The Growth Project

With 2022 coming to a close, we wanted to revisit clips from ten of our most listened to episodes from throughout the year. We're grateful for the stimulating internal conversations, all the incredible guests, our expanding and loyal listener base, and the opportunity to help you pursue better and maximize your potential. Thank you for listening, we're excited for what's to come in 2023.

Once children enter our lives, personal time often becomes even more valuable and scarce. To help parents and those with busy schedules maintain balance and make the most of their limited time, Brandon Swan, firefighter and former CrossFit Games athlete based in Australia, created Dad Hours to help people train smarter, not harder. Dr. Cory Shaffer and Brandon discuss the origin of Dad Hours, how to get the best out of yourself, and four simple tips to maintain training momentum through the holidays.

What gets in the way of excellence? What causes teams to underperform? No one sets out to be mediocre, but many people regularly fall short of goals and aspirations for a multitude of reasons. Drs Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer explore these questions and provide five common road blocks that get in the way of achieving greatness.

Henry David Thoreau championed pursuing dreams fearlessly by writing, "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." This enterprising and visionary approach to life is a perspective put into practice by David Baker, co-owner of Methodical Coffee. Dr. Milt Lowder and David talk about the importance of tapping into the spirit of adventure, being open to possibilities with "blue sky thinking," and building a strong community.

It's the holiday season, which, in addition to spending time with family and friends, also typically means lower productivity at work and coasting through the rest of the year. This creates a unique opportunity to build a gap between you and your competition by continuing to work effectively and intentionally through December. Drs Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer provide four suggestions that will not only help you win December, but also position you for a successful 2023.

Join Drs. Milt Lowder, Drew Brannon, and Cory Shaffer as they celebrate the 200th episode of The Growth Project by reflecting on its evolution over the last 5 years. This podcast was created from a desire to help others pursue better in life, but it also has had the added benefit of having a positive personal impact on the AMPLOS team. They share their favorite episodes, how it has helped them rekindle relationships, and their immense gratitude for the listeners.

There is an abundance of research highlighting the dramatic positive impact of regularly practicing gratitude. With Thanksgiving approaching, we wanted to revisit a conversation with the AMPLOS team where they explore how to develop a genuine sense of gratitude, which is essentially appreciating and wanting what you already have.

The humanistic approach in psychology, which emphasizes genuine connection, the personal worth of the individual, and truly understanding one another on a human level, is the perspective put into practice by Dr. Douglas Chadwick, the Director of Mental Skills Development for the Colorado Rockies. Dr. Cory Shaffer and Chadwick talk about this approach, Chadwick's unique pathway into performance psychology after serving in the U.S. Army for 20 years, and the positive influence of Chadwick's mentor and sports psychology legend, Ken Ravizza.

Fresh off his first full MLB season pitching for the Atlanta Braves, Spencer Strider reflects on an impressive year that started with being included in the Braves' Opening Day roster and ultimately led to a recent signing of a 6-year contract with the Braves through the 2029 season. Building on a pre-season podcast conversation Dr. Cory Shaffer and Strider had earlier this year about Strider's journey to the MLB (Episode 170), they continue the discussion from a post-season lens and talk about key insights gained after a full MLB season, including the importance of preparation, making room for necessary adjustments along the way, and recognizing that marginal differences become crucial separators in performance.

It is extremely difficult to become a U.S. Navy SEAL, one of the most elite and highly trained special forces operators in the world. The path to become a SEAL requires intense training, strong mental fortitude, and excellent leadership skills. Dr. Drew Brannon talks with Cameron Johnston, a fromer Navy SEAL, about the process to become one, the mindset needed to be successful, his experiences in deployment all over the world, and his unique business, Greystone, which offers a fully immersive, live-action experience for those looking to kickstart their adrenaline.