Intentional Performers With Brian Levenson

This episode is a little different. For the first time, Brian has someone interviewing him about his new book, Shift Your Mind, which was released today! Chick Hernandez, a DC sports media professional, asked Brian all about the writing process, the different shifts, and what he learned along the way. You can follow Chick on Twitter: @MrChickSports Brian's new book is available everywhere books are sold including the following places: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2I6YFaB Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/2SwYk2J IndieBound: https://bit.ly/3noBFnp You can also follow Brian on Twitter: @brianlevenson If you enjoy today's conversation please write us a review on iTunes and if you like the book please write us a review on Amazon.  With Gratitude, The Intentional Performers Team

Jay Triano is a Canadian basketball coach and former professional player, who is currently the lead assistant coach of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously served as the head coach of the NBA's Toronto Raptors and the interim head coach of the Phoenix Suns. A former Canadian national team player who competed in two Olympics, he has also had two stints as head coach of the national team. In this episode, we discuss the mental part of the game (6:45), things that helped Jay perform as a player from a sport psychology standpoint (8:45), what his childhood was like growing up with his dad as a basketball coach (10:55), the relationship between coaching and sport psychology (13:45), what made Steve Nash special (17:13), where Steve’s belief that he belonged in the NBA came from (22:55), why Jay didn’t wind up being a hockey player (24:00), why he thinks Canada has fallen in love with basketball (25:06), his own basketball journey (26:54), how he went from being a towel

Tori Huster is a professional soccer player for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL, where she served as a captain last season. She is also currently the Players Association president. Tori has been a pro athlete since 2012 after graduating from Florida State University. Tori is extremely competitive and has also leveraged mindfulness to develop herself on and off the field. She is honored to be the St. Jude Champion (ambassador) in the DC area as well. In this episode, we discuss what life was like for her growing up (5:50), if it ever felt like she was an only child since she has a 7-year age gap with her sister (9:40), what other sports she played in the past (12:07), if faith was a big part of her upbringing (14:18), what some of the values she has taken from Catholicism are (15:45), her relationship with her mother (17:00), what she has communicated to her father about his relationship with her as a kid (18:50), how she would approach being a mom to a 12-year-old knowing what she now does (24:30), when it

After guiding Memphis to five post-season berths in seven seasons as the Tigers’ head coach, Josh Pastner became Georgia Tech’s 14th head basketball coach on April 8, 2016. Implementing a high-energy style of play and creative offensive and defensive schemes, and building the Jackets’ talent base for the future, Pastner has established the Yellow Jackets as one of the top defensive teams in the nation, while he and his staff have steadily improved the team’s offense to be ranked in the top half of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Pastner has tirelessly promoted the program on campus and throughout the city of Atlanta in an effort to re-create the major homecourt atmosphere that surrounded the Yellow Jackets throughout the 1980s, 1990s and into the middle of the 2000s. The result has been numerous wins, high excitement and 13 sellouts in four seasons at McCamish Pavilion. Five of his players – guards Josh Okogie, Jose Alvarado and Michael Devoe, as well as centers Ben Lammers and James Banks III – have earned

Matt Long has been a competitive athlete his entire life. As a member of his high school basketball team, he was required to run in the Brooklyn/Queens X-country Championships. With no prior running experience, he finished fifth for his school, completing the race in uncomfortable high top sneakers. At Iona College, he competed in their Division I basketball program for which a high level of fitness was mandatory. Strength and endurance became especially paramount in his life after college when he became a New York City Firefighter. It was around this time he took up distance running and began competing in Ironman triathlons, finishing his first Ironman race in 2005. He then set his sights on qualifying for the Boston marathon by running the ING NYC marathon later that year. With hard work, dedication and persistence, he trimmed 30 minutes off his personal best to run a 3:13, qualifying for the 2006 Boston event. On the morning of December 22, 2005, Matt Long’s life changed in an instant. He was cycling to

Danny Manning is known for his passion, honesty, character, positivity and work ethic in helping young people succeed on the court in the game of basketball and off the court in the game of life. He is one of the premier names in the world of basketball. Danny is an American college/professional basketball coach in transition and retired National Basketball Association (NBA) player who spent 15 years in the league. Most recently, Danny served as the men's head coach at Wake Forest University. After being born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and attending high school at Page High School (Greensboro, NC), and later Lawrence High School (Lawrence, KS), Danny went on to play basketball at the University of Kansas, where has was a part of four final four teams. At Kansas, he won an NCAA national championship with the Jayhawks in 1988 as a player, and again as an assistant in 2008. Additionally, Danny is the all-time leading scorer in Kansas basketball history with 2,951 points. He was inducted to the college basketb

Dr. Meeta Singh joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Dr. Meeta Singh is a board-certified physician focused on the applied science of sleep. Her approach concentrates on improving sleep health with the aim of enhancing physical and mental performance, health, and quality of life. She has a clinical practice where she is a service chief of sleep medicine and section head and medical director at the Henry Ford Sleep Center in Michigan. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She also serves as a Consultant for multiple NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB teams. She has worked with college sports teams, large organizations and CEO’s aiming for success in this world. In this episode, we discuss setting yourself up for success from a sleep perspective (6:00), how she thinks about sleep (9:00), how everything relates to sleep (12:30), sleep and the medical field (17:00), circadian rhythms (21:20), NBA schedule and sleep (23:50), her life as a kid (25:10), why psychiatry (28:50), wha

John Sipher joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. John is the Co-Founder of Spy Craft Entertainment which is a production firm providing content and talent to the entertainment industry. John is also a foreign policy and intelligence expert and social media influencer. His articles have been published in the NY Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Politico, and pretty much everywhere you get your news. He retired in 2014 after a 28-year career in the CIA, and served many overseas tours. He also served as a lead instructor in the CIA’s Training School and was a regular lecturer in the CIA’s Leadership Development Program. He also has a sports background as he was a Captain of the Lacrosse Team at Hobart College. In this episode, we discuss how he thinks about pressure (6:10), shifting against your country vs. government (11:30), his upbringing (13:15), education and his parents (19:15), why they were so successful at Hobart Lacrosse (21:30), what he learned as a captain (23:10), the different w

Andrew Hawkins joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Andrew, who goes by Hawk, is a former NFL Wide Receiver, sports executive, Emmy award winner, Oscar award winner, and he’s somebody who is a life long learner. He’s a former NFL team captain, he got his master’s degree from Columbia University, and he has become synonymous with creating cultural content and digital media that goes well beyond the playing field. After his playing career, he began his media career with ESPN and is incredibly thoughtful and bright when it comes technology. He is currently an on-air talent for NFL Network and Uninterrupted. He has written and produced award winning comedy sketches and was the Executive Producer of Hair Love which won the 2020 Academy Award for best animated short. For the past three years, he has simultaneously served as the Director of Business Development for the media marketing companies of LeBron James and Maverick Carter. In this episode, we discuss his upbringing (5:40), where he’d be without h

David Epstein joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. He is the author of 2 books: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, a #1 NY Times best seller, and The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athlete Performance, another NY Times best seller. He was previously a science and investigative reporter at ProPublica, and prior to that, he was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated. He has done amazing work, and has a TedTalk that has been viewed over 8.5 million times.   In this episode, we discuss where his curiosity comes from (5:40), his brother (11:40), why he combined his sports and science interest (13:00), how pain predicates behavioral change (14:30), the power of feeling all emotions (17:40), how he thinks about his audience (19:30), how he got over the fear of putting his book out (23:40), if he ever gets imposter syndrome (27:30), preparation vs. performance mindset (29:40), what he does to prepare for speaking (32:40), how he thinks about grit and agility (36:30),

Shaka Smart joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Shaka is the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Texas. He was previously the Head Coach at VCU where he helped get them to a Final Four. He is an amazing guy and incredible coach, but this conversation is about his life. He will talk about spirituality, culture, leadership, and we go deep in this conversation. He brings an energy to every conversation he is in, and he’s genuine, curious, and a life-long learner.   In this episode, we discuss why he’s drawn to relationships (5:30), the people that have impacted him (6:50), what he loves about basketball (9:10), how he thinks about competition (10:30), what he’d be doing if not coaching basketball (12:10), consciousness (17:40), the spiritual teachers he follows (21:10), how he thinks about ego (22:40), what he’s watching during a game (25:05), his sleep schedule (28:10), how he winds down (31:20), his spiritual framework (34:30), awareness and acceptance (39:30), feeling, emotion, and

Rob Lively joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Rob recently retired after 28 years of military service as the Command Sergeants Major of a Special Missions Unit within the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, NC. Rob has been at some of the most tense situations that somebody can be at in our military. He is an experienced and proven leader that has operated and led teams and organizations in all kinds of diverse and challenging environments. He was able to lead and influence from the tactical to the strategic, and do so across the boundaries that exist around military services, agencies, and countries. Rob culminated his Army service with the highest enlisted rank in the most competitive non-commission officer position. Rob currently serves on the board of directors of Patriot Defense Group, he’s a consultant for several companies including Tignum, and he founded the Unit Foundation where he serves as President of the Board of Directors. In this episode, we discuss his ch

Bob Richey joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Bob is the head men’s basketball coach at Furman University and you will learn quickly that he is sharp, with it, and extremely intentional as he thinks about culture. He recently completed his third season as the head coach at Furman and it’s his ninth overall as he served as an assistant for his first six years. Coach Richey has had a lot of success during his time at Furman and his overall record is 73-26 with a record of 41-13 in the Southern Conference. He is currently ranked ninth in winning percentage among Division 1 head coaches. In this episode, we discuss his upbringing (6:00), his brothers (10:00), the values in his family (12:10), who influenced him (17:10), his parents (18:40), why basketball (20:00), switching schools at a young age (22:15), resilience (25:30), what he does to make sure his blind spots aren’t derailing him (27:30), remote leadership (33:40), the power of pausing (38:20) , his experience as Director of Basketball Operat

Mark Shapiro joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Mark has really been at the forefront when it comes to player development, human development, and baseball. He has been at it for over 25 years, and he worked for the Cleveland Indians organization for 24 years and has been with the Toronto Blue Jays for the last 5 years as the President and CEO. He has worked at the highest level with both the Indians and the Blue Jays, and Marks thinks about and studies leadership development and human development unlike many other people in this world. He understands the value of the mental side and he cares deeply about developing the holistic side of people. In this episode, we discuss his life growing up (8:10), what he observed from Cal Ripken Jr. (10:30), what he focuses on to get better (14:30), how to manage load management (17:00), how he thought about his relationship with his dad and baseball (20:00), what is different about the son of a big leaguer (25:20), the three-legged stool (31:00), why he’s inv

Max Rose joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Max is a Congressman and Army Veteran where he has won all kinds of awards – Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and a Combat Infantry Badge. Max has done a lot in his 33 years and continues to try to leave a legacy and make an impact on this country. He represents South Brooklyn, Staten Island, and is a proud US Army Veteran that serves on the House Committee of Veteran Affairs as well as the House Committee of Homeland Security. He is in the weeds as someone that is making a difference in the security of our nation. In this episode, we discuss his upbringing (7:30), regret vs. failure (15:40), being present (20:00), powerful conversations (24:20), not being introspective (28:20), the importance of self-awareness (31:20), being a fighter growing up (38:20), what he wanted to be at 16 (40:00), why he wants to be in service (45:00), “thank you for your service” (48:30), what it was like being in NYC on 9/11 (55:40), when the military idea came into his life (59:

Louis Joseph joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Louis is the Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Alps & Meters which expresses a deep appreciation for the rich, memorable mountain experiences through the design of first-class performance outerwear that is tailored, technical and timely. Lou has been at the clothing brand game for quite a while as he has worked at Puma, New Balance, and K-Swiss. He is a value-driven human that cares deeply about culture and connection. In this episode, we discuss his upbringing (4:20), twins in his family (7:40), his parents (14:40), being a creator (20:20), what he loved about soccer (25:20), the roles he and his brother took on (28:30), the first time he experienced creating (31:20), what allowed New Balance and Puma to grow (36:30), when Alps & Meters came to be (41:30), the name of his company (45:20), his journey starting a company (49:30), and what he does to make sure he’s sharp (54:20) Thank you to Louis Joseph for coming on the podcast. We en

Rudy Cline Thomas joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Rudy is the Founder and Managing Partner of a company called Mastery, Inc. which brings together world class athletes, leading technology, media and consumer product companies as well as entrepreneurs and investors to create top tier platform building companies. When we say top tier platform building companies, we are talking about companies like Zoom which was used to put together this podcast. Most recently Rudy was an Executive Producer in the documentary The Scheme which was on HBO and was about College Basketball. In 2007, Rudy founded the Annual Players Technology Summit and now they have Bloomberg as a partner, and they bring together top tier athletes with some of the best thought leaders in technology and venture capital. He currently works as a strategic advisor and resides in New York City. In this episode, we discuss his childhood (5:45), basketball in his life (9:40), what he wanted to do in life (11:20), his relationship with mon

Alexander Caillet joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Alexander is an organizational psychologist, consultant, and a coach that is internationally known for his pioneering approach to team coaching and state of mind research with organizational leaders. He is also an active professor at the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching Certificate Program, guest lecturer at American University, and a frequent international speaker on the subjects of change, teams, coaching, and leadership. In this episode, we discuss his upbringing (5:20), his family (10:50), the benefits of moving around a lot (12:20), the values his parents passed down to him (14:20), state of mind work (22:40), if he would do anything differently as a 28-year-old (28:20), three up and three down (35:00), how to get people to notice their state of mind (37:00), the course that woke him up (43:50), team development (51:30), what makes an effective meeting (55:20), and what he does to make sure he’s at his best day to day (59:20) Th

Halelly Azulay joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Halelly is an author, speaker, facilitator, and leadership development strategist and an expert in communication skills and emotional intelligence. In 2006, Halelly founded TalentGrow LLC, a consulting company focused on developing leaders and teams, especially for enterprises experiencing explosive growth or expansion. Halelly is the author of two books, Employee Development on a Shoestring (ASTD Press) and Strength to Strength: How Working from Your Strengths Can Help You Lead a More Fulfilling Life. Her books and workshops build on her 20+ years of professional experience in communication and leadership development in corporate, government, nonprofit and academic organizations. In this episode, we discuss her upbringing (4:30), when to quit vs. stay committed (9:10), trusting values when making decisions (13:00), her family (16:30), her transition to the United States (23:40), the role of religion in her life (26:40), how she thinks about spir

Chad Ford joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Chad has really been living five lives simultaneously for 20 years. He has been an international conflict mediator, a college professor, a senior consultant and facilitator for the Arbinger Institute, executive board member of PeacePlayers, and is probably best known as a writer/analyst/entrepreneur covering the NBA and NBA draft for ESPN. Being a basketball analyst has really just been a side gig for most of the last two decades for Chad. He is really passionate about peace building and it is what he feels he was meant to do on this earth. He has a book coming out in June called Dangerous Love. In this episode, we discuss his upbringing (6:10), his memory of his Dad (12:00), how he thinks about nature vs. nurture (17:20), why he wanted to get into conflict (19:00), his experience at Georgetown (23:40), his spiritual framework (32:10), when he got interested in the NBA draft (37:10), why he loves the NBA draft (47:30), NBA draft debates (54:00), how h