This podcast is an open-ended conversation hosted by Sunny Park with friends and guests to share experiences of self-development and beyond.
Dr. J is a clinical psychologist and contributes to national news and TV outlets, including CNN/HLN, Business Insider, Forbes, and Fast Company. Dr. J joins the show to talk about her new book called The Burnout Fix. She describes in depth what really encompasses burnout, and hints at the practical advice on how to sustain success to prevent burnout that can be found in her book.
Dr. Andy Bass is a mental skills coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Andy joins the show to talk about his experience with the Pirates and his insights. Specifically, how he incorporates differential learning, how he explores his creativity, how he integrates motor learning to enhance mental skills training, and why we need to emphasize more on how people learn rather than how we teach.
Jamey Rootes is the current president of the Houston Texans and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment (LSSE). Jamey joins the show to talk about his new book titled: The Winning Gameplan. We talk about how he got started with the Texans, what he has learned along the way, how he has fostered a positive culture in the organization, and his strategies for effective leadership.
Kirsten Fasey is a doctorate candidate at Nottingham Trent University, UK. Kirsten joins the show to talk about her latest publication, defining and characterizing organizational resilience in elite sport. We talk a lot about organizational resilience, specifically, where it comes from, why it is important, and how it is different than transformational leadership or culture. Kirsten and Sunny share thoughts on why research is so hard, and how we as humans have the want to make everything simple.
Sergio Stelitano is a performance coach for McLaren Formula 1 team. Sergio joins the show to talk about the interconnectedness of all things that is human wellbeing. He also shares why the pit crew is so important in motorsport, and how one productive change can result in multiple benefits. Sunny and Sergio also share they enthusiasm for martial arts, and how early training influenced their performance work.
Pratik Patel is the former director of Nutrition and assistant strength and conditioning coach for the New York Giants. Pratik joins to share his experience working in professional sports, along with some of the high personal costs associated with it. He also shares his opinions on why it is important to be growth minded and to be aware of group thinking. Sunny and Pratik also share common experiences of growing up Asian-American.
Russ Rausch is one of the co-founders of Vision Pursue. Vision Pursue (VP) is a very unique and innovative company that helps organizations create a performance mindset. Russ joins to share his background, describe how he transitioned from working at a hedge fund to helping create VP, and how our automatic thoughts affect the way we perceive success and satisfaction. Russ and Sunny also share common thoughts on how our current culture and ideas about work results in dissatisfaction.
Ari Shapiro-Miller is the Assistant Director of Athletics, Sport Psychology & Counseling at the University of Vermont. Ari joins to discuss and share his experience becoming integrated to the athletic program at UVM, and some lessons he's learned along the way. Ari also shares how athletes need to be pushed beyond perceived capabilities at times, and how mental health and mental performance are very interconnected. Sunny questions the idea of psychological safety in athletics.
Tommy Minkler is a PhD student at West Virginia University, studying in sport and exercise psychology. Alongside Dr. Carol Glass & Megan Hut, He has worked on mindfulness-based interventions (MPSE) to be delivered through a train-the-trainer model. I speak with Tommy about some of the past research involving MPSE, his latest work that will be presented at the AASP2020 conference, mindulfness in general, and his perspective looking forward.
In this episode, I speak with Gary Noesner, former FBI Crisis negotiator. Gary describes what its like to have someone play him in a miniseries, how he deals with high pressure situations, and the art of crisis negotiations. You may be familiar with Gay from the recent Netflix series called WACO, which was based on his book entitled: "Stalling for Time: My life as an FBI hostage negotiator."
In this episode, I get to learn more about the association for applied sport psychology with new president-elect, Dr. Lindsey Blom. We talk about why this position is important to her, how she views success, and what she has learned from past experiences. We also take some time to address two big problems being lack of activity in social media, and the lack of employment options for graduate students.
On this episode, I speak with neuroscientist Erman Misirlisoy. He explains into detail some his past work related to self-control, cognitive training, and wellbeing, and how that can relate to our lives today. We also talk about happiness, importance of social interaction, and why walking in nature is good for us.
In this episode, I speak with a veteran in the field of sport psychology, Jim Skelton. Jim has spent over 20 years being a consultant, and is a direct student of the powerful Ken Ravizza. I brought him on to speak on his experience over the years. Please Enjoy!
Legacy Fighting Alliance is one of the top developmental organizations in mixed martial arts. I sat with one of the founders and CEO, Ed Soares to talk about how they have been able to successfully promote events in these crazy times.
In this episode, I speak with Jason house, CEO and founder of Iridium Sports Agency on some of the aspects that goes into managing athletes in combat sports.
In this episode, I am joined by the mental performance coach for the TB Rays to talk about how we define success, how to read the room, have "feel", and more.
In this episode, I speak with former professional cyclist, 2x US National champion, former Olympian, Mara Abbot. We explore how her relationship with retirement, reaching true potential in sport, simplicity in having purpose, and more.
In this episode, I speak with the VP of personal training operations for SIR fitness. Mario details how he has learned to emobdy leadership through mentorship, and how he communicates that to his current staff and members.
On this episode, Robin Black shares his insight as an analyst for martial arts, the sport of mixed martial arts, and as someone continuing to refine his lifestyle. We discuss topics regarding the importance of rest and recovery, gratitude, how to see truth, flow, and much more.
On this episode, I sit with 2x Olympian Paige McPherson as she recalibrates for the upcoming Olympics now set for 2021. She highlights how she has matured as an individual and as a competitor since Rio, and how she looks toward competing in Tokyo with an enhanced sense of self-belief.
In this episode, I speak with CEO & Co-Founder of Zone7, Tal Brown. He gives us a glimpse of what it takes mentally to start a company, and how to reason with decisions that will make your company successful. Hopefully, by the end of the conversation you will also believe Tal is someone set out to change the world for the better, and has the conviction to do it.
In this episode, I speak with Vinny Shoreman, a commentator for Yokkao Muay Thai, and mindset coach for combat athletes and business professionals. Some topics we cover are; the unconscious mind, passion and purpose, anxiety, hypnotherapy, reinterpretation of mental toughness, and why often combat athletes seek help after a loss - and why that may be a mistake.
On this episode, I talk with my former coworker, friend, and certified mental performance consultant for MiLB SF Giants, Kellen Lee. He describes his experience in a new job, navigating through uncertainty that was brought upon by Covid-19. He also describes how he has grown from this experience, and how anyone can learn to bring out the best of themselves in any aspect of life.
In this episode, I speak with head coach and owner of Classic Fight Team, Tyler Wombles. Tyler is a world class striking coach that has helped train some of the elite athletes in combat sports. He also details in this episode his new self-defense class called Imminent Contact Systems. As well, we discuss the philosophy of combat sports and how all the nuances of come together in competition.
On this episode, I speak with my friend and registered dietitian, Hannah Kittrell. Hannah is also a research associate at Mt. Sinai, and some important topics we discuss are on the current research being conducted on obesity, the current prevalence of obesity in America, and overall general practices of eating well.
In this episode, I sit down with owner of Championship Cognition and mental performance consultant for Winner Circle Athletics, Jake Lee. We discuss how we keep ourselves motivated, why gratitude is so important, and how to just keep moving forward.
In this episode, I sit down with professor John Gaddis, author of NYT best seller On Grand Strategy. We talk about some of the themes within the book related to how to be a better leader and how to make better decisions.
In this episode, co-hosted with my good friend Matt Dove, we sit down with sport psychologist Dr. Eddie O'Connor to talk sport psychology, faith, fear of failure, acceptance, and much more.