Intentional Performers With Brian Levenson

Kevin Lavelle joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Kevin has done a lot in a short amount of time, and he is a young guy trying to make an impact and a dent on the world. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Mizzen + Main, and he was the CEO before stepping down to take on the Chairman role. Mizzen + Main is an innovative company transforming the apparel industry by making the world’s most comfortable dress shirt. Kevin has been innovative and creative with how they market the product, and has used creative ways to get people’s attention. The company has been featured in the New York Times, Esquire, The Wall Street Journal, and Men’s Health. Today, he is a Senior Vice President at Staying Together which is a non-profit that aims to help social entrepreneurs supercharge their efforts to help people change their lives. In this episode, we discuss what life was like for him as a kid (5:40), what it was like going from SMU to the Middle East (10:00), his reaction when he started on a differe

Dr. Rob Bell joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Rob is a mental coach that works with athletes in the sports arena and individuals in the corporate space. Rob has written six books on mental toughness. He is also an ultra-marathon runner and this year he is running a 100-mile race. He will talk about spirituality, what makes him emotionally and mentally strong and why physical fitness is such a priority for him.   In this episode, we discuss what life was like for him as a kid (4:20), what it felt like to be arrested (6:50), the things that changed his life (9:00), embarrassment and rock bottom (12:20), what he loved about sports when he was little (14:50), how he thinks about success (17:20), when sports psychology came into his life (18:20), how it felt when he stopped playing baseball (19:40), his religious framework (23:10), giving yourself grace (27:30), what it was like starting a sports psychology practice (31:10), what it is like teaching (33:10), why he doesn’t voluntarily share his sto

Chris Wilson joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Chris is a serial social entrepreneur, a story-teller, an artist, a social justice advocate, and an author. He wrote the book, “The Masterplan,” which is a fantastic read. He was incarcerated for murder at the age of 17 and had a life sentence so this conversation is less about the murder and more about what he did after it. He will talk about his life in prison where he was for 16 years before somehow miraculously getting out. In this episode, we discuss when he decided he wanted to write a book (6:50), what his mother and grandmother instilled in him (7:50), his reaction in prison when he was saying he would talk about positive delusion (9:00), what life was like for him as a kid (12:20), his experience with his mother (14:30), despair in his life (16:40), what he thinks about nature vs. nurture (18:10), how he thinks about therapy and mental health (19:20), how he’d define toughness and being coachable (22:00), what makes a great mentor (25:50),

Paul James, also known as PJ, joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. After college at Syracuse University, PJ moved out to LA and started his acting career. PJ was in the hit TV show Greek, and he was in a movie right off the bat called Cry Wolf. Today he is on a Netflix show called Soundtrack. You’ll enjoy that PJ is open, honest, and talks about the ups and downs that come with acting as a career. In this episode, we discuss when acting came into his life (5:20), why his dad was a secret service agent (7:40), what he liked about being on stage (9:20), why he wanted to be in a fraternity (13:20), what the theater program at Syracuse was like (17:30), what it was like transitioning out to LA (20:10), playing as an actor (23:30), why he hates auditions (25:30), preparation vs. performance mindset (28:30), where he feels most alive (32:15), how his Dad passing impacted his life (37:00), dealing with adversity (41:20), the story behind his current show (45:00), what he does to mentally prepare himself

Jamy Bechler joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Jamy is a professional speaker, leadership trainer, and executive business coach who has worked with teams ranging from major corporations to teams in the NBA. Before going into full-time leadership work, Jamy served for 20 years as a college basketball coach, a professor, and administrator. When he hung up his whistle, he didn’t stop coaching, he just moved from the locker room to the boardroom. Now he travels the country motivating people and motivating organizations. We will talk about what leadership is, what it might not be, and Jamy will talk about what that looks like on and off the basketball court. In this episode, we discuss his childhood (4:30), his early thoughts on leadership (8:40), influence and leadership (12:10), how he thinks about talent with influence (18:00), when he decided he would be a sports coach (24:30), what he learned from John Wooden (29:00), similarities and differences in coaching men vs. women in basketball (30:10),

Today's podcast is in memory of Kobe Bryant. I never met Kobe, but his story-telling and the stories told about him are legendary.  Hopefully, this podcast inspires you to learn from Kobe and intentionally perform at your craft.  Sending love to all who perished in this tragic accident.   

Gary Green joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Gary helped find Cameron Carmichael which is an executive search firm based in Charlotte, NC. They build a successful relationship with their clients that is built on a mutual trust and commitment to outstanding results. In this conversation, we will talk about what Gary looks for when he’s placing executives with companies and what makes a successful partnership when he’s doing that. He will also spend time talking about his journey through swimming at Duke, serving in the Navy, and receiving his MBA from Harvard. Gary has also competed in marathons and triathlons and he is still competing to this day. In this episode, we discuss what his upbringing was like (5:10), the values his parents passed down to him (9:50), what his dynamic with his siblings was like (13:20), his sports interest (18:00), his experience as a swimmer at Dematha (21:40), why he decided to go into the military (24:50), how he balanced academics, ROTC, social, and athletics at Du

Terry Knickerbocker joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Terry is the studio director and founder of Terry Knickerbocker’s Studio in Brooklyn, NY. For the past 30 years, Terry has acted, directed, coached, and produced art with all kinds of incredible people. After he graduated from NYU, Terry trained as an actor with Bill Esper and worked with Bill for 25 years. Terry has been mentored and values mentoring others immensely. He is a past recipient of the Drama League of New York’s Directing Award Fellowship for Emerging Directors. This conversation is about what he does and who he is, and who he is constantly trying to become and how he wants to show up. In this episode, we discuss, how he got into acting (6:10), the things people acknowledged about him as a child (10:30), what toughness is (15:20), the values his parents passed down to him (17:10), where he feels emotions (19:20), how to deal with anger (24:00), when acting became something he wanted to pursue (26:10), what makes people turn towa

Ryan Holiday joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Ryan wrote the books, “The Obstacle is the Way,” “Ego is the Enemy,” “The Daily Stoic,” “Conspiracy” and “Stillness is the Key,” to name a few. He’s written ten books and he is continuing to write. At his core, he is a writer and a media strategist. He’s worked in marketing, and he’s worked with prominent best-selling authors such as Neil Strass, Tony Robbins, and Tim Ferris. Before becoming a writer, he had a successful marketing career at American Apparel, and he went on to create an agency called Brass Check. Ryan has been in the weeds and done the work as far as marketing and writing. He has sold more than two million copies of his books and his books have landed in the hands of world-class coaches, athletes, and teams. In this episode, we discuss how I got a package from Ryan (6:20), how he thinks about his audience when writing (7:50), the transition to the first book he wrote (12:20), the obstacle is the way tattoo (15:50), if he thought his

Matt Stover joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Matt Stover played in the NFL for 20 years where he played 13 years for the Baltimore Ravens. When he retired in 2009, he was the third most accurate kicker in the history of the NFL. Matt played at the highest level and did his craft as well as anybody that’s ever done it. Matt will talk about the routines and habits that helped him have so much success in the NFL. You will also hear from Matt about how he thinks about strength, mental fitness, emotional fitness, and spiritual fitness. He is a super-bowl winner and he was a leader on the Ravens. Matt is the oldest player to ever play in a super bowl and he is in the Ravens ring of honor. Today, he is doing some really interesting stuff around finance and philanthropy that he will talk about. In this episode, we discuss what life was like for him as a kid (5:00), why he didn’t kick until his senior year (7:30), the values his parents passed down to him (9:20), what it was like playing for Bill Belic

Mark Groves joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Mark is a human connection specialist but putting a title on his work doesn’t do him justice. Mark is an emotional translator, writer, speaker, coach, and his clients range from businesses and leaders to couples and individuals. Mark really cares about the deepest of emotional connections that we have with ourselves and other people, and he loves studying love. He studies relationships and communications and is very thoughtful about how we are showing up for ourselves and for the people that we love. In this episode, we discuss how it works for a company to take time to work with him (7:20), his upbringing (9:00), the message his dad shared about divorce (12:00), the skills that create great communication and relationships (20:00), how mastering personal relationships affects the business world (23:40), pain and love and emotions (27:00), when he started to lean into his emotions (30:30), what experiences at rock bottom teach us (34:30), what allowe

Hamish Brewer joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Hamish is a Principal and is somebody who is relentless, tattooed, and a skateboarding Principal. He is a high-octane guy constantly calling on his students to be relentless. He has become known as an educational disruptor that challenges the status quo and is constantly looking to innovate and help his students however he can. Hamish does things differently and he is known for working with some of the most at-risk students in America, and he flat out gets results. He is real, authentic, genuine, and what you see is what you get. He has won all kinds of awards, he is nationally known as a Principal, he has written a best-selling book, he has given a Ted Talk, and he is somebody that is living, breathing, and doing things to make this world a better place. In this episode, we discuss where he gets his enthusiasm and energy (6:10), what life was like growing up (7:30), why he thinks he and his brothers have had success (9:20), where he grew up (11:3

In this episode, I discuss gratitude and Thanksgiving (2:30), becoming a better communicator (4:00), three levels of listening (4:50), assumptions, assessments, and assertions (8:40), examples of great questions (11:30), and takeaways (21:30). If you liked this episode and/or any others, please support us at Patreon or follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @Intentional_Performers. Thanks for listening. -Brian

Scott O’Neil is the Chief Executive Officer of Harris Blitzer Spots & Entertainment, an organization with the ambition to become the most impactful sports and entertainment company in the world through the pursuit of innovation and performance. You will hear about Scott and his involvement with innovation and how much he values high, elite performance for himself and the teams that he’s involved with. Scott is responsible for the organization’s leadership, strategic vision, operations, and growth including the pursuit and acquisition of sports teams and organizations, entertainment, and consumer-facing properties. Scott wears many different hats and is involved with many different organizations including the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Devils, and the Prudential Center. He is also involved with Team Dignitas, an internationally renowned e-sports team, the Sixers Innovation Lab, the Delaware Blue Coats, and the Binghamton Devils. He has over 20 years of experience in the NHL, NBA, and NFL that has e

Kip Watson joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Kip is a former professional football player that was also an elite gymnast when she was a kid. She works in the world of sports psychology and I think you will find her to be a very thoughtful and intentional human-being who lives with spirit, emotion, and thinks about her mindset on a daily mindset. Kip will be vulnerable in this conversation, and she will share what she’s learned and is continuing to work on with herself and why she is so passionate about making an impact with people in and outside of the sports world. In this episode, we discuss her experience with gymnastics (3:50), what her environment growing up was like (6:00), why she wanted to play football (9:30), how she got into gymnastics (12:40), her early success in gymnastics (17:00), how to view winning (19:40), the importance of consistency (22:10), brain codes and her intake form (23:20), how she develops nature (27:20), her drive to play professional football (30:00), what she le

Van Brooks joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Van played football growing up and today he works in the non-profit world in inner city Baltimore where he helps to mentor and develop a lot of our youth. Van is incredibly thoughtful, intentional, and resilient. In this episode, we discuss why he was interested in sports at a young age (4:50), his relationship with his family (5:50), what it was like playing lacrosse (8:40), the values his parents passed down to him (10:30), what his experience at Loyola Blakefield was like (11:30), how he balances humility and confidence (15:40), the value of education (17:30), what it was like adjusting to his private school (19:30), what it was like being in two different communities (22:20), the transformative moment in his life (23:50), what he remembers when he woke up (28:20), what it would be like to go to Georgetown Prep (30:00), the thoughts running in his head in the hospital (31:50), tipping points that changed his views (36:30), how he applied athletics

Jim Harshaw Jr. joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Jim is an educator by trade and coach by passion. He is a former Division 1 all-American Wrestler and we will talk about his experiences wrestling. Jim has also failed; he’s been broke, out of shape, and out of balance with his family at times in his career. He knows what it feels like to do 100 things in a day at 100 mph and still get nothing accomplished. Jim has set out to help others create clarity, focus, and consistency as an executive coach. In this episode, we discuss what life was like for him growing up (5:00), how the culture of wrestling helped him (8:10), how competition brings out the best in us (12:40), his family situation growing up (14:00), the message about academics growing up (15:50), how he instills work ethic in his kids (19:20), how he shows inspired action (21:40), what it means to be blue collared (26:40), what it was like wrestling at UVA (32:40), what he did to get better his freshmen year (34:30), what it looks like

Derek Fitzgerald joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Derek is a survivor of non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, heart failure, and ultimately a heart transplant. After receiving his life saving transplant in 2011, Derek entered the world of endurance sports and became dedicated to helping others going through their own healthcare journeys. He’s an advocate for cancer research, heart, health and organ donation. He founded the Recycled Man Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to improve life for those affected by significant health changes. Since 2011, Derek has upheld his life mission to honor his donor’s gift and has completed over 90 endurance events including a coast-to-coast bike ride and multiple iron man races. He has also completed the prestigious world championship in Kona, Hawaii. He is the only cancer survivor and heart transplant recipient to complete a full ironman distance race. Derek is living life to the fullest and has handled his adversity with unbelievable grit, determination, and p

Rob McClanaghan joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Rob is regarded as the premier NBA skill development trainer in the game today. Rob has over 15 years of experience helping elite athletes hone their skills and realize their full potential. His cliental and his client list is insanely impressive with players such as Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Stephon Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Al Horford, John Wall, and Candace Parker. We talk about what makes those athletes special and what he’s witnessed since he has an up close and personal seat into who they are as people and what they do to work on themselves. Rob also played basketball at Syracuse University where he was a 3-year basketball letterman as a walk-on where he played in three NCAA tournaments. Rob has also built a unique personal brand by leveraging three main principles that resonate not only in sports but also in the corporate world. He believes in the power of networking, building relationships, and professionalism. In this epis

Matthew Del Negro joins us on this week’s episode of the podcast. Matthew is an actor that has played a wide range of roles in features both on tv and in theater. He has worked on tv shows such as Scandal, Sopranos, West Wing, Showtimes United States of Tara, MTV’s Teen Wolf, and now he’s on a show called Goliath on Amazon Prime. He is a philosopher at heart, a deep thinker, and he will talk about how he’s been reflective throughout his life and how that’s led him to this journey of acting. He’s also a podcast host, and his podcast 10,000 No’s has all kinds of incredible guests. Matthew is on a journey and he’s trying to find out how he can be a great actor and great at other parts of his life. He is obsessed with adversity and hearing no, and how others have developed a relationship with adversity and how to turn failures or no’s into opportunities. In this episode, they discuss what he was doing in San Diego (5:00), what life was like growing up (8:20), the lessons he learned from sports (12:30), where tur