In this conversation with philosopher Dr. Philip Goff, we dive into one of the deepest questions in science and philosophy: what if consciousness isn’t produced by the brain—what if it’s fundamental to reality?

We explore panpsychism, the “hard-to-ignore” problem of subjective experience, why physics may describe what matter does but not what it is, and what it would mean if even the smallest building blocks of nature contain a spark of experience.

Philip Goff’s work: Website: https://philipgoffphilosophy.com/ Substack: https://philipgoff.substack.com/

• What consciousness is (and why it’s so hard to explain)

• Why brain scans don’t “find” experience

• The core argument for panpsychism

• Galileo’s legacy: how modern science set consciousness aside

• What physics really tells us about matter

• Implications for meaning, spirituality, and mystical experience

• AI and consciousness: are LLMs “aware” of anything?

If this topic hits for you, consider subscribing—more conversations at the edge of mind, science, and reality.

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Connect with The Nick Standlea Show: YouTube: @TheNickStandleaShow Podcast Website: https://nickshow.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nick-standlea-podcast/id1700331903 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0YqBBneFsKtQ6Y0ArP5CXJ RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/nickshow/feed.xml

Nick's Socials: Instagram: @nickstandlea X (Twitter): @nickstandlea TikTok: @nickstandleashow Facebook: @nickstandleapodcast

Ask questions, Don't accept the status quo, And be curious.

#Consciousness #Panpsychism #PhilipGoff #Philosophy #Neuroscience #Science #AI #Mind

Fear of other people’s opinions quietly shapes how we perform, how we speak, and who we allow ourselves to become.

In this conversation, Michael Gervais—performance psychologist to Super Bowl champions, Olympic gold medalists, and Fortune 50 leaders—breaks down why the fear of judgment is one of the greatest limiters of human potential.

We explore why winning and losing can become distractions, how identity gets tangled with performance, and why mastery isn’t about outcomes—but about learning to be at home with yourself, even under pressure.

This episode is a deep dive into presence, self-trust, and the inner skills that matter more as the world gets faster, louder, and increasingly driven by external validation.

Topics we cover:

Why fear of judgment pulls us out of the present moment

How performance becomes identity (and why that’s dangerous)

The “messy edge” where growth actually happens

Signal vs. noise in high-pressure environments

Flow, mastery, and learning to work with your inner world

Why elite performers train the mind—not just the body and craft

What still makes us great in an AI-accelerated world

Finding Mastery Course: Michael also offers a structured course called Finding Mastery, designed to train the mental skills that drive elite performance—confidence, clarity under pressure, recovery, trust, and self-regulation. You can learn more and get $75 off the retail price using the dedicated code NICK75 at: 👉 https://findingmastery.com/course/?afmc=NICK75 You can learn more about Michael’s work, podcast, and programs at: www.FindingMastery.com Mike’s book First Rule of Mastery: https://findingmastery.com/book/ YT: @FindingMastery IG: @michaelgervais

If this conversation resonates, consider subscribing to The Nick Standlea Show for long-form conversations on performance, purpose, and becoming more fully yourself.

🔗 Support This Podcast by Checking Out Our Sponsor: Test Prep Gurus website: https://www.prepgurus.com Instagram: @TestPrepGurus

Connect with The Nick Standlea Show: YouTube: @TheNickStandleaShow Podcast Website: https://nickshow.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nick-standlea-podcast/id1700331903 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0YqBBneFsKtQ6Y0ArP5CXJ RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/nickshow/feed.xml

Nick's Socials: Instagram: @nickstandlea X (Twitter): @nickstandlea TikTok: @nickstandleashow Facebook: @nickstandleapodcast

Ask questions, Don't accept the status quo, And be curious.

Timestamps: 00:00 Why fear of others’ opinions quietly controls us 02:20 Michael Gervais’ background and early influences 05:45 Winning vs. losing a Super Bowl—and what actually matters 08:50 Outcomes as noise vs. present-moment inputs 11:00 Best vs. your best (the identity trap) 13:00 Survival instincts and why pressure feels life-or-death 14:45 The three things you can train: craft, body, mind 16:20 Flow and the ever-unfolding present moment 18:00 Fear of judgment as a constrictor of potential 19:40 Mastery of craft vs. mastery of self 21:00 Why approval-seeking fractures attention 23:00 Performance-based identity explained 26:00 The “messy edge” where breakthroughs happen 29:45 Emotional danger lines vs. physical danger 30:15 Emotions vs. feelings (and why it matters) 33:10 Anxiety, excitement, and regulating activation 35:50 Breathing and self-talk under pressure 39:15 Trust as a performance accelerator 40:30 Who do you want to become? (inputs vs. outcomes) 46:30 Excellence as being at home with yourself 50:05 Why people struggle to sit alone with their thoughts 54:30 Practical ways to build self-awareness 58:10 Meditation, flow, and mental training 1:01:40 Mastery of self in an AI-driven world 1:06:20 Purpose, work, and human performance 1:09:10 Mortality, impermanence, and aliveness 1:13:30 Where to find Michael Gervais and Finding Mastery

Most people use AI like a faster assistant. Leaders use it differently.

In this conversation, Geoff Woods (author of The AI-Driven Leader) explains the shift that turns AI from a shallow productivity tool into a true thought partner—one that helps you think better, make better decisions, and unlock leverage you didn’t have before.

We go deep into: *Why “better prompts” aren’t the real breakthrough *How to get AI to interview you instead of the other way around *The CRIT framework (Context, Role, Interview, Task) *A real story where AI helped a CEO find hope in 10 minutes after preparing for bankruptcy *What changes when leaders use AI for thinking, not tasks *Why this shift matters more than any specific model or tool *This isn’t about shortcuts, hacks, or automation theater. *It’s about learning how to think with AI—without outsourcing your judgment.

If AI has felt useful but shallow, this episode is designed to change that.

📚 Resources The AI-Driven Leader — Geoff Woods: https://a.co/d/gLYoeUy Geoff’s podcast: AI Leadership: https://www.aileadership.com/

About Geoff Woods Geoff Woods is the author of The AI-Driven Leader and a leading voice on how leaders use AI to improve judgment, decision-making, and leverage—not just productivity. A former Chief Growth Officer, Geoff works with CEOs, boards, and executive teams to apply AI as a thought partner, helping leaders think more clearly and make better decisions in an AI-driven world.

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Connect with The Nick Standlea Show: YouTube: @TheNickStandleaShow Podcast Website: https://nickshow.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nick-standlea-podcast/id1700331903 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0YqBBneFsKtQ6Y0ArP5CXJ RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/nickshow/feed.xml

Nick's Socials: Instagram: @nickstandlea X (Twitter): @nickstandlea TikTok: @nickstandleashow Facebook: @nickstandleapodcast

Ask questions, Don't accept the status quo, And be curious.

⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 Why most people are using AI wrong 2:05 Assistant vs thought partner: the shift that changes everything 4:37 Why “better emails” don’t matter (and never will) 6:04 The CRIT framework: Context, Role, Interview, Task 7:49 A CEO facing bankruptcy asks: “Can AI help?” 10:06 AI interviews the CEO — the question no one thought to ask 12:16 “I hadn’t slept in 90 days” → hope in 10 minutes 13:22 Why this works across industries (live workshops & Fortune 500s) 15:13 Using AI as a real YouTube thought partner (thumbnail example) 18:24 The hidden step most people skip after AI gives an answer 19:40 Staying in the driver’s seat: how leaders give AI feedback 21:54 Building an AI board (and simulating your real board) 25:13 Putting your future self on the AI board 27:27 What are you actually optimizing for? (endgame clarity) 29:47 The 3 things AI-driven leaders do differently 32:24 Will AI take jobs? How roles actually evolve 34:04 The executive assistant who became an “executive multiplier” 38:29 How to make yourself irreplaceable with AI 43:28 Raising expectations (for yourself and your team) 45:26 Are we reclaiming our humanity through AI? 47:16 Why the education system is broken for an AI world 49:06 What AI-first education looks like in practice 52:10 Teaching kids to think with AI (not cheat with it) 56:52 The moment Geoff realized AI was the future 59:15 Why AI isn’t the difference — you are 1:02:32 Final advice: how to start using AI the right way 1:05:12 Closing thoughts