The Mark Divine Show – Details, episodes & analysis

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Greg Wooldridge, three-time leader of the Navy's elite Blue Angels, reveals four core principles that propel the team to unparalleled excellence. These pillars—rigorous debriefing, trust-based humble leadership, powerful visualization techniques, and an unwavering "glad to be here" mindset—enabled the Angels to execute precise, high-stakes maneuvers with remarkable consistency. Wooldridge demonstrates how these principles can eb applied to leaders across all high-performance domains. He provides a blueprint for building and inspiring peak-performing teams in any field.

Greg Wooldridge, a distinguished veteran of the United States Navy, is renowned for his exceptional leadership as the Commanding Officer of the Blue Angels, the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron. A seasoned aviator, Wooldridge’s career includes a broad range of command and operational roles, demonstrating his deep expertise in aviation and leadership.  Post-service, Wooldridge has continued to inspire as a speaker and mentor, sharing his insights on leadership, teamwork, and performance with diverse audiences. His legacy with the Blue Angels endures through the principles he championed, emphasizing transparency, humility, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

Takeaways 

• The Power of Debriefing: The Blue Angels use a thorough, open debriefing process after each flight. The leader starts by admitting their own mistakes, setting a tone of transparency and accountability. This process builds trust, encourages continuous improvement, and is applicable in various organizational settings.

• Trust and Humility in Leadership: Humility is crucial in high-performance teams. The Blue Angels selection process prioritizes humble candidates who can interact well with all team members. Trust is built through consistent behavior, transparent communication, and leaders who model humility.

• Visualization and Mental Preparation: The Blue Angels use extensive visualization techniques to prepare for flights. They practice with eyes closed, listening to the leader's voice and cadence. This mental preparation is key to executing complex maneuvers under pressure.

• Being “Glad to Be Here”: Maintaining a positive, grateful attitude ("glad to be here") is emphasized as crucial for team morale and performance. This mindset helps manage stress, build team cohesion, and maintain focus on continuous improvement.

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It’s believed 1 in 6 people are narcissistic. Dealing with a narcissist can be exhausting, often involving manipulation, gaslighting, and emotional abuse. Rebecca Zung, a top-rated attorney and expert on narcissism, breaks down how to recognize and deal with narcissistic personalities in both personal and professional settings. She teaches methods for negotiating with narcissists and emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, protecting your energy, and understanding that narcissists operate from a place of fear and childhood trauma. 

Rebecca Zung is a top-rated attorney, recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Lawyer in America. She's the author of bestselling books on divorce and negotiation, including "Negotiate Like You MATTER" with a foreword by Robert Shapiro. A sought-after expert, Rebecca has been featured on major media outlets like Extra, Forbes, and NPR. Based in Los Angeles, she continues to share her expertise through keynote speeches, media appearances, podcasts, and on-demand programs.

• The Signs of Narcissism: Be wary of people who seem too good to be true, mirror your interests perfectly, push for quick commitments, or react poorly to boundaries. These are potential red flags for narcissistic behavior.

• Narcissists Operate Differently: Narcissists are motivated by "narcissistic supply" and may not respond to rational arguments. Their behavior is often rooted in childhood trauma, leading to emotional regulation issues and "narcissistic blindness" when triggered.

• Use the SLAY Method When Dealing With Narcissists: Strategy (define your goals), Leverage (identify their sources of supply), Anticipate (understand their type), and You (maintain your authentic power). This helps in negotiations or conflicts with narcissists.

• Set Strong Boundaries: Set clear boundaries, avoid JADE (Justify, Argue, Defend, Explain), use specific language, and remember that you're entitled to respect. Developing these skills can help protect your mental health and achieve better outcomes when interacting with narcissists.

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Gratitude and inner work challenge us to explore beyond ego-centric thinking and embrace a more expansive mindset. By confronting our fears and shifting our language to align with life's infinite possibilities, we can transform our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.

Sohale Sizar is a visionary entrepreneur, musician, and writer dedicated to empowering individuals through technology, education, and spirituality. With an MBA from Stanford and a background in Government from Georgetown University, Sohale has founded four education-focused digital ventures, including the Bring on the Books Foundation, impacting the lives of millions. He has also consulted for Fortune 500 companies on digital product strategy and launch.

Key Takeaways  

• The Power of Gratitude: Gratitude is a transformative practice that goes beyond writing in a journal. It is a mindset shift that allows us to appreciate the awesomeness in every moment, leading to increased happiness, better sleep, reduced anxiety, and improved overall well-being.

• Letting Go of Fear: Fear is resistance to life, stemming from our ego-based identity structures. By letting go of these structures and aligning with the abundant possibilities of life, we can reduce fear and allow life to flow through us more freely, embracing the infinite potential that surrounds us.

• Language Shapes Reality: Our language plays a crucial role in shaping our reality. Scarcity-oriented language, pervasive in our society, reinforces fear and limiting beliefs. By shifting toward language that aligns with gratitude and abundance, we can reframe our perspective and tap into the limitless potential of life.

• Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times: Ancient wisdom traditions, such as Zen Buddhism, offer valuable insights for navigating the challenges of modern life. By incorporating practices like stillness, contemplation, and self-inquiry, we can gain a deeper understanding of our true nature and cultivate the courage to live life on our own terms, even if it means going against societal conditioning.
  

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Links for Sohale Sizar 

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Mark speaks with Michael Unbroken, survivor of childhood trauma and a powerful voice of resilience. Through dealing with ultimate rock bottoms, addressing his traumas, and healing his mind, Michael became passionately known for being Unbroken. He’s the host of the Think Unbroken Podcast, a coach, entrepreneur, advocate, and author of Think Unbroken, available for free on his website.

Today, Commander Divine speaks with Michael Unbroken, an entrepreneur, coach, podcast host, award-winning speaker, best-selling author, and advocate for adult survivors of childhood trauma. In the episode, Michael shares his experiences of childhood trauma, crime, death, and alcoholism, outlining his story from rock bottom to mountaintop in an effort to restore faith in your own ability to heal.

Key Takeaways:

Facing your uncomfortable Truth (with a capital ‘T’). To live an inspirational and creative life, it takes the hard work of addressing and facing your darkness. Michael looked himself in the mirror and made a decision that changed his life forever.

Mentors make a difference, near and far. In the absence of acceptable role models at home, Michael shares the power of childhood mentors at school and even Mark’s podcast helped shape his life for the better.

If you want to transform, you can’t play the victim. In fact, life can change in a matter of moments, days, or weeks when you leave that victim identity behind. More likely, it takes consistent effort and doing the simple things extraordinarily well. And take control.
Money wasn’t the answer. Mark and Michael dive into their shared journey from the corporate world to a higher calling. Even after achieving his $100K/year salary goal with not even a high school diploma, he continued to find emptiness in his soul until he finally healed his past.

Mark speaks with Jennifer Fraser, best-selling author, award-winning educator with a PhD in Comparative Literature. Through personal experience and extensive research, Jennifer uncovered how bullying affects the brain and how the brain can heal, which she details in her new book, The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health.

Today, Commander Divine speaks with Jennifer Fraser, best-selling author, award-winning educator with a PhD in Comparative Literature. In the episode, Jennifer shares how bullying affects the brain and how the brain can heal—detailed in her newest book, The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health.

Key Takeaways:

The brain science of abuse. A bullied brain is an unhealthy brain, displaying neurological changes whether the bullying is physical or emotional. We can analyze this on brain scans, brain mapping technology, and correlate it to psychological manifestations in the brain.

The psychology of bullying: the Victim and the Favored. Jennifer shares the psychology of the bully stories such as Larry Nassar, which feature bully normalization, co-opting parents into being complicit, and the extensive damage caused in athlete victims AND those witnessing the abuse.

Child abuse is indicative of later chronic illness. Child abuse comes in many forms (emotional, physical abuse and sexual, emotional, and physical neglect). Jennifer shares insights from Rolland Summit and Alice Miller’s work that discovered child abuse of all forms accounts for half of the main indicators of later midlife chronic illness. Astounding!
You can train your brain out of abuse, like Tom Brady. He’s one of the first premier athletes to publicly share that he trains his brain as much as he trains his body, leveraging a platform called Brain HQ. As one of the best quarterbacks in history, it’s fair to say Tom knows a thing or two about being elite, with compassion and courage. There are solutions, and Brain HQ is one of many.

Mark speaks with Josh Peck, author and one of Hollywood's rising acting talents that made the seamless transition from child actor to leading man. Originally being known for children’s series Drake and Josh, he became fascinated with the process of child stardom, weight loss, recovery, and fatherhood, leading him to publish his own memoir, Happy People Are Annoying.

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Today, Commander Divine speaks with Josh Peck, actor and author of Happy People Are Annoying. In the episode, Josh shares his experience with child stardom, weight loss, recovery, fatherhood, and the story of writing his memoir about finding happiness.

Key Takeaways:

Transitioning takes reinvention. Mark and Josh discuss the power of starting from scratch and not resting on your laurels when it comes to successful transitions. Whether it be from the military or taking on your next acting plateau, the skills of humility and honor are your best friends.

You must act your way into right thinking. Josh shares his battle with food addiction, alcohol and drugs, and recovery - detailing his darkest moments and how he was lucky enough to shake himself out of it. It was through action, not thinking, that he was able to shift. Trying new things gives us the material to form lasting change.

Happy people are annoying… to unhappy people. Happiness is a fleeting feeling, and is not found through joyful moments. It’s through doing your best and finding contentment in doing it that way. The inspiration for Josh’s book title has less to do with finding happiness and more to do with authenticity amidst the facade of it.
Hard work pays off. Josh shares his constant craving for challenge, his love for acting, and how his hard and disciplined work has shaped his career for the better. He also values rest and taking time for himself, his friends and family. As with all things, moderation is key. As Josh’s friend says, “Even too much sunshine can bring about a desert.”

Mark speaks with Julia Boorstin, CNBC’s Senior Media and Tech Correspondent and creator of CNBC Disruptor 50. Throughout her on-air career, Julia became fascinated with entrepreneurship and closing the equality gaps in our business leadership circles, leading her to author her book, When Women Lead, out October 11th.

Today, Commander Divine speaks with Julia Boorstin, CNBC’s Senior Media and Tech Correspondent and newly published author of When Women Lead. In this episode, Julia shares her experience of interviewing over 60 passionate female CEO’s in the startup space and what we can all learn from their leadership.

Key Takeaways:

Women lead more profitable startups. Female founded VC-backed companies yield higher and faster returns than their male founded counterparts. However, every year 10’s of Billions of dollars go into venture capital, and women only draw about 3% of all VC funding. Julia’s working to change that.

Communal leadership is the future, and it’s female-driven. Of the 60+ female CEO’s she interviewed, Julia found that almost all of them approached decisions from a communal perspective. Meaning, they involve those at the ground floor and gain as many perspectives as possible before taking committed action. This, she believes, is a concept many men find difficult to embody.

People can smell inauthenticity a mile away. Julia and Mark converge on the topic of men and women’s leadership styles, agreeing it’s not about men or women being better leaders… but about different leadership styles. And our future is dependent on more men softening their walls and more women making it into positions of leadership. Authenticity, as Julia describes, is a hallmark of female founder leadership.
Gratitude isn’t a guy thing. As studies have shown, women are more likely to feel comfortable with feelings of gratitude, and in turn they think more long-term when they plan and execute their businesses. Gratitude is deeply linked to long-term planning and bigger picture thinking - something that can often get lost in targeting quarterly earnings performance.

Mark speaks with Ryan Holiday, an author, modern Stoic, public-relations strategist, bookstore owner and host of the podcast The Daily Stoic. Ryan became fascinated with Stoicism in college and dropped out at age 19 to apprentice under Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power. One illustrious marketing career and 11 books later, Ryan lives on a ranch outside Austin, Texas where he writes, works, and raises cattle, donkeys and goats. His newest book Discipline is Destiny comes out in September 2022.

Today, Commander Divine speaks with Ryan Holiday, Stoic author, PR strategist, and host of The Daily Stoic podcast. In this episode, Ryan shares his passion for how Stoic philosophy can be practical and useful in real life, and how discipline is key to destiny.

Key Takeaways:

Discipline is a practice of moderation. As Seneca would say, “Live immediately.” Yet, also know the importance of planning and investing as though tomorrow may happen. Furthermore, discipline does not need to be sacrificial. You can enjoy the fruits of the present without that enjoyment impacting your future enjoyment.

The high performance paradox. It’s a fantasy to think there is such a thing as balance. Finding balance is like jumping into the music of life. And while many aspirers believe that more work will get them where they want to go, in fact stillness and calmness and security are what paradoxically allow you to do whatever it is that you do so much better.

Zen and Stoicism, cut from the same cloth. It’s said in Zen that sometimes the best action is inaction. And the best inaction is action. Yin and Yang. Ryan and I discuss in depth the paradoxes of equal opposites and the beauty of living in the tension between the poles of life.

Real philosophy takes practice. Ryan shares candidly about the West’s version of Zen monasteries… academia. There has never been a more needed time to bring the practice of leadership to fruition in our world and our nation.
Discipline (temperance), one of the four cardinal virtues. The others are prudence, justice, and fortitude - all of which counterbalance and interweave themselves into each other. One cannot be truly just without proper wisdom (prudence). One cannot be well temperate without proper fortitude.

Why You SUCK at Relationships (with Eric Barker)

Mark speaks with Eric Barker, Wall Street Journal best selling author and former Hollywood screenwriter. Eric left Hollywood and scripted a new challenge: organizing the counterintuitive nature of relationships, vulnerability, and cognitive biases.

Key Takeaways:

Do you have friends? Do you smoke? The two biggest determinants of your mortality one year after a heart attack. Eric shares the surprising science by Robert Garfield at University of Pennsylvania detailing how not being open and vulnerable in relationships leads to prolonged minor illnesses and even increased lethality from a second heart attack. He also shares effective strategies for forming deep friendships to counteract these data.

Friendships are our most coveted relationships, taking the cake over our romantic partners (by 5%). While romantic partnerships are backed by a legal document, as are colleagues with job descriptions, friendships are different. They’re indefinite… which might be just what makes real ones so special.

Think about The Scary Rule, which Eric coined. If it feels scary, say it. Start small, but opening up and sharing something that could be used against you is what builds trust, says Diego Gambetta’s research. It starts with you.

The placebo effect is in your hormones. Contrary to popular belief, the placebo effect isn’t just in your head… it’s actually in your endorphins, which are what carry the signal of the placebo effect. If we shut down the exchange of endorphins, we lose the mystical placebo. What’s more, placebo effect goes up when we experience trust in not only the medication and treatment, but in the doctor’s bedside manner and empathy.

Your first impressions barely beat a coin flip. It turns out, 70% of first impressions are drawn correctly. The trouble is, that 30% of assumptions are what create unhelpful biases, the ones we must confront and try to unlearn.

Mark speaks with Mike Coots, shark conservation activist, photographer, shark attack survivor, and all-around inspiration. Mike became an amputee when he lost his right leg in a tiger shark attack at 18 years old while bodyboarding, but he didn’t let that stop him from getting back in the water.

Today, Commander Divine speaks with Mike Coots, shark conservation activist, photographer, and shark attack survivor. In this episode, Mike discusses his incredible shark attack survival story and journey as an amputee, as well as the unsung role sharks play in the ocean’s ecosystem.

Key Takeaways:

Sharks are the garbagemen of the sea. Think about what would happen if you didn’t have someone collect your trash. Your house would get unlivable pretty quickly. This is what sharks do: they get rid of the sick, the dying, the diseased, and the trash in the ocean. If we lose our sharks, we lose our oceans.

The scourge of shark fin soup. One of the biggest dangers to sharks is shark fin soup. It’s supposed to be a delicacy, but it has no nutritional value and very little cultural value. Shark flesh of a shark has very little commercial value, whereas a shark fin commercially can go for hundreds and hundreds of dollars a pound. So fishermen just keep the fins only because they have limited space out at sea. They dump the rest of the shark overboard, still alive, and it will swim in circles for a couple of days and end up dead on the seafloor. You're taking such a little part of an animal that's much needed, all for a soup that isn't needed at all.

De-scarifying the shark. Mike’s underwater photography is a little different than other photographers… he shoots sharks as if they were humans. When he edits photos, he emphasizes attributes of the shark that humanize it; maybe a slight smirk, or a catchlight in its eye. His goal is to have people see a bit of themselves in the image. He says, “If you can relate to something, it makes you want to learn more about it and protect it.”

The tides are changing. Through social media and the younger generation, people are starting to realize the value of whales and sharks in our oceans and are urging the older generation to make changes. There are so many good organizations out there that are doing such good things. We hear all this doom and gloom about our oceans, but to see all these different nonprofits, and especially so many young people actively involved, it gives us hope.