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Jake Kelfer, Founder of Professional Basketball Combine and Bestselling Author Is “no” better than “maybe”? Kevin and Lauren chat with Jake Kelfer about his path to creating a secondary combine for the NBA and becoming a bestselling author. He shares what it was like using his own money to fund his startup, the pitfalls of trying to please everyone, and the art of asking the right questions. His episode is full of great advice for everyone. Learn more about Jake: Twitter, Instagram Learn more about Professional Basketball Combine: Twitter

Gentry Estes, Sports Columnist Do you want it enough to withstand the challenges? Kevin and Lauren chat with Gentry Estes about his path from a 16 year-old sports reporter to well-known sports columnist. He discusses the challenges he has faced, how work ethic separates performers at the highest levels, and the need to honor the opportunities one is given. Gentry also discusses his philosophy of digging deeper into a story with the goal of giving the audience something they don’t already know. Learn more about Gentry: Twitter

Emily Teti, Ph.D. Candidate, Researcher, and Woman in STEM How will you challenge yourself? Kevin and Lauren chat with Emily Teti about her path from a small school in North Carolina to finding her place in STEM. She discusses her father giving her scientific experiments to conduct at six years of age, the importance of learning with no fear of being wrong, and the lessons her parents taught her about not quitting in the middle of things. Emily also shares how she was able to combine her love of mathematics with psychological science, and her experiences with impostor syndrome as a woman in STEM. Learn more about Emily: Instagram

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with World Champion Powerlifter, Blaine Sumner. Highlights include their discussion of the importance of a combination of good planning and mental strength, the different varieties of intrinsic motivation, and the pros and cons of basing your identity on your pursuits. They also discuss how some guests have achieved success doing it “by the book” while others have pulled only what they need from different approaches, and the risks of putting yourself out there either too early or too late.

Blaine Sumner, World Powerlifting Champion Do observers recognize the grind or just see the glory? Kevin and Lauren chat with Blaine Sumner about his path from a very lean kid to becoming the World Powerlifting Champion. He discusses the importance of reaching incremental goals, overcoming injuries, and being incorrectly viewed as a “genetic freak.” Blaine also shares his view on the importance of a systemic approach to tackling goals, the mental aspect of reaching the top, and what it is like to lift over 1000 lbs. Check this one out to hear how the self-described “skinny kid” became a world champion powerlifter. Learn more about Blaine: Instagram, Twitter  

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with a sport and performance psychology expert (Dr. Adam Naylor) and an Olympic Gold Medalist (Joe Jacobi). Highlights include their discussion of  how goals can be counterproductive, how everything that gets popularized is at risk of being oversimplified, and the importance of contextual intelligence. They also discuss the approaches of focusing on what you have to lose versus have to gain, and assessing whether a goal is helping or hindering you.

Dr. Adam Naylor and Joe Jacobi  – Discussion on Goals  What is your relationship with goals? In this episode, Kevin and Lauren chat with a sport and performance psychology expert (Dr. Adam Naylor) and an Olympic Gold Medalist (Joe Jacobi), about goals and goal setting. Highlights include a discussion of what makes goals truly helpful, the problem with rigidity in pursuing goals, and whether the easy access to analytical tools has pushed us to collectively overemphasize goal setting. The panel also discusses the difficulty many have with being in the moment and the addictive nature of having goals provide structure for our lives. Anyone who has ever set, or is pursuing a goal will want to tune in to this one. 

Lauren Regula, Olympian; Founder of the Strong Mom Movement, and Trak Athletics What would your goals be if there were no limitations? Kevin and Lauren chat with Lauren Regula about her path from a very small town to becoming an Olympian and professional athlete. She discusses the need to personalize training for what works for you, having conversations with coaches while being coachable, and her struggles with mental health. Her journey of founding the Strong Mom Movement and returning to the mound is full of great advice about handling success, picking yourself up, and not placing limits on yourself. Learn more about Lauren: Instagram Learn more about the Strong Mom Method: Instagram

AB Eastwood, Music Producer Does a “no” mean you should stop pursuing your goals? Kevin and Lauren chat with AB Eastwood about his path in music production from meeting music legends after being invited to the White House to being an in demand producer. AB shares what it was like producing for well known artists before he owned his own laptop, the importance of learning one’s craft, and the reality of the music industry. He also discusses some of the lessons he learned along the way and how he felt when the national attention started coming his way. Learn more about AB: Instagram, Twitter

Cody Byrns, Author and Speaker Do you celebrate lessons learned during the hard times? In this episode, Kevin and Lauren chat with bestselling author and speaker Cody Byrns about the impact that a horrific near fatal car crash had on his path. He shares the importance of mindset when facing long odds, appreciating small victories, and recognizing that you can’t change the past. Cody also emphasizes the healing power of empowering others and the similarities between physical and emotional scars. Learn more about Cody: website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook 

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with musician Tyler Lee Frush. Highlights include their discussion of  external and internal sources of motivational resources, the need for a dialogue on the best use of goal setting, and how much of what determines a musician’s success is beyond their control. They also discuss whether experiencing failure is more advantageous when it  occurs before or after experiencing some success.

Tyler Lee Frush, Musician  Do you define your success then go for it? In this episode, Kevin and Lauren chat with musician Tyler Lee Frush about his path navigating the music industry from idolizing Johnny Cash and Eddie Van Halen to releasing his own music. He shares the impact that feeling emotion from a song had on his songwriting, the difference between the goals of wanting to be a musician versus wanting to be famous, and giving the listener the opportunity to have their own meaning of a song. Tyler also discusses the importance of taking the gigs that no one else will do when getting started and the freedom that gives you to get over the early performance mistakes.  Learn more about Tyler: Instagram

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with Mike Squires, Musician and Host, Couch Riffs Podcast. Highlights include their discussion of Mike’s approach of looking  through the cracked door to see opportunity, the different definitions of success, and making a living off your passion. They also ponder musicians’ early inspiration in the post album digital age, and the addictive nature of being in a “flow” state with the inevitable experience of coming down after performing

Mike Squires, Musician and Host, Couch Riffs Podcast If you care a lot about something, do you prove it? In this episode, Kevin and Lauren chat with Mike Squires, veteran rock guitarist, about his path from humble beginnings to touring the world with music legends. He shares what it was like feeling like a fish out of water after arriving in Seattle, the importance of practicing with musicians better than you, and getting a call from Duff McKagan about auditioning. He also discusses his drive to make music, the pitfall of having goals but not putting in the work, and his habit of inviting himself into bands.  Learn more about Mike: Instagram, Twitter Learn more about Couch Riffs: Website, Instagram, Twitter

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with Elise Holtzman, President, The Lawyer’s Edge. Highlights include their discussion about how pressure can be a matter of perspective, the emotionally driven nature of sections of the human brain, and where the feeling of belongingness originates. They also discuss the importance of focusing more on what you are doing than what others are doing, and continue their discussions on the importance of rest.

Elise Holtzman, President, The Lawyer’s Edge Have you found your sweet spot? In this episode, Kevin and Lauren speak with Elise Holtzman, a former attorney, and now a coach and consultant for lawyers. Elise shares her path to becoming a lawyer and how becoming a parent of a child with special needs led to her becoming a coach. She discusses the impact of environment on one’s path, how impostor syndrome might be a common shared experience that doesn’t often get discussed, and that having a baby really shifted her experience with gender differences in the workplace. Elise shares how she’s learning to be a human being not just a human doing, that it’s okay for your life to be how you want it to be, and the value of self-acceptance.  Learn more about Elise and The Lawyer’s Edge: LinkedIn, The Lawyer’s Edge

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with The BlackSon, Hip Hop Artist and Director. Highlights include their discussion about the benefit of healthy conflict, being happy with the self we are, and the benefits of The BlackSon’s mantra of treating every day as day 1. They also discuss the power of framing techniques such as seeing what you have to gain versus what you have to lose.

The BlackSon, Hip Hop Recording Artist, Artist, and Director Do you treat every day as Day 1? In this episode,The BlackSon shares his path from poet to being a rising star in the national hip hop scene. He shares what the transition was like moving from poetry slams to the hip hop stage, his goal of activating all of our senses with his art, and working with legendary producers. He also shares the importance of constantly creating, channeling nervous energy for a great performance, and specifying where you want to be in 30 days. This episode is full of great advice for anyone looking to better themselves or break their goals into manageable parts. Learn more about The BlackSon: LinkTree  Instagram  Twitter  Facebook 

Sean Kelly, Recording Artist and Past Member, Sixpence None the Richer Could you handle the demands of your dreams coming true? In this episode, Sean Kelly shares his path from jamming with his high school friends to being a member of the Grammy-nominated band Sixpence None the Richer. Sean discusses the grind of making it in the music industry, the excitement of touring on a tour bus for the first time, and the roller coaster ride of humbling versus rock star moments along the way. He also discusses the myth of overnight success and his advice for up-and-coming musicians. Learn more about Sean’s production company: Stereophonic Films

BONUS: Hosts Drs. Kevin Harris and Lauren S. Tashman discuss their conversation with Iris and Felicia Zimmermann, US Olympic Fencers. Highlights include their discussion about the personalized needs of an activity serving to allow one to be seen or remain unseen, the need to customize lessons from others to one’s own needs, and the unpleasant components of all goal attainment pursuits. Kevin and Lauren also discuss the various interpretations of grit, the importance of self-compassion, and building confidence by how you have dealt with past adversity.