Win More, Live Better

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...

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 s...

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 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 alig...

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...

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 fo...

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 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.  Lear...

This is the fourth and final (for now) installment of “From the Other Side of the Mic” series where I’m cross-sharing conversations from the guest seat before the new Win More, Live Better guest interviews begin in 2026. First new guest interview is coming on Sunday, January 25th. In this episode, I join Luke Gromer on the Better Coaching podcast to unpack the inner game of coaching and leadership...

Today's message is highlighted by a powerful parable that highlights why every rep builds something and why effort is never neutral. This episode focuses on how careers are shaped in ordinary moments, how regret often comes from withheld commitment, and why your body of work ultimately defines you. If you’re building toward something meaningful, this episode is a reminder to build it well.  L...

Most leaders say they want honesty, but many are not always as deliberate as they need to be in surrounding themselves with truth-tellers. In this episode, we'll discuss the book, Team of Rivals, which discusses why and how Abraham Lincoln built his presidential cabinet with rivals who would be willing to criticize and challenge him when necessary. This conversation breaks down how coaches ca...

What if the problem with most New Year’s goals and resolutions isn’t effort, but the order we approach change? In this episode, we explore why starting with your desired future ending gives meaning to the struggle you encounter in the present. Instead of stacking goals forward, you’ll learn how to define the story you want to be telling one year from now and how that clarity helps you endure disco...

This episode is the third installment of the From the Other Side of the Mic series, where I cross-share conversations from podcasts I’ve had the opportunity to be a guest on. In this episode, I’m featured on The WellSport Podcast , hosted by mental performance coach Sean Fee. Our conversation explores my background in sport psychology, my time working in professional baseball, and how my work toda...

Today is National Quitters Day, which is the point in the year when most New Year’s goals and resolutions begin to fall apart. In this episode, we explore why New Year’s resolutions often unravel, why and how to shift your focus from outcomes to inputs, and a simple daily question that can keep you aligned with the person you want to become. We’ll also challenge the idea that quitting is always fa...

Most people don’t fall short of excellence because they lack ability, but rather because the work becomes mundane, repetitive, and unrewarding long before the payoff ever arrives. In this episode, we unpack how excellence functions like a filter, gradually removing people, along the journey.  If you’re a coach committed to leveling up in 2026, I'm offering free coaching calls to help you get...

Drift is inevitable in the pursuit of any meaningful goal. Our focus will inevitably fade as initial enthusiasm wears off. Our standards will soften as we start cutting corners or making small compromises along the way. And most of the time, this all happens slowly and subtly. In this episode, I explore why I believe coaching is about helping people manage drift andhow we can function like rumble...

This is the second episode of the From the Other Side of the Mic series where I'm cross-sharing a conversation from a different podcast I've been on. Today's episode is a recording of a discussion I was part of for the Coach Your Brains Out podcast, where I joined Billy Allen, Ceci Clark, and Bernie Holliday for a deep dive into what it truly takes to create a high-performance envir...

Two teachers witnessed the same moment with the same child and told two completely different stories. In this episode, we explore how the event didn’t change, but the interpretation did. For athletes, our explanations play a significant role in shaping our confidence and momentum (especially after mistakes). For leaders and coaches, our explanations will impact decisions, conversations, and the cu...

In the span of three days, an NBA superstar had two wildly different performances, but he was adamant that his process stayed the same. This episode unpacks why elite performers have to learn to trust their process and not overreact to results, even when their career might be dependent on them.  If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign...

In the early 2000's, Steve Wynn and other executives set out to redefine Las Vegas by intentionally changing the public's perception of the city. Through stories from the Wynn organization, this episode breaks down what coaches and leaders can learn about the power of one's environment on shaping behavior and identity. We'll discuss why first-class behaviors require first-class...

This episode features a conversation from my recent appearance on the Being Champions Podcast with Matt Booth. We talk about the biggest challenges facing coaches today, identity traps in coaching, and how mindset, leadership, and environment influence both performance and well-being.  Learn More About Matt Booth: To learn more about Matt’s work, you can follow him here:  https://www.linkedin.com/...

A leader's presence is never neutral. This episode highlights a recent quote from college football head coach, Jon Sumrall, that challenges leaders to take responsibility for the energy and value they bring into every space. Using examples from elite college football coaches and Liz Wiseman's research on "multipliers," this episode offers a simple self-audit to help coaches lea...

This episode marks the beginning of a new chapter for the show. In this episode, Zach introduces Win More, Live Better and unpacks the philosophy behind the rebrand. He explains why this show will continue to commit to helping coaches and high performers pursue excellence without sacrificing their well-being, joy, relationships, and fulfillment in the process. This episode is an invitation to reth...

Today, we're joined by Joe Bohringer, a longtime Major League Baseball executive and executive leadership coach, whose career spans more than three decades inside professional sport. Joe has spent over 30 years working in high-stakes environments at the highest levels of baseball, including senior leadership roles with organizations such as the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners. Throughout hi...

Fear is one of the most common topics I get asked about and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we explore why fear isn’t something to eliminate, but something to manage. Using the analogy of inflammation after training, we unpack how fear can signal growth and elevate our performances when interpreted correctly. Drawing from insights shared by high perfomers like Mikaela Shiffrin and...