Top of Your Game

That's a wrap for Season 1! Before we move on to Season Two, our host Michael is reflecting on the growth he has had by sharing his experiences here on the podcast and what let him onto his growth journey in the first place. A single podcast episode, listened to by the right messenger can have a huge impact on a person's life. Michael share’s how that has been true for him, how we can learn from fear, and not allow our external environment to shake up the internal one. Ultimately, growth and healing has a lot to do with connecting with yourself. The answers and feelings you seek are already within you! Cheers to an incredible first season, and the beginning of a whole new growth journey!   02:30 Reflecting on season 1! Plus, what is coming next! 08:15 What do I REALLY want beyond being a major league strength and conditioning coach? 13:00 The moment I realized my environment didn’t have power over how I felt inside. 16:15 Where do I look to find “the answers”? 18:00 The podcast episode that felt like fate. 21:00 Is love something you need to “find”? 23:40 Everything we want to have in our lives, is simply wanting a feeling. 27:00 How do we attract things into our lives that will help us grow? 29:30 What can I do to be in my body when fear sets in?     Check out this podcast mentioned in the episode with Dr. Joe Dispenza & Ed Mylett  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NhnVlfE4Go   Schedule a Connection Call with Michael: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=20293215&appointmentType=19426944   ………………………………………….   Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en   Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/   Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

Mindset affects every aspect of life. In this special part two episode with guest Ryan Atkinson, we’re diving into the power of training our mindset. Ryan is a former professional baseball player turned entrepreneur. In this episode, both our host Michael and Ryan share the power of being present, being able to sit with the uncomfortable parts of ourselves and the power that comes with the combination of self-love and personal growth. Tune in to hear how meditation and presence apply to the game, but more importantly, how they apply to life. 00:40 Recovery is necessary, both physically and mentally! 03:00 Listening to your “feel-good meter”. 06:50 How can I get into flow state? 08:30 How does practicing being present affect your game? 13:00 Meditation is “becoming familiar with”. 16:20 What is your relationship with anger? 19:00 How can we train our emotional state of being? 23:00 Are you chasing an outcome or a feeling? 27:15 How have you had to reroute changing from being a strength coach to being a mental skills coach? 29:00 Lessons I learned from a girl that broke my heart. 32:00 How can I stop pushing away the things I need to work through? 35:15 What does training the mind mean to you? 37:50 The power of asking yourself “Who am I?” 44:00 Finding unshakable confidence. 46:00 What has the transition been like from being a pro baseball player to gym owner? 49:40 What advice do you have for those that want to become a pro baseball player? 54:00 Advice for living the best life you can TODAY.   About Ryan   One to motivate, one to drive, one to grow and become greater than his circumstances. A loving, caring, passionate, and ambitious man who seeks failure, to learn and experience from. Spreading his wealth through performance of strength and nutrition, inspiring others through his life experiences. Ryan is a former AAA baseball player with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is currently the co-owner of Performance House Gym in Newport, KY.   IG: @ryan_atkinson14 IG: @performancehousegym ………………………………………….   Follow Michael on Instagram | @michael.locasto   Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/   Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

The journey to becoming a professional baseball player is a lot like any other part of life you want to become successful at! It’s consistent work, being coachable, and having fun along the way! After all, the journey, whether it’s being a professional baseball player, or a business owner, or mastering a skill, it’s in the work of becoming better that life is happening and memories are made! Tune in to hear Ryan’s story of becoming a professional baseball player, detours he had along the way, and what it felt like being able to live his dream!   02:00 We’re hard-wired to push back from painful feelings. 06:30 Is there a place or benefit of “having an ego”? 09:15 How can I show up and bring my entire self to my interactions? 10:30 What did “cool” look like for you as a kid? 14:40 From college baseball to being signed by the AZ Diamondbacks! 20:00 Having 5 days to prepare for tryouts! 23:15 What was that moment like hearing the Diamondbacks wanted to buy your contract? 26:00 The beginning of a career as a professional baseball player! 30:00 What did it feel like being in the room with high level athletes and realizing your dream? 33:15 Finding a groove as the 5th starter and building success! 36:00 Moving up in the Minors! 40:00 Playing in the Arizona Fall League! 43:00 What advice do you have for athletes that want to play in the minors and major league baseball? 46:00 Getting into the details and becoming a professional in the game! 48:15 What was your first big league experience of spring training?  51:00 Lessons and benefits of transitioning from starting to the bullpen. 53:30 What was your experience like overcoming the need to be the hardest worker? 58:00 The power of embracing meditation and slowing down.   About Ryan   One to motivate, one to drive, one to grow and become greater than his circumstances. A loving, caring, passionate, and ambitious man who seeks failure, to learn and experience from. Spreading his wealth through performance of strength and nutrition, inspiring others through his life experiences. Ryan is a former AAA baseball player with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is currently the co-owner of Performance House Gym in Newport, KY.   Follow Ryan on Instagram | @ryan_atkinson14 Follow Ryan's gym on Instagram | @performancehousegym ………………………………………….   Connect with Michael on Instagram | @michael.locasto   Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/   Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

What if talking about mindset and mental health was common practice? What if it wasn’t taboo? In this episode, our host Michael is joined by former Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Player turned entrepreneur, Austin Byler. Austin is the co-founder of Major League University, a top-tier mindset and leadership company. As someone who previously used pain medications to cope with stress and anxiety, Austin knew there was a better way and has dedicated himself to helping others find healthy ways to handle life's challenges and move forward towards their purpose! Tune in to hear his story, how he has built his business, and how his life has changed because of the fulfilling work he does! 01:15 What was life like growing up to play professional baseball? 04:30 Why did you begin taking prescription painkillers? 06:40 How did abusing painkillers affect your career as a pro baseball player? 09:15 What has helped you work through depression and anxiety? 10:00 What was it like being hired for your first workshop to help athletes with mindset? 15:30 What are some steps people can do to work through anxiety and depression? 18:00 How would the world change if speaking about mental health wasn’t taboo? 22:00 What I’m learning through breathwork? 24:15 How do you help guide your clients to find what their purpose is? 28:00 How can you let go of fear, and stop living for what other people think about you? 35:25 What is the importance of strengthening your mindset, just like you work in the weight room? 38:00 How can I be present and focus on the current moment? 41:00 What is “powerful thinking”? 45:00 What is your process to help people break through their limiting beliefs? 47:15 How do you shift from thinking short-term, to focusing on long-term goals? 49:00 What is your final advice for listeners? Follow Auston Byler on all platforms at @austinbyler   About Austin:   Austin is the co-founder of Major League University. Former MiLB baseball player with the Arizona Diamondbacks   Major League University is a top-tier mindset and leadership training company.  Our mission is to inspire student-athletes to become the best versions of themselves by training in three major areas: mindfulness, character, and personal development.  We believe these pillars lead to sustainable success on and off the field. ………………………………………….   Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en   Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/   Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

Our host Michael is finally sharing his experience completing a 100-mile Ultra Marathon Race, with friend and running partner Chris Schepel. The two Ultra Runners share the same experience having grown up avoiding running whenever possible, to finding a passion through the experiences running uniquely brings! Chris and Micheal share what their training looked like leading up to their race, what got them through it, and what that experience felt like from pain to flow state! Tune in to hear their 100-Mile story and a big announcement of what they’ll do next!   06:15 What was your first Ultra Marathon attempt like? 08:40 How far into the race did you take a wrong turn? 11:00 How did you change from avoiding running to running a 100-mile race? 15:15 What was your first thought when you learned about Ultra Marathons? 22:00 How would you explain what you enjoy about running to someone who hates running? 24:30 What does flow state feel like when you’re running? 29:15 What did it feel like re-committing to running 100-miles after not finishing the first attempt? 33:20 How did you train for an Ultra Marathon in the Arizona Summer heat? 36:50 What is the difference between training and the actual race? 40:00 Advice from the winner of the 100-mile Ultra Marathon! 42:30 What was it like running through the Grand Canyon? 45:40 How did you handle times when running became painful? 49:00 What was going through your mind on race day? 52:40 What was that moment like crossing the finish line? 55:30 What is the mindset you have to tune into throughout a race of that intensity? 57:15 The running metaphor that applies to life! 1:00:00 Why I ran an Ultra Marathon. 1:04:30 What got me through the night? 1:08:00 Our commitment in 2022!  About Chris:   Chris Schepel is an Ultramarathoner/enthusiast, human movement specialist, and member of the Bandito de Fuego running group. He is also a former minor league athletic trainer for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Chris and Michael completed the Javelina Jundred on Halloween 2020, a 100-mile ultramarathon in the McDowell Mountains of Arizona.   Follow Chris on Instagram | @schepelc   Check Out this book mentioned on the episode | Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi   ………………………………………….   Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en   Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/   Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

Your perspective and level of awareness affect every experience you have! Yet so many of us still are walking through life unconscious of how our perspective uniquely shapes how we perceive the world. In this episode, our host Michael is joined by friend and previous colleague, strength and conditioning coach Logan Jones! These two share their common experiences working with the Arizona Diamondbacks, as well as their journeys with self-awareness. Tune in for questions you can ask yourself, and ways we all can learn to connect with ourselves and dive into deeper awareness!   01:00 Meet Logan Jones! 02:00 What got you into strength and conditioning? 04:50 How have you grown on your journey from the first day working with the AZ Diamondbacks to today? 11:00 What has been some of the work that has helped you strengthen your awareness? 16:40 The strength and conditioning principle applies to everything in life. 19:15 How do you make the conscious decision to be in a space of love? 23:00 The experience that sparked the desire to recreate myself. 26:40 Are there specific moments that ignited your desire to be self-aware and come from a place of love? 33:50 How do you keep your focus on the present moment? 39:15 Ask yourself, what does your best self look like? How do they show up? 44:00 What is keeping us from being in alignment with our best self? 47:10 What is your relationship with your “low self”? 51:00 How would your world change if you stopped labeling experiences “right” and “wrong”? 58:50 The power of awareness and owning the feelings we create within ourselves. 01:06:20 How can we protect ourselves from the energy of people around us? 01:11:00 What is your relationship with fear?   About Logan A Guilford College graduate, Logan Jones, is in his fourth year with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a strength and conditioning coach. While at Guilford, Logan earned his degree in Exercise and Sports Sciences & Health Sciences and was a member of the Quaker’s baseball team. He completed strength and conditioning internships at the University of Kentucky and Wake Forest University with a variety of sports including volleyball, soccer, track & field, field hockey, and baseball. With the Diamondbacks, he is assigned to the Class-A Visalia Rawhide located in Visalia, CA. Logan is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA, a Sports Performance Coach through USA Weightlifting, and a Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Arizona.   ………………………………………….   Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en   Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/   Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

So many of the decisions we make are subconscious. It’s our habits and routines that stack up over time and affect the energy we ripple out in the world. In today’s episode, we’re breaking down ways we can be intentional about the energy we want to have by creating new habits, changing our focus, and most importantly get out of our heads and into our hearts.   01:30 What I’ve learned from doing a 3 day fast. 03:15 How is your energy affecting the world around you? 04:40 How can we deepen our presence in any given moment? 09:30 Are high-intensity workouts the best way to raise our energy? 13:40 How does our energy and experience change by what we put our attention on? 16:00 What effect do our habits have on how we experience the world? 20:40 What does it mean to be in our heart? 22:15 How can we get out of our mind, and into our body? 25:40 What can we do to break from “I’ll be happy when…” thinking? 30:00 How can I shift my energy when I’m running in my life subconsciously? 35:30 What are actions we can do to settle our minds? 39:40 The ways everything you do and consume affects your energy! 42:30 What habits do you have that are draining your energy? 46:00 Uncovering my own deepest wound. 47:40 How to make the changes you want to make in your life? ………………………………………….   Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en   Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/   Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

What motivates you to achieve the things you feel called to do in life? How long does that feeling of motivation stay with you? We’re excited for you to hear from today’s guest, Derek Clovis! Derek is a Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and shares his story of leaving law school to follow his passion! In this episode, we dive into the power of strengthening your mental game, setting yourself up for success when trying to improve on any area of your life, and of course...we talk a lot about baseball! Tune in for the power of connecting with WHY you are going after the goals you are (or not) and ways we can all pivot along the journey!   01:00 What made you go from Law School to become a Strength and Conditioning Coach? 04:40 What was it like for you diving into something you were passionate about? 08:00 What has your journey looked like from being a Grad Assistant in Miami to today? 12:15 How has your work with the Diamondbacks changed during the pandemic? 13:20 What advice do you give the players a year into not being able to play? 16:15 What was it like for you when you stopped playing baseball? 19:00 What advice do you have for your guys when the future is as uncertain as ever? 22:40 How do you approach diving into your player’s “why”? 27:00 How do you check in with your guys and talk about when rest and recovery are needed? 31:00 What are you having your players do for strength training from afar? 36:10 In your opinion, what is the balance between strength and mobility? 43:00 How do you go about training your guys before and after games? 45:30 What can we do on and off the field to prep to perform best each day? 48:20 What books are you reading right now?  52:30 What is your favorite part of being a strength and conditioning coach? 54:20 If I’m a baseball player that hasn’t played in 2 years, what advice would you give me? 57:00 The power of strengthening your mental game, and showing up consistently! 01:02:30 The power of being honest with yourself.   If you enjoyed this episode, share a screenshot of this episode on Instagram and tag Derek with your biggest takeaway! | @dclov   About Derek: Derek Clovis is a AA Strength and Conditioning Coach going into his 4th season with the Arizona Diamondbacks! Derek received his Master’s in exercise physiology with an emphasis in strength and conditioning / Sports Nutrition at the University of Miami. He was also a graduate assistant strength coach at Miami. Derek formerly volunteered at the University of Washington as an Intern Strength Coach and gained even more experience as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Seattle University.   ………………………………………….   Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

If you were to jump into your car right now to go on a road trip, would you be intentional about the route you take, or would you aimlessly drive around and hope you somehow get to your destination? Your intention is your compass! Let’s dive into ways we can make sure we are on track to reach our goals, and never lose focus on the fact that life is only happening right here in the present. Tune in for some powerful exercises to call back your energy, and find joy in the journey, rather than reaching that “final destination”. 01:20 What I’m doing to let go of disempowering habits! 03:00 Do this exercise to quiet your mind bring your energy to your heart. 07:40 Questions to ask yourself to make sure you are moving in the direction you want to go! 09:40 Are you intentionally training your emotions? 12:00 Are you aware of the energy you are putting out into the world? 15:30 What are “becoming goals” and “avoiding goals”? 18:10 How can I accept where I am currently at, and align myself with who I want to become? 24:00 How to find happiness in the journey, rather than in the result! 29:40 The importance of finding joy in the journey. …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

Disclaimer: If you feel triggered in this episode, here is an invitation to allow it to become a doorway to work through your fears. Where does fear exist? What do our fears reveal about us? How can that become a gift? In this episode, our host Michael shares some of his personal experiences with fear, and how he has been able to be with his fears, learn from them, and move forward with that knowledge empowered to take on life! Listen all the way through for some tools you can take with you, and use on whatever may come to mind during this episode. 01:40 What is the one thing that will debilitate your game more than anything else? 04:00 These three areas are affecting your game more than you may even realize. 05:00 What is the first step to understanding fear? 06:40 How are our bodies affected by fear? 11:15 What are my intentions in this episode?  12:20 What is your relationship with fear? 13:40 Is your fear coming from something that is life-threatening or ego threatening? 15:40 My experience feeling rejection at a dance with my 4th-grade girlfriend. 19:20 Why is fear for you here as an athlete? 24:00 How can you start to dispel the fear you experience in your life? 27:15 What is the connection between your thoughts and your nervous system? 31:00 Where does fear exist? 33:20 Take this tool that has helped free me more than any other tool outside of coaching. 37:30 What does radical acceptance look like? 39:40 How could this experience you’re going through be a gift? 42:30 What has come to mind during this episode?    Check out this book mentioned in today’s episode: The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1572245379 Email Michael what you want to hear next on the podcast! info@michaellocasto.com …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

What is one daily habit that if changed, would change your life? Regardless of what the habit is, “good” or “bad”, our lives are made up of those small moments. Those individual habits. The basics. In this episode, our host Michael is joined by friend and fellow Strength and Conditioning Coach Nathan Friedman! Nathan shares his story of finding his path through college, to building his career as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. A common theme throughout Nathan’s journey has been the effect of good habits and focusing on the basics. From creating an intentional morning routine to knowing your “Why”, this episode is full of simple and effective ways to become the best version of yourself - AKA at the top of your game - long before you set foot in the gym, or on the field.    00:20 How I met Nathan Friedman. 01:40 What has made you the man you are today? 03:40 How did you turn your love of sports into a career? 08:20 What role has energy and manifestation played in reaching your goals? 11:40 How have you stepped into being your higher self? 16:00 What was the moment you decided to commit to changing your habits? 19:15 How have you found mentors throughout your life? 22:50 What is a habit you have adopted that has made the biggest impact on your life? 29:00 How have you helped your athletes through sharing the impact of morning routines? 33:40 What are some of the main pillars you teach your new athletes? 39:20 How do you help guide others on their journey to become the best version of themselves? 44:30 What are some common core drivers of the athletes you’ve worked with? 46:40 How can we decode why you make the decisions that we do? 51:40 What should our focus be as we are working towards our goals? …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

Where does true confidence really come from? Regardless of whether you want to be more confident on or off the field, it’s first important to understand how our emotions affect our reality. In this episode, our host Michael dives into the uncomfortable, yet powerful topic of emotions! In a world where most things feel fleeting or difficult to cultivate, Michael breaks down how focusing on your emotions can truly lead to lasting confidence. Tune in for tips and of course some good stories about baseball and life! 02:00 How are our feelings the lens we experience our lives through! 04:30 I’m doing a GIVEAWAY! Here’s the info! 05:50 How is feeling emotions, a superpower? 07:30 How freeing is it to know that in order to not feel like sh*t, you have to be perfect? 09:20 Does anger and frustration help your game? 11:30 What is emotional agility? 15:10 How can you find lasting confidence? 19:40 What did a baseball bat have to go through to become the polished, finished baseball bat it is? 23:00 The importance of being present where you are! 26:15 When you step into the box, can you be ok with any outcome? 29:00 How you take your power back from fear! 33:10 What can you do to detach yourself from the outcome? 35:15 Who benefits when you step into being a peak performer? 38:00 The power and energy that comes with being in the present moment. 40:30 How your emotions are all that is in between you and true and lasting confidence. …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

Positive thinking is great, but our host Michael is sharing a faster way to train your mind and make the biggest impact on your performance in this episode! Your mind is so powerful and is running on your subconscious even more than you may already know. In this episode, Michael shares his personal experiences of how he was able to change his mindset and energy with back pain, mental limitations, and relationships. Tune in for how you can get out of fight or flight, be in your body, and rebuild your subconscious mind intentionally. 02:00 What are my intentions for this episode? 05:10 What is the connection between your subconscious mind and your body? 08:20 What is the language of the body? 11:40 How I questioned the story I was telling myself about my back pain. 14:20 As every cell in your body is replaced in a year, are you the same person you were the year before? 17:00 How I was able to break free of mental limitations and run a 100-mile race! 19:40 How I stopped depending on having a relationship to make me happy. 21:20 What can I do to get out of fight or flight, and back into my body? 25:30 Embodiment practices to bring your awareness and attention back to your body. 29:30 How can I break free from my ego and make the changes I want to in my life? 33:20 How is every behavior a vote for who I want to be?   Send Michael an email to learn more about his 1-on-1 Connection Calls: info@michaellocasto.com …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

It is time to WAKE UP! In this episode of Top of Your Game, our host Michael is sharing how we can break free of overwhelm and raise our energy with morning rituals! If you have ever felt caught in a groundhog day loop of low energy day after day, you’re not alone. In fact, our brains are wired this way. Tune in to hear actionable ways we can not only break those low energy loops, but rewire our mind and body to wake up feeling energized, empowered, and ready to grow into the person you want to be! It’s like Michael says, you are the captain of your ship! Or in this episode, more like you are the pilot of your plane!  01:40 What I have learned allowing space to be with confusion. 04:30 What causes us to feel stuck in overwhelm? 06:00 How we hold onto the energetic loops of our ancestors. 09:45 What is the difference between morning “rituals” and morning “routines”?  12:15 What will break us out of our default loop of low energy? 15:00 What is my first intention when I wake up in the morning? 18:30 How can I rewire my subconscious? 19:20 The power of grounding and connecting to ourselves. 20:30 How can I raise my energy? 23:00 What morning rituals can I do to start my day energized and empowered? 28:15 What can I do to switch my mind and body into a state of calm? 29:40 What I have learned from cold training, and the science behind it. 35:00 The importance of grounding and being in your body! 37:30 How can we leverage the fact that our thoughts create our reality? 39:40 How is our energy and setting up our day similar to a plane taking off?   Check out Episode 5 Michael mentioned in today’s conversation: A Meditative Mindset for Athletes https://michaellocasto.libsyn.com/a-meditative-mindset-for-athletes The Insight Timer https://insighttimer.com/meditation-app …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

Your thoughts are one thing you can’t shut off, you can’t take a vacation from, and they have a powerful impact on every aspect of your life! In this episode, our host Michael shares a defining conversation with a baseball player in search of perfection, about how our thoughts affect our game. No matter your sport, or what field you are in, we can all place a lot of pressure on ourselves as we strive to be our best. If you want to know how to manage internal pressure and free yourself from the added pressure you put on yourself, this episode is for you!  02:00 How thinking can poison your performance! 02:55 What I learned in my first year working with the Diamondbacks. 07:40 How I retrained my nervous system to be calm! 08:50 How has my life changed from what I learned from Peter Crone? 10:00 Who are your role models? 11:20 How does thinking pertain to on the field performance? 14:20 What is a pressure loop? 19:00 Does being in a “slump” exist in the real world?  23:00 How can you benefit from changing your language and thought patterns? 26:30 How do you deal with poor performances? 28:00 The strength and power you gain by being able to sit with your emotions. 30:10 What is the narrative you are playing out in your mind? 31:50 What does the pursuit of excellence look like?  …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

This episode is all about flow! Welcome back to Top of Your Game! Today, our host Michael is sharing the competition routine to tune into your peak state of performance! What does it really mean to be in flow? Michael gives exercises to identify times you have been in flow, so you can intentionally tap into flow when you need it most! Intention is everything! Take a listen to stories of putting this competition routine into practice, and how you can get out of your head, into your game, tuning into your peak state of human performance! 00:40 What do recovery places, like Optimyze here in Phoenix, do? 02:15 Do you know where your energy is being focused? 04:15 How is being on the playground as a kid, a state of flow? 06:00 When was the last time you felt at your best? 08:30 How to tune into a state of flow, just like you tune a radio! 10:15 What really is being in flow? 14:20 Learning from the razor’s edge. 17:50 How our early experiences often hold us back without realizing it. 21:00 The wisdom of observation without evaluating. 24:00 What do you have to push through to become your peak performer? 27:10 My competition routine to get into peak state! 29:30 Lessons from The Art of Learning by Joshua Waitzkin! 32:40 Recap roadmap to tune into peak state!   If you are local to the Phoenix area, check out Optimyze mentioned in this episode! https://www.optimyze.me/ Follow Optimyze on Instagram: @optimyze_me https://www.instagram.com/optimyze_me/?hl=en Check out this book, The Art of Learning by Joshua Waitzkin https://www.amazon.com/Art-Learning-Journey-Optimal-Performance/dp/0743277465 …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

This episode is all about moving yourself from a place of thinking to a place of being! Our host Michael is diving into Meditation and how it can change your life and your game for the better. So many of us think that being in control and mentally “tough” is how we can reach levels of success that will fulfill us. To fulfill that need we have inside to know that we are enough. In this episode, we dive into how meditation is the vehicle for us to be able to civilize the mind rather than control it. Meditation is a practice in being present with your thoughts that takes repetition just like the practice you do to prepare for your game. It’s about civilizing the mind and being able to sit with your thoughts and feelings. It’s about freeing yourself from fear and the need to constantly battle whether you feel like you are or have done enough. Tune in to hear how Meditation has affected Michael’s life, and how it can change yours for the better!   01:30 Examining my old mindset of thinking I need to be mentally tough to achieve success. 06:00 How our mindset affects our energy! 08:10 What is the quickest way to be able to “control” your mind? 09:20 How we get in (and out) of flow! 15:00 What is meditation? 17:10 How did I trained and (low energy) for my 100-mile race? 21:30 What does being present and meditating look like in practice? 25:40 How to tune into what your soul, your peak performer, is trying to tell you? 30:00 How my life has shifted as I changed my mindset!   Check out Insight Timer App mentioned in this episode: https://insighttimer.com/meditation-app …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

Welcome to Part 2 of How to Unlock the Peak Performer Within! In today’s episode, our host Michael is sharing a case study of a baseball player Michael worked with. This baseball player was struggling with performance anxiety, and as Michael shares, his anxiety was a response to fear. Tune in for actionable tips and exercises to understand how to be with your fears, how your perception is affecting your reality, and how you can rewire your mind and relationship with anxiety! 01:00 How you can take responsibility for everything in your life! 03:30 Understanding how to be fully present. 05:00 How we associate our relationship with anxiety. 07:30 Helping a professional baseball player through performance anxiety. 13:00 The power of visualization for better or worse. 16:50 How we can learn to be with fear instead of pushing it away. 18:00 What is our wired connection between our thoughts and emotions? 21:40 How your mindset affects your reality. 23:30 Helping a professional baseball player get to the root of his performance anxiety. 27:30 How to uplevel by reframing our perceived failures! 31:00 What can we do to expand our awareness and rewire our minds? Check out this book mentioned in the episode: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057 …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High-Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

If you’re tired of working hard and want to work smart, this is the episode for you! In part one of this two-part episode, our host Michael shares his own personal story of getting in trouble at a college party, having to face his baseball coach, and what he learned from that experience in hindsight. There are so many masks we all use to numb and hide our insecurities. Letting go of those masks and working on ourselves is the first step in unlocking the potential of the peak performer within!  01:40 Facing my baseball coach after getting in trouble at a college party. 08:00 Realizing how drinking was a mask to cover my insecurities.  11:50 How we can heal and get rid of the masks we use to cover our insecurities. 14:00 What you can do to make 2021 the best year of your life! 16:15 What is the most important training we can do to be at our peak! 18:40 How can we unlock the peak performer within? …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/

Are you focused on the life you want to create or what you want to avoid? In this episode, our host Michael is diving into how we see the future, and how we can actually raise our energy to create real change in the new year! So many of us get caught in the trap of worrying about the past or focusing on the future. Tune in as Michael breaks down how we are affected by the way we focus on the past and future, and how we can bring ourselves back to THE NOW! 01:15 How to perform through pressure. 04:00 The gift of letting go of perfection and people-pleasing. 08:40 How we create our future whether it is conscious or not. 11:40 How I became co-dependent on something outside of me to make me happy. 12:40 The only place the future exists. 14:50 Does focusing on what you don’t want to happen help you in the future? 16:40 The best advice for athletes to train their mindset going into 2021! 18:30 How to raise your energy and create real change in your life. 22:00 How can we perfect “the now”? …………………………………………. Follow Michael on Instagram: @michael.locasto https://www.instagram.com/michael.locasto/?hl=en Check out his eBook High Performance Awakening by Michael Locasto https://www.michaellocasto.com/product/high-performance-awakening-by-michael-locasto/ Find out more about Michael and book a coaching session on his website: https://www.michaellocasto.com/