The Mark Divine Show

Mark speaks with Roger L. Martin, a 40-year trusted adviser to CEOs of some of the world’s top companies and author of A NEW WAY TO THINK: Your Guide to Superior Management Effectiveness. After watching the dominant models of management fail leaders time and again, Roger became passionate about helping leaders and businesses think differently and ditch old models for new ones in the ways of management, culture, and competition. Today, Commander Divine speaks with Roger L. Martin, best-selling author of A NEW WAY TO THINK: Your Guide to Superior Management Effectiveness where he urges leaders to toss out the old ways of thinking, and instead try new models in every domain of management. In the episode, Roger shares his expertise and rich experience working with the world’s most powerful CEOs and businesses to rethink how they think. Key Takeaways: Create like a designer. Today’s markets require less structure and more culture. A culture of creation and designing, which requires employees and leaders to think of new possibilities constantly. This is the way of the future. Be ready to pivot, like a SEAL. The elite teams and business leaders all think similarly – they know that plans are only temporary and the real work comes when they get into the field. Real leadership requires agility & trust in your team to create the next answers. Imagination, visualization, and clarity. Mark and Roger connect on how the SEALs use imagery to ensure the team has a collective vision of how the operation will work. By using imagery, visualization is possible, and cohesion is achieved. The best leaders attack VUCA; they don’t wait. Roger shares his angst for leaders that wait for VUCA to disappear to act, which Mark agrees makes for a block in information and productivity. Instead, act amidst VUCA to attain information more quickly. Expect to fail, and iterate.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark speaks with Tony Nader, MD, PhD, Dr. Nader, a globally recognized expert in the science of consciousness and human development who is the head of the Transcendental Meditation organizations globally. Tony is an MIT and Harvard trained doctor and neuroscientist and the author of The One Unbounded Ocean of Consciousness, through which he brings the science of consciousness to new audiences and expands the understanding of the relationship between mind and body, consciousness and physiology, and the possibility to development full human potential. Today, Commander Divine speaks with Tony Nader, MD, PhD, global expert in the science of consciousness and human development and head of the Transcendental Meditation organizations globally. In the episode, Tony shares the science of consciousness and the relationship between mind and body, consciousness and physiology, and the possibility to develop full human potential. Key Takeaways: Transcendental Meditation as an inner and outer practice. The reality is many Westerners think of meditation as an internal-only practice and therefore avoid it at all costs. Transcendental Meditation (TM), which Dr. Nader champions in the West, is instead both an internal and external practice, used to create more harmony in our real world lives. The survey says… meditate! Tony shares how TM has created research-backed results in both physical and mental realms. For instance, TM practitioners experience increased mental clarity, peace, and happiness, as well as less physiological stress, better healing and ability to concentrate - even (get this) better behavior! Ultimate reality and… rock consciousness? Tony details how TM allows practitioners to experience ultimate reality, which is the experience of all consciousness, everything, as one. Oh, and that includes rocks, which also hold consciousness, albeit of lower values than us humans. Less than 1% to heal the world. Studies have shown, including an experiment done in Washington, D.C., that when less than 1% of a population come together and practice Transcendental Meditation, there are cosmic shifts in the overall population behaviorally and mentally. Less car crashes, less violence, crime, and so on. TM is quite literally changing the world, by bringing us into harmony with the all-encompassing oneness of everything.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark speaks with Michael “Punky” Higgs and Dr. Martin Polanco of The Mission Within, a clinical program specializing in treating mTBI, PTSD, anxiety, and depression that has supported over 600 special operations veterans. After witnessing the transformative power of psychedelics, Michael and Martin became passionate about bringing the healing modalities to vets and their loved ones. Today, Commander Divine speaks with Michael “Punky” Higgs and Dr. Martin Polanco of The Mission Within, a 6-week psychedelic therapy program for Special Operations vets based in Mexico. In the episode, Michael and Martin share personal and scientific testimony of the impact psychedelics are having on our vets and their loved ones. Key Takeaways: Drugs to bring us together. Psychedelics like DMT act on a receptor that normally help us differentiate ourselves from others. The effect is we lose track of where we end and the rest of the world begins, which helps create greater cohesion and communion in our world. DMT is already within you. Since psychedelic compounds DMT and 5-MeO-DMT are neurotransmitters, our bodies seem to be wired to have these connected, unifying psychedelic experiences. The caustic cocktail. Michael shares his layered experience with injuries, childhood traumas, concussions, relationship traumas, and medications and the deadly combination they can create. Success worth celebrating. The Mission Within has treated over 600 special operations vets and over 80 veteran spouses with psychedelic clinical programming at their retreats in Mexico.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark speaks with Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz, authors of Golden and partners in Astraea Strategies. Together we explore finding silence and stillness in a world that's getting noisier and busier by the minute, as well as the economic, social, and health consequences of that noise, externally and internally. Today, Commander Divine speaks with Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz, authors of Golden and partners in Astraea Strategies. In the episode, Justin and Leigh share their compelling findings on stillness, silence, and the impact that noise is having on our bodies, our health, and social & economic lives. Key Takeaways: Silence isn’t just the lack of noise. It’s something different, a different quality altogether. Silence is a place for connection to your authenticity, and you can feel when people’s minds are quiet or they’re loud inside. Our world is noisey, in many ways. Justin and Leigh share the Three Levels of Noise: auditory, informational, and internal. Auditory noise today is empirically louder than it’s ever been, but pales in comparison to the informational noise boost we’ve seen in recent decades, which stifles our abilities to perceive & think creatively. Noise is not our friend. Together we discuss the impact noise can have on our thoughts, our actions, our bodies, and our economy. And it impacts the whole globe, even some of the more remote tribes in the Amazon. The key is to focus on “ma.” The Japanese aesthetic principle called ma represents negative space and pure potentiality. When we can cultivate appreciation for the stillness, silence, and pure potentiality of the lack of noise… we find peace in a busy world.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark speaks with Michael Unbroken, survivor of childhood trauma and a powerful voice of resilience. Through dealing with ultimate rock bottoms, addressing his traumas, and healing his mind, Michael became passionately known for being Unbroken. He’s the host of the Think Unbroken Podcast, a coach, entrepreneur, advocate, and author of Think Unbroken, available for free on his website. Today, Commander Divine speaks with Michael Unbroken, an entrepreneur, coach, podcast host, award-winning speaker, best-selling author, and advocate for adult survivors of childhood trauma. In the episode, Michael shares his experiences of childhood trauma, crime, death, and alcoholism, outlining his story from rock bottom to mountaintop in an effort to restore faith in your own ability to heal. Key Takeaways: Facing your uncomfortable Truth (with a capital ‘T’). To live an inspirational and creative life, it takes the hard work of addressing and facing your darkness. Michael looked himself in the mirror and made a decision that changed his life forever. Mentors make a difference, near and far. In the absence of acceptable role models at home, Michael shares the power of childhood mentors at school and even Mark’s podcast helped shape his life for the better. If you want to transform, you can’t play the victim. In fact, life can change in a matter of moments, days, or weeks when you leave that victim identity behind. More likely, it takes consistent effort and doing the simple things extraordinarily well. And take control. Money wasn’t the answer. Mark and Michael dive into their shared journey from the corporate world to a higher calling. Even after achieving his $100K/year salary goal with not even a high school diploma, he continued to find emptiness in his soul until he finally healed his past.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark speaks with Jennifer Fraser, best-selling author, award-winning educator with a PhD in Comparative Literature. Through personal experience and extensive research, Jennifer uncovered how bullying affects the brain and how the brain can heal, which she details in her new book, The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health. Today, Commander Divine speaks with Jennifer Fraser, best-selling author, award-winning educator with a PhD in Comparative Literature. In the episode, Jennifer shares how bullying affects the brain and how the brain can heal—detailed in her newest book, The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health. Key Takeaways: The brain science of abuse. A bullied brain is an unhealthy brain, displaying neurological changes whether the bullying is physical or emotional. We can analyze this on brain scans, brain mapping technology, and correlate it to psychological manifestations in the brain. The psychology of bullying: the Victim and the Favored. Jennifer shares the psychology of the bully stories such as Larry Nassar, which feature bully normalization, co-opting parents into being complicit, and the extensive damage caused in athlete victims AND those witnessing the abuse. Child abuse is indicative of later chronic illness. Child abuse comes in many forms (emotional, physical abuse and sexual, emotional, and physical neglect). Jennifer shares insights from Rolland Summit and Alice Miller’s work that discovered child abuse of all forms accounts for half of the main indicators of later midlife chronic illness. Astounding! You can train your brain out of abuse, like Tom Brady. He’s one of the first premier athletes to publicly share that he trains his brain as much as he trains his body, leveraging a platform called Brain HQ. As one of the best quarterbacks in history, it’s fair to say Tom knows a thing or two about being elite, with compassion and courage. There are solutions, and Brain HQ is one of many.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark speaks with Josh Peck, author and one of Hollywood's rising acting talents that made the seamless transition from child actor to leading man. Originally being known for children’s series Drake and Josh, he became fascinated with the process of child stardom, weight loss, recovery, and fatherhood, leading him to publish his own memoir, Happy People Are Annoying. . Today, Commander Divine speaks with Josh Peck, actor and author of Happy People Are Annoying. In the episode, Josh shares his experience with child stardom, weight loss, recovery, fatherhood, and the story of writing his memoir about finding happiness. Key Takeaways: Transitioning takes reinvention. Mark and Josh discuss the power of starting from scratch and not resting on your laurels when it comes to successful transitions. Whether it be from the military or taking on your next acting plateau, the skills of humility and honor are your best friends. You must act your way into right thinking. Josh shares his battle with food addiction, alcohol and drugs, and recovery - detailing his darkest moments and how he was lucky enough to shake himself out of it. It was through action, not thinking, that he was able to shift. Trying new things gives us the material to form lasting change. Happy people are annoying… to unhappy people. Happiness is a fleeting feeling, and is not found through joyful moments. It’s through doing your best and finding contentment in doing it that way. The inspiration for Josh’s book title has less to do with finding happiness and more to do with authenticity amidst the facade of it. Hard work pays off. Josh shares his constant craving for challenge, his love for acting, and how his hard and disciplined work has shaped his career for the better. He also values rest and taking time for himself, his friends and family. As with all things, moderation is key. As Josh’s friend says, “Even too much sunshine can bring about a desert.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark speaks with Julia Boorstin, CNBC’s Senior Media and Tech Correspondent and creator of CNBC Disruptor 50. Throughout her on-air career, Julia became fascinated with entrepreneurship and closing the equality gaps in our business leadership circles, leading her to author her book, When Women Lead, out October 11th. Today, Commander Divine speaks with Julia Boorstin, CNBC’s Senior Media and Tech Correspondent and newly published author of When Women Lead. In this episode, Julia shares her experience of interviewing over 60 passionate female CEO’s in the startup space and what we can all learn from their leadership. Key Takeaways: Women lead more profitable startups. Female founded VC-backed companies yield higher and faster returns than their male founded counterparts. However, every year 10’s of Billions of dollars go into venture capital, and women only draw about 3% of all VC funding. Julia’s working to change that. Communal leadership is the future, and it’s female-driven. Of the 60+ female CEO’s she interviewed, Julia found that almost all of them approached decisions from a communal perspective. Meaning, they involve those at the ground floor and gain as many perspectives as possible before taking committed action. This, she believes, is a concept many men find difficult to embody. People can smell inauthenticity a mile away. Julia and Mark converge on the topic of men and women’s leadership styles, agreeing it’s not about men or women being better leaders… but about different leadership styles. And our future is dependent on more men softening their walls and more women making it into positions of leadership. Authenticity, as Julia describes, is a hallmark of female founder leadership. Gratitude isn’t a guy thing. As studies have shown, women are more likely to feel comfortable with feelings of gratitude, and in turn they think more long-term when they plan and execute their businesses. Gratitude is deeply linked to long-term planning and bigger picture thinking - something that can often get lost in targeting quarterly earnings performance.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark speaks with Ryan Holiday, an author, modern Stoic, public-relations strategist, bookstore owner and host of the podcast The Daily Stoic. Ryan became fascinated with Stoicism in college and dropped out at age 19 to apprentice under Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power. One illustrious marketing career and 11 books later, Ryan lives on a ranch outside Austin, Texas where he writes, works, and raises cattle, donkeys and goats. His newest book Discipline is Destiny comes out in September 2022. Today, Commander Divine speaks with Ryan Holiday, Stoic author, PR strategist, and host of The Daily Stoic podcast. In this episode, Ryan shares his passion for how Stoic philosophy can be practical and useful in real life, and how discipline is key to destiny. Key Takeaways: Discipline is a practice of moderation. As Seneca would say, “Live immediately.” Yet, also know the importance of planning and investing as though tomorrow may happen. Furthermore, discipline does not need to be sacrificial. You can enjoy the fruits of the present without that enjoyment impacting your future enjoyment. The high performance paradox. It’s a fantasy to think there is such a thing as balance. Finding balance is like jumping into the music of life. And while many aspirers believe that more work will get them where they want to go, in fact stillness and calmness and security are what paradoxically allow you to do whatever it is that you do so much better. Zen and Stoicism, cut from the same cloth. It’s said in Zen that sometimes the best action is inaction. And the best inaction is action. Yin and Yang. Ryan and I discuss in depth the paradoxes of equal opposites and the beauty of living in the tension between the poles of life. Real philosophy takes practice. Ryan shares candidly about the West’s version of Zen monasteries… academia. There has never been a more needed time to bring the practice of leadership to fruition in our world and our nation. Discipline (temperance), one of the four cardinal virtues. The others are prudence, justice, and fortitude - all of which counterbalance and interweave themselves into each other. One cannot be truly just without proper wisdom (prudence). One cannot be well temperate without proper fortitude.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why You SUCK at Relationships (with Eric Barker) Mark speaks with Eric Barker, Wall Street Journal best selling author and former Hollywood screenwriter. Eric left Hollywood and scripted a new challenge: organizing the counterintuitive nature of relationships, vulnerability, and cognitive biases. Key Takeaways: Do you have friends? Do you smoke? The two biggest determinants of your mortality one year after a heart attack. Eric shares the surprising science by Robert Garfield at University of Pennsylvania detailing how not being open and vulnerable in relationships leads to prolonged minor illnesses and even increased lethality from a second heart attack. He also shares effective strategies for forming deep friendships to counteract these data. Friendships are our most coveted relationships, taking the cake over our romantic partners (by 5%). While romantic partnerships are backed by a legal document, as are colleagues with job descriptions, friendships are different. They’re indefinite… which might be just what makes real ones so special. Think about The Scary Rule, which Eric coined. If it feels scary, say it. Start small, but opening up and sharing something that could be used against you is what builds trust, says Diego Gambetta’s research. It starts with you. The placebo effect is in your hormones. Contrary to popular belief, the placebo effect isn’t just in your head… it’s actually in your endorphins, which are what carry the signal of the placebo effect. If we shut down the exchange of endorphins, we lose the mystical placebo. What’s more, placebo effect goes up when we experience trust in not only the medication and treatment, but in the doctor’s bedside manner and empathy. Your first impressions barely beat a coin flip. It turns out, 70% of first impressions are drawn correctly. The trouble is, that 30% of assumptions are what create unhelpful biases, the ones we must confront and try to unlearn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.