Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

Finding Mastery

<p>Dive into the minds of the world’s greatest athletes, leaders, thinkers, and doers with Dr. Michael Gervais—a high performance psychologist and world-renowned expert on the relationship between high performance and the mind. Dr. Gervais’s client roster includes Super Bowl winning NFL teams, Fortune 50 CEOs, Olympic medalists, internationally acclaimed artists, and more.</p><p>On Finding Mastery, Dr. Gervais sits down with the best at what they do, like David Goggins, Brene Brown, Toto Wolff, soccer legend Abby Wambach, neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella — translating their life stories, mental skills, and personal practices into applicable tools you can use to unlock your potential.</p><p>Walk with us to the edge of human possibility and learn what you are capable of. New episodes every Wednesday.</p>

  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    The Only Financial Advice You’ll Ever Need | Morgan Housel

    What if the hardest part of money isn’t earning it, but knowing how to use it well?

    Morgan Housel, bestselling author of The Psychology of Money, returns to Finding Mastery to explore the core idea behind his newest bestselling book, The Art of Spending Money. In this next chapter of his work, Morgan shifts the conversation away from accumulation and toward a deeper question: after the basics are covered, what role should money actually play in your life?

    While most financial advice focuses on how to earn and invest, Morgan argues that the more consequential skill is learning how to spend in alignment with your values. The challenge isn’t simply getting rich. It’s defining “enough.”

    In this conversation, Dr. Michael Gervais and Morgan unpack why money decisions are rarely logical and almost always emotional… shaped by identity, comparison, uncertainty, and the quiet pull of status. They explore the psychological difference between getting rich and staying rich, why uncertainty is a permanent feature of life, and how financial independence — not prestige — may be the real prize.

    At the center of it all is a powerful reframe:

    Money is a tool, not a scorecard.

    In this episode, we explore:

    • Why money anxiety persists even when you’re “doing fine” on paper
    • How comparison and status influence spending decisions
    • What it means to use money in service of “a good life”
    • Why defining “enough” matters more than earning “more”
    • How to spend with more intention and fewer regrets


    If you’re serious about building a life that feels aligned — not just impressive — this conversation offers a grounded, psychologically rigorous lens on how to think about money differently.

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    25 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 56 minutes 17 seconds
    Why Young People Are Struggling | Angela Duckworth

    Why are young people today reporting the highest levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and despair in modern history?

    Dr. Angela Duckworth is a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the world’s leading voices on grit, self-control, and the science of thriving. In this conversation with Dr. Michael Gervais, Angela reflects on how her thinking about grit has evolved, where it’s often misunderstood, and why perseverance without purpose can become harmful instead of helpful.

    They explore what excellence really looks like behind the scenes. Not the highlight reel, but the long stretch of deliberate practice and repeated effort that most people never see. Angela also reframes passion as something that develops over time, and offers a practical lens for staying committed when enthusiasm fades and outcomes take longer than expected.

    The conversation expands beyond performance into family life and parenting. They examine the cultural forces shaping today’s youth: the rise of social media, the erosion of in-person connection, the displacement of nature, and the unintended consequences of modern parenting. Angela shares what the data actually shows about the mental health crisis, and what we as parents, educators, and leaders can do about it. 

    In this episode, you’ll learn:

    • What grit really is, and what it isn’t 
    • Why excellence comes from high-quality practice over time
    • How passion develops slowly, and why it can be treated like a skill
    • How to stay committed when motivation fades
    • Why environments shape kids more than pressure does
    • Why young people’s happiness has sharply declined since 2010
    • What the research says about anxiety, depression, and loneliness in Gen Z
    • How screens and social disconnection may be reshaping well-being
    • Practical ways parents can create environments where kids can truly thrive

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    Links & Resources

    Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

    Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

    Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

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    David Blanchflower Article: Blanchflower DG, Bryson A, Xu X (2025) “The declining mental health of the young and the global disappearance of the unhappiness hump shape in age.” https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0327858

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    18 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 19 minutes
    Why You’re Tired, Anxious &amp; Inflamed I Dr Tim Spector

    What if one of the biggest nutrition mistakes we’re making isn’t what we eat, but what we’re missing?

    Dr. Tim Spector is one of the world’s leading researchers on the gut microbiome and how it shapes metabolism, immunity, and even mental wellbeing. In this conversation Tim challenges the conventional nutrition playbook, explaining why calories are a poor guide to health, why most diets backfire, and how ultra‑processed foods can disrupt hunger signals in ways that make “willpower” a losing game.


    A central theme in this conversation is that many of us are focused on the wrong problem. Tim argues we’ve been sold a story that we need more protein, when what many people are actually missing is fiber, the essential fuel our gut microbes depend on. From there, the conversation becomes refreshingly actionable, focused on diversity over restriction, whole plants that support microbial health, and why fermented foods can punch far above their weight.


    This episode is a grounded, science‑backed reframing of nutrition. It’s less about rules and more about understanding the system inside you, then feeding it well.

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    Links & Resources

    Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

    Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! 

    Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/

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    11 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 24 minutes 29 seconds
    The Moment You Have to Decide | Brandon Marshall

    Data on an NFL sideline is immediate. Decisions are filtered through fear, experience, and instinct.

    In this episode of The Game Inside the Games, Dr. Michael Gervais and NFL legend Brandon Marshall explore the tension between analytics and intuition—what happens when information is instant, comprehensive, and impossible to ignore. As technology reshapes decision-making on the NFL sideline, the real question becomes: when the moment arrives, what do you actually trust?

    Gervais draws on his conversation with Hillary Kerner, CMO of Insight, to examine the human side of AI adoption and why more data doesn’t automatically lead to better choices. Using fourth-down decision-making as a case study, the episode reveals how fear of blame, social pressure, and the need to justify decisions often outweigh what the numbers clearly show.

    This is a grounded look at how people make decisions under scrutiny—and why learning when to trust the data and when to trust yourself may be one of the most important skills in high-pressure environments.


    Follow Finding Mastery all week as The Game Inside the Games continues to unpack the inner game at global sporting events,, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.


    🔥 Don’t miss this deep dive into the mind of an NFL mastermind.

    🎧 Subscribe and follow along with Finding Mastery all week as we unlock championship‑level thinking from the biggest moments in sports. Watch The Game Inside The Games on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.


    ___________________


    This episode is brought to you by Insight and Microsoft. 

    Insight is redefining integration for the Agentic Era by closing the 65% execution gap currently leaving enterprise AI at a standstill. As a leading Solutions Integrator and top 1% Microsoft partner, we don’t just provision licenses; we build the high-performance infrastructure and secure data estates AI requires to thrive. By converging AI-optimized networking with our proprietary Radius™ Microsoft 365 Copilot framework, we solve the infrastructure-AI paradox. From silicon to skills, Insight leverages "Customer Zero" expertise to transform software into a high-yield autonomous enterprise—enabling seamless, secure collaboration between your people and your AI.


    https://aka.ms/InsightMicrosoftCopilot



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    8 February 2026, 10:30 pm
  • 28 minutes 43 seconds
    The Weight We Carry: Ricardo Lockette on Loss and Healing

    Some moments don’t fade. They wait.

    In this episode of The Game Inside the Games, Dr. Michael Gervais reconnects with Ricardo Lockette as returning to the Super Bowl setting brings old emotions back to the surface. The conversation moves beyond the game itself into grief, loss, and the weight of moments that never fully resolve.

    Lockette speaks candidly about the Super Bowl heartbreak, the injury that ended his career, and why public grieving can be harder than physical pain. Drawing on their close relationship, Gervais helps him unpack what those experiences still mean—and how resilience is built in the aftermath, not the moment.

    This is a raw, human conversation about survival, leadership, and learning how to live with moments that don’t come with clean endings.

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    _____ 

    This episode is brought to you by CDW and Microsoft. 


    AI is revolutionizing how work gets done. CDW and Microsoft can play a vital role in unlocking the transformative potential of Microsoft Copilot. By leveraging this technology, organizations can achieve significant productivity gains, enhance innovation and streamline workflows.


    Unlock opportunities to improve both employee and customer experiences when you partner with CDW to deploy your Copilot solutions. Our experts can help maximize the capabilities of Copilot, by building out roadmaps, use cases, and agent experiences that supercharge efficiency for your organization.


    Aka.ms/CDWMicrosoftCopilot


    Learn more about CDW’s internal Copilot adoption story: CDW rolls out Microsoft 365 Copilot to 10,000 employees, reporting 85% productivity gains | Microsoft Customer Stories


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    7 February 2026, 6:30 pm
  • 15 minutes 52 seconds
    Brandon Marshall: Inside the Huddle

    The huddle is one of the quietest moments in football—and one of the most revealing. Before the play is called, before anyone moves, a team comes together in a space where trust, tone, and connection matter more than words on a whiteboard.

    In this episode of The Game Inside the Games, Dr. Michael Gervais and All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall go inside the huddle to explore what really happens in the moments before action. Rather than breaking down strategy or schemes, the conversation focuses on culture—how relationships show up under pressure and how teams signal belief, accountability, and presence when it counts.

    Drawing on lived experience, Gervais and Marshall examine how the huddle becomes a mirror for a team’s inner life. Who speaks. Who listens. How people respond when the moment feels heavy. These subtle dynamics often shape what happens next, long before the ball is snapped.

    This is a grounded, human conversation about connection, leadership, and shared responsibility. And while the stories come from the highest level of football, the insight applies far beyond the field—to meetings, decisions, and the moments we all face just before we act.


    Follow Finding Mastery all week as The Game Inside the Games continues to unpack the inner game at global sporting events,, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    _____________

    This episode is brought to you by CDW and Microsoft. 

    AI is revolutionizing how work gets done. CDW and Microsoft can play a vital role in unlocking the transformative potential of Microsoft Copilot. By leveraging this technology, organizations can achieve significant productivity gains, enhance innovation and streamline workflows.

    Unlock opportunities to improve both employee and customer experiences when you partner with CDW to deploy your Copilot solutions. Our experts can help maximize the capabilities of Copilot, by building out roadmaps, use cases, and agent experiences that supercharge efficiency for your organization.


    Aka.ms/CDWMicrosoftCopilot


    Learn more about CDW’s internal Copilot adoption story: CDW rolls out Microsoft 365 Copilot to 10,000 employees, reporting 85% productivity gains | Microsoft Customer Stories


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    7 February 2026, 2:40 am
  • 26 minutes 45 seconds
    The Loudest Voice in the Stadium: Cam Newton on Self‑Talk

    The noise at the Super Bowl can be overwhelming—tens of thousands of voices colliding into a single roar. But the loudest voice a player hears isn’t coming from the stands. It’s the one inside their own head.

    In this episode of The Game Inside the Games, Dr. Michael Gervais and All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall sit down with former NFL MVP Cam Newton to explore one of the most overlooked forces in elite performance: self-talk.

    Rather than revisiting highlights or headlines, the conversation focuses on the internal dialogue that shapes performance in football’s biggest moments. From the intensity of the Super Bowl stage to the quieter moments when doubt creeps in, Cam and Brandon share how the words athletes say to themselves can either steady them—or pull them out of the moment entirely.

    This is a candid, human conversation about confidence, pressure, imagination, and the unseen work required to stay grounded when everything is on the line. And while the stories come from the highest level of sport, the lessons reach far beyond the field—offering insight into how anyone can use self-talk to access their best when it matters most.

    Follow Finding Mastery all week as The Game Inside the Games continues to unpack the inner game at global sporting events,, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    _____________


    This episode is brought to you by CDW and Microsoft. 

    AI is revolutionizing how work gets done. CDW and Microsoft can play a vital role in unlocking the transformative potential of Microsoft Copilot. By leveraging this technology, organizations can achieve significant productivity gains, enhance innovation and streamline workflows.

    Unlock opportunities to improve both employee and customer experiences when you partner with CDW to deploy your Copilot solutions. Our experts can help maximize the capabilities of Copilot, by building out roadmaps, use cases, and agent experiences that supercharge efficiency for your organization.


    Aka.ms/CDWMicrosoftCopilot


    Learn more about CDW’s internal Copilot adoption story: CDW rolls out Microsoft 365 Copilot to 10,000 employees, reporting 85% productivity gains | Microsoft Customer Stories


    _____________

    Links & Resources

    Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

    Get 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: findingmastery.com/morningmindset 

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    6 February 2026, 3:00 am
  • 49 minutes 16 seconds
    One Yard from Everything: Flow, Pressure, and the Play that Changed Football

    The Super Bowl isn’t just a physical game — it’s a psychological one.

    In this special Game Inside the Games episode, Dr. Michael Gervais is joined by NFL coach Matt Patricia and former All-Pro Brandon Marshall to unpack one of the most defining moments in Super Bowl history: Malcolm Butler’s game-winning interception.

    This episode explores what it looks like to perform under pressure when the whole world is watching. 

    Subscribe and follow along all week as The Game Inside the Games delivers daily episodes leading up to the Super Bowl — revealing the mindset behind elite performance.


    _________________

    This episode is powered by:  Microsoft Copilot, Insight

    Insight is redefining integration for the Agentic Era by closing the 65% execution gap currently leaving enterprise AI at a standstill. As a leading Solutions Integrator and top 1% Microsoft partner, we don’t just provision licenses; we build the high-performance infrastructure and secure data estates AI requires to thrive. By converging AI-optimized networking with our proprietary Radius™ Microsoft 365 Copilot framework, we solve the infrastructure-AI paradox. From silicon to skills, Insight leverages "Customer Zero" expertise to transform software into a high-yield autonomous enterprise—enabling seamless, secure collaboration between your people and your AI.


    From Hype to How


    _________________

    Links & Resources


    Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

    Get 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: findingmastery.com/morningmindset 

    Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X


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    4 February 2026, 5:00 pm
  • 1 hour 22 minutes
    Why Smart People Make Bad Decisions | Ryan Holiday

    What does it mean to live wisely in a loud, distracted, and often reactive world?

    Ryan Holiday—bestselling author and modern Stoic philosopher—returns to explore how wisdom actually works… not as a theory or a prize of age, but as a daily practice of reflection, humility, and courage.

    Ryan breaks down why wisdom takes work, how Stoic philosophy applies to modern parenting and leadership, and why the ability to think deeply and act deliberately might be the rarest skill in today’s world. This conversation goes beyond ideas — it’s about living wisely when life feels anything but quiet.

    You’ll learn:

    • How to treat wisdom as a practice, not an identity
    • Why wisdom demands both courage and humility
    • The key to raising thoughtful kids in a noisy world
    • How to find calm and clarity in times of distraction and division
    • Why discernment is the superpower for the age of AI and misinformation

    __________________________________________________

    Links & Resources

    Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

    Get 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: findingmastery.com/morningmindset 

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    28 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    Why You’re Aging Faster Than You Think | Dr Gabrielle Lyon

    What if the real risk to our health isn’t aging itself, but becoming metabolically weak?

    Dr. Gabrielle Lyon — physician, researcher, and one of the leading voices redefining how we think about health and longevity — shares why muscle sits at the center of lasting strength, energy, and vitality. In this wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Michael Gervais, she explores why health isn’t something to manage later with prescriptions, but something to build deliberately through strength and daily discipline.

    Dr. Lyon’s muscle-centric approach reframes aging and performance: real longevity is not about doing less, but building the capacity to do more — with purpose, clarity, and resilience. From the science of protein and training to the psychology of sustainable health, this conversation offers a roadmap to living strong, not just long.

    You’ll learn:

    • Why muscle is the organ of longevity
    • How to build metabolic health through training and nutrition
    • The key to balancing strength, performance, and recovery
    • How to approach GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic) with nuance and caution
    • Why physical strength fuels mental resilience and purpose

    _______________________________________________________

    Links & Resources

    Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

    Get 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: findingmastery.com/morningmindset 

    Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

    Pre-order The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK and receive exclusive bonuses - https://drgabriellelyon.com/playbook/

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    21 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    How To Stay Calm Under Stress | Dan Harris

    What changes when anxiety shows up—and you stop trying to outrun it, and start learning how to work with it?

    Dan Harris—journalist, bestselling author, and host of 10% Happier—returns to Finding Mastery to explore practical ways to work with anxiety. Dan unpacks how meditation, compassionate self-talk, and exposure built his capacity after a panic attack on live TV—and why curiosity is a powerful antidote to fear.

    Dan and Dr. Mike go beyond optimization into the human side: rebuilding from collapse, confronting panic (on planes, elevators, and big stages), and the daily reps that make composure more accessible. This is a grounded look at attention, identity, and training your inner life—without hacks or magical thinking.

    What you’ll learn

    • How to use meditation as “bicep curls for the brain”
    • Why self-talk (especially in third person) regulates panic in real time
    • The key to working at your edge without traumatizing yourself
    • How to turn exposure into confidence and capacity
    • Why curiosity beats cynicism for mental performance


    At its heart, this episode is a reminder: mastery isn’t a shortcut; it’s alignment between awareness, training, and what matters most.

    _____________________________________________________________

    Links & Resources

    Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

    Get 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: findingmastery.com/morningmindset 

    Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X

    Dan Harris on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TenPercentHappier

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    14 January 2026, 8:00 am
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