In our first episode of 2026, Mandy Balak (President of The Gathering) and Owen Reader, sit down to debrief the lessons learned—and earned—from 2025. From fear and hesitation to edge-work, decisive action, and the power of integration, this is a candid conversation about what it takes to lead when the playbooks are burned.

They unpack practical takeaways like studying your edges, packing light (literally and metaphorically), and using the RICE framework (Revenue, Impact, Confidence, Ease) to filter distractions and focus on what actually moves the mission forward.

To close, Mandy and Owen share their Word of the Year for 2026—Boldness and Conviction—and challenge listeners to choose their own word, make it visual, and step into the year with intent.

This episode explores:

• Why your “word of the year” often attracts the opposite lessons you need

• How fear creates hesitation—and how action breaks the cycle

• What it means to “study your edge” and stop holding back

• How to prioritize change using the RICE filter (Revenue, Impact, Confidence, Ease)

• Why integration (rest + reflection) is part of the work—not a break from it

• Building out loud in a world full of polished, AI-generated sameness

🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2026 | October 21–24
[Get Tickets Here]

Join Mandy Balak for a real conversation with Kathryn Gordon, author, entrepreneur, and co-author of Relationship Grit, on what it takes to build a relationship that can actually hold your ambition.

This episode is for high performers who lead hard, build big, and sometimes forget that your life runs on the strength of your closest relationships. Kathryn shares the “GRIT” framework (God, Resolve, Invest, Together), why weekly check-ins matter, how to handle seasons of intense work, and the simple habits that rebuild trust and connection over time.
In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “relationship grit” is built in the hard seasons, not the easy ones
• The question to ask your partner (or team) to instantly improve communication
• How weekly meetings, one-word intentions, and small investments change everything
• Why “winning arguments” can cost you the relationship
• The rituals that keep high-performance households grounded and strong

• Book: Relationship Grit (Katherine Gordon + Jon Gordon)

Links mentioned:
Kathryn on Instagram: @kathryngordon

Join us at The Gathering 2026 | October 20–24
Get Tickets Here

High‑performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais joins Mandy Balak to unpack what it really takes to perform under extreme pressure. From coaching Felix Baumgartner’s jump from the edge of space to building a Super Bowl–winning culture with Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why technical skill isn’t enough when the stakes are high

• How the best in the world think about fear, risk, and regret

• Practical ways leaders can train their minds like elite athletes

• Why we’re all overtrained and under-recovered—and what to do about it

• Simple recovery and meeting rituals you can add to your team this week

A powerful, honest conversation about mastering your mind, honoring recovery, and learning to “be about it” in leadership and life.

About Dr. Michael Gervais

Dr. Michael Gervais is a leading high-performance psychologist, author, and podcast host whose career highlights center on his work with elite athletes, Fortune 100 CEOs, and organizations in high-pressure environments. He is globally recognized for developing mental frameworks that enable individuals and teams to excel under stress.

Links & Resources Subscribe to the Finding Mastery Podcast and newsletter for high-performance insights:

https://www.findingmaster.com/newsletter

🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2026 | October 20–24, 2026 ⁠Get Tickets Here⁠

⁠⁠Follow us for updates: ⁠Instagram⁠ | Linkedin⁠

In this episode, Owen Reader, Head of Marketing at The Gathering, sits down with Matt Gagnon, founder of Atomic Mornings and speaker on the Human Performance track at The Gathering 2025. Matt has built his practice around helping busy executives reclaim the first moments of their day—transforming morning routines into a foundation for resilience, clarity, and sustainable high performance.

Together, they explore why self-care, emotional awareness, and community are non-negotiables for leaders who want to win the future together.

This episode explores:

Why building a bulletproof optimism mindset is essential in today’s world

How self-care routines—sleep, nutrition, fitness, stillness, and community—create a foundation for peak performance

The dangers of comparison, burnout, and isolation for high-performing leaders

How community at The Gathering fuels connection and resilience for executives, creators, and brand builders

Guest’s Social Media: Instagram - @atomicmornings

LinkedIn - Matt Gagnon🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2025 | October 22–24

Apply for a Creator Pass: https://go.thegatheringfestival.com/create🔔 Subscribe to our channel for more legendary content from The Gathering. The Gathering 2025Winning the Future — Together.https://www.thegatheringfestival.com/tickets