This week on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with high stakes tournament player and performance coach Thomas Boivin to talk about what it actually takes to build a long, successful poker career. They dig into why the mental and performance side of the game is still the most overlooked edge in poker, how to build confidence that survives a downswing, and why your biggest strengths and your biggest leaks are often the same. Thomas also shares what's next for him with his new mastermind group and Octopi Academy course.

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Check Out Thomas's New Program & Octopi Poker!

https://thomasboivin.poker/

https://octopipoker.ai/boivin

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Find Thomas:

🌐Website: https://thomasboivin.poker/

📸Instagram: @martomchat

🐦X: @martomchat

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

🌐Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/

📸Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦X: @jaredalderman

This week on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Charlie Carrel — poker pro, live tell specialist, and one of the game's most unconventional thinkers — to discuss the hidden edges most players never explore. From a $15 first deposit and binking the Sunday Million to thousands of hours playing and coaching, Charlie opens up about what really separated him from the field. A fascinating conversation about live tells, intuition, meditation, and why mastering your mind might be the next frontier in modern poker.

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Charlie's 50K Promo!

https://www.charlescarrel.com/

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00:00:00 – Intro00:01:00 – Charlie's Origin Story & First Deposit on PokerStars00:03:55 – Binking the Sunday Million & The Start of a Career00:05:05 – What Made Charlie Click With Poker From the Start00:07:10 – Live Tells: The Perverse Incentive to Keep Them Secret00:09:15 – The Two Categories of Live Tells & What's Actually Teachable00:11:20 – Parallel Problem Solving & The Art of Reading a Table00:13:55 – Intuition vs. Intellect: The Creative Process of Poker00:17:50 – What Got You Here Won't Get You There00:19:35 – Why Poker Culture Resists the Intuitive Side of the Game00:26:30 – Spirituality & Navigating Your Own Path00:33:30 – Meditation Before a Session: More EV Than Solver Study?00:36:00 – Strong Energy at the Table & The Taekwondo Story00:39:00 – Empowering Students: What Most Poker Coaches Get Wrong00:44:08 – Join The Coaching Group!00:44:33 – Childhood and the Lasting Impacts of Early Relationships00:46:10 – The Truth Series & Reviewing Today's Poker Creators00:48:56 – Charlie Announces He's Coming Out of Retirement00:54:25 – Jungleman Stories & Charlie's Flute Battle on Coin Poker00:58:30 – Where to Find Charlie & The $5K Staking Promotion

Find Charlie:

🌐Website: https://www.charlescarrel.com/

📸Instagram: @charliecarrel

🐦X: @Charlie_Carrel

▶️YouTube: @CharlieCarrel

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

🌐Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/

📸Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦X: @jaredalderman

This week on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Tommy Angelo — poker pro, author, and mental game pioneer, to discuss a 50-year journey from home game grinder to one of poker's most dedicated meditators. From Columbus card rooms and a rock bottom DUI to 22 years of daily meditation and Buddhist practice, Tommy opens up about what it really took to transform his mind and his game. A profound conversation about tilt, ego, impermanence, and why mastering your mind might be the biggest edge in poker.

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Find Tommy:

🌐 Website: https://www.tommyangelo.com/

🐦 X: @TheTommyAngelo

▶️: @TommyAngelo420

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/

📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦 X: @jaredalderman

This week on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Terrance "TJ" Reid — poker media personality and 2025 Super Main Deep Runner — to discuss the journey behind a life-changing $3.1 million score. From growing up in a Jehovah's Witness cult to navigating a difficult childhood, losing everything, and ultimately finding his identity through poker, TJ opens up about what it really took to get here. A candid conversation about variance, self-worth, and learning to keep your head high no matter the result.

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Contact TJ:

📸 Instagram: @tjreid1

🐦 X: @tjreidpoker

▶️: @tjreidpoker

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/

📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦 X: @the_jaldermann

This week on Seeking Balance, Jared Sits down with Stephen Chidwick — one of the most accomplished tournament poker players in the world — to discuss the inner game behind two decades at the top. From navigating the mental health journey to neurofeedback training and meditation, Stephen opens up about what has shaped both his life and poker career. A candid conversation about kindness, presence, and what it truly takes to perform at the highest level.

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Contact Stephen:

🐦 X: @ChidwickStephen

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/

📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦 X: @the_jaldermann

In this Seeking Balance episode, Jared is joined by Philippe Beardsell, co-founder of Ruse AI and now a part of GTO Wizard. Jared and Philippe explore the evolution of poker solvers, the challenges of multiway play, and the hidden dynamics of ICM in tournament strategy. Philippe shares insights on the development of new features in GTO Wizard, how solvers shape modern poker, and the future of AI in the game.

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Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/

📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦 X: @the_jaldermann

In this Seeking Balance episode, Owen "PR0DIGY Messere" returns! Owen and Jared dive into everything from how randomization impacts strategy and the value of seeing showdowns, to impulsivity and self-compassion's impact on performance. Then, Owen recounts his experience playing in the 2025 Cash Game World Championship, what he learned, and unique spots that come up in this environment.

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Check Out Owen's Coaching Program!

https://guerrilla-poker.com/

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The Excellent CGWC Tracker, at Mobius Poker:

https://www.mobiuspoker.com/cgwc2025

Contact Owen:

🐦 X: https://x.com/OwenMessere

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/

📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦 X: @the_jaldermann

In this episode, Jared is joined by Three Time National Chess Champion, PokerStars Pro, and Autor Jennifer Shahade! Inspired by some of the ideas in Jen's new book, Jared and Jennifer cover everything from decision-making and performance to how games and risk factor into everyday life. Join us for another thought provoking installment of Seeking Balance.

Pre-order Thinking Sideways, Jen's New Book Here!

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Jennifer-Shahade&geniuslink=true&tag=catagdefault-20

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Learn More:

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Join Our Discord Server!

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Donations Are Highly Appreciated!

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Contact Jennifer

▶️: @JenShahade

📸 Instagram: @jenshahade

🐦 X: @JenShahade

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/

📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦 X: @the_jaldermann

This week on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Patrick Howard, poker coach, researcher, and creator of the Stat-Checker. The two dive deep into how elite players actually make decisions, exploring the tension between intuition, data, exploits, and long-term thinking. From database reviews and bluffing psychology to mindset, confidence, and growth over time, this conversation unpacks what it really takes to improve at the highest levels of poker.

Apply for the Meditation Group!https://forms.gle/shGk1F4TeT9y7iaa9

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Donations Are Highly Appreciated!

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Contact Patrick

🌐 Website: https://www.mobiuspoker.com/

📸 Instagram: @mobius_poker

🐦 X: @mobiuspoker

▶YouTube: @mobiuspoker

Host:

Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/

📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦 X: @the_jaldermann

This Week on Seeking Balance we have Nelson Dellis! a 6 Time USA Memory Champion, Philanthropist, Mountain Climber, and Author. Jared and Nelson have been friends for over a decade and dive into everything from how to improve your memory to what it takes to climb mount Everest.

Find All Things Nelson Here:

https://www.nelsondellis.com

Apply for the Meditation Group!

https://forms.gle/shGk1F4TeT9y7iaa9

Join Our Discord Server!

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Donations Are Highly Appreciated!

https://ko-fi.com/jaredalderman

👉 If you found this episode valuable, don't forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to the newsletter at https://www.jaredalderman.com/ for more deep dives into poker, performance, and personal growth!

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Contact Nelson

🌐 Website: https://www.nelsondellis.com/

📸 Instagram: @nelzor

🐦 X: @ClimbForMemory

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/

📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦 X: @the_jaldermann