The Victory Degree

What does it really take to lead—in football, business, and life? In this raw and insightful conversation, former NFL fullback Marcel Reece opens up about the sacrifices behind success, the power of leadership, and the emotional cost of chasing greatness. He shares hard-earned lessons from the locker room to the boardroom, reflects on loss, resilience, and the human side of athletes, and reveals w...

In this episode, Cassius Marsh takes us inside the NFL—from childhood dreams to the grind of pro football. He opens up about overcoming injuries, learning from the Super Bowl with the Seahawks, and the politics of the draft. Marsh also dives into team culture, coaching styles, and the mental toughness needed to navigate constant change. Now an entrepreneur in the trading card world, he shares how...

What separates elite athletes from the rest? Mental performance coach Jon Giesbrecht breaks down the truth about mindset, resilience, and the hidden cost of success. In this episode, we dive into why self-talk matters, how suffering fuels growth, and why mental health doesn’t have to be complicated. You’ll learn how to build confidence, stay present under pressure, and develop the inner game that...

In this episode, Gordo Byrn shares his transformative journey from a thriving career in private equity to a life grounded in endurance sports, personal fulfillment, and emotional growth. He opens up about the internal struggles of making major life changes and how self-reflection, small daily improvements, and the ‘Thousand Day Rule’ helped him redefine success. Gordo discusses the mental and emot...

In this episode of The Victory Degree Podcast, Todd Durkin dives into why mindset is the ultimate game-changer—especially in sports. He tackles the battle against negative self-talk, the power of confidence and flow state, and how pressure and social media shape an athlete’s performance and identity. Drawing on years of coaching NFL stars (like Jordan Love, Drew Brees & more), Todd reveals the hum...

In this conversation, Tyler O'Shea, founder of Joker Mag and author of The Underdog Mentality, joins Nik to explore the power of underdog stories in sports. From being cut from his middle school baseball team to building a platform that champions overlooked athletes, Tyler shares how self-belief, resilience, and storytelling fuel both personal growth and cultural impact. They dive into the traits...

In this episode of the Victory Degree Podcast, host Nik Atanackovic welcomes high-performance coach and speaker Alan Stein, Jr. They discuss Alan's journey from a passionate basketball player to a corporate keynote speaker, emphasizing the importance of finding joy in one's work, the significance of childhood excitement, and the concept of work-life harmony over balance. Alan shares insights on id...

In this episode of The Victory Degree Podcast, mental performance coach Steve Magness discusses the intricacies of high performance, focusing on the psychological aspects of choking and the clutch gene. He emphasizes the importance of understanding fear and its impact on performance, using LeBron James as a case study. The conversation also explores the balance between obsession and performance, p...

In this episode of The Victory Degree Podcast, Rorke Denver shares insights on building a resilient mindset, the importance of self-talk, and the power of hope in overcoming challenges. He reflects on his experiences during SEAL training, particularly Hell Week, and discusses the unique mindset required for special operations. Rorke emphasizes the significance of trusting oneself, the camaraderie...

In this episode of the Victory Degree Podcast, Nik welcomes AJ Shavell, a coach and content creator, to discuss his journey of self-discovery, the importance of overcoming fear, and the insights he has gained through coaching and content creation. AJ shares his experiences with meditation, self-awareness, and the challenges he faced during the pandemic, which ultimately led him to help others thro...

In this episode of the Victory Degree podcast, Nik Atanackovic interviews Jonathan Abrams, author of 'Boys Among Men', discussing the evolution of high school basketball players transitioning to the NBA. They explore the impact of players like Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant, the challenges faced by young athletes, and the influence of social media on modern players. The conversation delves into the...

In this episode of The Victory Degree podcast, Drew Hanlen, a renowned basketball skills trainer, shares his journey from a passionate young basketball player to training NBA stars. He emphasizes the importance of consistency over intensity, the value of hard work, and the significance of time management. Drew discusses his experiences training players like Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum & Joel Embiid...

In this conversation, NBA reporter Yaron Weitzman discusses his book 'Tanking to the Top,' which chronicles the Philadelphia 76ers' rebuilding process under Sam Hinkie. The discussion covers the motivations behind writing the book, the team's struggles before Hinkie's arrival, the philosophy of tanking, Hinkie's unique approach to management, and the importance of understanding players as individu...

In this engaging conversation, David Fales shares his journey from an under-recruited high school player to a successful quarterback at San Jose State and his experiences in the NFL. He discusses the challenges of quarterback recruitment, the importance of organizational fit, and the influence of great quarterbacks like Drew Brees on his game. Fales emphasizes the multifaceted nature of quarterbac...

He's an Olympic Gold Medalist, world champion, and huge fan of Ikea and the Vancouver Canucks. Jerome Blake is carving his own unique path through the world of track and field while simultaneously trying to reinvigorate its popularity.  In this episode of the Victory Degree podcast, Olympic gold medalist Jerome Blake shares his inspiring journey from growing up in Jamaica to becoming a professiona...

He's a former 1st round pick of the San Diego Chargers, reality TV star, and present day entrepreneur. Larry English joins the pod to talk through his journey to football, experience building his own company & brand, and much more! In this conversation, Larry English shares his journey from growing up in Aurora, Illinois, to becoming a first-round draft pick. He discusses the importance of family...

He's an Olympian, world champion, and huge Tennessee Titans fan. Trevor Bassitt joins the pod to talk through his journey from Bluffton, Ohio to the world stage. Trevor Bassitt is a 400m hurdler who won Bronze at the 2022 World Championships and recently represented team USA in the Paris Olympics.  In this conversation, Trevor shares insights about his upbringing in Bluffton, Ohio, emphasizing the...

The most iconic sportswriter in America today - Jeff Pearlman joins the pod to talk through the 02' Lakers, 90's Cowboys, and plenty of other iconic sports stories.  Jeff Pearlman is an American sportswriter who has written nine books that have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list: four about football, three on baseball and two about basketball. He authored the 1999 John Rocker intervie...

The NFL season is at the halfway point and so it was only right to bring back Aaron Schatz to discuss his thoughts on the season thus far.   Aaron is currently the Chief Analytics Officer at FTN Fantasy and also writes for ESPN+. He has studied the world of advanced NFL stats for 20+ years, is the creator of DVOA, and votes for the All-Pro & MVP awards each year.  In this conversation, Nik and Aar...

Welcome back to The Victory Degree Podcast! There are plenty of podcasts out there and so I thank you for choosing The Victory Degree today - the podcast where my mission is to interview athletes, authors, coaches, and everyone in-between to get a fresh perspective on the world of sports.  Today's guest is Jason Cole - the author of "Elway: A Relentless Life." Jason Cole discusses his biography on...

Welcome back to The Victory Degree Podcast! There are plenty of podcasts out there and so I thank you for choosing The Victory Degree today - the podcast where my mission is to dive into the minds of high performers, in sports and related fields, to uncover their long road to success and the tools & strategies they picked up along the way.   Today’s guest is Mirin Fader - Mirin is the author of "D...

Welcome back to The Victory Degree Podcast! There are plenty of podcasts out there and so I thank you for choosing The Victory Degree today - the podcast where my mission is to dive into the minds of high performers, in sports and related fields, to uncover their long road to success and the tools & strategies they picked up along the way.   Today’s guest is Timothy Bella - Tim is the author of hi...

Welcome back to The Victory Degree Podcast! There are plenty of podcasts out there and so I thank you for choosing The Victory Degree today - the podcast where my mission is to dive into the minds of high performers, in sports and related fields, to uncover their long road to success and the tools & strategies they picked up along the way.   Today’s guest is Alex Hutchinson - Alex is the New York...

Welcome back to The Victory Degree Podcast! There are plenty of podcasts out there and so I thank you for choosing The Victory Degree today - the podcast where my mission is to dive into the minds of high performers, in sports and related fields, to uncover their long road to success and the tools & strategies they picked up along the way.   Today’s guest is Brian Dickinson - Brian served for 6 ye...

Welcome back to The Victory Degree Podcast! There are plenty of podcasts out there and so I thank you for choosing The Victory Degree today - the podcast where my mission is to dive into the minds of high performers, in sports and related fields, to uncover their long road to success and the tools & strategies they picked up along the way.   Today’s guest is Ian O’Connor - Ian is the author of his...