Dr. Michael Gervais Is The Sensei of Human Performance

How do world-class athletes, artists and top business leaders organize their inner lives to expand the edges of their potential? What are the frameworks and key mental skills needed to excel in those intense, all or nothing make-it-or break it moments? How do change-makers find peace, grounding, and even joy in the most intensely stressful, critical moments of their lives and careers? There is no human more well-suited to fielding these questions than world-renown high performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais -- returning for his 4th appearance on the podcast. A globally recognized authority on optimal human performance, Dr. Gervais has spent the last twenty years working in the trenches of consequential, high-stakes environments, where there is no luxury for mistakes, hesitation, or failure to respond. His clientele includes the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, countless Olympic medalists, MVPs from every major sport, world record holders, internationally acclaimed music artists, and corporate leaders. In addition, Dr. Gervais is the host of the popular Finding Mastery podcast. Alongside NFL coach Pete Carroll he founded Compete To Create, an online and live master class for the mind, and together they authored the recently released Audible Original also entitled Compete To Create -- a must-listen for anyone interested in raising the bar on their own potential. There's a reason he's been featured by NBC, ABC, FOX, CNN, ESPN, NFL Network, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Outside Magazine, WIRED, ESPN Magazine, the Harvard Business Review and more:  Dr. Gervais is the sensei of human performance optimization. Unlike our previous episodes, today’s exchange is not about elite athletic performance. Nor is it about the demands of jumping out of a plane without a parachute. In fact, it's not really about sport at all. Instead, this is a conversation about how best to navigate the cataclysmic shit show we call 2020 -- and the years of political, pandemic and planetary turmoil likely to follow. It's about understanding trauma. Accepting pain. Working through it. And how suffering is integral to the human experience. It’s about the difference between purpose and vision. The role of sport in a world that's closed for business. And the importance of optimism in dark times. If you're new to the show, you're in for a treat. I adore this man. So prepare to fall in love. The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoy today's conversation, you might also dig Michael interviewing me in the most recent Finding Mastery episode (FM #244). And you can mine his three previous appearances on the RRP (episodes 120, 252, and 366). It’s hard being a human in 2020. Don’t underestimate the circumstances -- but know there is a light out there. Let's find it together. Peace + Plants, Listen, Watch & Subscribe Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts Thanks to this week’s sponsors Calm: The #1 app for meditation and sleep with 100+ guided meditations covering anxiety, focus, stress, sleep, relationships and more. Plus 7-day and 21-day programs for both beginner and advanced users. Right now, my listeners can get a special limited-time promotion of 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at calm.com/richroll. It includes unlimited access to ALL of Calm’s amazing content. Get started today! On Running: Born in the Swiss Alps, On Running is the world’s fastest-growing running brand. From their patented cushioning system to their gorgeous minimal design aesthetic, shoes & gear that performs and looks great too. Go to on-running.com/richroll to unlock the voucher, and pick your favorite shoe or apparel piece and run in it for a 30-day risk-free trial, no questions asked. Outerknown: Founded by pro-surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown creates high quality, sustainably produced, and great looking men’s and women’s clothes, ethically manufactured in the world’s cleanest solar-powered factory. When you’re ready to amp up your wardrobe with awesome sustainable duds, go to outerknown.com and enter my code RICHROLL at checkout to get 25% off your full-price order. For a complete list of all RRP sponsors and their respective vanity url's and discount codes, visit my Resources page and click "Sponsors". SHOW NOTESConnect With Dr. Gervais: Website | Facebook | Twitter | InstagramPodcast: Finding MasteryOnline Course: Finding Mastery ClassAudiobook: Compete To CreateCompete To Create: competetocreate.netForbes: Master These NFL Winning Secrets To Thrive In Uncertainty And Reach Your Highest PerformanceInsideHook: How One NFL Team Is Handling a Tumultuous Offseason, MentallyGQ: Why Mindfulness is the Next Frontier in Sports Performance Entrepreneur: Daily Rituals That Lead to High Performance in Business and LifeOutside: Dr. Michael Gervais on Mental MasteryBusiness Insider: A sports psychologist shares the visualization technique that’s helped Super Bowl champions and Olympic gold-medalistsThrive Global: High-Performance Psychologist Michael Gervais on Why There Are No Life HacksCNBC: The simple exercise a psychologist taught Satya Nadella and Microsoft execs that can help you succeedGuardian: The Seahawks’ Legion of Boom is finished, but their legacy will endureMindful: Teaching Kids How to Meditate — and Getting Schools on Board, TooWSJ: The Shrink on the Seattle Seahawks’ SidelineUSA Today: One of Kerri Walsh Jennings’ most important accomplishments came at homeUSA Today: [VIDEO] Kerri Walsh Jennings Behind The Gold (feat. Michael Gervais)HuffPost: Pete Carroll And Michael Gervais On The Blueprint Of A Successful Culture Related Podcasts:RRP #366: In Search of Mastery With Dr. Michael Gervais: How to Develop A High-Performance MindsetRRP #252: Dr. Michael Gervais On Elite Performance & The Psychology Of Self-MasteryRRP #120: Michael Gervais on How To Master Mindfulness in Sports & Life For 1000s of delicious, customized plant-based recipes & so much more, check out our Plantpower Meal Planner HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE PODCAST? Tell Your Friends & Share Online! Subscribe & Review:  iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Soundcloud | Google Podcasts Donate: Check out our Patreon account Support The Sponsors: One of the best ways to support the podcast is to support our sponsors. For a complete list of all RRP sponsors and their respective vanity url's and discount codes, visit my Resources page and click "Sponsors". Thanks to Jason Camiolo for production, audio engineering and show notes; Blake Curtis for video, editing and graphics; portraits by Ali Rogers; and theme music by Tyler Piatt. Trapper Piatt & Hari Mathis. *Disclosure: Books and products denoted with an asterisk are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.