Intentional Performers

Keith Mitchell from the NFL to Mindful Living

Former all-pro NFL football player turned internationally renowned celebrity yogi Keith Mitchell joins Brian Levenson on the podcast this week. Keith is a motivational mindfulness coach, holistic health and wellness advocate, community activist and humanitarian, and he is committed to providing holistic tools that help others achieve optimal health, harmony and aliveness to the fullest degree. A life-changing football injury left Keith partially paralyzed, and he utilized Yoga and Meditation to fully recover, and he now shares his inspirational transformation with others as a highly sought after spiritual lifestyle/wellness coach, teacher and motivational speaker. Keith’s mission is to guide others to find the power within themselves to make a positive shift— so they may live a life full of joy, gratitude and purpose.

In this episode, they discuss his upbringing and life growing up both from a personal and football standpoint (6:45), the values his parents passed down to him (9:30), the different between fitting in vs. sticking out in football (12:00), his dominance mindset with football (19:40), what he would tell himself to believe he could achieve a goal with regards to the visualization tactics, and goal setting tactics he used (22:20), his thoughts on leadership and how he developed his work ethic (29:50), what thriving looks like for him and what’s meaningful in his life (40:10), how he cultivated a belief in himself and how he created his own story with self-talk (52:00), preparation and minset during both the week of and right before a game (1:03:30), the moment when he makes that tackle and his life takes an unexpected turn (1:08:50), his experience with depression after the injury and how he changed after the injury (1:14:00), what his daily and morning routines look like (1:23:20), and finally if he would have gone down this path had the injury not happened (1:28:40).

Thanks to Keith for coming on the podcast, and I encourage you to check out his website http://www.keithmitchell59.com/ as well. You can also follow him on Twitter: @K_Mitchell59 or Instagram @keithmitchell59.

Lastly, if you liked this episode and/or any others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks for listening.

--Brian

 

Jen Rizzotti on Playing for Championships

Today's guest is Jen Rizzotti. Jen is entering her third season as the head coach of the George Washington women's basketball team. Jen guided the Colonials back to the NCAA Tournament in her second season at the helm in 2017-18 after leading the program to the Atlantic 10 Championship. 

Rizzotti was named the 10th head coach of GW women's basketball on April 15, 2016. Coach Rizzotti spent the previous 17 seasons as the head coach of the Hartford Hawks, where she built a conference powerhouse in taking the Hawks to all six NCAA appearances in program history, winning a pair of NCAA Tournament games, and distinguishing herself as the all-time winningest coach in America East history.

Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, Rizzotti is well-known in basketball circles around the world. After taking control of a Hartford program that went 8-19 in the year before she was hired and that had never won more than 15 games prior to her arrival, the Hawks enjoyed 11 seasons with more than 15 victories in her tenure and won at least 20 games seven times.

Following the 2009-10 regular season, Rizzotti was named a finalist for the Kay Yow National Coach of the Year award after leading Hartford to a school-record 20-game winning streak, a perfect 16-0 record in conference play and the program's first-ever national ranking.

Rizzotti is also deeply connected to international basketball through her involvement with the USA Women's Basketball national program. She served as head coach of 2010 FIBA Americas U18 gold medal winners as well as the 2011 U19 World Champions. In 2011 she was crowned as the USA Basketball National Coach of the Year. More recently Rizzotti served as an assistant for the 2014 FIBA World Championships and served in a support role for the USA Basketball Women's National Team's Gold Medal run at the 2016 Olympic Games.

As a student-athlete at the University of Connecticut, Rizzotti first vaulted into the national spotlight as the starting point guard for the Huskies' first national championship team in 1995 with an undefeated 35-0 record. During the run to the national title, Rizzotti was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

A former All-American and the NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player after her junior and senior seasons, in 1996 Rizzotti virtually swept the postseason awards as Big East Player of the Year, Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Associated Press Player of the Year, the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the Wade Trophy winner.

Rizzotti graduated as UConn's career leader in assists (637) and steals (349) and still ranks second all-time in those categories.

As a coach and formerly as a student-athlete, Rizzotti's focus on academics has always been exemplary. Under her guidance, Hartford was ranked among the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Academic Top 25 teams on three occasions. Another accolade from her playing days was awarded in June 2016 when the two-time Academic All-American and 1996 Academic All-American of the Year was officially inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Hall of Fame.

Rizzotti played eight seasons of professional basketball following her graduation from UConn in 1996. In addition to five seasons in the WNBA - two with the Houston Comets and three with the Cleveland Rockers - she competed for three seasons with the New England Blizzard in the American Basketball League. In the ABL she was a two-time All-Star.

You can follow GW on Twitter @GW_WBB.

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks,

Brian

Kevin Cherilla on Climbing Mountains

Kevin Cherilla has had the privilege of working with thousands of people from all walks of life for the past 20 years. Whether in the classroom, the boardroom or on the mountain, his tailored messages and themes are delivered for maximum impact to diverse audiences.

From students to educators and employees to corporate executives, Kevin’s engaging, energetic and educational programs are perfect for reaching young people and adults through lessons and experiences that directly apply to their everyday lives:

• Value the diverse qualities in every team member

• Learn when to lead and when to follow

• Achieve and appreciate success regardless of the odds against you

• Inspire vision, hope and accomplishment in the minds of those who have given up

• Set real goals that are beyond the ordinary

As a business owner, premiere educator and mountain guide of twenty years, Kevin understands how people learn and what kind of presentation will resonate with specific audiences. Kevin’s programs not only captivate listeners but deliver salient lessons to inspire everyone. He offers these presentations for international corporations, foundations, universities and schools. Each one is unique and tailored to their needs, themes and schedule. Kevin’s presentations include breathtaking expedition photos and award winning video footage from around the world including the summit of Mt. Everest and Mt. Kilimanjaro.

His teams have been featured on the front cover of TIME, Outside, Climbing and *Scholastic News magazines, on the Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and world news programs, including CNN. Kevin started K2 to engage and challenge individuals by reaching their goals of climbing mountains around the world. Many of his clients have individual disabilities such as amputations, blindness, paralysis and muscular dystrophy. His teammates have ranged in age from 10 to 85 years old and have had a phenomenal success rate of over 95%.

In January 2012, Kevin was given one of his greatest and most rewarding climbs to date. He was the expedition leader for Kyle Maynard, the first quadruple amputee to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. Kyle won an ESPN ESPY Award for this tremendous accomplishment. In 2016, Kyle climbed the highest peak in the western hemisphere, Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina under Kevin’s leadership, and was subsequently featured in a Nike commercial during the 2016 Summer Olympics. Some of Kevin’s other expedition successes include leading 8 blind climbers up Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2009 which broke four world records.

Kevin was a member of Erik Weihenmayer’s historic summit of Mt. Everest in 2001. Erik is the only blind person in history to reach the summit. On June 5, 2007, Kevin fulfilled one of his life-long dreams and summited Mt. Everest himself. In 2009, Kevin co-founded K2 Adventures Foundation, a qualified national and international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. K2’s mission is to care for children, adults and families with special needs and or life changing medical circumstances by providing services, support and funds that will be used for educational and medical enrichment. K2 has had many projects over the years including building a children’s medical and dental center in Tanzania, 3 schools in Nepal and working with a school for severely disabled children in Peru.

You can learn more about Kevin's work at https://k2adventures.org/.

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks,

Brian

Mike Signer on Leading in Chaos

Mike Signer is a former mayor who successfully promoted innovation and pluralism in one of America's most well-known cities; a corporate attorney and executive at a major Virginia technology firm; and a public scholar who writes and teaches about constitutionalism, statesmanship, and the rule of law. His leadership against extremism, intolerance, and demagoguery has been recognized around the nation.

Mike served as Mayor of Charlottesville from 2016 to 2018, a AAA-bond-rated city of nearly 50,000 that is frequently ranked among America's best places to live and that has Virginia's lowest unemployment rate. He continues to serve on the City Council.

He is Vice President and General Counsel of WillowTree, Inc., a digital design agency with over 200 employees whose clients include Fortune 500 companies such as GE, HBO, Nestle, and National Geographic. He serves on the firm's executive team and directs many corporate and strategic matters, including contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, real estate matters, and the firm's Social Impact practice.

Mike is a lecturer at the University of Virginia, where he teaches classes on leadership. His books Demagogue: The Fight to Save Democracy from Its Worst Enemies (St. Martin's Press 2009) and Becoming Madison: The Extraordinary Origins of the Least Likely Founding Father (PublicAffairs 2015) both received widely positive reviews. They have been assigned in classes at Rutgers University, the University of Virginia, James Madison University, and George Mason University.  He has written opinion pieces and essays for The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Time, Vox, Democracy, and The New Republic, among others.

Mike and the people of Charlottesville received the Anti-Defamation League's Levenson Family Defender of Democracy Award in 2017. He is the recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of California Alumni Club of Washington, D.C. He is a member of the 2018 class of Aspen Institute Rodel Fellows. He was recognized by Forward Magazine in its "Forward 50" 2017 list of the 50 most influential Jewish leaders in America. He was a 2009 candidate for lieutenant governor of Virginia. He has received senior appointments from three Virginia governors.

He has been profiled by CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian and interviewed by Meet the Press, Face the Nation, the Rachel Maddow Show, and NPR's Morning Edition. He has been an invited speaker at Princeton University, Wake Forest University, Ryerson University, South by Southwest, Georgetown University, James Madison University, Marymount University, Israel's Foreign Ministry, the Friedrich Ebert Institute in Berlin, the Anti-Defamation League, the B'nai Brith Youth Organization, and the Richmond World Affairs Council.

He has held many leadership roles in nonprofits and civic organizations. He is the former Chair of the Emergency Food Network and former President of the Fifeville Neighborhood Association, both in Charlottesville. He served on the Board of Directors of OneVirginia2021, which advocates for nonpartisan redistricting. As a law student at the University of Virginia, he founded the Coalition for Progress on Race and co-founded the Center for the Study of Race and Law. He was also President of the UVA Law Democrats and Co-President of the UVA chapter of the American Constitution Society.

He holds a Ph.D. in political science from U.C., Berkeley, where he was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow; a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law; and a B.A. in politics, magna cum laude, from Princeton University, where he was a work-study student.

You can learn more about Mike at his website (https://www.michaelsigner.com/) and give him a follow on twitter: @MikeSigner.

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks,

Brian

 

Flo Groberg on Courage

This week's podcast guest is retired U.S. Army Capt and Medal of Honor winner, Florent "Flo" Groberg. Flo was born in Poissy, France and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2001. Flo went to high school with my wife at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Md.

Groberg attended the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and competed in varsity track and cross country. In May 2006, Groberg graduated from UMD with a bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice.

Groberg entered the Army and attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. He received his commission as an infantry officer, Dec. 4, 2008. After completing Infantry Officer Basic Course, Mechanized Leaders Course, U.S. Army Airborne and U.S. Army Ranger Schools, he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo., as a platoon leader.

In November 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan as part of Task Force Lethal, with responsibility for the Pech River Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province. Upon returning home in June 2010, he continued serving as a platoon leader until he was reassigned as an infantry company executive officer from October 2010 to November 2011. He was then assigned as the brigade personal security detachment commander for 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He deployed again to Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in February of 2012, with Task Force Mountain Warrior. He was promoted to captain in July 2012.

As a result of his actions, Groberg sustained the loss of 45 to 50 percent of his left calf muscle with significant nerve damage, a blown eardrum, and a mild traumatic brain injury. Groberg spent his recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from August 2012 through May 2015. He was medically retired from Company B Warriors, Warrior Transition Battalion, as a captain, July 23, 2015.

Groberg's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars; the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the U.S. Army Parachutists Badge, the U.S. Army Ranger Tab, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

You can follow Flo on Twitter: @FlorentGroberg and read his book, 8 Seconds of Courage. 

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks,

Brian

Alex Banayan on The Third Door

This week's podcast is with Alex Banyan. I was fortunate to be introduced to Alex from previous guest, Cal Fussman. I recently finished reading Alex's (in 5 days) and I highly recommend it. 

The day before his freshman year final exams, ALEX BANAYAN hacked The Price Is Right, won a sailboat, sold it, and used the prize money to fund his quest to learn from the world’s most successful people.

Since then, Banayan has been named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list and Business Insider’s “Most Powerful People Under 30.” He has contributed to Fast Company, the Washington Post, Entrepreneur, and TechCrunch, and has been featured in major media including Fortune, Forbes, Businessweek, Bloomberg TV, Fox News, and CBS News.

An acclaimed keynote speaker, Banayan has presented the Third Door framework to business conferences and corporate leadership teams around the world, garnering standing ovations from Apple, Nike, IBM, Dell, MTV, Harvard, and countless others.

You can learn more about Alex at http://thirddoorbook.com/ and follow him on Twitter @AlexBanayan.

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks,

Brian Levenson

The Basketball Journey with Tony Ronzone

Basketball has taken Tony Ronzone all over the world. He played professionally overseas in New Zealand and began his coaching career as the youngest head coach in New Zealand history (age 22). He also held head coaching positions with the Saudi Arabian National Team (1992) and United Arab Emirates Team (1992-1997). Since 1997 Tony has worked in the front office of the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, and Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Before his professional basketball journey, he started by playing college basketball and baseball at the University of Nevada, participating in two NCAA tournaments, before finishing his collegiate career at Long Beach State.  

He was a member of the Pistons during their NBA Championship run in 2004. He also was a member of the Olympic committee of F.I.B.A., and Ronzone has been very active with USA Basketball, where he serves as Director of International Player Personnel. In this position, he assisted with the gold-medal winning men’s basketball team at the 2008 Olympics (China), the 2010 FIBA World Championships (Turkey) and the 2012 Olympics (London).

In 2001, Ronzone became the first American to coach the Chinese National Team, winning gold at the East Asian Games with a team featuring Yao Ming. Ronzone has coached or conducted clinics in over 55 countries around the world. He is very active with NBA Basketball without Borders and has coached at Euro camp in Treviso, Italy for the past 14 years.

Tony is a big personality who lives his life with gratitude and optimism. In this conversation, he shares everything he has learned and give insight into what it's like to scout for talent. 

Tony is active on Twitter so check him out @tonyronzone.

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks,

Brian

 

Brian Grant on Beating the Odds

I grew up watching Brian Grant compete during his 12-year career in the NBA. And I intentionally used the word "compete" because Brian played his tail off. He went up against bigger players like Shaq, and seemed to never blink an eye. He had a ferocity about him that I loved. He played with a chip on his shoulder. 

In this episode, you will hear Brian discuss his unique and surprising journey to the NBA, his mindset when practicing and performing, and his battle with Parkinson's Disease which started at the young age of 36. 

Today, Brian continues to inspire as a speaker, philanthropist, and a patient who insists on thriving with Parkinson’s disease. His mission is to help people become their best, even when it seems impossible.

Brian started his career at Xavier University where he was Player of the Year twice for the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. He was drafted in the first round, eighth overall, in the 1994 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. His career continued with the Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns. During this time, Brian also served underprivileged youth and sick families in his community. His contributions earned him the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

Brian has a great sense of humor and is an amazing story-teller. Check out his work at

http://www.briangrantspeaks.com/, on Twitter @bwgrant, and his foundation https://briangrant.org/.

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks,

Brian

 

Mindset is Everything with Mitch Aguiar

Mitch Aguiar is a former Navy SEAL, an MMA fighter, and entrepreneur.

This episode starts with Mitch and I simply having a conversation, which turned into a fascinating talk that ranged from his upbringing, going through BUDS, serving 10 years as a SEAL, some of the physical and mental challenges he's faced in his journey, fighting MMA, and starting his own clothing company.

Mitch lives by the mantra "Mindset is Everything" and he certainly lives that mantra daily. He also doesn't sugar-coat his opinion so it's worth noting that this conversation does contain explicit language. 

You are going to love the stories, honesty, and overall vulnerability that Mitch shows throughout this episode.

Mitch is very active on Instagram and he talks about how fulfilling it has been for him to make an impact on people through social media. Go give him a follow @SmashinFrog. You can also check out his apparel line at https://smashinfrog.com/.

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks to Mitch for coming on and thank you for listening.

--Brian

 

 

Unlocking Potential with Julie Elion

Julie Elion has been my mentor for the past 10 years. Along the way she has provided me insight, advice, and she always seems to know when to ask the right question. I owe much of my career to Julie.

Julie has developed one of the premier sport psychology practices in the professional golf world. She is currently working with multiple players on the PGA Tour, including winners of multiple major tournaments and regular tour events totaling over 60 wins and five majors. She worked with the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team in their victory at Valhalla Golf Club, as well as with four members of the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup and four members of the 2011 U.S. Presidents Cup teams. She has a broad focus on competitive golf and counsels golfers at multiple levels of competition including the Nationwide and Champions tour for men, the LPGA and LET for women, and Division I Collegiate Golf.

As well as working extensively with golfers, Julie also provides mental coaching for athletes and teams of other sports on both the professional and collegiate level, including the Washington Wizards (NBA), the Washington Redskins (NFL), the Washington Mystics (WNBA), and the University of Maryland Men’s Basketball team.

Julie founded the Center for Athletic Performance Enhancement in 1998. Her philosophy is based upon helping an individual gain insight into their sport, character, family, and relationships and then use these insights to become a resilient athlete and a more fulfilled person. Julie integrates classical sport psychology tools (e.g., pre-shot routines, course management, and visualization) that are focused on behavioral and cognitive cues, with a deeper appreciation and understanding of oneself. Julie helps to prepare her players for success by focusing on believing in themselves first as a person, and second as an athlete.

In this episode we discuss her surprising path to the field of Sport Psychology, her work with world-class golfers, setting process expectations, the difference between working with individual sports versus team sports, and much more.

Thanks to Julie for coming on the podcast.

You can learn more about her work at www.capeperformance.com. You can also check out her rockstar daughter and her band at http://www.overcoatsmusic.com/.

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks,

Brian

Editing Story with George Solomon

Former Washington Post assistant managing editor George Solomon joins Brian Levenson to discuss the challenges of editing. During his tenure, he got to work with sports journalism legends including Michael Wilbon  Tony Korhnheiser, and Sally Jenkins. George also served as the 1^st ombudsman for ESPN. He now works at the University of Maryland as a sports journalism professor and was inducted into the Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

In this episode they discuss how he developed an interest in journalism as a kid (5:15), how important feedback from others and reading can be to improving writing skills and hiring the right people (14:00), how technology has made the newspaper industry more about surviving than content (24:45), what the role of a good editor is (26:20), the difference between a reporter and a columnist and what it was like editing for some of the best columnists in the business (30:30), what makes Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon special and how it helped them transition to radio and TV (37:30), the importance of having elite female voices like Sally Jenkins and Christine Brennan in the newsroom (41:20), what he enjoys about teaching and lessons for students (43:35), and finally they talk about how he is able to keep his memory so sharp and how curiosity helps make a great story (53:05).

Thanks to George Solomon for coming on and make sure to learn more about Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks for listening.

--Brian

 

Preparing, Probing, and Proposing with Ron Shapiro

Sports Agent and expert negotiator Ron Shapiro joined Brian Levenson to talk about how he got into the industry. He has had quite a journey as an author, attorney (after attending Harvard Law school) and he became Maryland State Securities Commissioner in his late 20's. He has worked as a consultant with NBA teams including the Spurs, Nets, and Thunder and an agent for stars such as Cal Ripken and Kirby Puckett and is also an advisor to the owner of the Baltimore Ravens.

In this episode they discuss how his family inspired him in his youth and the power of optimism (7:15), his path to Harvard Law and how learning to write there was key to unlocking his future (12:45), the value of being able to connect with people and how he overcomes fear in public speaking (17:40), why he decided to work in Baltimore after finishing law school to help desegregation and how he positioned himself into what he calls an "accidental career" (22:50), why empathy, compassion, preparation, and humility are essential to negotiation and how people are mainly a product of circumstance (33:15), the development of having confidence in negotiations and athletics when it’s time to perform (39:10), what made Cal Ripken Jr. special (42:50), the importance of experience and understanding precedents in his field (47:30), the transition from securities to sports (51:35), how one can be self-serving in a way that still helps others (57:15), and the values it takes for someone to run a sports organization (1:00:10). Finally, he discusses his regimented and intentional daily routine (1:03:25).

Thanks to Ron Shapiro for coming on and make sure to follow him on Twitter. You can also purchase his book The Power of Nice, How to Negotiate so Everyone Wins-Especially You!.

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks for listening.

--Brian

Coaching Camps with Mano Watsa

Mano Watsa, presently serves as the President of PGC Basketball. He joins Brian Levenson to discuss coaching and PGC basketball. If you don’t know about PGC, they provide intense, no-nonsense basketball training for players and coaches. Their basketball camps are designed to teach players of all positions to think the game and to be leaders on and off the court. They have served thousands of basketball players and coaches all over the country. He was selected as a two-time All-Canadian and earned Academic All-Canadian honors at the University of Waterloo.

In this episode they discuss the beginnings of his basketball journey at age 10 and how invaluable his grade school coach was to his growth (6:00), what the driving factors were to reach his goals in high school and maximize his potential by starting a basketball camp at 15 (14:30), his time at PGC and how what he learned there about leadership inspired him and changed his mindset on coaching and teaching (22:00), the evolution of the point guard position and how to make teamwork an asset to the team (28:00), his journey at the University of Waterloo and his decision afterwards to start his own point guard program which turned into a merge with PGC (34:30), the difference in working with coaches versus working with players and how to become a transformational coach (39:00). Finally, he describes his morning routine and how important habits are (43:00).

You can follow Mano on twitter: @ManoWatsa and check out PGC Basketball at www.pgcbasketball.com

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @Intentional_Performers.

Thanks for listening.

--Brian

Advocating for the Dream with Tolu Olubunmi

Respected immigrants’ activist Tolu Olubunmi joins Brian Levenson to discuss her unexpected journey searching for the American Dream, which started as an unemployed and undocumented chemical engineer. Her innovative thinking and desire for change have led to her becoming the founder and CEO of Lion’s Write which gives voices to the voiceless. Additionally, she was named one of 15 Women Changing the World in 2015 by the World Economic Forum and has given speeches at NYU, the World Bank, and the White House as she advocates for equality.

In this episode they discuss how she got interested in words and how it has helped her express herself effectively and how writing can help her keep what is going on in her brain in order (5:30), the value of religion in her life and how it isn’t related to what she was taught as a child (10:00), her sheltered childhood growing up as the youngest of 5 children in Nigeria and how important family is to her (13:30), the excitement and difficulties of moving to the United States at 14 to live with her siblings (24:30), why her curiosity helped her decide that she wanted to become an engineer at 8 and how that curiosity assists immigrants to thrive(29:00), the experience that led to her going to a smaller college than expected and why she embraces the challenge of chemistry rather than eschewing it (37:45), figuring out how to deal with the devastating problem of losing her immigration status and the process of advocating to change the law (48:00), learning what makes leaders in immigration advocacy so special and what she believes the future holds for her (56:00). Finally, she talks about what courage is for different people and what current advocacy discussions she finds important (1:03:00).

Thanks to Tolu Olubunmi for coming on, and make sure to visit her website. You can also follow her on Twitter: @Tolu_Olubunmi

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks for listening.

--Brian

Story Telling with Cal Fussman

Interviewer extraordinaire Cal Fussman joins Brian Levenson to talk about how essential curiosity is in the realm of interviewing. Cal has interviewed some of the most famous people in the world ranging from Kobe Bryant to Al Pacino to Dr. Oz. He is also a best selling author and not surprisingly the host of a very popular Podcast called Big Questions.

In this free flowing episode they discuss how Brian should introduce himself and the power of motivation and inspiration (5:30), why he loves Podcasts (16:30), the use of opening interview questions to get a better sense of a person (22:30), how asking someone a question can open you up to something unexpected and what constitutes a hero (29:00), why getting out of your comfort zone and getting back up after being knocked down are essential for success (37:30), what drew him to writing about sports at a young age (41:00), Kobe’s interest in storytelling and how storytelling has changed as technology has evolved (51:00), how his constant curiosity led to him leaving a job and the love of looking for the next adventure (59:30), and the exhilaration of the unknown while traveling and how it taught him to interview (1:06:30). Finally Cal explains how family taught him to mix routine with his yearning for new experiences (1:17:00).

Thanks to Cal Fussman for coming on, and make sure to listen to his Podcast . You can also follow him on Twitter: @calfussman

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks for listening.

--Brian

Dr. Michael Gervais on Finding Sport Psychology

High Performance Psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais joins Brian Levenson on this weeks podcast. Dr. Gervais is the co-founder of the company Compete to Create with Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and has worked with the Seahawks, NBA players, and Microsoft. He is a renowned public speaker with a deep understanding of how to find clarity and thrive under pressure.

In this episode they discuss his introduction into sport psychology as a kid through surfing (4:30), the way he is able to visualize a path to a goal and find a way to best articulate his thoughts (12:00), his first memory of surfing and how the unknown of it changed his mindset (18:00), the idea of the tip of the arrow and how it relates to neuroticism and narcissism as part of becoming a professional athlete (26:00), the difference between being goodness and greatness as character traits and the possible darkness of greatness (34:30), the value of teaching without giving advice, the importance of self-trust and mental skills that can help people (38:00), the psychological framework of interpretation and time management (47:00), whether or not it is necessary to go through adversity or suffering and what success is (55:00), and how he primes his mind on a daily basis (1:04:00). Finally, he talks about how he feels about his overall journey to get to where he is at this point in his life (1:08:00).

Thanks to Dr. Gervais for coming on, and I encourage you to listen to his great Podcast as well. You can also follow him on Twitter: @MichaelGervais or Instagram: @findingmastery

Lastly, if you liked this episode and/or any others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks for listening.

--Brian

Paul Rabil on Developing Mindset

One of the most recognizable and successful lacrosse players and former MVP Paul Rabil joins Brian Levenson to discuss his time as a lacrosse player. Additionally, Paul is a great marketer through social media, which he has leveraged to enhance his brand. Paul is also very open about his work with a Sport Psychologist and remains fascinated by the psychology of performance. 

In this episode, they discuss his work with sport psychology (4:00). What triggered his competitive nature and the importance of loyalty (9:00). How playing a variety of other sports as a kid helped him develop his mindset (18:00). What drew him to lacrosse (27:30). The things that go on in his mind when he’s on the field and his rigorous preparation for games (38:00). Why focusing on perfection is not ideal (43:00). The value he places on visualization, meditation, and journaling (50:45). Understanding time management and trying to find 10 minutes to read every day despite learning differences (57:00) Why he believes it is so important to use social media and how he takes advantage of the various platforms (1:02:45). The full development of what got him interested in sport psychology and it’s importance in all facets of life (1:07:00). Where he sees himself in the future (1:14:00).

Thanks to Paul for coming on, you can listen to his excellent podcast. You can also follow him on Twitter: @PaulRabil and on his youtube channel: www.youtube.com/PaulRabil

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @IntentionalPerformers.

Thanks for listening.

--Brian

Mario Romero on Finding a Way

Mario Romero joins Brian Levenson to share his thoughts and inspirations from humble beginnings leading to the process of him becoming a Navy SEAL and now his time as attempting to become an astronaut as he finishes graduate school at Columbia University. He shares wisdom from his past and how he is able to think against the grain to achieve his goals.

The conversation touches on his difficult childhood raised by his mother and feeling like an outcast as a Jehovah’s Witness (4:00). His current views on religion, faith, and spirituality (12:00). The vision of becoming a Navy SEAL he developed at a young age and the constant desire to challenge himself in high school(16:00). The value of putting himself out there even when failure was likely and choosing sports that build mental toughness (25:30). How 9/11 reaffirmed his desire to become a Navy SEAL and how he wouldn’t let any obstacles keep him from his goal (35:00). Methods he uses to not be distracted (51:00). How he prepared and dealt with others doubting him during his time as a Navy SEAL (55:30). What it’s like serving as a SEAL and how proud he is of his time there (1:09:00). Dealing with having to conform (1:18:30). The difficulties of dealing with PTSD upon returning to being a civilian (1:22:00). His decision to go to graduate school in mathematic and conquer the mindset that he couldn’t be good at math (1:28:45). What he plans to do in the future (1:41:00).

Thanks to Mario for coming on. He's a great instagram follow @Marioromero186

so make sure to check him out there.

Also, if you liked this episode and others, please support us at Patreon.

Thanks for listening.

--Brian

 

 

Sean Pendergast on Changing Course

Houston sports radio host and freelance writer Sean Pendergast joins Brian Levenson to discuss his journey starting in sales before becoming a radio host (4:45), the value of money in relationship to happiness and the serendipitous moment that led to working in sports radio (12:00), and advice for college students on choosing a career (27:00). Then they talk about his transition to sports radio and the value of enthusiasm in the workplace (37:30), the importance his time in sales has had in his success in radio (52:00), how has mindset changed for maximizing the impact of the show after the 1^st couple of years and why he started writing (1:01:30), and learning to develop a better feel of how to prepare and still be able to adapt on the fly (1:09:30). Then Sean describes the best interview he ever did with the man who shot Osama Bin Laden: Rob O’Neill (1:17:00). Finally, he discusses how he prepares before going on the air (1:25:00).

Thanks to Sean for coming on the podcast. Make sure to give him a follow on Twitter: @SeanTPendergast.

Also, please check out our patreon page and support if you are able: https://www.patreon.com/IntentionalPerformers

Thanks!

Brian Levenson

Danny Ferry on Playing for Legends

Former NBA Player/Executive Danny Ferry joins the podcast to discuss being a star in high school for legendary Dematha coach Morgan Wooten (8:15). Growing up as part of a basketball family (12:20). Being recruited to Duke and Coach K's vision (16:40). How he handled stress while playing there (29:00). Then they talk about Danny’s time playing in the NBA starting as the #2 overall pick playing in Italy for a year, and how it changed his mindset, as he struggled for the first time (35:04). How a book helped him refocus (38:40). The value of systems (47:00).  Balancing ego and the difference between individual vs. team sports (55:00). Playing for the Spurs while adjusting to coach Gregg Popovich and his holistic approach (57:00). Then Danny talks about transitioning from playing into the front office (1:11:50). Finally, he picks between his 3 coaches for various hypothetical scenarios (1:18:00).