
Hosted by Jared Alderman · EN
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.

Today on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Brian Hastings! Brian is a 6 time bracelet winner, former high stakes online cash game specialist, and one of the most respected mixed game players in the world. In this episode he sits down with Jared to talk about beating Isildur1 for $4M at the height of online poker, the best frameworks for making tough decisions, and why he believes a rich life outside of poker makes you a better player at the table.Check Out The Poker Performance Field Kit!https://jaredalderman.notion.site/poker-performance-field-kitLearn More About The Coaching Group:https://www.jaredalderman.comJoin Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzvCoaching With Brian:https://forum.octopipoker.ai/author/Brian-Hastings-1-58/productsTimestamps:00:00 – Intro00:59 – When does RNGing actually make sense?02:42 – Breaking decisions that feel 50/5006:16 – Balance vs. exploits10:37 – Why aggressive players still get folds from great players11:34 – Beating Isildur1 for $4M at 500/1000 PLO13:58 – The Black Friday era14:39 – Brian's dedication to mixed games and tournaments19:56 – Brian's framework for tough decisions24:29 – Check Out The Poker Performance Field Kit!25:13 – RNGing as a hedge on your own confidence28:52 – Are poker players obsessing over frequencies that don't matter?40:16 – How personal growth made Brian a better coach50:44 – Brian's remaining goals in poker58:57 – Balancing poker and family life59:45 – Learn More About The Coaching Group!1:00:10 – Why a rich life outside poker makes you better at it1:10:16 – The right mindset after a bad session1:14:41 – How much do you actually need to study?1:18:35 – Studying smarter not harder1:19:22 – Multiway spots and unintuitive bluffingFind Brian:📸Instagram: @brianchastings🐦X: @brianchastingsHost: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦X: @jaredalderman

On this episode of Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Marc Goone, co-founder of Hungry Horse Poker, to talk about the unlikely path from rapper to one of the most influential live poker coaches in the game. They get into the start of Hungry Horse as a stable, why teaching people how to think beats giving them rules to follow, and have an honest debate about where mental game coaching actually fits for most players. Plus Marc breaks down why giving away your best content is the smartest business move you can make.Check Out The Poker Performance Field Kit:https://jaredalderman.notion.site/poker-performance-field-kitLearn More About The Coaching Group:https://www.jaredalderman.comJoin Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzvLearn More About Hungry Horse Poker:https://www.hungryhorsepoker.com/👉 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!Find Marc and Hungry Horse:🌐Website: https://www.hungryhorsepoker.com/📸Instagram: @hungryhorsepoker🐦X: @hungryhorsepokr▶️YouTube: @hungryhorsepoker Host: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦X: @jaredalderman

This week on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with high stakes tournament player and performance coach Thomas Boivin to talk about what it actually takes to build a long, successful poker career. They dig into why the mental and performance side of the game is still the most overlooked edge in poker, how to build confidence that survives a downswing, and why your biggest strengths and your biggest leaks are often the same. Thomas also shares what's next for him with his new mastermind group and Octopi Academy course.Check Out The Poker Performance Field Kithttps://jaredalderman.notion.site/poker-performance-field-kitLearn More About The Coaching Group:https://www.jaredalderman.com/pokerJoin Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzvCheck Out Thomas's New Program & Octopi Poker!https://thomasboivin.poker/https://octopipoker.ai/boivin👉 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 Thomas:🌐Website: https://thomasboivin.poker/📸Instagram: @martomchat🐦X: @martomchatHost: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦X: @jaredalderman

This week on Seeking Balance, Jared sits down with Charlie Carrel — poker pro, live tell specialist, and one of the game's most unconventional thinkers — to discuss the hidden edges most players never explore. From a $15 first deposit and binking the Sunday Million to thousands of hours playing and coaching, Charlie opens up about what really separated him from the field. A fascinating conversation about live tells, intuition, meditation, and why mastering your mind might be the next frontier in modern poker.Learn More About The Coaching Group:https://www.jaredalderman.com/pokerJoin Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/mDZuCxcgzvCharlie's 50K Promo!https://www.charlescarrel.com/👉 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.00:00:00 – Intro00:01:00 – Charlie's Origin Story & First Deposit on PokerStars00:03:55 – Binking the Sunday Million & The Start of a Career00:05:05 – What Made Charlie Click With Poker From the Start00:07:10 – Live Tells: The Perverse Incentive to Keep Them Secret00:09:15 – The Two Categories of Live Tells & What's Actually Teachable00:11:20 – Parallel Problem Solving & The Art of Reading a Table00:13:55 – Intuition vs. Intellect: The Creative Process of Poker00:17:50 – What Got You Here Won't Get You There00:19:35 – Why Poker Culture Resists the Intuitive Side of the Game00:26:30 – Spirituality & Navigating Your Own Path00:33:30 – Meditation Before a Session: More EV Than Solver Study?00:36:00 – Strong Energy at the Table & The Taekwondo Story00:39:00 – Empowering Students: What Most Poker Coaches Get Wrong00:44:08 – Join The Coaching Group!00:44:33 – Childhood and the Lasting Impacts of Early Relationships00:46:10 – The Truth Series & Reviewing Today's Poker Creators00:48:56 – Charlie Announces He's Coming Out of Retirement00:54:25 – Jungleman Stories & Charlie's Flute Battle on Coin Poker00:58:30 – Where to Find Charlie & The $5K Staking PromotionFind Charlie:🌐Website: https://www.charlescarrel.com/📸Instagram: @charliecarrel🐦X: @Charlie_Carrel▶️YouTube: @CharlieCarrel Host: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦X: @jaredalderman

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

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

This week on Seeking Balance, Jared Sits down with Stephen Chidwick — one of the most accomplished tournament poker players in the world — to discuss the inner game behind two decades at the top. From navigating the mental health journey to neurofeedback training and meditation, Stephen opens up about what has shaped both his life and poker career. A candid conversation about kindness, presence, and what it truly takes to perform at the highest level.Learn More About The Coaching Group:https://www.jaredalderman.com/pokerJoin Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/8Ejbyvr84V👉 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 Stephen:🐦 X: @ChidwickStephenHost: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦 X: @the_jaldermann

In this Seeking Balance episode, Jared is joined by Philippe Beardsell, co-founder of Ruse AI and now a part of GTO Wizard. Jared and Philippe explore the evolution of poker solvers, the challenges of multiway play, and the hidden dynamics of ICM in tournament strategy. Philippe shares insights on the development of new features in GTO Wizard, how solvers shape modern poker, and the future of AI in the game.Learn More About The Coaching Group:https://www.jaredalderman.com/pokerJoin Our Discord Server!https://discord.gg/8Ejbyvr84V👉 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.Host: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦 X: @the_jaldermann

In this Seeking Balance episode, Owen "PR0DIGY Messere" returns! Owen and Jared dive into everything from how randomization impacts strategy and the value of seeing showdowns, to impulsivity and self-compassion's impact on performance. Then, Owen recounts his experience playing in the 2025 Cash Game World Championship, what he learned, and unique spots that come up in this environment.Learn More About The Coaching Group:https://www.jaredalderman.com/pokerCheck Out Owen's Coaching Program!https://guerrilla-poker.com/Join 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.The Excellent CGWC Tracker, at Mobius Poker:https://www.mobiuspoker.com/cgwc2025Contact Owen:🐦 X: https://x.com/OwenMessereHost: Jared AldermanPerformance Coach🌐 Website: https://www.jaredalderman.com/📸 Instagram: @jared.alderman🐦 X: @the_jaldermann

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