Send us a textDr. Amishi Jha joins Joe to discuss her book, Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day . Amishi sheds light on the complexities of the brain's attention system to help us understand how we can navigate and enhance our focus in stressful and demanding jobs. In this episode Joe and Amishi discuss: How our attention shapes everything from emotions to relationships Challenges in maintaining attention in an information-saturated ageHow the attention system works The vulnerability of attention to stress and its impact on performanceInsights into memory and emotional regulation How mindfulness training helps strengthens our attention system A practical approach to mindfulness training for enhancing attention Whether you’re struggling to stay present, looking to enhance your memory, or seeking solace in the whirlwind of the digital age, this episode promises to turn the light of your attention onto pathways that could lead to a calmer, more focused state of being. Learn more about Amishi's research in military cohorts here.Dr. Amishi Jha, PhD is Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami. Prior to her current post, she was an Assistant Professor at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania.She received her B.S in Biological Psychology from the Universityof Michigan, her Ph.D in Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience) from the University of California–Davis, and her post-doctoral training at the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center at Duke University in functional neuroimaging.Learn more about her work here.Special thanks to this week's sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Connect Leadership With Action Across Distributed Formations With Mustr by Adyton. Mustr is your digital knife-hand for daily and rapid personnel accountability, real time response data visibility, and automated reporting. Learn more about what Mustr can do for your formation here! My favorite coffee is veteran-owned Alpha Coffee and I've been drinking it every morning since 2020! They make 100% premium arabica coffee. Alpha has donated over 22k bags of coffee to deployed units and they offer a 10% discount for military veterans, first responders, nurses, and teachers! Try their coffee today. Once you taste the Alpha difference, you won't want to drink anything else!  Learn more here.   

Dr. Michael Norton, author of 'The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual', talks about the hidden power of rituals in our daily lives. They discuss the impact of rituals, the difference between habits and rituals, personal rituals, rituals in transitions like becoming a leader, and family rituals. Dr. Norton explores how rituals can improve performance and help navigate life, create family traditions, and the significance of rituals in diverse areas of life.

LTG Donahue discusses leadership lessons from Afghanistan, importance of physical fitness, innovation in the Army, successful communication tips, and career advice for military leaders. He highlights the balance between culture and process, morning rituals, war strategy studies, and embracing change in a dynamic environment.

General Randy George, the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army, shares insights on leadership, emphasizing the importance of asking questions, being a great editor, and transforming in contact. He discusses the need for professional boundaries, encouraging discourse, and empowering talent. General George also reveals his recharge strategies after a long day and highlights the significance of setting priorities and boundaries for effective leadership.

Send us a textMatt Higgins,  author the Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential  joins Joe and shares his amazing story of escaping poverty and how his "Burn the Boats!" philosophy has guided his life. Joe and Matt also discuss:Changing our relationship with imposter syndromeAdopting a "burn the boats" mindset in various contexts, including the military, entrepreneurship, and personal challenges.Role of authenticity in leadership positionsDealing with anxiety and the pressure of high-stakes environmentsWhy a growth mindset is uncomfortableSelf-Awareness and leadership...and much more! Matt Higgins is a noted serial entrepreneur, growth equity investor as Co-founder and CEO of private investment firm, RSE Ventures, and Wall Street Journal  best-selling author of Burn The Boats.Mr. Higgins began his career in public service as a journalist before becoming the youngest mayoral press secretary in New York City at 26, where he managed the global media response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He became one of the first employees – and ultimately Chief Operating Officer – of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the federally funded government agency created to plan the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site. Mr. Higgins helped organize the largest international design competition in history culminating in Reflecting Absence, the September 11th National Memorial, and the development of the 1,776-feet-tall One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the northern hemisphere.After transitioning to the private sector, Mr. Higgins spent 15 years in senior leadership positions with National Football League teams. He made his mark with two NFL franchises, overseeing the revenue functions of the New York Jets as Executive Vice President of Business Operations, and after leaving the Jets, serving as Vice Chairman of the Miami Dolphins from 2012 – 2021. Higgins co-founded New York City-based RSE Ventures in 2012, amassing a multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio of leading brands across sports and entertainment, media and marketing, consumer and technology industries – including several of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. Higgins is also co-owner of VaynerMedia, the largest social-media first agency in the world founded by Gary Vaynerchuk. Mr. Higgins has also been a guest shark on Emmy award-winning TV show “Shark Tank” during seasons 10-11. Special thanks to this week's sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Connect Leadership With Action Across Distributed Formations With Mustr by Adyton. Mustr is your digital knife-hand for daily and rapid personnel accountability, real time response data visibility, and automated reporting. Learn more about what Mustr can do for your formation here! My favorite coffee is veteran-owned Alpha Coffee and I've been drinking it every morning since 2020! They make 100% premium arabica coffee. Alpha has donated over 22k bags of coffee to deployed units and they offer a 10% discount for military veterans, first responders, nurses, and teachers! Try their coffee today. Once you taste the Alpha difference, you won't want to drink anything else!  Learn more here.   

Author Steven Pressfield discusses the power of answering your calling, facing Resistance, and aligning inner and outer worlds. He shares insights on thriving in chaos, combating self-doubt, and the importance of small daily passages. Pressfield's journey to mastery, uncovering passion and purpose, and exploring the hero's journey are also explored in this engaging episode.

Army Colonel Dave Butler discusses the pitfalls of social media engagement and the power of relationships for leaders. He also shares tips on being an effective staff officer and the importance of purposeful communication in leadership.

Terry Hayes discusses leaving Hollywood, leveraging subconscious in writing scene with Mel Gibson, finding courage in novels and real life. His journey from journalist to novelist, embracing creative process, and perseverance in pursuit of dreams. Exploring character evolution, essence of real courage, and post-success struggles. Reflecting on personal history, family values, and the transformative power of storytelling.

Anna Papalia, CEO of Interviewology, discusses her book on the art of interviewing. Topics include the four interview styles, self-awareness, leveraging interview styles, and the importance of the STAR method in answering questions.

Sgt. Major Weimer shares his journey and the influence of family and mentors. They discuss the importance of difficult conversations with empathy and challenging ghost rules. Learn about custom gear and effective relationships in the military. The significance of relationships and leadership progression is explored. Embracing uncomfortable conversations is emphasized. Expressions of gratitude and encouragement for continued support are given.