The Growth Project

We love having our amazing guests on the Growth Project, but for this 4-part AMPLOS team series we're shifting the spotlight to our team of psychologists and performance coaches. Typically, they are the ones asking questions on the podcast, so this series allows you to learn from and learn more about their experiences. In this episode, Dr. Cory Shaffer talks with Dr. Katie Nichols about being a proud Texan, pursuing her passion of sport psychology, lessons she's learned from mentors along the way, and pushing herself outside of her comfort zone.

How do you harness and enhance human potential? Dr. Cory Shaffer explores this topic with Dr. Angus Mugford, VP for High Performance for the Toronto Blue Jays. They discuss Dr. Mugford's vision in developing a strong culture at an MLB organization, his philosophy behind building a high-performance team, and positioning the Blue Jays for success in a highly competitive league.

Ted Lasso, the hit Apple TV+ comedy that has grown to become part of the cultural zeitgeist, features a lead protagonist by the same name who embodies the characteristics of an enthusiastic, empathetic leader. Dr. Katie Nichols and Dr. Cory Shaffer explore the traits that make him a leader worth following, including his unwavering focus on relationships, team culture, and consistency.

Dr. Drew Brannon has a conversation with Jackie Faye, the first woman to complete 6 IRONMAN races on 6 continents in a span of 12 months. Beyond discussing this impressive accomplishment, they also talk about Jackie's apparel company, One January, an ethical activewear brand that makes sustainable clothing from recycled plastics, and She Can Tri, a non-profit organization Jackie launched dedicated to empowering women in need, including supporting and training the first Afghan woman to finish an IRONMAN event in 2020.

What makes an extraordinary teammate? Dr. Cory Shaffer explores this concept with Joan Ryan, an award-winning journalist and author of five books, including an AMPLOS team favorite, Intangibles: Unlocking the Science and Soul of Team Chemistry. They discuss Joan's trail-blazing career as one of the first female sports columnists in the country and how intangibles contribute to higher team performance.

Life is like a poker game: it's less about the cards that you're dealt, and more about how you play them. Dr. Cory Shaffer chats with professional poker player and winner of four World Series of Poker bracelets, Brian Hastings. In the conversation, they explore Brian's approach to poker, including how he practices his craft, the mental game of poker, and how poker relates more broadly to life.

Dr. Katie Nichols chats with Cindy Miller, who was recently included in Forbes' first-ever 50 Over 50 list and leads Stericycle, 2020 Enterprise Company of the Year, as CEO & President. Cindy shares powerful lessons from her unique career where she worked her way up the UPS chain of command - starting as a driver and moving all the way up to the first female president of global freight forwarding. In the conversation, they discuss the do's and don'ts to effective leadership, the key differences between passion and purpose, and the role of the learner in leadership.

Leaders engineer the team environment through what they say, what they do, and who they are. If they lead well, they have the opportunity to have a tremendous impact on the outcome the team achieves. In this episode, Dr. Drew Brannon and Dr. Cory Shaffer talk through a list of questions all leaders should ask themselves about the environments they are creating.

In this episode, Dr. Drew Brannon, sport psychologist for Georgia football, and Dr. Milt Lowder, sport psychologist for Clemson football, reflect on their unique connection with the top 5 matchup between the Clemson Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs on September 4, 2021, and use this game as a launching point to discuss how to respond to success and setbacks. They also discuss the importance of how you compete, not letting failure or success define you, and separating who you are from what you do.

With fall sports underway, we wanted to revisit a great conversation between Dr. Milt Lowder and Clemson University Men's Head Soccer Coach, Mike Noonan, one of the most respected individuals in the world of collegiate soccer. Dr. Lowder and Coach Noonan discuss the importance of being a lifelong learner, clarifying your vision, identifying core values, and having the courage to live and coach according to what you believe.