The 18STRONG Podcast

Dr. Michael Gervais joins us in this episode to discuss finding mastery in everything that we do, including our golf game.  Dr. Gervais is one of the world’s leading experts in psychology when it comes to working with high performance individuals, especially athletes. Included in his resume is working with Coach Pete Carroll and the Seattle SeaHawks, Red Bull extreme athletes, and corporate execs and teams striving for higher performance.  In this episode, he takes us on a journey of exploration of our inner selves and desires.  Why do you play golf, and what does dictate for you regarding your goals and results? Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Dr. Michael Gervais’ Background California Licensed psychologist specializing in high performance, he works in the trenches of high-stakes environments, where there is no luxury for mistakes, hesitation, or failure to respond. He has created a performance model that allows people to achieve their maximum potential, whether on or off the field. A published, peer-reviewed author and recognized speaker on human performance issues, Dr. Gervais has been featured by ESPN, CNN, NFL Network, FUELtv, Red Bull TV, Extra, The Huffington Post, GolfersMD, South Bay magazine and others. Host of the Finding Mastery Podcast Psychologist working witht he Seattle SeaHawks Co-Founder of WinForever with Coach Pete Carroll Psychologist to multiple extreme athletes, including Red Bull athlete Felix Baugartner, aka. the dude that jumped from outer-space! Highlights from this Episode Dr. Gervais breaks down what he does as a psychologist working with athletes and individuals in high performance situations. What are the differences/similarities in working with the extreme athletes compared to working with other athletes and individuals. Dr. G talks about what he has learned from the “masters” he has interviewed on his podcast. How do we get better at handling disappointments? and how do we train ourselves to be “more comfortable being uncomfortable?” Dr. Gervais gives us some practical application for finding mindfulness in our daily lives and how this applies to golf. We discuss the “space between hesitation and commitment”  and how important that is for performance. The Razor’s Edge, what is it and what are the possibilities we face when we are in this scenario Dr. G suggests that ultimately you ask yourself “Why” are you playing golf?  That should determine  goals, outcomes, and daily practices. CaddyShack or Happy Gilmore? CaddyShack One or 2 of the Most Influential People, Books, or Experiences in Your Life? Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Coach Carroll- Seattle Seahawks Who would you like to spend a day on the course with? Ferdinand Magellan Elon Musk What are you excited about in your near future/ Whats your mission? “Roots and Reach” Where to Find Dr. Michael Gervais: websites: MichaelGervais.com, Finding Mastery, WinForEver.com Facebook: Finding Mastery Twitter: @MichaelGervais Other Resources/Links Mentioned Books: When Buddhists Attack, Learned Optimism, The Art of Learning   Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop!

John Thorp, from BodiTrak Sports joins us in this episode to discuss a topic in golf and other sports that has been talked about, but not often studied, which is the relationship that an athlete has with the ground. Ground mechanics are often noted as a huge part of the golf swing, but until now, it has not been easy to actually measure these forces without a complete research lab. With their newest technology, Boditrak has changed the game as it relates to the golf swing.  In this episode, we will not only discuss why looking at the feet and pressures on the ground are so important, but also how their technology has been able to take this to the driving range, the course, and just about anywhere.  And golf is just the beginning. . . Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: John Thorp’s Background Grew up in Canada Played hockey, not golf growing up. President of BodiTrak Sports CaddyShack or Happy Gilmore? Happy Gilmore.  It was his favorite movie growing up.  Plus he’s a Canadian, so anything to do with hockey is basically a given. One of the most influential People, Books, or Experiences in your life: Terry Hashimoto Highlights from this Episode John and I discuss the relationship between an athlete and the ground and why it’s so important to understand. John tells us the story behind BodiTrak Sports, where it all started and some of the plans for the future. We discuss the implications of being able to use this technology on the range, on the course, in the gym, etc. John has been very involved in the Level One TPI seminars over the past several months, which has allowed both BodiTrak and TPI to analyze and discover connections between the Big 12 swing characteristics and what is going on in the feet of the golfer. Some of the main takeaways that you may want to note in your own swing are your balance positions at setup and the loading of weight into the trail foot during and at the top of the backswing. John talks about how looking at the foot mechanics can be very beneficial for the mid to high handicap golfer simply by creating a true awareness and feedback on what their feet are doing in general. As for the tour players, coaches are using this as a feedback tool for things as specific as snapshots of what each club and even types of shots should look like.  They are then able to compare with the foot trace when a poor shot is hit. John and I also discuss the fact that golf is just a small area that this technology will ultimately be effective.  Many more applications in other sports and even in the sports medicine world are likely in the forefront. BodiTrak and Footjoy have also teamed up to look at which shoes work best for certain players.  In fact, they even noticed as much as a 3mph difference in clubhead speed simply by fitting a player with the proper shoes! John tells us the story behind BodiTrak setting up an office here in St. Louis, MO and what brought them here, including the guys at Stadia Ventures Who would you like to spend a day on the course with? Doug Gilmour was (and I think still is) John’s childhood idol.  In fact, in recent years he and his buddies had a rec hockey team that they named “The Dougies!” Here is a link to the letter Doug Gilmour wrote to “[His] Younger Self” What are you excited about in your near future? All the possibilities ahead with BodiTrak Sports.  And their new ventures into St. Louis Where to Find John Thorp: website: boditraksports.com Facebook: BodiTrak Sports Twitter: @BodiTrakSports Other Links Mentioned Doug Gilmour Letter The 18STRONG Flexibility Guide Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop!

Demi Runas, LPGA golfer and one of Golf.com’s “Most Beautiful Women in Golf”  joins us in this episode to share her experiences as a professional golfer and the changes that she has made in the gym that have made such an impact on the course. As a young, up and coming professional golfer, Demi Runas has had some amazing experiences on the golf course.  In this episode of the 18STRONG Podcast, she shares some of the highs and lows , as well as some key lessons she has learned that have made her a stronger player.  Demi is also known for her work ethic and impressive fitness training, which she attributes a lot of her success to. She is a great role model for all golfers, and has a great message when it comes to working smarter and harder in the gym.  A message that she especially hopes to pass on to the female golfers interested in improving both their game and their health. Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Demi Runas’s Background Grew up playing golf, starting around the age of 4 Finished 9th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list by closing in a tie for 2nd at the Symetra Tour Championship to move from 15th to 9th. Posted two second place results and three additional top 10 finishes Finished 3rd in the Gaelle Truet Rookie of the Year Three-time Big West Player of the Year at UC Davis Won the 2013 Big West Women’s Golf Championship and guided team to four Big West conference titles Four time First Team All Big West Highlights from this Episode Demi tells us about her college coach and how she was/is such an inspiration to her She recounts her introduction to golf as a youngster and how she has loved the game since she was very young Demi recounts her experiences on the course including some of her most frustrating and most gratifying moments She tells an amazing story of the day she earned her LPGA card by shooting lights out and getting into a playoff in her last event of the year in 2014 We discuss her training program and her work with Chang Lee at Exos; how “training properly” has revolutionized her game and her power We especially touch on why it is so important for women to work on strength and power in their workouts to improve their game Demi shares some of her nutritional strategies that she feels are key to stamina on the course And we discuss some of the mental toughness that she has developed over the years, some of which she has had since she was little, and some which has taken a lot of work and effort to develop. CaddyShack or Happy Gilmore? Happy Gilmore One or 2 of the Most Influential People, Books, or Experiences in Your Life? Her college coach Anne Walker Who would you like to spend a day on the course with? Jack Nicklaus What are you excited about in your near future? Playing her greatest golf Where to Find Demi Runas: LPGA player profile: Demi Runas Facebook: Demi Runas Golf Twitter: @DemiRunasGolf Instagram: @DemiRunasGolf Other Links Mentioned Most Beautiful Women in Golf: Demi Runas Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop!

Sam Goulden joins us in this episode to share his experiences as a coach and a player in this incredible game of golf.  Sam has become one of the most sought after coaches in the game that is working with the Focus Band and delving more into the world of managing the mind and focus on the course,as opposed to the traditional model of instruction which is generally based more on technique and positional changes. In this episode, Sam and I talk about his travels and experiences from playing/teaching here in St. Louis, to selling all of his possessions and traveling to California to play, at times living in a tent and struggling to figure out his position in this game.  Sam loves the game of golf and has found a new appreciation for playing and coaching using this new approach of mind over technique. Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Sam Goulden’s Background Grew up in Washington, Missouri Skateboarder first, golfer second (at least used to be). Started coaching golfers, then his fucosed shifted more to playing competitively in 2006. Moved to California in 2009 to play on the mini tours. In 2012, decided to give it a run at PGA Tour qualifiers, sold all his possessions and took his show on the road, documenting the whole process with a group of other players, known as TourQuest Sam has been doing a lot more teaching and instruction as of recently, working very closely with the developers of the Focus Band (Graeme and Henry Boulton) and mental game/short game instructor Jason Goldsmith. Highlights from this Episode Sam gives us the highlights of his incredible journey from when he was a golfer in Washington Missouri to where he is now (which is currently The Royal Isabella in Puerto Rico!). We talk about how we met many years ago here in St. Louis when we were both much younger, more naive and probably more handsome. We discuss Sam’s experiences using the Focus Band in his instruction with students and how it has completely changed how he teaches. Sam shares his unique perspective on how the ability to quiet one’s mind (which is actually an ancient process) can make practice much more effective and competition much more relaxing and FUN. Sam walks us through some practical applications of the focus band as well as a couple of things we can do to work on the mind without the high tech components. See the target, see the ball.  Know where your intended target is and let the rest go. Lots of great stories and experiences in this episode.  Definitely take a listen! Henry Boulton working with the Focus Band and mobile App CaddyShack or Happy Gilmore? CaddyShack One or 2 of the Most Influential People, Books, or Experiences in Your Life? Ben Hogan’s 5 Lessons Jason Goldsmith Who would you like to spend a day on the course with? Ben Hogan The 19y.o. version of himself What are you excited about in your near future? Getting as good as possible, playing great golf and continuing to grow the game with his golfers Where to Find Sam Goulden: website: https://samgouldengolf.com/ Facebook: TourQuest Twitter: @SamGouldenGolf @TeamTourQuest Instagram: Test_of_Wills TourQuest Other Links Mentioned Focus Band TourQuest Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop!

Skip Berkmeyer joins us in this episode to share his experiences as a top amateur and mid-amateur golfer, both locally and nationally.  Having won the Missouri Amateur title multiple times, played in 30 USGA events and won on the national level, Skip offers us some insights in to his philosophies around playing your best golf and how to balance that when you also have a full time career, wife, kids, etc. As a friend and one of the best players I know personally, it was great to chat with Skip and hear some of his stories from the past, get some advice from him about playing better golf, and learning more about what keeps him driven to play at such a high level when the stakes aren’t millions of dollars.  Simply a love of the game and a desire to keep competing ! Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Skip Berkmeyer’s Background Has played in 30 USGA events Won the Missouri State Amateur title 3 times Player of the Year 11 times in Missouri 2009 Crump Cup Champion Grew up in St. Louis, MO Played multiple sports in high school: Baseball, Football, Golf Highlights from this Episode Skip shares some of his accomplishments as an amateur golfer on the local and national level Skip didn’t grow up playing only golf, he played just about every sport. We discuss the pros and cons to that back then and now. Ultimately, he believes that not focusing solely on golf, but having the freedom to play other sports, is likely why he still has such a love for the game. Skip explains why he still does it all.  With a wife, kids, running a business, a radio show, life is busy, but he still has the drive to compete and win. We also talk about the trends in the game and the younger golfers coming up in regards to fitness and athleticism. Skip’s experience is that the younger players coming up are more athletic: bigger, stronger, and longer than ever. Skip emphasizes that if golf is not your full-time job, it takes a lot of organization to practice, play and prepare if you want to compete. He stresses the use of small doses of focused practice, rather than going to the range and hitting hundreds of balls. Work on the short game and put yourself in all different position. Don’t just hit the same shots over and over.  You need to practice adversity, so you are prepared when you face it on the course. Words of wisdom: “[Get good with the driver, the wedge and the putter.]” Skip some some of his best memories and a couple of his biggest challenges on the course. CaddyShack or Happy Gilmore? CaddyShack One or 2 of the Most Influential People, Books, or Experiences in Your Life? His Parents.  Especially being able to see his mom win the women’s state Amateur title (which she won 5 times!) Who would you like to spend a day on the course with? His Grandfather: who he lost at age 9.  His grandfather was the one that taught his mom to play golf. Bobby Jones: Being an amateur like Bobby, would love to get some of his insights. What are you excited about in your near future? Just excited to get consistently get better. Where to Find Skip Berkmeyer: Company Website: All-startrophy.com Radio Show: Fairways and Greens Twitter: @sberkmeyer Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop!  

Our trip to the 2016 PGA Show was a huge success.  It was the first trip that Ryan, Tim, and I have taken together as 18STRONG, and and I have to say, we had a great time, met some great people, and were amazed at not only the size of the show, but the excitement that was in the air around golf in general.   Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Highlights from this Episode In this episode, I simply wanted to give you a glimpse of our experience at the PGA show.   There are so many great people and connections that we made while we were there.  If you have never been to the show before, I highly recommend going just to experience it once. You will find everything under the sun that is golf related: gadgets, equipment, simulators, golf carts, apparel, you name it. Here is a little collage of our trip.  Yes, we had a very good time! Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop! <a

Jonathan Bailor, author of the NY Times and USA Today Bestselling book, “The Calorie Myth,” joins us in this episode to share his experience in the world of health and nutrition and to dispel the long believed, but rarely successful “Eat Less, Exercise More” philosophy on weight loss and health.   Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Jonathan Bailor’s Background Jonathan Bailor is an internationally recognized wellness expert who specializes in using modern science and technology to simplify health. He has collaborated with top scientists for more than 10 years to analyze and apply over 1,300 studies. His work has been endorsed by top doctors and scientists from Harvard Medical School, Johns’ Hopkins, The Mayo Clinic, The Cleveland Clinic, and UCLA. Jonathan is the founder of SANESolution.com and serves as the CEO for the wellness technology company Yopti®. He authored the New York Times and USA Today bestselling book The Calorie Myth, Hosts a popular syndicated health radio show The SANE Show And regularly blogs on The Huffington Post. Additionally, Bailor has registered over 25 patents, spoken at Fortune 100 companies and TED conferences for over a decade, and served as a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft where he helped create Nike+ Kinect Training and XBox Fitness. Highlights from this Episode Jonathan starts out by answering the question “How did we get it so wrong for so long?” talking about the idea of calorie counting and the “Eat less, exercise more” philosophy Jonathan explains a few of the analogies in his book that really drive home some of the major concepts that are fundamentally different than what most of us have been taught, like: Our bodies are like a clogged drain Sugar is basically the new cigarette The SANE solution (which is his solution for helping us eat more and exercise less!) Jonathan helps us understand why the concept of preaching moderation, especially in recommended guidelines is so wrong.  You wouldn’t suggest someone smoke in moderation, or simply smoke smaller cigarettes, would you?! Jonathan shares with us the keys to eating smarter, SANE foods, and why they create a much more efficient environment in your body that will help you burn more fat, feel much better, and ultimately play a much better game of golf! CaddyShack or Happy Gilmore? Happy Gilmore (as he has NEVER SEEN CADDYSHACK! but he’s not a golfer, so we forgive him;-) One or 2 of the Most Influential People, Books, or Experiences in Your Life? The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People by Steven Covey Where to Find Jonathan Bailor: Website: SANESolution.com Facebook: SANE Solution Twitter: @jonathanbailor Other Links Mentioned Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop!  

Sean Hutchison joins us in this episode to share his experiences in coaching world champion swimmers, brain science, mirror neurons, and why he is now speaking to the who’s who about creating better golfers. Sean is the founder of IKKOS, a technology company that is changing the way we learn movement patterns.  He shares with us how, in literally minutes, the brain has the ability to see something externally, process it as if it is our own body, and then perform that same movement better than before, using mirror neurons.  “Back to the Future” kind of stuff, right! Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Sean Hutchison’s Background Former US Olympic swim coach Sean has trained some of the world’s top athletes, and is regarded as a coaches’ coach In addition, he is an experienced entrepreneur with a history of building outstanding teams, innovative products, and revolutionary systems for learning and training. Sean is the founder of Ikkos, an incredibly innovative piece of technology that allows you to tap into the power of your brain to create better movement in sport and function within minutes of work. Highlights from this Episode Sean divulges some of the most influential people in his life that have helped him get to where is is now We discuss his background as a swimmer, then swim coach and some of the decisions and passions that helped him become a world class coach Sean explains some of the common characteristics that he noticed in the world class and Olympic medal athletes that he trained. He shares why he hates the word “talent” We delve into brain science and how his passion for learning more has now become a new venture for him by creating the company IKKOS IKKOS is a combination of mobile technology and recently understood brain science that uses the premise of mirror neurons to help you literally download the movement patterns that you see on TV to your brain and body! CaddyShack or Happy Gilmore? CaddyShack- definitively! One or 2 of the Most Influential People, Books, or Experiences in Your Life? His family Walt Disney, DiVinci, Einstein, Hemingway (people of Mastery) Who would you like to spend a day on the course with? Bill Murray What are you excited about in your near future? Helping people do things they didn’t think they could do. Where to Find Sean Hutchison: website: ikkos.com Facebook: IKKOS Twitter: @IkkosCEO Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop!

Jim Hackenberg, the creator of the Orange Whip Trainer join’s us in this episode to give us the story behind his invention which has been named the #1 Golf Product in the world. If you haven’t seen or heard about the Orange Whip Trainer, frankly, you must have been living under a rock.  These things are everywhere, including in over 400 professional golfers bags across the globe. In today’s episode, Jim shares how he came up with the idea for the Orange Whip, where the name came from, and how to use it. Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below:  Jim Hackenberg and the Orange Whip’s Background Jim grew up in North Dakota, but didn’t start playing golf until the age of 12 or 13. Once he started playing he was hooked. Jim played at Arizona State for a couple of years (at the same time as ole “Lefty,” Phil Mickelson) before finishing his college career at Oregon State. He played on the mini tours for quite a few years before going into teaching. While he was teaching, he was asked to caddy for a friend on the PGA, which is when the idea for the Orange Whip came to him. Highlights from this Episode Jim tells us about the revelation he had about the golf swing and teaching his clients, and how this lead to the creation of the orange whip. After many tweaks and changes to the prototype, he finally figured out the right look and feel, and the Orange Whip was born. Jim and I discuss the importance of rhythm, tempo and balance in a golf swing. Jim walks us through his 3 main drills for the Orange Whip: Torso Twist Hinging Forearm Rotation Drill Full swing Drill Jim has learned quite a few new drills from other teachers that use the Orange Whip (including using the trainer as a high intensity or cardio alternative, you can see our video below . . .) Jim reveals where the name REALLY came from (HINT: it’s an 80’s movie with 2 guys in Black hats, Suits, and sunglasses. . .) We talk about all of the professional players that are using this tool and why it has become such a “Must Have” item. CaddyShack or Happy Gilmore? CaddyShack Who would you like to spend a day on the course with? Tom Watson Ernest Jones: developed the ball on the end of a chain philosophy for golf How to get an Orange Whip? Just go to this link “I want a Whip” and you will get the 18STRONG discount. **(If you do not see the discount at checkout, use the code “18STRONG“)** What are you excited about in your near future? Coming out with a new Orange Whip Putter Where to Find Jim Hackenberg OrangeWhipTrainer.com Facebook: Orange Whip Trainer Twitter: @OrangeWhipGolf Other Links Mentioned All the Orange Whip videos Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop!

Diet and nutrition info is running rampant online.  It’s hard to know where to begin when you are looking to clean up the diet and get on the right track.  So in this episode, I am going to break down the exact guidelines that we use with our clients and athletes. I’m gonna warn you they are pretty simple and common-sense based, so if you’re looking for a magic wand or super secret trick, this episode doesn’t have it.  The nutrition guidelines are something I learned from Dr. John Berardi over at Precision Nutrition and have basically been following ever since I first saw them. Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Highlights from this Episode I have come to find that people usually struggle with their nutrition for 5 main reasons: They don’t have enough information They have too much information and are paralyzed by information overload They have BAD information that leads them down the wrong path They know what they need to do, but just aren’t willing to commit to it They just plain don’t care! I tell the story of a time a few years back when life got hectic, I let my diet and workouts slide, and I got FAT! But once I opened my eyes and realized how much I had let myself slip, I drew the line in the sand and committed to my diet and workouts hard-core, dropping over 11% bodyfat and adding quite a bit of muscle mass in less that 3 months.  In this episode, I share the primary principles that I used during that time (and since then) with my diet. I found that there were 3 main components that allowed me to succeed in this: The 10 nutrition guidelines I am going to share A solid plan for my workouts (4-5 days/week, lots of weights, very little cardio!) An Accountability partner/coach The 10 Nutrition Guidelines These guidelines were originally taken from www.PrecisionNutrition.com (a great resource for anything related to nutrition) EAT OFTEN, every 2-3 hours Eat complete, lean PROTEIN at every “eating opportunity” Eat VEGETABLES at every “eating opportunity” Earn your CARBS Include HEALTHY FATS in your diet Drink water, coffee, or green tea Eat as many WHOLE FOODS as possible Plan on CHEATING! Create the HABIT of PREPARATION SUPPLEMENT appropriately (I recommend seeking out a professional) Recommended Resources: Greenwich Dx Sports Labs Omnivore’s Dilemma Precision Nutrition The Model Health Show Edibly Enlightened Food Prep Examples/Experts: Don Saladino Ali Gilbert Mike Subach Other Episodes Mentioned: Robert Yang– “Secrets to optimizing performance through Hydration and Nutrition” Shawn Stevenson– “Sleep is the Secret Sauce” Dr. Mark Smith– “High Intensity Training | Paleo for Golfers | Cardiovascular Health     Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop!