The reason you struggle with bad habits or anxiety doesn't stem from a lack of willpower—it's likely because you aren't hacking your brain properly. From daily routines to anxious tendencies, many of our behaviors seem beyond our control, but psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Judson Brewer has the answers for finding more agency in our minds. Brewer, the Director of Research and Innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center and author of The Hunger Habit, The Craving Mind and Unwinding Anxiety, joins Mind Game host Casey Bannon to reveal that willpower isn't the solution. Instead, it’s the superpowers of curiosity that can help us understand our brains, manage anxiety, cultivate healthier habits and, perhaps most importantly, make more putts.Subscribe to The Golfer’s Journal: ⁠https://www.golfersjournal.com/⁠Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: ⁠https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24⁠Find out which Vokey wedges work for you: ⁠https://www.vokey.com/All Mind Game episodes: ⁠https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/podcast/mind-game-podcast/

Willy Wilcox had the ball-striking to compete on the PGA Tour, but behind every 300-yard drive was a painful secret—a crippling addiction that caused his career and life to spiral. For years, he turned to painkillers while on the course to combat severe performance anxiety, playing tournament rounds under the weight of Percocet and heroin. In a raw conversation with host Tom Coyne, Wilcox opens up about how the highs of cashing checks on Tour were overshadowed by the dark lows that led him to rehab in 2022. Since embarking on that journey to sobriety, Wilcox has found himself back on Tour, not as a player, but as a caddie. For a pro who didn’t carry a yardage book in his playing days, it may seem crazy that he’s now making a name for himself on Sungjae Im’s bag, but for Wilcox, it’s his second chance—not just in golf, but in life.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Not all polos are created equal, and neither are the brands behind them. On the latest TGJ Podcast, Tom Coyne visits Holderness & Bourne HQ in New York to sit down with co-founders Alex Holderness and John Bourne—two Yale grads who traded Wall Street for the Garment District with no prior fashion experience and a relentless drive to make the perfect polo. Alex and John share their advice for turning an idea into a physical product, navigating the golf industry, working with your friends and creating a product that cuts through the noise. Yes: the names stitched on pro shop labels around the world are actual people, and they have a story to tell. The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist

He left a promising junior golf career to chase the rockstar dream, and it came true. Cam Avery has played bass for Tame Impala for the last decade while also producing solo records and playing alongside big-time acts like Arctic Monkeys. Now Avery is back playing competitive golf and documenting his journey along the way. He joins Mind Game to discuss the grind of the music business, not being able to read sheet music, the Venn diagram of life and golf, and whether or not he'd still WD from that Australian amateur event to go see Oasis. Subscribe to The Golfer’s Journal: https://www.golfersjournal.com/Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24Put the 2025 ProV1 and ProV1x in play: https://www.titleist.com/All Mind Game episodes: https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/mind-game-podcast/

Kyle Bandujo, author of 'Movies with Balls', dives into the intersection of sports analysis and fictional golf stories. He and host Tom Coyne debate why classics like 'Caddyshack' reign supreme and how films like 'Tin Cup' miss the mark. They discuss the emotional depth of underrated films, contrast character dynamics, and reflect on the nostalgic representation of golf in cinema. Bandujo's insights contribute to a colorful analysis of how sports narratives resonate beyond just the game, making for a thought-provoking and entertaining conversation.

Steven Pressfield, renowned author of 'The Legend of Bagger Vance' and 'The War of Art,' shares his journey through resistance and creativity. He discusses the significance of self-doubt as a growth tool and the emotional toll of loss, highlighting how both experiences intertwine in our pursuit of excellence. Pressfield also explores the shift from amateur to professional mindsets in golf and life, emphasizing passion versus obsession, while revealing philosophical ties between golf and personal authenticity. This captivating conversation blends personal anecdotes with profound insights.

Mary Kate Morrissey is seeing green. You might think playing Elphaba in the stage production of Wicked seven times a week would leave little time for golf, but Mary Kate (or MK to her friends) is more golf mad than most Broadway leads. Whether it be weekly indoor lessons or trips to warmer golf locales, golf has cast a real-life spell over the most famous witch in town. In this conversation with fellow Philadelphian Tom Coyne, MK discusses how her Mom pulled her into the game, how she manages a grueling performance schedule, and exactly how long it takes to turn green in the makeup chair (less time than it takes a Tour pro to finish a par-five). If you’ve forgotten what you love about this game, MK’s newfound passion for golf will remind you why it’s indeed a pastime worth singing about. Presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

Nick Kokonas, co-founder of the three-Michelin-star restaurant Alinea, shares his thrilling journey from trading to transforming the culinary scene. He discusses risk-taking strategies and his insights on the intertwined worlds of fine dining and golf. With humor, he dives into the importance of embracing discomfort for growth, explores creativity in restaurants versus sports, and offers ideas to reenergize the PGA Tour. Kokonas also reflects on psychological barriers in competitive environments, emphasizing the need for personal growth and accountability.

It’s not often you hear a 44-year-old major champion say that this will be their best year ever, but Adam Scott has always done things his own way. In a candid and insightful conversation with host Tom Coyne, the man with the perfect golf swing reveals that he gave up chasing perfection a long time ago. He also tells some classic stories, like how he used to be “intimidated” by Butch Harmon, the LPGA player he tries to emulate when his swing gets out of sync, and what Steve Williams told him just before he holed the winning putt at the 2013 Masters. The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Whether it’s Kobe, Michael or Tiger, it always comes back to the fundamentals. That is according to J.A. Adande, the Director of Sports Journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. In this episode of Mind Game, Adande is joined by his former student Casey Bannon to discuss Adande's remarkable 30-year media career and what he’s learned from covering the greats along the way. What drove Kobe? How was Kobe different than MJ? Will we ever know the real Tiger? Find answers to those questions, plus Adande’s memories of a paradigm-shifting conversation with Bill Russell in a golf cart and Justin Leonard’s 1999 Ryder Cup putt below. Subscribe to The Golfer’s Journal: https://www.golfersjournal.com/ Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24 Experience the new Titleist GT Driver: https://www.titleist.com/ All Mind Game episodes: https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/mind-game-podcast/