Mind Game (The Golfer's Journal)

Whether it’s Kobe, Michael or Tiger, it always comes back to the fundamentals. That is according to J.A. Adande, the Director of Sports Journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. In this episode of Mind Game, Adande is joined by his former student Casey Bannon to discuss Adande's remarkable 30-year media career and what he’s learned from covering the greats along the way. What drove Kobe? How was Kobe different than MJ? Will we ever know the real Tiger? Find answers to those questions, plus Adande’s memories of a paradigm-shifting conversation with Bill Russell in a golf cart and Justin Leonard’s 1999 Ryder Cup putt below.

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On Christmas Day in 2018, American endurance athlete Colin O’Brady woke up in a tent, by himself, in the middle of Antarctica. He hadn’t seen another human being in 50 days. He hitched up his sled, fell into a flow state bordering on hallucination, and walked 77 miles without stopping to become the first person to cross Antarctica on foot and unassisted. Since achieving this feat, O’Brady has set 11 world records, completed the Explorers Grand Slam, written several books and unlocked the secrets to pushing past limits. The author of The 12-Hour Walk sits down with Mind Game host Casey Bannon to debrief on a life spent overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds, starting with the freak 2007 burn accident in Thailand that threatened to take away his ability to walk at the age of 22. A tale-filled discussion highlights the immense value of self-belief, how incremental gains undergird massive achievements and the quiet secret behind some of the endurance community’s biggest winners.

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Julie Elion’s nickname on Tour is “Stealth,” because the most in-demand psychologist in the game doesn’t disclose her clients or grant many interviews—until now. Wyndham Clark, Max Homa and Justin Thomas have all revealed they are working with Elion on their mindset using her holistic, goal-driven approach to building self-belief. Just a day removed from working with all three at the 2023 Ryder Cup, Elion joins this episode of Mind Game to discuss her incredible 25-year career, why her system works and what she was thinking when Max Homa stood over that now-famous 7-footer.

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Since the Super Bowl era began in 1967, only 800 men have started an NFL game at quarterback. Kyle Allen is in that elite club. He joins host Casey Bannon on this week's episode of Mind Game to discuss the physical, mental, emotional and leadership skills required to play the most coveted and challenging position in professional sports.

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“Everyone wants to be great, until it’s time to do what greatness requires.” Joshua Medcalf has made a career by turning the path to greatness into best-selling stories. On this episode of Mind Game, the sports psychologist/ author joins host Casey Bannon to discuss what greatness actually requires, the benefits of being uncomfortable, how he went from a 15 handicap to a +3 in a few short years, and what it means to chop wood and carry water.

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The body is not a machine, nor a temple. It is an infinitely complex and unique system, and according to Dr. Ralph Esposito, Chief Science & Nutrition Officer at AG1, it’s one we know less about than we think. Dr. Ralph is a naturopathic physician and gut health expert, and he joins host Casey Bannon to discuss the science behind whole-body wellness. Rather than broad-spectrum advice, Dr. Ralph offers approachable insights into how your body works. This information-rich chat touches on the significance of sleep, the dangers in some diet trends, the proper way to fuel your brain and body and much more. Plus, you’ll learn the science-backed reason that your favorite Tour pros are munching on the same food at the same point in every round.

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Focus on one big goal at a time. Say no more than you say yes. Be more productive by being less busy. Sahil Bloom is a writer, entrepreneur and creator who inspires millions daily with bite-sized nuggets of wisdom and life hacks. On this episode of Mind Game, jBloom gives host Casey Bannon his playbook on time management, the benefits of imposter syndrome, making one good decision at a time, choosing a side quest and prioritizing the things that matter. 

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If you know ball, have a teenage daughter or have seen a commercial in the last six months, then Jason Kelce needs no introduction. He’s currently one of the most famous people on Earth, and arguably one the most likable. But there’s a lot more than meets the eye with the 13-year NFL veteran and media personality. Behind the shirtless dancing, beer-chugging and howling laughter is a serious, thoughtful and creative version of Jason Kelce who plays multiple instruments, feels like an underdog, and really wants to break 80. We get to know all these sides on the Season 2 premiere of Mind Game. 

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The brain processes roughly 70,000 thoughts per day. With 100 billion neurons connected nearly 500 trillion different ways, it’s without question the most important club in your bag. In this new podcast series from The Golfer's Journal, we’ll hear from high performers, academics and experts across a wide range of disciplines, all offering mental models, hacks and insights to help in your search for improvement. 

On this episode of Mind Game, host Casey Bannon speaks with Dr. Mark Lowry—a clinical psychologist who began his career in the Army where he evaluated, assessed and coached elite special operations aviators. In this fascinating conversation we learn about Lowry’s work with top CEOs to Olympians, where his “three C’s” method produces mind-bending results. 

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The reason you struggle with bad habits or anxiety doesn't stem from a lack of willpower—it's likely because you aren't hacking your brain properly. From daily routines to anxious tendencies, many of our behaviors seem beyond our control, but psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Judson Brewer has the answers for finding more agency in our minds. Brewer, the Director of Research and Innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center and author of The Hunger Habit, The Craving Mind and Unwinding Anxiety, joins Mind Game host Casey Bannon to reveal that willpower isn't the solution. Instead, it’s the superpowers of curiosity that can help us understand our brains, manage anxiety, cultivate healthier habits and, perhaps most importantly, make more putts.

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Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman emperor, once wrote: “You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all.” It’s doubtful Aurelius ever landed a perfect pitch on the downslope of the collar only to watch it rocket 40 feet past the pin, but his philosophy for life does apply to golf. Few today are more qualified to speak on Stoicism than Massimo Pigliucci. He is a professor of philosophy at the City College of New York and the best-selling author of several books, including How to Be a Stoic. He joins us on Mind Game to give a crash course in how stoicism could help you play the best golf of your life.

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Steven Pressfield spent 20 years writing and pitching books to publishers without success. His breakthrough came in 1995 withThe Legend of Bagger Vance. Five years later, he releasedThe War of Art, a bestseller that introduced the concept of resistance—a mysterious force that hinders us from doing our work and realizing our potential. Whether exploring the greatest golf match that never happened, the nature of creativity, the path to professionalism, or the resilience of the human spirit, Pressfield’s work reveals a common thread: he views golf and life as one interconnectedMind Game. In this chat with host Casey Bannon, Pressfield reveals the hidden meaning behind Bagger Vance, how to battle with resistance and what it means to swing your authentic swing.  

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A 30-plus year career at the highest level of surfing, 11 world titles, and an incalculable impact on his sport and beyond: A case can be made that nobody has ever been more dominant at their sport than Kelly Slater. Another could be made that he is one of the best pro athletes-turned-golfers on the planet. Slater joins Mind Game to discuss his path to greatness, communicating with the ocean, structure vs. creativity, performing under pressure, what’s driving him to still compete, his love for Moe Norman and the time he played 18 holes between heats.

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Twenty years ago, Nick Kokonas had one of the best meals of his life. Instead of giving compliments to the chef, he offered to open a restaurant with him—something Kokonas had no experience in. That restaurant became Alinea, a paradigm-shifting dining experience that would win three Michelin stars and best restaurant in America in its first year. Since then, Kokonas has opened another Michelin-star restaurant, created an app that revolutionized dining reservations, self-published several books, sold his stake in Alinea and played a ton of golf with interesting people. On this episode of Mind Game, Kokonas discusses his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, his decision-making matrix, his recipe for taking risk, and what he would do to reenergize the PGA Tour.

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All Mind Game episodes: https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/mind-game-podcast/

Mind Game: Cam Avery, Tame Impala 

He left a promising junior golf career to chase the rockstar dream, and it came true. Cam Avery has played bass for Tame Impala for the last decade while also producing solo records and playing alongside big-time acts like Arctic Monkeys. Now Avery is back playing competitive golf and documenting his journey along the way. He joins Mind Game to discuss the grind of the music business, not being able to read sheet music, the Venn diagram of life and golf, and whether or not he'd still WD from that Australian amateur event to go see Oasis. 

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A case of the throwing yips ended Jason Kuhn’s promising baseball career. He pivoted and became a decorated Navy SEAL operator and sniper. In his post-Special Forces career, he’s turned his training into a bulletproof mental system that has led Lucas Glover back into the winner’s circle, Atlanta Braves pitcher Tyler Matsek to a World Series save and other teams of all kinds to winning the SEAL way. And now he’s sharing his system with host Casey Bannon on this episode of Mind Game.

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