Game Changers with Molly Fletcher is our podcast designed to help you maximize your influence and unleash your potential. Each episode, we take you behind the scenes with peak performers to learn what makes them tick and discover how you can apply their lessons to your life. Join Molly each week to hear from her special guests— top athletes and coaches, transformative CEOs, brilliant thought leaders, and entrepreneurs and trailblazers from around the world. Subscribe now on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify.

Recent Episodes

Dan Quinn

Episode 88- Dan Quinn and Russ Rausch on Strengthening Your Mental Game

How do elite performers mentally train for success? Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and Vision Pursue founder Russ Rausch discuss the relationship between mindset and performance. As an NFL coach, Dan uses Vision Pursue’s performance mindset training with his team to strengthen their mental game. In this episode, we talk about how to develop mental toughness, focus through distractions and perform under pressure.

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“How we feel affects how we think, and how we think affects how we feel.”

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Show Notes

Resources / People Mentioned

  • The partnership between Dan Quinn and Vision Pursue (2:37)
  • Developing his leadership philosophy in Atlanta (4:31)
  • Default mindset vs. performance mindset (5:48)
  • How he gets his players to embrace mindfulness training (7:17)
  • SEE- separate, embrace, evaluate (8:11)
  • The lessons he learned personally from a tough season (10:40)
  • How the team rallied around Coach Quinn (13:07)
  • A three-step framework to processing emotions (14:00)
  • A tip for high performance under pressure (16:15)
  • The leadership lessons Dan Quinn has learned from Arthur Blank (17:41)
  • “Tell The Truth Mondays” (19:39)
  • Dan Quinn’s leadership style (24:59)
  • What he has learned from coaches in other sports (26:23)
  • Training your brain to make thoughts and emotions more in sync (32:28)
  • How to change your thought patterns (36:43)
  • Visualizing yourself recovering from adversity (43:13)
  • How to change a team culture (44:16)

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Glennon Doyle Headshot

Episode 87- Glennon Doyle on Finding Your Brave

Who were you before the world told you who to be? That’s the question Glennon Doyle asks in her new memoir Untamed. Glennon is a speaker, activist and New York Times bestselling author. Her two previous books- Love Warrior and Carry On, Warrior were both #1 New York Times bestsellers and Love Warrior was an Oprah’s Book Club selection. Glennon writes about addiction, recovery, marriage and faith with no holds barred. In today’s conversation, we dig into becoming attune to our discontent, abandoning expectations, and learning to trust yourself. It’s about how sometimes we forget who we are… and how we find ourselves again.

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“We cannot allow the fact that we can’t do everything keep us from doing what we can do.”

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Show Notes

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Resources / People Mentioned

  • The story of how she met her now-wife Abby Wambach while on book tour to promote Love Warrior (1:55)
  • Why she stayed in her marriage and what changed her mind (5:05)
  • The hardest thing she’s written about (8:08)
  • What her recovery from addiction taught her about honesty (11:35)
  • Glennon’s definition of brave: Brave is listening to the Knowing on the inside and speaking that Knowing and acting that Knowing on the outside. (14:47)
  • What is confidence? (20:58)
  • Becoming attune to your discontent (21:31)
  • The fear of being too much (26:23)
  • Not defining your identity by the roles you play (30:40)
  • Learning to trust yourself (35:05)
  • Forgiveness is circular not linear (39:52)
  • How to face the fear of disappointing the people you love most (43:26)
  • The vision behind Glennon’s nonprofit Together Rising (45:37)
  • Glennon’s mantra: “We can do hard things.” (47:55)
  • Pain as a teacher (50:38) 

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Leonard Hamilton

Episode 86- Leonard Hamilton on How to Rebuild A Team for Long-Term Success

Leonard Hamilton is one of the most successful coaches in college basketball and a trailblazer in the sport. The head coach at Florida State University, Hamilton is the Seminoles’ all-time winningest coach and the 5th winningest coach in ACC history. This season he won ACC Coach of the Year honors and led Florida State to the #4 ranking in the country and the ACC regular season championship. On this episode, Hamilton shares the moment where he thought he gave up coaching for good, the hurdles he had to overcome, and how he built a reputation as a program rebuilder.

Note: this conversation is updated with Coach Hamilton’s thoughts after the cancelation of the NCAA tournament, where Florida State was expected to be a top seed.

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“If you spend all your time worrying about what you can’t control, you’re going to waste a lot of time.”

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Show Notes

  • The message he shared with his team after the cancelation of the ACC Tournament moments before tipoff (2:16)
  • Not having the opportunity to compete for a NCAA championship (6:21)
  • Finding his purpose in coaching (9:07)
  • Growing up in the era of segregation in the south (15:07)
  • The work ethic his father instilled in him at an early age (19:02)
  • Getting his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Austin Peay (23:10)
  • The moment Leonard Hamilton walked away from coaching and took a job in sales (28:23)
  • How his persistence landed a job as assistant coach at University of Kentucky (31:13)
  • How he built a reputation as coach who could rebuild a program (38:03)
  • His approach to recruiting (43:01)
  • Creating a culture of accountability (47:59)
  • Developing selflessness inside of the team culture (49:12)
  • The importance of self-evaluation as a leader (52:38)
  • Give people the opportunity to learn and grow (53:15)

Resources / People Mentioned

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Shawn Achor

Episode 85- Shawn Achor on The Happiness Advantage

Most people believe: if you work harder, you will be more successful, and then you will be happy. But if you think the key to happiness is success, you’ve got it backwards. It’s happiness that fuels success. Shawn Achor is one of the world’s leading experts on the science of happiness. He’s the bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential. More than a decade of research shows that training your brain to be positive first actually leads to greater success at work. On this episode, Shawn shares the four biggest predictors of happiness, how to spark happiness in your own life, and the simple steps you can take to embrace a positive mindset.

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“Happiness is the joy you feel moving towards your potential.”

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Show Notes

  • How Shawn became a “happiness researcher” (2:07)
  • How small interventions can change your levels of happiness (4:40)
  • The definition of happiness: the joy we feel moving towards potential (7:53)
  • Success doesn’t fuel happiness; happiness fuels success (10:08)
  • The greatest predictors of happiness: optimism, gratitude, meaning and social connection (15:31)
  • A better way to use social media (19:16)
  • How to measure your happiness (22:33)
  • The power in choosing happiness (24:52)
  • The human capacity to change (27:14)
  • The 21-day gratitude challenge and other simple ways to increase your happiness (27:37)
  • The science of happiness (30:47)
  • The interconnection between happiness and success (33:06)
  • The one thing to do after you listen to this podcast (37:22)
  • What to teach your kids about happiness (40:12)

Resources / People Mentioned

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Ryan Hawk Headshot

Episode 84- Ryan Hawk on How to Grow as a Leader

Wouldn’t it be nice if leadership came with an instruction manual? In his new book, Welcome to Management, Ryan Hawk is sharing the advice he wishes he knew when he transitioned into a leadership role. Ryan is the host of the popular podcast, The Learning Leader Show,which boasts millions of listeners in 150+ countries. On this episode, Ryan shares how to transition seamlessly from individual performer to exceptional leader. Listen in to discover the common qualities top leaders share and the three skill sets every leader needs to master.

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“Your success as a leader can only follow the success of the people you are leading and serving.”

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Show Notes

  • Ryan’s personal leadership journey (1:23)
  • The common mistakes leaders make (5:01)
  • Transferring skills from sports to the business world (6:38)
  • Tips for leaders to prepare for one-on-one meetings with a direct report (8:56)
  • The power of using curiosity to connect (11:52)
  • Ryan’s “welcome to management” moment that inspired the book (15:50)
  • How to build relationships with people who are difficult to connect with (22:29)
  • Leading with trust and how to share vulnerability as a leader (24:29)
  • Why “player-led teams” are more successful long-term (26:48)
  • The three elements of leadership: coaching (for development and performance), managing, and leading (34:09)
  • Micromanagement is not scalable. (37:46)
  • Ryan’s favorite leadership resources (40:01)
  • Some of Ryan’s favorite episodes from his podcast (43:20)

Resources / People Mentioned

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Susan Cain

Episode 83- Susan Cain on Unlocking the Power of Introverts

Susan Cain got everyone talking about the power of introverts with Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, which has been on the New York Times bestseller list for seven consecutive years. Her TED Talk has been viewed more than 30 million times and was named by Bill Gates one of his favorite talks. Introverts make up an estimated 50% of the population, but we dramatically undervalue introverts and in doing so, miss out on their immense talents. On this episode, Susan shares the biggest misconceptions about introverts, why we need more introverted leaders, and the shift she’s seen since releasing Quiet in 2012.

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“Introversion is about: “Where do you draw your energy?”

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Show Notes

  • What inspired Susan’s book Quiet (2:08)
  • How to define introversion and how it differs from shyness (4:20)
  • Half of the world’s population is introverted (5:47)
  • How to determine whether you are an introvert or an extrovert (6:08)
  • The role of nature vs. nature in your preference (7:07)
  • How fixed a trait is introversion / extroversion? (8:15)
  • Why she changed careers from Wall Street lawyer (10:40)
  • Why introverts make powerful negotiators (12:24)
  • How the conversation has shifted since Quiet was released in 2012 (16:02)
  • Why companies should re-think open-office and meeting culture (17:31)
  • The value in chunking time to get things done (19:03)
  • How introverts and extroverts can work better together (19:38)
  • Tips to harness the talents of introverts on your team (21:35)
  • The creative process requires solitude (23:15)
  • The myth of charismatic leadership (24:39)
  • How introvert – extrovert relationships can be complementary (26:03)
  • How to engage intentionally on social media (28:18)
  • Managing your energy as an introvert (29:40)

Resources / People Mentioned

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Simon Sinek

Episode 82- Simon Sinek on How to Lead with an Infinite Mindset

Simon Sinek has transformed the way we think about work. His TED Talk is the second most popular of all time and his book, Start With Why, sparked a movement to help people, teams and organizations discover their why. In his new book, The Infinite Game, Simon shares a bold new framework for leadership. Many organizations struggle because their leaders play with a finite mindset in a game that has no end. In our conversation, Simon shares why leaders who embrace an infinite mindset build stronger, more innovative, and more resilient teams.

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“Be the leader you wish you had.”

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Show Notes

  • How falling out of love with his work inspired Simon to discover his why and help others to do the same (1:45)
  • An infinite mindset embraces uncertainty and sees opportunity in the unknown (4:42)
  • The difference between finite and infinite games (5:54)
  • Common indicators of a finite mindset (8:57)
  • The five ways to embrace an infinite mindset (11:10)
  • The value of a worthy rival and the problem with fixating on our competition (11:32)
  • The consequences of leading with a finite mindset: the decline of trust, cooperation and innovation (16:13)
  • The behaviors of a leader with an infinite mindset (18:22)
  • Make your goals in the context of something larger (20:34)
  • Be the leader you wish you had (26:00)
  • The relationship between trust and performance (27:30)
  • If you don’t blow it up, someone else will (30:14)
  • How to embrace an infinite mindset through curiosity (34:09)
  • The 2-3 mindset shifts to make (36:52)

Resources / People Mentioned

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Kelly McGonigal

Episode 81- Kelly McGonigal on How to Make Stress Your Friend

Most people try to avoid stress. But what if changing how you think about stress could actually make you happier, healthier, and better able to reach your goals? Kelly McGonigal’s TED Talk, “How to make stress your friend” is one of the most viewed TED talks with over 20 million views. In her book, The Upside of Stress, Kelly shares the hidden benefits of stress and how you can make it a catalyst in your own life. In this episode, Kelly explains why trying to avoid stress is counterproductive and why instead, you should focus on three mindset resets to re-frame how you view stress.

“How you think about stress changes the way that your body and brain respond to stress.”

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Show Notes

  • Why you should stop trying to avoid stress (1:59)
  • The stress mindset effect: how to re-frame how you think about stress (3:23)
  • The definition of stress (6:11)
  • Tactics to change the way you think about stress (6:50)
  • The power of mindset resets in managing stress (8:30)
  • How stress drives human connection (10:26)
  • Why trying to avoid stress you can’t control is dangerous for your health (12:26)
  • How to help your kids manage stress (15:02)
  • The biology of resilience (18:15)
  • The three mindset resets for performance under pressure (20:31)
  • Why companies should help people understand meaningful stress instead of offering stress reduction programs (23:24)
  • Kelly’s new book- The Joy of Movement (26:14)
  • Why exercise and movement are so critical to mental health, happiness, and social connection (27:46)
  • How hope molecules are produced through movement (30:37)

Resources / People Mentioned

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Marc Randolph, Netflix

Episode 80- Marc Randolph on Starting Netflix and the Evolution of Ideas

Now with over 150 million subscribers, Netflix is a tech giant, but it began as a scrappy startup with naysayers and obstacles at every turn. Netflix co-founder and former CEO Marc Randolph shares the untold story of how Netflix went from concept to company in his new book, “That Will Never Work.” We talk about why some great ideas stick and others don’t, why there’s no formula for innovation, and what happens when your little idea becomes a multi-billion-dollar business.

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“Culture is not what you say… culture is what you do.”

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Show Notes

  • Why he wrote his book, That Will Never Work (1:45)
  • There is no formula for innovation (3:25)
  • The birth of Netflix (5:55)
  • Advice on how to pitch your idea and make the ask (11:29)
  • Building the culture at Netflix (16:03)
  • Radical candor in action at Netflix (22:06)
  • Marc’s negotiation advice (24:48)
  • Why Netflix didn’t sell to Amazon early on (26:55)
  • The importance of singular focus as an early stage company (31:36)
  • As success came, the need to shift from generalists to specialists (33:23)
  • Running the company side-by-side with co-founder Reed Hastings (34:23)
  • Making the decision to leave Netflix (36:59)
  • How he balanced work and family in the startup environment (39:15)
  • Randolph’s Rules for Success (41:36)

Resources / People Mentioned

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Holly Rowe / ESPN

Episode 79- ESPN’s Holly Rowe on Finding Joy in Daily Moments

Holly Rowe has made a name for herself as one of ESPN’s most versatile commentators in her 20-year career. She covers college football, college basketball, softball and multiple other sports for the network. In 2015, Holly was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma– a rare, fast-spreading form of skin cancer. Once she went public with her diagnosis and treatment, Holly found a cheering section of her own. On this episode, Holly shares how her diagnosis shifted her perspective and focused her on the small moments of joy in each day. We also talk about her unique career journey and what she’s learned from interviewing the best athletes and coaches in the world.

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“I just decided that I was going to focus on my little small joyful moments each day instead of the scary part.”

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Show Notes

  • How her childhood growing up in Utah shaped who she is today (1:51)
  • The many odd jobs Holly took to work her way through college (3:17)
  • How she juggled motherhood and her career early on (6:04)
  • How going public with her cancer diagnosis helped Holly realize her value (8:54)
  • How social media has changed the media landscape (10:35)
  • The career advice she got as an intern that stuck with her (12:46)
  • Why she keeps a “joy journal” (16:25)
  • Shifting from feeling fear to choosing joy (20:21)
  • Dealing with moments of vulnerability (23:09)
  • What’s she’s learned from interviewing the best athletes and coaches in the world (25:36)
  • The lessons she learned from legendary coaches Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma (28:06)
  • The 3 C’s of high performers: competitiveness, caring about the success of others, and communication (30:32)
  • How she builds trust to be able to connect (32:17)
  • Managing her energy (34:23)
  • The advice she would give her younger self (38:28)

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

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