#66: Confidence is Overrated, Courage Isn’t with Travis Thomas
Coaching Through Stories
In this episode of Coaching Through Stories, Dr. Eric Bean sits down with Travis Thomas, improv performer turned elite performance coach and founder of LiveYesAnd, to unpack why confidence might be overrated and why courage is essential for true leadership. Travis blends decades of experience in improvisational comedy and elite sports coaching to reframe leadership through presence, purpose, and courage. He shares a transformative personal story, sparked by a trampoline accident, that led him to redefine his purpose and approach to life and leadership. Listeners will learn...
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#65: Why Not Us, Why Not Now? Pursuing Excellence with Heart and Hustle with Mark Frisch
Coaching Through Stories
What does it take to lead a legacy business into something bigger? It’s not just about keeping things running—it’s about vision, resilience, and the courage to lead differently. That’s exactly how Mark Frisch shows up. In this episode, Dr. Eric Bean sits down with Mark Frisch, Executive Vice President and Co-Owner of Beaver Street Fisheries, one of the largest seafood importers in the U.S. Mark shares what it’s like to lead without a formal title, navigate the complexities of family business, and drive innovation while honoring tradition. Mark’s organization, Sea Best is sponsoring...
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#64: Swimming Past Fears, Failures, and Sharks with Jen Schumacher
Coaching Through Stories
What comes to mind when you think of someone who pushes limits—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally? Grit. Clarity of purpose. A willingness to meet fear with curiosity, not avoidance. That’s exactly who Dr. Jen Schumacher is. Jen is a world-class mental performance coach whose work spans elite sport, the military, and academia. She’s led mental training programs at West Point and Northwestern Football, and she’s an ultra-endurance athlete who’s literally swum through her fears—once across the 21-mile Catalina Channel, at night, with sharks below. ...
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#63: The Power of Purpose with Dr. Eric Bean
Coaching Through Stories
Purpose isn’t just a buzzword – it's the driving force that powers motivation, builds resilience, and amplifies impact. In this episode of Coaching Through Stories, Dr. Eric Bean dives deep into the meaning and application of purpose, not just as a concept but as a leadership strategy. He explores how leaders can tap into multiple sources of motivation by anchoring work, even the smallest tasks, in a compelling, long-term mission. Through research and powerful stories like the 17th century, London bricklayers and President Kennedy’s NASA visit during the Space Race, Dr....
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#62: Stories that Move Minds: Insights on Storytelling with Andrea Sampson
Coaching Through Stories
In this episode of Coaching Through Stories, Dr. Eric Bean sits down with Andrea Sampson, TED-trained speaker coach and founder of Talk Boutique, to explore the art and science of storytelling. Andrea has spent decades helping scientists, leaders, and change-makers turn data and insight into stories that shift minds and spark action. From shaping global TEDx stages to guiding organizations through change, Andrea reframes storytelling not just as a tool but as a leadership mindset. She breaks down how stories create alignment, bridge the head and the heart, and help teams navigate...
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#61: Character Before Competence with Alex Hodgins
Coaching Through Stories
What comes to mind when you think of some of your favorite leaders—those who’ve truly inspired you? Purpose, presence, self-awareness, and care. Leaders who see you as more than your competency but for your character. That description fits today’s guest perfectly. In the first episode of Season 7 of the Coaching Through Stories podcast, Dr. Eric Bean sits down with Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Alex Hodgins. Alex works with elite athletes in the NHL, Olympic sports, and corporate leadership. Known for his humility, curiosity, and commitment to human excellence, Alex...
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#60: Be Bold! Get out of your comfort zone, take chances, and win with Mike Plaia
Coaching Through Stories
When you think of some of your favorite leaders, leaders who've inspired you, what characteristics come to mind? Typically, people want leaders who are purposeful, curious, self-aware, present, engaged, and caring. Your favorite leaders tend to care about you as a person, not just a number. Our guest today – is all of those and more. In this last episode of season 6 in Coaching Through Stories, Dr. Eric Bean speaks with PharmaPoint’s CEO, Mike Plaia about navigating leadership challenges through bold decisions and resilient mindset shifts. Mike Plaia, is a seasoned...
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#59: Paradoxical Leadership with Dr. Eric Bean
Coaching Through Stories
Whether you’re a new or seasoned leader, it’s universal to experience the challenges that come with balancing competing demands and priorities of an organization. In this episode of Coaching Through Stories, Dr. Eric Bean takes listeners through the art of balancing support and challenge as a leader. He explores the importance of adaptability, focusing on the mental flexibility required to navigate leadership’s paradoxes like stability or innovation and be nurturing or drive results. Dr. Bean helps leaders understand paradoxical leadership, addresses the challenges that arise, and...
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#58: Grow yourself, inspire others, make an impact with Nicole Bean
Coaching Through Stories
In this special episode of Coaching Through Stories, Siana Sylvester steps in as co-host alongside Dr. Eric Bean to welcome guest Nicole Bean. Together, they dive into Nicole’s impressive career journey from pharmaceutical sales to becoming Head of Oncology Marketing. Nicole shares her experiences of personal and professional growth, revealing how she transitioned from a road warrior to a corporate leader while constantly striving to make a bigger impact in healthcare. The episode highlights her leadership philosophy, the challenges of imposter syndrome, and how she fosters a...
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#57: Kicking Ass Between the Ears with Chicago Bears Mental Performance Coach, Andy Riise
Coaching Through Stories
In this episode, host Dr. Eric Bean sits down with Andy Riise, Director of Mental Performance and Leadership for the Chicago Bears, to dive into the mental and emotional strategies that separate elite performers from the rest. With years of experience as a mental performance coach in professional sports and the military, Andy shares how training the mind is as crucial as training the body. He unpacks the intangible qualities of leadership and explores the intersection of high performance and joy. Listen in as Andy reveals how to navigate ego interference, practice courageous conflict,...
info_outlineVery often, our minds are actively focused on different things—events that have already happened, have yet to happen, or something we judge as either positive or negative. We rarely find our minds neutral, and that, in turn, affects how we interact in the present.
A neutral mind leaves us fully in the moment, allowing us to accept what is, not wishing it were something else. Presence enables the mind to focus on what we can control. Our guest today is going to help you and your team find neutrality so that you can achieve your personal and professional goals.
Josh Lifrak has been in the coaching field for 18 years. He has worked with elite athletes and corporate leaders in achieving peak performance and contributed to optimizing many organizational cultures for growth. He is the current Director of Performance and Coaching for Limitless Minds, a health and wellness technology company founded by Denver Broncos quarterback, Russell Wilson and the acclaimed Trevor Moawad, the author of “It Takes What It Takes.” Josh is also the president of Lift-Up Consulting from 2014 to 2019 and has worked in Major League Baseball with the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets, helping both teams with mental performance—even helping the Cubs win a World Series.
Today's episode delves into the importance of a neutral mind and understanding our internal narratives, providing strategies and habits used by elite athletes to excel. Join us!
Key Points:
- The importance of having a neutral mind
- There is no single factor that yields good performance. It is the accumulation of several things that you can notice by building self-awareness.
- Achieving a neutral mind through (1) distancing yourself from what is occurring, and (2) noticing your behavior, what contributed to it, and the things you are grateful for
Episode Highlights
- [00:00] Introduction to the episode
- [05:02] Josh’s work with Limited Minds and the power of a neutral mind
- [08:46] Why Josh got into sports psychology and why he decided to leave it
- [15:52] What drove Josh in his previous and current work
- [21:39] What contributes to high performance in both sports and business?
- [23:50] What are some behaviors that can help an individual reach a state of high performance?
- [26:47] What Josh learned while working in professional baseball
- [30:03] Why having work-life balance helps Josh mentally
- [35:37] How Josh helps his clients navigate the ups and downs of work by encouraging focus on the moment no matter the outcome, and why there is no singular factor that yields great performance
- [41:08] Arriving at neutral thinking through distance and noticing
- [46:54] Josh’s recommended readings
- [47:41] Conclusion
Resources
- “It Takes What It Takes” by Trevor Moawad:
https://www.amazon.com/Takes-What-Think-Neutrally-Control-ebook/dp/B07R8VDNMJ - “Getting to Neutral: How to Conquer Negativity and Thrive in a Chaotic World“ by Trevor Moawad and Andy Staples:
https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Neutral-Conquer-Negativity-Chaotic/dp/006311190X - “The Bomber Mafia” by Malcolm Gladwell: https://www.amazon.com/Bomber-Mafia-Temptation-Longest-Second/dp/0316296619