excellence, actually

Latest Episodes:

059 - Olympics Preview: Inside the Olympian's Mindset Jul 25, 2024

Show notes

The Olympics kick off tomorrow, so the guys share the events they're most excited for, and discuss the mindsets that the world’s top performers use to gain a mental edge. You’ll get Steve’s breakdown of what to watch for in this year’s most compelling track races, what we expect to see from Simone Biles, thoughts on how the USA’s men’s basketball team will stack up against the international competition, and insights into the elite type of confidence it takes to win on sports’ biggest stage.

Join The Growth Equation Academy today. 40% off for a limited time!

https://the-growtheq-academy.mn.co/

If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!

Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

058 - The Coach Up: Use the 4 P's to Respond Not React Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

"Respond, not react." It's easy to say and extremely difficult to do, especially in the heat of the moment. Luckily, Brad has an actionable, four-step plan that will help you respond thoughtfully rather than react emotionally next time you find yourself in a stressful situation. Plus: how you can use affect labeling, self-distancing, and physical exercise to help put the 4 P's into practice.

If you want to practice the 4 P's in a like-minded community of other people eager to learn about all things performance, join The Growth Equation Academy today. 40% off for a limited time!

https://the-growtheq-academy.mn.co/

If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!

Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

057 - BIG NEWS: Introducing The Growth Equation Academy Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

This week, we discuss Brad's recent article in The New York Times, and announce some exciting news: On Monday, we launched "The Growth Equation Academy for Human Performance." The Academy is something we created after readers and listeners continue to ask for a place to go deeper on performance and well-being. We couldn't find a program out there that we liked, so we created our own, filled with courses, masterclasses, guides, and an interactive community of other like-minded people interested in performing their best on the things they care about most. For a limited time, we're giving you 40% off. You can access the discount by clicking the link below. If you enjoy the podcast, then we're confident you'll enjoy The Academy, where you can find much, much more on all of what we discuss on this show.

Join The Growth Equation Academy today for 40% off!

https://the-growtheq-academy.mn.co/

If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!

Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

056 - The Coach Up: RPE (What It Is & How to Use It) Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

We live in a data-heavy age, rife with smart watches and fitness trackers. But objective metrics have their limits (such as heat, fatigue, stress, technical difficulties, or when you forget your watch/tracker). In these cases, RPE can be a helpful metric to use, because it's based on feel. Today, Brad explains what it is, how to use it, and how it can be applied outside of physical exercise to life more generally.

If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!

Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

055 - Do You Need Meaningful Work to Have a Good Life? Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

In a 2021 Pew Research survey, only 17% of Americans mentioned their work as a source of meaning. But a 2023 poll, also from Pew Research, said 71% of Americans thought that having a job they enjoy was an important element of a fulfilling life. This creates a big disconnect. If we believe meaningful work is important to a good life, but we're struggling to find meaningful work, where does that leave us? Brad and Clay discuss the role work should play in life, what makes something "meaningful," whether or not it's important to find meaning in your work, and how to find it outside of your job.

"America's Crisis of Meaningless Work" by Molly Lipson (Business Insider):

https://www.businessinsider.com/american-employees-disengaged-work-meaningless-fake-email-jobs-2024-6

"What Makes for a Fulfilling Life" by Kim Parker and Rachel Minkin (Pew Research):

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/09/14/what-makes-for-a-fulfilling-life/#:~:text=When%20asked%20what%20it%20takes,to%20live%20a%20fulfilling%20life.

If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!

Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

054 - The Coach Up: A Short but Effective On-the-Go Workout Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

There are many reasons why your workout routine might get disrupted. Maybe you're traveling, maybe something comes up and you have less time than expected, or maybe you just can't get yourself to drive to the gym. In these moments, it's better to try to do something rather than nothing (if you can). So next time you're in a pinch, try the workout from today's Coach Up. It's something you can do in a tight window, it's customizable to all fitness levels, and the only gear it requires is your body and a deck of cards.

If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!

Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

053 - Everything You Need to Know About the "Second Wind" Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

You're probably familiar with the phenomenon of the "second wind." You're doing something difficult, going all out, giving max effort, and just when you feel like you've hit your wall—BOOM—you get an unexpected surge of energy to push you to the finish line. It's great when it happens, which begs the question: why does it happen? And how can we make it more likely to occur again? Today, the guys break down the physiology and psychology behind the phenomenon, what we still don't know about it, and how we can increase our chances of catching it. (Hat tip to Mike, who emailed in a question about the second wind!) Plus: a George Orwell quote sparks a debate about the importance of ego and egolessness when it comes to excellence and performance.

George Orwell Quote: https://x.com/oldbooksguy/status/1805650757502583096

If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!

Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

052 - The Coach Up: How to (Deep) Read More Books Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

Reading is a skill that we may not spend a lot of time trying to improve. But in an age of constant noise and distraction, being able to focus and go deep on a good book isn't just one of life's great pleasures, it's also a way to improve your attentional fitness (not to mention a great way to learn). On a year when he's not writing his own book, Brad can read 50 to 100 books. He shares his tips for starting (or restarting) and maintaining a deep reading practice: his note-taking process, why he always keeps a pad nearby (but no devices), and his one rule for quitting books.

If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!

Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

051 - Does Being a Good Person Make You a Worse Competitor? Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

Steve, Brad, and Clay discuss a question posed by the writer and runner Sabrina Little in a recent article (link below) from Aeon titled "Performance-Enhancing Vices:" How do the personality traits that make for better competitors impact moral character? Is it possible that things like envy, selfishness, and pride—traits we'd likely label as "vices"—make us more competitive? Does good character hurt our performance? Using contemporary examples and drawing on their own experiences coaching, competing, and working with elite athletes, the guys explore the relationship between athletic performance and moral character. When does selfishness help and when does it hurt? Do you have to singularly obsessed to be great? How should we think about balancing life with ambitious goals?

"Performance-Enhancing Vices" by Sabrina Little (Aeon):

https://aeon.co/essays/does-it-take-a-bad-person-to-be-a-good-athlete

If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!

Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

050 - The Coach Up: The Visual Tool to Win Hard Workouts (or Days) Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

We all have hard workouts and hard days. Often, what makes them hard is there's a problem we need to solve. On today's episode, we're going into the FAREWELL archives to pull one of the great problem-solving tools from ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter's killer toolbox. As you might imagine, many problems creep up when you're running 100+ miles, and Courtney has one visual tool that's proven particularly effecting at helping her win races. Plus: her favorite mantras, and the trick to unlock confidence and self-belief.

Full Episode:

Spotify -- https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RG8qJFrtmX9pbibmuQzHi?si=667003bf0d5144f7

Apple -- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/001-inside-the-joyful-mind-of-elite-ultrarunner/id1505257676?i=1000640521579

If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!

Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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