Rephonic
Artwork for excellence, actually
Mental Resilience
Ultrarunning
Performance
Motivational Speaking
Goal Setting
Mental Toughness
Curiosity In Performance
Jesse Itzler
Self-Actualization
Prosperity Gospel
Family Support
Behavior Change
Constructive Criticism
Performance Coaching
Health
Value Capture
Psychology
Going To Pieces Without Falling Apart
Health and Wellness Industry
Community In Sports

"excellence, actually" is a podcast from The Growth Equation, hosted by Steve Magness, Brad Stulberg, and Clay Skipper. Drawing on their years of working and corresponding with Olympians, coaches, executives, world-class physicians, and other elite-level achievers in their coaching practice and professional careers, they give you the mental and physical tools, practices, habits, and frameworks use... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes345Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Self-ImprovementEducationHealth & Fitness

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Artwork for excellence, actually

Latest Episodes

Today, we unpack one of the most universal performance problems: getting in your own way. Drawing on the "Self 1 vs. Self 2" framework from The Inner Game of Tennis, neuroscience, and child psychology, we explore why caring too much can be the very t... more

What do success and failure have in common? They can both trap you. Success can lead to complacency or a plateau, and failure can render you so discouraged or apathetic that you don't feel ready to try again. That's not a fun place to be! So today we... more

How do you have fun while working really hard? For many elite athletes, figuring out how to balance joy and suffering is the key to a long and successful career. Today, we explore how they do it — and how you can, too. We dig into the psychology of "... more

Today, for our monthly round-up, each of us shares a reflection from February: Brad explains what his chaotic book launch taught him about achievement, fulfillment, responding not reacting, and putting into practice other lessons we discuss regularly... more

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Recent Guests

Lilah Fear
Competitive ice dancer representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games
Great Britain Ice Dance Team
Episode: The Olympian's Guide to Handling Pressure, with Lilah Fear
Sasha DiGiulian
World-Champion Climber
Episode: How to Push Your Limits, with World-Champion Climber Sasha DiGiulian
Matt Fitzgerald
Successful run coach, endurance athlete, author, and founder of Dream Run Camp
Episode: "It's Never All Bad:" How to Suffer (with Matt Fitzgerald)
Nick Thompson
CEO of The Atlantic, resilient marathon runner, and author
The Atlantic
Episode: Doing it All: The CEO Who Ran a 2:29 Marathon (with Nick Thompson)
George Mumford
A well-known sports psychologist and performance consultant
Author of 'Unlocked' and 'The Mindful Athlete'
Episode: The Sports Psychologist Who Taught MJ and Kobe How to "Manage the Moment"
David Ricks
13-time world powerlifting champion and civil engineer
Palm Beach County
Episode: 120 - A 66-Year-Old Powerlifter with 71 World Records on the Secrets to Long-Term Success (with David Ricks)
Richard Reeves
Author of 'Of Boys and Men' and founder of the American Institute for Boys and Men
American Institute for Boys and Men
Episode: 116 - The Masculinity Crisis, and Why It Matters for All of Us (Part 1)
Cal Newport
A good friend of The Growth Equation and author focusing on productivity and greatness
Episode: 108 - Musk, Chalamet, and Real vs. Fake Greatness (with Cal Newport)
Alex Auerbach
Counseling and performance psychologist, author of 'Called to Greatness, Your Personal Playbook for the Pursuit of Excellence'
Episode: 106 - Mastering Mental Performance with Sports Psychologist Alex Auerbach

Hosts

Clay Skipper
Co-host of excellence, actually; contributor to coaching practice and content.
Steve Magness
Co-host of excellence, actually; researcher and writer focused on performance psychology and coaching.
Brad Stulberg
Co-host of excellence, actually; author and coach with a focus on growth and behavior change.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 779 ratings
  • Quality listening

    Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sarah.kate.
    Canadaa month ago
  • Actually excellent

    Been listening for a few months and really enjoy the insights, practical advice and real world examples. Approachable for all. Chemistry amongst Steve, Brad and Clay is great too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BrillK
    United States2 months ago
  • Custodians of History

    Stumbled into this via Steve’s YouTube videos on training and his book Do Hard Things (recommended) and I am so happy that I did! Modern life is hard to navigate and these guys (and their guests) have a perspective that I’ve found to be invaluable. One thing I really appreciate is that they approach the conversations as custodians of wisdom. They aren’t presenting ideas as if they have discovered the fountain of youth, but rather as lessons we can take from those who have living the good life an... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SashaCCCCC
    United States2 months ago
  • Wisdom and encouragement

    I get a lot out of each episode I listen to. If I’m having a bad day or dragging for whatever reason, there’s usually some tip that will remind me how to get into a better frame of mind. I appreciate the wisdom that these guys share. Keep it up fellas.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gjschaeffer86
    United States3 months ago
  • Excellence, actually

    Always worth a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ColinLCampbell
    Canada3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive feedback on practical, real-world tips and the chemistry among hosts.
Many enjoy guest interviews and actionable takeaways for busy life and work.
Listeners value ethical framing and useful frameworks for everyday excellence.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Way of Excellence: Inside Brad's New Book
Q: How do you balance interest and impact when deciding where to focus your energy?
There are different seasons for different pursuits, and it is crucial to be self-aware about the trade-offs made along the way.
The Way of Excellence: Inside Brad's New Book
Q: How can someone tell if their pursuit of excellence is a true expression of care versus a disguised form of fear and control?
It's ultimately about the joy and fulfillment they find in the process of their pursuit.
The Way of Excellence: Inside Brad's New Book
Q: What is the easiest way for people to start incorporating excellence into their life?
People should care deeply about aspects of their life and reflect on what gets in the way of that deep caring.
Why Your Routine Might Be Working Against You
Q: What are some ways to simplify routines for someone feeling overwhelmed?
Start with one practice at a time and tie important things to consistent periods in your life to reduce cognitive load.
Why Your Routine Might Be Working Against You
Q: How do you maintain your routines to ensure they serve your needs?
My daily practices are fundamental to my mental and physical health, and I have to constantly reevaluate my weekly and monthly practices a few times a year.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About excellence, actually

What is excellence, actually about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, evidence-based show about performance, mindset, and living with purpose. Three long-time coaches and researchers draw on experiences with Olympians and elite performers to share concrete habits, mental models, and frameworks you can apply day-to-day. Episodes mix interviews, host-driven insights, and sometimes new formats that highlight actionable takeaways across personal growth, health, and ethics, all aimed at helping listeners pursue excellence in work and life without hype.

Noteworthy elements include a strong emphasis on integrity and sustainable practice, a science-backed approach to routines and habit formation, and a willingness to critique optimization culture in favor of value-driven progress. The mix of guests, pra... more

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How many subscribers and views does excellence, actually have?

To see how many followers or subscribers excellence, actually has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to excellence, actually?

These podcasts share a similar audience with excellence, actually:

1. The Strength Running Podcast
2. The Rich Roll Podcast
3. Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais
4. Choose Strong
5. Ali on the Run Show

How many episodes of excellence, actually are there?

excellence, actually launched 6 years ago and published 345 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact excellence, actually?

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What guests have appeared on excellence, actually?

Recent guests on excellence, actually include:

1. Lilah Fear
2. Sasha DiGiulian
3. Matt Fitzgerald
4. Nick Thompson
5. George Mumford
6. David Ricks
7. Richard Reeves
8. Cal Newport

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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