The Unbeatable Mind Podcast With Mark Divine

  Today on the Unbeatable Mind, Mark Divine sits down with acclaimed journalist and author Henry Abbott to dive into the fascinating world of athletic performance, resilience, and the hidden science of injury prevention! Fresh off the release of his new book Ballistic: The New Science of Injury Free Athletic Performance, Henry is chock full of insights from top athletes and breakthrough research from some of the world’s top sports labs.  Mark shares with Henry the details of his recent snowmobile accident, offering a jumping off point for Henry to explore how our bodies and brains adapt and heal. The pair delve into the power of voice and breath work, and why movement is the ultimate key to longevity.  Additionally, Henry shares incredible stories from the front lines of professional sports, including insights on how elite athletes have been able to sidestep potentially career-ending injuries. He and Mark touch on the often overlooked role of play and joy in athleticism, and Henry shares his remarkable findin

  The world of digital entrepreneurship and social media marketing is fast paced and growing more than ever. Today, on The Unbeatable Mind, Mark Divine is talking to digital marketing powerhouse, Logan Forsyth! At only 27 years old, Logan has grown his company, Media Scaling, to over 100 employees in just two years!    Logan shares his journey from starting in the industry as a high school student, to the incredible position he finds himself in today. He and Mark explore the essence of leadership in the modern world, discussing how important it is to set one’s ego aside and foster an environment of open feedback.    Whilst digging into how the media landscape has shifted, Logan touches on how making short form video content has become an invaluable tool in reaching audiences. Lastly, he tells Mark on how he believes his obsessiveness to be a superpower that fuels his pursuit of excellence is such a cutthroat industry. Logan’s insights will not only help those interested in the fascinating world of digital mar

On this week’s episode of The Unbeatable Mind, Mark Divine shares his compelling and personal tale of resilience of the recent snowmobile accident that left him with serious injuries and a harrowing journey towards recovery.    Shortly after completing his PhD in Global Leadership & Change, Mark accepted an invitation to explore Northern Quebec by way of a snowmobiling adventure. The would-be rejuvenating experience soon turned into a test of resilience and fortitude, leaving Mark with multiple fractures and a punctured lung.    Mark shares these details not solely for the purpose of recounting a personal story, but to explore the pivotal role his extensive training and mindset played on the road to healing. He dives into the techniques he uses—-from advanced visualization to staying physically active to the extent of his recovery capacity. In addition, Mark explores alternative healing methods, like peptides and the potential use of stem cells to illustrate a holistic approach to healing.   Mark provides

This week on The Unbeatable Mind, Mark Divine once again dives into the Five Mountains of Personal Development, this time introducing listeners to the profound concept of “Kokoro”-----the integration of heart and mind into one’s actions!    All while encouraging a holistic approach to living life authentically and purposefully, Mark examines the Western tendency towards constant achievement and external validation. He proposes instead a journey that prioritizes inner peace and well-being, bringing our ambitions into a state of harmony with our core values.    Mark shares practical insights into connecting with our life’s purpose following the three P’s: purpose, passion, and principles—-providing tools for self-reflection that help align our life’s actions with our ultimate calling!   Key Takeaways: Kokoro: Uniting The Heart & Mind: Understand the balance between gaining and letting go. Learn how achieving one’s highest capacity involves not only striving for accomplishment, but surrendering certain bel

  Believe it or not, communication is about far more than just the words one speaks. This week’s guest on The Unbeatable Mind, communication expert Michael Hoeppner, argues that much like dance or martial arts, communication is a full-body act.    As a world-recognized expert on public speaking, Michael, along with Mark, sheds light on the Navy SEALS’ powerful spirit shout “Hoo Ya”, and how it embodies the physical essence of communication. Together they explore the intricacies of vocal variety, focusing on the significance of pace, pitch, pause, power, and placement, in the delivery of dynamic speech.  Michael digs into practical exercises one can use to overcome some common pitfalls in effective communication. He details how these exercises can transform one’s communication skills to ensure that their messages will be impactful and memorable.    Lastly, he and  Mark touch upon the art of storytelling and the use of poetic devices in crafting narratives that stick with those that listen. Whether speaking in

On this episode of The Unbeatable Mind, Mark Divine continues his journey into the world of Five Mountain Development, this time highlighting the key role intuition plays in human development.    Drawing from his experiences in the SEAL teams, the corporate world, and his personal meditation practice, Mark explores three types of intuition: instinctual, emphatic, and insightful. Whether it’s life-saving instincts on the firing range, or heart-driven insights whilst traversing a dangerous crevasse, Mark’s experience with intuition is not only deeply personal, but has played a crucial role in his life. Thankfully, this allows Mark to provide practical techniques for one to cultivate intuition—drawn from ancient traditions and mindfulness practices. These techniques can not only enhance awareness and presence, but are essential in a world characterized by rapidly evolving technology.   Key Topics Include: Types of Intuition: Listen to Mark cover the three types of intuition—-instinctual (gut), emphatic (heart)

Continuing from part one of Mark Divine’s deep dive into the Emotional Mountain (a crucial but often difficult to integrate tenet of Five Mountain Development), this episode of The Unbeatable Mind finds Mark examining the profound impact emotions have on physical and mental well-being.    From the complex interplay of emotions, mental processes, and physical states to a concept called The Default Mode Network (a key player in conditioned emotional responses), Mark leaves no stone unturned in his discussion of the most intricate of the Five Mountains. Struggling with how to identify and manage emotional patterns? Mark shares insightful strategies for how to do so—-like one he calls the ‘WIRM’ process. Additionally, he explores the psychological approaches of some of the most influential thinkers of all time, such as Freud, Jung, and Richard Schwartz. This is a deep dive that offers incredibly valuable perspectives on the ever-so-challenging process of emotional work.    Key Topics Include: Embracing Courage

Welcome to another episode of The Unbeatable Mind podcast with Mark Divine. This week, we’re continuing the journey through Five Mountain Development. In this episode, the spotlight is on the Emotional Mountain, often a stumbling block for many on their personal growth journey. Mark shares his personal experiences and insights, revealing how emotional development is integral to overall well-being. From therapy to mindfulness practices, he explains the significance of understanding and overcoming deep-seated emotional patterns. Whether you're a seasoned seeker or new to personal development, this episode offers valuable perspectives and practical advice on navigating the emotional terrain.    Tune in as we continue on this transformative journey towards self-discovery and empowerment.   Key Topics Include: Emotions as Physical-Mental Integration: Mark emphasizes that emotions are felt experiences combining bodily sensations with mental interpretations. They cannot be separated from physical and mental develo

In this continuation of his discussion on the Mental Mountain, Mark Divine expands on his earlier episode about mental training within his Five Mountains framework (Physical, Mental, Emotional, Intuitional, and Spiritual). He delves deeper into various meditation techniques and mental training practices, drawing from his personal experiences with Zen training and military preparation.    Throughout the episode, Mark outlines several key mental skills, including arousal control through breathing, attention control using box-breathing techniques, and the development of mindfulness. These practices help practitioners immensely to recognize that they are not their thoughts, enabling them to break free from limiting mental patterns.   Look no further than this episode for practical guidance on how to incorporate these training techniques into your daily routine so you can succeed in mastering your mental mountain!   Key Topics Include:   Arousal Control & Attention Control: Mark explains how nostril breathin

In his second episode focusing on the Five Mountains of Development, Mark Divine builds off the foundational pillar of physical health to dive into the importance of mental training—-AKA “The Mental Mountain”. Mark outlines how conventional learning methods often fail to unlock one’s true potential—an idea he’s experienced firsthand during his journey from traditional education to discovering Zen Buddhism. Throughout his deep exploration of mental development, Mark guides listeners towards greater concentration, and the ability to perceive information beyond the confines of traditional thinking.  Key Takeaways: Going Beyond Traditional Education: Listen to Mark recount his journey from traditional education to focusing on mental development. No more would he focus on cramming knowledge, but rather, enhancing his cognitive abilities. Power of Meditation: It’s not just about stillness—but rather breaking free from conditioned patterns and achieving what Mark calls—”mental freedom”!  Enhancing Creativity a

Can a single conversation radically transform a relationship? This week’s guest on The Unbeatable Mind, former film director and founder of experience design studio ‘The Skin Deep’, Topaz Adizes certainly thinks so.    After years in the film industry, Topaz found himself asking the question, “how is the emotional experience of being human shifting in light of all this technology?” Embracing this question prompted him to found ‘The Skin Deep’, an experience design studio formed to help people form deeper connections with the most important people in their life. Together, Topaz and Mark  delve into the concept of deep listening and the nuances of forming deep connections through the power of well-constructed questions.    Topaz details the transformative potential of sitting with discomfort, and discusses a topic he clearly has much familiarity with, the unique art of storytelling. The nature of human interaction runs deep and is multifaceted, but Topaz contains profound insights and asks equally profound ques

This week on The Unbeatable Mind, Catherine Divine returns to discuss the second of the five mountains—-the ‘mental mountain!’ This mountain serves as a pathway towards developing important skills like creativity, compassion, intuition, and insight.    Together, Mark and Catherine explore the many intricacies of the mind, and delve into concepts like critical thinking and cognitive bias. They muse on the development of uniquely human skills—skills that are without a doubt essential for thriving in the age of artificial intelligence. Practical techniques—-such as box breathing and mindfulness are discussed as practices to assist in taming one’s ‘monkey mind’, and developing a focussed and resilient mental state.    Key Takeaways: Cognitive Bias & Critical Thinking: Understand the filters placed upon our mind by social conditioning and the limits of our own perception—-and how this relates to thinking critically. Developing Mental Discipline: Learn various practical techniques to apply in the developmen

How would you react in the midst of a crisis? This week on The Unbeatable Mind, comedian, Crossfit affiliate owner, and leader of the successful men’s group ‘ The Treehouse’, Kenny Kane, shares his personal tale of losing his home to the recent fires in Los Angeles. Kenny recounts the harrowing moments of urgency as he and his family confronted the blaze, and the profound impact it had on their lives.    Delving deep into themes of leadership, community, and the essence of human connection, Kenny details the importance of having a clear vision and purpose, especially when faced with volatile and uncertain situations. Kenny explains his commitment to nurturing resilient leaders through his men’s group and the gym community, emphasizing physical training as a conduit for life preparation.  Key Takeaways: Kenny Kane’s Crisis Management: Listen to Kenny’s story of losing his home in the Palisades fires—and how his previous experiences and personal philosophy helped him and his family manage.  OODA Loop Framew

Catherine Divine is back on The Unbeatable Mind this week to delve into the concept of mastering the ‘physical mountain’--a term that refers to one’s journey towards physical health and fitness.    Mark and Catherine delve into the idea that in order to unlock one’s full potential, it’s important to train not only the body, but also the mind and spirit. Got a busy schedule and don’t know how or where to incorporate fitness? Mark and Catherine share practical advice for how to do so. The power of small, consistent efforts—-what Mark calls “spot drills”----can’t be understated and can seem like a godsend for those leading hectic lives. Beyond the benefits of physical activity, the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and mental well-being is explored!   Key Takeaways: Time Management: Reframe physical activity as a cumulative activity and learn how to utilise ‘spot drills’ throughout the day.  Integration of Different Aspects of Experience: Realize the importance of connecting fully to life through bo

There’s many different aspects to personal growth. One can grow mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, or even intuitionally. However, without taking charge of one’s own evolution, personal development can seem an impossibility. On this week’s Unbeatable Mind podcast, host Mark Divine introduces the concept of “Five Mountain Development”, a holistic approach to personal growth with specific focus on vertical integration. Mark highlights the importance of moving beyond horizontal learning in order to achieve transformation on a fundamental level.    Key Takeaways: Vertical Vs. Horizontal Development: Discover how unlike horizontal development, vertical development doesn’t just focus on acquiring new skills—-but on fundamentally changing who you are. Five Mountain Framework: Unlock your full potential by understanding the comprehensive “Five Mountain Model”, a framework in which to recognize and improve the physical, mental, emotional, intuitional, and spiritual aspects of the self.  Holistic Dev

Fear. It’s a pervasive issue for many. However, on this week’s Unbeatable Mind podcast, host Mark Divine takes a deep dive into the impact fear has on people’s lives and how it is propagated in our culture. Mark breaks down common acronyms such as F.E.A.R (False Expectations Appearing Real), and discusses strategies for managing realistic fears as well as fears rooted in childhood trauma and primordial anxieties. Mark traverses his way through a myriad of daily practices that can help mitigate fear and discusses the difference between rational and irrational fears so listeners can identify the two, and avoid being debilitated by either.    Key Takeaways: Rational vs. Irrational Fears: Identify the differences between irrational fears (like the fear of how others perceive you), vs. rational fears (like fears based on current events), and learn how to avoid becoming debilitated by either.  Deep Rooted Fears: Recognize the necessity for emotional work in dealing with fears rooted in childhood trauma.  Fear

This week on The Unbeatable Mind, Catherine Divine provides her riveting account of how she breathed her way through adversity after a surfing accident left her with a concussion and fractured occipital bone.    Though breathing for most is simply an automatic function of life, mastering breath control can have profound impacts on both mental and emotional states. Mark and Catherine share their valuable knowledge on techniques like box breathing, and alternate nostril breathing. Such techniques hold the power to manage stress and improve overall well-being. Together, they unpack the art of breathing and discuss its largely unrealized potential as a “free medicine” that can absolutely transform your life!  Key Takeaways: Health Benefits of Breathwork: Discover how consistent breathwork practice can bring about positive health benefits such as weight loss, and balancing the body’s energy systems.  Observations and Adjustments in Breathing: Learn how to identify and correct breathing imbalances and identify

Take a journey through the academic side of bravery with CEO and founder of Breakthrough Leadership Group, Jill Schulman. This week on The Unbeatable Mind, Jill Schulman reflects on her training to become a Marine officer and the physical and mental challenges that came with it. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and a growth mindset.  Drawing on her academic research, Jill breaks down bravery into three crucial elements: self-belief, brave actions, and supportive relations, emphasizing the creation of a “brave tribe.” Is bravery an inherent trait—-or a skill that can be developed? Jill Schulman explores the answer to this question as well as the intricacies of bravery, leadership, and teamwork.  Whilst investigating the blend of academic knowledge and practical leadership, Jill dives into the role of cultural perspectives on individualism and vulnerability in human achievement.  Key Takeaways: Academic & Military Perspectives On Bravery: Hear success stories of the military having

The concepts of death and rebirth aren’t ones that most people may be intimately familiar with, but this week’s guest on The Unbeatable Mind, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor certainly is. A Harvard trained neuroscientist, Dr. Jill discusses her traumatic brain hemorrhage that silenced her left brain's functioning, catapulting her into a state of right-brain consciousness.     Exploring the intricate dance between the right and left brain hemispheres, ego, individuality and the collective human experience, Jill dives into the principles of what she calls “whole brain living”, sharing her unique perspective on balancing four distinct characters within us—-each rooted in different brain capacities.    Shedding light on the transformative potential of embracing one’s duality, managing ego, and achieving a state of contextual awareness, Dr. Jill highlights important topics that not only hold to power to heal individuals, but revolutionize society.    Key Takeaways: Jill Bolte Taylor’s Stroke: Listen to Jill recount her ex

Breathwork. Its transformative power can’t be understated, nor can its potential to be combined with countless facets of life. From creativity, sexuality, and even the corporate world, the benefits of breathwork are seemingly endless—-and perhaps no one knows this better than today’s guest, Kurtis Lee.    This week on The Unbeatable Mind, Kurtis Lee shares his incredible journey of healing and self-discovery through breathwork—a tool that not only alleviated his long-standing stomach pain, but allowed for profound spiritual and emotional growth. Exploring the shortcomings of traditional treatments like ayahuasca or fasting, Kurtis details how one intense breathwork session in Los Angeles marked a new beginning in his healing journey.    Through the intricate balance of physical health with these advanced meditative practices, the interconnection between body, brain, and mind, and the importance of foundational health, Kurtis paints a highly detailed picture of what it takes to become a seasoned breathwork pra