Seeking Balance

Today on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Melanie Weisner! Melanie is a accomplished tournament player, performance coach, and one of the most thoughtful voices on the mental side of the game. In this episode she sits down with Jared to talk about why the best players never play their B-game, how the skills that make you great at poker transfer far beyond the table, and why your biggest breakthroughs might actually be doing nothing for you.

Check Out The Poker Performance Field Kit!

https://jaredalderman.notion.site/poker-performance-field-kit

Learn More About The Coaching Group:

https://www.jaredalderman.com

Join Our Discord Server!

https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzv

Coaching With Melanie:

[email protected]

Timestamps:

00:00 — Intro

00:55 — Melanie's poker background and career timeline

04:17 — How the game has evolved and finding your edge

06:35 — Why Melanie stepped back from grinding and what replaced it

08:45 — The difference between good and great players on tilt

09:57 — Crossing over to trading and finance performance coaching

13:38 — Trusting live reads and the epistemological side of poker

18:52 — Why every hand is practice, not performance

29:15 — The fog of war and judging your own decisions

33:37 — Why aha moments don't actually change anything

40:21 — Anchoring bias and how to use it instead of fight it

46:08 — Check Out The Poker Performance Field Kit!

46:51 — Normalizing decisions under pressure

01:05:49 — Freedom requires discipline

01:10:18 — Learn More About The Coaching Group!

01:10:43 — The holistic human experience

01:12:31 — Is there anything in Buddhism you disagree with?01:16:46 — Interpersonal relationships as the real test of practice

01:22:22 — Where to find Melanie

Find Melanie:

📸Instagram: @melanieweisner

🐦X: @melanieweisner

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

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

📸Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦X: @jaredalderman

#poker #podcast #performance #finance

Today on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Brian Hastings! Brian is a 6 time bracelet winner, former high stakes online cash game specialist, and one of the most respected mixed game players in the world. In this episode he sits down with Jared to talk about beating Isildur1 for $4M at the height of online poker, the best frameworks for making tough decisions, and why he believes a rich life outside of poker makes you a better player at the table.

Check Out The Poker Performance Field Kit!

https://jaredalderman.notion.site/poker-performance-field-kit

Learn More About The Coaching Group:

https://www.jaredalderman.com

Join Our Discord Server!

https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzv

Coaching With Brian:

https://forum.octopipoker.ai/author/Brian-Hastings-1-58/products

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:59 – When does RNGing actually make sense?

02:42 – Breaking decisions that feel 50/50

06:16 – Balance vs. exploits

10:37 – Why aggressive players still get folds from great players

11:34 – Beating Isildur1 for $4M at 500/1000 PLO

13:58 – The Black Friday era

14:39 – Brian's dedication to mixed games and tournaments

19:56 – Brian's framework for tough decisions

24:29 – Check Out The Poker Performance Field Kit!

25:13 – RNGing as a hedge on your own confidence

28:52 – Are poker players obsessing over frequencies that don't matter?

40:16 – How personal growth made Brian a better coach

50:44 – Brian's remaining goals in poker

58:57 – Balancing poker and family life

59:45 – Learn More About The Coaching Group!

1:00:10 – Why a rich life outside poker makes you better at it

1:10:16 – The right mindset after a bad session

1:14:41 – How much do you actually need to study?

1:18:35 – Studying smarter not harder

1:19:22 – Multiway spots and unintuitive bluffing

Find Brian:

📸Instagram: @brianchastings

🐦X: @brianchastings

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

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

📸Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦X: @jaredalderman

On this episode of Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Marc Goone, co-founder of Hungry Horse Poker, to talk about the unlikely path from rapper to one of the most influential live poker coaches in the game. They get into the start of Hungry Horse as a stable, why teaching people how to think beats giving them rules to follow, and have an honest debate about where mental game coaching actually fits for most players. Plus Marc breaks down why giving away your best content is the smartest business move you can make.

Check Out The Poker Performance Field Kit:

https://jaredalderman.notion.site/poker-performance-field-kit

Learn More About The Coaching Group:

https://www.jaredalderman.com

Join Our Discord Server!

https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzv

Learn More About Hungry Horse Poker:

https://www.hungryhorsepoker.com/

👉 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!

Find Marc and Hungry Horse:

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

📸Instagram: @hungryhorsepoker

🐦X: @hungryhorsepokr

▶️YouTube: @hungryhorsepoker

Host: Jared Alderman

Performance Coach

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

📸Instagram: @jared.alderman

🐦X: @jaredalderman

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.

Check Out The Poker Performance Field Kit

https://jaredalderman.notion.site/poker-performance-field-kit

Learn More About The Coaching Group:

https://www.jaredalderman.com/poker

Join Our Discord Server!

https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzv

Check Out Thomas's New Program & Octopi Poker!

https://thomasboivin.poker/

https://octopipoker.ai/boivin

👉 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!

🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

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.

Learn More About The Coaching Group:

https://www.jaredalderman.com/poker

Join Our Discord Server!

https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzv

Charlie's 50K Promo!

https://www.charlescarrel.com/

👉 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!

🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

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.

Get 10% Off GTO Wizard!

https://gtowizard.com/?p=jaredalderman

Learn More About The Coaching Group:

https://www.jaredalderman.com/poker

Join Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzv

👉 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!

🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

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.

Learn More About The Coaching Group:

https://www.jaredalderman.com/poker

Join Our Discord Server!

https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzv

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.

Learn More About The Coaching Group:

https://www.jaredalderman.com/poker

Join Our Discord Server!

https://discord.gg/8Ejbyvr84V

👉 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!

🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

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.

Learn More About The Coaching Group:

https://www.jaredalderman.com/poker

Join Our Discord Server!

https://discord.gg/8Ejbyvr84V

👉 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!

🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

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.

Learn More About The Coaching Group:

https://www.jaredalderman.com/poker

Check Out Owen's Coaching Program!

https://guerrilla-poker.com/

Join Our Discord Server!

https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzv

👉 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!

🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

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