In today’s episode, John sits down with the incredible Rona Guymon, Senior Vice President of Annuity Distribution at Nationwide. Leading a team of 240 people responsible for a staggering $18 billion in annual sales, Rona is at the forefront of what it means to build and sustain a high-performance culture. How do you lead a team to break records four years in a row and keep them motivated when the market gets volatile? Rona pulls back the curtain on her journey, sharing how she built a f...

In today’s episode, John welcomes Matthew “Whiz” Buckley, a former Navy F/A-18 fighter pilot, Wall Street entrepreneur, and the visionary founder of the No Fallen Heroes Foundation. A man of diverse talents and profound experiences, Whiz has not only soared the skies as a pilot but has also touched lives as a passionate advocate for mental health, particularly in the veteran community. Through his foundation, Whiz addresses the epidemic of veteran suicides by introducing groundbreaking approa...

In this episode, John speaks with Joe Navarro, a former FBI agent and supervisor renowned for his expertise in nonverbal communication and body language. Joe shares valuable insights from his extensive career, shedding light on how nonverbal cues influence leadership, trust, and human behavior. As the author of bestselling books such as What Every Body Is Saying and Dangerous Personalities, Joe offers practical advice on mastering body language and understanding its role in daily interactions...

In today’s episode, John is joined by Lair Torrent, a highly respected holistic therapist, speaker, and author whose work has been featured on NPR, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. As an expert in both relationships and high-performance psychology, Lair brings a unique perspective on how our mindset and emotional habits shape our success—whether at home, at work, or in life. Throughout their conversation, John and Lair discuss essential success principles, ranging from mindfulness and...

In this episode of The High Performance Zone, John is joined by Paul Crowder, the director behind the IMAX film “The Blue Angels,” and Navy journalist and photographer Alan D. Herrera. They dive into the intense and meticulous process of capturing the Blue Angels on film. Paul shares how his perspective dramatically shifted upon witnessing the team’s discipline and dedication, cementing his belief in the importance of serving a higher purpose. Plus, the conversation covers the challenges and ...

In this electrifying episode of the High Performance Zone, Gucci dives into an inspiring conversation with the executive producers of the new IMAX film, “The Blue Angels,” Greg “Boss” Wooldridge and Rob "Sticks" Stone. Greg, a three-time leader of the Blue Angels, and Rob, an acclaimed producer, share their journey of creating this groundbreaking documentary that captures the essence of the Blue Angels like never before. Get ready to soar through the skies and discover the dedication, challen...

Gucci chats with Giovanni ‘The Lion’ Dienstmann about self-discipline, self-mastery, and creating a fulfilling life. Giovanni is a self-discipline coach and meditation teacher who champions the virtues of determination, integrity, courage, and optimism. He takes a mindful approach to personal development, and his latest book, Mindful Self-Discipline: Living with Purpose and Achieving Your Goals in a World of Distractions, helps people fulfill their potential and take control of their li...

In this episode of the High-Performance Zone Podcast, Gucci’s guest is Dre Baldwin, the founder and CEO of Work On Your Game. Dre was born and raised in Philadelphia, played professional basketball in Lithuania, and transitioned into an entrepreneur and motivational coach who applies the mindset, strategy, and systems he learned from playing pro `basketball into his business coaching career. Today, you’ll hear from Dre Baldwin on: Discipline. For Dre, discipline is what separates succ...

Russ Holder is a golf professional, a former caddy for Bernhard Langer, and the founder and CEO of Caddy For A Cure. As the son of a pilot and an ardent fan of the Blue Angels, Russ ran the golf tournament for the Blue Angels Foundation for several years. Recently, he created the Inspiring Warriors Golf program, and his mission is to inspire and assist wounded veterans through golf. In this episode, you’ll hear from Russ Holder on: (00:13:14) The player-caddy relationship. Russ describes ...

Shelly Lefkoe is the co-founder of the Lefkoe Institute and a world-renowned expert in teaching people how to eliminate their limiting beliefs. Shelly specializes in setting her clients free from the psychological constraints that prevent them from living happier and more authentic lives. In this episode, she takes John through the unique Lefkoe Belief Process and explains how to disrupt destructive thought patterns and create positive change in your life. Today, you’ll hear from Shel...

Dr. Christian Conte is a leading emotional and anger management expert who often works with prisoners, prison officers, and high-performance sports teams. Christian is passionate about helping people gain control over their emotions, and his book Walking Through Anger provides valuable strategies for confronting conflict and staying focused and calm in emotionally charged situations. In this episode, you’ll hear from Christian on: (00:13:09) Sports psychology. He explains why mastering th...

Jessica Kriegel is a Workplace Culture Expert, the creator of The Culture Equation, and Chief Scientist of Workplace Culture at Culture Partners. Jessica knows that culture drives results, and through her tried and tested tools and strategies, she empowers leaders to improve employee fulfillment and increase performance and profitability. As a culture change specialist, Jessica is a sought-after keynote speaker and the author of Unfairly Labeled: How Your Workplace Can Benefit from Ditching G...

Today's Best of Episode features Catherine Hernandez-Blades. Catherine is an award-winning CMO and PR News Hall of Famer who is currently the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at SAIC. With over 25 years of experience in senior marketing and communication roles at Fortune 500 companies, Catherine likes to position herself at the nexus of purpose and profit, and she’s passionate about the social impact that corporations can make in the world. In this episode, you’ll hear ...

In today's Best of Episode, we feature Steve Leder. Steve is a husband, father, and the Senior Rabbi of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. He’s also a respected scholar and religious commentator and the author of several bestselling books, including The Extraordinary Nature of Ordinary Things and More Beautiful Than Before; How Suffering Transforms Us. His latest book, The Beauty of What Remains; How Our Greatest Fears Become Our Greatest Gifts, shows us how our fear of death can h...

In today's Best of Episode, we feature Dr. Gillian Mandich. Dr. Gillian is a happiness researcher, public speaker, and the founder of The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research. Gillian believes that happiness is a practice, not a destination, and, through her keynote speeches, workshops, and courses, she helps people become healthier and happier by encouraging them to adopt simple habits and practices that have been scientifically proven to increase happiness and produc...

In this week's Best of Episode, we welcome Molly Fletcher. Molly is a keynote speaker and former top sports agent who has represented over 300 high-performing athletes, coaches, and broadcasters. She’s also the author of several best-selling books, including The Energy Clock, The Business of Being the Best, and Fearless at Work. Molly’s mission is to lead, inspire, and connect with courage and optimism. She encourages people to find the courage to combat complacency, and through her rec...

In this week's Best of Episode, we welcome Dr. Bill Howatt. Bill is an expert in mental fitness and psychological safety in the workplace who specializes in helping employers create positive workplaces where employees feel included, valued, and fulfilled. He has over thirty years of experience in consulting and coaching, and he’s the author of over fifty books, including the soon-to-be-released No Regrets: How to Live Today for Tomorrow’s Emotional Well-Being. In this episode, you’ll hear f...

Aaron ‘Big A’ Walker is the founder of View from the Top and creator of the Iron Sharpens Iron Mastermind. Aaron is a serial entrepreneur turned mentor and coach with over four decades of business experience. As a self-made man, he motivates others to strive for significance and success, and his mission is to help ordinary men become extraordinary in all they do. In this episode, you’ll hear from Aaron on: (00:11:08) Why isolation is the enemy of excellence. Big A recalls the experience o...

Dr. Chris Honey is the Professor and Head of Neurosurgery at the University of British Columbia. As well as being a distinguished surgeon and educator, Dr. Chris is also the Neurological Director of the Canadian Football League Players Association, an ex-Olympic diver, and the author of The Tenth Nerve, A Brain Surgeon's Stories of the Patients Who Changed Him. In this episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Honey on: (00:16:32) How aviation has influenced the culture of the operating room. H...

Today we’re honouring Black History Month by re-releasing our episode with A.J. Andrews. A.J. is a professional softball player, TV sports analyst, and the first woman to receive the prestigious Rawlings Gold Glove Award. She is also an entrepreneur, a motivational speaker, and the host of the Barrier Breaking Women podcast, which celebrates and elevates the achievements of inspirational women in sport and business. She is an incredible athlete with a formidable work ethic, and her mission is...