Seeking Balance
Jared Alderman
Welcome to Seeking Balance, a podcast that delves into the art and science of performance in poker—and life. Hosted by Jared Alderman, a seasoned performance coach with a unique blend of experiences, this show explores what it truly means to succeed.Drawing from years as a Navy EOD tech, professional poker player, and now a mindset and lifestyle coach, Jared brings a depth of understanding to high-pressure situations and the mental game behind peak performance. With an extensive background in meditation, Jared takes listeners beyond typical strategies to explore how inner well-being and mindset fuel real achievement.Each episode offers insights into the soft skills that separate good players from great ones, uncovering the hidden edges found in emotional regulation, healthy habits, and peak performance strategies. With a focus on balancing achievement and personal well-being, we’ll challenge conventional definitions of success and look at how to thrive both at the table and beyond it.Join us for candid conversations with poker pros, industry leaders, and performance experts as we explore how to cultivate the habits, mindsets, and skills that lead to real, lasting success. Whether you're chasing poker greatness or looking to level up in your life, Seeking Balance is your guide to mastering the game within the game.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 27, 2026 • 1h 10min
What 40 Years of Professional Poker Teaches You About Your Mind
This week on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Tommy Angelo — poker pro, author, and mental game pioneer, to discuss a 50-year journey from home game grinder to one of poker's most dedicated meditators. From Columbus card rooms and a rock bottom DUI to 22 years of daily meditation and Buddhist practice, Tommy opens up about what it really took to transform his mind and his game. A profound conversation about tilt, ego, impermanence, and why mastering your mind might be the biggest edge in poker.Get 10% Off GTO Wizard!https://gtowizard.com/?p=jaredaldermanLearn More About The Coaching Group:https://www.jaredalderman.com/pokerJoin Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzv👉 If you found this episode valuable, don't forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to the newsletter at https://www.jaredalderman.com/ for more deep dives into poker, performance, and personal growth!🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.Find Tommy:🌐 Website: https://www.tommyangelo.com/🐦 X: @TheTommyAngelo▶️: @TommyAngelo420Host: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦 X: @jaredalderman
Mar 13, 2026 • 1h 17min
Why Losing Everything Made Him a Better Poker Player
This week on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Terrance "TJ" Reid — poker media personality and 2025 Super Main Deep Runner — to discuss the journey behind a life-changing $3.1 million score. From growing up in a Jehovah's Witness cult to navigating a difficult childhood, losing everything, and ultimately finding his identity through poker, TJ opens up about what it really took to get here. A candid conversation about variance, self-worth, and learning to keep your head high no matter the result.Learn More About The Coaching Group:https://www.jaredalderman.com/pokerJoin Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzvContact TJ:📸 Instagram: @tjreid1🐦 X: @tjreidpoker▶️: @tjreidpokerHost: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦 X: @the_jaldermann
Feb 27, 2026 • 1h 11min
Mastery, Kindness, and the Path to Peak Poker
Stephen Chidwick, a top professional tournament poker player with nearly two decades at the tables, shares a candid look at the inner work behind elite performance. He talks about meditation, neurofeedback training, mental-health journeys, and how kindness, presence, and lifestyle changes shape peak play. Short, thoughtful stories highlight resilience and continual growth.
Feb 13, 2026 • 1h 27min
The Future of Poker Strategy (Start Learning this Now)
Philippe Beardsell, co-founder of Ruse AI and lead researcher at GTO Wizard, builds poker-solving AI. He discusses advances in multiway solving and QRE regularization. He talks about why ICM is uniquely tricky, how player profiles and exploiter tools can change strategy, and scaling solvers to PLO and large games.
Jan 30, 2026 • 1h 27min
The Mistakes That Cost Pros Millions (And How To Avoid Them)
Owen "PR0DIGY Messere", pro poker player and coach known for high-stakes cash game mastery. He talks strategy shifts between online and live sky-stakes play. They explore reputation, showdown frequency as an edge, rare high-EV river spots, and meta-game quirks from the Cash Game World Championship. Conversation also covers tilt, self-care, coaching styles, and scaling systems for a pro lifestyle.
Jan 16, 2026 • 1h 25min
National Chess Champion on Poker, and the Art of Better Decisions
In this episode, Jared is joined by Three Time National Chess Champion, PokerStars Pro, and Autor Jennifer Shahade! Inspired by some of the ideas in Jen's new book, Jared and Jennifer cover everything from decision-making and performance to how games and risk factor into everyday life. Join us for another thought provoking installment of Seeking Balance.Pre-order Thinking Sideways, Jen's New Book Here!https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Jennifer-Shahade&geniuslink=true&tag=catagdefault-20Apply for the Poker Mentorship Group!https://forms.gle/jsCTQfEn5LTXBQjV6Learn More:https://www.jaredalderman.com/pokerJoin Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzvDonations Are Highly Appreciated!https://ko-fi.com/jaredalderman👉 If you found this episode valuable, don't forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to the newsletter at https://www.jaredalderman.com/ for more deep dives into poker, performance, and personal growth!🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.Contact Jennifer▶️: @JenShahade 📸 Instagram: @jenshahade🐦 X: @JenShahadeHost: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦 X: @the_jaldermann
Jan 2, 2026 • 57min
The Way Elite Poker Players Think Through Tough Spots
Jared chats with Patrick Howard, a poker coach and the founder of Mobius Poker, known for his innovative Stat-Checker tool. They dive into the decision-making processes of elite poker players, exploring the balance between intuition and data. Patrick reveals how stats can defy player assumptions and emphasizes the importance of monthly reviews for improvement. They also discuss bluffing psychology, the risks of labeling opponents, and the future of poker research and software, all while maintaining a focus on personal growth in the competitive landscape of poker.
Dec 19, 2025 • 1h 37min
Memory Championships to Everest: The Hidden Skills Behind Extreme Performance
This Week on Seeking Balance we have Nelson Dellis! a 6 Time USA Memory Champion, Philanthropist, Mountain Climber, and Author. Jared and Nelson have been friends for over a decade and dive into everything from how to improve your memory to what it takes to climb mount Everest.Find All Things Nelson Here:https://www.nelsondellis.comApply for the Meditation Group!https://forms.gle/shGk1F4TeT9y7iaa9Join Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzvDonations Are Highly Appreciated!https://ko-fi.com/jaredalderman👉 If you found this episode valuable, don't forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to the newsletter at https://www.jaredalderman.com/ for more deep dives into poker, performance, and personal growth!🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.Contact Nelson🌐 Website: https://www.nelsondellis.com/📸 Instagram: @nelzor🐦 X: @ClimbForMemoryHost: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦 X: @the_jaldermann
Nov 28, 2025 • 1h 20min
How Relationships, Culture, and Psyche Impact Performance
Dylan Weisman, a high-stakes PLO player and performance coach, dives deep into the psyche of poker culture. He candidly discusses how his neurodivergent background shapes his coaching style and the importance of a family-first approach. Tackling the balance between intuition and theory, Dylan emphasizes that felt experience often leads to true knowledge. They explore the coaching dynamics that foster trust and the need for a psychologically safe space. Finally, Dylan reflects on the changes in poker culture and the significance of systemic thinking in achieving consistent outcomes.
Nov 25, 2025 • 2h 11min
The Secrets Behind Winning in Business and Poker
Welcome back to Seeking Balance, the longest episode yet! This week Jared is joined by JNandez, a brilliant guy, and creator of PLO Mastermind. Jared and Fernando dive into the various endeavors Fernando has taken up recently, how poker and business change, and how fulfillment or purpose shift with ones journey through life.Check Out the Limited Time Discounts for Black Friday on PLO Mastermind!https://plomastermind.com/black-friday-2025/Apply for the upcoming Coaching Group!https://forms.gle/E5uuoGPihpd67sru7Join Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzvDonations Are Highly Appreciated!https://ko-fi.com/jaredalderman👉 If you found this episode valuable, don't forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to the newsletter at https://www.jaredalderman.com/ for more deep dives into poker, performance, and personal growth!🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.Contact JNandez🌐 Website: https://jnandezpoker.com/📸 Instagram: @jnandez87Host: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦 X: @the_jaldermann
