Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

What if your success as a leader, parent, or partner depends less on IQ — and more on emotional intelligence?

On today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Travis Bradberry — best-selling author and one of the world’s leading voices on emotional intelligence (EQ). With over 5 million books sold, including his latest The New Emotional Intelligence, Dr. Bradberry has spent decades studying how EQ shapes performance, relationships, and well-being.

In this conversation, we explore what emotional intelligence looks like in action: how it shows up in leadership under pressure, how it impacts the quality of your relationships, and what happens when it’s missing.

You’ll learn:

• Why EQ often outperforms IQ and technical skills as a predictor of success
• How to recognize blind spots that undermine relationships and performance
• What leaders with high EQ do differently when stakes are high
• Strategies for cultivating self-awareness and self-regulation
• Why EQ is central to living a “great life”

Tune in to hear Dr. Bradberry share practical strategies for building EQ in the modern world — and why doing so can unlock deeper trust, resilience, and clarity in every part of your life. 

Links & Resources

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What if our deepest human needs, for connection and belonging, hold the real answers for navigating a world racing ahead with technology?

On today’s episode, we sit down with Simon Sinek, globally renowned thinker, bestselling author, and long-time friend of the show. 

Back for a second conversation with us, Simon brings his trademark clarity and storytelling to the questions that matter most: What does it mean to be human in an age of measurement, data, and artificial intelligence? Why do friendships not only enrich our lives but help us survive? And how can we reorient toward what’s real, irreplaceable, and deeply fulfilling?

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why friendship isn’t just “nice to have,” but essential for health, happiness, and survival.
• The hidden costs of measuring everything, and how it can pull us away from our humanity.
• How to think about AI not as dystopia, but as a reflection of what makes us uniquely human.
• The practices Simon uses to deepen belonging and strengthen relationships.
• How to reframe success in a way that aligns with values and meaning, not just metrics.

This conversation cuts to the core of modern life. Simon challenges us to rethink the dangers of over-indexing on performance metrics, from sleep scores to step counts, while reminding us of the profound grounding power of authentic friendship. He also invites us to view AI not as a looming threat, but as a mirror, forcing us to ask bigger questions about meaning, aliveness, and connection.

Simon’s insights remind us that mastery isn’t about optimization, it’s about being more deeply, fully human. Tune in to reimagine connection, technology, and the art of living well.

Links & Resources:

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What if reframing one simple word, and one simple practice, could reshape how you experience your life?

On today’s episode, we sit down with Tim Ferriss, bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek, host of The Tim Ferriss Show, angel investor, and relentless experimenter in human potential. Known for his curiosity and cultural impact, Tim opens up about the intentional practices that support calm, focus, playful awareness, and deep presence in his everyday life.

Tim explores how language shapes experience, why play is essential (not optional), and how to design your days for the states that matter most. He also shares the thinking behind Coyote, his new card game built to spark laughter, sync groups, and unlock connection, not just competition.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How a single word reframed can shift your nervous system and your day
• Practical ways Tim cultivates calm, focus, and presence
• Why play is essential to performance, creativity, and connection
• Designing for “states” vs. chasing outcomes
• The intention behind Coyote: syncing up, group flow, and joy

Tune in to learn how one of the world’s most prolific thinkers approaches mastery from the inside out—and what that might unlock in your own life.

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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

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Extra Resources: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, or visit the website: https://988lifeline.org/ 

Full List of Crisis Hotlines and Resources — https://www.apa.org/topics/crisis-hotlines 

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What if I told you that one of the most dominant athletes of our time began her life in unimaginable hardship - and then rewrote her story, chapter by chapter?

This week, we revisit one of the most powerful conversations in the Finding Mastery vault with Oksana Masters; multi-sport Paralympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in U.S. history (with 19 medals).

Born in Ukraine with birth defects caused by radiation exposure from Chernobyl, abandoned to an orphanage, and later adopted in the U.S, Oksana’s journey is a masterclass in grit, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of agency. Her story is not only about becoming a world-class athlete - it’s also about reclaiming her narrative, finding freedom through adversity, and turning deep pain into fuel for thriving.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Oksana transformed unimaginable hardship into strength and purpose
• Why reclaiming agency - even in the smallest ways - can change the trajectory of a life
• The role joy and play can have as tools for survival in the darkest moments
• How she navigated trauma while striving for greatness on the world stage
• What resilience really looks like when challenge isn’t avoided, but embraced

This is a conversation about courage, hope, and an indomitable human spirit, an episode that will stay with you long after you’ve listened.

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Links & Resources

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How do you know when you have “enough” money—and what does that mean for how you live?

In this episode of Finding Mastery, we sit down with Brian Werdesheim, expert financial advisor and founding member of the Summa Group at Stifel Financial Corporation, to explore the deeply personal and emotional relationship we have with money. 

Brian goes beyond numbers and spreadsheets, asking the questions that matter: What are your dreams? Your values? Your full life story? This conversation will challenge you to rethink your approach to wealth—not just as a goal, but as a means to a meaningful life.

Together, we reveal why saving alone isn’t enough and unpack the mindset wealthy people use to grow money with purpose. This conversation invites you to define what “enough” truly means—beyond finances—and build a healthier relationship with money that serves your whole life.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why understanding your values is critical before making financial decisions
• How wealthy people leverage a mindset beyond just saving
• The role of clarity in defining “enough” for your life, not just your bank account
• The emotional challenges and opportunities in investing for the future
• Practical steps to align your money with your dreams and daily living

Tune in to hear Brian’s unique approach and rethink your relationship with money in a way that serves your whole life. 

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

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

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What if the real risk isn’t failure—it’s spending your whole life chasing a version of success that was never yours to begin with?

That question sparked a radical transformation in Sahil Bloom’s life. A NYT best-selling author, entrepreneur, and investor, Sahil once had a sobering realization: he might only see his parents 15 more times in his lifetime. That gut-check moment became a catalyst for deep change—he left his high-powered career, moved across the country, and set out to architect a life rooted in meaning rather than momentum.

In this conversation, Sahil shares the mental frameworks, emotional reckoning, and actionable systems he’s used to redesign his life. Together, Sahil and Dr. Mike unpack the hidden cost of conventional success, the power of mortality to clarify purpose, and how to build a life worth living.

You’ll learn:

• Why “success” can become a trap—and how to redefine it for yourself
• The simple framework Sahil uses to make high-quality life decisions
• How to overcome fear when walking away from something “good”
• The role mortality plays in clarifying what really matters
• Strategies to realign your life around purpose, not performance

This one’s for anyone who wants to rewrite the script on what "success" means to 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/

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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/

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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/

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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

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

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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 

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