The Mindset Shifts That Built a Billion Dollar Brand — TheRealReal's Julie Wainwright on Reinvention & Leadership
What does it take to rebuild your life after public failure — and bet on yourself again?This week, we sit down with Julie Wainwright — a trailblazing entrepreneur who went from the CEO of Pets.com during the dot-com crash to building The RealReal into a billion-dollar luxury resale powerhouse… all in her 50s.Julie was one of only 23 women to ever take a company public — and she did it after facing national scrutiny and setbacks that would have ended most careers. Instead, she started over with clarity, grit, and heart — redefining what leadership and reinvention really look like.In this conversation, Julie shares:How to lead through failure and chaos without losing yourselfWhy reinvention starts with self-honesty, not confidenceThe mindset that helped her scale The RealReal from her kitchen tableHow to use setbacks as fuel — in business, relationships, or lifeThe inner dialogue and frameworks that kept her grounded and growingIf you’re navigating a challenge, career pivot, or new season of life — this episode is packed with hard-won wisdom you’ll want to carry forward.Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: https://findingmastery.lpages.co/morningmindset!Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and XSee 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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From Jordan to Kobe: The Keys to a Championship Mindset with Mindfulness Coach George Mumford
What can we learn from the same person who helped unlock greatness in Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Phil Jackson? The answer is: a lot.Meet George Mumford — the mindfulness coach behind some of the most legendary names in sport. Known as “The Mindfulness Performance Whisperer,” George has worked with elite NBA players, Olympic athletes, world-class artists, and top-tier CEOs to help them master their inner game.This timeless episode from the Finding Mastery vault is as relevant today as ever. In a world filled with chaos, distraction, and performance pressure, George reminds us that our greatest growth comes not from pushing harder — but from turning inward.In this conversation, George shares:How dark moments can become doorways to deep transformationWhy vulnerability and mindfulness are powerful tools for performanceHow to embrace the masterpiece withinWhat he learned from working directly with Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and MJWhy real strength starts with self-awareness and serviceWhether you're a coach, athlete, creative, or simply trying to live more intentionally — this conversation will challenge and inspire you.Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindset!Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and XSee 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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How to Lead Through Crisis—Building Trust, Courage, and Culture at Alaska Airlines | Ben Minicucci
What does it take to be a great leader in moments of calm and crisis? And how do you maintain strength in a heartfelt way? Ben Minicucci is the CEO of Alaska Airlines — where he leads with a values-first approach rooted in trust, accountability, and care. With a background in engineering, military service, and operations, Ben is redefining what it means to lead a high-performance culture at scale.Ben is one of the most respected leaders in modern aviation, guiding Alaska through bold transformation — including their recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines — while doubling down on the values that got them here: be remarkable, be kind-hearted, deliver performance, own safety, and do the right thing.Ben leads with unwavering values, deep relational intelligence, and a sharp sensitivity to culture. As you listen to this episode, I’d invite you to reflect, how do you hold space for truth and vulnerability? What’s your relationship with accountability, especially when the stakes are high? And where in your own life might deeper care create greater outcomes?Let’s dive into this masterclass episode with Ben Minicucci. Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine!Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and XSee 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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Cognitive Psychologist: Break Free from a Victim Mindset | Scott Barry Kaufman
What if the greatest obstacle to reaching your potential isn't external barriers, but a mindset in which you see yourself as a victim? Today, I’m stoked to welcome back my good friend and one of my favorite thinkers, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman. This is Scott’s third time on the podcast, and he always delivers. Scott is a humanistic psychologist, bestselling author, and host of The Psychology Podcast. His new book Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential dives deep into what it means to move through suffering with both self-awareness and strength.In this conversation, we talk about the difference between victimization and a victim mindset, how subtle thought patterns like hostile attribution bias or over-personalization can limit growth, and why a mindset rooted in empowerment is the key to self-actualization.As you listen, reflect on your own internal narratives…. Maybe even the core triggers for when you tend to blame, deflect, or shrink back when things get hard? How might a shift toward a more powerful mindset — toward a deeper trust in yourself — change how you respond to life’s challenges? Please enjoy this powerful conversation with my friend, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman.__________________Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletterDownload Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine!Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and XScott Barry Kaufman: https://scottbarrykaufman.comSee 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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The Taylor Swift Playbook — Bold Moves, Loyal Fans, and Lasting Impact | Kevin Evers
What if one of the most powerful business minds of our time wasn’t a CEO or a founder—and instead, a singer-songwriter who’s been redefining her brand strategy since age 13?Today, we’re diving into the business brilliance of Taylor Swift — and to help us do it, I’m joined by Kevin Evers, Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review and author of There's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift.I got to know Kevin because he was the editor of my most recent book, The First Rule of Mastery. He was fantastic and I fell in love with the way he thought and his deep knowledge and reference points of business. Kevin has spent years studying how great leaders express their ideas, and when he told me he was writing a book about Taylor Swift, I knew we had to have him on to discuss what she’s built. This conversation is not about her songwriting or her latest mega-tour; it’s about how she built a billion-dollar brand using clarity, intense connection, and creative risk-taking. It’s about strategy, reinvention, and staying relentlessly close to what lights you up — even when that comes with severe risk. As you listen, use the conversation as a way to reflect on your own relationship with reinvention. Are you playing it safe when boldness is what’s required? How do you stay connected to the core of who you are – stay connected to your purpose — even when external success might tempt you to stay small?I hope you enjoy this week's awesome conversation with Kevin Evers.__________________Kevin Evers; Instagram https://www.instagram.com/there_is_nothing_like_this/ and Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-evers1/Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine! https://www.findingmastery.com/morningmindsetFollow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dive into the minds of the world’s greatest athletes, leaders, thinkers, and doers with Dr. Michael Gervais—a high performance psychologist and world-renowned expert on the relationship between high performance and the mind. Dr. Gervais’s client roster includes Super Bowl winning NFL teams, Fortune 50 CEOs, Olympic medalists, internationally acclaimed artists, and more.On Finding Mastery, Dr. Gervais sits down with the best at what they do, like David Goggins, Brene Brown, Toto Wolff, soccer legend Abby Wambach, neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella — translating their life stories, mental skills, and personal practices into applicable tools you can use to unlock your potential.Walk with us to the edge of human possibility and learn what you are capable of. New episodes every Wednesday.
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