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Bocce gets a lot more interesting when you stop chasing perfection and start mastering the mental game. Chicago Bocce Club regular Scott Witte joins Andy Zimmerman for a wide-ranging conversation about how the sport, music, and everyday life all reward the same thing: process over ego. Scott opens up about how fast bocce became more than a hobby after moving to Chicago from Cincinnati, why the Chicago bocce community hooked him almost immediately, and how his first league win and ABC Open experience changed the way he saw his place in the sport. If you’ve ever been too hard on yourself in competition, this one might hit close to home. You’ll discover:
- Why bocce is as much a battle against yourself as it is against your opponent
- The difference between chasing impossible goals and getting ready for the right moment
- How a supportive community can accelerate growth
- The bocce principle of “aggressive early, conservative late” and why it matters
Scott also shares how 25 years of guitar shaped the way he practices, learns, and thinks about improvement. From playing lead in cover bands to getting hooked on solo improvisation, he explains why repetition and focused practice translate surprisingly well to bocce. Andy and Scott trade stories about live music, favorite shows, and the artists that still surprise them, including Atmosphere, The Last Dinner Party, Goose, and Hieroglyphics.
But the conversation goes beyond sports and music. Scott and Andy dig into some life lessons: be nice, control what you can control, and accept the result once the ball leaves your hand. It’s a candid reminder that growth happens when you stop obsessing over luck, stop spiraling about mistakes, and start committing to the process.
Hosted by Andy Zimmerman of Chicago Bocce Club, American Bocce Co, and the Bucktown Billy Goats of the Chicago Bocce League
Produced by Daniel Morrow of Music in the Hall
Recorded at Chicago Bocce Club in July 2026
