Win More, Live Better
Win More, Live Better is a podcast for sport coaches and high-performing leaders who care deeply about results, but refuse to compromise their well-being, joy, or relationships in the process. The show explores what it really means to win more and live better on your terms. Through stories, conversations, and practical frameworks, each episode helps you sharpen your leadership, strengthen your inner game, and build systems that support sustainable performance for you and those you lead. Hosted by Zach Brandon, a nationally recognized performance and leadership advisor.
Episodes
Mike D'Antoni | 2-time NBA Coach of the Year | Hall of Fame Wisdom and The Coach Who Revolutionized Basketball
Coach Mike D'Antoni is one of the most influential coaches in basketball history.Following a remarkable playing career in Italy that included five championships, D'Antoni transitioned into coaching and went on to become one of the game's greatest innovators. Over a coaching career spanning more than four decades, he served as head coach of the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Los Ange
The Significant Objects Experiment: Why Storytelling Can Shift Perception and Change Behavior
Can a story make something worthless become valuable? In this episode, Zach shares an incredible real-life experiment that demonstrates how a simple story transformed ordinary objects into something people valued nearly 30 times more. You'll learn how great leaders use stories to shape perception, strengthen commitment, and help people connect everyday work to a greater purpose.Learn More Abo
The Request Beneath the Complaint: Learning to Hear What's Really Being Asked
How should leaders respond to complaints? In this episode, Zach explores the difference between chronic complainers and meaningful feedback, why complaints often contain valuable information, and how coaches and leaders can use curiosity, empathy, and accountability to build stronger teams and cultures.Learn More About Zach:Explore 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free call hereSubscribe to my
Don't Miss the View: How to Appreciate Where You Are While Pursuing What's Next
Most people don't miss the view because it isn't there. They miss it because they're moving too fast to notice it. In this episode, Zach explores why coaches, leaders, and high performers need more "lookout points" in their lives, intentional moments to pause, reflect, and gain perspective amidst the demands of work and leadership. If you've been feeling stuck in cons
Sonny Cumbie | Head Football Coach, Louisiana Tech University | "My job is to listen to the people I serve and help them feel seen, valued, and heard."
Sonny Cumbie is the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University and one of the most respected offensive minds in college football. His journey through the game is anything but conventional.A former Texas Tech walk-on quarterback, Cumbie spent years earning his opportunity before becoming the starting quarterback and ultimately leading the nation in passing yards and total offense during his s
Too Early to Tell: What Hall of Famers Can Teach Us About Persistence and Growth
What if some of the greatest careers in sports history had been judged by their first season? Today's episode profiles some of the early failures and struggles that several top performers faced early in their careers, but also how they responded to them to end up as some of the greatest athletes of all-time. Zach explores why we place so much weight on early results, the stories we tell ourse
Be Someone's Fan
As coaches and leaders, it's easy to assume people know how we feel about them. We assume our players know we're proud of them. We assume our staff knows they're appreciated. We assume our families know we're cheering for them. But support isn't measured by what we feel, but it is measured by what other people experience. In this episode, we explore the power of encouragem
The 2% We Remember: How to Enjoy the Journey Instead of Just Chasing the Destination
Why do we spend so much time chasing moments we'll only experience briefly? After reflecting on a World Series appearance and lessons from astronaut Chris Hadfield, I found myself wrestling with a simple question: What happens when we become so focused on the reward that we overlook everything required to reach it? In this episode, we explore why our minds tend to fixate on peaks, endings, an
Do It Scared: Why Confidence Comes After Action
What if the confidence you’re waiting for is actually on the other side of action? In this episode, Zach explores one of the most common misconceptions in performance and personal growth: The belief that we must feel confident before we act. Zach shares a powerful story from Rory Vaden’s book Take the Stairs and explores why fear is not always a sign that you’re incapable, unprepared, or not ready
Why Team Cultures Drift (And How to Prevent It)
Most organizations and teams don't fall apart suddenly or due to some catastrophic collapse. Typically, things start to break down in more subtle ways and due to small deviations from standards. Drawing on insights from Northwestern Field Hockey Head Coach Tracey Fuchs, Zach discusses how championship teams leverage regular culture audits to evaluate whether their actions align with their val
Tracey Fuchs | Head Field Hockey Coach, Northwestern Univ. | "Culture wins championships."
Tracey Fuchs is one of the most accomplished coaches and players in the history of American field hockey.As the head coach at Northwestern University since 2009, Fuchs has transformed the Wildcats into a national powerhouse, becoming the winningest coach in program history while leading Northwestern to multiple NCAA National Championships, Big Ten Championships, and numerous NCAA Tournament appear
Is Your Life Out of Tune?: Eric Church's Message to the Class of 2026
Country music star Eric Church recently delivered a commencement speech that resonated with millions. In it, he used the six strings of a guitar to explain what creates a meaningful life. In this episode, we unpack that metaphor and explore what it can teach us about ambition, identity, fulfillment, and the different parts of life that make us whole.Learn More About Zach:Explore 1:1 coaching with
No Brown M&M's: How Tiny Details Reveal Standards and the Health of Your Culture
In the 1980s, Van Halen became famous for an unusual backstage request: No brown M&M’s in the dressing room. This request was actually a hidden test designed to reveal whether venues had carefully followed the band’s detailed production and safety requirements. In this episode, we explore what that story teaches us about standards and why tiny details are important to protect as a leader.Learn
The Power of Five Minutes: How Tiny Commitments Create Lasting Momentum
A lot of people struggle to build momentum because they make the starting line feel overwhelming. In this episode, I share the story of my wife’s “five-minute rule” that helped her run every single day for an entire year and why momentum is something we create. We discuss the psychology behind consistency, Greg McKeown’s concept of “Minimal Viable Progress,” and how stacking small wins helps us pr
John Wooden's 9 Promises for a Successful Life
Today we're exploring John Wooden’s famous “Nine Promises” and why they still matter today. We explore themes like emotional steadiness, relationships, self-talk, personal growth, leadership, comparison, peace of mind, and sustainable success. More than achievement, this conversation is about the internal commitments that shape the quality of our lives and help us win more without losing ours
After the Whistle: Never Waste a Failure
How do great performers respond to failure without becoming defined by it? In this After the Whistle segment, Zach expands on a powerful lesson shared by Louisville volleyball head coach Dan Meske: “You have to take more from failure than it takes from you.” With references to Nick Saban and another former guest on the podcast, Amy Morin, this episode is designed to help you learn from and respond
Dan Meske | Head Volleyball Coach, University of Louisville | "Take more from failure than it took from you."
In this episode, I’m joined by Dan Meske, the head women’s volleyball coach at the University of Louisville and one of the most respected coaches in the entire sport.Before becoming Louisville’s head coach in 2025, Dan spent eight seasons as the program’s associate head coach, helping transform Louisville into a national powerhouse. During that stretch, the Cardinals reached multiple Final Fours,
Rehearse the Resistance: Why Elite Performers Prepare for Adversity, Not Just Success
Visualization is one of the most widely used mental performance tools in sports and performance, but many people use it incorrectly. In this episode, Zach explores why elite performers shouldn’t just visualize success, but also mentally rehearse the adversity, setbacks, and pressure that come with pursuing meaningful goals.Learn More About Zach:Explore 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free cal
The Danger of Judging Outcomes Too Quickly
In this episode, Zach shares the famous parable of the farmer and the runaway horse to explore why leaders and performers often judge moments too early. A loss, injury, setback, or disappointment can feel defining in the moment, but most moments are incomplete stories. This episode breaks down the dangers of binary thinking, emotional overreaction, and attaching permanent meaning to temporary circ
Your Culture Isn't for Everyone: A Lesson from a Paris Restaurant With No Menu
What can a Paris restaurant with almost no menu teach us about leadership and culture? In this episode, Zach shares a lesson from Le Relais de l’Entrecôte and explores why strong cultures are not built by trying to be everything to everyone. Zach explores why leaders often overcomplicate culture by adding more (e.g. meetings, standards, values, options, etc.) and why the better move is often to cl
The Tape Doesn't Lie: How to Become a Better Communicator as a Coach
Most coaches use film to help players improve, but very few use it to evaluate themselves. In this episode, Zach shares why reviewing your own meetings, practices, conversations, or presentations can dramatically improve your communication and leadership effectiveness. Drawing from his own experiences with podcasting and public speaking, he explains how self-review exposes blind spots, reveals pat
After the Whistle: Why Naming Your Emotions Improves Your Life and Performance
What happens when you stop trying to suppress emotions and start learning how to work with them? In this episode, I build on my recent conversation with Amy Morin to explore the connection between emotional awareness and mental strength. We discuss emotion labeling and I also share a real-life example on the power of journaling about your emotions from NBA player, Steven Adams.Learn More About Zac
Amy Morin | Author and Keynote Speaker | "Mental strength is not about acting tough."
Amy Morin is a licensed psychotherapist, keynote speaker, award-winning host of the Mentally Stronger podcast, and an international bestselling author of six books on mental strength, including the globally acclaimed 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.Her work has been featured by major outlets including Good Morning America, Today, Oprah, Tamron Hall, and the BBC. Her TEDx Talk, The Secret
The Expectation Effect: How a Coach's Beliefs Shape a Player's Behavior
The expectations you hold for others are never neutral. In this episode, we break down the Pygmalion Effect (also known as the Rosenthal Effect) and the classic 1968 study with school children that revealed how important expectations can be. If you're a coach, leader, parent, teacher, or anyone in an authority position, and you want your people to grow, it starts with what you expect from the
The Bamboo Effect: Why Progress Often Feels Invisible
One of the most common forms of interference for performers is misinterpreting progress. In this episode, we discuss the bamboo tree and how it symbolizes why growth is often delayed, invisible, uneven, and misunderstood. You’ll learn a helpful perspective shift to stay patient and persistent when results lag behind effort.Learn More About Zach:Get 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free call he
Potemkin Village: Why Looking Good Isn’t the Same as Being Good
A lot of individuals and organizations put a lot of effort into how things look, but far less into how things actually work. In this episode, we explore the concept of a Potemkin village and how it shows up in organizations that look strong on the surface, but lack alignment underneath. Whether you’re evaluating a job opportunity or building a team, you’ll learn how to spot the difference between
I Thought I Was Helping: A Lesson on Unintended Consequences
Good intentions don’t always lead to good outcomes. In this episode, I share a real coaching mistake from my time in Major League Baseball and the lesson it taught me about unintended consequences. We dive into how routines and mental training can shift from being helpful to detrimental, especially if it becomes a dependency for athletes.Learn More About Zach:Get 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule
Runt of the Litter: The Story That Built NFL All-Pro Safety Bo Eason
What if your performance isn’t limited by your ability, but by the story you keep telling yourself? In this episode, we break down the powerful story of Bo Eason, a former NFL All-Pro safety who reframed a defining moment from his childhood into a powerful identity that helped propel his career.Learn More About Zach:Get 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free call hereSubscribe to my free newsle
Who Is Your PACER?
This is a special episode. It marks the one year anniversary of this podcast and offers a reflection on what it’s taken to get here and the role others have played along the way. I discuss why having a coach or trusted voice in your corner can accelerate your growth in ways that are hard to replicate on your own. Drawing on conversations with elite coaches and leaders, I share a simple way to thin
Erin Matson | Head Field Hockey Coach, Univ. of North Carolina | “Your people need to know you’ll fight for them.”
What does it look like to immediately go from one of the most decorated athletes in college sports to leading that same program from the sidelines? In this episode, I sit down with Erin Matson, head field hockey coach at the University of North Carolina and one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of the sport.During her playing career, Erin helped lead UNC to four NCAA Championships a
Spotlight vs. Lighthouse Leaders
Are you leading to be seen or to help others feel seen? In this episode, we break down the difference between “spotlight” and “lighthouse” leadership. One is focused on perception. The other is focused on service.Learn More About Zach:Get 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free call hereSubscribe to my free newsletter here
The Last Time
We have a human tendency to try and rush (or get) through certain moments in life, especially when they're inconvenient or not easy. But there's a simple reframe and perspective you can adopt that can dramatically shift how you experience these moments and live a life that's more appreciative, present, and joyful. Today's episode is inspired by the ancient Stoics and gives us a
BONUS Episode: The Coach's Playbook and the Mental Performance Summit
In this special “From the Other Side of the Mic” episode, I join Cindra Kamphoff on The High Performance Mindset podcast to discuss leadership and mindset in the realm of high performance. We also preview the upcoming Virtual Mental Performance Summit (Friday, April 17th) and explore practical ways coaches and leaders can elevate how they think, perform, and show up for others.Learn More About The
Upgrade Your Thinking, Upgrade Your Results
Most New Year’s resolutions focus on what we want to do and achieve, but very few focus on how we need to think. This episode introduces the concept of a “thinking resolution” and explains why your thoughts play a critical role in your ability to follow through on goals and build sustainable habits. You’ll learn how to identify the thought patterns that are holding you back, replace them with more
Wilt Chamberlain and the Courage to Look and Be Different
Wilt Chamberlain once improved his biggest weakness (e.g. free throw shooting), but he abandoned it because he implemented a technique that he thought others would ridicule. This episode explores a phenomenon in human behavior known as the threshold theory and why performers may avoid what works due to social pressure. We discuss some of the psychology behind “copycat leagues” form and how coaches
The Preparation Bank: How to Train for Legendary Performances
What separates elite performers in high-pressure moments? Preparation. In this episode, we break down how Captain Sully’s 2009 emergency plane landing and Ray Allen’s iconic 2013 NBA Finals shot reveal a core principle: Performance under pressure is a reflection of your preparation. Learn how to train both physically and mentally so you can stay composed, execute when it matters most, and avoid re
After the Whistle: Are You Worth the Investment?
If you were evaluated like a financial stock, would your daily habits justify someone else investing in you? Inspired by my conversation with Wake Forest head soccer coach, Bobby Muuss, this episode breaks down how consistency and daily deposits shape how others evaluate (and trust) you. You’ll also learn how to approach each day like a one-day contract and why that mindset can change how you show
Bobby Muuss | Head Men's Soccer Coach, Wake Forest Univ. | "Coaching is lonely."
Bobby Muuss is the head men’s soccer coach at Wake Forest University and one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Division I soccer over the past decade. Since taking over the program in 2015, he has led Wake Forest to the most wins in the country during that span, along with multiple ACC Championships, eight Sweet Sixteen appearances, six Elite Eights, and two College Cup runs.Prior to Wake For
Use the Difficulty: A Simple Rule for Challenging Moments
None of us get to choose when difficulty shows up in our lives, but we do get to choose if (and how) we use it. In this episode, we break down why most people waste difficult moments and Zach shares a story from the actor Michael Caine that can shift how we respond to and view the inevitable adversity we confront.Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consiste
Here Be Dragons: Why the Unknown Feels Dangerous
In the 1500s, mapmakers would sometimes stamp “Here be dragons” on the edges of their maps, which marked places no one had yet explored. In this episode, we explore how that same instinct shows up in modern life when you’re facing risk or uncertainty and why your brain is quick to assume the worst. You’ll learn how to recognize when fear is shaping your decisions and why the ability to navigate un
After the Whistle: How Great Coaches Build Their Staff
Hiring is one of the most important decisions a coach makes, but it's rarely discussed in a public setting. In this After the Whistle segment, we build on insights from Arizona State head coaches JJ Van Niel and Molly Miller, both of whom emphasize that being intentional about who you hire and finding staff who complement you as a leader. This episode explores why "fit" matters more
JJ Van Niel | Head Volleyball Coach, Arizona State Univ. | "Coach Like a CEO"
JJ Van Niel’s path to becoming one of the top coaches in college volleyball is anything, but conventional.After spending more than a decade in the financial world (including investment banking and hedge funds), Van Niel made the leap into coaching, bringing with him a unique lens on leadership, systems, and performance. Today, he is the head coach at Arizona State University, where he has quickly
How to Use Nerves to Perform Your Best
Most of us have been taught that nerves are a problem we have to solve. The vast majority of advice that gets recommended to manage nerves centers on trying to calm down, but what if I told you that this advice is counterproductive? After winning The Players Championship, PGA Tour golfer Cameron Young described his nerves as useful and how they help him become capable of better performance. In thi
The Cost of Pursuing Excellence as a Parent AND the Gift Within It
Some of the most difficult conversations I have with athletes, coaches, and high-achieving leaders aren’t about performance. They’re about the sacrifices they make in this pursuit, especially as it relates to their families. They’re conversations about missed birthdays, missed weddings, time spent physically absent, and the guilt of missing everyday moments that can't be replaced. If you&apos
After the Whistle: Thoughts Are Not Laws
In this After the Whistle segment, we unpack how self-doubt and the inner critic can shape our performances and the way in which we lead others. Drawing on insights from Cleveland Guardians' Major League Manager, Stephen Vogt, and research from Ethan Kross, you’ll learn how to challenge unhelpful thoughts, interrupt mental spirals, and take control of the most important conversation you have
Stephen Vogt | Major League Manager, Cleveland Guardians | "Leaders don't get bad days."
In this episode of the Win More, Live Better Podcast, Zach sits down with Stephen Vogt, manager of the Cleveland Guardians and a former 10-year Major League Baseball veteran and two-time MLB All-Star.Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007, Vogt spent years grinding through the minor leagues before making his big league debut in 2012. Over the next decade, he built a reputation as one of
The Bounce-Back Stat: How the Best Golfer in the World Responds to Mistakes
Mistakes are inevitable in sport, but too often performers get derailed when they allow those mistakes to snowball. In this episode, we explore a key statistic from the best golfer in the world, Scottie Scheffler, called the bounce-back stat. We break down what causes mistakes to spiral and how athletes and leaders can develop the skill of bouncing back quickly.Learn More About Zach:If you’re a co
Let Go or Be Dragged: The Cost of Carrying the Past
How often do you carry something long after the moment has passed? In this episode, Zach shares a powerful parable about two monks that reveals how easily we hold onto unhelpful thoughts. You’ll learn how to separate the event from the story, why release is a skill high performers develop, and how one simple idea ("The Invisible Backpack") can help lighten the load.Learn More About Zach:
After the Whistle: The 8 Building Blocks for High-Trust Teams
After his conversation with Dr. Paul Zak, Zach dives deeper into the science of trust and what it means for coaches and leaders. Drawing from Zak’s research on oxytocin and high-trust organizations, this After the Whistle episode explores eight leadership behaviors that strengthen connection and performance inside teams. If you want to build a culture where people feel trusted, valued, and motivat
Dr. Paul Zak | Professor, Author, and Speaker | “Social connection is the macronutrient for emotional fitness.”
Today I'm joined by Dr. Paul Zak, a distinguished university professor at Claremont Graduate University, a pioneer in the science of trust, and one of the world’s leading researchers on the neurobiology of human connection. He holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and is ranked in the top 0.3% of the most cited scientists globally. Over the course of his career, Dr. Zak has publishe
The Tonnage Principle: Jerry Seinfeld's Two-Word Advice for Mastery
In a world obsessed with shortcuts and hacks, the reality is the path to mastery is often much simpler (and much harder) than we'd like to believe. Regardless of your industry or chosen craft, a universal and timeless principle is that greatness is usually built through an accumulation of a lot of purposeful reps and effort. Inspired by a story with comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld, this episode
Know their Normal: The Leadership Skill of Noticing What’s Off
Have you ever had a moment with someone you know where something just felt off? Maybe their tone was different, their energy seemed lower, or they reacted in a way that didn’t quite match who they normally are. In this episode, Zach explores why understanding someone’s “normal” is a valuable skill for coaches and how great leaders become pattern recognizers.Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach
After the Whistle: The Cost of Being All In
Obsession often fuels excellence, but what happens when the thing that makes you great becomes the only thing that defines you? In this episode, Zach reflects on his conversation with former Division I head coach Matt Doherty and explores the tension between an all-in obsession with your craft and your identity. How do we pursue mastery without tying our entire sense of self to something we can lo
Matt Doherty | Executive Leadership Coach & Former D1 Basketball Coach | "Rebounding and Failing Forward"
In this episode of Win More, Live Better, Zach sits down with Coach Matt Doherty, an executive leadership coach, keynote speaker, and former Division I head coach for a candid conversation on leadership and the art of rebounding forward.Matt’s leadership journey began as a starter on the 1982 National Championship team at North Carolina, playing alongside Michael Jordan under the legendary Dean Sm
NFLPA Report Cards: A Blueprint for Better Leadership
If the people you lead anonymously graded you today, what would they say? Every year, the NFL Players Association surveys players across the league. While organizations are graded on dozens of categories, head coaches are evaluated on only two components. In this episode, we break down what that means for coaches, executives, and leaders at every level including practical audits you can run immedi
Hick's Law: Why Options Can Become Obtacles
More choices don't always help us make better decisions. In fact, most of the time, more choices not only hinders our speed with decision-making, it can also hinder our commitment to them. Drawing inspiration from Hick’s Law, Zach explores how cognitive overload can slow reaction time and undermine trust. If you’ve ever seen athletes hesitate under pressure, this episode will invite you to re
High Achievers Are Terrible At This: A Gratitude Lesson from Snoop Dogg’s Walk of Fame Speech
When Snoop Dogg received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he said something that caught people off guard. In this episode, we unpack his lesson on gratitude and why high performers often forget to recognize one critical source of strength. If you’re a coach, athlete, or leader who constantly raises the bar but rarely pauses to acknowledge what you've achieved, this conversation will ch
After the Whistle: Define Your MVP
Most coaches don’t burn out from workload, but rather because they get disconnected from their purpose and why they're coaching in the first place. In this After the Whistle segment, Zach unpacks Tracy Slusser’s perspective on proactively defining your leadership identity before the “house is on fire.” Discover how clarifying your mission, values, and principles can anchor you during chaotic
Tracy Slusser | Executive Leadership & Performance Coach | "This is what I do. This is not who I am."
In today's episode of Win More, Live Better, I sit down with Tracy Slusser, an executive leadership and performance coach and former collegiate and international swim coach. For more than 20 years, Tracy lived inside Division I athletics, which started as a student-athlete at Purdue University, then led to 17 years coaching at the highest levels in the sport of swimming. She coached three Nat
Sideways vs. Backwards Comparison
We’ve been told that comparison is the thief of joy, but I’d actually argue some forms of comparison are useful. In this episode, I break down the difference between sideways vs. backwards comparison and why the latter can help us build confidence. Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery ca
The Red Queen Effect: Why Adaptation and Learning Speed are Competitive Advantages
Inspired by the book, Through the Looking Glass, the Red Queen effect explains why any species (including humans) must adapt and evolve to not just survive, but to also stay ahead. In sport and life, sometimes it feels like our skills and progress plateau, but we forget that those around us are striving to improve every day too. In competitive environments where everyone is improving, effort alone
After the Whistle: Being Transparent
On this "After the Whistle" segment, Zach unpacks why ambiguity creates tension in teams and how transparency reduces interference. Building off his conversation with Georgetown Head Baseball Coach Edwin Thompson, this episode explores the psychology of uncertainty, why “maybe” can feel worse than bad news, and three practical ways leaders can create clarity around standards, decisions,
Edwin Thompson | Head Baseball Coach, Georgetown University | “Can you do the things that are hard that not everyone wants to do?”
Today's guest is Georgetown University Head Baseball Coach, Edwin Thompson.Since taking over the Georgetown program in 2020, Thompson has led the Hoyas through the most successful stretch in school history, highlighted by a record-setting 36-win season in 2024. Under his leadership, Georgetown has produced BIG EAST Player and Pitcher of the Year honorees, multiple first- and second-team all-c
Investing in Loss: How Elite Performers Turn Failure into Future Wins
Most of us try to avoid losing, but if you want to become an elite performer you're better of learning how to leverage it. Inspired by Josh Waitzkin and his book, The Art of Learning, this episode explores how elite performers reframe failure as a deposit into future growth. Learn how to process losses productively, avoid the hidden cost of playing it safe, and turn setbacks into growth. Lear
Revealed vs. Discovered Wisdom: Why Some Lessons Can't Be Pre-Packaged
When we're preparing to experience something new, many of us default to seeking wisdom from others (directly or indirectly) to prepare ourselves accordingly. But some lessons in life, sport, and leadership have to be acquired through first-hand experience. So if you’re stepping into a new season, role, or challenge, this episode will help you understand why some of the most important lessons
After the Whistle: Failure Recovery
In pursuit of mastery, good luck not experiencing failure along the way. This episode is a reminder that losing and failure will be inevitable in sport (and in life), but how you recover and bounce-back from it is a trainable skill. As an extension of my guest interview with USA Men's Head Volleyball Coach, Karch Kiraly, this episode is a glimpse into essential three strategies for managing f
Karch Kiraly | Head Coach, USA Men's Volleyball National Team | "Pressure is a privilege."
Today we're joined by the Team USA Men's Volleyball Head Coach, Karch Kiraly. Karch is one of the most accomplished figures in the history of volleyball and one of the few individuals to reach the pinnacle of the sport as both a player and a coach.Widely regarded as the greatest volleyball player of the 20th century, Karch Kiraly is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, winning twice in in
Premium Ad Space: What Your Mind, the Super Bowl, and Focus Have In Common
Every year during the Super Bowl, companies spend millions of dollars for just 30 seconds of attention. This episode uses Super Bowl ads as a metaphor to explore why focus is one of your most valuable assets and how easily it gets spent without intention. Learn why attention functions like currency and how to create an internal “reset advertisement" to align your focus with what matters most.
Moylan's Arrow: How Leaders Remove Friction and Design Better Environments
Moylan’s Arrow explores how one small design decision removed friction for millions of people and what it can teach us as coaches and leaders about environment design. Drawing inspiration from the real life story of Jim Moylan, this episode unpacks why leadership is less about telling people to “figure it out” and more about creating conditions for great work to occur. You’ll learn how to spot hid
The Domino Effect: Why Leverage Beats Force
Achieving goals don’t always require massive effort, but they do require leverage. In this episode, we explore The Domino Effect and why extraordinary results rarely come from doing everything or trying harder. Borrowing from physics, we'll discuss how small, intentional actions (when lined up correctly) can compound into powerful momentum. Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach or leader st
After the Whistle: Transition Routines
This is the latest segment of "After the Whistle," a short reflection series that follows guest conversations on Win More, Live Better. Drawing from my recent interview with Mitch Canham, this episode explores the often-overlooked idea of transition routines. We spend plenty of time preparing to perform, but far less time learning how to exit performance. This reflection looks at how int
Mitch Canham | Head Baseball Coach, Oregon State University | “Coaching is an art. Every coach paints it differently.”
Today I’m joined by Mitch Canham, the head baseball coach at Oregon State University. Mitch’s story and career has come full circle as he once helped build Oregon State’s championship standard as a player and now carries the program forward as its head coach.As a student-athlete, Canham helped lead the Beavers to three trips to Omaha for the College World Series and back-to-back National Champions
Up and To the Right Fallacy: Managing Doubt When Progress Isn't Obvious
Growth rarely follows a linear path and trajectory. This episode examines what I call the Up and To the Right Fallacy and how performers (and leaders) will sometimes mistake nonlinear growth as an indication of inadequacy. It's a reminder how messy seasons and unexpected detours are not indictments of your ability, but rather part of the normal process it takes to pursue or create something m
What Happens When You Leave the Room: Performative Culture vs Real Culture in Leadership
One of the hardest leadership questions to answer is this: What happens when I leave the room? This episode explores why compliance in a leader’s presence doesn’t always translate to commitment in their absence. Through stories and a classic leadership metaphor comparing buffalo and geese, we examine how leaders unintentionally create dependence and how they can instead build cultures rooted in sh
Audit Your Promises: How Leaders Build Trust by Following Through
How often do you make promises you don’t fully intend to keep? In this episode, Zach examines how leaders unintentionally erode trust through unmet commitments and why auditing your promises is a key practice to ensure you're not losing and sabotaging your credibility. You’ll learn about two types of promises leaders make and a practical audit you can use today to protect your integrity and s
After the Whistle: Playing Offense as a Coach
After the Whistle is a short reflection episode following each guest interview, where Zach pulls out a standout moment from the conversation and offers additional perspective on how to apply the insight to your own coaching, leadership, and life. In this episode, Zach expands on Jack Mullaney’s idea of “going on offense” with your time as a coach, whereby you intentionally set priorities and align
Jack Mullaney | Head Coach, HOKA NAZ Elite | “You were hired for your mind, your heart, your passion, your energy.”
Our first guest interview of 2026 is Jack Mullaney. Jack is the head coach of HOKA NAZ Elite, one of the premier professional distance running teams in the world, based in Flagstaff, Arizona. His coaching journey began in sport administration, serving as an operations assistant for the University of Minnesota track & field and cross-country programs before moving to Utah State University as Di
How Perception Impacts Performance Under Pressure
Why do some athletes excel in pressure moments and others tighten up, even when the task is exactly the same? In this episode, Zach explores a lesson drawn from elite-level soccer and the psychology of penalty kicks. It offers a reminder that our perception of pressure is key to determining our ability to execute when it matters most. Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach or leader striving for
You Can't Read the Label From Inside the Jar: How Leaders Regain Perspective Under Pressure
Perspective is one of the easiest things to lose in high-pressure environments. In this episode, we explore the idea that “You can’t read the label from inside the jar" and why even the best coaches need support outside the pressure cooker. Drawing on examples from elite sport, insights from Atul Gawande, and my personal experience from professional baseball, this episode unpacks why perspec
Why Experience Isn’t Enough: Horizontal vs. Vertical Development for Coaches
Why do so many coaches and professionals plateau even as their years of experience continue to grow? Research across professions shows that experience alone does not guarantee continued improvement. Drawing on evidence-informed leadership research and insights from Adam Grant, this episode explores why expanding your perspective is often the missing ingredient behind sustained effectiveness. Learn
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Conspiracy Files with Paige Carter
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
The Theory of Psychoanalysis - Carl Jung
A Life Engineered
پادکست بهزاد بلور | Behzad Bolour's Podcast
The Rabbit Hole: Conspiracy Theories
