excellence, actually
"excellence, actually" is a podcast from The Growth Equation, hosted by Steve Magness, Brad Stulberg, and Clay Skipper. Drawing on their years of working and corresponding with Olympians, coaches, executives, world-class physicians, and other elite-level achievers in their coaching practice and professional careers, they give you the mental and physical tools, practices, habits, and frameworks used by the best in the world in the pursuit of excellence. Each episode will give you concrete ideas and tips to use in your life immediately to help you become more meaningfully engaged in the pursuits that support your goals and your values. This is not the performative nonsense that is peddled online by grifters and influencers, but the evidence-based systems that work for the best in the world. This is excellence, actually. (This podcast used to appear under the name FAREWELL.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes
16 snips
Jun 6, 2024 • 1h 10min
045 - The Reason You Can’t Ever Get Through Your To-Do List (with Oliver Burkeman)
Author Oliver Burkeman challenges traditional time management strategies, advocating for accepting our limits and focusing on meaningful goals. He discusses the balance between efficiency and deep focus, prioritizing important tasks, and embracing reality to reduce stress and enhance productivity. The conversation delves into the impact of capitalism on our mentality, the evolution of productivity discourse, and finding contentment in the present moment.
8 snips
Jun 3, 2024 • 14min
044 - The Coach Up: Beginner's Mind and the Power of Pessimism
Rebecca Rusch, the 'Queen of Pain,' shares her surprising approach to mastering her craft in this podcast. They discuss the Zen concept of 'Beginner's Mind,' the power of pessimism, and the perils of over preparing. Embracing humility, continuous growth, and the value of asking for help are highlighted themes in the conversation.
May 30, 2024 • 49min
043 - Lessons from a 10-Day Silent Meditation Retreat
The podcast delves into the transformative insights of a 10-day silent meditation retreat, exploring control, pain, and patience in meditation practice. It also discusses mindfulness and self-awareness in physical performance, shifting from reacting to responding through meditation, and the virtues of patience, faith, and practice for growth.
May 27, 2024 • 18min
042 - The Coach Up: Master These Soft Skills to Become a Great Leader
Experienced coach Steve Magness discusses the importance of soft skills in effective leadership, emphasizing qualities like curiosity, care, and authenticity. He explores how ego and blame can hinder coaching progress and highlights the essential qualities of a youth sports coach, promoting a positive and enjoyable approach for long-term success.
May 23, 2024 • 1h 14min
041 - How Algorithms are Changing Our Identity & Culture (with Kyle Chayka)
Author Kyle Chayka discusses how algorithms shape our cultural experiences and influence our identity. The conversation explores the impact of algorithmic feeds on personal preferences and the importance of friction for self-discovery in the digital age.
May 20, 2024 • 19min
040 - The Coach Up: Allostasis vs. Homeostasis, and the Science of Handling Change
Exploring the shift from traditional stability to adaptability with allostasis, emphasizing the need for flexibility in handling life's changes. Learn about the benefits of embracing change, navigating chaos with rituals, and finding stability through resilience and personal growth. Discover the importance of adaptation and evolution for psychological well-being.
May 16, 2024 • 44min
039 - Roundtable: Intuitive Eating, Using Fear as Motivation, and Internet Culture
Topics include intuitive eating, using fear as motivation, and protecting humanity from technology. They discuss the challenges of interpreting internal signals, embracing fear as a motivator for success, and the impact of technology on genuine human connections.
May 13, 2024 • 9min
038 - The Coach Up: The Two Types of Attention
Exploring the importance of attention in health, the dynamics of bottom-up versus top-down attention, training focus through activities like meditation and deep reading, and the significance of attention training for overall mental well-being.
7 snips
May 9, 2024 • 1h 5min
037 - A Saner Way to Eat (with Evelyn Tribole)
Clay talks to Evelyn Tribole, co-founder of Intuitive Eating, about mindful eating and building a healthy relationship with food. They explore decoding food cravings, breaking free from diet culture, and embracing mindfulness in eating habits for better physical and mental health.
5 snips
May 6, 2024 • 20min
036 - The Coach Up: Steve's Best Strategies for Handling Pressure
Discover effective strategies for managing nerves and pressure in high-stress situations. Learn about physiological tricks and positive interpretations of stress to improve performance. Explore facing failure as a way to cope with pressure and fear. Dive into a coach's unique strategy to build self-confidence. Delve into how elite athletes navigate pressure through personalized responses and growth opportunities.
