Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

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 rough seas and in the dark, where every decision can have monumental consequences.

Kristen is a distinguished Naval aviator whose career spans two decades of sustained high performance in military service. She’s accumulated over 2,700 hours of flight time, 66 combat sorties over Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, and just under 500 carrier landings. 

As a prior TOPGUN instructor - yes, just like the movie - and current Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (The “Flying Eagles”) she leads and trains some of the Navy’s most elite pilots.

Kristen's career experience now extends to Hollywood, where she served as a technical consultant and pilot for the hit film, "Top Gun: Maverick.” Epic.

Kristen offers a unique perspective on leadership, teamwork, and mental toughness. In this conversation you’ll hear valuable insights into high-stakes decision-making and the lessons we can all learn from a life lived at full throttle.

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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. David Spiegel, professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford School of Medicine and researcher in psycho-oncology and the neurobiology of therapeutic hypnosis.

Dr. Spiegel is a pioneer in the research on hypnosis. His work over the past several decades is foundational - helping patients overcome deep-seated trauma, work through fears and anxieties, build new habits, break existing ones, and even guide cancer patients through the pain of treatment and recovery using hypnosis.

Now, this isn’t the hypnosis that you see on daytime television, with swinging pocket watches and heavy eyelids. It’s a science of the mind-body connection, and a way of looking at how the subconscious can be trained to influence, guide, and heal our bodies.

We’ll also talk about how all of this doesn’t require a physician or therapist or even a hypnotist, but is available to everyone with Dr. Spiegel’s game-changing app, Reveri.

I hope this conversation opens your mind to a new tool that just might be able to change your life.

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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 DeBlasio has this incredible knack for unlocking potential in people. It’s incredible how he does it. And he’s been doing it with leaders in aerospace, healthcare, elite sports and academia for decades. 

Gary's wisdom is earnestly earned. I’ve had an upfront seat on how he works – the alone, internal work that he’s done for himself, is one of the greatest investments he’s provided to his larger community. He is a bellwether for me. His approach to mentorship—being both a teacher and a student, listening deeply to one's inner voice, and fostering a connection with something greater—has profoundly shaped my own path.

Today, we dive deep into the heart of our relationship, exploring the transformative power of being seen and nurtured. Gary opens up about his philosophy on life transitions, the challenges of the next generation, and the critical role of recovery and creating safe spaces for oneself and for others.

This conversation has so much emotion in it – for both Gary and me….I love you Gary. Thank you for what you’ve done for me, and for the Finding Mastery community.

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Formula One racing may seem like a 'sit-down' sport to some, but the reality is that race car drivers are anything but sedentary. World-class F1 auto racing pushes the limits of human endurance, focus, reaction time, and risk – requiring competitors to face incredibly intense physical and mental challenges.

In the open cockpit of a Formula One car, drivers (or “pilots” as they are often known) must maintain razor-sharp concentration at speeds approaching 220 miles per hour and withstand G-forces rivaling those experienced by astronauts during launch. And they do it all on top of a grueling global 30-week-per-year international travel schedule.

Driver performance is as crucial as vehicle engineering. And to reach sustained superior performance, Formula One athletes often work with coaches who guide them to excel both on and off the course.

In this episode, we sit down with a dear friend of mine, Patrick Harding, a distinguished performance coach for Formula One Racer Alex Albon.

Patrick’s extensive background in physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, and performance coaching makes him an invaluable asset to champions. With more than 12 years’ experience in elite sports, including professional rugby, Australian Rules Football, Team Great Britain’s most successful Olympic Canoeing squad, plus a personal interest in boxing, Patrick's expertise is significant.

In this conversation, we discuss how to create a high-performance environment for athletes, the strategy behind mental and physical preparation, and why the journey of self-discovery is an essential component of mastery. 

Patrick also shares insights from his personal journey, the lessons he's learned along the way, and how he helps athletes understand themselves and find joy in the process. His story is a testament to the power of dedication and the transformative potential of performance coaching.

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Think back to the most pivotal moments of your life… What parts of you did you bring forward? Which parts did you hold back? How did these experiences shape your way of being?

These questions lie at the heart of our conversation today with Nastia Liukin, a gold medal gymnast whose name is etched in history for winning the All-Around title at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Beyond her monumental achievements – including tying the record for the most gymnastics medals won by an American in a single Olympic Games with FIVE medals – Nastia's journey is one of relentless pursuit, resilience, and the courage to redefine success.

In this episode, Nastia reveals the significant moments of her career – from a pivotal conversation with Kobe Bryant that reshaped her self-perception, to the standing ovation that followed what she considers to be her worst performance.

Nastia’s lived experience shows us all how to find meaning and success beyond external achievements. And she continues to walk her talk.

We dive deep into the dynamics of perfection and control, vulnerability, and the power of being present. Nastia's insights offer a practical guide for embracing the profound impact we have when we can be at home with ourselves, wherever we are.

I’m excited for you to discover new ways to define your own success, respond with courage, and meet the moment.

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How good are you at really communicating? In a world drowning in words, how do you make your words matter?

I'm not talking about small talk or working a room or the gift of gab. I'm talking about the kind of communication that works on a deeper level – a level where we truly connect, challenge, grow with, and inspire each other.

Back on the podcast this week is Charles Duhigg, who's spent a career in journalism diving into what makes humans do what they do – and today, he’s here to talk about what it takes to be a ‘Supercommunicator’. 

Charles is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the New York Times and the New Yorker, and he's written two best-sellers about personal excellence that mesh neuroscience with great storytelling and practical tools: The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better.

Charles’ newest book is Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. And this one's a little different -- instead of focusing on how we can maximize our own personal abilities, this one is all about how to be extraordinary in our interactions with each other – the ability to genuinely engage, to echo emotions, and to create space for real, heartfelt exchanges. 

Charles says communication is humanity's superpower, and lately that ability has become strained. There’s evidence of that everywhere -- in politics, on social media, online -- but with the right tools and practice, we can get it back.

In our conversation today, we unravel how to reclaim our conversational depth in a world buzzing with superficial interactions.

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Explore powerful strategies to conquer public speaking anxiety with Dr. Michael Gervais and O'Neil Cespedes in this insightful AMA episode, delving into personal growth, purpose-based identity, and the untapped potential of the human mind.

We also explore topics like:

• Practical insights for managing anxiety and nerves
• How to be your own tuning fork of excellence
• Creating space in your life for experimentation and exploration 
• Putting yourself in positions of power in your own life
• How to shift from a performance-based to a purpose-based identity.
• And so much more…

Thank you for the great questions, and... stay curious! If you have any questions for the next AMA's, email [email protected].

Wishing you an epic week.

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With every season of sport, we witness various feats of greatness -- and getting to witness a true dynasty (and what it takes to get there) can be once in a generation.

That’s why I am super excited to share a fresh version of our previous conversation with the 2024 National Championship winning basketball coach, Dawn Staley.

As you might know, this past Sunday, Dawn led South Carolina to their 3rd national championship in the past 7 years to top off a perfect, undefeated season. Dawn also rightfully earned the 2024 Naismith Coach of the Year Award. What a year.

As if that wasn’t enough, South Carolina also became the first team in the past 25 seasons to reach the Final Four (let alone go undefeated) without returning any starting players from last year – an amazing testament to Dawn’s leadership, and the culture she has built.

When you listen to this conversation from 2021, it will be no surprise to you how - and why - she is considered one of the best to ever do it.

I think we all have a lot to learn from Dawn’s insights – like the qualities needed to build resilience; how to develop psychological agility in the face of adversity; and why relationships are at the center of her coaching philosophy.

I hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with 3-time National Champ, 3-time Olympic gold medalist, Hall of Famer, and your 2024 coach of the year, Dawn Staley.

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What is the primary driver of effective and impactful leadership? Is it from science—or the soul? Is it a more practical, results-driven organizational practice? Or is it an inner, meditative sense of self?

This week’s Finding Mastery guest, Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa, has spent his career exploring these questions… and his answer is, well, both.

Hitendra fuses the mystical history of his Indian roots with the more results-oriented needs of Western business -- bridging the gap between spirituality and science, leadership and personal growth. It's a methodology that he teaches at Columbia Business School, the Mentora Institute (which he founded), on his podcast "Intersections" and in his book, Inner Mastery, Outer Impact.

He’s turned what he’s found into powerful tools that any of us can use to be effective leaders and masters of our own lives.

Hitendra’s message for us is simple and clear: when you cultivate your inner self, wisdom shows up in the outer self. And that wisdom can be used to lead. Hitendra does it with an engaging sense of story, and telling examples from the lives of Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, and Steve Jobs.

Today, we talk about cultivating inner awareness and outer engagement, unlocking human energy to lead, checking emotion before making decisions, finding meaning in every experience, and much, much more. 

This entire conversation was full of insights and I think you may just leave it thinking about success, leadership, and your relationship to it in a whole new way.

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Human exploration of space is driven by a deep curiosity and a desire to understand our place in the universe.

The individuals - and teams - on the forefront of this exploration are modern-day pioneers, pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and capability.

I’m excited to share the final installment of our 3-part series following one of these individuals, NASA Astronaut Dr. Woody Hoburg, on his journey into outer space.

In Part 1, we learned about Woody’s rigorous mental and physical preparations before launch.

In Part 2, we took an unprecedented look at life aboard the International Space Station and witnessed Woody's adaptability and resilience in zero gravity.

And here, in Part 3, we dive deep into the insights Woody gained from his transformative experience of living 186 days—that’s 6 months—in outer space.

I have always had a huge respect for astronauts – and Woody took that to a whole new level. I’ve said it before, but I think Woody represents 'the best of us,' – the way he commits to exploring his edges and living in alignment with his values embodies the pinnacle of human potential.

In this conversation, you’ll learn about the importance of meticulous preparation, what it means to be a high performing teammate, how to reframe failure, and a rare glimpse into a “ridiculous” and “fun” six months aboard the International Space Station.

I can’t wait for you to discover more about how Woody navigates the unknown!

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

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