Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

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 American Ballet Theatre is nothing short of inspiring.

Misty started ballet at the late age of thirteen and rose to perform lead roles in iconic productions like Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet. During her meteoric rise, she was also featured on the covers of Time, ESSENCE, and Women's Health. 

Misty didn’t just enter the ballet world; she transformed it, merging classical finesse with her powerful narrative. She has not only shattered ceilings but also redefined what safety and success look like in the arts.

Misty’s influence extends well beyond dance, collaborating with artists like Taylor Swift, Camila Cabello and H.E.R, and authoring several New York Times bestsellers. Her work through the Misty Copeland Foundation continues to inspire a new generation to embrace ballet and find their voice in the arts.

In today’s episode, Misty will share insights into the pivotal experiences that shaped her, her approach to handling the pressures of her field, and how she crafts her breathtaking performances that tell stories which resonate with so many.

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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 might not know is that humility, kindness, and leading by example are the cornerstones of his leadership philosophy. Not what you think when you consider his legendary status in the rough-and-tumble world of pro hockey.

You also may not know that since retiring from the NHL, Zee has not slowed down – he’s competed in 8+ marathons, a half iron man, and a 50K race. Not typical for someone with Zee’s monstrous 6’9” build.  

That’s the thing about Zee – he’s more than meets the eye.

In our conversation we discuss how he puts his philosophy into practice:

• How good days as well as bad days are opportunities for learning and growth
• The importance of an athlete’s schedule… even when you’re no longer in the game
• Using mental imagery for peak performance
• How giving up control is the key to great leadership
• …and much more!

Zee surprised me with his insight and compassion – and I think we all have something to learn from the way he organizes his inner life, and executes at the highest level. I can’t wait for you to jump in and learn as much as I did about the real Zdeno Chara.

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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 number one Netflix docuseries Down to Earth with Zac Efron, and author of bestsellers like SuperLife and Fatal Conveniences.

Darin says the chemicals and systems that process our food, our water, what we wear -- basically everything we consume -- is killing us and destroying the planet.

That’s a big statement. And a pretty shocking one, at that. But it didn’t come out of nowhere – Darin’s been traveling the world, sounding this alarm for decades with real concern for our collective health and the planet’s future.

And if he's intense about exposing the problems, he's even more passionate about finding the solutions.

In our conversation today, we unravel how to turn that fear and concern into real action – on a personal level, and in the world. He provides easy alternatives to our modern “fatal conveniences” that can help us regain our health and maybe save the planet.

It’s a discussion that couldn’t be more timely and urgent – and I’m confident you’ll leave it with some new learnings, a fresh perspective, and important insights into healthy living.

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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 podcast, we dive into the essence of becoming your best self with Dr. Jerry Lynch – a renowned author, guide, coach, and sport psychologist who has mentored athletes and teams across a variety of sports including basketball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and golf.

With an impressive portfolio of 17 books (yes, 17!), including The Way of the Champion - one that I’ve handed out to more athletes and parents than any other - Jerry’s philosophy goes beyond physical training and into… you guessed it… the inner game.

He emphasizes daily spiritual and emotional development, cultivating qualities like courage, resilience, integrity, and selflessness—the true hallmarks of a champion.

Join us for an enlightening conversation filled with Jerry’s profound insights and practical tools. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for athletes, coaches, parents, and anyone aspiring to greatness. I hope you find it as inspiring and enjoyable as I did.

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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 - and thorns - of vulnerability and openness
• How to use the power of your imagination
• Navigating change in professional relationships
• Controlling the controllables (and what those controllables are)
• Flow State
• The art and impact of great storytelling
• And so much more…
• 
  

Keep those questions coming in! Kindly email [email protected] to submit!

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

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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 third place finisher in the Boston and New York Marathons, and ranked as one of the fastest female distance runners in American history. That’s power.

And, there's something even more notable to recognize her for – in 2019 and 2023 Kara was instrumental in exposing doping and sexual abuse at the Nike Oregon Project. She put her career and reputation on the line to go up against one of the biggest corporations in the world. That’s courage. And integrity. Full stop.  

Kara put it all in writing in her newest book: The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team. Today we celebrate her career in endurance running and dive into the pain and controversy she experienced, the aftermath, and why she is an emblem for those three words: power, courage, and integrity. 

This is an emotional conversation, and we get into some pretty heavy topics -- but the light Kara represents is so much greater than the darkness she experienced. I hope you'll leave with the knowing that you too have the power to make a difference.

I’ve been looking forward to talking to Kara for a very long time, and I’m excited to share her brilliance with you.

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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 yin yoga inspired mobility training. 

However, Scott was not always known as the “fitness guy” – in fact, far from it. In this conversation, we explore his journey from taking college classes at age 12 to starting his first business at 18 to acquiring what is now pliability by the age of 25. However, for the first six years at its helm, Scott was 60 pounds overweight and he was sacrificing his health for what he thought was “success.”

Then… he made a change.

In this conversation, you’ll hear from a person who was grinding, burnt out, overwhelmed, but eventually found a better way – and now, Scott is on a mission to share that way with others. 

I love what Scott and the team at pliability are building – it’s an incredibly important tool that can help a lot of people enable movement for better health and longevity (both physical and mental). 

And – I can’t wait for you to hear the story of a founder whose windy path eventually led him to working from a place of meaning and purpose.

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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 sometimes FOMO can even stop us from taking action…that feeling of being overwhelmed. 

FOMO – the acronym and the idea – really struck a nerve in the social media age. Not only is it now in the Merriam Webster dictionary, but it’s spawned a whole slew of related acronyms: FOBO (Fear of Better Options), JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) and even inspired me to coin the term FOPO, the Fear Of People’s Opinions.

Today on the podcast is writer and entrepreneur Patrick McGinnis, who invented the term FOMO back in the early 2000s. He did it flippantly, but then the idea took off, and he’s been owning it and studying it ever since.

Patrick has come up with a way of looking at our fear of missing out, how to train ourselves to work with it, and even use it – in positive ways – to really go after the things we want and elevate our lives. 

It’s a fascinating story, a unique perspective on modern culture, and a great way of using this “negative” idea and turning it into a tool for better living.

In the spirit of FOMO... you DO NOT want to miss this one :)

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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 practices, showing us all what’s possible when entrepreneurs embrace positive values and transformative leadership.

His pioneering and widely influential books, Conscious Capitalism and Conscious Leadership, serve as blueprints for integrating ethical values into successful businesses.

And his most recent book, The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism, gives us an intimate look inside the personal and spiritual journeys that fueled his groundbreaking approach.

In this conversation, John shares insights from his personal transformation—from spirituality to psychedelics – along with the milestones of his experience with Whole Foods. 

We dig into the ethos that drove the company’s growth while he was at its helm, and his ongoing passionate advocacy for a corporate model that benefits both people and the planet.

Get ready to be inspired by a visionary who continues to help us all think differently about our responsibility towards each other and the world.

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

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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 conversations and it’s because we get to wrestle with the questions that matter most to you. They’re incredible.

Thank you for challenging us with great questions…. and keep them coming.

We hope you enjoy Volume 19 of Finding Mastery's "Ask Me Anything."

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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! https://www.findingmastery.com/morningmindset

Follow us on 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.