excellence, actually
Episodes
154 – The Athlete’s Psychology (with Stu McMillan)
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Stu McMillan joins the podcast for his second consecutive episode! This conversation dives deep into Stu’s coaching philosophy, “outlier” athlet...
153 – Coaching Olympic Athletes (with Stu McMillan)
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Stu McMillan joins the podcast to chat about his background, coaching philosophy, mentors, and much more.Connect with Stu:https://www.instagram.com/fi...
152 – The Digital Sabbatical
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy new years! On today's episode, Brad and Steve discuss taking a sabbatical away from technology, balancing acceptance with progress, and taking w...
151 – Quick Thoughts Before the Holiday Break; We’ll be Back Jan 04
18 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On behalf of The Growth Equation, Brad Stulberg gives his holiday break sign-off and a few closing thoughts.You can find the episode on:iTunes and App...
150 – The Twitter Premortem
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With Elon Musk taking over Twitter, Brad and Steve reflect on their history on the platform, their move to blogging, podcasting, and much more “insi...
149 – Sustainable Progress
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With another Stulberg child on the way, Brad and Steve discuss Sustainable Progress, Discipline, Rigidity, and Obsession.You can find the episode on:i...
148 – Top 15 Books of 2022
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A fan favorite: this episode is Brad and Steve's Top 15 Book recommendations for 2022. For links to each book, check out the companion article to this...
147 – Analyzing Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve react to recent news of Sam Bankman-Fried and his company FTX. Tune in for a conversation about ego, fame, stardom, and altruism.You ca...
146 – Internet Brain
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Brad and Steve discuss the symptoms, causes, and prevention of Internet Brain.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple Podcast...
145 – How to Work, Parent, Thrive (with Yael Schonbrun)
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve are joined by psychologist, author, podcaster, and parent Yael Schonbrun. They discuss role tension, process vs. outcome, boundaries, a...
144 – Life is Hard, How Philosophy can Help (with Kieran Setiya)
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad is joined by author Kieran Setiya to discuss his new book Life is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way. Kieran discusses navigating a mi...
143 – Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Brad and Steve explore a meta analysis of Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation. They discuss the impact of Socioeconomic factors and...
142 – Finding Your Endurance (with Chris Douglas)
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On today's podcast, Brad and Steve are joined by Chris Doulgas: COO of The Growth Equation, Owner of Presidio Management, and host of the Low Tide Boy...
141 – Balancing Progression with Consistency
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What separates the burnt out childhood prodigy from the one that matures into world class performer? On today's episode, Brad and Steve answer this qu...
140 – Rest and Recovery
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Brad and Steve discuss rest and recovery. They talk about the importance of physical activity, socializing, nature, hydration, die...
139 – Top 9 Documentaries
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve put together a list of their favorite documentaries of the last 10 years plus some TV show recommendations. For a deeper dive into the ...
138 – How Awe Impacts Us
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve examine how Awe impacts us, gives us perspective, connects us, and alleviates anxiety. In this episode, they discuss stillness, ego, na...
137 – Groundedness: One Year Later
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve celebrate the anniversary (or birthday?) of Brad's book “The Practice of Groundedness”. What would he revise for 2022? Join Brad an...
136 – Quiet Quitting
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve discuss “Quiet Quitting”. They talking about bullshit jobs, not trying hard as a way to protect yourself and keeping space away fro...
135 – When Fun Becomes Work
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve discuss when pushing turns things from being fun to being work. Is it even a problem? So what if your work is fun? Brad struggles to re...
134 – “The Medium is the Message”: Part Two on Today’s Media Landscape And How It Changes All Of Us
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve discuss the “medium is the message” and what it means for how we consume and discuss important topics as individuals, communities, ...
133 – Part One: Today’s Media Landscape and How it Changes All of Us (The Pitfalls of Audience Capture, And How to Avoid Them)
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve discuss how “audience capture” works both ways: you don't only capture an audience but an audience also captures you. While this is...
132 – How to Rethink Talent Development
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve discuss what everyone could learn from the Norwegian model of talent development, and why the United States takes such a difference app...
Can You Be a Massive Success Without Being a Narcissist?
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It is unfortunate that we've got a society where extreme narcissism is a key attribute for so-called “success.” Left unchecked, it can, and does, ...
The 24 to 48 Hour Rule
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve break down one of the most important principles for sustainable excellence and mastery without burning out: You get 24 to 48 hours to c...
BONUS: Sink or Swim, Survive or Thrive
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to this special bonus issue. Steve does his best revisionist history impression, telling you the story of Paul Bear Bryant's famous Junction B...
A Better Way to Think About Coaching, Parenting, and Leading
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve discuss different models for working with others, ranging from permissive to authoritarian and everything in between. They explore the ...
Consistency Over Intensity
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A discussion on consistency, intensity, and the tradeoffs between the two. The big topics discussed include how small steps compounded over time lead ...
When To Grit And When To Quit
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve discuss the different habits, strategies, and practices that can help you learn when it makes sense to keep going (and grit) versus whe...
Resilience, Grit, Toughness and Learning How to Do Hard Things
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this behind-the-scenes podcast, Brad interviews Steve on his new book Do Hard Things. Where did the idea for the book come from? How do you go from...
7 Key Guidelines for Health and Longevity
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve are joined by Kyle Klechenko, co-founder, co-owner, and head coach at Strength Ratio, to discuss his new e-book, “Building Foundation...
Re-Listen: CAL NEWPORT on The Moral Weight of Working, Not Working, and Bragging About Both
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Some people love to grind and work long days and on the weekends. Some people like never to work outside of traditional hours. Some people like to...
Truly Great Teams Versus “Super Teams”
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the NBA finals here, Brad and Steve use the championship series as a jumping off point to discuss the power of well-oiled teams, where there is b...
11 Concepts for Mental Health
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It is mental health awareness month, and it is a topic near and dear to our hearts. Mental health and its opposite (mental illness) affects just about...
The Connection Between Crazy Supplements, Crazy Conspiracies, and Crazy Candidates
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The episode title says it all. Brad and Steve investigate the connection between the wild west of supplements and the wild west of ideas and politicia...
Listener Mailbag: Books, Sleep, Practicing What You Preach, and More!
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You asked. We answered. This week's episode is a listener AMA, including:1. What are some recent good books that you’ve read?2. I know you two are b...
What the NFL Draft can Teach Us About Talent Identification
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The NFL draft just went down last week. For football fans it is a very exciting time. For everyone else, it is a fascinating look at just how hard ide...
The Current State of Social Media and Attention Economics
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In light of the news that Elon Musk might actually buy twitter, Brad and Steve explore how they use social media in their own lives and they offer som...
Habits Aren’t the Only Path to Health Behavior Change
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week we are joined by Michelle Segar, who is a researcher at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, studying sustainable behavior change. The dis...
Daily Habits for Health and Performance
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve share a framework for “minimum effective dosing” of habits for health and performance. They provide a menu of evidence-based health...
Everyone Is Tired All The Time. Here’s What You Can Do About It.
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many people are experiencing a chronic low-grade fatigue. It can manifest as multiple snooze-button taps, mid-day crashes, struggling to find motivati...
Managing Uncertainty
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do we handle uncertainty in life? In this episode, Brad and Steve take on what to do when your world seems a bit out of whack. They dive into how ...
From Opioid Addiction to Enlightenment
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is a conversation for the ages. Brad and Steve are joined by a special guest, Eric Zimmer, a former heroine addict now successful coach, entrepre...
Longevity, Diet, and Changing Your Relationship with Excellence
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Brad and Steve get personal and discuss what is top of mind for them when it comes to their own health and longevity, including why B...
Re-listen: Life with Shalane Flanagan, Marathon Champion, Olympian and Coach
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve check in with NYC Marathon Champion, Olympian, coach, and friend Shalane Flanagan. The trio f...
The Case for Ambition
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There have been many recent articles, essays, and books arguing against ambition—and some might even say the pursuit of personal excellence. In this...
How to Work With Performance Anxiety
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone experiences performance anxiety at some point. It's simply the cost of caring deeply about you are doing. In this episode, Brad and Steve div...
Excellence, Mental Health, and the Olympics: Going Hard Without Falling Apart
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is it possible to strive for the utmost excellence without sacrificing your mental health? Can you care deeply about a pursuit without attaching your ...
Good vs. Bad Motivation
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A must-listen for anyone currently pursuing (or considering) big goals in their life. Brad and Steve dive into one of their favorite topics: how to st...
People Are Losing Their Minds on the Internet
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve address all the people who seem to be losing their minds on the internet, and what they do (at their best) to stop themselves from goin...
When To Thrive vs. Simply Survive
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Progress, continual growth, and development are all great, no doubt. But we all go through periods of life when it is wise to shift the goal from thri...
All About Failure
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nobody likes to fail, but you can't get through life without failing at least a few times. On this episode, Brad and Steve discuss an evidence-based p...
How to be Consistent
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Good enough is usually good enough. Good enough over and over again—that's how you get to great. The culture loves heroic efforts. Heroic efforts ar...
The Science (And Philosophy) Of Setting Optimal Goals
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve discuss the latest science of goal setting, including the common pitfalls most people overlook and the concrete principles for setting ...
Recapping the Six Biggest Performance and “Wellness” Ideas from 2021
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve let loose recapping the six biggest ideas in performance and wellness from 2021.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSp...
The Creative Process with Sculptor Emil Alzamora
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve are joined by world-class sculptor Emil Alzamora to discuss his work, the idea (and life) of being a craftsperson, physical versus digi...
Fundamentals Not Fluff
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Brad and Steve dispel some recent trends in the health, fitness, and high-performance space, delving into how they came into existenc...
What Does it Mean to be Courageous in Daily Life, With Ryan Holiday
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve are joined by author Ryan Holiday for a wide-ranging discussion on courage: how it relates to self and society, and the big and small a...
Top 10 Books of 2021
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and Steve discuss their top 10 books of 2021. Fun banter, and a great reading and holiday gifting recommendations. You don't want to miss out on ...
Grit and Exploitation vs. Exploration
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An interesting discussion on when grit is useful versus when grit gets in the way, and the value of exploration (going wide) before exploitation (goin...
Activity (And Other) Trackers
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From Whoop to Fitbit to Oura, activity trackers are on the rise. On this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve dive into these wrist...
Do More Real Things in The World, Be Better, and Feel Better
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve discuss the vast benefits of doing real, concrete activities in a modern world that is ...
Dave Pell: Managing Editor… Of The Internet
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We are lucky to be joined by Dave Pell, the reader, writer, and all-around creative behind the internet's longest running big-time newsletter, Next Dr...
Everyone Can Benefit From Coaching
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the pod, Brad and Steve talk about all things performance coaching, including in fields outside of sport. They discuss everything f...
SUBTRACT: The Power of Less
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Less is not more. More is more. Less is less. But sometimes—no, even often—less is better. In this episode, Brad and Steve talk to Leidy Klotz, a ...
Productivity vs. Productive Activity and Time Management
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A fun and wide-ranging conversation on the entire notion of productivity and time-management. We start from a 30,000 foot view of what's the point of ...
Closing the Empathy Gap
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We use a recent exploration of the NFL's empathy gap as a doorway into a broader conversation about the tradeoffs between analytics and the human side...
Focusing on the Process When Results Matter
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We dive into what it was like to launch the Growth Eq's latest book, The Practice of Groundedness. In particular, we focus on our struggles trying to...
Finding Stability in a Frenetic World
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this behind-the-scenes podcast, Steve interviews Brad on his new book The Practice of Groundedness. Where did the idea for the book come from? How ...
The Mind Outside of Your Head
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
People often think of the brain and the mind as the same thing. But they are not. The brain is an organ inside your skull. The brain contributes to th...
Determining the Greatest of All Time
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We take a slight divergence from our usual topics to dive into one of those perennial questions with no possible answer: Who is the greatest of all ti...
How to Spot Guru Syndrome (And What to Do About It)
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With conspiracy theories—on everything from diet, to exercise, to a global pandemic and vaccines—flying left and right, we wanted to devote some t...
Olympic Lessons For All of Us
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the 2020 Olympic Games coming to an end, we thought we'd recap some of the best moments and explore what we all can learn from them, regardless o...
Ask Me Anything (AMA) — It Depends!
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're back with another AMA. We field a broad range of listener questions on diverse topics, ranging from the Olympics to nutrition to how to actually...
How to Get Going When You Don’t Want To But Know You Should
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many people are feeling a kind of languishing these days, a sense of stagnation and lethargy as if everything is a big effort. We dive into what is un...
Unpacking The Best Press Conference Ever
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A few days ago, NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was asked about keeping his mind right during high pressure games. His answer, which this podcast ...
Growth Academy #10: Transitions
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of the hardest parts of work and life is facing transitions. These are often periods of discombobulation, where we may feel like we are losing a p...
Growth Academy #9: Self-Awareness (And Self-Distancing)
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We explore the illusion of trying to be “balanced,” and how a better aim to strive for is the self-awareness to prioritize and choose to focus on ...
Growth Academy #8: Harmonious Passion
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the last round of Growth EQ Academy podcasts (Academy episodes #6 and #7) we explored the genesis of motivation, drive, and passion, and what happe...
Mental Health in Athletes (And Beyond)
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Naomi Osaka recently withdrew from the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. Mental health seems to have played a role. Osaka is not the first athlete and cert...
Growth Academy #7: Obsessive Passion
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We go deep on the “bad” kind of passion, exploring how motivation and drive can become destructive — leading to burnout, angst, unethical be...
Growth Eq Academy #6: Motivation and Drive
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Intense motivation and drive — what we call passion — is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it can help you accomplish great ...
CAL NEWPORT on The Moral Weight of Working, Not Working, and Bragging About Both
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Some people love to grind and work long days and on the weekends. Some people like never to work outside of traditional hours. Some people like to...
Growth EQ Academy #5: Purpose
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Motivation comes from diverse sources, but perhaps none is more powerful than purpose. Why is this the case? What happens in our brain and body when ...
Growth EQ Academy #4: Routines
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The first rule of routines is to have one and stick to it. The second rule of routines is to be able to let go. We explore the truth of this paradox, ...
Growth EQ Academy #3: Rest and Recovery
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Forget about all the products and services that promise to help you recharge. You don't need all (or really, any) of that stuff. In this episode of th...
Growth EQ Academy #2: Stress Yourself
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While there are many definitions of stress, we like to think of productive stress as a stimulus that challenges you in a manner which promotes growth...
Growth EQ Academy #1: Stress + Rest = Growth.
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's the universal equation to make sustainable progress in anything. In this episode of the Growth Equation Academy, we review what we mean by “st...
Fascinating Insights About Aging and Performance
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Phil Mickelson just won the PGA Championship at age 50. That is no joke. In this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve use Mickelso...
The Instagram Filter Theory of Life and Doing Real Things in the World
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it that so many people seem so out of touch with reality these days? In this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve explore a ...
Load Management (In Sport, Work, and Life)
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
All the stars in the NBA are getting hurt. This comes off the coattails of a hyper-condensed season because of COVID-19, followed by a shortened off...
Divorce in High Performers
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many were shocked to hear about Bill and Melinda Gates getting divorced. But some weren't. After all, they are both extreme pushers, those who care de...
How to Read More and Read Better
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best ways to be smarter, kinder, and wiser is to read. Straight up. It's the truth. On this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast, Brad ...
Right Thinking
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There is infinite information out there. Every day, we are inundated with principles, concepts, and ideas. How does one wade through the deluge, let a...
Hero Worship and Performative Everything
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve discuss the culture's obsession with idolizing certain people, and how thanks to the...
Skill vs. Luck vs. Hard Work
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hard work is often talked about as a be-all end-all when it comes to performance, and even personhood. On this episode of The Growth Equation podcas...
An Honest Rant on College Admissions
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The film Operation Varsity Blues, a chronicle of the massive college admissions scandal that occurred from 2011 to 2018, was just published on Netfl...
Inside Baseball: Book Publishing
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus episode, Brad and Steve delve into the process of becoming authors, starting from their early days writing hardly-read blogs to ...
Slaying Sacred Cows in Health and Fitness
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To foam roll or not to foam roll? Force yourself to endure an ice-bath after a grueling workout, or sit it out? Cardio or weights, or perhaps even mor...
Unwinding Anxiety
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anxiety, in the broadest of terms, is discomfort with uncertainty. In the words of psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author Judson Brewer, “it's a s...