The School of Greatness Hall of Fame

I have always been fascinated by the power of the mind and people who have learned to master it. Especially when it comes to using your mind to read other people. So every time I’ve seen a magician or performer who specializes in this, I get so excited. And when I had the chance to meet one of the best mentalists in the world, Oz Pearlman, I was extra excited. If you watched the show America’s Got Talent a few seasons back, you’ll recognize Oz as the incredible mentalist who nearly won the season with his mind-blowing tricks reading people’s minds. He’s also an accomplished endurance runner who has done several of the toughest ultra-endurance races on the planet. I remember watching Oz on TV and thinking he was amazing. Then he came to the studio to record a podcast interview and this was confirmed. He set up several tricks with me and my team that he blew our minds with during the interview (we literally were trying to figure out how he did these for hours after he left). But some of the best moments of our conversation were when Oz talked to me about the skills he’s developed as an entrepreneur, a negotiator, a salesman, a networker, and a performer. These are the skills all of us can use no matter what kind of business or project we are working on. And learning them from a world-class mentalist is a bonus. Get ready to believe the impossible in Episode 476 with the one and only Oz Pearlman. In This Episode, You Will Learn:Oz reading my mind about the guest I want to get on the podcast that I’ve never told anyone (9:30)How he paid for college by doing magic tricks during high school (13:42)The way to sell yourself so that people can’t say no (14:25)Why having less money as a start-up is good for you (15:44)How to think strategically about where you look for clients (16:45)Why getting on America’s Got Talent was a new challenge for Oz (24:33)Why endurance sports are all mental (32:23)How Oz sets up a trick to get someone to say what he wants (42:14)Plus much more…

In fact, very few people have the guts to put the F word in the title of their NYT bestselling book (it’s been on the list for 9 months straight). But that’s one reason Mark Manson has become such a popular writer, both in the blogging and the book publishing world. He has spent years studying self-help, traveling the world, living in different cultures, and learning from his own life experiences about what actually makes us happy and successful. And what he has learned runs counter to what a lot of people say is true. I loved diving into these topics with him because I can tell Mark is a truth-seeker. He’s not afraid to speak up about what he has learned, even if it isn’t the most popular idea. That’s exactly why his writing has struck a chord with so many people — he tells the truth about why it’s important to feel sad and angry, he acknowledges the negative voices we all have talking in our heads, and he admits that it’s challenging to not judge ourselves. But Mark also has learned positive, practical methods to navigate these issues without all the sugar-coating that usually goes with them. We dove into all these topics, as well as what he’s learning about himself as mega-writing success has hit him. I learned a lot of new perspectives from Mark and believe you will too in Episode 524. In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why negativity matters and shouldn’t be ignored (2:00)How to know if a certain media type is one you should be pursuing (14:50)Why it’s so important to say no sometimes (18:00)Why success and self-improvement don’t always go together (26:30)How to mentally deal with your work being massively successful (32:55)Why it’s so important to be able to fail during the creative process (47:45)Plus much more...

I’ve talked to lots of incredible, renowned doctors and health experts about the optimal diet and foods to eat. I’ve tried all kinds of nutrition strategies. I’ve cut out gluten, dairy, and sugar from my diet. So you can imagine how surprised I was when I sat down with another world-renowned heart surgeon and doctor, Dr. Steven Gundry, last week and he told me foods that were poisonous to all humans. Peanuts, cashews, raw beans, chia seeds? As Dr. Gundry explained, however, exactly how the bacteria in our guts work, it made sense. He broke down his decades of research and the results he’s gotten with his patients (reversing aging and autoimmune diseases through diet change). He taught how plants are built with incredible defense systems from predators (like humans). And when we eat parts of plants that aren’t meant for us, we get sick from them. The more I learned from him, the more questions I had. But he just wrote a new NYT bestselling book covering all of this in depth, so I’m planning on reading it front to back. If you’re sick and tired of being sick, listen up in Episode 521. In This Episode, You Will Learn:How bacteria make us who we are more than genes do (0:45)The secret to reversing aging naturally (7:05)The plant paradox of how eating some plants is hurting us (11:42)Why gluten makes us sick (20:12)Foods every American should stay away from (24:30)What’s going on in our bodies when we have autoimmune diseases (33:15)What the physician’s job actually is according to ancient philosophers (38:10Other foods you probably think are good for you that aren’t (40:25)Plus much more…

He wasn’t discovered as a teen prodigy. In fact, when he told his mother he wanted to be a big music star, she told him he’d stop shining for her the day he did. But J Balvin knew what he wanted and he started working at it early on. He moved to the U.S. to learn English as an exchange student in high school. He went back to the U.S. after he graduated to work his way into the music business — and the only job he could get was painting walls and roofing houses. So he swallowed his pride, went back to his hometown in Colombia, and spent the next 10 years building his music, performance, and network slowly but surely. Even though he’s the biggest rising star in Latin Music today (think the Justin Bieber of music in Spanish), I didn’t even know J’s name until he started following me on Instagram. And then I saw he had 15 million followers. And then I started listening to his music. It didn’t matter that I didn’t understand what he was saying, I was hooked. So by the time J and I got to sit down in the Greatness Studio to record this episode, I was already really impressed with him. And then he told me his story and I was blown away. If you think that massive success is only for the favored elite, think again as you listen to music superstar J Balvin in Episode 469. In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why J moved to the US at age 17 to learn English (2:46)How getting into a terrible plane crash inspired J to do more with his work (6:20)Why having a dream is so important to your success (8:10)How to hustle when you’re working solo and don’t have a team yet (21:19)The way gratitude works to create abundance (25:50)Plus much more…

Have you ever asked yourself why you feel so stressed all the time? It’s pretty common these days to just assume a stress-filled life is the norm, especially if you’re an entrepreneur. Today’s guest on The School of Greatness has known stress above and beyond the norm. Amanda Enayati had to flee from her home country of Iran when she was a kid (without her parents), lived in the West Village in NYC during 9/11, worked as an attorney for years and then got late-stage breast cancer (while raising two small children). Yes, that’s all for real. So you can take her word for it when she says she knows about stress. But what is incredible about Amanda (including what she has gone through) is her devotion to researching and teaching the best ways to understand and handle the stress that comes to all of us. If you listened to the last episode with Todd Kashdan, you’ll really enjoy this interview as well. Amanda shares some different and some similar ideas from Todd about how to use stress to your advantage and how to find healing from traumatic stress. I know you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did in Episode 155 with CNN contributor and author Amanda Enayati. In This Episode, You Will Learn:What mattered to her when she got diagnosed with cancer:she needed to be who she was meant to beshe didn’t want any strife with anyoneThe fact that life is suffering isn’t all bad“Suck-it-up-itude” – the attitude that failure isn’t an excuse to give upSerenity means that you have found what you are meant to do and you are sharing that with the worldHow the little whys behind what we do add up to the big whysWhy we think of ourselves as so stressed outTo re-frame your stress mindset: 1- Tell yourself better stories about what’s happening 2- Remember all stress isn’t the same 3- Re-draw the map of your stories and what they are telling youThe problem with stress is a design issueWhy kids need some stress to develop into happy, healthy adultsThe power of belonging and its ability to heal usPlus much more…

Yes, one of the MOST requested guests on the show (since I launched it), has been this incredible woman. She has one of the most watched TED talks of all time. She is a three-time #1 NYT bestselling author (and soon to be four). She has changed the face of emotional intelligence, relationships, and self-acceptance for millions of people. But her area of expertise is one that not many people are willing to talk about — shame and vulnerability. I’m talking about the one and only Brené Brown. Brené is a research professor at the University of Houston. But once her TED talk blew up the internet a few years ago, she has appeared on much bigger platforms around the world, including Oprah, the New York Times, and many others. Not only have her books changed millions of people’s perspectives on what it actually means to be brave, authentic, and loved, she has started a conversation that has created a ripple effect among other thought leaders. I’ve been aware of her work for years, quoted it in my books, and followed her patiently, waiting for the right time to interview her for the podcast. The time has come, on the eve of her newest book launch, and what we discussed was so powerful. Not only did we get into what it means to truly belong (the topic of her newest book), we got real about the tragic events happening in our country and what we get to do to change what’s going on. We recorded this interview just one week before Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, where Brené lives, so all of my thoughts and love go to her and her team as they recover and support their community. It’s time to step up and live the courageous truth we each have inside of us in this episode. In This Episode, You Will Learn:What belonging truly means (3:45)What makes people complex (7:01)What every parent needs to know about when their kids grow up (13:44)Why parents are so defensive about their parenting style (18:52)How to support men in being willing to discuss vulnerable topics (24:30)How to handle speaking up about sensitive topics (30:01)Why people hold onto hate (33:50)Why our avoidance of pain is causing so many huge issues (36:35)What Brene would say to all the men in the world (46:36)How to deal with shame (since we can’t get rid of it) (48:58)Plus much more…

He's one of the top dating coaches in the world. He’s also one of the best on stage speakers I’ve ever seen. He’s also a good friend and previous podcast guest. Yes, I’m talking about the incredibly handsome and intelligent Matthew Hussey. If you’re a longtime podcast fan, you remember him from Episode 189. He’s got incredible insight into love, dating, communication, and human behavior. Which is just one reason he’s a celebrity dating coach, an incredibly successful entrepreneur, and a brilliant marketer. So when I was planning the line-up of speakers for the first ever Summit of Greatness, I knew Matt had to be one of them. He gave such an awesome talk on stage (followed by a great Q&A with the audience after) that I haven’t forgotten it. I wanted to share the whole thing with you guys on the podcast because it’s some of the best dating advice I’ve ever heard. Matt agreed to let me publish it, and that’s why you have the chance to hear him speak from the stage at Summit of Greatness in Episode 512. In This Episode, You Will Learn:How cognitive dissonance affects our love lives (6:05)The 2 things we need to succeed in love (7:45)How to use “The Bliss Point” in communication (16:50)Why confidence is a misunderstood concept (20:40)Why it’s so important to make old friends now (25:59)How to get someone addicted to you (26:30)Plus much more…

If you’ve been following me or The School of Greatness for long, you know I’m a big fan of salsa dancing. In fact, I was obsessed with learning how to get good at it in college and spent A LOT of time practicing. I still love going out and dancing when I can in LA. So when I got the opportunity to interview Julianne Hough, award-winning dancing queen of Dancing with the Stars (and now a judge on the show!) I couldn’t pass it up. And not just because I wanted to hear her story of how she has created incredible success. I wanted to test my salsa skills with a professional. But what I got in addition to a dance with Julianne (she is amazing) was an open-hearted, authentic, first-hand account of her experience in the dance and entertainment world starting as a 10 year old girl in London. Not only did she learn to grow up fast and perform with the pros, she then set her sights on film, singing, and is now working on many incredible projects and tours. In our conversation, Julianne talks about the intense pressure of the dance competition world and the high standards she set for herself. And then she talks about the transformation that occurred within her just a couple of years ago when she attended a Tony Robbins event (you know what a big fan of his I am). I loved every minute of our conversation and dancing and have been so excited to share this episode with you. Sit back and enjoy the light and inspiration of Julianne Hough in Episode 148 and be sure to judge my salsa dancing video with her below 😉 In This Episode, You Will Learn:How a Tony Robbins seminar changed her perspective on who she was trying to beHer experiences being in a professional dance enviroment at 10 years old in LondonHer struggle with perfectionism – not feeling good enough when she won somethingHow she shifted her passion and drive after realizing she just needed to please herself and not others.To think about how you’re going to “be” in the day versus what you’re going to “do”How she got addicted to learning (not in school)What she is changing in her health routine to be focused on more than just vanityWhy she appreciates the opportunities to be authentic versus polishedHer quirky operatic voice (that comes out when she’s tired)How her purpose has changed from receiving to givingHer mission statement: My purpose in life is to be an infectious light of love and joy, to celebrate the little things, and to inspire others to embrace their true essence. How she would pump herself up before auditions Her view of her brother and how their relationship has changed as they have learned to see each other for who they really are. Her advice for young dancers (and parents)Plus much more…

One of my favorite women in the world is back on the show today for her third episode. She is the queen of self-help, spirituality, and wisdom. So I got really excited when I saw that her newest book is an uncensored truth-telling about that world — what most people won’t admit to. Danielle LaPorte is one of the few people who can take on the myths surrounding the world of self-development and expose the truth . . . while still inspiring you to keep going in your own path. And that’s just one reason why I love her. One reason why I think Danielle’s message is so needed is because it’s easy to get lost in the “doing” of self-development and spirituality and forget the “being” part. What Danielle taught me is that all wisdom is paradoxical — there’s truth in both sides of it. If we’re willing to get curious, explore, and trust our gut, we find truth. If we go on auto-pilot and focus only on “doing” things we think should make us better, we will get lost, burnt out, and stuck. Get ready for a breath of fresh air and some powerful truth-telling in Episode 481. In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why sometimes less is more when it comes to spiritual support (4:52)The simple key to self-help (9:16)Why it’s okay to change our beliefs often (18:15)How to forgive people when things are a mess (21:27)The keys to getting past judging people (25:05)Plus much more…

I freaking love the Olympics and everything about them. I love the insane training the athletes put themselves through. I love the power of putting all that training to the test in the moment of truth. I love seeing how people from around the world come together to celebrate what is possible in human performance. So whenever I get to meet an Olympian, I’m really excited. And meeting one like Apolo Ohno was no disappointment. If you watched the winter Olympics at all in the past 15 years, you know his name. He is the face of speed skating and is still commentating at Olympics currently. But what you might not know is that Apolo was once a punk kid, who had never met his mother, was angry at life, and had no work ethic. Yes he was talented and powerful. But it wasn’t until he put his mind to train like a champion, committed fully, and became obsessed with his sport that he rose to Olympic glory. There were so many parts of this interview that I loved so much. I can’t wait for you to listen to Episode 470 with Olympian Apolo Ohno. In This Episode, You Will Learn:Apolo’s preparation process before Olympic races (13:33)Why Apolo has never wanted to meet his mother (22:00)The story of how he won his first national competition (27:47)How Apolo had a “peaceful warrior” moment at age 15 (32:50)Why becoming obsessed with your craft is important to succeed (37:58)How to overcome the biggest challenges of leaving an elite sport (43:40)Why losing money in investments can be helpful (47:00)The difference between focusing on competition and what you really want (52:12)What failing teaches us (58:28)Why Apolo and I really want the US to win the bid to get the Olympics in LA (1:01:03)Plus much more…