Win More, Live Better

In 2005, Dave Chappelle walked away from a $50 million deal and vanished from the spotlight. His decision was driven by the fact that he was tired of clinging to a form of success that wasn't fulfilling him anymore. In today's episode, we unpack Chappelle’s “Baboon Salt Trap” metaphor and the dangers of holding on too tightly to success, status, or control. For more practical tools and m...

We often want the reward without the receipt. We dream of love without compromise, ambition without stress, growth without failure. But life doesn’t work that way. In this episode, we’ll explore the hidden taxes of life (e.g. the discomforts and challenges) that become our greatest teachers. You’ll learn how rejection can guide you and how vulnerability can connect you. When you stop resisting the...

Scott Rueck is known as much for his servant leadership as he is for the banners and awards he's helped produce as a basketball coach. He first made his mark at George Fox University, where across 14 seasons he compiled a 288–88 record and captured the 2009 Division III National Championship with a perfect 32–0 season. He was named Division III National Coach of the Year that same year. In 20...

This episode explores the principle of practicing what you preach and backing up your words with actions. A leader's credibility depends not just on what they say, but whether or not they live by their words too. Drawing from research on social learning and previous conversations with other guests on this show, this conversation unpacks why modeling matters and how to put it into practice. Fo...

What happens when you reach the top and it doesn’t feel the way you thought it would? In this episode, we explore author David Brooks’ metaphor of the two mountains. The first mountain is about proving yourself. The second is about devoting yourself. If you’re a coach, athlete, or leader, this episode will help you reflect on your own climb and the commitments that matter most.  For more practical...

Miles Davis once said, “It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note—it’s the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong.”  In this episode, we'll explore how the “next note” principle helps athletes, coaches, and leaders build the recovery speed they need to move forward on and off the field. For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free...

When Jim Carrey was broke and unknown, he wrote himself a $10 million check and carried it in his wallet for a decade. But the check wasn’t just about money, it was about who he wanted to become. Ten years later, he earned a multi-million contract for his work on Dumb and Dumber . This episode explores two lessons from Carrey’s story: The power of writing your goals down and the practice of visual...

Cindy Bristow is one of the most accomplished figures in the sport of softball. A Hall of Fame coach, former NFCA President and pioneer in the growth of the game, Cindy has spent more than three decades shaping softball at every level. She’s coached collegiately at Arizona State, New Mexico State, Wichita State, and most recently UC Riverside, where her pitchers have set program records and earned...

What happens when a zoo tiger is dropped into the wild? It doesn’t survive. In this episode, we explore why the same principle applies to athletes: If games are the jungle, training must prepare you for it. I share a conversation with a college wrestling coach about blending mental and physical training, the “knobs” coaches can turn to create adaptable players, and why desirable difficulties and c...

For years, I waited to launch this podcast and stalled on starting this project. Now, 100 episodes later, I’m glad I finally hit publish. In this special episode, I reflect on five lessons I’ve learned from the process so far. Whether you’ve listened from day one or this is your first episode, these lessons can help you keep moving forward in your own journey. And most of all, I want to say thank...

Why do some people get stuck in the past while others keep moving forward? The answer often lies in how we process events. In this episode, I share a powerful phrase from Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt: “Learn the lesson, leave the event.” Whether you win or lose, every experience has something to teach you, but only if you can extract the wisdom without getting stuck in the moment. Toda...

In this episode, I share a personal story from my work with a professional baseball pitcher who was stuck at a plateau. In an attempt to show empathy, I made the mistake of lowering the standard he had set for himself. That moment taught me an unforgettable lesson: As leaders and coaches, we must resist the urge to comfort with justifications and reasons. Instead, we need to coach people toward th...

We live in the most "connected" era in history and yet loneliness is at an all-time high. In sports and life, success is not a solo journey and it's essential for us all to develop strong connections with others. Using redwood trees as a metaphor and a wonderful book passage from legendary coach George Raveling, this episode is about why connection isn’t optional and how we can all...

Adam Krikorian is one of the most accomplished coaches in Olympic history. Since being named head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team in 2009, he has guided the program to unprecedented success: Three consecutive Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016, 2020), six World Championship titles, four World Cup victories, 11 World League Super Final crowns, and a record 69-game winning streak (th...

What’s the one thing in your life that could multiply everything by zero? We all have "zeros" (e.g. hidden habits, blind spots, or flaws) that cancel out our progress and sabotage our ability to be successful. In this episode, we unpack the "Multiply by Zero" mental model and apply it at three levels: Individual performers, leaders, and systems. This principle reminds us that i...

David Roche is an elite ultrarunner and coach who recently set a new course record at the Leadville 100 competition just weeks after a disappointing DNF at Western States. In this episode, we reflect on what his story can teach us about readiness and resilience and why competing from a space of love can guide us toward success. For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscr...

What can a suspense novelist teach us about sports and leadership? In this episode, we highlight a pair of lessons from John Grisham’s approach to writing thrillers. The first will examine how every great story features a hero that is burdened with adversity and challenges. The second is how a vision of the ending for each story can shape every detail along the way. This episode is all about craft...

This episode is a reminder to not obsess over where you are and start focusing on where you're headed. We examine the difference between your position and your trajectory and why the latter might be a better indication of your growth. You can’t always control your position, but you can always shape your trajectory. For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to m...

Joanne “Coach P” McCallie stands as one of the most accomplished coaches in women’s college basketball history.  Over 28 seasons as a Division I head coach at Maine, Michigan State, and Duke, she became the only coach ever to win Coach of the Year honors in four different conferences (five times in total). She ammassed 646 career wins as a head coach which ranks her in the top 100 all-time for wom...

When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon, the world watched in awe. But there was a third astronaut, Michael Collins, whose name you may not know. While the others explored the lunar surface, Collins remained in orbit, cut off from all human contact, ensuring their safe return. In this episode, we explore what Collins’ story teaches about personal scoreboards, the power of embracing...

After his third world title, professional bull rider Tuff Hedeman didn’t go on a victory tour. He didn’t take a break. He loaded his gear, headed to Denver, and started over in preparation for the next event. Why? Because he said "the bull doesn’t care." In this episode, we unpack the “bull don’t care” mentality and how it can help keep you grounded and ready for whatever’s next, no matt...

Olympic champion marathoner Eliud Kipchoge describes long runs as “quiet rehearsals for greatness.” In this episode, we unpack the science behind mental stamina and draw from Alex Hutchinson’s book, Endure, on how you can train your mind to push past perceived limits.  For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.bee...

Two people can say the exact same thing, yet only one sticks. Why? Because we’re tuned to certain frequencies. In this episode, we explore The Law of the Frequency and how tone, timing, stories, and trust shape the messages we actually hear. You’ll hear strategies for reinforcing shared language, flexing your delivery to reach different personalities, and learning from voices outside your usual fr...

As human beings, we can be busy all day and still make no progress. This episode will show you why and how to fix it. Using the antelope vs. field mice metaphor (inspired from a quote by Newt Gingrich), I’ll share why so many leaders, coaches, and athletes spend their best energy on the wrong things. We'll also discuss the 80/20 rule and share how former NFL star, JJ Watt, used a mental frame...

When was the last time you thanked someone who helped you rise? In this episode, we explore the quiet strength and impact of Sherpas. Sherpas are those essential "behind-the-scenes" contributors who make high performance and achieving your dreams possible, without asking for credit or recognition in return. You’ll hear insights from the 14 Peaks documentary, reflections from a real-life...