Shows / Grow the Good
Grow the Good
Grow the Good, formerly The Sonya Looney Show, is your guide to continual personal growth, meaningful connections, and positive impact in the world. Challenge the idea that you are broken or need fixing. Instead, discover how to cultivate the good that already exists within you and amplify the strengths and potential you may not yet realize you have. Grounded in the science of positive psychology and guided by the pillars of purpose, vitality, resilience, hope, and connection, each episode is…
Episodes
Grow the GoodWellness to Wonderful with Dr. Alona Pulde and Dr. Matthew Lederman
Visionary physicians Dr. Alona Pulde and Dr. Matthew Lederman are the driving force behind Forks Over Knives, authors of the new book "Make Life Wonderful,"…
Grow the GoodEmpowering Young Athletes: Unlocking Potential Through Mindset Training with Brad Dempsey
Mindset training can have a profound impact on the drive and well-being of athletes - from amateur to professional. But how do we harness that type of success…
Grow the GoodBehind the Scenes of My Imperfect Process: Managing Expectations and Letting Go While Striving For More
We often see pictures of people doing things we admire and assign stories to what they are doing. We may assume that it's easy for them, they have it all…
Grow the GoodEmbracing Change and Prioritizing Self-Care with Corporate Wellness Expert Kristel Bauer
Kristel Bauer is a former clinician turned wellness expert, speaker, and podcast host. Kristel joins us to share her powerful insights on corporate wellness…
Grow the GoodUncovering Confidence and Camaraderie in Sports and Relationships with Kara Goucher | Part 1
Kara Goucher is a long-distance runner, Olympian, author, and mother. Her journey has taught her the power of self-belief paired with the support of others. In…
Grow the GoodThe Arc of Breck Epic with Mike McCormack
Mike McCormack's leadership and visionary ideas have turned Breck Epic into a global sensation: from its humble beginnings with 87 riders, this event has grown…
Grow the GoodBeing Wildly Well: Nutrition for Female Athletes with Abbi Hamlin
What does it mean to be wildly well? As an athlete, trainer, and women's health advocate based in Bend, Oregon, Abbi Hamlin empowers women through personal…
Grow the GoodHow to Be a Better Communicator
I'll let you in on a secret: communication is not just about talking and using words. It's about listening. Yes, the foundation of communication is being a…
Grow the GoodAre You Taking Care of Your Brain with Dr. Edward Park and Travis Macy
When we think about health, we don't always think about brain health. We don't always fully understand how what we're doing is affecting it. It's sort of out…
Grow the GoodThe Expectation Effect with Author David Robson
How do your expectations affect your mind and body? In this week’s podcast, Sonya speaks with award-winning science writer David Robson about the expectation…
Grow the GoodLiving with Gratitude with Adventurer Ryan Van Duzer
Have you thought about what your life could be like if you felt grateful every time you stepped outside? Ryan Van Duzer, a bike adventurer from Colorado, finds…
Grow the GoodPerformance, Imperfect Preparation, and Flexibility Travis Macy (Live Podcast)
Travis Macy is a 2x author, world-class endurance champion across many disciplines including Adventure Racing, 100-mile trail running races like Leadville and…
Grow the GoodDefining Happiness with Psychologist, Author and Speaker Jonah Paquette
What does it mean to be happy? How do you define happiness? What is the difference between awe and gratitude? How do you stay a New York Knicks fans when…
Grow the GoodReframing Our Mindset Around High Achievement and Perfectionism with Dr. Z
Dr. Zurita Ona (Dr. Z) is a licensed clinical psychologist who founded the East Bay Behavior Therapy Center where she runs an outpatient program integrating…
Grow the GoodStrength Training for Endurance Athletes with Dr. Matthew Smith from EverAthlete
Dr. Matt Smith, DC, CES, is a sports chiropractor, strength coach, and founder of EverAthlete - an online training, recovery, and injury rehabilitation…
Grow the GoodHow to Apply Effort, Energy, and Values to Thrive with Sonya and Dr. Diana Hill
Diana Hill, PhD is a clinical psychologist, international trainer and sought-out speaker on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and compassion. I spoke…
Grow the GoodPerspective Shifting from Hospice and Bikepacking the World with Jerry Kopack
Jerry Kopack started his career in the corporate world. But at the age of 31, he completely shifted his career and opened a hospice in Colorado with his mom…
Grow the GoodBonus Episode - Audiobook Excerpt from A Mile at a Time
Here is an excerpt from the audiobook, A Mile At a Time with Travis and Mark Macy. Below is the synopsis from Penguin Random House: In October 2018, Mark…
Grow the GoodA Mile at a Time with Endurance Athletes Travis and Mark "Mace" Macy
Travis Macy is an ultra endurance athlete and coach. He’s the author of The Ultra Mindset: An Endurance Champion’s 8 Core Principles for Success in Business…
Grow the GoodMastery is a Practice, Not a Destination
The word mastery is thrown around as a part of the vernacular, but have you ever paused to consider the true meaning of the word? What is mastery and what does…
Grow the GoodHow Training Your Respiratory System Boosts Performance with Luke Way and Dr. Andrew Sellars
Have you ever focused on training your breath? No, I don’t mean cardio, I mean literally how you breathe. This week, I sat down with Luke Way, CEO of The…
Grow the GoodPlant-Based on a Budget with Founder and Author Toni Okamoto
A week's worth of healthy and delicious plant-based food for less than $30 - that's Toni Okamoto's super power. As the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, Toni…
Grow the GoodCourage and Work Ethic with Co-Founder of Bivo and Former Nordic Skier Carina Hamel
How many of you have had to give up on your plastic water bottle because it was impossible to clean? Probably all of us. Carina Hamel, former nordic skier, saw…
Grow the GoodEverything You Need to Know about Concussions with Physio Adam Luu
Concussions can happen in sport, but how do you know if you have one and what happens when you do? This week, Sonya sat down with Adam Luu, an orthopedic…
Grow the GoodPeak Performance Aging with NY Times Bestselling Author Steven Kotler
Many people use reasons like, "I'm too old to start" or "I won't be able to learn it" or "I'm too old, I’ll get hurt" to avoid trying something new. But Steven…
Grow the GoodThe Paradox of Expectations, Pressure, and Comparison in Sport and Life
Have you ever achieved a goal and felt empty? Therein lies the paradox. We need to have expectations, but how do you set realistic and appropriate expectations…
Grow the GoodThe Ultra Mindset with Endurance Athlete and Coach Travis Macy
Travis Macy is a professional endurance athlete, having finished over 130 ultra endurance events in 17 countries. He’s an author, coach and speaker. He is the…
Grow the GoodWork, Parent, Thrive with Psychologist Yael Schonbrun
Yael Schonbrun is an assistant professor at Brown University, a clinical psychologist and an author about parenting, work and relationships. She draws on…
Grow the GoodPositive Medicine with Jordyn Feingold, MD
What is positive psychology and more importantly, how can it be applied to work and life? In this week's episode, Sonya sat down with Jordyn Feingold, an MD…
Grow the GoodAtomic Habits with #1 NYT Bestseller James Clear (replay)
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does…
Grow the GoodCreating Health and Demystifying the Supplement Industry with Previnex's CEO David Block
David Block is the Founder & CEO of Previnex, a nutritional supplement company that is committed to using science, clinically-tested ingredients and going…
Grow the GoodEnergy Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet with Sun Sachs
We met Sun Sachs, a long-time endurance athlete and software developer, CEO and Co-founder of Rewire Fitness, a mental fitness platform for athletes to avoid…
Grow the GoodParenting, Adventure Travel, and Expectations with Author Meghan Ward
Meghan J. Ward is an outdoor, travel and adventure writer, and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Meghan has written several books, as well…
Grow the GoodAsk Us Anything with Professional MTBers Sonya Looney and Hannah Otto
This week, Sonya and Hannah sat down to answer your questions. Sonya Looney is a professional mountain biker, Word Champion, 4x National Champion and has taken…
Grow the GoodTuning in to Savoring
Taking time to savor broadens how you view yourself and the world. Interestingly enough, savoring can have internal or external circumstances. I'll tell you…
Grow the GoodThe Gravity of Up with Brent Yates
Brent Yates, author of The Gravity of Up, is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and speaker. Over 10 years ago, Brent was falling apart. Everything he knew about…
Grow the GoodChoose Growth with Scott Barry Kaufman and Jordyn Feingold
In this week’s podcast, Sonya sits down with the authors of Choose Growth, a workbook designed to guide readers through their commitment to growth and…
Grow the GoodJust Keep Pedaling with Freedom Solar CEO Bret Biggart
Bret Biggart is the Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Solar LLC and oversees almost 1,000 employees. He is most proud of the culture at Freedom Solar, which…
Grow the GoodRethinking Competition: What if it wasn't only about beating others
Competition, defining success, and self-esteem are closely linked. At first glance, competition pits us against each other because there can be only one…
Grow the GoodHow to Train Your Brain for Performance with Rewire App's Sun Sachs
Sun Sachs, a long-time endurance athlete and software developer, is the CEO and Co-founder of Rewire Fitness, a mental fitness platform for athletes to avoid…
Grow the GoodDefining Your Best with Professional MTB Hannah Otto
Hannah Otto, professional mountain biker and gravel racer for co-title sponsors Pivot Cycles and DT Swiss, started racing at nine years old. Just over a decade…
Grow the GoodThe Big Thing Effect with Leadership Coach Jeff Patterson
Jeff Patterson, M.A., P.C.C. is a success and leadership coach who works with innovators committed to changing the world. Jeff helps his clients elevate their…
Grow the GoodElements of Metabolic Resilience with Levels Health Dr. Taylor Sittler
Dr. Taylor Sittler is the Head of Research at Levels Health, a company dedicated to helping people optimize their metabolic health. Levels provides real-time…
Grow the Good6 Life Lessons from Dr. Seuss
I've been reading a lot of children's books and have been enjoying them. Some of the sentences jump right off the page. There are so many things we forget as…
Grow the GoodBig Picture Thinking and Zooming Out: Why We Need It and How to Develop It
It's hard to make changes. Growth is hard. Stress is uncomfortable. However, there are ways to be more resilient when adversity rears its head or when your…
Grow the GoodReal Toughness with Performance Expert Steve Magness
Steve Magness is an expert on performance and the author of the new book - Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and The Surprising Science of Real…
Grow the GoodThe Science of Rest and Changing How We Work with Alex Pang
Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author and speaker, is the global programs and research manager for 4 Day Week Global, a non-profit focused on advancing the 4-day work…
Grow the GoodEndurance Sports Science with Dr. Stephen Seiler
Stephen Seiler, Professor in Sport Science at the University of Adger, is internationally known for his research publications and lectures about organization…
Grow the GoodOvercoming Limiting Beliefs with World Record Explorer Colin O'Brady
Colin O’Brady is a 10-time world record breaking explorer, as well as a speaker, entrepreneur and expert on mindset. He completed the world’s first solo…
Grow the GoodMy Return to Racing, 4WD Mode, and Traveling with 2 Kids
My return to mountain bike racing after having kids has been so much fun! It's also had its fair share of challenges. I sat down with my husband, Matt to talk…
Grow the GoodHow to be More Happy and Optimistic with Dr. Sasha Heinz
Dr. Sasha Heinz is a developmental psychologist turned mindset coach. She has her own private coaching practice grounded in psychological science. Dr. Heinz…
Grow the GoodClimate Change Solutions with Dr. Jonathan Foley
Dr. Jonathan Foley is a world-renowned environmental scientist, sustainability expert, author and public speaker, and the executive director of Drawdown…
Grow the GoodPositivity and Resilience with Olympian Lea Davison
Olympian Lea Davison began mountain bike racing in 2001. Since then, she’s earned a silver medal at the 2016 World Championships, a bronze medal at the 2014…
Grow the GoodHow to Read Body Language and Maximize Connection with Mark Bowden
Mark Bowden is a body language expert, keynote speaker and bestselling author of the books Winning Body Language; Winning Body Language for Sales…
Grow the GoodTalking Resilience with Leadership Coach Jamie Cohen [Updated]
On this week’s podcast, Sonya sat down with Jamie Mason Cohen, a resilience and leadership development expert. A Canadian native, Certified Leadership Coach…
Grow the GoodThe Perils of Comparison
One of my most interesting realizations recently is that I am at my best when I'm living in the present moment and I am at my worst when I'm comparing myself…
Grow the GoodHow to Finally Make Behavior Change Work for You with PhD Michelle Segar
Michelle Segar is the director of the University of Michigan’s Sports, Health, and Activity Research and Policy Center, adviser to the Department of Health and…
Grow the GoodAll About Coaching Masters Athletes with Coach Frank Overton
Frank Overton is a full time cycling coach and a USA Cycling Level 1 coach since 2006. He founded FasCat Coaching in 2002 to live out his dream to help…
Grow the GoodLook There, Go There - Why Your Focus Matters
Focus on what you can do, not what you can't. Look there, go there. Where focus goes, energy flows. Perhaps you've heard one or all of those phrases. Our…
Grow the GoodBehind the Adventure Stache: Professional Cyclist Payson McElveen
Payson McElveen is not your traditional professional mountain biker. After cycling at Fort Lewis College and becoming a two-time Marathon National Champion…