The Path Distilled Podcast

Dr. Lea Ann Parsley, Olympic Silver Medalist, Former Firefighter and EMT, Registered Nurse and Health Educator, Valor Performance Coach

When you encounter something new, particularly something a little scary or risky, do you think “that looks awesome, I’ve got to try that?” In this episode, Dr. Lea Ann Parsley shares with us the life, sport, academic, and work experiences that led her to competing and earning a medal at the 2002 Olympic Games despite starting the sport just a few years prior in her 30s. She discusses being a multi-sport athlete, the influence of her upbringing and family, and how her work as a firefighter, a nurse, and an EMT helped her navigate the mental and physical aspects of skeleton. She also shares how a teammate earned her the second spot on the Olympic roster which, among other experiences, helped her learn the value of surrounding yourself with good people. Lea Ann shares many great takeaways including the value of keeping things in perspective and exploring lots of interests until you find what you’re good at and are passionate about, so you can push that as far as it goes to benefit not only yourself but others.

To learn more about Lea Ann: Bio, Twitter

Tracy Tutor, Author, Fear is Just a Four Letter Word, and Star of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing LA 

Are you able to embrace fear, put it aside, and nail that big opportunity or performance? In this episode, Kevin and Lauren speak with bestselling author and television star, Tracy Tutor. Tracy shares her path of entering the L.A. luxury home real estate market at a young age, and the drive and determination that it required. She also shares what she has learned about what it takes to be successful, how to get into the proper mindset during stressful situations, and the important lessons from failures along the way. This episode is full of great advice including resisting being silenced, being true to yourself, and not striving for perfection. 

Learn more about Tracy: Instagram, Twitter

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with Nashville entrepreneur and artist manager, Justin Causey. The highlight is a conversation about the give and take of saying “yes” versus “no,” from the risk of taking on too much to the risk of missing an opportunity. Kevin and Lauren also touch on the power of a like-minded collective and ponder the relationship between participation in high-risk sports and the willingness to take chances in the artistic space.

Justin Causey, Entrepreneur and Music Artist Manager 

Are you willing to take the Ls in order to get to the Ws? In this episode we speak with Justin Causey about his experiences as an entrepreneur and artist manager in Nashville’s rising hip-hop music scene. Justin discusses his path in the music business, designing a shoe for Nike, and being named one of Tennessee State University’s 40 under 40. Listen to hear him share how a serious injury solidified his entrepreneurial approach, the rarity of finding a collective of artists moving forward together, and the importance of learning from failure. This episode is packed with motivational advice for anyone striving to live their dreams.

Learn more about Justin: Instagram, Twitter

Dr. David Eccles, Professor of Sport Psychology at Florida State University (Parts 1 & 2; Science of High Performance)

Do you have the patience to temporarily slow down enough in the midst of a high stakes situation to cultivate the best next move? Across two episodes we speak with Dr. Dave Eccles about his 20+ years of research on expert performance in a variety of domains. He describes research findings on how athletes plan ahead and simulate the competitive environment, his fascinating work on team coordination, and the impressive amounts of knowledge that orienteering athletes possess about navigating terrain. In Part 2, we get into his latest research exploring the role of rest in optimal performance, and discuss how not getting enough rest has been glamorized. This first installment of the Science of High Performance series is packed with useful tips for everyone.

Learn more about Dr. Eccles: Twitter

Dr. David Eccles, Professor of Sport Psychology at Florida State University (Parts 1 & 2; Science of High Performance)

Do you have the patience to temporarily slow down enough in the midst of a high stakes situation to cultivate the best next move? Across two episodes we speak with Dr. Dave Eccles about his 20+ years of research on expert performance in a variety of domains. He describes research findings on how athletes plan ahead and simulate the competitive environment, his fascinating work on team coordination, and the impressive amounts of knowledge that orienteering athletes possess about navigating terrain. In Part 2, we get into his latest research exploring the role of rest in optimal performance, and discuss how not getting enough rest has been glamorized. This first installment of the Science of High Performance series is packed with useful tips for everyone.

Learn more about Dr. Eccles: Twitter

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with Olympic Gold Medalist, Former CEO of USA Canoe/Kayak, and Performance Coach with the mic hot. Highlights include the idea of holding competing emotions (excited and nervous), being in the right place at the right time, and a discussion about the purpose of the pre-performance routine. Keep listening to The Path Distilled Podcast to catch future discussions about the pros and cons of goal setting.

Joe Jacobi, Olympic Gold Medalist, Former CEO of USA Canoe/Kayak, and Performance Coach

Do you focus on and remember more about your start lines or finish lines? In this episode, we speak with Lauren’s Valor Performance colleague, Joe Jacobi, about his sport career, as well as his experiences with leading a national governing body which led him to becoming a performance coach. Joe joins us from Catalonia, Spain, and shares his “outlier” story of getting involved in the sport, his case for a good routine, and how he and his doubles canoe partner implemented deliberate practice, simulation, and visualization leading up to the 1992 Games where they won the first American Gold Medal in whitewater canoe slalom. Joe also tells us about his philosophy on goals, what he views as the real difference maker in high performance, and how he thinks the river is an excellent analogy for life. Whether you are in sport, business, or any other performance domain, Joe shares many applicable stories, takeaways, practices, and lessons. 

Learn more about Joe: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram

Learn more about Valor Performance: Website

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with stand-up comedian and podcaster Brian Bates with the microphone hot.  Highlights include their discussion about developing an identity as a comic, comedy as a coping and defense mechanism, and the tremendous amount of work that goes  into comedy. Kevin also shares his perspective from having performed stand-up including comedic timing and the pitfall of “my friends think I’m funny.”

Brian Bates, Stand-up Comedian, and Cohost of Nateland Podcast

Would you have what it takes if your dream opportunity came true? In this episode we speak with Brian Bates about his career in comedy, and more recently, podcasting. Brian shares his path from taking a comedy class as a distraction from life events to touring the country and performing in theaters with world-class comedians. We also discuss Brian’s adjustments going from the corporate world to the life of a comic, the work ethic required to make it in comedy, and the attributes he thinks allowed him to succeed. You will also want to listen to hear what autofills when you begin searching for Brian’s name.

Learn more about Brian: Website, Instagram, Twitter

Learn more about Nateland Podcast: YouTube