#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,...
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#56: Performing with Poise Under Pressure with Dr. Eric Bean
Coaching Through Stories
How do you respond when the pressure is on? Pressure can cloud judgment and derail performance, turning high-stakes situations into overwhelming challenges. And you need the right mindset to avoid being daunted by it. In this solo episode of Coaching Through Stories, host Dr. Eric Bean examines the art of leading with poise under pressure. Drawing from psychology and leadership principles, Dr. Bean explores why stress often leads leaders to close off. He delves into the power of loss aversion, which can overshadow the pursuit of gains. Through thoughtful insights, he guides listeners on...
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#55: The Actions of Confidence Come First with Zach Brandon
Coaching Through Stories
In today’s Coaching Through Stories episode, Dr. Eric Bean is joined by one of his favorite people, Zach Brandon, the Head of Mental Performance and Coach Development with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Zach is in his sixth season leading the mental performance department for players, coaches, and staff with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his role, he also assists the front office and leadership staff with coach development initiatives. He also provides customized coaching and workshops to performers and organizations through his personal company, MVP Mindset Consulting. Within the...
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#54: Begin with Excellence: How to Get the Best People on Your Team with Jim Lemming
Coaching Through Stories
Jim Lemming, CEO and owner of Partners in Building and Houston-based industry veteran, joins us for a candid conversation. With a strong foundation in business management, Jim brings a wealth of experience in home construction, renovations, and residential budgets. In this episode, Jim takes us on a personal journey, sharing insights into leadership, the homebuilding industry, and the entrepreneurial spirit. Jim details how early in his career he worked for a small home building company in Northern California and when a leadership development opportunity was proposed to him, he...
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#53: Zoom Out: The Power of Putting Things in Perspective with Dr. Eric Bean
Coaching Through Stories
This solo episode explores how the way we see things (our perspective) affects everything from our daily interactions to big decisions and relationships. We'll look at how optimists and pessimists view the world differently, the difficulty of seeing things from another's point of view, and how we learn to understand the world around us. Today we go beyond just positive thinking. We'll discuss the idea of focusing on growth instead of just avoiding mistakes, and how finding meaning beyond ourselves can make a big difference. Join us to learn how these strategies can...
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