#48: The high-achievers search for self-compassion with Dr. Shannon Baird
Release Date: 12/27/2023
#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...
info_outline
#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. ...
info_outline
#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....
info_outline
#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...
info_outline
#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...
info_outline
#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...
info_outline
#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...
info_outline
#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...
info_outline
#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_outline
#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...
info_outlineIn this episode, discover how high-achievers explore self-compassion with Dr. Shannon Baird. The conversation explores finding balance between ambition and self-care, offering practical tips for cultivating a compassionate mindset amid ambitious pursuits.
Dr. Baird emphasizes acknowledging personal limits while striving for success, providing valuable lessons for those seeking the perfect blend of achievement and self-compassion.
Dr. Baird earned her Ph. D. at the University of Iowa in Sport Psychology after earning a masters and bachelors in Kinesiology. Dr. Baird has over 20 years of applied experiences; more than a decade of which has focused entirely on the Military. In addition to her applied experiences, Dr. Baird is an invited lecturer, keynote presenter, and published author. She currently lives in Washington State with her wife and dog where she actively pursues her dream of running the Big Foot 200.
Those of you who know Dr. Baird, will soon see that this episode is a true and accurate, albeit PG, expression of Shannon. Those of you who don’t know her might be uncomfortable with how open and transparent she is. In our episode we go deep in exploring the origins of her struggles with self-compassion, how some early experiences ingrained values that on the surface are admirable but when taken to the extreme landed her in the hospital… and not just once, and how self-compassion is not only a tool for her but an important tool for the elite warfighters she works with. Take a deep breath. Let go. And enjoy the authenticity of Dr. Shannon Baird.
Key Takeaways:
-
Stories are the foundation of our self-identities.
-
Understanding the boundaries of sacrifice.
-
Finding a way to not let the "bully" drive the bus.
-
How do we embody self-worth, and how do we get there?
-
Building your conscious awareness.
-
The importance of making data-informed decisions not data-determined decisions
Highlights:
- [5:04] Getting to know Dr. Shannon Baird
- [7:03] Forging relationships that are surrounded by trust
- [16:56] Sacrifice can be glorified in so many ways.
- [24:21] What is it like to live on the edge?
- [40:10] Dr. Shannon's philosophy on performance, excellence, and the education of psychological skills
- [46:47] Relying on implementations and intentions
- [53:07] How does Dr. Shannon help high-performers build a more robust mental framework through her frameworks?
- [58:04] The ability to understand your internal environment
Resources: