The Backseat Driver Podcast

How To Bulletproof Your Mind from Choking

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

You're on the 18th tee and all you can see is the water on the left. You are a couple points away from upsetting a better player. Why do these situations all of a sudden make your body feel like you've never done anything athletic in your life. Why does your mind start thinking of when your coach yelled at you when you were 9 years old. And what the heck do we do about it. This episode we break it all down for you!

Intentional Inefficiency Pt 2

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode we focus on pushing back against time scarcity by examining how we can design life for presence and depth. We will take a deep dive into all the ways we have practically pushed back against the current of productivity so that you can experience more of life in every moment.

Intentional Inefficiency Pt 1

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

We return to the podcast after nearly a year and introduce a discussion inspired by Chris’s Substack “Deep Lessons from Shallow Things,” specifically his article “Intentional Inefficiency.” We examine how modern culture treats efficiency, automation, and productivity as ultimate goals—an undercurrent amplified by AI—and question whether faster and more optimized systems actually improve quality of life. Drawing on Oliver Burkeman’s book “4,000 Weeks,” we discuss time as a cultural construct that became standardized with industrialization and globalization, contrasting it with earlier task-bound rhythms like farming and sleeping with daylight. We discuss that commoditizing time pushes people into constant future-orientation at the expense of presence and relationships, and cite the idea that more productive societies can become less happy. We explore how meaningful work, learning, parenting, and relationships are inherently inefficient. We finish by unpacking the “paradox of limitation,” the stress created by trying to control and optimize everything, and how accepting human finiteness can be freeing, especially for high achievers.

What We Have Changed Our Minds About

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode we talk through some of the big changes in our beliefs over the last few years. We dive deep into the psychology of changing beliefs. We explore some of the unchallenged assumptions of the world around us, and discuss the pros and cons of these narratives.

The Battle for Your Attention

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 20:00:00 -0500

In this episode we dive into the battle for your attention especially in relation to your smartphone. Have you ever seen how many pickups you have per day? Have you wondered about the endless scroll on social media? Why do we have so many notifications? We cover all of this and more in this episode to help you focus better and be more present everyday.

Phone Table Study
The Anxious Generation
Stolen Focus

Alaine Mills: Why You Should Love Carbs

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0500

In the episode we interview sports dietician Alaine Mills. Alaine is a sports dietician with MUSC and the Charleston Battery. During our conversation we discuss her approach to helping athletes maximize their fueling, the most common mistakes she sees in her practice, and her pet peeves about nutrition mis-information.

Can You Be Elite and Balanced?

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode we debate whether you can become elite at something and still have an element of balance in your life. We also discuss if insecurity is inherent to becoming great.

Olympic Recap: Our Favorite Moments and the Psychology of Being an Olympian

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 21:00:00 -0400

Eat The Marshmallow: Why Delayed Gratification is Overrated

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 15:00:00 -0400

Have you ever had the thought that working away your prime and hoping for an exciting retirement just did not make sense then this is the episode for you! We take a deep dive into the background on delayed gratification, how it became overhyped, and how to find the right balance in order to enjoy your life now.

State of the Union: USA Soccer

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 20:00:00 -0400

In this episode we discuss our take on the recent group stage exit for USA soccer. We also discuss the Euro and Copa America tournaments. Last, we talk about the art of sports and how data disrupts that creativity.

The Sampler Platter: Law of Averages, Cynicism is Not Wisdom, and the Aura of Greatness

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 14:00:00 -0400

Enjoy this sampler platter of topics as we discuss things that have caught our attention over the last couple of weeks.
Links We Discuss:
https://www.irunfar.com/unpopular-opinions
https://bfastclub.substack.com/p/gamers-grinders-performance-learning

Why You Suck at Listening

Tue, 21 May 2024 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode we take a deep dive into the most common mistakes people make when listening and communicating. Chris gives detailed examples of how to become more aware of these pitfalls in listening and practical advice for how to become a better communicator.

Jamie Wilson: Pro Golf, Loving Your Job, and Being Ready for Your Breakthrough

Tue, 07 May 2024 16:00:00 -0400

In this episode we dive into the grind of pro golf with Jamie Wilson. We discuss how hard it truly is to make the PGA tour, how close Jamie has gotten, and how he still loves the grind even on hard days. We really enjoyed this interview. Hope you enjoy as well.

Boston Marathon Recap

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 21:00:00 -0400

Enjoy this Boston Marathon Recap as Rich and I breakdown our race experience.

Dangers of the Growth Mindset

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:00:00 -0400

In this episode we dive into one of the most popular ideas in the world of psychology over the last 15 years, the Growth Mindset. We explore the nuance of the growth mindset, and how everything has pros and cons. We then discuss some of the assumptions of the growth mindset that can actually hurt performance and lead to burnout. We hope you enjoy this episode!

Hillary Allen Article: https://www.hillaryallen.com/blog/struggling-with-a-growth-mindset

Boston Build #2: The Ups and Downs of Marathon Training, Key Workouts, and Detours

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode we check in on how training is going, talk about the detours that have come up in training, and dive into how we plan to approach the race. We also share how we feel like our blocks have gone and some of the key sessions we have been doing to get ready for race day.

Who Should Sit At Your Roundtable?

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode we explore the question of who should sit at your personal roundtable? What qualities should those people possess, how many people can you fit at your table, and how can those people help you grow as a person? This episode dives into all of those questions and more!
If you enjoy this episode please leave us a rating or review
Instagram: the_backseat_driver_podcast

What We Have Been Learning Lately Pt.2: Why Punt Returns are Still a Bad Idea, Avoiding the Fear of Other People, and Constraint Based Learning

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode we dive into some more things that have been interesting us lately. We return to why punt returns still are a net loss, why comfort may actually be hindering your happiness, and why adults struggle to teach skills to children. We also dive into how to fight the fear of other people to step out of your comfort zone and enable yourself to continue to grow.

Where Have We Been The Last Two Weeks: New Baby Life, Living in the Moment, and Self Compassion

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:00:00 -0500

What We Have Been Learning Lately Pt.1: How to Spot Fake Expertise, the Dunning-Kruger Effect, and the Obsession with Longevity

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0500

In this episode we reflect on what we have been learning lately. We talk about books we have read over the past month and our main takeaways from those books. In addition, we discuss some of the topics that have come up on our recent ski trip to Utah. Lastly, we have a little fun as we put this knowledge into practice discussing some of the latest fitness and wellness trends that are probably not worth the hype. Hope you enjoy part one of this discussion.

Boston Build #1: Setting The Scene for Success

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode we dive into part one of our four part series discussing our buildup to the Boston Marathon. We are joined by my long time training partner Rich Wolferz to discuss how our training is going, things we are struggling with, and our hopes for this training block. We also talk with Chris about strategies to help deal with some of the mental struggles in our training right now. Hope you enjoy this series as we build to boston!

Motivation: Riding the Wave, Being Value Oriented, and Building Great Systems

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 21:00:00 -0500

In this episode we explore the psychology of motivation. We take a deep dive into how important motivation is to performance, how to ride the wave of motivation, and what systems to put in place to allow us to perform even in periods of low motivation.

Dr. Matt Shiver: Cultivating Curiosity, Living Courageously, and Building a Team

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 21:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we welcome in good friend and special guest, Dr. Matt Shiver. Matt is a physical therapist turned entrepreneur and one of the bright minds in the health coaching world right now. In this conversation, we talk about how curiosity has shaped his path, his desire to learn no matter what the topic and how important it is to have the courage to take risks. We also talk about his journey from the world of weightlifting into bodybuilding, then into physical therapy and currently where it is in the world of entrepreneurship. Lastly, we cover the different types of lifestyles that he's lived from being on the road, living in different places each month to really digging in and building his business in the online space.

I hope you enjoy and learn from this conversation just as much as we did.

New Year's Resolutions: 7 Habits of Healthy People

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 15:00:00 -0500

Its time to look back and look ahead as we finish out 2023 and head into 2024. This episode breaks down some of the habits that we have seen consistently in the healthiest and highest performing clients and patients we have worked with. We hope these habits will help you enter 2024 with a new perspective and ready to tackle whatever life throws at you.

Holiday Special: Worst Family Conversation Starters, Sport Pet Peeves, and Bad Driving

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:00:00 -0500

In this holiday special we enjoy the season by looking back at some of the dumbest sports decisions of the year, discussing how everyone has that one family member who can't resist the political talk at the dinner table, and pondering deeply why driving is so difficult for some people.

Confidence: Do You Need It?

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0500

In this episode we take a deep dive into confidence. What is it, do you actually need it, and how should we think about it. This episode really challenged a lot of my ideas about confidence, and I am excited for you to get a chance to listen and reflect on how you think about confidence.

Chris Drose: Managing Millions, Pursuing Your Passion, and Finding a Hobby

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode we interview Chris Drose. Chris is the founder of Bleecker Street Capital, a short hedgefund. He was featured on Forbes 30 under 30 in finance. While in college he was involved in exposing American Addiction Centers for their murder cover-up, and was featured in the New York Times. He is a fascinating interview as his story is anything but ordinary.

Should You Ditch Your Wearable Technology?

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0500

In this episode we explore the upsides and downsides of data. In a world filled with more and more information about our sleep, heart rate, recovery, and performance how do we filter through to make sure it leads to better performance? How should we approach the world of wearable technology, and what should be our goal in collecting this information about ourselves? Tune in to find out as we take a deep dive into the world of wearable technology and performance data.

The Long Drive #1

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 20:00:00 -0500

In this episode we welcome our co-host Reese Randall to discuss the kind of things you would find yourself discussing on a long car ride. We cover his path to college football, the things he has learned, and how to become a scout team legend. We also show #longsnapperlove as we dive into some behind the scenes stories from his time playing at Kansas. Hope you enjoy this episode!

The Cost of Greatness

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 19:00:00 -0500

In this episode we discuss the true trade off in chasing greatness, living true to your values, seeking wisdom from those around you, and understanding that true happiness is never found in greatness alone.

Perception and Performance

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 21:00:00 -0400

In this episode we dive deep into the old adage of "perception is reality." We look at how our language shapes our perception, how to turn down the body's alarm system, and how having friends by your side can help lead to performance breakthroughs.

Anxiety Masterclass: What is it, Why does it happen, and How can we work on it?

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 21:00:00 -0400

In this episode we take a deep dive into anxiety. We explore the psychology, physiology, and causes of anxiety. We look at why anxiety happens, why it’s so prevalent and what we can do to take control of our anxiety.

Make the Regular Season Great Again

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:00:00 -0400

The Origin story, Christmas trees, and Backseat Driving

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:00:00 -0400