Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

Jon Kabat-Zinn, a pioneering Professor of Medicine emeritus known for founding the Center for Mindfulness, delves into the transformative power of mindfulness. He discusses its profound impact on health and society, emphasizing mind-body interactions. The conversation navigates human emotions amid chaos, urging listeners to reconnect with themselves. Kabat-Zinn highlights the importance of integrating mindfulness into daily life and the need for collective action in addressing global challenges. His insights inspire a light-hearted yet profound approach to navigating life's complexities.

Shalane Flanagan, an American endurance legend and 4x Olympian, shares her inspiring journey from elite athlete to motherhood, highlighting the joy of running and personal growth. She discusses her incredible challenge of completing six major marathons in six weeks, emphasizing mental resilience and motivation. Shalane opens up about balancing athletic aspirations with personal life, handling body image issues, and the vital importance of recovery and community support. It's a heartfelt conversation that encourages listeners to embrace hard moments for personal growth.

Dr. Eric Johnson, a leading expert in behavioral decision research and Director at Columbia Business School, explores the intricacies of decision-making. He discusses how the presentation of choices can significantly impact our decisions, from organ donation to environmentally friendly products. Eric emphasizes the importance of choice architecture, explaining how simplifying options can lead to better outcomes. He also offers insights on navigating decisions under pressure and the psychological biases that can affect our choices in high-stakes situations.

Dr. Chris Mattmann, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at NASA's JPL, shares his insights on the intersection of deep learning and the dark web. He humorously explains the dark web's evolution and the importance of understanding its digital intricacies. The conversation also explores the future of artificial intelligence, discussing its potential risks and the need for human expertise in managing data. With anecdotes about personal growth and the creative process, Chris emphasizes resilience and the significance of iterative learning in innovation.

Angela Duckworth, the founder of Character Lab and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses how character strengths like self-control and grit can shape personal success and well-being. She explores three dimensions of character and shares how they can be nurtured in children. The conversation also touches on resilience through trauma, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and the growth that comes from adversity. Finally, Duckworth offers practical strategies for integrating character strengths into daily life for personal mastery.

This week’s conversation is with Doug Abrams, an author and truth hunter.Doug is committed to helping catalyze the next evolutionary stage of our global culture – and he’s worked with some incredible human beings along the way.He co-wrote The Book of Joy with the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, he’s worked with Stephen Hawking on his last book, the global bestseller Brief Answers to the Big Questions, and has had the privilege of working with other Nobel Laureates including Nelson Mandela, Jody Williams, and Elizabeth Blackburn.  Doug is also devoted to spreading the importance of conservation and fighting climate change.He co-wrote his newest book, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times, with Jane Goodall. In this urgent book they explore, through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue, one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature: hope. What we hope that you take from this conversation is a recalibration - to reconnect with that part inside of you that sees the good, hopes for a better future, and works towards it every day._________________Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine! https://www.findingmastery.com/morningmindsetFollow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Tommy Wood, a UK-trained MD and Assistant Professor at the University of Washington, shares insights on brain health and longevity. He discusses the importance of foundational nutrients for optimal brain function and the surprising connection between retirement and early mortality. Delving into the role of lifestyle factors in longevity, he highlights the significance of cognitive resilience and personal nutrition. Additionally, he examines how environmental influences shape health outcomes and the powerful impact of having purpose in life.

This week’s conversation is with Hillary Allen, an endurance athlete and one of the best mountain ultra runners in the world.Hillary’s career as an endurance athlete has not been straightforward. Through injury, setbacks and unexpected challenges, Hillary’s had to re-think what she considers impossible. Early in her career, Hillary earned the nickname “Hillygoat” when she proved her ability to run fast on steep, technical mountain terrain – a style of running known as Skyrunning.  Since then, she has raced all over the world, racking up wins and course records, establishing herself as one of the best mountain ultra runners in the world. In 2017 she had a life threatening accident, where she fell 150 feet off of a ridge-line during a Skyrace in Tromsø, Norway. She was told she would never run again. After several years of rehab and recovery, Hillary made a full recovery and returned to elite level racing, racing some of her longest and most challenging events post-accident. She maintains the belief that ‘your best athletic days are ahead of you, if you’re willing to work hard for what you love.’_________________Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine! https://www.findingmastery.com/morningmindsetFollow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week’s conversation is with Chris Burkard, an accomplished explorer, photographer, creative director, speaker, and author. Chris travels to pursue the farthest expanses of Earth, working to capture stories that inspire humans to consider their relationship with nature, while promoting the preservation of wild places everywhere.Layered by outdoor, travel, adventure, surf, and lifestyle subjects, Chris is known for images that are punctuated by untamed, powerful landscapes. Through social media, Chris strives to share his vision of wild places with millions of people, and to inspire them to explore for themselves.His visionary perspective has earned him opportunities to work on global campaigns with Fortune 500 clients, speak on the TED stage, design product lines, educate, and publish a growing collection of books. In this conversation, Chris shares his desire for discomfort and why he continues to choose the road less traveled._________________Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine! https://www.findingmastery.com/morningmindsetFollow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cody Townsend, an award-winning professional skier and creator of the ambitious project 'The FIFTY,' discusses the exhilarating yet perilous world of extreme skiing. He shares thrilling stories from his journey, including a gripping near-fatal accident that reshaped his understanding of risk. The conversation also touches on the emotional impacts of the sport, the influence of climate change, and the empowering lessons learned through high-stakes adventures. Townsend highlights the delicate balance between confidence and fear as pathways to self-discovery.