Finding Mastery: Conversations With Michael Gervais

A couple months back I was in Austin doing some promo for The First Rule of Mastery and had the opportunity to be a guest on Ryan Holiday’s incredible podcast, The Daily Stoic.It’s always such a joy to connect and flow with Ryan – we had a fantastic conversation that I wanted to share here today. This time around was especially fun… not only was the conversation great, but we also got to record it in Ryan’s epic bookstore, The Painted Porch.If you’re in or near Austin… you have to check it out. It is awesome. And you might even find a couple signed copies of The First Rule of Mastery lying around ;)Please enjoy this conversation with me and the ever-insightful Ryan Holiday on The Daily Stoic.Follow Ryan and The Daily Stoic:IG: @RyanHoliday and @DailyStoicYoutube: @DailyStoicX: @RyanHoliday and @DailyStoicwww.dailystoic.comwww.thepaintedporch.com-----------Connect with Finding Mastery on our Instagram.Order my book, "The First Rule of Mastery" HERE!For more information and shownotes from every e

Today’s guest needs no introduction – but I’m thrilled to do it anyway. Rich Roll is a world-renowned ultra-endurance athlete, plant-based fitness advocate, bestselling author, host of the hugely popular Rich Roll Podcast, husband, father.... and the list goes on.He's also a good friend – this is Rich’s fourth time on the podcast. His episodes are often our most popular, and there’s a good reason for that. Rich’s humility and frank discussion of his sobriety and recovery – as well as his courage and commitment to exploring his limits – are an inspiration to me, and so many others.In today’s conversation, we dive deeper into what it means to be present in every moment, the rewards of service and giving back, the distinctions between greatness and mastery, and the everyday search for moments of awe.Then, you’ll want to stay tuned to the back half of our conversation, as we’re doing something a little different. We sourced your questions for Rich and I to wrestle with, and we had an absolute blast diving into th

Many of us who are seeking optimal health, performance, and wellness take a variety of supplements. And I think it’s only natural to find ourselves questioning— what's really in these supplements? How do we know if those ingredients are actually doing anything for our bodies and minds?Our guest today, Katerina (Kat) Schneider had the same questions – and she took action to get to the truth. What she discovered led her to develop a new standard in the world of vitamins and supplements.Kat is the visionary founder and CEO of Ritual – a company dedicated to re-envisioning transparency, traceability, and quality standards in the vitamin and supplement industry.And, Kat's personal story is as remarkable as her products. In our conversation, we delve into the founding story of Ritual, and discuss the philosophy that underpins their mission – a deep-rooted belief in transparency, quality, the power of science, and the foundational belief that “everyone has the right to know exactly what they're putting into their bo

Welcome to Volume 15 of Finding Mastery’s Ask Me Anything (AMA) series. In this latest installment, O'Neil Cespedes and I explore the intricate dance between our physical and mental states, especially during times of challenge and change.Key topics covered this week include:The profound connection between our physical and mental health.Strategies for maintaining an optimistic mindset during setbacks.The role of psychological agility in viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.The changing definition of ‘manhood’.Best practices for coaches and teammates in supporting athletes through injury.The transformative power of humor in relieving tension in high-stress situations.Embracing mistakes and overcoming the fear of failure for personal growth and resilience.As always, we are grateful for your questions and insights that continue to drive these meaningful conversations. Your engagement is what makes this series so rich and impactful.With Fire,MG-----WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel.Connect w

Imagine standing on the edge of a cliff, facing an inch-wide line of webbing that stretches across a vast expanse. It’s tensioned between two secure anchor points but it’s a dynamic surface that will bounce, sway, and stretch when you step out on it. This line isn't just a piece of equipment; it's a gateway to mastering fear and discovering your true potential.This is the world of highlining, and Faith Dickey stands at its forefront – embodying resilience and mental fortitude.Since 2008, Faith has been redefining what's possible in highlining, a sport that demands extreme focus and courage. She's not only one of the few women excelling in this field but also a record-setter and a barrier-breaker. From free soloing a highline 3,000 feet off the ground to crossing a 100-meter highline and walking a highline in high heels, Faith's achievements are a testament to her extraordinary capabilities.But Faith's impact extends beyond her highlining feats. She's an advocate for women in extreme sports and has created the

Hey everybody, Mike here… we’re doing something a little different today…If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you probably recognize the name Dan Harris – he’s a friend, journalist, fellow podcaster, and was actually one of our earliest guests on Finding Mastery back in 2016. We had some fantastic conversations together and I was lucky enough to be an early guest on his incredible show – Ten Percent Happier – I’ve been a big fan and follower of his show ever since. And today… we are stoked to share one of their episodes with you on our feed!On Ten Percent Happier, Dan is on a quest to help others achieve peace and happiness. Every week, he talks to top scientists, meditation teachers, and even the occasional celebrity in wide ranging conversations that explore topics like productivity, anxiety, enlightenment, psychedelics and relationships.This episode of Ten Percent Happier is with the one-and-only, actor and comedian Bill Hader—who you may know from Saturday Night Live, countless r

What does leadership look like in the middle of a war zone—one of the most dynamic, agile, and consequential environments on the planet? General Stanley McChrystal knows intimately what it’s like – and is committed to teaching his hard-earned leadership insights to others. Heading up the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), he led the U.S. military’s most elite special ops teams against Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and from there was commissioned to command the war on terror in Afghanistan.That mission in itself is treacherous… and General McChrystal also crashed head-on with a political controversy – one that led to the end of his military career but opened the door to teaching leadership at Yale university, authoring multiple bestsellers, founding the McChrystal Group (his well-known management consulting company) and even being portrayed by none other than Brad Pitt in the movie War Machine.What General McChrystal teaches isn’t about battlefield maps and tactics, it’s about building a team that’s informed, c

Imagine this... you're a NASA Astronaut. You're on a spacewalk, floating in the vastness of outer space, and suddenly... you go blind.What do you do?You might recognize today’s guest, Chris Hadfield, from his viral video on the International Space Station, where he performed David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' – a performance that garnered over 35 million views worldwide.But Chris is so much more than a musical talent in orbit. He's not only a retired NASA astronaut but also a skilled engineer, a former combat pilot, and a New York Times bestselling author of both fiction and non-fiction works.One of his standout books, 'An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth,' is a must-read for every high performer. In it, he shares an unconventional philosophy: 'Prepare for the worst—and enjoy every moment of it.'  It's a mindset I find incredibly powerful, and I think you will, too.In our conversation, we dive into Chris’s rich experiences, including a harrowing story where he was struck blind while clinging to an orbiting s

In a world increasingly obsessed with self-image and social validation, how do we truly understand the role of self-esteem in our lives? Is it merely a reflection of our ego? What purpose does it serve?These questions form the core of our conversation with Dr. Mark Leary, a former professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University, who retired after 39 years of teaching, publishing 14 books and 250+ scholarly articles and chapters on topics such as social motivation, emotion, and self-relevant thought.Mark is also a disruptor – and that’s not usually a word we associate with professors of psychology and neuroscience. But in this case it’s appropriate because Mark’s sociometer theory didn't just make waves; it created a whole new ocean in the field of psychology. This was a groundbreaking idea that redefined self-esteem. It's a perspective that turned heads and opened minds in a way that challenged academics and practitioners alike.In this episode, we peel back the layers on how to reshape your self-e

Today’s podcast is a really special one, as we have on CNN’s 2023 Hero of the Year, Dr. Kwane Stewart, a.k.a. “The Street Vet.” Kwane is a veterinarian who provides free veterinary care for the animals society often forgets—the pets of people living without homes.In this heartfelt conversation, Kwane demonstrates the courage it takes to explore the messy edges of emotion, and he opens up about how honoring his feelings propelled him to take life-changing actions. Kwane’s story isn’t just about animal care; it's a profound narrative on finding purpose, losing sight of it, then finding it again… on a sidewalk outside a Seven-Eleven.His current endeavor, as co-founder of Project Street Vet, is capturing hearts and minds around the world. This initiative provides free veterinary care to pets of the unhoused. In essence, he’s creating a movement of care and compassion. In this episode, Kwane walks us through his transformative journey, sharing moving stories of hope, sacrifice, and the human-animal bond. Our

Today, we’re super excited to share the 14th installment of our Ask Me Anything series. The purpose behind these conversations - behind these AMAs – is to hear from you… to explore the topics and questions that you have been wrestling with on your path to becoming.The goal is to expand on the themes, lessons, and best-practices we’ve discussed on the Finding Mastery podcast in order to make them even more applicable to your own life.By now, our incredible co-host needs no introduction – we’re back with O’Neil Cespedes – and just a quick note of gratitude here… This show does not happen without you and your incredible questions. This is the last AMA of 2023, and O'neil and I are grateful for you challenging us with hard questions. It’s so energizing and inspiring to know our community is full of people that are pointing to a high quality inner-life, and are committed to getting better, and helping others do the same. I feel the fire in your belly. Keep creating a rising tide.  Today, we dive int

“Be bold, dream big. Take the risk. Figure out what it takes to accomplish your goals, and then you will win. Or if you don't, at least you'll get damn near close… We all need to take risks to keep growing and to keep learning.”Imagine the possibilities if you were to take radical and relentless action towards your biggest (maybe even intimidating) dreams – defying fear and uncertainty. Today’s guest, the remarkable Liz Elting, doesn’t need to imagine. She’s living it. Her story is a true testament to what can happen when vision and action align. Now recognized as one of Forbes’ Richest Self-Made Women, Liz’s dreams had humble beginnings in her NYU dorm room in 1992 when she co-founded TransPerfect – from scratch.TransPerfect has since grown into the world’s largest language and business solutions provider, with over $1.1 billion in revenue and operations in more than 100 cities worldwide.Her new book, ‘Dream Big and Win’ is a must-read for anyone who is pioneering their own path to purpose-led

Where are wearables leading us? In the dynamic, fast-paced world of health technology, what does the future hold? What possibilities can we unlock? How can we leverage the power of wearables to transcend mere physical tracking and genuinely enhance our psychological well-being?These questions form the perfect springboard for our conversation with Dr. Kapil Parakh, a renowned cardiologist and the Senior Medical Lead at Google. Kapil is more than a doctor, he’s a leader in the wearable movement with keen insight into current trends and future directions.Raised in Zambia and educated at Johns Hopkins, Kapil's diverse background infuses Silicon Valley innovations with the deep empathy of human-centered medicine. His trailblazing work is redefining healthcare and guiding us toward a healthier, more informed future.Kapil's forward-thinking approach spans multiple domains, and his impressive body of work includes the book, Searching for Health: The Smart Way to Find Health Information Online and Put It to Use. It’s

What can we learn about success from the phenomenal growth of digital technology and the extraordinary achievements of Silicon Valley teams?And almost more importantly, what can we learn from the shell-shocking failures of some other seemingly great businesses?Today’s guest has been researching the digital transformation of businesses for three decades, and he’s landed on some fascinating— and extremely practical— conclusions.In this episode, I’m thrilled to have Andrew McAfee join us for a deep dive into cultures of innovation— environments where risks are not just taken but embraced, where failures are seen as pivotal learning opportunities, and where the status quo is openly challenged.Andrew is not only a principal research scientist at MIT but also a visionary thinker and a best-selling author. His latest work, 'The Geek Way,' is providing a framework to help teams work well in our rapidly changing business landscape – where success means more than profits and market share.Andrew has identified four pill

To date, the Finding Mastery Podcast has been running for 8 years and for over 400 episodes. In that time, we’ve gained extraordinary insights and timeless wisdom from some of the top thinkers and doers in the world.While we have come to realize that there is no singular “golden thread” to how the best in the world operate – we’ve noticed some common themes, skills, and insights that many of these people have utilized on their path to mastery. And that’s why we’re so thrilled to bring you the all new Best Of Finding Mastery series. In each episode, we’ll take a deep dive into a specific skill or topic – pulling together the best insights and gems from years of interviews with the best in the world. These are tools and insights that have stood the test of time. For this inaugural episode, we’re highlighting conversations with a remarkable group of leaders who’ve made a game-changing impact leading high performing teams in the worlds of sports, branding, technology, retail, business and the military.

What would you do in the face of a very public and shocking defeat? Would you crumble, or would you use it to grow and learn? Today’s guest chose growth, transforming one of the most heart-wrenching moments in NFL history into a profound learning experience.In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce a friend and former colleague from my time with the Seattle Seahawks — the exceptional Tom Cable.Tom’s coaching journey includes three years as an NFL Head Coach and seven years as an Assistant Head Coach, including two Super Bowl appearances with the Seattle Seahawks – one where the Seahawks won in 2014 (against the Denver Broncos), and one where they lost in dramatic fashion in 2015 (against the New England Patriots). We cover that loss – and the ramifications of it – in depth in this conversation.With over 35 years of coaching experience, Tom has left an indelible mark on both collegiate and NFL levels. His expertise is with the Offensive Line, but his influence goes way beyond X's and O's; he's a teacher,

Welcome to the 13th installment of our Ask Me Anything series, where your questions take center stage and our answers offer you guidance on the road to mastery.The goal behind our monthly AMA series is to dive deep into the questions that challenge and inspire you on your path to becoming your best.We’re stoked about all the excellent questions we received for this 13th AMA. Our co-host, O’Neil Cespedes, is back again to make sure we keep it real as we navigate the rich landscape of your questions.In this episode, we dive deep into:Best practices for managing unproductive thoughtWhy it’s important to square up with pain and sufferingThe connection between quality sleep and being your bestHow to push away recurring negative thoughtsHow to develop your “It Factor” (no, it’s not genetic!)How disordered thinking takes shape from microtraumasWhy people-pleasing masks your fear of other people’s opinions, or FOPO*And so much more… Enjoy! With fire,MG* The book, The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About Wh

"You cannot get to courage without walking right through vulnerability."They say opinions are cheap, but the cost of FOPO – the fear of other people's opinions – is anything but.As many of you already know, I've recently released 'The First Rule of Mastery,' a book dedicated to overcoming what I've come to see as the single greatest constrictor of human potential: FOPO.And so, in celebration of this special milestone, I'm excited to re-release a pivotal conversation with Dr. Brené Brown, whose eloquent insights on FOPO are invaluable.I found that while writing and beginning to share the book, I was consistently drawn back to this very episode again and again… For those new to her work, Brené is a renowned research professor at the University of Houston, where she's spent over two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, empathy, and leadership…She's the author of six New York Times bestsellers, and her iconic TED talk - The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the most viewed TED talks of all time,

For the first time in Finding Mastery’s history, we're going where few other podcasts have ventured:  Outer space.And joining us for this historic and very episode is the remarkable NASA astronaut Dr. Woody Hoburg – tuning in directly from the International Space Station (ISS).How incredible is that?This is Part Two of our 3-part series documenting Woody’s epic journey – from Earth to the cosmos and back again. Last week, in Part One, we explored Woody’s preparations for this mission – if you haven’t had a chance to check that out yet, I highly recommend you go give it a listen here.And today, in Part Two, he’s providing a firsthand look into life aboard the ISS.It was a surreal experience to speak with Woody while he was literally floating around his cabin and spinning his microphone in zero gravity – if you can, I’d highly recommend checking this one out on YouTube – the visuals are epic. Within the close quarters of the ISS, Woody and his team model an impressive level of excellence in perfo

This week, we’re beyond excited to share a very special conversation with you… maybe the most special and ambitious podcast we’ve ever done… Finding Mastery… is going to space.Sometimes, life can present us with moments where even our most meticulous planning and preparation reach their limits. These moments are where we find ourselves at a crossroads, needing to decide whether to boldly leap into the unknown or to stay grounded in the familiar.  Now, imagine the weight of that choice when it involves venturing into the ultimate unknown: outer space. Today's guest doesn't have to imagine; he's lived it and has found true growth playing on this edge.Among a staggering pool of 18,000 applicants, all vying for the rare opportunity to train and become a NASA astronaut, Dr. Woody Hoburg emerged as one of the mere 13 individuals selected in 2017.Fast forward to 2023, and on March 2nd, he launched to the International Space Station, piloting NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission. And before he left for hi