The Path Distilled Podcast

Jake Kelfer, Founder of Professional Basketball Combine and Bestselling Author

Is “no” better than “maybe”? Kevin and Lauren chat with Jake Kelfer about his path to creating a secondary combine for the NBA and becoming a bestselling author. He shares what it was like using his own money to fund his startup, the pitfalls of trying to please everyone, and the art of asking the right questions. His episode is full of great advice for everyone.

Learn more about Jake: Twitter, Instagram

Learn more about Professional Basketball Combine: Twitter

Gentry Estes, Sports Columnist

Do you want it enough to withstand the challenges? Kevin and Lauren chat with Gentry Estes about his path from a 16 year-old sports reporter to well-known sports columnist. He discusses the challenges he has faced, how work ethic separates performers at the highest levels, and the need to honor the opportunities one is given. Gentry also discusses his philosophy of digging deeper into a story with the goal of giving the audience something they don’t already know.

Learn more about Gentry: Twitter

Emily Teti, Ph.D. Candidate, Researcher, and Woman in STEM

How will you challenge yourself? Kevin and Lauren chat with Emily Teti about her path from a small school in North Carolina to finding her place in STEM. She discusses her father giving her scientific experiments to conduct at six years of age, the importance of learning with no fear of being wrong, and the lessons her parents taught her about not quitting in the middle of things. Emily also shares how she was able to combine her love of mathematics with psychological science, and her experiences with impostor syndrome as a woman in STEM.

Learn more about Emily: Instagram

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with World Champion Powerlifter, Blaine Sumner. Highlights include their discussion of the importance of a combination of good planning and mental strength, the different varieties of intrinsic motivation, and the pros and cons of basing your identity on your pursuits. They also discuss how some guests have achieved success doing it “by the book” while others have pulled only what they need from different approaches, and the risks of putting yourself out there either too early or too late.

Blaine Sumner, World Powerlifting Champion

Do observers recognize the grind or just see the glory? Kevin and Lauren chat with Blaine Sumner about his path from a very lean kid to becoming the World Powerlifting Champion. He discusses the importance of reaching incremental goals, overcoming injuries, and being incorrectly viewed as a “genetic freak.” Blaine also shares his view on the importance of a systemic approach to tackling goals, the mental aspect of reaching the top, and what it is like to lift over 1000 lbs. Check this one out to hear how the self-described “skinny kid” became a world champion powerlifter.

Learn more about Blaine: Instagram, Twitter

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with a sport and performance psychology expert (Dr. Adam Naylor) and an Olympic Gold Medalist (Joe Jacobi). Highlights include their discussion of  how goals can be counterproductive, how everything that gets popularized is at risk of being oversimplified, and the importance of contextual intelligence. They also discuss the approaches of focusing on what you have to lose versus have to gain, and assessing whether a goal is helping or hindering you.

Dr. Adam Naylor and Joe Jacobi  - Discussion on Goals 

What is your relationship with goals? In this episode, Kevin and Lauren chat with a sport and performance psychology expert (Dr. Adam Naylor) and an Olympic Gold Medalist (Joe Jacobi), about goals and goal setting. Highlights include a discussion of what makes goals truly helpful, the problem with rigidity in pursuing goals, and whether the easy access to analytical tools has pushed us to collectively overemphasize goal setting. The panel also discusses the difficulty many have with being in the moment and the addictive nature of having goals provide structure for our lives. Anyone who has ever set, or is pursuing a goal will want to tune in to this one.

Lauren Regula, Olympian; Founder of the Strong Mom Movement, and Trak Athletics

What would your goals be if there were no limitations? Kevin and Lauren chat with Lauren Regula about her path from a very small town to becoming an Olympian and professional athlete. She discusses the need to personalize training for what works for you, having conversations with coaches while being coachable, and her struggles with mental health. Her journey of founding the Strong Mom Movement and returning to the mound is full of great advice about handling success, picking yourself up, and not placing limits on yourself.

Learn more about Lauren: Instagram

Learn more about the Strong Mom Method: Instagram

AB Eastwood, Music Producer

Does a “no” mean you should stop pursuing your goals? Kevin and Lauren chat with AB Eastwood about his path in music production from meeting music legends after being invited to the White House to being an in demand producer. AB shares what it was like producing for well known artists before he owned his own laptop, the importance of learning one’s craft, and the reality of the music industry. He also discusses some of the lessons he learned along the way and how he felt when the national attention started coming his way.

Learn more about AB: Instagram, Twitter

Cody Byrns, Author and Speaker

Do you celebrate lessons learned during the hard times? In this episode, Kevin and Lauren chat with bestselling author and speaker Cody Byrns about the impact that a horrific near fatal car crash had on his path. He shares the importance of mindset when facing long odds, appreciating small victories, and recognizing that you can’t change the past. Cody also emphasizes the healing power of empowering others and the similarities between physical and emotional scars.

Learn more about Cody: website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook