Sauce Talk

This is a sample from my audiobook Harder Than I Thought, Easier Than I Feared - Sports, Anxiety, and the Power of Meditation. You can get the full book in print, ebook, or audiobook format here!

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Enjoy!

My new book, Harder than I Thought, Easier Than I Feared - SPORTS, ANXIETY, AND THE POWER OF MEDITATION is available!

Jenny Marder is a senior science writer for NASA and a freelance journalist. Her stories have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post and National Geographic. In today’s podcast I speak with Jenny about her recent New York Times article Be Here Now: How to Exercise Mindfully - Bringing meditation into your movement can enrich your workout and help you feel clearheaded afterward.

We speak about how meditation and mindfulness can enhance exercise and athletic performance, the power of deep breathing exercises, finding flow in exercise and sport, Jenny’s process as a writer, overcoming writer’s block, and other insights she learned from interviewing experts on the topic.

You can find Jenny here on twitter, and check out her other articles here.

If you like the podcast, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, where you’ll receive podcast updates and other exclusive content. Other ways to support the show include giving it a review on Apple Podcasts, or sharing it with those who you think might enjoy it. Thank you for your interest and support!

My new book, Harder than I Thought, Easier Than I Feared - SPORTS, ANXIETY, AND THE POWER OF MEDITATION is available!

Ryan Beisty helped Regis University Basketball win its first conference championship in school history. He still holds Regis all time records for games played and defensive rebounds, and he was a career 40% three point shooter. In his senior season he averaged 9 points on 48% shooting from the field, 45% shooting from three, and 79% from the line.

Since graduating, Beisty has played three seasons professionally in Germany and England, and has a new contract in Australia for the upcoming season.

We discuss his basketball career progression, confidence issues at the free throw line, his physical training regimen, his meditation practice, how he affects winning, and other topics.

If you like the podcast, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, where you’ll receive podcast updates and other exclusive content. Other ways to support the show include giving it a review on Apple Podcasts, or sharing it with those who you think might enjoy it. Thank you for your interest and support!

Brandon Jefferson, who stands only 5 foot 9 inches tall, was named NCAA Division II National Player of the Year in 2014. He’s now in his 8th professional season overseas and has become an All-Star caliber player in the top league in France. It’s hard to overstate how good you have to be as a 5’9 Division II guard to do what he’s done at the professional level.

In this conversation I speak with Brandon about how he’s been overlooked his entire life due to his size, his amazing journey at Metro State, his game winner in the conference championship, the missed free throws in the NCAA tournament championship that still haunt him, the pressure that comes from signing one year contracts in Europe, firing agents, how having a family has changed his relationship to the game, maintaining confidence in difficult times, balancing basketball with life off the court, Drake, J Cole, and more.

Here is Brandon’s Game winner RMAC Championship.

Here are some of Brandon’s pro highlights.

Brandon on Twitter

My new book, Harder than I Thought, Easier Than I Feared - SPORTS, ANXIETY, AND THE POWER OF MEDITATION is available for pre-order!

If you like the podcast, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, where you’ll receive podcast updates and other exclusive content. Other ways to support the show include giving it a review on Apple Podcasts, or sharing it with those who you think might enjoy it. Thank you for your interest and support!

My new book, Harder than I Thought, Easier Than I Feared - SPORTS, ANXIETY, AND THE POWER OF MEDITATION is available!

Barry Gillespie is a wood worker, painter, and meditation teacher in Boulder Colorado. He’s my primary meditation teacher, and I highly recommend his teachings and his meditation retreats.

In this episode we speak about renunciation, the differences between morality and virtue, the importance of discipline in meditation practice, the boundaries between meditation practice and life in general, monasticism contrasted with being a “householder”, abusive meditation teachers, psychedelic drugs and their utility (or nonutility) in spiritual development, and practical meditation advice.

Connect with Barry and see his teaching schedule, both online and in person.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

If you like the podcast, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, where you’ll receive podcast updates and other exclusive content. Other ways to support the show include giving it a review on Apple Podcasts, or sharing it with those who you think might enjoy it. Thank you for your interest and support!

My new book, Harder than I Thought, Easier Than I Feared - SPORTS, ANXIETY, AND THE POWER OF MEDITATION is available!

Coach Beck was a lights out shooter at the Division I level, and is now an elite basketball trainer with experience training NBA greats. We speak about shooting mechanics, rhythm and confidence, the balance between improving weaknesses and doubling down on strengths, dealing with difficult times on and off the court, meditation, visualization, mental health, and more.

Jon Beck Twitter

Connect with me on LinkedIn

If you like the podcast, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, where you’ll receive podcast updates and other exclusive content. Other ways to support the show include giving it a review on Apple Podcasts, or sharing it with those who you think might enjoy it. Thank you for your interest and support!

Introducing my new book, which comes out on Tuesday, January 25th! Pre-order a copy here.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

If you like the podcast, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, where you’ll receive podcast updates and other exclusive content. Other ways to support the show include giving it a review on Apple Podcasts, or sharing it with those who you think might enjoy it. Thank you for your interest and support!

A truly remarkable story that I won’t spoil in the show notes - you need to hear it from Max himself. A story about the death of a loved one, nearly dying himself, trauma, depression, joy, and, against all odds, walking on to Oregon State baseball, becoming a starter in the College World Series, and making Sports Center Top-10 plays multiple times. 

I’m so grateful to Max for sharing his intimate and difficult story on the podcast, and I hope you enjoy it.

Max catch 1

Max Catch 2

Max Catch 3

Max Catch 4

Max Gordon Book

Max on Twitter

Connect with me on LinkedIn

My new book, Harder than I Thought, Easier Than I Feared - SPORTS, ANXIETY, AND THE POWER OF MEDITATION is available for pre-order!

If you like the podcast, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, where you’ll receive podcast updates and other exclusive content. Other ways to support the show include giving it a review on Apple Podcasts, or sharing it with those who you think might enjoy it. Thank you for your interest and support!

I speak with former professional basketball player Ashley Graham about beating undefeated Gonzaga on her way to the NCAA Tournament, making a Santa Clara school record 9 three pointers in a game, how she cultivated a successful pro career in Turkey, Belgium, Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania, finding sustainable confidence, dealing with shooting slumps, the difficult transition from being a player, and more.

If you or someone you know is in the Seattle area and wants to train with Ashley, check out Pinnacle Hoops, her organization providing individual basketball skills training, team workouts, as well as clinics and camps.

Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn

Connect with me on LinkedIn

My new book, Harder than I Thought, Easier Than I Feared - SPORTS, ANXIETY, AND THE POWER OF MEDITATION is available for pre-order!

If you’re an athlete, coach, or parent, and you’re interested in integrating meditation into your sport, check out Press Play, my meditation for athletes program.

If you like the podcast, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, where you’ll receive podcast updates and other exclusive content. Other ways to support the show include giving it a review on Apple Podcasts, or sharing it with those who you think might enjoy it. Thank you for your interest and support!

Deandre Johnson played basketball at Regis University and the University of St. Francis. After dealing with much adversity early on in his playing career he enjoyed a successful final season, earning all conference honors.

I speak to Deandre about being the first in his family to go to college, the adversity he faced early on in his playing career, his week as a log truck driver, the importance of specialized skills and knowledge in the modern economy, faith, fasting, the state of modern hip hop, and more.

Connect with Deandre on Linked In

Connect with me on LinkedIn

My new book, Harder than I Thought, Easier Than I Feared - SPORTS, ANXIETY, AND THE POWER OF MEDITATION is available for pre-order!

If you’re an athlete, coach, or parent, and you’re interested in integrating meditation into your sport, check out Press Play, my meditation for athletes program.

If you like the podcast, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, where you’ll receive podcast updates and other exclusive content. Other ways to support the show include giving it a review on Apple Podcasts, or sharing it with those who you think might enjoy it. Thank you for your interest and support!