionally confusing relationships. Dr. Ramani’s insights are practical, powerful, and grounded in decades of research and clinical experience.

Links & Resources

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter 

Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindset

Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if one of the greatest choreographers and dancers of our time found mastery not in movement… but in stillness?

This week on Finding Mastery, we’re joined by Derek Hough—four-time Emmy Award winner, six-time Dancing with the Stars champion, and one of the most respected dancers and choreographers in the world.

This conversation isn’t just about dance. It’s about self-discovery, emotional resilience, and the quiet power of going inward.

Derek opens up about the intense challenges he faced growing up—from early trauma and feeling like an outsider to finding belonging in rhythm and movement. He shares the surprising moment that forced him to stop dancing—and what he found in the stillness that followed.

This episode explores:

• Why comfort, not control, was the key to Derek’s healing
• How early trauma shaped his drive for perfection—and how he redefined success
• What it takes to lead others through fear and unlock performance through empathy
• The shift from external validation to internal alignment
• The daily practices that help Derek stay grounded in a high-pressure world

Whether you’re an artist, a coach, or someone navigating your own path to self-mastery—this one’s for you.

Links & Resources

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter 

Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindset!

Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What are the three things you need to know to love better? 

This week, we’re joined by Yung Pueblo — a meditator, poet, bestselling author, and one of the most impactful modern-day wisdom teachers whose work is grounded in lived experience.

Diego shares his deeply personal journey: from hitting rock bottom in his early twenties to rebuilding his life through Vipassana meditation, emotional honesty, and the daily discipline of inner work. Together, we explore what it means to heal, how to let go of reactivity, and how real love is shaped through compassion, kindness, and growth.

In this powerful conversation, Yung Pueblo reveals:

• The 3 things you need to know to love better
• How emotional maturity is built through repetition and presence
• Why meditation changed his life — and how it can support yours
• What “letting go” really means
• How to build relationships rooted in healing, not pain

This one’s for anyone on the path of self-discovery, deeper love, or emotional transformation.

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter 

Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: https://findingmastery.lpages.co/morningmindset!

Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The question is not if AI will advance. It will. The real question is whether humans will advance with it?

This week on The Finding Mastery Podcast, we sit down with Soren Gordhamer — founder of Wisdom 2.0, a global movement exploring the intersection of mindfulness, purpose, and technology.

Soren’s latest book, The Essential: Discovering What Really Matters in an Age of Distraction, invites us to slow down, turn inward, and reconnect with what truly counts — even as the world speeds up around us.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How suffering and early identity struggles shaped Soren’s life
• Why achievement alone isn’t enough for true fulfillment
• How to stop performing and start being
• Why cultivating inner power is essential in the age of AI

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by technology or stuck chasing external success, this episode offers a grounded path forward — toward presence, purpose, and authentic living.

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter 

Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: https://findingmastery.lpages.co/morningmindset!

Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you stay true to your values when others are playing political games? What if your purpose feels too small compared to others? And how do we raise kids who can handle life's inevitable hard blows?

We're back for Part 2 of our special Finding Mastery Ask Me Anything with Dr. Michael Gervais and our good friend—author, documentarian, podcaster, football analyst, and renaissance man, Yogi Roth. Through thoughtful questions from our community, we dive deep into the messy realities of modern life: workplace politics, purpose discovery, and parenting with intention.

Drawing from years of experience with elite performers and leaders, we explore practical strategies for maintaining integrity in competitive environments while building the inner foundation that sustains long-term success and fulfillment.

Key insights we explored:

• When workplace politics get messy - How to protect your team's expertise while staying true to your values
• Purpose doesn't need to be grand - Why "being a great parent" is just as meaningful as "wells in Africa"
• The three pillars of authentic purpose - It must matter to you, be bigger than you, and have future orientation
• Building self-efficacy in children - Let them figure things out, celebrate effort over outcomes, and create safety in their struggles
• The discovery model vs. formal instruction - Why guided discovery creates deeper, more resilient learning
• Managing the "hungry ghost" - How connection to something bigger than yourself dissolves achievement addiction
• Signal vs. noise in feedback - Treating both praise and criticism as noise while trusting your inner circle

This conversation reminds us that the most meaningful work often happens in the quiet moments—how we handle daily challenges, raise our children, and stay connected to what truly matters. Whether you're navigating office politics, questioning your purpose, or trying to raise resilient kids, these insights offer practical wisdom for living with greater intention and authenticity.

__________________

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter 

Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine!

Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you stay calm and focused when you’re 3,000 feet off the ground — with no ropes, no safety lines, and no room for error?

Legendary climber and free soloist Alex Honnold returns to The Finding Mastery Podcast for a raw, insightful conversation about mindset, being great with fear, and what it means to live at the edge of human performance.

Alex is best known for his historic, ropeless ascent of El Capitan — captured in the Oscar-winning film Free Solo (which you should watch if you haven’t seen it yet). But in this episode, we go far beyond climbing.

We explore:

• How Alex manages fear, consequence, and risk with rare mental clarity
• What it takes to perform under pressure — and when to walk away
• How fatherhood and loss reshaped his relationship with ambition and danger
• The underrated power of optimism and framing hard moments as growth

This isn’t just a conversation about climbing. It’s about the psychology behind pushing your limits, the skill of regulating your mind under stress, and how to chase a bold, purposeful life — even when the summit feels out of reach.

Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone seeking mastery under pressure, Alex’s honesty, humor, and hard-earned wisdom deliver lessons for all of us.

___________________________

This episode is brought to you in part by Momentous. In a space that’s crowded with bold claims and limited regulation, Momentous stands out. Every product is rigorously tested, NSF Certified for Sport®, and developed alongside leaders we deeply respect, people like Dr. Andy Galpin and Dr. Stacy Sims. To experience the Momentous Standard for yourself and get 35% off your first subscription, use the code FINDINGMASTERY at livemomentous.com.

___________________________

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter 

Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: https://findingmastery.lpages.co/morningmindset!

Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to rebuild your life after public failure — and bet on yourself again?

This week, we sit down with Julie Wainwright — a trailblazing entrepreneur who went from the CEO of Pets.com during the dot-com crash to building The RealReal into a billion-dollar luxury resale powerhouse… all in her 50s.

Julie was one of only 23 women to ever take a company public — and she did it after facing national scrutiny and setbacks that would have ended most careers. Instead, she started over with clarity, grit, and heart — redefining what leadership and reinvention really look like.

In this conversation, Julie shares:

• How to lead through failure and chaos without losing yourself
• Why reinvention starts with self-honesty, not confidence
• The mindset that helped her scale The RealReal from her kitchen table
• How to use setbacks as fuel — in business, relationships, or life
• The inner dialogue and frameworks that kept her grounded and growing

If you’re navigating a challenge, career pivot, or new season of life — this episode is packed with hard-won wisdom you’ll want to carry forward.

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter 

Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: https://findingmastery.lpages.co/morningmindset!

Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What can we learn from the same person who helped unlock greatness in Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Phil Jackson? The answer is: a lot.

Meet George Mumford — the mindfulness coach behind some of the most legendary names in sport. Known as “The Mindfulness Performance Whisperer,” George has worked with elite NBA players, Olympic athletes, world-class artists, and top-tier CEOs to help them master their inner game.

This timeless episode from the Finding Mastery vault is as relevant today as ever. In a world filled with chaos, distraction, and performance pressure, George reminds us that our greatest growth comes not from pushing harder — but from turning inward.

In this conversation, George shares:

• How dark moments can become doorways to deep transformation
• Why vulnerability and mindfulness are powerful tools for performance
• How to embrace the masterpiece within
• What he learned from working directly with Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and MJ
• Why real strength starts with self-awareness and service

Whether you're a coach, athlete, creative, or simply trying to live more intentionally — this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter 

Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindset!

Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to be a great leader in moments of calm and crisis? And how do you maintain strength in a heartfelt way?  

Ben Minicucci is the CEO of Alaska Airlines — where he leads with a values-first approach rooted in trust, accountability, and care. With a background in engineering, military service, and operations, Ben is redefining what it means to lead a high-performance culture at scale.

Ben is one of the most respected leaders in modern aviation, guiding Alaska through bold transformation — including their recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines — while doubling down on the values that got them here: be remarkable, be kind-hearted, deliver performance, own safety, and do the right thing.

Ben leads with unwavering values, deep relational intelligence, and a sharp sensitivity to culture. As you listen to this episode, I’d invite you to reflect, how do you hold space for truth and vulnerability? What’s your relationship with accountability, especially when the stakes are high? And where in your own life might deeper care create greater outcomes?

Let’s dive into this masterclass episode with Ben Minicucci.

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter 

Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine!

Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the greatest obstacle to reaching your potential isn't external barriers, but a mindset in which you see yourself as a victim?   

Today, I’m stoked to welcome back my good friend and one of my favorite thinkers, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman. This is Scott’s third time on the podcast, and he always delivers. Scott is a humanistic psychologist, bestselling author, and host of The Psychology Podcast. His new book Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential dives deep into what it means to move through suffering with both self-awareness and strength.

In this conversation, we talk about the difference between victimization and a victim mindset, how subtle thought patterns like hostile attribution bias or over-personalization can limit growth, and why a mindset rooted in empowerment is the key to self-actualization.

As you listen, reflect on your own internal narratives…. Maybe even the core triggers for when you tend to blame, deflect, or shrink back when things get hard? How might a shift toward a more powerful mindset — toward a deeper trust in yourself — change how you respond to life’s challenges? 

Please enjoy this powerful conversation with my friend, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman.

__________________

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

Get an exclusive discount on the iRestore Elite to restore your natural hair at https://irestore.com/findingmastery when you use the code FINDINGMASTERY at checkout.

Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter

Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine!

Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

Scott Barry Kaufman: https://scottbarrykaufman.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.